Country Boy At The Copa???
OK, once again, let me preface this by saying that I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly. Today's Guilty Pleasures topic is music. Well, for those of you who have been around from the beginning of Haahnster's Hallucinations, this is old news. But, for the past 10 years or so, I have been so wrapped up in work and other head-up-ass activities that I really was completely out of touch with my music collection. This was particularly the case since my previous vehicle had mysteriously lost its FM reception capability, leaving me hooked on WSCR-sports radio in Chicago. Bottom line: It's really only been this calendar year of 2006 that I've been listening to much music, rediscovering my collection. I haven't indulged in what I would deem "guilty pleasures" yet. So, let's turn back the clock... As a child of the '70s, I'm afraid I was exposed to much more than my fair share of lame music. None could be lamer than Barry Manilow and John Denver, right? Well, I must've had a little bit of showgirl and nature-walking-soft-folk-music in me. I can remember being overcome with the drama of Barry's "Copacabana (At The Copa)" and tickled pink by John's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy". Like Mandy, I was sent away, but country roads took me home. I was exhilarated by "Looks Like We Made It" and "Sunshine On My Shoulders" made me happy.
Now, I've always been too "proud" to own any Manilow or Denver. But, I can't say I haven't been tempted to buy some for nostalgia's sake. Hey, I was a sensitive child as a 4 to 8 year old. Cut me some fuckin' slack.
As for shit I actually own, I could probably do a whole series on that. Maybe I should. I just need to dig a little deeper in the old record collection...
posted by haahnster at 6:56 AM
17 Comments:
We've only just begun to live
&
Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near, just like me, they want to be close to you.
On the day that you were born, the angles got together and decided to create a dream come true, so they sprinkled stardust in your hair and moon drops in your eyes so blue.
That is why all the girls in town follow you all around, just like me, they long to be close to you.
I am soooo guilty
It's sometimes sad what songs we're attraced to in our childhood years. Me? I had Bobby Goldsboro "Honey," which I loved back then (and hate today).
Manilow: Cheesy fun. You gotta love "The Copa." And "Weekend in New England" is a damn good song.
Denver: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Annie's Song."
If I hang my head any lower, it'll come off. First Beth and now you H? Okay, Barry was pretty good and he was the most helpful to the Americal Idol kids this year (d'oh, I said Americal Idol again) and as for John D, well I liked him some too. But God got us all back by sending him that experimental plane.
And, Haahnster, there is no "correct" way in discussing guilty pleasures. They are what they are, no matter when or where.
OMG - I have BOTH of those albums along with Captain and Tenille (if that is how you spell it). I LOVED Muskrat Love... shoot me now. I am so embarrased!
I had the biggest crush on Barry back then. Even had a cousin convince me that the song Mandy was written specifically about her. I was so gullible! :)
God, the gay mantle has been removed from my shoulders - I can now watch Project Runway knowing that the haahnster has taken it up.
Although, since I have the vinyl of Neil Diamond's "Love at the Greek" I guess I really shouldn't say anything........
Old lady: The Carpenters, right?
Beth: Bobby Goldsboro...sweet.
Dale: "Hold your head up/Hold your head up/Hold your head high" (Argent, I think?) Anyway, don't hang your head. Beth & I will return to heroic form soon enough.
Marni: "Muskrat Love"...yikes! Before that was C&T it was released by the band America--horrid Neil Young rip-offs. Many people still mistake "A Horse With No Name" as Neil Young. Now, for Captain & Tennille, you can't beat "Love Will Keep Us Together" either. (Gag)
Keith: Don't go pinning Beth's Project Runway fascination on me, man! I haven't seen it yet. As for the Manilow thing, I'm pretty sure I've outgrown it (I hope)...
Hey, I liked all that stuff as a kid, too. I like to think of it as a result of being someone who loved music and only had access to Manilow, etc. I suppose it would have been better for us all if they had played good stuff, but for the most part they didn't. There probably was more variety on the radio back then, but it wasn't like they played Barry Manilow next to Captain Beefheart and we couldn't tell the difference. I heard Denver's "Country Boy" not too long ago and thought it was pretty good! Maybe it is...
Take a look through the record collection and see what you've got. I'd love to hear some guilty pleasures from the adult years. One that comes to mind for me is 38 Special's "Hold on Loosely." Not when it came out, but for the last 5 to 10 years, I've really been into this one. It's the guitar solos at the end. Not so much the lyrics, or verse/chorus parts (though even those I like better than I probably should). When the guitars are wailing for the last minute or so, I get wrapped up like it's "Marquee Moon" or something. I'll always listen to this one all the way through when I run across it. Haven't bought it, yet...
Right, Carpenters. But I just thought of Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass!!!! Taste of Honey and The Little Donkey!!! Oops, that's why I call myself Old Lady!
Oh, I have several items that I should not name, but having only been newly spawned as 1970 drew to a close, most of my embarrassing stuff is from the 80s.
Right now, ALL my vinyl is residing in a dusty corner of my multipurpose room. I'd probably laugh myself silly over what all I have in my milk crate files back there....
Rabid T: Victims of circumstance, to be certain. I'll dig through the vinyl...should be some hidden gold!!!
Old lady: Didn't Herb have an album cover picturing a woman covered in whipped cream?!
K Lee: I was born April 1970. I can remember some songs from the mid-'70s, though. There was bad shit in the '80s as well, without a doubt!
Mat: Carly Simon's greatest hits album was a staple!! "...Your horse naturally won...I bet you think this song is about you..."
As for Kool & The Gang, how about "Celebration"? "...we gonna celebrate your party with you..."
Haahnster, dig deeper in that record collection. I went through my vinyl last night and found several laughable possessions.
I'm only a few months younger than you, then. I clocked in in October, 1970. I have LOTS of pictures of my parents in some really hideous clothing from the 70s...maybe I should do a little collective embarrassment blogging with some of those pics!
As for my musical tastes in the 80s, I was all into the aforementioned Marillion, Duran Duran, and stuff like that. (No one is allowed to throw stuff -- criticize, maybe, but no throwing stuff.) I have some really sucky stuff in there, too. I don't know why "Africa" from Toto springs to mind, but you get my general drift.
See, I was looking for "Muskrat Love" or "The Night Chicago Did." Now *that* is cheese.
Someone somewhere is going to save this, and use it for blackmail..
Beth: I will dig through the vinyl, and report back on particularly amusing discoveries.
K Lee: I agree: No throwing stuff!
WP: I'll report back on the cheesiest finds in my collection. I haven't taken enough time to really dig yet.
Winter: Welcome to HH. I never live in fear of blackmail. I'm too willing to admit "embarassing" things, usually without feeling any embarassment!
I love "Mandy" and I don't care who knows it...
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