tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post114598524466588969..comments2024-01-28T22:16:50.852-06:00Comments on Mr. Dilettante’s Neighborhood: Annus mirabilis - RepostMr. Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-44226224247884931682008-04-21T22:42:00.000-05:002008-04-21T22:42:00.000-05:00"The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace--A staple a..."The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace--A staple at local sports stadiums when the windy city teams come to play. <BR/><BR/>Of course, there was "Life is a Rock (but the Radio Rolled me)" (Reunion) "Alone Again, Naturally" and "Claire" (Gilbert O' Sullivan), "Emma" by Hot Chocolate. <BR/><BR/>Paul McCartney did "Jet" and "Helen Wheels" and "Junior's Farm."<BR/><BR/>But "Lady" by Styx wasn't too bad.Leo Pusaterihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14616643749168219759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-64997096686085149222008-04-21T21:12:00.000-05:002008-04-21T21:12:00.000-05:00Sorry about the omission SA, but truth be told, I'...Sorry about the omission SA, but truth be told, I've been trying to forget all of those songs for years.Mr. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-56167875278227323572008-04-21T18:49:00.000-05:002008-04-21T18:49:00.000-05:00You forgot "Kung Fu Fighting". My friends and I sp...You forgot "Kung Fu Fighting". My friends and I spent about a month kicking the snot out of each other on the playground after that one came out.Strolling Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931209395206733161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-70907542630998776092008-04-21T12:38:00.000-05:002008-04-21T12:38:00.000-05:00I think your analysis is pretty much spot-on, NW. ...I think your analysis is pretty much spot-on, NW. Angst-filled, whiny and somewhat schizo is how I remember it, although at the time I wasn't quite old enough to fully understand some of it (I was 10 in 1974). And where the expression was probably most forthright was on the R&B side of things - IIRC, 1974 was the year that the O'Jays came out with "For The Love of Money," which was just redolent with paranoia.<BR/><BR/>And I fully support your Barry White theory. Lushly orchestrated kielbasa.Mr. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-43529991354703485632008-04-21T10:52:00.000-05:002008-04-21T10:52:00.000-05:00Geez, I should get my own blog.Geez, I should get my own blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-82983662225989483542008-04-21T10:50:00.000-05:002008-04-21T10:50:00.000-05:00I think 1974 was an ugly year and a transition yea...I think 1974 was an ugly year and a transition year for the culture in general, and this was reflected in the music. <BR/><BR/>The Viet Nam war was ongoing but in a death spiral with the public, we were having major convulsions in our gas supply and pricing <I>(I know, I was pumping a lot of that gas for $2.25 an hour)</I>, I believe Nixon's wage and price freeze was that year, and the U.S. auto industry made some of its worst cars ever in terms of style, performance and reliability as it was just beginning to realize that Japan was kicking its butt and eating its lunch. At least disco hadn't emerged yet!<BR/><BR/>The music reflected our cultural angst and whiny lack of self-confidence - suggesting why "The Way We Were" and "Seasons in the Sun" were the #1 and #2 songs of the year. <BR/><BR/>It was a time where people clung to safe (John Denver and Olivia Newton-John had multiple hits that year), while some urban grittiness was also emerging (Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City"). You had Donnie & Marie on the charts the same time as Todd Rundgren, movie themes were popular and nearly as schizo (the afore-mentioned TWWW, The Entertainer, Love's Theme from Love Story...and Tubulur Bells). We also had a big hit from a band that only sang English phonetically (Waterloo by Abba) and a hit by Barry White, Never Gonna Give You Up. Actually, my theory is that all of Barry White's "songs" were just one long song simply extruded and tied off every four minutes like link bologna. And if all that wasn't weird enough for you, how about these lyrics: "Some people call me the space cowboy, some people call me the gangster of love; some people call me Maurice, 'cause I speak of the pompitous of love." (I wonder if anyone's launched a blog called Pompitous of Love yet?). <BR/><BR/>On a positive note, Eric Clapton brought reggae mainstream with I Shot the Sheriff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-1146244908876840212006-04-28T12:21:00.000-05:002006-04-28T12:21:00.000-05:00Hey cha chi,Never took a class with Diane Paltzer....Hey cha chi,<BR/><BR/>Never took a class with Diane Paltzer. If you want to blame somebody, it has to be the redoubtable Sr. Renita, the frightening nun from Central Casting. 25 years on, I can honestly say she changed my life more than any other teacher I had. But I'm still a little scared of her.Mr. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-1146244753613646392006-04-28T12:19:00.000-05:002006-04-28T12:19:00.000-05:00Hey Stinger,Yep, "Convoy" was amazingly bad. It h...Hey Stinger,<BR/><BR/>Yep, "Convoy" was amazingly bad. It has to be heard to be believed.Mr. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-1146202185870667022006-04-28T00:29:00.000-05:002006-04-28T00:29:00.000-05:00I see that the comments of this editor's blog are ...I see that the comments of this editor's blog are very accurate, not to mention the challenging vocabulary. Does Marnie Centon, Dianne Paltzer or Denny O get the credit?<BR/><BR/>It appears that one of your bloggers, who shall remain "anonymous" can't figure out the difference between "2" and "to" or "too".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-1146095443951743352006-04-26T18:50:00.000-05:002006-04-26T18:50:00.000-05:00Don't forget my personal favorite horrific song, "...Don't forget my personal favorite horrific song, "Chevy Van." <BR/><BR/>What about "Convoy?" I just heard that song for possibly the first time recently. That was horrible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-1146071859950678812006-04-26T12:17:00.000-05:002006-04-26T12:17:00.000-05:00Both fine choices, anonymous, as examples of dreck...Both fine choices, anonymous, as examples of dreck. This is a nearly inexhaustible topic; as long as foolish people have access to recording equipment, we will have more and more contenders. I think another related topic worth pursuing is the "so bad they're great" songs. Stay tuned....Mr. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-1146054542683450972006-04-26T07:29:00.000-05:002006-04-26T07:29:00.000-05:00I'm not sure who wrote the song, but "I've been to...I'm not sure who wrote the song, but "I've been to Paridise, But I've Never Been to Me" has to be one of the worst. Another is "Torn Between to Lovers"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com