Tag Archives: 1980

Happy birthday, Bossman!

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Today we wish the man known as “The Boss” the happiest of birthdays.

Bruce 1973A

Bruce Springsteen circa 1973. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Born September 23, 1949, Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen has been an integral part of the American music canvas for nearly 50 years. In the last one alone he has announced a new tour, sold his song catalog for an astonishing but incredibly well deserved 500 million dollars, released a film featuring his perfomances at the 1979 “No Nukes” concerts and was featured in a book based on his 2021 podcast with former president Barack Obama, Renegades: Born in the USA. He also became a grandfather. And that is just one 12 month stretch in Springsteen’s extraordinary life & career.

I am thankful every day for this man, his art, his poetry, his music, his heart, his soul and his mind. It has been an extraordinary privledge and experience to be part of his audience all these years, to be part of his narrative and to cheer for him at a show. He has won almost every award and honor there is yet he continues to give us everything he has during his marathon concerts. As Bono so eloquently put it when he inducted Springsteen into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, “He’s not the Boss-he works for us!”

Happy birthday, Bruce. Thanks for every note and every word. Cent’anni.

“Now promise me baby you won’t let them find us
Hold me in your arms, let’s let our love blind us
Cover me, shut the door and cover me
I’m looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me“.

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Bruce Springsteen performing at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA on 09/14/2016 (yes, I was there!!!). (Image courtesy of me!)

Bruce Springsteen: “Cover Me” (1980, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

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Music Monday: September 5, 2022

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today we observe Labor Day in the United States. Whether you work the hours referenced in today’s song or any other schedule, whether you do it in a store, an office, on the road, outside or from home, whether you are considered white collar, blue collar or no collar, you are a laborer. A person that makes this country run. Every. Single. Day. We are, as John Lennon sang, working class heroes. May this day of rest-if you are able to observe it-be one of leisure, peace or whatever down time means to you.

“Tumble outta bed and
I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition and
Yawn & stretch & try to come to life“.

Labor

Dolly movie

Top: Telephone operators at the turn of the 20th century. Bottom: Dolly Parton on the phone in the 1980 movie, “9 to 5”. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Dolly Parton: “9 to 5” (1980, written by Dolly Parton).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: October 18, 2021

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Hi, everyone. Welcome back to the blog for this week’s Music Monday.

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On October 17, 1980 Bruce Springsteen released “The River”. As a fan of The Boss I adore all his music but this one holds a particularly special place in my heart. The first time I saw him sing, it was the title track from this double album. I was completely mesmerized by watching him & hearing the heartbreaking lyrics to that incredible song. It solidified my love & admiration for this incredible man for life.

I saw him perform that track in the film “No Nukes” based on the concerts of the same name which took place the year before. Next month all 13 songs from Springsteen’s appearances from the two day benefit concerts in 1979 will finally be released. In honor of this occasion, today’s song is one of the tunes he & The E Street Band performed during those shows. It is the first track from his 1975 paragon of perfection, “Born To Run”. From the moment I heard these lines, I knew my life would never be the same.

“What else can we do now
Except roll down the window
And let the wind
Blow back your hair“.

No Nukes picture

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Thunder Road” (1975, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay well.

Happy birthday, Bossman!

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Today Bruce Springsteen turns 72 years young. Born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, NJ and raised in nearby Freehold, the world was introduced to this genius in the making courtesy of his first album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., released in January 1973. The rest, as they say, is rock & roll history,

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Bruce Springsteen poses on the Sunset Strip in front of a billboard for Born To Run in 1975. Photo by Terry O’Neill.

No one else’s music ever reached me the way his has. Since I discovered it when I was only 12 years old, I thought about him like my older brother who moved out before I was old enough to know him but he kept in touch by writing me these incredible poetic letters set to music. They were about life, heartbreak, betrayal, moments that “just don’t come”, mind-numbing thankless blue collar jobs that barely pay the bills and cashing in a few of your dreams when the promise of life skips over them, to name a few.

He also shared the happiness of the friends he met along the way including Crazy Janie & Her Mission Man, Mary who liked to dance when Roy Orbison songs played on the radio, Sandy on the boardwalk on the Fourth of July, the barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain, all the people out in the streets and, of course, The Big Man. My unbelievably gifted brother made quite a life for himself and took me along for the ride. And they remain some of the greatest times of my life.

So happy birthday, you beautiful deep prolific talented man. May you see 100 more. You will have my heart always. And thanks for sharing it all with me.

Bruce

Bruce Springsteen in 1975 from his Born To Run photo shoot by photographer Eric Meola.

Bruce Springsteen: “Drive All Night” (1980, written by Bruce Springsteen).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 475

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

4th of July

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Happy 245th birthday, America.

“Free
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream“.

Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond circa 2000. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Neil Diamond: “America” (1980, written by Neil Diamond).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 418

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

May blog 2021

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Another rock & roll birthday celebration is upon us. Michigan’s own Bob Seger was born on May 6, 1945. He was the Midwest’s premier voice in the 1970’s & 1980’s. His songs told tales that ranged from teenage lust, life on the road, lost youth and everything in between. Seger’s voice remains one of the best to come out of the classic rock era and his deeply personal songs still ring true.

Today’s song makes me weep from the moment I hear the opening notes, but it was not always like that. I heard it nearly every where I went when I was in high school & back then it just made me wonder how I would look back on the roads I chose to take in the years ahead of me. But then suddenly I was the person in the song, 20 years old one minute and 40 years old the next, wondering how I got from there to here.

The first time I heard this song as an adult it hit me how quickly that time went, how ill prepared I was for the roads I took and probably even for the ones I didn’t. And just like the person in today’s song, “I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then”. A lot of songs deal with teenage angst. But not too many deal with what happens two decades later. That is part of what I love about Bob Seger. And why it has taken me 418 days to feature this song. For those of you still searching for shelter, I hope you find it.

“The years rolled slowly past
And I found myself alone
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends
I found myself further and further from my home and I

Guess I lost my way
There were oh-so-many roads
I was living to run and running to live
Never worried about paying or even how much I owe“.

Bob Seger 1975

Bob Seger circa 1975. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bob Seger: “Against The Wind” (1980, written by Bob Seger).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 398

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

May 2021 blog

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

After years of being in groundbreaking bands like The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic & Blind Faith, multi-instrumentalist & songwriter Steve Winwood officially became a solo artist in 1977 with the release of his self titled debut album. However, it was the follow up record released in 1980 that made people notice.

He co-wrote every song on the album, sang the lead & backing vocals on each one & played all of the instruments himself. It contained his first solo hit, “While You See A Chance”, which was a Top Ten record in 1981. I really like that song but it was the title track which I became completely enamored with.

“I play the piano
No more running honey
This time to the sky I’ll sing
If clouds don’t hear me“.

Winwood

Steve Winwood circa 1987. Image found online.  (Original source unknown.)

Steve Winwood: “Arc Of A Diver” (1980, written by Vivian Stanshall and Steve Winwood).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 297

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Shakespeare music

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

We now join wannabe golfer Carl Spackler in his fantasy about playing in a fake Masters Tournament from 1980, already in progress:

“What an incredible Cinderella story. This unknown comes outta nowhere to lead the pack at Augusta. He’s on his final hole. He’s about 455 yards away, he’s gonna hit about a two iron, I think …

Swat!

Boy, he got all of that. The crowd is standing on its feet here at Augusta. The normally reserved Augusta crowd is going wild … for this young Cinderella who’s come out of nowhere. He’s got about 350 yards left. He’s going to hit about a five iron, it looks like, don’t you think? He’s got a beautiful backswing … That’s …

Swat!

Oh! He got all of that one! He’s gotta be pleased with that. The crowd is just on its feet here. He’s a Cinderella boy, tears in his eyes, I guess, as he lines up this last shot. He’s got about 195 yards left, and he’s got a, it looks like he’s got about an eight iron. This crowd has gone deadly silent. Cinderella story, out of nowhere, former greens keeper, now about to become the Masters champion.

Swat!

It looks like a mirac . . . It’s in the hole! IT’S IN THE HOLE!!!“

If you can listen to today’s pick and not recite that monologue word for word in your head, then you did not have the full “Caddyshack” experience. That includes the theme song by Kenny Loggins, who turns 73 years old today. Born January 7, 1948 in Everett, WA, I love him for many things and that movie is near the top of the list. Also because he had Levittown NY’s pride & joy, Eddie Money, singing back-up on this record.

Caddyshack 1

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Top: Bill Murray doing his best lip curl as Carl Spackler in 1980’s “Caddyshack”. Bottom: Kenny Loggins circa 2010. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Kenny Loggins: “I’m Alright (Theme from “Caddyshack)” (1980, written by Kenny Loggins).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 204

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Ten years before REO Speedwagon released their most successful album in 1980, “Hi Infidelity”, lead guitarist & songwriter Gary Richrath joined the band that was founded in 1967 in Illinois by keyboard player Neil Doughty. Lead singer, songwriter, guitar & piano player Kevin Cronin-who turns 69 today- joined in 1972, left the next year due to alleged “internal conflicts” but returned in 1976. With Bruce Hall on bass and Alan Gratzer on drums. the band put out a few hard rock records in the 1970’s before switching to their more pop oriented sound on the 1980 album.

That had a lot to do with Cronin as the songwriter behind the band’s two number one hits, “Keep On Loving You” from this album & “Can’t Fight This Feeling” from 1984’s “Wheels Are Turnin'”. Both songs were too popish for my taste, but today’s song from the 1980 record written by Richrath was a whole different story. It has a much more hard rock feel thanks to its guitar driven sound including the solo. Also, it is not a tender love song but rather more in line with the name of the album as it tells a tale of betrayal. It went to #5 in 1981 and I absolutely adore it. Richrath stayed with the band until 1989 and passed away in 2015 following stomach surgery. Cronin continues to tour with Doughty, Hall, Dave Amato on lead guitar & Bryan Hitt on drums in the current lineup of REO Speedwagon.

“Take it on the run baby
If that’s the way you want it baby
Then I don’t need you around
I don’t believe it, not for a minute
You’re under the gun so you take it on the run“.

REO

REO Speedwagon circa 1980 (L-R): Bruce Hall, Alan Gratzer, Kevin Cronin, Neil Doughty & Gary Richrath (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

REO Speedwagon: “Take It On The Run” (1980, written by Gary Richrath).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 171

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Bruce quote
(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

He was introduced to the world as Johnny Cougar on his debut album in 1976. By his third album in 1979 he was billed as John Cougar. In 1983 he added his real last name so he became known as John Cougar Mellencamp. Eventually he was simply John Mellencamp. He has been singing about his love of music and his midwestern roots for nearly 45 years in close to 25 studio albums. He co-founded “Farm Aid” in 1985 with Willie Nelson & Neil Young which still continues today with one big concert each year.

Whatever name you associate with him, you probably immediately recall Mellencamp’s more well known hits like “Jack & Diane”, “Hurts So Good” or “Lonely ‘Ol Night”, to name a few. My favorites include “Check It Out”, “Cherry Bomb” and “Pink Houses”. But to narrow it down to one, today’s song wins in an extremely close race. It is from his fourth album, 1980’s “Nothing Matters And What If It Did”, produced by soul legend & guitar great, Steve Cropper. This was Mellencamp’s third career single and the first to crack to top 40. The premise is a lot like “Fooled Around And Fell In Love”, where the singer describes how he was the love them & leave them type until he met the one he could not walk away from. I must admit I really like songs where guys own what the right one does to their heart.

“You got your arms around my shoulders
You got my soul confused with my heart
You were too smart to believe all those tired lines
And I was too dumb to know what had started“.

John Cougar Mellencamp circa 1980 (L) and 2019 (R). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

John Cougar Mellencamp:  “This Time” (1980, written by John Cougar Mellencamp).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.