My Life and Bad Tunes
Check out the Grammy "record of the year" winners during my formative years:
1973: Year I first started listening to FM radio: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack
Comment: saccharine treacle, or treacly saccharine? You decide.
I was listening to: George Harrison
1974: Year I bought my first LP ("Revolver"): "Killing Me Softly" Roberta Flack
Comment: [see above]
I was listening to: Beatles
1975: Year I first slow-danced with a girl (Lisa something-that-began-with-"D"): "I Honestly Love You" Olivia Newton-John
Comment: Puke-making musical lard
I was listening to; Steely Dan, Bruce Springsteen
1976: Year I got my first job: "Love Will Keep Us Together" Captain & Tennille
Comment: Bouncy as a zombie on a trampoline. And about as sexy.
I was listening to: Peter Frampton, Aerosmith
1977: Year I played in my first rock band: "This Masquerade" George Benson
Comment: Almost like jazz. Yes, I'm kidding.
I was listening to: Supertramp, "Crime of the Century;" John Coltrane; Fleetwood Mac, "Mystery to Me"
1978: High school graduation: "Hotel California" The Eagles
Comment: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." Actually, you can leave. Right now. Please go. And take the rest of the song with you.
I was listening to: Warren Zevon, "Excitable Boy."
1979: Living on my own in Europe: "Just The Way You Are" Billy Joel
Comment: My favorite song ever! "You're a boring dowdy, but don't bother trying to change." Written to his then-wife. By the time I got back from Europe ha had dumped her and hooked up with a supermodel.
I was listening to: Elvis Costello, "My Aim is True."
1980: First romp in the sack: "What A Fool Believes" The Doobie Brothers
Comment: "Can you imagine doobie in your funk? Ho!" [George Clinton]
I was listening to: Steve Winwood; Genesis, "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
1981: First serious girlfriend: "Sailing" Christopher Cross
Comment: reedy and whiny.
I was listening to: Pink Floyd
1982: First car (1965 Buick Special) "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes
Comment: The vocal smoothness of Tom Waits effortlessly married to the songwriting depth of Barry Manilow.
I was listening to: Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Dave Edmunds
1983: College graduation: "Rosanna" Toto
Comment: I remember sitting in my apartment and hearing this had swept the Grammies, and thinking, "take me now, Lord."
I was listening to: Gregorian chant
1984: First newspaper job: "Beat It" Michael Jackson
Comment: This was the year I gave up altogether on contemporary popular music. I listened to the Byrds, the Blasters, the Pogues, Nick Lowe, whatever I liked, and began following the threads. Basically, I never turned on the radio again.
1973: Year I first started listening to FM radio: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack
Comment: saccharine treacle, or treacly saccharine? You decide.
I was listening to: George Harrison
1974: Year I bought my first LP ("Revolver"): "Killing Me Softly" Roberta Flack
Comment: [see above]
I was listening to: Beatles
1975: Year I first slow-danced with a girl (Lisa something-that-began-with-"D"): "I Honestly Love You" Olivia Newton-John
Comment: Puke-making musical lard
I was listening to; Steely Dan, Bruce Springsteen
1976: Year I got my first job: "Love Will Keep Us Together" Captain & Tennille
Comment: Bouncy as a zombie on a trampoline. And about as sexy.
I was listening to: Peter Frampton, Aerosmith
1977: Year I played in my first rock band: "This Masquerade" George Benson
Comment: Almost like jazz. Yes, I'm kidding.
I was listening to: Supertramp, "Crime of the Century;" John Coltrane; Fleetwood Mac, "Mystery to Me"
1978: High school graduation: "Hotel California" The Eagles
Comment: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." Actually, you can leave. Right now. Please go. And take the rest of the song with you.
I was listening to: Warren Zevon, "Excitable Boy."
1979: Living on my own in Europe: "Just The Way You Are" Billy Joel
Comment: My favorite song ever! "You're a boring dowdy, but don't bother trying to change." Written to his then-wife. By the time I got back from Europe ha had dumped her and hooked up with a supermodel.
I was listening to: Elvis Costello, "My Aim is True."
1980: First romp in the sack: "What A Fool Believes" The Doobie Brothers
Comment: "Can you imagine doobie in your funk? Ho!" [George Clinton]
I was listening to: Steve Winwood; Genesis, "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
1981: First serious girlfriend: "Sailing" Christopher Cross
Comment: reedy and whiny.
I was listening to: Pink Floyd
1982: First car (1965 Buick Special) "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes
Comment: The vocal smoothness of Tom Waits effortlessly married to the songwriting depth of Barry Manilow.
I was listening to: Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Dave Edmunds
1983: College graduation: "Rosanna" Toto
Comment: I remember sitting in my apartment and hearing this had swept the Grammies, and thinking, "take me now, Lord."
I was listening to: Gregorian chant
1984: First newspaper job: "Beat It" Michael Jackson
Comment: This was the year I gave up altogether on contemporary popular music. I listened to the Byrds, the Blasters, the Pogues, Nick Lowe, whatever I liked, and began following the threads. Basically, I never turned on the radio again.
