Music Years of My LIfe: 1972

My third grade teacher in Germany had us sing songs.  Most of the ones, from what I remember, were the usual harmless children ditties.  But one day she had us do "Song Sung Blue", Neil Diamond's often derided #1 hit from 1972.  Now, I can't recall if we sang any other hits from '72/'73, but I can't forget this one.  The thing I remember about singing this is that I knew the song.  It was a hit, and got played on the radio.

Let's face it, "Song Sung Blue" isn't that hard to sing along with.  Diamond, as the 70's moved on, was leaving behind his catchy, uptempo Pop hits in favor of more introspective songs.  This song isn't one of them, but it still brings back a good memory whenever I hear it.  This is probably the only time that one of my Elementary school teachers had us sing something that was a hit of the day.  But I have been in classes where the teacher would have the radio on in the background.  I even had one in 1976/'77 who had a turntable and would spin hit singles.   Every little thing that planted my future musical obsessions.

Playlist for 7/29

Colvin & Earle - Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle
Elizabeth Cook - Exodus of Venus
Avett Brothers - True Sadness
Allen Toussaint - American Tunes
Van Morrison - It's Too Late To Stop Now
William Bell - This Is Where I Live
William Bell - Soul Of A Bell
Eli Paperboy Reed - My Way Home
Housemartins - People Who Grinned Themselves To Death
Paul Young - Good Thing
Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go

Missing Songs from "Tracks Of My Life" Spotify Playlist

Below are songs that aren't on Spotify, but if they were, would be on my Tracks Of My Life playlist. That playlist contains songs, some popular, others more obscure, that have meant something to me at one point or another in my life.  Some of the missing songs below might appear on other streaming sites (and you can find them on YouTube),  but for Playlists, Spotify is still king.  And my playlist has to contain the original recordings.  No remakes.

This list will continue to be updated as I find more missing songs:

Bob James -  Angela (Theme From Taxi)  (Album cut, 1978)
Bob Seger - Mainstreet  (#24, 1977)
Carl Perkins - Birth Of Rock and Roll  (#31 Country, 1986)
Def Leppard - Photograph (#12, 1983)
Eddie Rabbitt - Repetitive Regret  (#4 Country, 1986)
Firefall - Strange Way  (#11, 1978)
Joe Sun - Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You  (#14 Country, 1978)
John Valenti - Anything You Want  (#37, 1976)
KLF w/Tammy Wynette - Justified and Ancient  (#11, 1992)
Lucinda Williams - Side of the Road  (Album cut, 1988)
Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom  (#7, 1986)
Mighty Clouds Of Joy - Mighty High  (#22 R&B, 1976)
Ollie & Jerry -  Breakin' ... There's No Stopping Us  (#9, 1984)
Osmonds - Chilly Winds (Album cut, 1971)
Pake McEntire - Savin' My Love For You  (#3 Country, 1986)
Sweet Sensation - Sad Sweet Dreamer  (#14, 1975)
Tom Jones - Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow   (#15 Pop, #1 Country 1977)

Playlist for 7/22

Bob Dylan - Dylan & The Dead
Bob Dylan - Down In The Groove
Bob Dylan - Knocked Out Loaded
Move - Looking On
Suicide - s/t
Suicide - Second Album
Jerry Reed - Explores Guitar Country
Jerry Reed - Alabama Wild Man

Music Years of My Life: 1971

In the Summer of '71, my Dad got stationed in Mannheim, Germany.  There's not much from the latter part of that year that musically stuck out, outside of the hits from Carole King's Tapestry.  But the first half of the year was very similar to what occurred in 1970.  Suddenly, songs were sticking with me longer, and those that did are still with me today.

The three that bring back my young school days in North Carolina were all car ride staples:  Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World", Donny Osmond's "Sweet and Innocent", and Brewer & Shipley's "One Toke Over The Line".  No, I had no idea what that latter song was about at the age of 7, but it was catchy.  Donny Osmond was part of the early 70's teen idol boom that my sister embraced.  And the Three Dog Night were already one of the early 70's best singles bands.

People say time flies as you get older, and I can attest to that.  When you're a child the days appear to last longer, memories start forming and friendships come and go.  All of this is true, and the best part was that my ensuing infatuation with music was sown in years like 1970 & 1971.

The move to Germany, and leaving friends behind, had one musical silver lining.  In Germany is where I heard my first American Top 40 countdown.  A life turning point at 7 years old!

Playlist for 7/12

Anohni - Hopelessness
White Lung - Paradise
Mitski - Puberty 2
Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
Adia Victoria - Beyond the Bloodhounds
El DeBarge - s/t ('86)
Maxwell - Blacksummersnight
Sam Lewis - Waiting On You
Dan Fogelberg - Windows and Walls
Highwaymen-  American Outlaws-Live
Robert Ellis - s/t

Top Van Halen Songs- Poll

Latest Poll I participated in:  Van Halen.  Rules were to list Top 22 favorite VH songs.
I'm pro Roth-era, but I found that the Hagar years had some good singles.

1.  Runnin' With The Devil
2.  Jump
3.  Dance The Night Away
4.  Panama
5.  Eruption
6.  Jamie's Cryin'
7.  Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
8.  I'll Wait
9.  Unchained
10.  Finish What Ya Started
11.  And The Cradle Will Rock
12. Hot For Teacher
13. Spanish Fly
14. Why Can't This Be Love
15. Oh, Pretty Woman
16. Dreams
17. Happy Trails
18. Right Now
19. Everybody Wants Some
20. Where Have All The Good Times Gone
21. You Really Got Me
22. When It's Love

Also:
Top 5 Eddie Van Halen Solos:
1.  Runnin' With The Devil
2.  Beat It
3.  Jump
4.  Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
5.  Panama

Top 5 VH Albums
1.  1984
2.  Van Halen
3.  Van Halen II
4.  Diver Down
5.  Fair Warning

Music Years Of My Life: 1974

Summer.  The best time of the year when you're young.  Well, for me it was.  There were no year round schools when we were lived in Germany.  The school calendar went from September-June (first week only).  From early June until the day after Labor Day, I was free.  No sports activities until August.  So, what to do.  Just do normal things that kids do when they are ten years old.  Play with your friends, go to movies or the public pool.  Radio's were everywhere I went. Here's the deal.  You hang around the Military apartments where we lived and there's bound to be someone hanging around outside listening to something.

"Band On The Run", "Billy Don't Be A Hero", "Night Chicago Died", "Sundown", "Rock Your Baby", "Feel Like Makin' Love" (R. Flack), were #1's that summer.  A Stevie Wonder song that only went to #16  called "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" is near the top of a list of non-#1's.  Others?  "Waterloo", "You Won't See Me" (A. Murray), "You Make Me Feel Brand New", "Entertainer", "Rock and Roll Heaven", "Sideshow", "Help Me", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", all fondly remembered.

Radio was everything back then.  I still had no record player.  Was still a year and a half away from buying my first album (my first music purchases were albums, not singles).   Summer memories play a big part in our youth.  Music is an incredible part of that experience.  When I hear those above songs today, I always pause for a second and am instantly taken back to a simpler, easier, innocent time.  Not ready to grow up.

tmlane12@gmail.com

Playlist for 7/4

Lonnie Mack - Memphis Wham
Lonnie Mack -  Strike Like Lightning
Joe South - Introspect
Joe South - Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
Joe South - Games People Play
Joe South - s/t
Bo-Keys - Heartache By The Number
Maren Morris - Hero
Tegan and Sara - Love You To Death
Fitz & the Tantrums - s/t

Greatest Yacht Rock Albums

Updated January 2025

A continuation of my posts:
Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs
More Top Yacht Rock Songs

This time I take a look at the best Yacht Rock Albums.  Most of these artists populated my songs posts, but the albums are full of deep Yacht Rock cuts.

Unranked, and I decided not to include Greatest Hits albums.

Al Stewart - Time Passages  (1978)
Alan Parsons Project - Eye In The Sky (1982)
Al Jarreau - Breakin' Away (1981)
Ambrosia - Life Beyond L.A.  (1978)
America - Hearts  (1975)
Bill Withers - Menagerie  (1977)
Bob Welch -  French Kiss  (1977)
Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees  (1976)
Boz Scaggs - Middle Man (1980)
Bread - Baby I'm-a Want You (1972)

Carly Simon - Boys In The Trees (1978)
Carole King - Tapestry (1971)
Chicago -  X  (1976)
Chicago - 17  (1984)
Christopher Cross - s/t  (1979)
Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good  (1978)
Craig Fuller & Eric Kaz - Fuller & Kaz  (1978)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - CSN  (1977)
Dan Fogelberg - Phoenix  (1979)
Doobie Brothers - Minute By Minute  (1978)

Doobie Brothers - One Step Closer (1980)
Dr. Hook - Sometimes You Win (1979)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Faces  (1980)
England Dan & John Ford Coley  - Nights Are Forever  (1976)
Firefall -  s/t  (1976)
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours  (1977)
George Benson - Breezin' (1976)

George Benson - Give Me The Night (1980)
Gerry Rafferty - City to City  (1978)
Gino Vannelli  -   Brother to Brother  (1978)
Hall & Oates - Voices  (1980)
Herb Alpert - Rise  (1979)
James Ingram - It's Your Night  (1983)
John Stewart - Bombs Away Dream Babies   (1979)
Kenny Loggins - Keep The Fire  (1979)
Kenny Loggins - High Adventure (1982)
Linda Ronstadt - Simple Dreams (1977)
Little River Band  -  Sleeper Catcher   (1978)

Loggins & Messina - Full Sail  (1973)
Michael McDonald - If That's What It Takes (1982)
Paul Davis - Cool Night  (1981)
Quincy Jones - Dude  (1981)

Rupert Holmes - Partners in Crime (1979)
Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl  (1973)
Steely Dan - Aja   (1978)
Steely Dan - Gaucho (1980)
Stephen Bishop - Careless  (1976)
Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Again (1986)
Toto - IV  (1982)