My baby Elliot is 4 years old. I think of the music that inspired me when I was that age. I know the songs in my memory, but I did not know when they were released without looking them up. This one, “Neil Sedaka – Laughter in the Rain (1974)” has a particular memory for me.
I don’t know my age, but based on the song, it should have been 1974 or 1975 – so I would be 4 or 5. I was with my mommy at the house. The car was broken or missing, I don’t know why. She asked the next-door neighbor, Roz Brandeis at 1125 Sea Gull Lane, to drive us somewhere. The Shop ‘N Bag supermarket, maybe?
Roz put us into her car. Mom was in the front and I was in the back. No car seat or booster back then. This song was on the radio – Neil Sedaka – Laughter in the Rain (1974).
I remember how Mommy looked. I remember how Roz looked. I remember the blue car. Most of all, I remember the music!
Other songs from 1974 that were part of my life as a 4-year-old:
“I Shot The Sheriff” – Eric Clapton’s version. We had this on 45 record. I remember the “pig” or “cow” logo on the record. I played it a lot.
“wichita lineman” by Glenn Campbell, 1968, was on the radio a lot. My father liked Glenn Campbell and Gordon Ligthfoot, so of course I did, too. “Rhinestone Cowboy” was big. John Denver. Playing his albums on the record player over and over. Why I wanted to move to Colorado. “jet plane” my parents should hug when my dad leaves for the airport. Everything by the “The Carpenters”.
Christopher Cross-Arthur’s Theme – oh my. 1981?
killing me softly – roberta flack
tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree – tony orlando. i took this song very literally.
pretty much everything by the carpenters – e.g. yesterday once more, top of the world
jim croce – time in a bottle, bad bad leroy brown
lots of john denver – this was a huge influence on me
So many more!
streisand – the way we were
kung fu fighting
love will keep us together – we had this on 45 rpm record.
