Friday 5 for July 5, 2013 - High School Music

The music that I grew up in during high school and even my elementary school days have proven to be popular today more than 40 years after their initial popularity. I was lucky to have my Dad who had a good friend who used to own a vending machine company. He would get a lot of old records out of jukeboxes from his friend and those are what first exposed me to the great pop and rock music of the time... starting from when I was in grade school.

My love for music carried on into high school and well beyond. And how the answer to the mime questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 of July 5: High School Music.



1. What song, album, or artist, disliked by you in high school, now sounds pretty good?

I liked most everything that was popular on the radio and in my record collection during the 1970s. They're all still good and at many times better than anything out today.

2. What specific high-school memory do you have of discovering some song, album, or artist you considered old?

My parents liked Connie Francis back in the day, which I considered old in the 1960 and 70s. Found some old records, played them years later and have grown to like some of her music.

3. What song or album best serves as the soundtrack for your senior year of high school? (bonus challenge: answer this question with a different song or album for each year of high school!)



1970 - Let It Be - The Beatles (album and single)

1971 - Naturally - Three Dog Night (singles: "Joy to the World", "Liar", album track "Sunlight")

1971 - Abraxus - Santana - This album came out in late 1970s I believe, but it became huge in 1971. Features the hits "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va". Lots of other great songs.

1972 - Led Zeppelin IV - I got this LP via the Capitol music club back in the day, and of course "Stairway to Heaven" became the most overplayed track even at that early stage. The album actually came out in 1971 but did not take off until early 1972. Great album overall.

1973 - ELTON JOHN - My 2 favorite Elton John albums became popular in 1973 and carried over to 1974 - "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - played my vinyl copies and the cassette duplicates I made from this all the way through my graduation in high school and way beyond. Have bought these in LP form, cassette, and CD... also "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" on 8-track too.

1974 - Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings - the best post-Beatles album ever by anyone who was in The Beatles.

1975 - I graduated this year; the soundtrack album for my senior year with the previous ones still high on my playlist was "That's the Way of the World" by Earth, Wind and Fire... seems like a lot of kids had and played this. After graduation in the summer of 1975, the 2nd Cecilio and Kapono album "Elua" was released and I liked this one better than the first.

The first Fleetwood Mac album that you refer to which feature Buckingham-Nicks for the first time ever came out in late 1975 but I don't consider it a high school album. I was already gone from high school but in early 1976 when "Over My Head" was released as a single, this album gradually grew on me and became on of my favorites with the single of "Rhiannon" being my all time favorite Fleetwood Mac songs ever. And while I really love their next album, Rumours that came out in 1977, in some ways this album is better than that one.

Other albums that were and are still part of my regular soundtrack from 1970 to 1975 include:

Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin (1973)
Ram - Paul & Linda McCartney (1971)
Tapestry - Carole King (1971)
Sound Magazine - The Partridge Family (1971) - yes, bubblegum but to me the best bubblegum album of the 1970s.

ELTON JOHN's albums: Elton John (1970); Tumbleweed Connection (1971); Madman Across the Water (1971); Honkey Chateau (1972); Caribou (1974); Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) - I was a huge EJ fan back then and still like these albums today.

America - America (1972)
Fragile - Yes (1972)
AWB - Average White Band (1974)
Harvest - Neil Young (1972)
Venus & Mars - Paul McCartney & Wings (1975)
Mystery To Me - Fleetwood Mac (1973) - best one with Bob Welch in the band.
No Secrets - Carly Simon (1972)
Talking Book - Stevie Wonder (1972)
One of These Nights - The Eagles (1975)
Countdown to Ecstasy - Steely Dan (1973)
Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan (1972)

Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (1973) - never clicked with me until later in life.

4. What’s a song, album, or artist from your high-school years you loved then (and might still love) but have great difficulty listening to now, and what’s the reason?

Many songs that were popular on the radio between the summer of 1971 and spring of 1972. It was during this time my sister had a bout with cancer and it killed her. She was two years below me. We both liked a lot of music that came out at this time and several songs bring back some bittersweet memories.





5. What song, album, or artist from your high-school years, seemingly forgotten nowadays, do you still listen to with fondness?

The following albums seem to have been forgotten:

Naturally - Three Dog Night (1971)
Harmony - Three Dog Night (1972)
It Ain't Easy - Three Dog Night (1970)
Now and Then - The Carpenters (1973)
Carpenters - The Carpenters (2nd album - 1971)
Down the Road - Stephen Stills & Manassas (1973)
Never a Dull Moment - Rod Stewart (1972)
Venus and Mars - Paul McCartney and Wings (1975)
Living in a Material World - George Harrison (1973)
RINGO - Ringo Starr (1973)
Mind Games - John Lennon (1974)

The following were obscure and still are today.... and I listen to them with some regularity. Visit my LastFM page.

Carryin' On - The Stampeders (1971)
Give Up Your Guns / Timothy (LP) - The Buoys (1971)
Sound Magazine album - The Partridge Family (1971)

One World - Rare Earth (1971) - damn album never made it to digital CD or MP3!!!!!

SINGLE: "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" - Middle of the Road (1971)
SINGLE: "Stop Wait Listen" - Circus (1972)
SINGLE: "Hot Sand" - The Shocking Blue (1970 - B side to "Venus")
SINGLE: "Almost Home" - The Rascals (1971)
SINGLE: "Me Japanese Boy {I Love You} - Liz Damon & the Orient Express (1973)
SINGLE: "Summer Sun" - Jamestown Massacre (1972)
SINGLE: "If That's the Way That You Want It" - Diamond Head (1973)
SINGLE: "We're On Our Way" - Chris Hodge (1972)
SINGLE: "Gotta Get Away" - Cecilio & Kapono (1974)
SINGLE: "Where Evil Grows" - Poppy Family (1971)
SINGLE: "Don't Let Him Touch You" - Joy Flemming (1972)
SINGLE: "Pretty Lady" - Lighthouse (1973)
SINGLE: "Forevermore" - Tokyo Happy Coats (1970)

And there you have it. Below are some audio and video links to some of the music mentioned here.

My Top Albums of All Time

Ten From 1971 from macpro on 8tracks Radio.

20 Big Ones From 1972 from macpro on 8tracks Radio.

Friday 5 Answers for June (Selected)

This post features answers from the last 2 weeks of the Friday 5.

FRIDAY 5 FOR JUNE 21 - SCATTERGORIES



The Letter F! Scrivener's Friday 5 website.

1. What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator? (this doesn’t really count as one of your five questions)

F

2. What geographical location, whose name begins with the letter, would you most like to visit someday?

Places that I can think of starting with "F" that I may consider visiting:

1. Florida - been there many years ago, maybe go again.
2. Finland - heh... yeah only during the summer when the day is nearly 24 hours long.
3. Fairbanks, Alaska - same condition as Finland... only during summer.

3. What’s a yummy dessert whose name begins with the letter?

Fudge Cake - Chocolate Fudge Cake and Fudge Cicle Ice Cream

4. What’s an annoying or unpleasant task whose name begins with the letter?


Use of the word FUCK and all of its derivatives.

Eating FRUITCAKE comes in a close second - I don't eat it, and try to never possess one.

5. What implement, whose name begins with the letter, would be good to take on a camping trip?

Flashlight!


Light pattern created with a red filtered flashlight.

Food is also important to take as well as a First Aid kit.

6. Which of your body parts, whose name begins with the letter, needs some attention or maintenance?

Feet

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FRIDAY 5 FOR JUNE 14: SUMMER RULES



"Ahhhh... summer!"

1. You are the boss of summer time! So what behaviors are not allowed until summer’s end?

Watching daytime TV... actually this should be practiced year round. Daytime TV is nothing but a wasteland. And a lot of prime time is too.

So maybe no TV during the summer.

2. And what is everyone required to talk about until summer’s end?

Movies, upcoming football season, baseball, food, hot dogs, vacations, and anything that is fun.

3. And what songs must be in regular rotation until summer’s end?

Well here is a list of "summer" songs I compiled into an iTunes playlist.

1. Surfin’ U.S.A. - The Beach Boys
2. Surfer Girl - The Beach Boys
3. Surf City - Jan & Dean
4. Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful
5. Theme From The Endless Summer - The Sandals
6. Summer Wine - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
7. Hot Fun In The Summer Time - Sly & The Family Stone
8. In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
9. Summer Days - Partridge Family
10. Pipeline Sequence - Honk
11. Summer Sun - Jamestown Massacre
12. Summer Lady - Cecilio & Kapono
13. Summer - War
14. A Place In The Sun - Pablo Cruise
15. Volcano - Jimmy Buffett
16. Cruel Summer - Bananarama
17. Windsurfer - Roy Orbison
18. Summer Breeze (Tsuper Tsunami Mix) - Seals & Crofts
19. Summertime Blues - Alan Jackson
20. All Summer Long - Kid Rock



4. And what must be eaten at least once per week until summer’s end?

Ice cream

5. And since you are also the poster child for summer time, what activity will the poster display you engaged in?

Sleeping on a hammock between 2 palm trees listening to my summer tunes on an iPod mini boom box with the ocean and sunset in the background? Generally I don't put myself in photos.

Friday 5 for May 31: Ding!

"Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!"

1. When is *ding* a most welcome sound?

End of the cooking cycle from my microwave oven.

2. When is *ding* a most unwelcome sound?

I think if it dinged, it would be when my Mac did not successfully burn a CD or DVD.

3. If a *ding* could be heard only by you to warn you about something in social situations, what might that *ding* alert you to, and how many times do you think you’d have heard it this week?

If someone I did not like were close by so that I could avoid them.

4. A Ding Dong is a hockey-puck-shaped chocolate cake(like) dessert filled with cream and covered with chocolate. Its name is somewhat suggestive to some. What other food items have names that inspire you to think naughty thoughts?

Anything that tastes good that my doctor would not recommend.

5. What’s an item in your possession that recently received a ding, and whose fault was it?

Non-working audio cassette deck that I bought from Craigslist a few years ago. Self inflicted purchase.

Friday 5 for May 10 - A Bit of Knowledge

From Scrivener's Friday 5 website here are the questions I chose to answer this week.


1. What’s something you know about constellations?

Except for the Big and Little dippers I really can't readily recognize any.

2. What’s something you know about bugs?

They have exoskeletons which make them hard to kill. Especially the American Cockroach. Some bugs go through a complete metamorphosis while others look like their parents at birth.

3. What’s something you know about a car’s engine?

The internal combustion engine needs gasoline, oil and coolant among other things to keep them running.

4. What’s something you know about wine or beer?

Too much of it impairs judgement. Don't drink and drive.

5. What’s something you know about the Pacific Ocean?

It's the biggest ocean in the world and it surrounds the entire state I live in. You see the picture at the top of this post? That is the Pacific Ocean just off the deck of the ship. The island in the background is Oahu, the city is Honolulu. That is where I live.

In July 2010 I was lucky enough to be chosen to take a tour aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. This is one of the many pictures that I shot there. The ocean is large. You don't want to be caught in it on a tiny boat, far away from shore!

Here is another picture. You can see them all by clicking this link.

Friday 5 for April 5: Yikes!

From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog come these topical questions.



1. How do thunder and lightning make you feel?

I'm missing an opportunity to get a good photo.

2. How do spiders make you feel?


I have no feelings toward spiders. If they get in the way, they get squashed... otherwise I leave them alone. I took a picture of this spider a few years back.

3. How do recent threats on America by North Korea make you feel?


I worry our U.S. President may not be able to take decisive and final action against the nut from North Korea. Otherwise we'll be putting our heads between our legs and kissing are asses goodbye.

4. How concerned are you about having your identity stolen?

I shred sensitive documents and don't do banking transactions on a wireless network.



5. How cautious are you about food spoilage in your refrigerator?

I don't eat old food, but sometimes my fridge turns into a biological hazard zone and museum of the macabre.

Friday 5 for February 22: Spinning

1. What’s had you spinning ’round in circles lately?

You see that video on the top. I hate when that actually shows up on my Mac. However it is better than the old system bomb from Mac OS9 and older.

2. When were you last on a bicycle?

Around 1982.

3. Who’s the best storyteller you know?

My friend and former mentor who now lives in Utah had some great stories.

4. How well do you handle carnival rides?

Haven't done those in ages. Too expensive.

5. What do you think of TV gameshow Wheel of Fortune?

It's a classic American TV success story. Huge money making syndication property. Keeps older folks glued to their TVs daily. It is my Mom's favorite show. I watch it with her when I visit. Vanna's cute. Please note that the video shown below is old, and may not be here as this blog ages.



And to go along with this theme of "spinning", a song....

Friday 5 for Feb. 8, 2013 - Cereal

1. What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

Captain Crunch, though if you left it in the milk for too long, it would still get soggy.



2. What’s your favorite breakfast cereal now?

If I think it is worth buying, then it probably is frosted Mini Spooners.

3. Where does cereal rank on your list of favorite breakfasts?

I'd rank it as "expensive".



4. What serial novels or films have you most recently enjoyed?

More so TV serials, specifically "space opera".... Babylon 5 and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. These two TV series as well as several others unfold like chapters in a book as their stories progressed over the seasons (years). Other TV series in the "serial" genre have included SciFi yarns such as The X Files (with several continuing story arcs), LOST and to a degree Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Other serial series that I have enjoyed over the years include Michael Mann's Crime Story and the British serial Doc Martin.



5. What recently surreal experience have you gone through?

Nothing.

Scrivener's Friday 5.