My Mixtape, the 70s

My long time good friend Wilt presented a great idea of creating a Spotify playlist with songs from different periods of our lives. As I read his blog post and listened to the music, I was inspired to do something similar.

During my younger years, my music tastes seemed to reflect my parents' preferences. Most of the time we listened to the "oldies" station, with mostly music from the mid-50s to the mid-60s. You'll see that reflected a little on this playlist. A few of the artists on this list go back to that time period.

Here are some thoughts on the songs on this playlist, but I have a feeling that I'm going to be evolving this playlist as time goes on and my memory becomes less foggy.

Barry Manilow -- Copacabana (At the Copa)

Manilow was a favorite of my mother's. I heard his music regularly when she was around. My Dad worked as various different places, usually far from where my brother and I went to school, so we spent our time with mom in her car, listening to her music.

This song was just one of many that I fondly remember of that time period. Listening to Manilow does make me miss her.

Kenny Rogers -- The Gambler

So many eons ago, my family was a member of one of those subscription services that you were obligated to purchase so many albums, but once you did, you would free or greatly reduced prices on subsequent albums. My family stocked up on many of the albums from which these songs come from through this subscription. Even though we weren't much of a country-western music family, we ended up with a Kenny Rogers album. This particular album (I don't remember the specific album) featured one of his most famous songs, "The Gambler". 

I remember many days, and nights, listening to this tape in our family's Ford Bronco. It was part of a cassette collection that my parents had in the cavernous console between the front captains chairs of that Bronco. This particular song makes me think about those drives home from the Wednesday evening swim meets. It was dark, Dad driving along the I-10, and listening to Kenny Rogers belt this one out. 

Chuck Berry -- My Ding-a-Ling

It took me a while to understand the inner joke with this song. During my naive years, I took the song at face value. It was about a toy and watching my mom giggle when it came on really puzzled me. It wasn't until I got through most of elementary school at a Christian school that I learned about the not-so hidden implication. Now my Mom's reaction made sense. 

To this day listening to this song makes me remember my Mom getting a smile on her face when this song would play on the radio. She would instinctively reach for the volume and turn it up. Another song that makes me miss her more. 

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen -- Hot Rod Lincoln

This song was another like Chuck Berry's: a fun song. Hot Rod Lincoln was one of those songs that you listened to because it was fun to listen too. This is a genre of music that you don't hear very often; at least I don't hear much like it. Just funny and lighthearted! 

John Williams & London Symphony Orchestra -- The Throne Room / End Title (Stars Wars Soundtrack

What can I say about this song, and the accompanying soundtrack, that hasn't been already said. So epic, and I would guess that my love of this movie and the whole franchise, is partly due to the soundtrack. They say a good soundtrack, when listened to it by itself, takes you back to the movie and you relive the story. This soundtrack does this perfectly. 

I wish I could talk about the epic-ness of the arrangement, or something "music"y like that, but all I know is that the music just touched my soul and ignited a lifelong passion. Kudos John Williams!! 

The New Seekers -- I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing

This song was initially a jingle for a Coca-Cola commercial, but it gained a life all its own on the pop charts. This was another song that makes me think of my mother. It was catchy, and most important to her, it promoted a positive sentiment. Wikipedia says it "portrayed a positive message of hope and love". I think we all need this message from time to time. 

The Beach Boys -- All Summer Long

Now I know I've talked a lot about my Mom in this post, but that doesn't mean that my Dad didn't have any influence. Au contraire! My Dad passed on his interest in surf music. You, know those surf music bands from the 60s, like The Beach Boys, Dick Dale, Jan & Dean, Surfaris, Ventures, etc. So it should come as no surprise that probably the tape I played the most over, and over, and over, and over, was The Beach Boys' "Endless Summer" album. 

That album, which is essentially a "best of" album, featured a LOT of great songs from The Beach Boys catalog. So many that I had to really struggle to find my one pick from it. As I got to the end of the track listing, this song just stood out as the one I love to listen to. 

This track was the title track from The Beach Boys 1964 album with the same name. Listening to it as a young teenager, I imagined myself in that idyllic time setting. Spending my summers by the beach, with a surfer girl, and cruising 101 with a cool hot rod. It was everything that teenage Tom dreamed of. 

Suicide Is Painless -- Johnny Mandel

Most people don't realize that the theme song to the television series M*A*S*H actually had lyrics. There is a back story for me and this song. My Mom told me that her high school friend, Ken Prymus, actually performed this song on the movie. 

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head -- B.J. Thomas & Burt Bacharach

Finally we end my play list with another song from a movie. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" was featured in the "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" movie from 1969. This song was a common sound when my mom was around. Just another great song with great memories!


Take a listen to my playlist "My Life Mixtapes -- 70s" and let me know what you think!