When the year started, I was less than six months away from graduating high school. Michelle and Paula became the central focus of my social life, along with John J., Mauro, and Eric. John had graduated early and was already embarking on his college life. He spent a lot of time with us though. Weekend nights with “the gang” were a given.
What a pivotal year for you! I love the progression from feeling friendless after the move to Palatine to being quite the bell (no “e” at the end for male) of the ball by graduation. This will be very familiar to those who blossomed in high school. I know or have met most of these people and with one rare exception, like them all.
Late with my list again! It’s almost time for the next edition!
No order, as usual.
Stop Dragging My Heart Around - Nicks & Petty
Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
Her Town Too - Taylor & Souther (This is a great song)
The Break-Up Song - J. Geils Band
Stone In Love - Journey
Promises in The Dark - Pat Benatar
Seven Year Ache - Roseanne Cash
Tempted - Squeeze
Don’t You Want Me - Human League
Shadows of The Night - Pat Benatar
Runners up include: Angel in Blue (Greg Kahn Band), Leather & Lace (Nicks & Henley), Fire & Ice (Benatar), Der Kommisar (Falco)
Believe it or not (Greatest American Hero Theme Song 🤣😜 - Joey Scarbury), Betty Davids Eyes (Kim Carnes), Leader of the Band (Fogelberg),
Ain’t Even Done with the Night (Mellencamp), The Waiting (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), The Best That You Can Do (Arthur’s Theme - Christopher Cross), Harden My Heart (Quarterflash), Jessie’s Girl (Rick Springfield), Key Largo 🤷♀️ (Bertie Higgins … I was going through a major Humphrey Bogart movies obsession)
Love so many of these! Benatar's stuff was great but for some reason she never made my Top Ten. Don't recall that Journey song. Maybe it was an album cut? Der Kommisar comes up later as a remake....
Yes, Perkins was a big chain. They’re no longer here in the Chicago area. Loved Men at Work! I’ve got them mentioned in ‘82 which I think was the release year here. Thanks for your support!
Beautiful stuff, Dan!! And the sexual exploration and growth is just another way this project reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis' The Shards. Keep up the great work.
Your memoir is beyond outstanding. I get so wrapped up in the story that, even though I'm reading it with your voice in my head, I forget that I actually KNOW the main character! ❤️
Well, Dan, you've certainly turned a story-telling corner, haven't you? And, I can't thank you enough!! I'll try to stick to the music (and may DM you for other comments😛!) We were in L.A. at the same time in '81! I moved from Houston in early '80, and was working at the Glendale Music Plus in '81 (did you stop by???!!! I know you were just visiting, and I think it was So. Cal-only, but 'twas a large record store chain, in case your visit with Tony never included record stores).
What must have been around January '81 (he released "Jessie's Girl" in Feb), Rick fell by my store (I was ass't mgr)....he lived in Glendale at the time. It's quite likely he was less willing to "go out in public" after both single and album zoomed up the charts (not sure how much, if at all, "Gen Hospital" overlapped with this....that, too, of course, added to his public "famousness"), so seeing him that day was to be a rare encounter!
I had his 3 previous '70s albums ('72, Capitol Records, "Beginnings", "Comic Book Heroes" the next year on Columbia Records, and his '76 "Wait For Night" on tiny Chelsea Records), so I recognized him right away. I decided to be a tad cheeky, and asked him, "Has anyone ever told you you look like Rick Springfield?" He chuckled, and was very nice. As much as I would've loved to have engaged him in any kind of convo, well, I was working, and decided (for once!) to act professionally, and not pester him!!!
But, now, can you (or anyone) see how long it takes (and he was on TWO major labels!!!) to become "an overnight success"??!! RCA was his 3rd major label when "Jessie" hit!
Ha! Glad you're enjoying these! When you say Rick fell at your store did you mean that literally?! Was he hurt?! I'm not familiar with much of his pre-Jessie's Girl music except for Speak to the Sky. I will check the others out.
I said "fell by" as in dropped in! That may be a Texas phrasing! I forgot about his "Speak" hit....if not for "Jessie," he'd-a been forever known as a one-hit wonder!!
This would be my Top 10 songs from that year (in pretty much chronological order)
Rapture-Blondie
What Kind of Fool-Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
How ‘Bout Us-Champaign
Sweetheart-Frankie and the Knockouts
The Stroke-Billy Squire
In the Air Tonight-Phil Collins
Draw of the Cards-Kim Carnes
Physical-Olivia Newton-John
Waiting for a Girl Like You-Foreigner
I Can’t Go For That-Hall and Oates
……………….
ALSO LOVED THESE:
Queen of Hearts-Juice Newton. ……. We’re in this Love Together-Al Jarreau
Touch Me When We’re Dancing-Carpenters. ….. Living Inside Myself-Gino Vanelli
Urgent-Foreigner. …….. When She Was My Girl-Four Tops
Betty Davis Eyes-Kim Carnes. ……. Ah, Leah-Donny Iris
Really Wanna Know You-Gary Wright. …….. Harden My Heart-Quarterflash
Slow Hand-Pointer Sisters. …… Who’s Crying Now-Journey
All good songs!
What a pivotal year for you! I love the progression from feeling friendless after the move to Palatine to being quite the bell (no “e” at the end for male) of the ball by graduation. This will be very familiar to those who blossomed in high school. I know or have met most of these people and with one rare exception, like them all.
Late with my list again! It’s almost time for the next edition!
No order, as usual.
Stop Dragging My Heart Around - Nicks & Petty
Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
Her Town Too - Taylor & Souther (This is a great song)
The Break-Up Song - J. Geils Band
Stone In Love - Journey
Promises in The Dark - Pat Benatar
Seven Year Ache - Roseanne Cash
Tempted - Squeeze
Don’t You Want Me - Human League
Shadows of The Night - Pat Benatar
Runners up include: Angel in Blue (Greg Kahn Band), Leather & Lace (Nicks & Henley), Fire & Ice (Benatar), Der Kommisar (Falco)
Believe it or not (Greatest American Hero Theme Song 🤣😜 - Joey Scarbury), Betty Davids Eyes (Kim Carnes), Leader of the Band (Fogelberg),
Ain’t Even Done with the Night (Mellencamp), The Waiting (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), The Best That You Can Do (Arthur’s Theme - Christopher Cross), Harden My Heart (Quarterflash), Jessie’s Girl (Rick Springfield), Key Largo 🤷♀️ (Bertie Higgins … I was going through a major Humphrey Bogart movies obsession)
Love so many of these! Benatar's stuff was great but for some reason she never made my Top Ten. Don't recall that Journey song. Maybe it was an album cut? Der Kommisar comes up later as a remake....
Stone in Love was an album cut … from Escape
Great work, Dan! meant to say it earlier, but this is your story to tell, and I think you're doing it fantastically.
As for 1981 music? There's a lot to pick from, but here are a couple of faves:
1. Pretenders- 'Message of Love'
2. Men at Work- 'Down Under'
3. The Police- 'Every Little Thing She Does is magic (actually, the entire record might count here0.
P.S. Is the Perkins you mention the same one that's now a regional chain? I didn't live out here then.
Yes, Perkins was a big chain. They’re no longer here in the Chicago area. Loved Men at Work! I’ve got them mentioned in ‘82 which I think was the release year here. Thanks for your support!
Beautiful stuff, Dan!! And the sexual exploration and growth is just another way this project reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis' The Shards. Keep up the great work.
Wow! That is a great compliment! I need to check out The Shards. Thanks for the recommendation!
Also. So weird. We probably crossed paths at that Foreigner concert.
I think I remember seeing you there....
Beyond powerful
Aw! Thank you!
Your memoir is beyond outstanding. I get so wrapped up in the story that, even though I'm reading it with your voice in my head, I forget that I actually KNOW the main character! ❤️
Thank you! We are almost at the Bernie years!
I'm dying to know if "Never Had A Dream Come True" makes your Top ten or is a runner-up. Don't tell me! I want to be surprised. 😉
Ha! Well, that depends on if the guy at the train station ever recorded it! We'll see...
I know I'm waiting for the movie!
Well, I've made a few short films! Haven't quite told this story on film yet!
I'm taking that "yet" and holding onto hope!
Well, Dan, you've certainly turned a story-telling corner, haven't you? And, I can't thank you enough!! I'll try to stick to the music (and may DM you for other comments😛!) We were in L.A. at the same time in '81! I moved from Houston in early '80, and was working at the Glendale Music Plus in '81 (did you stop by???!!! I know you were just visiting, and I think it was So. Cal-only, but 'twas a large record store chain, in case your visit with Tony never included record stores).
What must have been around January '81 (he released "Jessie's Girl" in Feb), Rick fell by my store (I was ass't mgr)....he lived in Glendale at the time. It's quite likely he was less willing to "go out in public" after both single and album zoomed up the charts (not sure how much, if at all, "Gen Hospital" overlapped with this....that, too, of course, added to his public "famousness"), so seeing him that day was to be a rare encounter!
I had his 3 previous '70s albums ('72, Capitol Records, "Beginnings", "Comic Book Heroes" the next year on Columbia Records, and his '76 "Wait For Night" on tiny Chelsea Records), so I recognized him right away. I decided to be a tad cheeky, and asked him, "Has anyone ever told you you look like Rick Springfield?" He chuckled, and was very nice. As much as I would've loved to have engaged him in any kind of convo, well, I was working, and decided (for once!) to act professionally, and not pester him!!!
But, now, can you (or anyone) see how long it takes (and he was on TWO major labels!!!) to become "an overnight success"??!! RCA was his 3rd major label when "Jessie" hit!
My favorite album of his is the "Wait For Night" '76 one. I featured one of its songs on a recent "Yacht Pop Anchors" edition. See what you think...and the other songs in the piece you may like, as well! https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/yacht-pop-anchors-4-great-buildings?utm_source=publication-search
In case you thought I wasn't hooked on your Top 10 Memoirs to this point, I certainly am now! It's cold shower time!😁👍
Ha! Glad you're enjoying these! When you say Rick fell at your store did you mean that literally?! Was he hurt?! I'm not familiar with much of his pre-Jessie's Girl music except for Speak to the Sky. I will check the others out.
I said "fell by" as in dropped in! That may be a Texas phrasing! I forgot about his "Speak" hit....if not for "Jessie," he'd-a been forever known as a one-hit wonder!!