Mostly, I have a shitty memory, but the one exception is music. For music, I have a great memory.
I recall hearing this song on the radio—in 1958! I was only 3 or 4, living maybe in Vancouver, BC. We were German immigrants and I don't think I spoke English at the time.
I've always loved the cheesy organ and, well, the whole dang thing. I was pleased to find out, many years later, that Alex Chilton always sang this song in Italian at gigs. In fact, I heard him sing it at the Coach House maybe in the 1990s.
Here's another well-remembered song:
This was a hit in late 1961/early 1962. I was seven at the time, and I really loved this song. Still do.
Really loved this one from 1962. Lester played piano on the recording—and that was the main attraction for me. Still love this.
What can I say? Loved this when I was a kid. Acker Bilk in 1962
Here's another trad jaz number that really caught my attention. I recall hearing this on the radio—must've been late 1963. The school bus driver always had the radio on. This was a hit, if only briefly.
I recall being stuck in the back seat of our shitty 1960 Ford Fairlane or Galaxy—we went on endless drives. But I'd listen to the radio and I recall being mesmerized by this song as we drove through the Riverside Canyon when the 91 was a two-lane highway. The song was called "Sukiyaki" in the U.S. (Good grief!) It's actual name: "Ue o Muite Arukō" (1963)
I seemed to have a thing for Dusty Springfield when I was a kid. Really loved this number from 1964, when I was nine. I became a true appreciator of Bacharach/David much later on.
OK, this one might be embarrassing. But I loved this song from the Fall of '64, when I was nine. Garnett did become a hippie, sort of.
By 1967, I was a huge Moody Blues fan. Saw 'em in concert a couple of times, a few years later, in LA.
By 1973, I was a huge Mott the Hoople fan:
Volare again, this time via Alex Chilton. Chilton really captured the essence of this cheesy wonder.
So cool.
I live in a little rural canyon right off Live Oak Canyon, not far from Hamilton Truck Trail. --You know, in the country.
I've only got maybe four neighbors. I know one of 'em—the renter—is hard core Trump. Then there's the family with the "Saddleback Church" sign: I figure they're Trumpists too. I ran into another neighbor for the first time (after all these years!) a couple of days ago. She seemed a little weird. I noticed her cap. It said "Trump." Or maybe it was "MAGA." One of those.
I utterly ignored that. It's best to be on good terms with your neighbors, even if they are insane.
Teddy says "hey!" He still feels the Bern!
