I’m ending the list here with a fantastic song. Guess which one sold more copies? But, be honest: there got to be a point every summer when you ran out of things to do, and actually looked forward to going back to see your friends. The record company, in a fit of originality, decided that the start of the year should have its own record, and this was the follow-up single. Gary had a hit with “School is Out” to celebrate the end of the school year in 1961.
If only the movie was as short as the song. Like all things Ramones, it’s fun and it’s short. The Ramones – “ Rock and Roll High School“ (Recall that the car radio died earlier that summer and was replaced by a White Castle box.) As I pulled into the lot in my beat-up 1969 Chevy, I had “American Girl” playing on the boombox on the seat. The first day of our senior year at Andrew High School in 1985 a bunch of us got to school early and parked in the lot. Stay with me on this one: if you recall the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High (and if you don’t, you should watch it again), the scene where everyone returns to Ridgemont is underscored by Petty’s guitar solo that opens this record – as a guy throws a roll of toilet paper at the building. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “ American Girl“ 38 Special, which is yet another example of “song from movie makes OK video except for movie lines talking over the song.” And no, I’m not including “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by the Police on this list because it’s, well, a little pervy.) (Honorable mention should also go to “ Teacher Teacher” by. Two or three years ago (they’re blending now! Aargh!) this song came on the radio as I was pulling into campus on the first day, and that’s now the memory I will forever associate with this record. The song tackles the idea of “you can never go home again” and refutes it.
Of course, the show dealt exclusively with the joys of being in high school, even if the students appeared to be in their thirties (as was so common in TV shows).
The theme song to Welcome Back, Kotter was a #1 hit record for Sebastian, best known as the singer for the Lovin’ Spoonful. The song is about “never going back,” and yet here we are. I wrote about this one a year ago at this time. But that’s the fun of writing a blog: engaging in a creative exercise for the enjoyment of the few dozen who will run across this piece. Note that these may not be *your* songs, or they may not even make sense. Of course, I got to thinking about songs that would make for a good soundtrack for the day.
Kindergarten, sure, and then nothing until you graduated.) (Generational rant: it must be because we had to send film in the mail to get photos, but I don’t remember a picture being taken the first day of EVERY school year.
I am filing for irreconcilable differences.Today is the first day of school for Grand Valley State University (and for many other colleges, high schools, grade schools, etc.) Many schools have started already: you’ve no doubt noticed your time line filling up with pictures of kids heading off for school as relieved parents plan to get the house cleaned up for the first time in months. It is called a New Years rachet noise maker, and my wife insists that I have the wrong song. The kids would never shoot without ear and eye protection.Īddendum: found the device. That said, there is something interesting about foolishness. I fired, hit my target, and could not hear at all for hours. The kids were far away, I chambered a round and did not take time (foolish) to put on ear protection, first time ever. I had some uncertainties as to how it operated. Regarding “competing” for the worst hearing…I took the kids to the mountains to teach them to shoot. My wife is quite a bit younger and when I point out things like that she is fascinated.
In the day, I used an Advent Cassette Deck (201?) to edit at that break so that if adjusted for volume, this is seamlessly one song as it was performed. Live at the Fillmore…" at the end of Whipping Post as it trails away, you can faintly hear them moving into Mountain Jam. I remember first (easy) noting that Hotel California is edited just before “Pink Champaign on ice”. I tend to listen to music as you describe.