Borough to Borough - Coast to Coast

(click to enbiggen)

I first met Annette Brigid Elisabeth Houlihan Verdolino, from Ozone Park Queens, in November of 1987.  We had a mutual friend, Mauri Bernstein, with whom Annette had a directors class at NYU.  Mauri used to take alot of pictures when she and I would hang out and one day she was showing them around and Annette said she wanted to meet me!  Ha!!  Pretty cool, huh? So, Mauri arranged for us to all meet at Marie's Crisis (our favorite piano bar in the Village) one night.  Annette was in rehearsals for Pippin at NYU at the time and the piano player, Rick Page, asked her if she wanted to run through her solo from the show, Just No Time At All. It was at this particular moment that Mauri and I walked into the bar.  Before I proceed, I must tell you that Annette possesses THE greatest voice I have ever had the priveledge of hearing.  No one, and I mean NO ONE can sing like Annette.  Ok, that being said........Mauri had already told me how amazing Annette was, vocally. What we were hearing was, well, how do I put this delicately, not amazing?  Rick was playing the song in some unGodly key that was too high even for dogs to hear.  Annette kept up with him but man, that must have been painful.

We are now introduced and I am immediately smitten with this smile that could melt mountains.  We talked and we hit it off and discussed her performance from a few minutes before.  Then, out of no where she asked Rick to sing another song. This my friends is a moment that will live with me for the rest of my life. Annette sang a song called Lion Tamer from a musical called The Magic Show, which was the first musical I had ever seen. I could not believe what I saw and what I had heard. I had never experienced such an intense vulnerability mixed with the most perfect voice anyone can imagine. I WAS IN LOVE folks. That love and our friendship has lasted 23 years now.  She has ridden the cyclone with me, through the most amazing of times and the lowest of times. Annette is a glorious spirit with a heart as big as any ocean and she has a streak of bad girl in her that keeps US all on our toes.  She will conquer the world one day and I know, that when I draw my last breath, Annette will be there with me.

Annette now lives in Las Vegas and is starring in Menopause: The Musical on the strip! When she saw the co-blog that Dave and I did together, she immediately said, "I want to do one"! So, I sent her the 10 songs and without further ado, here she is folks....my Borough girl, Annette.

(hee hee) (oh I meant, click to enbiggen)

Ok folks, here are today's 10 songs.  I am so excited.

Click here to listen to clips of these songs!

1. Jet Airliner - The Steve Miller Band 3:20 (Capitol Records) Annette: what's first what's first? Gary:  Jet Airliner.  Go.....Annette: It's one of those songs I'd say to myself "well, I'm not sure what that lyric is, but it's catchy and it's not important enough to track down" Gary:  Gotta love that guitar line! Annette: oh yah. i love the scratches! Gary: hee hee  Annette: ok I just caught myself chair dancing!  Gary: "the funky kicks going down in the city". Do you think that's what they REALLY wanted to say?  Annette: "big old chat eyeliner!"  Gary: ROFLMAO Annette: or "big old chap at a lineup"  I just texted Eric to say "well, I've realised now that Steve Miller and his Band were *not* singing "big old chap at a lineup".  I'm embarrassed at how many years I've heard that song and just now realized what the real lyric is. It's part of my charm!!  Gary: HEY! that's my line! LOL  Annette: I stole it from yas!


2. The Boss - Diana Ross 3:59 (Motown Records) G: Get ready for some more chair dancing!  A: WHOOOOOOOO horns! strings! bass line! G: "Folly and fun"! you're chair dancing aren't you? A: a little...but I was just thinking that if I was at a disco in the day, I might have gone to get a drink when this song was on. G: Doesn't it sound like someone is poking Ms. Ross with a stick during that break? A: "OO OO" OK imma need to play it again for further study.  G: ok, go for it. You gotta love the production though.  Ashford and Simpson produced. A: Was it? oh well that's why. Yeah the arrangement is awesome. The walking bass line kills me...as does the horns!  clapping section! And screamey hoo hoos!  EEEE I see what you mean about the stick! Wonder if MJ listened to this and said...hmm...I could use some of that HOo HOO G: I am pretty sure he did. That or he called her and said, D., try this..."Hoo Hoo" A: Right! What year is that? G: 1979 A: So, right around Off The Wall then.  G: Lots of mutual stealing going on.

3. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra & Neil (honest to God, that's how it is on the label) 3:14 (Columbia Records) G: on the label it actually says Barbra & Neil. pretentious or familiar? A: I think it's kinda cute.  G: Me too! A: Oooh it's so sad already.  He's kind of a dick in this song, isn't he? G: is he? they are kinda saying the same thing, aren't they? it's a mutual admiration society that fell apart somehow A: well he's kindof a dick in the beginning..."it's good for you babe..." G: Yeh, that is true.  A: so this like the marriage counseling theme song innit? they do sound good together though G: my theory is....if you establish certain patterns in the beginning of a relationship, like you are the one always bringing the flowers, the day you stop, you end up in a song like this! A: Exactly! So set LOW EXPECTATIONS at the beginning and you are just fine.  I play it again! Ohhhhhh saaaad solo violini.....I remember seeing them do this live somewhere...was it the Grammy's? Back when people watched the Grammys? G: Yes. they came out totally unannounced. A great moment. A: THAT's what it was... I remember the audience screaming! That's really my memory of this song.

 4. I'll Meet You Halfway - The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones Featuring David Cassidy (again, as it appears on the label) 3:26 (Bell Records) G: Ok, that was our only forray into balladry, I promise. A: heh...I don't mind. WEEEEEEEE  Oh that violin just made me so happy! "HO!"  Everyone now....I'll Meet You Halfway That's better than no way!"  awwwwww.  I forgot how much I like this song. G: Do you remember your trip to Greece? The country not the play. A: this was on the tape you made me. G: and what was the pact you made with the girls? A: no it was Bahamas not Greece. G: oh, ooops.  sorry. A: we werent gonna talk about boys! G: LOL exactly. I was strangely offended by that! A: Really??? Oh no! It was a girly thing... G: It's ok. I will heal. another couple of years.... A: We still did though. G: I know. A: you know he really does have a nice voice, that David Cassidy. Not like Rex Smith! this song DOES hold up to the test of time too. G: Oh god, nothing like Rex Smith AND he had better hair!

5. The Way I Want To Touch You - Captain & Tennille 2:35 (A&M Records) Since I keep pointing out the way things are on the label, I thought I should say, every other C&T single has either the ampersand or the word AND between their names. G: ok, ready? Just remember, my nieces read this, so be careful how you word things for this next song.  A: eeeee  This song runs in direct contrast to what the Captain and Tenille actually LOOKED like. It's so sexy and yummy. And then... that hair? That HAT? really?? Did Carole King write this? G: Nope. Toni did. A: WOW! It sounds so Carol King. It's awesome actually. G: I know. their production was always flawless. I love everything that is going on in the background. Too freakin short. A: AGAIN! G: Absolutely! A: Yeah that is pretty sassy for a chick who cut her hair by putting a bowl over her head.


6. Take The Long Way Home - Supertramp 5:02 (A&M Records) A: what next! G: take The Long Way Home A: woohoo  eee! I love this one :-) G: It is one of Steven's and Dave's favorites too. A: I had the piano sheet music. I remember the album cover. Breakfast in America...with the waitress standing like the statue of liberty, holding a tray with I think a glass of orange juice. G: Exactly right!  At this point in time A&M Records had some of the best artists. 1979....Carpenters (naturally), Captain and Tennille, Supertramp. A: Nice roster. I just texted Eric to say we were "squeeing over Supertramp" now. I had never heard a sound like them before. That driving piano and those long notes and those chord changes... it just FELT good. G: Oh GOD. The dueling harmonicas!!!!! A: I know! Who uses harmonicas nowadays??? Except for bluesy types. G: or if you can afford Stevie Wonder. A: "aaahhahhhhahhahaaaaa ....ooooooOOOooOoooo....." and then that slow descent...I still am not sure what the song is about. But I love it. G: who cares! A: I know, right? G: ok, that one was over 5 minutes long and wasn't it too short? A: it was that long? G: yes! A: AGAIN! G: go for it! Have I mentioned that I am dying to meet Eric? You may not get a word in though. Just saying... A: yeah you have! I want you to very much. He's probably sick of hearing about you too. G: Nyeeessss! A: I'll just be sitting in the background smiling like an idiot! when you guys meet I mean G: and singing harmonies.

7. Indiana Wants Me - R. Dean Taylor 3:35 (Rare Earth Records) G: Ok, from the sublime to the utterly ridiculous!  Eric, cue the sirens! this is a story song of NO proportions....epic or otherwise. A: this song has everything! Sound effects! Prologue! crying ladies and a clock on the wall...and I haven't hit play! G: NO NO NO Wrong song! we are doing Indiana Wants Me next A: oh crap! G: Sorry. A: ok...I'm clueless as to what this song is I think.........Wait...Did someone trash talk about his lady and now he's in prison? G: yep. "if a man ever needed dying he did" A: You buy that to round out the "story song" collection? Horrible singer too. G: no, it was a big hit in 1970. It was one of those summer vacation songs. Really makes ya feel good, don't it? A: Really? Ok. Should I ask the middle-aged guitar player what he thinks? G: YES! A: He texts: 'that's a weird one'.  Ok I just don't get that Indiana song.  G: NEXTTTTTTT.....

8. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry 3:12 (Epic/Sweet City Records) G: Hot bass line. "Shaaay do it now huh yay hey.." A: "haaaaaaaaay"  chair dancing! oh yeah and can't stop the hand clapping LOL I"m pretending you are here and we are doin' the Bump! G: and singing at the top of our lungs A: and waving our hands in the ay-air! G: Remember my first night DJing at the Jukebox? A: That was the one near Philip Morris? G: YES! A: And Chris and Chuck came too? G: Yes!  You had that dance floor on fiyah! A: Oh that was fun! You'd have to be a cold hearted snake not to get up and dance to this. G: or dead.


9. Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley 3:12 (Plantation Records) G: Ok, this is one that I have had the priveledge of hearing Annette sing, right here in my home at one of the best parties we have ever had!  Dave had bought me a Karaoke machine and Annette bought me the discs. WE NEED MORE NIGHTS LIKE THAT! Ok, I am going to let Annette take this one....A: Me and "Spider" Webb, the drummer in the church gig, were talking about this movie today. G: Barbara Eden A: And I was thinking...you know...how many of us dream about walking into a room of people we know have been talking trash about us and just letting them all have it. G: And have that amazing funky ass guitar to back us up!!!! These are just flying by tonight!!!!  A: an awesome story song and a pretty good "women's lib" kinda period piece too.

10. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace 3:30 (Mercury Records) G: I am just reminding everyone of what you said earlier when you thought this song was next "this song has everything! Sound effects! Prologue! crying ladies and a clock on the wall...and I haven't hit play!" A: Ok, play it and then I will say more stuff. G: Ok, go....A: WEEEEEEEEEEEEE "on the EAST SIDE OF CHICAGO" I love that STOP right before the real first verse starts. G: "Mawmah cried"! A: Hah! G: ticking clock! I get so choked up when he kisses her face and brushes her tears away! A: NANANANNANAN! THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED! I know...it's awesome! G: the poor fat guy downstairs! A: is he singing along yet? G: No, I think he just threw a shoe at the ceiling!  Hmmmm A: eee. oops. I'm playing it again. G: Me too!!!  for several reasons! God, I love his voice.  The Paper Lace guy, not the fat guy downstairs. A: It's just one of those songs you gotta see it through to the end...like Cartman singing "Come Sail Away".  G: so true!

G: Can you believe we are done already? A: NO! Really? That went too fast! G: I know! A: We have to do this again sometime. G: Anytime you want. A: Well, blogging is fun and all. But it really doesn't match up to sitting on the floor, and going through the stacks of 45's in person. I think kids with all their downloads don't get to have that part of the experience. G: No they certainly don't. I get a thrill every night watching that beautiful black disc go roundy round on this gorgeous turntable. A: Yeah! G: and I love that we have our memories of doing this together but also knowin that we can do it again and again....WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! A: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  I'm playing Supertramp again.

Annette, tonight was outrageous fun and it reminds me of that first party we threw. I invited 35 people and 2 showed up.  The 2 that mattered most....John Vargas and Annette.  We had enough food to feed an army and beer and champagne for days. Let me tell you guys, that was THE best night.  It was just the three of us.  We broke night, John went home to shower and change and then came back. We packed up the food and the music and the booze and went to Shore Road and spent the entire day there.  It was magical!!!  Thank you Annette. I love you with my whole heart!  Good night everybody.  Call an old friend tonight!  See ya tomorrow.