Allison, I remember each and everyone of these. They were all huge hits when we moved to Germany in the summer of 1976, like they JUST made it to Europe. I had a flashback on each title, especially Chicago songs. Reminded me of my ski trip with my high school to Austria! Funny, I have the BeeGees album — still!

Actually, I was listening a couple of these songs this week. “Best of my Love” popped among my songs, as did “Lady”, “Daniel – Its one of the songs Craig & J’Neil are singing around here” and “Desperado”. I guess I need to go check out those YouTube videos.

Is this the list I found and mailed to you a while back? Of course I still love anything “Bread” and “Smoke On The Water” will always remind me of stake dances. Ahh memories.

I remember all these songs well. Love the one hit wonders in there. Whatever happened to Sugarloaf and Ambrosia?? I had no idea that song was by Chaka Khan!!

Isn’t this fun? I had totally forgotten several of these songs, so it was fun to find them on YouTube. I love the dancing horn players on the KC & the Sunshine Band video….

In listening, I was also reminded of how timeless some of these songs are. A few of them would still top my favorits list and I think I’m going to need to buy a few of them at iTunes.

Michelle – I think the list you sent me was one that accompanied a vhs tape I made of MTV videos I made in the 80’s… (because my love of music lists didn’t die when I graduated from high school 🙂 )

I need to find that envelope – it arrived the week your dad died and we never got to revel in it : )

Slow Ride by Foghat might could go in that list. Didn’t you guys dance to that one at the church dances? Or how about Play That Funky Music?

The funniest part of looking back at some of these songs is realizing how we were totally oblivious (mostly) to what the lyrics were really saying. Afternoon Delight? What is THAT!? No, wait. Based on this list, Allison, you listened to all the innocent songs (well, except for that sex-crazed KC and his Sunshine Band). I listened to harder, rougher exciting stuff, it seems. While most people were listing to Muskrat Love and Paul Anka singing You’re Having My Baby I wanted to hear Exile sing I Want To Kiss You All Over or listen to Live and Let Die or even better: Smoking In The Boys Room.

And was I the only one listening to Tony & Roger’s Aerosmith & Rush records?
What about Walk This Way or Last Child?. “Toys in the Attic” and “Rocks” both had a temporary stay in our basement, as did “Hemispheres” and “2112” by Rush. Okay, we now know where my taste in music came from. Tony & Roger. Blame them. It’s been 30 years and I still can’t get enough Rush (Who celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2004 and just release their 19th studio album and played to sold out shows all over the country this summer — we attended 8 of them from California to Washington- yes, same tour, 8 times – Did I mention our family likes Rush?).

While I spent the end of the 70’s listening to Rush and Van Halen (Did I actually say those two in the same sentence?! Appalling.) the songs of the mid 70’s were delightful. Whether fun (Black Waterr), sweet (Tie a Yellow Ribbon), innocent (And they called it Puppy Love…), or not (Chevy Van), silly (Shaving cream, be nice and clean…), stupid (Midnight at the Oasis…), Ponderous (Time in a Bottle), cool (Don’t Fear The Reaper) or whatever; if you take the top 100 songs from any year after 1980, nothing can compare with a sampling of the 70’s. Really — how can anyone tolerate “My Humps” after growing up on Smoke on the Water?

By the way, I LOVED Jackie Blue.

Well, this was just one list from one day in my diary of 1975 🙂

I have other days filled with some of these, and many other songs (including many you’ve listed here). I wasn’t introduced to Aerosmith’s “Toys In The Attic” until several months later – but I loved it. In fact, I thought I owned it, but maybe it was Tony’s….

As you know, Kris, I never could get into Rush. I remember Tony and Roger calling me out to their car to listen to some new song or album they were wo excited about. They were on the edge of their seats anticipating my enthusiastic response…. but they didn’t get it. Just sounded like noise to me… and they both emphatically said, “BUT IT’S RUSH!!!” (like that explanation would make all the difference). I just shrugged, and they were so disappointed. So it is good that you carried on the Rush fandom for our family. I can appreciate the band’s skill, but it doesn’t sound very musical to me… I STILL don’t get it 🙂

Your comments on the lyrics – I was thinking that as I found the YouTube videso and watched…. I was so naive and innocent – no idea what they were really referring to in some of these songs

Jackie Blue has always reminded me of you.

OK, I just listened to Slow Ride on you tube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=am_GqVsuaKA

Honestly, I had no idea that song was about sex when we were dancing to it in Jr. & High school 🙂 LOL… No idea, even though I sang along with the words…. slow ride on a train? While moving (dancing) to the music?

What a crackup.

Speaking of Sugarloaf…. I didn’t realize they were the ones who sang “Green Eyed Lady” – which was a song that always kind of creeped me out for some reason.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1PHk9FhIk

Kris – you know, it’s funny but I don’t remember you being a rush fan until we were adults… I don’t remember Rush albums being played – but I DO remember Van Halen and your bondaged rat poster 🙂

It’s fun that you and the family have a musical passion your can share together. I’m glad you’ve been able to attend so many concerts – nothing like live performances to cement your bond to a band.

Re: Rush

You probably did not know I liked them because when I was younger I did not own any of the albums until Permanent Waves (1980) and Moving Pictures came out. (Surely you can remember the song “Spirit of Radio”? It’s a fan favorite) But both Craig & Scott had Rush albums I listened to, and then there were those of Tony’s that I listened to previously (When you weren’t around, of course, as I didn’t want to get caught playing with other people’s stuff). I started collecting them when I was about 14 though I tempered them with such things as AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Kansas and Journey. By the time I was out of the Marines, I had collected all their albums to date.

However, it is true that the bondaged rat was a larger force when I was 14. Fortunately, I came to my senses. Rush is a much better choice.

Oh, and when remembering Aerosmith, we can’t forget “Sweet Emotion” and “Dream On”.

Yes, it is great that my family all likes the same music. At least for now. My kids think most of the music being recorded today is crap.

Okay, I just have to post these for your potential viewing pleasure.

This is an old Spirit of Radio video from a concert — but it was amazing seeing them play this from the front row this July. Truly. One of the funnest experiences I have had in many years.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iPuOGaoDeIE

And Allison, I wish this were a better clip, neither the sound or picture are very good — it’s from their current tour — the introduction to the song “Tom Sawyer”. I know you find them unmemorable, but you have to at least see this one (while it’s still there):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLbHoay_B74

Wow!. I loved a lot of these songs and was in my early thirties, raising three kids at the time. I remember canning peaches with my friend Lorraine while our kids were in school and taking breaks, drinking Tab and singing our fool heads of. I’m sure our “highly strung” LDS neighbors were appalled, especially since I was in the Stake Relief Society at the time and Lorraine’s husband was on the High Council. Ah sweet memories.

Should I have mentioned that we had Rum and Cokes too, plus oodles of yummy chocolate?

LOL… that does make the story even better 🙂

FYI
Meatloaf now lives in the North of England in a town that was one of my old stomping grounds.