Day Two Nostalgic Music Month- October 2, 2017

The Who by Jon Hilton

In my life, there have been stages where I was all into one band or another. In 1983-84 I was all about The Who. I was listening to classic Who tracks and thinking that they had figured the whole confusing experience of life out.  The Who made you question the system and the things that people wanted you to accept without question. Follow the rules! Do what you are told!  These were exactly the things I was struggling with as a high school student in the 80’s.  Finding my own path began with The Who.

Top Five Who Songs

1. Behind Blue Eyes– Most people see themselves as the hero, but some circumstances can make you feel like the villain. Life is full of these two scenarios and we strive to make the choices of the hero, but what if those are not accepted? My dreams aren’t as empty as my conscience seems to be.

2. Bargain –  When it came to love in my life, there were times I felt exactly like this. Giving up everything for the love of the right woman. I call that a bargain, the best I ever had. Life takes that passion away, there is no free ride to me, but there was once.

3. Won’t Get Fooled Again– The way I looked at authority as a teenager was perfectly described in this song. In fact, it is much the way I feel today. The hypocrisy, lies, and greed I see in the world, make me get on my knees and pray, we don’t get fooled again. But it seems unlikely. I know that the hypnotized never lie.

4. Baba O’Reilly– I can remember when teenage wasteland included me and now I am far removed from that group, I still think older people look at the young and see them wasting their lives. They don’t need to fight to prove their right and they don’t need to be forgiven.  Life is full of patterns and being young is one of them. It is critical to the development of thinkers and doers in the future.  Let’s get together before we get much older.

1.Who Are You?– The question that I am still answering today. I think all people are continually evolving and this is changing as you move through life. The choices that we make every day define us and tell us and the world who we are.  I really want to know, who are you?  Do you choose positively or negatively in your interactions with others and the world? Only you control the impact that you have. This song has always shown me that truth from the time I listened to it as a young man, to today.

Thank you to the who for providing all the guidance in the early 80’s. Roger Daltry is still the man, he is just a very old man.

Honorable mentions; Pinball Wizard, My Generation, Can’t Explain, Love Reign o’er Me, Squeeze Box, Join Together, The Seeker, Substitute, Magic Bus

Monday, Monday     by Mike Martin

Mondays are a gift from the Universe. At our house, Monday is a time to frantically search for backpacks, homework and sneakers, a time to get back into the routine of our busy lives.

Music is a History lesson. Music videos are often rich with the culture of the times in which the music was created. My children are blessed with a father that forces them to listen to music from many decades.

On Mondays, just to get the week off to a joyous start. I often turn to The Mamas & the Papas. This pleases my daughter Kyera very much.

Monday, Monday 

“Monday, Monday, so good to me

Monday mornin´, it was all I hoped it would be”

The Mamas & the Papas recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968.  I was born in 1966.  The group has four members: John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips née Gilliam.

Denny Doherty has the best tenor voice that I have ever heard. Joh Phillips claims that a wayward brick forever changed Cass Elliot’s voice allowing her to sign a few high notes that she could not hit prior to getting struck with the falling brick-Fascinating. Michelle Phillips née Gilliam is the only member still alive and still very beautiful.

They released five studio albums and seventeen singles, six of which made the Billboard top ten and have sold close to 40 million records. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

My favorite song by The Mamas & the Papas is California Dreamin’ —listening to it, is a– Spiritual Experience:

“Stopped into a church

I passed along the way

Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)

And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)

You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)

He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)”

Even though I grew Catholic and was very connected to the Holy Family Catholic Church in Greenville, Maine. I am not religious; however, I truly believe we are all interconnected through omnipotent forces that defy descriptions!

The Mamas & the Papas’ music speaks to me in a way they no other music can. So, please, enjoy your Monday because I believe that you CAN trust that day.  If you have any doubts, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

p.s. This is Dedicated to the One I Love

“Each night before you go to bed my baby

Whisper a little prayer for me my baby

And tell all the stars above

This is dedicated to the one I love”

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville