Hey, it’s Jerrald Hayes….Do you remember the music you listened to in high school? I think we all remember “Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack,” but what else were you listening to back then?
I was listening to tunes while out riding my bicycle the other day and I put together some of what I recall from back then. I can recall hanging out just outside the gym before I’m guessing what was a summer time football practice listening to somebody’s car radio playing a song by this new guy named Bruce Springsteen called “Spirit in the Night” (Or maybe it was “Blinded by the Light“? It was a long time ago.)
What do you recall? What were you listening to back then?
In addition to helping Ian Gilchrist with photographs from the period for the proverbial slideshow, Peter Ruppert has offered to put together the music soundtrack for the show. Way to step up, Peter and Ian!
Some other songs I vaguely recall…
- Moondance, by Van Morrison
- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, by Jim Croce
- You’re So Vain, by Carly Simon
- Reelin’ In the Years, by Steely Dan
- Tiny Dancer, by Elton John
- Stairway to Heaven, by Led Zeppelin
That’s about all I can dig up right now. Please add your favorite songs below, so Peter can try to add them to the soundtrack.
Allman Brothers, Greatful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt and the Doors were some of the acts I listened to during HS. Here is a top 100 list from ’73: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1973.htm
Allman bros
maria muldaur and linda ronstadt
Hey guys who you were listening to is easy. What you were listening to is really what were after. For instance I could say Springsteen but what songs?
In fact sometimes our memories play tricks on us too. I have this memory of listening to Born To Run while sitting in the cafeteria except there is one big problem with that recollection…Born To Run didn’t come out until August 25, 1975 so unless I was psychic that never happened.
Statesboro Blues-Alman Bros, It ain’t the Meat its the Motion-Maria Muldaur, The Joni Mitchell song that had a verse about paving a parking lot.
I recall our friend Billy Christensen turning me on to Jesse Colin Young’s (a founding member of the The Youngbloods) Song for Juli album and I saw the vinyl evidence of that memory in the basement just the other day.
Youngbloods–now that is a great memory. I loved listening to that music.
So many songs & bands come to mind: Allman Bros (Melissa, Statesboro Blues, Whipping Post, Blue Sky), Eric Clapton’s 461 Ocean Blvd. (Let it Grow, Mainline Florida, Lay Down Sally), Poco (Good Feeling to Know), Mungo Jerry ( In the Summertime), Beach Boys (CA Girls, Sloop John B), Grateful Dead (American Beauty), New Riders of the Purple Sage, Van Morrison (Blue Money, Moondance, Tupelo Honey), The Doors (Love Her Madly, LA Woman,
Hello, I Love You)….and more!
Excellent list
Wow, good list Susan. Mungo Jerry yeah! I never would have pulled that one up.
Seals and Crofts, Carole King’s “Tapestry,” definitely Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” and “American Woman” by the Guess Who.
Moody Blues, (Tuesday Afternoon, Gypsy, Timothy Leary, et al), Santana, (Evil Ways, I Ain’t Got Nobody, Black Magic Woman) ELP, (Lucky Man, Tarkus, Karn Evil 9, Tank), Yes, (And You and I, Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Starship Trooper), Doobie Brothers, (Listen To the Music, Long Train Runnin’) Steeley Dan, (Do it Again, Reelin in the Years, Rikki Don’t lose That Number, Bodhisattva), King Crimson, (The Court of the Crimson King), Chicago, (25 or 6 to 4, I’m A Man, Beginnings, Make Me Smile), Fleetwood Mac, (Emerald Eyes, Hypnotized) I could go on…
Ollie – The Joni Mitchell song that had a verse about paving a parking lot was called, “Big Yellow Taxi”. I was a big fan of her, too.
Laura Nyro, Seals and Crofts, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell (For The Roses- with the “scandalous” nude photo on the inside of the album cover), Todd Rundgren (Something/ Anything), Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan all come to mind. These folks wrote interesting music with very original harmonies. They also wrote meaningful lyrics. (Is there any songwriter around today that can write poetry the way Joni Mitchell did) Well, okay, some of Steely Dan’s lyrics are a little out there. (What the heck was the song Bodhisattva about anyway?)
Senior year? Who can forget listening to our own band Iceberg with their renditions of classic songs such as “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple! On radio and in concert there was Allman Bros, ELP, Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Edgar Winter, The Who, Led Zepplin, Golden Earring, The Eagles, Queen, Mott the Hoople, Bad Company, Santana, and Mountain just to name a few.
My eldest brother Bob (’67 class) told me that Jimmy Hendricks played at one of the proms he went to prior to Hendricks making it big.
How many of you can still sing all the verses to Bye Bye Miss American Pie?
I don’t know how we’ve all overlooked this one but how about Billy Joel’s Piano Man. The first time I clearly remember hearing it I was with Andy Levine, in his car or mine I don’t know, but we were on Marcourt Dr. and then Valley View going somewhere around senior musical time of year.
many of the above, but most memorable: YES! I will hear them tomorrow night at Radio City Music Hall and again on Saturday on Long Island (Fragile and Close to the Edge albums). They are my favorite of all time. Since high school, I became a huge fan of the Allman’s (seen them many times live at the Beacon), Led Zeppelin (The Song Remains the Same, Siberian Khatru – that was college). What can I say? I was a definite late bloomer. Tom Stroh, sorry I don’t remember you, but your music list is MY music list. Great choices! p.s. I don’t think anyone mentioned Bread or Sweet Caroline or Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Marshall Tucker, Poco, Buffalo Springfield or Stevie Wonder. Maybe my timing is off and I’m sure there are more.
How did I forget this one…Rod Stewart-Maggie May
Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water; Grateful Dead – Uncle John’s Band, Truckin’, Casey Jones; Joni Mitchell – Help Me. And from the Crosby Stills Nash & Young’s Deja Vu album – Teach Your Children. Does anyone remember that Seals & Croft played at Greeley? I’m pretty sure it was our freshman year. Sure would be nice to see everyone.
Loved all of those groups/songs, Roseanne! And yes, Seals & Crofts did play at HGHS. And I first met you in Miss Billings’ 6th grade homeroom at Robert E. Smell middle school… waaaay back when…
I am reminded thanks to Breaking Bad of Badfingers Baby Blue (1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVt7nZTPBA