Manilow, Music Players and Memories

It is absolutely no secret that I love, love, love Barry Manilow.  I have been a fan since 1975 and I have had the priveledge of seeing him at least 10 or 12 times over the years. His voice, his writing, his arranging and his undeniable stage presence made him a star but his deep love of both his work and his fans have kept him one of the top selling artists of all time.  Tonight he did a one hour show on QVC to promote his forthcoming album, The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time (release date is 1/26/10) and within the hour he sold over 20,000 copies.  He performed 6 songs live and he has not lost one note in his voice and not one bit of his personality.  Have I mentioned that I love him?  ok, just checking.

Wait till you see the 10 songs for today!  I am so excited.  Before I get there though, I just wanted to mention once again that I have added a link, just under the picture of the singles du jour, that will take you away from this site, over to the music page where you will find a link to come back here in a separate window. Each day I will edit the 10 songs I talk about here as well as at least one other day from posts gone by until we are all caught up.  Just remember, after each song clip ends you have to hit the play button again to start the next track.

Drum roll......................here they are!!!!

(Click here to listen to clips from these songs)

1. Hotel California - Eagles 6:08 (Asylum Records) Oh that opening guitar and bass line leading up to the DUN DUN downbeat of the drum!!!  Classic. We will not even get into what I thought some of the lyrics were when I was a kid because we would be here all night and the tears pouring down my face from laughing would make it impossible to continue.  Some of my favorite lines that I do indeed know are, "Her mind is Tiffany twisted, she got the Mercedes bends (ugh)"  "Some dance to remember and some dance to forget" "we are all just prisoners here of our own device" "relax said the nightman, we are programmed to receive, you can checkout anytime you like but you can never leave".  This song painted such an amazingly clear image of the insanity of this "hotel".  Not 100% sure what the song is really about but what I have gleened from it is, this is the Eagles impression of the California lifestyle of the rich and famous. (some songs you don't have to understand to enjoy) My favorite memory of this song is sitting in Jennie's Diner here in Lancaster at like 2am with my friends Weidler and Alex and some of their friends. They played it on the jukebox and performed the entire song for the whole diner. Amazing times spent with amazing people.  How freakin' lucky am I?

2. Hot Line - The Sylvers 2:59 (Capitol Records) That's a shift in gears, eh? "Number please"  WOW Early disco, violins, real drums, great vocals AND if that weren't enough, and by gosh it should be, there are hand claps!! Soooo totally chair dancing here!  I know you are too!  Admit it! "Hot Line Hot Line/calling on the Hot Line/ for your love/for your love {{clap clap}}"Such a goofy lyric but again, who cares?  "I asked the CIA if I could use their private phone" "should I call the FBI?"  huh wwwwaaah?  Too funny!

3. Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival 2:39 (Fantasy Records) Back to classic rock.  Funny...Steven and I played both sides of this single so much when we were kids that at first I couldn't remember which side was the single. ("Hey, Tonight" is the flip side!  Can you imagine?) "Someone told me long ago/there's a calm before the storm..I KNOW!" Oh that raspy voice of John Fogerty's and that Hammond Organ made this an instant classic that defined a generation. So glad it is part of MY childhood.  Yes, I have discovered some amazing music later in life from the 30s through the 60s but to have lived with this song for 40 years?  Amazing! Anybody really gonna say that about Brittany in 40 years?

4. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) - The New Seekers 2:23 (Elektra Records) WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!  So happy!!!  1971, summer vacations, mom loving this song and then of course, as they say in all of those Behind The Music specials, tragedy struck!  The song was used for a Coca-Cola commercial.  Whatever (shuttup)!  Ok, ok, it was a brilliant ad campaign that EVERYONE still remembers, in fact, I can still see the tv spots in my head. But come on folks, it was COCA-COLA!  (I guess I should explain that Steven and I have this centuries old fued going on.  He is a Coke guy and I am so completely and totally a fan of the better cola product, PEPSI!)  What an amazingly simple, happy song with such an idealistic message! Can't sell soda with that today folks!  (Unless they bring this song back)

5. Want Ads - The Honey Cone 2:34 (Hot Wax Records) Ok, this one is beyond PTD and sooooo very much loved!!! Oh wow, it sounds better than it looks!  huh! "EXTRA! EXTRA! WANTED: Young Man Single and Free" "Experience preferred but will accept a new trainnee!"  Such a great line! Man, her voice is so earthy and soulful, I forgot how amazing she sounds.  "Lipstick on his collar/perfume on him too!" I'm with ya sistah, throw him out! Chair dancing and doing much hand choreography here.  Very early Jackson 5 arrangement but hey it was 1970.

6. Touch Me In The Morning - Diana Ross 3:15 (Motown Records) Ok, so on the other side of town, where Honey Cone's cheating sleaze of a man is gettin' bizzay with his mistress, this is what she is singing to him!  Sorry, couldn't resist! Hey, come on, it kinda works when you hear the lyrics! (shuttup) This really is a gorgeous song and solidified Diana Ross' solo career. Her ballads always started a little whiny for me but then she unleased the power.

7.  Love Fire - Jigsaw 2:40 (Chelsea Records) OH MY GOD!  Brace yourselves for the excessive drama!!! Oh man, I totally forgot this song. I remember it was on a K-Tel album that Steven and I bought in Woolworth's on 86st!  These lyrics are killing me....."Through the dark we are gonna trot (WHAT?) make our flame burn up the sky"! This is one of those times that I hang my head in shame for loving this song sooooo much.  Sad to say, I think I am one of the 7 people that bought the whole album too!  Any gueses as to what the cover looks like?

8.  Crocodile Rock - Elton John 3:56 (MCA Records) Get them chairs into moving and start singing!!!  (Thank God my chair is on rollers)  What a magical song.  Elton had one of the greatest sounds ever.  Now, if you want to discuss lyrics that I didn't understand...invite me over and put on his first Greatest Hits album. I had a friend named Joan Ladnier and she loved Elton.  One day we were hanging out at my apartment on 89th street in the Ridge and we had that album on.  I was doing stuff and singing along until she stopped me and said, "Excuse me? What did you just sing?"  I completely offended her so she sat and wrote out the lyrics to his songs for me.  I still have the bruises on my arm from where she would pinch me when I continued to get them wrong. Sorry, I completely digressed from this song but come on, you know it by heart, right?

9.  Mr. Bojangles - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 3:35 (Liberty Records) I don't even know where to start!!!  I love this song soooooooooooooooooooooooo much!  Poor man.  Poor dog. Great vocal, great lyric and that banjo/mandolin combo is so amazing.  "He let go a laugh/he let go a laugh/shook back his clothes all around".  Basically the story of an old vagabond that travelled to county fairs and minstrel shows with his dog for 20 years and would dance for people in exchange for a drink or two.  He is in and out of jail "cause I drinks a bit".  Another song that paints such a clear image...it's like a little movie playing in your head as you hear it!  I think Aunt Bobbie gave us this one too.  Do you remember, Steve? (oh the poor fat guy downstairs is gonna kill me...I can't not sing to this!)

10.  If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot 3:48 (Reprise Records) Oh man, I am gonna get evicted!  Gotta sing this one too! WOW "Just like an old-time movie 'bout a ghost from a wishing well"  All of my life, when I hear that line I think of the Abbott and Costello movie, "The Time Of Their Lives".  Gordon Lightfoot's voice is so clear and strong, yet so compassionate.  Your heart almost breaks for him as he sings this song and relates his failed love to movie scenes or characters from a tragic novel.  Amazing song!!

WOW this went way too fast! Such incredible songs and such incredible memories.  You know, sometimes I let life get me down and then I do something like this and I get totally lost in the music and suddenly everything is ok again. Peripheral bullshit needs to stay off to the sides and the outrageously wonderful people that I have in my life need to remain the central focus.  Thanks for putting up with my little meltdown yesterday and thank you for coming back here everyday. Tell someone you love them, listen to the clips of these songs and just smile, you deserve it.  See you tomorrow.