Good Will Standing

It was another great, nutty day here in Lancaster County aka: Gary World!  Spent the day tagging along with Dave as he ran errands.  One of the stops was to Good Will, whereupon he purchased a desk for his room. (ok, it was an old sewing table but.....shhhhhhh...he doesn't want anyone to know that!) We proceeded to get in the check out line and ended up standing there for what seemed like an eternity. The sweetest woman was at the register, ringing people out in a very timely, friendly fashion and then.......2 people before us, this other woman came up behind the register.  I knew this wasn't going to end well. All I can say is, although the sign over her head claimed that they were giving away free Bibles to all those that asked for one, she apparently used her free Bible to level off the night-stand next to her bed! 'nuff said!

So, I am home, safe and sound and I decide to do some cooking (another passion of mine for those that don't know).  Before I cooked a thing, I burnt the first 30 songs (can you believe it has been 30 already?) to a disc and was bopping along to them as I breaded and fried my eggplant and made a fresh marinara sauce, just like our dear, sweet, amazing family-friend/part-time baby-sitter Anthony Anselmo used to make.  Fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil and onions all cooked down in a frying pan. 

Ok, fat and happy and ready to blog here.  Got the next 10 ready to roll but before I do (collective groan from the crowd) I wanted to share a picture Steven sent me last night.  It is from Christmas when they gave me the best present ever.

Outrageous! 

I thought I would have a little fun with the pic......

Now I ask you, other than the amount of hair on my head, has much changed in 40 years?  I think...not much. Here is tonight's 10......

(as with all of the pics...click to enbiggen)

This is going to be a fun night....

1. Billy, Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods 3:25 (abc Records) One of my all-time favorite songs!!!!! "The marching band came down along Main Street...."  This song has always had a special place in my heart and although I always knew what it was about, listening to it tonight, thinking about the amazing people that I know that have actually served our country.....WOW, not too proud to say, I cried!.  On the fluff side of things, I always play this song with "The Night Chicago Died" because they came out at the same time and they just seem to go together.  Did you know that the original "Billy" was done by Paper Lace, the same group that did "The Night Chicago Died"?  I know, I know, you are all gonna say that you knew that! (yeh, right)       Don't worry, "The Night..." is in here somewhere and coming up soon!

2. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka 3:12 (The Rocket Record Company) This is the 1977 remake of Neil Sedaka's original 1965 song.  It opens with an homage to the boppy 60's version and melts away into a beautiful ballad version. Why do I have this single, you may be asking yourself? Well, I am just going to tell you! Neil asked the Carpenters to OPEN a series of concerts he was doing in Vegas and they had to turn him down because of contractual reasons.  So, to make amends, Richard arranged the strings and horns in this new version of the song.  If you listen to the end of the song, you can hear a distinct "Carpenter" ending!

3. Different Worlds - Maureen McGovern 2:15 (Warner Brother's/Curb Records) Ok, folks, we have a special guest with us for this one. Dave is here with me.Before we get started, I just need to remind you that this was the theme song to the tv show "Angie" starring Donna Pescow (Saturday Night Fever) and Robert Hayes (Airplane).  Maureen McGovern has an amazing range and perfect pitch but not one ounce of soul.  Dave says that he can see the lead character throwing her hat up in the air during this song but someone hitting her and the hat falling on the ground.  A very happy song and it was a very good sitcom but.......next record?

4. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 3:15 (Polydor Records) Gay anthem aside.....and before every straight accountant made this their karaoke song....this song had a very important meaning to women everywhere.  Here is our take on it.  Brace yourselves.  Dave:  I am not really sure what I should say here.  I love it. I remembered doing the "Solid Gold" dancing to this and falling over the couch and rolling around on the floor in my parent's house.  LOL  Gary says: This was always a fun song.....when we were kids.  Now that we are "older" it really speaks to the loss of love and the end of relationships.  But, hell, it is a fun dance song.  NEXT!

5. We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters 3:04 (A&M Records) Although I have already digitized all of my Carpenter singles before I started this blog, there are some re-issues that are in the mix of sleeveless singles.  This is one of several.  Gary asks Dave, "What do you think of Karen's voice?"  Dave:   That is the voice of an angel and no one will ever compare to it.   Gary: My most personal connection with this song is.....Steven and Nydia chose this as their wedding song.  I was sooo happy and so proud.  When their initial DJ cancelled on them, I was also very happy that I had brought the single with me to the wedding, so it could be played at the reception!

6. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago 3:17 (Columbia Records) Huh? Wha????  Aside from the amazing horn arrangement of this song, the lyrics make absolutely no sense......unless one is, well, shall we say, HIGH?  Or very much into watches!  This is one of those songs that may mean more than we as the common folk are permitted to understand.  Too bad we are not as enlightened-up (ha ha) as the rock bands of the day!

7. Do That To Me One More Time - Captain & Tennille 3:45 (Casablanca Records) Dave: This song is what I want to feel in a relationship!  Gary: Bless his simple heart!  Toni Tennille's voice is so rich and full she made even the simplest of songs that much more beautiful.

8. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vicki Lawerence 3:36 (Bell Records) Dave:  Ohhh.  I love this song, incredibly written. This was always a little movie in my head, I could see it so clearly!  Well, except for the few words that I couldn't understand.  Gary:  You mean like, Nights?  Lights?  Georgia? Seester?  Judge?  Innmocent man? GUN? Dave:  YES!  Exactly.  You see it too?

9. Le Freak - Chic 3:30 (Atlantic Records) "AWWWWWWWW Freak out!!!  Le Freak.  C'est Chic!!!!" Are you chair dancing?  We are!!! You should see this!  Perfect synchronisity! Dave:  Hold on!  I can't find my other skate!  Gary:  I actually "danced" to this at Studio 54.  Good times!  Jealous?  You should be. So, gentle readers, picture it.....Dave skating around me on one skate whilst I sit here holding his leg and blogging.  You have no idea what you are missing!!!!  Wait for the DVD release.

10. Fire - Pointer Sisters 3:41 (Planet Records) Bruce Springsteen....Pointer Seesters. Pointer Seesters....Bruce Springsteen.  It really doesn't matter who sings it, it still makes no sense.  At least the Pointer Seesters did a great job at it! Everything against Bruce!

Ok, people, I know this was very different from the previous posts and I guess we will never know what the cause of the problem was. But, if I had to put my finger on the problem, it would come back drunk!  Good LAWD it took us four hours just to write that sentence!  God I love you Dave!  ("help me!", whispers Dave.)

We are finally saying Goodnight!  Please note that I started this post 6 and a 1/2 hours ago!  This was the best blogging night EVER!!! Please know that, from time to time, I will invite more of my friends to co-blog with me.  Just thought I should warn you!