I Can't Tell You Why
Timothy Schmidt's vocals on this song are so lovely and androgynous that it became a Linda Ronstadt tune in my mind.
I think the mental production of this song, which I probably haven't heard in 20 years or so, is a result of listening to a Steely Dan Pandora station this weekend with friends. N'est ce pas, Jess et Chris?
Artist: Eagles
Year: 1980
Rating: Warm
Turn to Stone
ELO always reminds me of my ex-girlfriend's parents. One of the rock bands they returned to loving after having banned all pop culture for several years to do right by Jesus. Interesting that this song evokes the story of Lot in Genesis. Hopefully none of us will turn to stone for enjoying ELO; we might rock out, though.
Artist: ELO
Year: 1977
Rating: Luke Hot
Apologies for bad puns.
Tom Sawyer
This song was hot in 1982 when I was in a fifth-sixth grade combination class at Daves Avenue School in Los Gatos, California. One of the sixth graders convinced Mrs. Ringsted to play it in class during the time we were reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The class also took a field trip to the Town & Country shopping center on Winchester and Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose to see a revival screening of the 1973 film Tom Sawyer, starring little Johnny Whitaker and everybody's favorite Surprise! Hollywood! Lesbian! Jodie Foster.
Post Script: The janky, underpopulated Town and Country Village is long-since defunct, and currently the site of upscale "Satan Row" as we call it in the San Jo vernacular. Where have all the old strip malls gone? Sigh.
And this is the string of memory I recall whenever I hear that opening Middle Earth-Meets Outerspace synth line and firm Neil Peart drum intro.
Artist: Rush
Year: 1981
Rating: Hot!
If You Leave Me Now
Cheesy or not, Cetera and Co. hit on the anticipatory anxiety of loss that is a nearly universal human emotion: leave me, and part of me, surely, will die. Am I feeling this epic about the anticipation of lost love today? Part of my mental tinkerings always go to this well-trodden topic.
Artist: Chicago
Year: 1976
Rating: Luke Hot
Note: This song has appeared in the blog before, as part of a Chicago retrospect entry.
Father Christmas
Occupy Xmas! First holiday song that's been in my head this season that I haven't actually heard in the Ethers yet.
Artist: The Kinks
Year: 1977
Rating: Luke Hot
Who's Crying Now? Redux, Deux
Last in my head on February 10, 2012. First blogged June 20, 2009.
Artist: Journey
Year: 1981
Rating: Warm
Artist: Journey
Year: 1981
Rating: Warm
Count It Higher
Fantastic song to wake up to! One of the very best from the Sesame Street oeuvre, in my head for no particular reason at all. Patterned after the ubiquitous 60's hit Twist and Shout, writer/singer Christopher Cerf completely commits to the rock 'n' roll vocal on this educational ditty. This is the kind of song that makes a kid feel fucking cool watching Sesame Street!
Artist: Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats (Christopher Cerf, Jeff Moss, and Jerry Nelson)
Year: 1973
Rating: Hot!
Sour Times
Emerged in consciousness after a night traipsing through the rain in the Mission, content, curious, and just a shade of lonely.
Artist: Portishead
Year: 1994
Rating: Warm
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