Summer in the City, Lovin’ Spoonful

In my preteen and early teen years I spent a lot of time in my room listening to records. Some of Mom’s old 33’s, then 45’s handed down to me from my brothers. That’s how I came to know the Lovin’ Spoonful’s song “Do You Believe in Magic?” But the version I first listened to was actually a later cover by Sean Cassidy. It would be years later before I would hear the original, which somehow felt more mature than the happy, smiley Sean Cassidy version.

Image by JLB1988 from Pixabay

I’m pretty sure the “Summer in the City” single on my record player was the original, though, and talk about gritty and mature. I don’t know how you get grit and depth into a song that seems to be just a simple teen tune about going out in town on a hot summer night, but there’s something about it, whether its the key changes, the tempo . . . I am sure Brian could give me an excellent musical analysis for how this song has impressed listeners and critics alike.

It was their only number one single, but released in 1966, it was their fifth song to make it into the top ten. The band’s songwriter John Sebastian reworked a song written by his 14-year-old brother, Mark and created some major-minor key contrast between the verses and chorus. I can’t find any information on whether Mark was pleased with the results of his big brother’s changes, but I suspect he didn’t mind being part of the creation of a number one hit.

I’m heading to the city with Brian this weekend and it will be hot. He’ll be playing in a gaming tournament while Eliot, our pup, and I dip our toes in at the beach on Long Island. Wish us luck!

Me and You and a Dog Named Boo, and Two Cats Too

In the same era as Cat Stevens’ “Moon Shadow” from yesterday, we go to a top ten song from 1971 that you are probably familiar with. It’s on my mind this morning because Eliot has been behind again on his hair cuts and is getting a spring shave down today. I need to get better on staying non top of his mane before it starts to matt up. In truth, we’re just going to have to get him on a regular schedule so it doesn’t get put off.

Boo is one of his many nicknames, along with Bear, Bug Bear, Bubby, and Muppet. The other two fur balls in the house are Oscar who is about the same age as Eliot (2 years) and the veteran, 15-year old Milton who tolerates the youngsters as best he can.

I imagine Roland Kent Lavoie’s life became a bit easier after he became known as just Lobo, which is Spanish for wolf, not to be confused with the Lobo of DC Comics. His music certainly became well known and loved. This song hit number five in the US top 100, charted in the UK and helped lead him toward popularity in New Zealand and Southeast Asia as well. He may not be traveling and living off the land these days, but he’s still out there at 81 years of age, and hopefully still singing.

Bicycle Race by Queen

The last memory I have of the banana seat bike from yesterday’s post was going over the handlebars and scraping up my nose on the sidewalk in front of the laundromat on Bald Eagle Street in Lock Haven. The absurdity of it. A buddy of mine came running to help, and it just so happened that he was in his Boy Scout uniform, probably getting ready to go to a club meeting. The memory is better than a scene from That Seventies Show, me trying to wave him away, crying but embarrassed and wanting to be left alone, not rescued.

Aside from being pushed off my bike by a bully once, the only other memory I can summon about tiger-striped banana seat cycle is getting stung by a yellow jacket that had been resting under the handlebar when I grabbed hold of it. Ouch. I’ve hated bees and anything with a stinger ever since.

Eventually, after we moved to Charlton, I remember having a ten-speed bike. I can’t say that I ever really got the hang of working those gears because it always felt so tough to pedal, but we did have a lot of fun racing downhill past a church and onto River Road. Had there been any cars coming, it could have gotten ugly. Those were the days before safety helmets too. Somehow we all survived. Isn’t that the Gen X mantra?

And for our finale this week, this song needs no introduction.

Dance With Me, 1975

I don’t know about you, but I need a slow dance at this point. I know it’s Friday and we usually kick up our heels a bit more, but grab a partner, a coat rack or your cat, and let’s sway slowly today. It’ll be good for our nerves. We started our dance tour this week in the early 2000’s on Tuesday with the Scissor Sisters, jumped back to the 60’s for a song from Martha and the Vandellas, then skipped to the 80’s yesterday to dance with the Kinks. Today, we step back to the mid 70’s for a more mellow dance tune with a band called Orleans.

This song brings back a lot of memories, not from high school, but from my younger childhood days, when I looked like I did in those photos up there. I used to listen to my brothers’ old 45’s and my mom’s old 33’s, even some occasional 8-track tapes. Ah, the benefit of those 8-tracks, when the album was over, it started back at the beginning again. The stuff I bought for myself in those days, when I had a few bucks, was usually on cassette. Whatever way I could get the music, old or new, I spent a lot of time in my bedroom listening to it, and songs like this just take me right back.

Orleans was also known for songs like “Love Takes Time” and “Still the One.” I think “Dance With Me” stands the test of time.

Immigrant Song, Thor meets Led Zeppelin

We’ve done a few deep dives this week, so I’ll try to make our Friday Song of the Day intro more simple. When I brought this song up at work, it was Atticus Ross’s version with Trent Reznor and Karen O that came to mind for Mitch. That amazing cover appeared in 2011 over the credits of the film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Over the previous decade, the Led Zeppelin original from 1970, highlighting Jack Black’s participation, was featured in the movie School of Rock in 2003, and in 2007 it was a battle cry in Shrek the Third.

So, this number has had some serious staying power in popular culture. It’s most recent reappearance was in 2017 with Thor, his “friend from work,” The Hulk, Loki, and a cast of . . . is it thousands or hundreds? I don’t remember, let’s watch the scene. Happy Friday. Remember, as the students at the library like to tell me, “You slay.”