Farewell, May

Chico wants everyone to be cool like him

Greetings from my back yard.

I haven't written from anywhere except my desk in months. Literally.

Despite a mid-60s chill on my legs, I'm away from CNN and MSNBC and FOX News, each of whom I gave a chance last night.

One thought: Don Lemon is not an anchor. An anchor reports. An anchor doesn't doesn't preach.

I've been chewing on that since I literally texted the words "CNN is the most center of the three." Then Lemon stopped anchoring and began editorializing. Honestly, it was the last thing we needed in that spot.

We need journalists. People we trust.

It comes back to George Floyd. He's what matters.

Enough. We need positivity. Not phony positivity. God, I'm sick of that also.

But I feel like my voice is a waste. But I'll listen. That is needed.

Otherwise I guess I'll "stick to sports" or music or something else. "Stay in my lane," as the saying goes, I guess.

I hope to give you a diversion here.

And, with that, we're up to the final day of the 30 Day Song Challenge, and this might be toughest one yet.

Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself

But first, here's a recap of the previous 29:

- Day 1: A song you like with a color in the title -- Yellow Submarine, The Beatles
- Day 2: A song you like with a number in the title -- Be My Number Two, Joe Jackson
- Day 3: A song that reminds you of summer -- The Boys of Summer, Don Henley
- Day 4: A song that reminds you of someone you'd rather forget -- Take on Me, A-Ha
- Day 5: A song that needs to be played loud -- Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway -- Live), Billy Joel
- Day 6: A song that makes you want to dance -- Head Over Hells, The Go Go's
- Day 7: A song to drive to -- The Heart of Rock and Roll, Huey Lewis and the News
- Day 8: A song about drugs or alcohol -- White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane
- Day 9: A song that makes you happy -- American Girl, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Day 10: A song that makes you sad -- Alone Again (Naturally), Gilbert O'Sullivan
- Day 11: A song you never get tired of -- Conquistador, Procol Harum
- Day 12: A song from your preteen years -- Honky Cat, Elton John
- Day 13: A song from the 70s -- Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
- Day 14: A song you'd love to be played at your wedding -- Maybe I'm Amazed (Live), Paul McCartney (and Wings)
- Day 15: A song you like that's a cover by another artist -- The Boys Are Back in town, Huey Lewis and the News
- Day 16: A song that's a classic favorite -- I Saw Her Standing There, The Beatles
- Day 17: A song you'd sing a duet with someone on karaoke -- The Weight, The Band
- Day 18: A song from the year you were born -- Midnight Confessions, The Grass Roots
- Day 19: A song that makes you think about life -- Taxi, Harry Chapin
- Day 20: A song that has many meanings to you -- Got to Get You Into My Life, The Beatles
- Day 21: A song you like with a person's name in the title -- Angie, The Rolling Stones
- Day 22: A song that moves your forward -- Vienna, Billy Joel
- Day 23: A song you think everybody should listen to -- So Little Kindness, Huey Lewis and the News
- Day 24: A song by a band you wish were still together -- Radio Free Europe, REM
- Day 25: A song you like by an artist no longer living -- I've Got You Under My Skin, Frank Sinatra (Live at the Sands)
- Day 26: A song that makes you want to fall in love -- Here, There and Everywhere, The Beatles
- Day 27: A song that breaks your heart -- It's Too Late, Carole King
- Day 28: A song by an artist whose voice you love -- Warm Ways, Fleetwood Mac
- Day 29: A song you remember from your childhood -- Rocket Man, Elton John

That made me feel like Casey Kasem! Ponderous, man. Ponderous! (How fitting is that term right now?)

Well there you have it. Admittedly my list used a few artists several times. Guilty as charged. I apologize.

So what makes me think...of me?

Generally speaking, I think most people think of two things musically when they think of me: Huey Lewis and The Beatles. And they're quite right.

I've been thinking about this for hours. I keep thinking of either "The Power of Love" or "Hip to Be Square." With the way my life (and world) is, I was even reaching towards a somewhat-unknown HLN song called "Trouble in Paradise."

The thing is there is no right answer and if I could do this all again, I might come up with 30 different answers.

In the end, whatever song I use doesn't matter and is completely irrelevant and, perhaps, even inappropriate to concern myself with, given the circumstances.

So, enough.

Queen. Radio Gaga.

Thanks for putting up with this nonsense for the last month and the last 500+ consecutive days and the last (nearly) 14 years.

Let's all do better.

"Radio someone still loves you."

 

Feelings

(NBC News)

It's a terrible time.

I didn't have the words yesterday or the day before and I still don't really have them now.

Amazingly, COVID-19 is not the top story. Coronavirus and social distancing didn't matter in a lot of places as I watched TV last night.

George Floyd mattered. He still does and he'll be an icon for years to come.

I wish I could say I'm surprised at any of this but I'm old enough to remember Crown Heights and Rodney King and, sadly, more until Ferguson and Baltimore and Charlottesville in recent years and, now, Minneapolis.

At this point I can only sympathize and empathize and hope we all do better but can only focus on me.

I watched coverage last night and read so many awful hot takes until I could no longer stand it.

I want to scream. It falls on deaf ears.

I want to go back to focusing on utter stupidity like the complete and total obnoxious arrogance I read before. It defined entitlement and the very thing that should be avoided, especially right now, and especially in the media.

Know the room, young man. Know the room.

People will talk. They already do.

But there's no point. You just need to let it play out and hope karma gets the last laugh.

I needed a respite.

I watched man go back into space a few hours ago. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley lifted off from Cape Canaveral and was just fantastic. For a few minutes, people in my age group could stop and remember the days of Apollo and the space shuttle years, while those older than I am could recall back to the early days of NASA.

The launch was glorious, even if it was a giant commercial for Elon Musk. It was enough that Sean came out of hiding to watch it with me.

For just a few minutes, I was whisked to the old clips of Walter Cronkite anchoring the CBS coverage.

A glance at social media brought that all crashing back down. There's a reason I didn't do a lot of social today.

And, with that, we come to the penultimate day of the 30 Day Song Challenge. It might be too easy, but I think I'm OK with that tonight.

Let's keep laughing. Let's keep loving.

Let's move forward.

Day 29: A song you remember from your childhood

There are so many so, in the interest of my brain and as a tribute to Bob and Doug (no relation to the McKenzie's, hoser), let's dig back to Rocket Man. Music by Elton John. Words by Bernie Taupin.

Interpreted by William Shatner and Stewie Griffin.

If it was good enough for Howard Wolowitz then it's good enough for us.

"She packed my bags last night pre-flight..."

And The Award Goes To...

Keep in mind I was the only play-by-play man

Well, it doesn't go to me.

STAA (Sportscasters Talent Agency of America) just handed out their Jim Nantz Award to the top collegiate sportscaster.

To be quite clear, I wouldn't qualify, as I didn't call a single game during my time there. Oh, and I finished college 23 years ago.

Besides, STAA would never recognize a Western Connecticut State grad, would they? No little schools allowed or at least it appears that way.

Anyway, that's cool and all. Congrats to the winner, whom I notice was pictured with Norwalk's Eddie McCabe in his highlight package.

I covered Eddie McCabe at Norwalk High, including his game against Brien McMahon in Cooperstown in 2015. Huh. Go figure.

The same Cooperstown game I just downloaded form NFHS. Life's weird.

I digress.

I'm proud to say I know a couple of Nantz Award winners as well.

But, look, some allow this stuff to define them -- good or bad. Don't.

My friend Brandon Ross earned an honorable mention and I'm happy for him. He worked hard.

It's great to be an award winner. I have a couple of plaques on the wall from people who have been kind to me over the years (or felt sorry for me). I wouldn't exactly say they were "competitive awards." I don't belong to any broadcasting organization that hands them out. In fact, I never have.

So, party on, winners! But to those who pursued it and came up short, look long and hard at the big picture and recognize the journey has a long way to go.

And to those who didn't pursue it, you do you. I respect you also.

Keep grinding. Be yourself (as Mr. Barber told Mr. Scully).

Keep being the best YOU can be in whatever you do.

Build your network. Don't kiss ass. Remain authentic. Honor the craft.

Practice and remain humble.

And carry on.

*****
I'm sickened by what's going on Minneapolis. I'm further sickened by some of the things that come out of Washington.

I'm sad tonight.

And that's all I have to say about that.

*****
Day 28: A song by an artist whose voice you love

I've got an unpopular take here.

I prefer Christine McVie to Stevie Nicks in Fleetwood Mac.

I don't have anything against the whirling dirvish of chiffon that is Stevie. She's made lots of great (and, at times, overplayed) songs as a solo artist and with big Mac.

Maybe it's the contrarian in me but I love Christine's purring velvet fog, no doubt perfected via years of Virginia Slims and perhaps a bottle of vodka or two.

(I'm not sure of any of that. I just liked the way that rolled)

I've actually had silly debates (fights) over such stands. Doesn't mean I'm right (or wrong).

So, have at it. I thought this would be a different road to go down.

Here's "Warm Ways" on a rainy, humid night.

Baseball in the Printed Form

Cat sold separately

I was a bit of a challenge for teachers who wanted me to read.

"Rob, read something other than sports," they'd say.

Don't get me wrong. I love To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby and other great books but I also love travel books and biographies and entertainment books (The Beatles? Hello?) and more.

And sports. Mostly baseball.

So after talking about this MLB.com baseball book story on Doubleheader, I received a tweet from Dylan Pescatore.

Great show today! @double5 Will definitely be picking up some of those books you mentioned!

— Dylan Pescatore (@DylanPescatore1) May 28, 2020

First, thanks! But, more importantly, I pulled everything off my bookcase (it used to be much worse) and took a look at the books that mean so much to me.

I should mention I don't have a physical copy of Luckiest Man by Jonathan Eig. I read that on my iPad and that's where it still is, along with all of Susan's books (which can be found here on Amazon). I hope to find a hard copy one day.

Otherwise, here's what I came up with.

It's not complete, of course. The book my dad bought for me in 1975 is packed in a special place, for instance.

But The Image of Their Greatness and The Ultimate Baseball Book are both there. Each one of those books was absolutely vital in grooming my passion for baseball history. In that same regard is The New York Yankees: an Illustrated History by Donald Honig as well as the similarly titled Yankees: An Illustrated History by George Sullivan and John Powers. Yankees Century by Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson is not only phenomenal but the authors both came to WGCH in a limo to be interviewed by me, so that will always matter.

Staying with the Bombers, Pinstripe Empire by Marty Appel is probably my go-to history book now. His research just blew me away, to be honest, in the same way that Luckiest Man did about Lou Gehrig.

Then, of course, there's Yankee for Life. Yes, I'm biased. That's Bobby Murcer's book of course. I wanted to interview him when it came out but, as we all know, we lost Bobby Ray in 2008.

Play by Play by Neal Conan tells the true story of an NPR broadcaster who decided to take a shot at calling games in the Atlantic League. Coincidentally, I interviewed him just after calling my first game in the Atlantic League.

My friend J Daniel's book, Phinally, is in there. History doesn't have to be just about the Yankees (and I hope I've proved that). The year 1980 was important in my growth. Dan Epstein's Big Hair and Plastic Grass also hits the groove of my youth. Conversely, The First Fall Classic by Mike Vaccaro and Summer of '68 by Tim Wendel predate me.

Let's see, I haven't mentioned Summer of '49 yet which, frankly, doesn't need an introduction. Read it if you love baseball. Thank me later. The great David Halberstam wrote that one, while David J. Halberstam wrote Sports on NY Radio, which isn't just about baseball.

Speaking of radio, that brings me to the life-changing Voices of the Game by Curt Smith. Want to know how I became a baseball broadcasting historian? Start there and roll through Smith's other books (I think I have four), including Pull Up a Chair, which is the unauthorized biography of some guy named Vin Scully. I got to interview Smith for a full hour once about that book and I probably need to unearth the audio.

Red Barber is also there. The Broadcasters was rereleased in the 1990's and I got a copy of it. Let's say that Vin Scully followed his advice. So did I. Virtually all young broadcasters didn't hear his advice and don't care to. And that's too bad.

Oh yeah, there's Bernard Malamud's The Natural. No introduction necessary (but it's not the same as the movie).

Mickey Mantle "wrote" a few books, including The Mick. Mythology ensued.

I also included Richard Sandomir's breakdown of the life of Lou Gehrig and the movie about him, Pride of the Yankees. It kept me company (along with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) during jury duty selection a few years ago. Sadly, Richard and I never got together on a time to do an interview.

The last two to mention starts with the big book of The World Series. I'd read this in my preteen years to learn about every Fall Classic from 1903-1978 as it included full play-by-play breakdowns. It's how learned about Don Larsen and those 97 pitches on Oct 8, 1956.

Finally, there's a fairly beaten-up first edition of The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop bought for me by my grandmother. She knew literally zero about baseball, which of course vexed me furiously. That book -- from 1954 -- became the movie musical Damn Yankees.

Keep in mind my grandfather was a huge baseball fan (loved the Yankees; hated Mel Allen) who played semi-pro baseball in New Jersey. He died eight years before I was born.

So my grandmother SAW Ruth and Gehrig play and didn't remotely care.

Sigh.

You've gotta have heart (and that's from the movie). Maybe you knew that.

I realize this list isn't everything but these are my books.

*****
We're in the home stretch of the 30 Day Song Challenge.

Day 27: A song that breaks your heart

Hmmm.

I was leaning back towards Frank Sinatra and his amazing Sings for Only the Lonely album but I decided to go down a different path.

Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" is rough and so is J. Paul McCartney's "Yesterday." Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is deceptively sad. I could also grab "Song for the Dumped" by Ben Folds Five but that's more of an anthem versus being sad. It's wonderfully angry.

And "Crying" by Roy Orbison? Well, yeah. The title says it all. In country, there's "He Stopped Lovin Her Today" from George Jones. Just wow.

I don't have the heart to use "River" by Joni Mitchell. Maybe Susan used that one in her song challenge.

But I'm going to a brilliant piece of music from a brilliant album by a musical genius. Carole King's seminal Tapestry was a big record in my house. Packed with hits, it included her version of Will you Love Me Tomorrow that lacks the poppy happiness of The Shirelles' 1960 version. It's a much sadder song.

But "It's Too Late" is the call. It's a just pure acceptance that it's over. It's just done. "Something inside has died," she sings.

It has a pop edge to it and, yet, it doesn't. Like a breakup, it has a feeling of a mixed bag of emotions yet, when you get to the heart, it's sad.

"One of us is changin', or maybe we've just stopped tryin'..."

I Wound Up On Zoom

"Special guest appearance by..."

"The Clubhouse" had the night off. So no Zoom meeting for me tonight.

Er...no.

When I saw the Renegades were doing a zoom call with Doug Waechter, who authored the lone no-hitter in team history, I was definitely interested. When I saw Sean Ford would be on it, I knew I had to watch. Sean called the no-hitter that night in 2000 and let a weird dude into the booth the following year.

We've been friends ever since.

So I watched quietly and enjoyed the conversation, anchored by Rick Zolzer.

Sean was breaking down the events of the game when he mentioned Ronald Acuña.

No, not Ronald Acuña Jr.

Huh, that name sounds familiar, they surmised.

With a quick review of the interwebs I deduced that Ronald Acuña is the father of Ronald Acuña Jr. The senior Acuña, playing for the Pittsfield Mets, became the final out of the no-hitter.

I texted Sean, who was participating from his home in North Dakota. As they reached a break in the Zoom call, Sean asked for an audible.

"Hey Zolz, can we bring on Rob Adams?"

My old partner was determined to make sure that I was the one to present the news.

He's always been too kind and it was fun to say hello.

In a small way, it was wonderful to do a something with the Renegades.

Next Wednesday I'll be back on Zoom with The Clubhouse again.

*****
Day 26: A song that makes you want to fall in love

Haven't we sort of been here already? Wasn't that the basis of the wedding song back in day 14?

So, to be honest, I'm not going to put a whole lot of thought into this one because I think I'll hurt my brain otherwise.

It's back to The Beatles we go.

"To lead a better life, I need my love to be here..."

Almost Perfect

From the world of the pandemic, the good news is the NHL announced they are coming back.

A 24-team tournament will get underway, most likely in July, aiming toward handing out the Stanley Cup by early fall.

This could have been baseball.

However, don't fool yourself. There are disagreements over safety but this is really about money.

Somehow the NBA, the NHL and the NFL have all handled things mostly in a low-key way while MLB keeps running their collective traps.

And, hey, why not moan about money in the middle of a pandemic with historic unemployment?

If it's 1994 again, it will be bad. Very bad.

The 2020 baseball season is in grave danger right now.

The good news is negotiations continue this week.

*****
Day 26: A song you like by an artist no longer living

Where does one start?

But I haven't used Frank Sinatra and it's time.

Hell, a large chunk of the performers are probably gone, including the great Count Basie.

It's one of the most perfect things I've ever heard. The power of Basie's band with Quincy Jones conducting.

Frank Sinatra at about his coolest.

The waning days of classic Vegas at the Sands Hotel.

Run for cover!

"I'd sacrifice anything come what might for the sake of having you near..."

Happy Memorial Day

I don't need an organized moment of silence to honor the lives lost in war on Memorial Day.

I simply thank those who made that ultimate sacrifice.

And so, that's all I have tonight: thank you.

To those veterans who are still with us, I hope your Memorial Day has been meaningful.

We'll thank you and honor you more formally on Veteran's Day and every day.

*****
Day 24: A song by a band you wish were still together

Well, there's a simple answer here.

The Beatles. I mean, come on.

But, I'm me. So I'm going to try something else.

The tough part is that there are acts like Fleetwood Mac, who solider on but are missing key members (Buckingham, Lindsey) and Genesis, who were going to reunite for a tour (and snobs like me feel that's great...but no Steve Hackett and, more importantly, no Peter Gabriel).

Then there's Queen and we've covered that one. Great -- there's a band calling themselves Queen that plays their music, featuring ... oh, forget it. I've had too many arguments on that one. Freddie Mercury is dead. This is not Queen, darling.

The Police would qualify, and that was one of the last truly great concerts I saw but there's still the Sting factor and, my God, him solo was arguably one of the worst concerts I saw.

The Doors and The Beatles and Nirvana and others with key members who have died all qualify, of course. But there's also no hope of them reuniting under their brand name (nor should they). Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin also fall under this category.

The Smiths? Nah, Morrissey is too much of an ass to make me care. I think similar things can be said about Oasis. Talking Heads left things sort of in the right spot but I suppose anything can happen, if only to see Tina Weymouth punch David Byrne in the face on stage.

So after some consideration, I went with R.E.M.

They continued on after drummer Bill Berry left the band in 1997 before ending things completely in 2011. Michael Stipe -- ever the enigma -- felt it was just time and that they had done enough. Mike Mills and Peter Buck have each done their own things (as well as Stipe) ever since. Stipe, of course, has also said he's not nostalgic so, unless someone needs money, the odds aren't great.

But that's probably my call, since John, Paul, George and Ringo won't be together anytime soon.

The other obvious answer is Huey Lewis and the News, of course, since Huey's Ménière's disease has probably ended the band's career. But, as of now, they're not officially over. So I'll stick with REM.

Here's the original Hib-Tone version of "Radio Free Europe."

SPORTS!

So the charity golf match with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady happened today.

It was fantastic and I'll be interested in the ratings.

There was smack talk and big shots and laughter and some drama. There were even celebrity cameos and lots of fun on Twitter.

This sports thing is pretty cool.

Add in auto racing coming back along with some tennis and we're getting there slowly.

We now await the official decisions on the team sports in the US (soccer is back in other parts of the world).

I have no profound words otherwise. I watched golf today and it was great.

I can listen to Peyton Manning talk for hours. The guy makes me laugh. His pre-match crack about having Eli, Nick Foles or Bill Belichick caddy for him was hysterical.

Tom Brady was funny and approachable but also grumpy at times. He also took good-natured ribbing and hit the shot of the day.

Phil Mickelson is the consummate riverboat gambler. That's why we love him. But he was also brilliant in breaking down the golf course.

And Tiger? He was great also. His personality was on display. We don't always get the more charming side.

This was all good, with the Turner group broadcasting it. Brian Anderson was a tremendous anchor, while Trevor Immelman and Charles Barkley provided fun and solid analysis. Amanda Balionis handled the interviews. Justin Thomas stole the show as the on-course analyst.

Oh, and speaking of stealing the show, take a few minutes and find the video of of Ernie Johnson explaining why he wasn't on the broadcast. There might be tears.

Kudos all around.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Let's do more of this.

*****
Day 23: A song you think everybody should listen to

I'm going back to Huey Lewis.

The band was obviously a hit machine at one point but there were other songs that either weren't hits of weren't released as singles.

So I thought I'd highlight something else.

The song is called "So Little Kindness." The lyrics, admittedly, are pointed. They're about a relationship that is over but the woman in this case can't seem to find it in her heart to be cordial.

It features a fierce lead guitar performance by Chris Hayes, who co-wrote the song with Lewis and saxophonist Rob Sudduth. Curiously, it initially appeared on the Time Flies compilation album -- one of four new tracks tacked on at the end. Lewis felt that they could do it better so they re-cut it for 2001's Plan B album*.

* It's funny the things you remember. I recall buying Time Flies at the Borders in White Plains, NY and Plan B at a Wal Mart on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Go figure.

Unfortunately I can't find the Plan B version, so here's the Time Flies one.

"Now I don't deny it's over but why must you be so cold..."

Baby Steps

This is the cover of the New York Times for May 24

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the Hudson Valley can reopen.

Calm down, folks. It's a start.

Phase one doesn't mean a whole lot will change necessarily, but it is one small step.

The giant leap (that is, for people complaining about their hair) is in phase two.

Restaurants are in phase three and phase four is arts/entertainment/recreation (and that means sports).

I'm grateful to see us making progress but it doesn't mean social distancing is over by any stretch.

Look, I don't love wearing the masks and I know there are mixed messages about all of this stuff, but I just wear it and that's that. I wrote yesterday that the arrows in grocery stores are stupid and I stand by it. Why? Because many people are just not getting it and it creates more trouble.

Nobody is actively trying to ignore the arrows. They're just ... well ... clueless. That's the shortest answer.

There are social justice warriors who shame people about a lot of this stuff. I certainly don't need someone saying anything to my mother. Let's put it that way.

I sometimes go to a store that doesn't use arrows and things flow just fine.

Crazy idea! Common sense works sometimes.

But I honestly don't see the big deal about sucking it up and wearing the mask and I follow the arrows. The mask is on in the grocery store. I do it (most of the time) for picking up and dropping my mom off at dialysis. I do it to go to the deli for her egg sandwich.

I do it in any enclosed space or wherever social distancing is not possible. That's what the governor has said to do.

I realize how silly it all is because the grocery store and deli have plenty of hazards but I still follow that rule. I go to a house (worship, home, whatever) and they have rules. I abide or I leave. Pretty easy. If Stop and Shop says "wear a mask," I wear it.

I don't see it as this great loss of liberty ("Murica!") and if that makes me a "sheeple" then that's for me to deal with.

Judge away.

This wasn't clear (obviously) in a Facebook post I put up yesterday about the grocery store saga.
I'm as ready to move forward as anyone, but for the right reasons and if it's done the right way. That's the best way I can say it.

This just in: I communicate for a living and I pretty much suck at it.

But have a look at that New York Times front page. It says a lot. It's impactful. Nearly 100,000 dead. This has never been a joke or a hoax or a conspiracy. Are the numbers a little dodgy? Maybe. But this stuff is real.

This is nothing to celebrate when it's over, in my opinion. I'll be happy to simply move on.

It hit my family and thankfully it wasn't fatal. That's enough for me.

The sooner we do the right thing, the sooner it's going to move forward.

And the arrows will get scraped off the floor.

*****
Day 22: A song that moves you forward

After having no inspiration, this came down to between, ultimately, two songs.

I thought of "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House. It's a song about not giving up hope ("But you'll never see the end of the road while you're traveling with me.")

Crowded House also did a really nice "pandemic at-home" version back in April.

Then I saw the suggestion of "Vienna" by Billy Joel, and my work here was done.

The song came out of a conversation with Joel's father ("Slow down, you crazy child") as the younger Joel was hard-charging through his music career. The story goes that Howard Joel was living in Vienna and implored his son to make sure to stay on the path but also enjoy it.

We could all use that advice.

Life, if you didn't know, is too short. I mourn that on a near-daily basis.

But, anyway.

I'll also always have affection for this song (besides it being a great song -- arguably top 3-5 in the Joel catalog) because of listening to Paul Silverfarb play it in a Boston piano store. If I'd had any guts, I would have tried to sing.

But, I don't.

Vienna may wait, I suppose, but Boston didn't.

Again, anyway.

"When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?"

Post the Song and Call It a Night

Just another day, right?

I find myself uninspired.

Oh, I've got topics but, really, why bother?

I read crap that I disagree with every day. Literally.

About sports, news, politics (of course), music, minutiae, and so on.

I bite my tongue so much that it is Swiss cheese.

"Not worth it," I often say (or get told).

So I don't comment.

I'm wasting my breath. Not a single person is going to change. Unloading what I think will only impact my blood pressure.

I just give up and care less every day.

Literally.

I owe you a song for the challenge.

Day 21: A song you like with a person's name in the title

I don't think I've used The Rolling Stones yet, so here's "Angie."

Letting You Off Easy Tonight

"Another music post? God, I hope it isn't The Beatles again."

For those who have tired of the music posts, we're spinning (get it? Like a record?) into the final third of the 30-Day Song Challenge.

Day 20: A song that has many meanings to you

I tried. I did.

I'm a crap writer who is going the easy route tonight.

You see, I've tried to not use the same damn artists every day and have pretty much failed.

Give it's after 11 p.m., I'm just going with The Beatles and calling it a night.

Not very original, I know.

The song doesn't have "many" meaning but what song does?

There are two meanings: the incorrect (it's a love song from a man to a woman) and the correct (it's an ode to pot).

And there you have it.

"Got To Get YouInto My Life"

That's Life

Mikey likes Life!

Another Wednesday comes to an end.

A :Doubleheader" here, a "Clubhouse" there.

In the middle of "The Clubhouse," I discovered that the studio that I've built and rebuilt and modified and messed with for over two months wasn't functioning properly.

Basically, I was broadcasting in this case through the microphone of an iPad. Welp.

Dave Torromeo could see it in my face. Basically, I spent the rest of the show trying to figure out how to fix it in my brain.

I immediately began looking at wires and seeing the setup in my brain. My inner MacGyver was on the case.

I continued after we were off the air at 8 p.m. It took some playing but I think -- maybe -- I've fixed it.

Three old computers (two MacBooks) and two iPads with an old iPhone will get you through all kinds of things, I suppose. Upgrades would be lovely.

There's too much to think about tonight, and yet, our 30-Day Song Challenge just whacks us right between the eyes.

Day 19: A song that makes you think about life

Just...why?

There's so much. My immediate thought was "Let it Be" because it's about as close to a hymn as I normally get. Certainly "Imagine" works in that same way.

"One," not by U2 but by Johnny Cash, can make you ponder literally everything you've ever known. Any version of "Hallelujah" (Jeff Buckley with the go-to version) will work.

The entire soundtrack of Garden State also does the job. I've used that for many a moody, deep time. In fact, I was leaning towards something from Nick Drake, who has a song on that soundtrack.

When I get overwhelmed like this, I glance at lists on the interwebs for suggestions.

There it was: the brilliant Harry Chapin.

At first, it was going to be "Cats in the Cradle," just to purely torture me and have me sobbing as I finished typing.

But, instead, I think I need two old flames. One who's live the high life. The other who is just getting high.

"Harry, keep the change..."

A Casual Observer

If Creed Bratton was groovy, why can't we all be? (Reddit)

I almost exploded this morning.

I was looking at co-conspirator John Nash's Facebook post. I understood completely what he was saying.

I also understood the views and opinions of each comment (numbering 38 at last check).

The contents are the property of John and I'm not going to lay the whole thing out here.

Like me, John shoots from the hip but also works with a tongue firmly planted in cheek. It makes his writing worth the time but, given this was a Facebook post, it's not for public consumption.

But I share his frustration.

What concerns me -- not speaking for John -- is the extremism of this time. Those on the wings ruin it for those either closer to middle or in the middle.

That's entirely what is missing here: common sense.

Because it's not common.

So, instead of some rant, I chose instead to stay positive. I see a mostly sunny day with a temperature of 71 degrees at press time.

The bulk pickup that had been growing for two months at the end of the driveway was picked up today. Everything is gone -- even those things that shouldn't have been included because I assume the crew felt they could utilize it somehow. Seeing things be salvaged and repurposed makes me happy.

I'm healthy. My mom is fine. The cat is fine. Sean is here and he's fine.

Up to a point, I'm living my life because it simply can't be avoided, I go out nearly every day. I serve as a chauffeur and delivery man for my family. That's the shortest way to explain it and I appreciate nobody judging me.

I wear my mask and follow the guidelines, though I know I've failed a few times.

Still, I'm frustrated.

On the downside, I miss working and I'm scared. Very. I have a huge car decision to make and bills that have to be dealt with. Gov. Cuomo won't protect certain things. Let's put it that way.

There's no help for that.

There was bad news in the day also -- but not worth getting into. Things happen. I found the positive in it and moved on. It's a bummer but I'm certainly determined to make the best of the day.

I texted someone earlier and apologized for sounding like a motivational poster.

Tomorrow, this could all be different, but what have we said on this blog for probably 12-13 years?

Keep moving forward.

That's what we're doing today.

*****
Song challenge time. I could have used the same song that I used yesterday.

Day 18: A song from the year you were born

As usual, I obsessed over this. Then, it hit me.

I love The Office. I probably even love it more now than when it was on. I listen to the Office Ladies podcast and respect those who don't get it or don't like it.

I worked in an office. I understand the insanity, especially in the corporate world. I've dealt with basically all of the characters.

While good ol' 1968 wasn't such a great year in that a) we lost MLK, b) we lost RFK, c) Vietnam was still raging, d) it wasn't '67 (and the "Summer of Love" was over), and d) I was born, there were some pretty good tunes.

And Creed Bratton was playing guitar in The Grass Roots, long before Creed Bratton moved to Dunder Mifflin in Scranton.

Thus, "Midnight Confessions" is the call (that's Creed playing guitar on the left).

"In my midnight confessions when I tell all the world that I love you..."

Don't Stand So Close to Me (But you knew that already)

Pandemic diary, day 4,357*: There have been steps taken forward and a step taken back.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo began the process of reopening more regions of the state, including the Capital District. Selfishly, that's important to me because my niece and her fiancée are getting married in August not too far from Albany.

Also important was Cuomo along with the governors of Texas and California saying that they are open to allowing professional sports to be played in their respective states. The games would be complete with safety precautions and no fans.

I see that as a good step, but of course, it could all mean nothing.

Closer to home, my region is not open yet. New York City isn't either.

On the down side, from a mental standpoint, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that beauty salons and barbershops could not reopen as scheduled on Wednesday. Look, I feel for the people who work at them. I get it. On the other hand, we still have to keep a perspective on things.

Those needing their hair cut in the Nutmeg State (and don't cut it themselves like me!) will have to adjust. They'll wait until June. First World Problems and all.

So I see that one as a bit of a negative.

Win some, lose some I guess.

(*4 3 5 7 are the numbers of Gehrig, Ruth, DiMaggio and Mantle that were retired, in order. Because I'm weird)

Day 17: A song you'd sing a duet with someone on karaoke

My mind drifts back to Sean being young. Except he's not a little kid anymore and probably wouldn't be caught dead singing. At one time, it would have been "Eleanor Rigby" or "Yellow Submarine" or "Octopus's Garden" or a few other song. I'd load him in the car as we drove home from daycare and he'd give me his request. Put it this way: we didn't play kid's music.

I don't want to use The Beatles again, nor do I want to use Huey Lewis again, though his duet with Gwyneth Paltrow on "Cruisin'" was a hit from a movie about karaoke singers (Duets).

Honestly, I'm a little flummoxed on this one.

Of course, I could turn to all of the times that Chris Erway and Ryan DeMaria joined me for some silly singalong to change the lyrics to any song by inserting Chris Kaelins' name in it.

So I guess I'm breaking the rules. There are enough verses here for everyone to sing some, or it can just be a duet.

They didn't need a fancy name. They were just The Band.

Oh, just one thing: I get the verse about crazy...Chester. Yes. Chester is his name.

"Take a load off, Fanny (Tako)..."

GOATs

(ESPN)

I watched live sports today.

It was NASCAR at Darlington, SC. My dad often talked about going there whenever we'd pass through just a few miles to the east on I-95.

The FOX broadcast was really well-done. You would't know the broadcasters were in a studio. You wouldn't know any of the logistics unless FOX told you because they were that flawless in the presentation.

The point is that it worked.

To that end, here's a "pro tip" literally all other sports and those who tweet about them: shut up.

Seriously. Shut up.

I'm tired of the talking. I'm tired of the 6,000-page MLB COVID-19 handbook that's being broken down like it's a newly-discovered work from Shakespeare.

I'm tired of the armchair analysts who "don't see it happening."

I'm tired of the people who don't get IT'S A NEGOTIATION. It's stage one, and every press release has said that very thing.

So, at this point, come back or don't.

But shut up about it.

Baseball will look terrible if it doesn't come back due to money. Blake Snell didn't exactly endear himself the other day.

If safety is your concern since you can't spit, high-five and the myriad other guidelines that the FIRST DRAFT put in place, then so be it.

Time is ticking.

The messages remain ridiculously mixed everywhere.

That's why I've mostly been writing about music. I haven't wanted to lose my stuff over everything.

People are just being...well, people, I guess.

Maybe I'll let that fly here eventually.

But I just finished watching The Last Dance. I'd rather focus on GOATs.

Michael Jordan is, simply, The Greatest of All Time.

To that end...

Day 16: A song that's a classic favorite

I was going to try to be different.

Maybe go with Elvis. Sinatra. Maybe some Chuck Berry. Maybe Clapton.

A classic favorite. Consider the gods.

Nah. I'm in the mood for the GOATs.

Babe Ruth. Vin Scully. Wayne Gretzky. Jim Brown.

In this case, musically, a team that went out on top. A team that we wanted to see regroup.

The Bulls.

The Beatles.

You hear about this band from Liverpool. You buy their first album (in the UK), Please Please Me.

Drop the needle on the record.

"One, Two, Three, FAW!"

Game. Over.

Thin Huey

Phil Lynott statue in Dublin

The 30-Day Song Challenge rolls on.

Day 15: A song you like that's a cover by another artist.

This is actually one of the easiest ones I've come across and I knew my answer probably two weeks ago.

Sure, Hendrix blasted Dylan's "All along the Watchtower" to another level. No question. The Beatles took "Twist and Shout" from the Isley Brothers and made it their own. Aretha Franklin did the same with Otis Redding's "Respect."

There's also "Heart and Soul" by Huey Lewis and the News. You didn't know that was a cover, did you? Exile did the first version in 1981 and the BusBoys did a version in 1982. HLN perfected it in 1983.

In each case, the cover is more famous than the original.

I'll tell you in advance that Huey Lewis is the correct answer to our song tonight.

The song is "The Boys Are Back in Town."

Obviously, the song is forever the property of the great Thin Lizzy, fronted by Phil Lynott. The Irish-born Lynott met Huey Lewie...ahem...Huey Lewis when Lewis was in Clover in the 70s. Clover opened for Thin Lizzy at a difficult time for country rock and were booed mercilessly.

Lewis and Lynott became friends, with Huey playing Harmonica on Lynott's 1980 album Solo in Soho. Huey would take the song he played on, "Tattoo (Giving It All Up for Love)," and re-record it for 1982's Picture This with the News.

Huey and the News, in fact, worked with Lynott on a solo album in 1985 that would never see the light of day. Lynott died in Jan 1986.

Flash forward to Madison Square Garden in May 1987. Huey and the News were touring in back of the album FORE!. They used the song "Whole Lotta Lovin'" from FORE! to spin into "The Boys Are Back in Town" with a transition in between.

I was blown away.

I eventually recorded a copy off the radio one night of another concert, when they toured for the Small World album (a tour that never landed in New York City, for reasons I never knew). Several bootlegs exist and they've found their way to YouTube.

It in no way removes the greatness of the original. But, damn, does this take me to a happy place as Huey honored his friend Philip.

"Guess who just got back today? Them wild-eyed boys that had been away..."

The Wedding Song

Love stinks? WHOOPITY-DOO!

We've reached the end of the fortnight in the 30-Day Song Challenge

Day 14: A song you'd love to be played at your wedding

Hmmm. How to answer this one?

We all know there are so many songs that speak of love. Honestly, do I need to put the links up?

Some just get it so right.

There are rockers and slow-dancers and mid-tempo and up-tempo and I'm sure you get the idea.

Some songs work perfectly. They say the right message. Some, well, um ... "Every Breath You Take" is just wrong unless dangerous obsession is your thing.

The song I immediately thought of speaks of the power of love (hey, I like the sound of that). It speaks of just being blown away that someone loves you, and loves you right.

To be honest, it probably isn't a "first dance" song (though I guess anything is possible). It might be an introduction song or a cake-cutting song or a filler. But I think I'd want to hear it.

And I'd want to hear it right.

I appreciate the studio version but the true power of this Paul McCartney classic about his beloved Linda comes in the live version on the Wings Over America album.

This just hits it. Oh, and if you want a slower Macca tune, try "My Valentine," written for wife Nancy Shevell.

"Maybe I'm a man and maybe I'm a lonely man who's in the middle of something that he doesn't really understand..."

"Maybe I'm Amazed."

Yep. All the feels, as "they" say.

The Mood Ring Sounds of the 1970s

McCartney: The Mullet Years (Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

It's Thursday night and patience has run down.

I'm not afraid to let the feelings flow but there are times where the message seems unnecessary (and just missed).

So, we'll lay off that.

The 30-Day Song Challenge has certainly been helpful in that I haven't had to scrounge for topics.

However, they threw me a curveball for today.

Day 13: A song you like from the 70s

For one thing, last night was my pre-teen years, which was the 70s.

So, now I have to find another one.

OK. This isn't a big deal.

The 70s produced its fair share of monstrous hits and cringeworthy nuggets.

Think about it: the 70s produced the Stones at some of their best and some of their questionably worst (the 80s wouldn't be so kind to them). We did the Hustle and other dance moves in the middle of the decade before disco completely took over and was killed in a ballpark.

We had punk. We had the singer-songwriters of Laurel Canyon.

The Eagles ruled. So did Joni Mitchell. So did Chicago. So did the Sex Pistols and Blondie and Bowie and on and on...

We met Queen after the early 70s stretch of glam rock. Freddie could have been glam but he was far more than that. Fleetwood Mac drifted from their early blues work to their biggest album.

We also got to know Billy Joel.

Each Beatle found a level of success. John Lennon made seminal music before he went on his "lost weekend." Then he found fatherhood. George Harrison turned spiritual and made a masterpiece with All Things Must Pass. Ringo bounced through solo highs and lows. Paul McCartney was the most commercially successful and made his best work with Band on the Run.

Oh, and a guy from the Bay Area went to England with a country rock band (also a thing during the decade) just as punk hit it big. So, he came back and, by 1979, formed Monday Night Live, which became the American Express. But, his story would play out in the 80s when they became Huey Lewis and the News.

In truth, there's a ton of music I love from the 70s.

So anything could go here. From "The Night Chicago Died" to "Kung Fu Fighting" to other things that say, "I'm old," it's the decade that gave us "Layla."

But, love it or hate it, there's one sax riff that either incited pure hatred or pure joy.

It's joy here.

"Winding your way down on Baker Street..."

The Jukebox in the Diner

We've reached another entry in our 30-Day Song Challenge

Day 12: A song from your preteen years

Honestly, that could be anything. Did I have to be alive when it was made? I decided that I needed to be, so anything between Nov, 1968 and Nov 1981 was in play.

I grew up in a house of music. We had WABC and WNNNNNNNBC on in the car. We played some FM with "Music From the Terrace" on WHUD and other FM stations emanating from the stereos of my siblings.

We could find music on TV, such as The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.

(Westchester County Historical Society)

And, on many Saturday nights, you'd find us in the corner booth of the old Crompond Diner in Yorktown.

A trusty old railroad-style dining car, it had booths with a jukebox at each table. For some reason, it strikes me that you got two songs for a quarter but my memory might be off on that.

We played the hits of the era in the 70s before they made improvements, adding a "fancy" dining room in the back. Eventually the whole thing would get changed, the place would change hands, and we stopped going. Time moves on.

Oh but to the simpler times of getting that trusty quarter, working the keys for the selection and, through those lo-fidelity crappy speakers, out came Elton John.

"Honky Cat."

"They said, get back, honky cat. Better get back to the woods..."

Anatomy of a Call: Bedlam

The HAN crew is in the background. That's me in the gold hat (screenshot)

"A breezy day at Mead Park in New Canaan..."

It was five years ago yesterday when Greenwich traveled to play the New Canaan Rams in an FCIAC baseball matchup.

John Kovach and I had the call on the HAN Network, though we were still HAN Radio at that time, streaming live for both audio and video.

The Cardinals and Rams gave us a good show. The Rams had to come back to force extra innings before coming back to win it on Robby Jones home run.

As it was still a radio call, I was giving as much detail as possible.



I cringe when I hear it.

I'd like to tell you about a broadcaster named Chuck Thompson. A great broadcaster who did football and baseball in Baltimore for many years, Chuck called the bottom of the ninth in Pittsburgh as the Pirates won the 1960 World Series over the Yankees. Bill Mazeroski homered to give the Buccos the title (the call starts at 1:01).

One problem: Art Ditmar didn't throw the fateful pitch. It was Ralph Terry who would be vindicated by winning the seventh game of the 1962 World Series. Ditmar stewed over it for years and even went to court over it.

In 2015, I got the pitcher right...

"And a high fly ball to right..." Er. OK. So far.

"Back goes..."

I know, at this point, I was looking for my defensive chart. Somewhere -- somehow -- I blew it. Instead of just not trying to identify the right fielder, I found the name of the starter.

"Mini...it is GONE!"

It wasn't Eric Mini. It was Anthony Ferraro.

F***. And I knew it immediately. I corrected myself.

"Ferraro turned and looked at it! It's a walk-off (some hate that expression), two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth and New Canaan knocks off Greenwich 8-7."

I wouldn't normally do any of that. I'd probably lay out more (let the crowd noise rule).

John, at that point, was literally stunned. Hell, we all were. We were standing just off to the side of the Greenwich dugout (I later heard someone was mad at me from Greenwich but never knew why).

Finally, John spoke.

"Just bedlam in front of us, Rob!"

I don't know that there was anything else to add, at least not until we had a chance to get our heads back on straight. It was a wacky game.

A little bonus "Easter Egg" nugget: if you listen closely, someone standing nearby (I won't say who it was) exclaimed, "Holy s*it. He just hit a home run to win it!" (That's a paraphrase as it is not entirely clear what was said). We all laughed about it later.

As these are moments that live through time, it's obviously important to get them right. Screwing up (I stumbled on "standing straight towards home plate" before the last pitch) and saying the wrong players name will always gnaw at me.

As for me, I'm a hard judge and I hold myself to a high standard. Not like, you know, Michael Jordan or whatever but in that same concept of always giving my best.

As for Chuck Thompson, after the Mazeroski home run, he said the final score was 10-0 before correcting himself to 10-9. It happens, I guess.

*****
Day 11: A song you never get tired of

To me, this is the same as the song that makes you happy, but I won't use the same one over again. I've also not repeated artists through the first 10 days. So, I'm going somewhere else.

There are tons of songs by my favorite artists that I never tire of. That's too easy.

But, is it possible to not get tired of a song? I know of a guy who strolls (well, used to stroll) into a place and see someone sitting at a nearby table. Without fail, the countdown would be on to the playing of a particular song. Pretty soon, that song became a little tiring.

I digress.

My choice here is a 1967 song by Procol Harum called "Conquistador." The most famous version is a live one from 1972 (the studio version is incredibly different). It's only slightly obscure, but not really if you know classic rock. I put it on one day when I was driving to Ridgefield for work. Four minutes and fourteen seconds later, I replayed it. And again. And again.

And didn't stop until I turned off the engine in Ridgefield.

I'm still not sick of it.

"And though I hoped for something to find I could see no maze to unwind..."

Norman Chad Trolls Away

"Got ya!" (Cardplayer.com)

I think the first time I read Norman Chad was in the long-gone National Sports Daily.

So, just a primer, the guy has been around over 30 years.

Mostly, he had disappeared from my radar, and that was due to his getting involved with things like the World Series of Poker. It's just something I don't watch normally.

He has continued to write a weekly column called Couch Slouch and, boy, did he rise from "obscurity" yesterday.

I glanced at Twitter while enjoying some rare normalcy on Mother's Day and saw Chad was trending.

The computer of my brain began to search for relevancy as my phone rolled through the data to pull up why Mr. Chad was being talked about.

Chad's piece was under the headline: "The pandemic has reminded us: We don’t need more sports in our lives — we need less" (Washington Post)

I read it and rolled my eyes. I might have also chuckled.

It was idiotic, of course. That was the idea.

It was, also, as Alex Reimers writes in Forbes, satire.

One might -- call me crazy -- actually read the story and not just the headline.

Which, I guarantee, the Twitter mob crowd (most of whom have never heard of Chad and let's leave why out of this) did not do.

And, even more, the joke is on all of you telling Chad to "be better" or whatever.

- His net worth is quite comfortable, let's just put it that way, as he is a well-regarded nationally syndicated columnist for some 30 years. But that aside...
- YOU CLICKED ON THE ARTICLE. As such, by clicking, retweeting, and getting it to trend, you got ME to read the article.

And, now, I'm laughing at all of you, regardless of how foolish Chad's column is.

Continue to beg on Twitter for people to notice you. Keep focusing on things that attract flies. You have a long way to go, Grasshopper.

Norman Chad is trending. He's now relevant. The post is receiving crazy clicks. That attracts advertisers and puts more money in Norman Chad's pocket.

He got you and you fell for it.

Advantage: Chad.

Here endeth the lesson.

*****
OK, 30-Day Song Challenge people, this one will be rough.

It's a rainy, cold, dreary day in New York and I've just written about Norman Chad (and, I suppose, me) schooling folks. I'm in a good mood and laughing. Yet...

Day: 10: A song that makes you sad.

Let's start with the entire Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely album. "Moonlight Serenade" leaves me in an absolute puddle because of the memory of my dad (it was among his favorite songs).

But, for pure sadness, there's Gilbert O'Sullivan and "Alone Again (Naturally)."

"I remember I cried when my father died, never wishing to hide the tears..."

Goddammit, I'm struggling to even type those words. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to laughing at the outrage towards Norman Chad.

Mother's Day, MNF, and Happy Songs

It's Mother's Day and a happy one to all.

Mother's come in all styles. Foster, adopted, pets, natural, grand, great-grand and so on.

So, whatever you are, have a happy one.

*****

Howard, Dandy Don, and Giff -- 1977

I was reading reactions to the mercy-killing of the Monday Night Football broadcast booth. I'll put it this way: their style just didn't work.

Like it or not, the broadcasters are a part of the show -- every show. Sure, some are less intrusive, but that's never been the MNF formula. Keith Jackson didn't quite fit the style coming out of 1970 so in came Frank Gifford and, obviously, there's no duplicating Frank, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. There were other parts in through the years before it became Frank, Dan Dierdorf and Al Michaels. And other parts after that.

It all changed once Sunday Night Football took over. They had the flash of the stupid theme song, a veteran production team, the marquee games and the marquee both with Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, plus the terrific Michele Tafoya.

MNF has been in flux ever since with dicey games, followed by the departure of Mike Tirico.

The buzz was that Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, and Boomer McFarland were in trouble from the start. The issues went from the "Booger Mobile" to Witten's obvious discomfort trying to become the "next Tony Romo" to Joe Tesses' perpetual cheerleading, bordering on Gus Johnson-esque calls that seemed like he wanted to sell me on the game.

Buzz is that Steve Levy is the likely new PBP voice. I'll say this: there needs to be a little sizzle with the steak.

The A-Team is available, as Chris Erway and I were laughing about it yesterday. It could be a full Connecticut pedigree, with Dan Orlovsky in the booth.

As I pay attention to such things (including uniforms, much to the dismay of some), I will be keeping an eye on it.

Now, back to our regularly-scheduled 30-Day Song Challenge.

Day 9: A song that makes you happy.

There are so many choices here. That happiness can stem from a memory of hearing the song or that the song itself is so happy.

So this is a fairly open-ended idea.

And so we come to the world of "(I Got You) I Feel Good," basically anything by Sly & the Family Stone, and the super-saccharine sweet sounds of too many others, perhaps represented in this case by "Silly Love Songs" (if only to irritate some). Certainly "A Hard Day's Night" brings me amazing joy as does a lot of other great songs.

But, I was reminded of chatting with a friend one time when they played a song on the jukebox.

"I'm not the biggest Tom Petty fan," they said. "But I like this song for a reason."

I smiled.

"It reminds me of Silence of the Lambs," I said. "'Out on 441 like waves crashing on the beach.'"

Shocked. I was spot on.

Yup. She was an American Girl.

Good Golly Miss Molly!

We lost royalty today.

Little Richard -- born Richard Penniman -- died at the age of 87.

There is no true originator of rock and roll, of course. Just like baseball, rock was an amalgam of things that formed into a movement in the mid 1950s. Sure, there was jazz and bluegrass and blues and gospel and ragtime.

It's generally accepted that the forefathers of rock and roll include Big Joe Turner, Fats Domino, a pre-Tina Ike Turner along with Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and His Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, and even Johnny Cash.

And Little Richard -- WOOOOOOO!

Shut up.

Little Richard's passing makes me sad because, of those who put rock and roll on the map, only Jerry Lee is left.

But thinking about Little Richard makes me smile because his outsized personality matched the brash rock and roll that he played.

“I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll!” he said in 1988. “I am the originator!”

He influenced everyone -- The Beatles and James Brown and Otis Redding and, basically, everyone.

Among his latter work was on The Imus Ranch Record -- yes, as in Don Imus -- singing "I Ain't Never." The album raised money for The Imus Ranch (and is outstanding).

If there's a rock and roll heaven, man, look out tonight.

A wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom.

Shut up.



Day 8: A song about drugs or alcohol

So many. Seriously. Soooo many songs.

Whiskey in the Jar. I Want a New Drug (duh). Cocaine. Got To Get You into My Life. Cocaine Blues (Have I mentioned how Johnny Cash is The Man?).

I was going to pick any one of those, and then...well...

Long before they changed their focus (and name) and allowed this to happen there was a band called Jefferson Airplane and as soon as I thought of this title, I began hearing that opening bass line played by Jack Casady. It screams of psychedelic imagery and was written by Grace Slick, who was apparently coming off an acid trip at the time of composition.

Regardless, it's classic.

"One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small..."

The Open Road

I-95 south, Emporia, VA, Aug 29, 2018

I could use a road trip.

I know -- when could I not use one?

What to listen to in the vehicle is crucial.

Sure, sometimes you need traffic/weather/news (especially around Washington, DC). Or it could be time for a ballgame.

Sometimes, after turning the dial and simply lacking inspiration, silence isn't a bad thing.

But, mostly, it's music.

Day 7: A song to drive to

It was 1984 (I think) and we had just left a Howard Johnson's (our lodging of choice -- my father slept well there). It looked like snow was in the forecast as we rolled out of North Carolina and into Virginia.

I was in charge of the radio and turned the dial looking for something. My father didn't often overrule me.

He did here.

"Give me something with a beat," he said. He wanted something that rocked so he keep the energy moving along Interstate 95.

I've never forgotten it.

By the way, I thought we'd maybe make Richmond or DC and get snowed in. I think we saw maybe ten snowflakes north of Emporia, VA and made it home without seeing anymore.

I'm overthinking this one (who? me?). I thought about "Fever" by The Black Keys and Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet" and "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz (and I still remember hearing that for the first time at Virginia Commonwealth University). I toyed with INXS and Eric Clapton.

I decided to not repeat The Beatles (and, by extension, any solo projects) or Billy Joel.

But, come on. I have to use them sometime. I have to use this song sometime.

They have so many songs that are drivable and have been the soundtrack to many a car ride.

They're almost the soundtrack of my life.

Yes.

Maroon 5, of course. Oh, wait. That's what I'd listen to drive a sledgehammer into my skull. Different kind of driving.

Sometimes, while trying to be different, track one/side one is staring you right in the eye. It's the travelogue of road trips songs.

There are only 24 versions of it listed in my iTunes between live, session takes, studio cuts, single edits, greatest hits and other compilations.

"New York, New York isn't everything they say and no place I'd rather be..."

I mean. Duh.