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Last year I had fun recalling and writing about my favorite opening lines to songs so I delved into my brain pan and pulled out some more starter lyrics that I can’t get enough of.

“I am a lineman for the county, and I drive the main roads, searching in the sun for another overload.” WICHITA LINEMAN- sung by Glen Campbell and written by the great Jimmy Webb A simply well written set of lines that remain iconic to this day.  All you need to hear is “Lineman for the county” and you know where we’re going.

“I want you to know, that I am happy for you.  I wish nothing but the best for you both.  An older version of me, is she perverted like me?”  YOU OUGHTA KNOW- Alanis Morrissette Despite the quivering vocal, this sounds like a tune that’s going somewhere sweet.  But it isn’t.   And only Alanis knows just who she wrote this song about.

“You think you’re gonna take her away with your money and your cocaine, you keep thinking that her mind is gonna change but I know everything is O.K.” “LISTEN TO HER HEART”– TOM PETTY This is hands down, my very favorite Petty song.  Between the church bell like chiming of those Rickenbacker guitars and the great lyrics, how can you can go wrong?  I once read Petty got the idea for those words from his first wife who told a story of being at some wild party thrown by Ike Turner who was on some cocaine infused bender and threatening women who were at his house.  Yikes!

“Tonight I feel so weak, but all in love is fair, I turn the other cheek and I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air.” “BRING ME SOME WATER”- Melissa Etheridge Someone’s been done wrong in this classic cut and what’s so good is there’s hurt, vulnerability and anger in these words.  Seeing Melissa play this song live several times is one of the great joys I’ve had in going to concerts.

“You were the first thing that I thought of when I thought I drank you off my mind, when I get lost in the liquor you’re the only one I find.” “KILLIN’ TIME”- Clint Black The title track from Black’s 1989 landmark five hit debut album.  What man or woman out there can’t identify with these words?  You drink to forget someone who still can’t or won’t leave your mind.”  Well done Clint!

“No one knows what it’s like to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes.’– “BEHIND BLUE EYES”- The Who Anyone who listens to FM rock radio knows this classic and it remains timeless.  A quiet start to a song about a self-examination of emotions and tendencies.  Pete Townsend was at his best when writing words like this for the “Who’s Next” album. 

“Cold, late night so long ago, when I was not so strong you know. A pretty man came to me I never seen eyes so blue.” “MAGIC MAN”- Heart  While the opening guitar, bass and drums of this 70’s rock classic are hypnotic, the story gets sold by these opening words.  Ann Wilson wrote this from her own experience as she shares some of what happened in her first serious relationship.

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG– Some more of my favorite re-makes. Cover songs if you will.

The pandemic certainly curtailed my frequent movie going to a once in a blue moon experience.  Ugh!  I’ve watched a few new flicks on demand at home but it’s not the same.  Anyway, I thought to offer up some of my very favorite scenes from various movies of the past.  These are the kinds of situations and scenes that in my opinion MAKE a movie special.

Here’s Take 1 of scenes on film that I cannot get enough of.

“THE COLOR OF MONEY” (1986) A decades later sequel to “The Hustler” where Paul Newman’s character “Fast Eddie Felson” is a successful liquor salesman who plays mentor to young pool hotshot ‘Vincent’ played by Tom Cruise.  In this scene Eddie discovers not only how good Vincent is at nine-ball but also how green and unprepared his girlfriend is in the game of hustling strangers.  Newman is too cool for the room in this clip.

“WAKING NED DEVINE” (1998) One of my top ten favorite movies of all time and I knew it would remain that way ever since the first time I saw it.  In this eulogy scene Jackie O’Shea pays sincere tribute to his dear friend Michael O’Sullivan who’s in the audience, despite Ned Devine being the actual dead man in the casket.  This touching scene shares what deep rooted friendship is all about.

“GOOD WILL HUNTING” (1998) The late Robin Williams earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Sean, a teacher/counseling therapist assigned to guide ‘Will’ played by Matt Damon through court ordered anger management.  In this scene former college roommates Sean and Will’s math instructor Jerry argue over the kid’s progress and where his life is headed.

“THERE WILL BE BLOOD” (2007) Another Oscar winning performance, this time it’s Daniel Day Lewis as the amoral and money hungry oilman Daniel Plainview.  In this scene Plainview and his brother meet with fellow oil barons who want to buy him out.  This clip takes a dark turn to match Plainview’s persona but what I like is how controlled and calm he is at the start of the negotiations.  It quickly becomes obvious that Daniel Plainview has all the answers before questions and propositions are brought up by the others.  He’s the smartest man in the room and also the most wicked.

BONUS SCENE- Another one from “There Will Be Blood”, from earlier in the film when Plainview shows little tolerance for arguing townspeople.

Next Blog– Some of my favorite opening song lyrics, Pt. 1.

“When I listen to my records, they take me back to certain points in my life.”  (Shrevie from “Diner”)

My radio career afforded me lots of encounters with musicians I admired and plenty of songs that are burned into my memory.   Two such memories involve Bruce Hornsby. 

Memory #1– Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, the summer of 1988.  Working at WCKG FM there were certain concerts when I hosted contest winners in a luxury box in the Poplar Creek pavilion.  The box had eight comfortable swivel seats in a sectioned off area right next to the house soundboard.  There was a mini-fridge stocked with beer, pop & snacks and when that was emptied, we had a generous bar tab to run up as we entertained a few lucky listeners.   

On this particular night, it was my duty to hang with our contest winners and jam out to Bruce Hornsby and the Range. My guest was my longtime pal Mark Vasko.  Bruce’s second album “Scenes from the Southside” was out with the lead single being “The Valley Road.”  However, the song I was laser focused on was the record’s lead track, “Look Out Any Window.” 

Before the show started, I was telling Mark about this new tune and how it would be such a great song to open a concert.  We knew we’d hear Hornsby hits like “The Way It Is”, “Mandolin Rain” and “Every Little Kiss” but kicking off the show with the slowly built up methodical chords of “Look Out Any Window” would be so cool.

So, the house lights went down, Bruce Hornsby and his band made their way onstage in the dark and then they launched into you guessed it, “Look Out Any Window!”  I went nuts and as fun as the whole show was, kicking it off with the song I would’ve advised Bruce to start with made it extra special.

As the concert wrapped up, Mark and I were approached by Hornsby’s record rep who gave us passes to join the star of the show at an after party in The Club. The Club was a private invitation only lounge perched on the second floor of a building structure a few steps from the pavilion. 

We didn’t have to wait long for Bruce and his band to show up and meet with a few and other lucky folks.  When it was my turn to say hi to the piano playing star, I gushed a full two minutes on how I was hoping he’d open his set with “Look Out Any Window” and what a perfect show starter that was.  Bruce patiently smiled, laughed then asked me, “So what should we open with tomorrow night?”  I told him, “Stick with this one Bruce, it’s a winner!”

A few minutes later I learned from one of his bandmates that they usually open their concerts with “On the Western Skyline.”  Which leads me to Hornsby memory #2.

This was a couple years later. I went to see Bruce Hornsby again at Poplar Creek.  This time, no luxury box but good seats just a few rows from the stage.  The house lights were still on, fans were slowly shuffling to their seats and the soundboard music was playing recent radio hits of other artists. 

All of a sudden amidst all the pre-show casual atmosphere we heard the loud clump of an accordion pop a couple of sounds.  I looked up to see Bruce standing at the edge of the stage with an accordion strapped to his chest as he squeezed out the opening notes to “On the Western Skyline.” 

The rest of his band scrambled to their places and joined in.  Finally, the house lights went down, the stage lights went up and we were treated to a great long jam of “Western Skyline” as Bruce wailed out the opening line “About this time of evening, out by the bay they turn the road lights on the bridge.”   There’s such a cinematic feel to that track and anytime I hear it on the radio, it takes me back to Bruce Hornsby being so eager to get onstage to play for fans that he rushed out without any fanfare or fancy set-up.  I smile big every time I heard or think of that song. 

Other memories of Bruce Hornsby and the time I was his personal escort to a local radio station show will be shared in my book, “Raised on the Radio.”

NEXT BLOG- Some favorite movie scenes of mine.

It’s all subjective to personal tastes and interpretations but here are some cover versions of songs done by other stars first that I like a lot.

JAKOB DYLAN & JADE CASTRINOS- “Go Where You Wanna Go.” Covering the harmonies of that Mamas and Papas oldie isn’t easily done but Dylan and Castrinos are aces up on their version which is found on the “Echo in the Canyon” soundtrack. Go to You Tube and see them sing in live concert settings as they promoted that music documentary.  I can’t get enough of the joy Jade Castrinos puts into her part.  She brings it to life every time!

PEARL JAM- “Last Kiss.’  This teen tragedy song was made famous in 1962 by rockabilly star Wayne Cochran then became a radio hit again in the 70’s thanks to the one hit wonder group Wednesday.   Then Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder came across the song in a Seattle record store, listened to it all night and got his band to play it live during their 1998 concert tour.  Finally, in 1999 Pearl Jam’s version of this teen tear jerker was released to radio and as a single.  Plain and simple, I love this version.  It’s sincere and tells a story, and the fact that a hard rocking band covered it makes me like it that much more!

MILEY CYRUS- “Wildflowers”- After the shocking passing of Tom Petty, Miley Cyrus took to performing the title track from Petty’s 1994 album.  Miley sang and nailed it on Howard Stern’s radio show and paired up with her father Billy Ray for another jam of it on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.   As I’ve noted before, despite her personality quirks Miss Cyrus is a damn great singer and she’s at her best when performing songs that have a country or folk style to them.  This cover of Petty’s sweet “Wildflowers” is a prime example.  When she squeals out one last chorus of “You belong somewhere you’ll feel free” it sure is moving.  Well done, Miley!

BO DEANS- “Walking After Midnight”- I’m a lifelong fan of the BoDeans.   At least up to the point when co-founder Sammy Llanas was still in the band.  Sammy’s writing and voice was and always will be the best part of this band from Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Anyway, on their live album “Joe Dirt Car” Sammy and the band strum out the Patsy Cline country classic.  The gentle honky tonk path taken on this track is so damn near perfect and Sammy’s soulful voice sells it.  I also find it fitting to hear a man’s take on Patsy’s song. 

More fun to check out cover songs will be posted in future blogs.

Valentine’s Day is this Monday, so why not listen to a few more few songs about doing the dance with no pants?

WHY DON’T WE GET DRUNK AND SCREW?- Jimmy Buffet  What, did you think a list of sex songs wasn’t going to have this one on it?  Please!

CHEVY VAN- Sammy Johns/Sammy Kershaw Either version is fine by me.  The girl in this ride and romp oldie walks off in bare feet.  So, what happened to her shoes?

TRICK OF THE LIGHT- The Who John Entwistle wrote this rocker about a guy who asks about his sexual prowess with the hooker he just bedded.

THAT’S ALL- Bo Deans One of my favorite tracks written by Sammy Llanas.  This song pretty much captures my own ‘first time.’

POCKET FULL OF GOLD- Vince Gill The cheater in this song stashes his wedding ring and pulls something else out of his pants.

WHITE LIAR- Miranda Lambert So we can’t forget that women sing about cheating too. This track from 2010 well covers BOTH sides of a relationship.

NEXT WEEK– Good re-makes of past hits.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so why not take a listen to a few songs about dancing the dirty hula?

DIRTY WORK- Steely Dan This 70’s classic isn’t about scrubbing toilets or taking out the garbage.  Love the line, “Light the candle, put the lock upon the door, you have sent the maid home running like a thousand times before.”

LAST CALL- Lee Ann Womack So who hasn’t been on the sending or receiving end of a late at night phone call that leads to a hook-up?

THIRD RATE ROMANCE- Amazing Rhythm Aces or Sammy Kershaw Either version of this “low rent rendezvous” is fine by me.

COME ON OVER- Jessica Simpson Ms. Simpson’s former boyfriend Tony Romo used to say Jessica was ‘sexual napalm” and this tune covers that statement.

ARIEL- Dean Friedman A first date with a dizzy girl and it climaxes with “Bombs bursting in air…”

NEXT WEEK- SONGS ABOUT SEX PT. 2

One of my favorite post-90’s network TV shows is “Scrubs.”  The show debuted in the fall of 2001 and I was a fan of the half hour NBC dramedy from the get-go.  Quick, smart writing, interesting characters, fun comedic and serious twists made it a must-watch.  The series ended in 2010 but these days you can catch reruns every Wednesday on IFC.  I DVR it and catch up on some familiar laughs and storylines.

One thing I now notice about “Scrubs” is that over the last twenty years I’ve evolved in my identifying with the lead characters of the show.  Aging, maturing and life’s experiences will do that to you.  Let me explain.

When “Scrubs” began airing I found myself relating very closely with med-students John ‘J.D.’ Dorian and Chris Turk.  These guys were young upstart medical interns with plenty to learn at Sacred Heart, a teaching Hospital.  They were immature and goofy but full of promise.  In context I was ten years older than these guys but working in big city radio, I was at a low level of maturity and as care free as JD and Turk.

Fast forward ten years and as ‘Scrubs’ left the air there were still the reruns to enjoy.  I was now a certified teacher, closing in on age fifty and found myself aligning with Dr. Perry Cox.  Dr. Cox was the sarcastic, proficient lead doctor at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was a helpful mentor to JD, Turk, Eliot Reid and often bumped heads with Sacred Heart’s big boss, Chief of Medicine Dr. Bob Kelso.  Dr. Cox’s efforts to improve the careers of his younger staff was kind of like me trying to teach my students in class and get them to embrace lifelong learning.  Like Dr. Cox I did this with personal passion, dry humor and an occasional tinge of sarcasm.

So now here we are twenty years later in the existence of “Scrubs” and also in my own life.  I’m sixty-one, fully functioning with years of experience to share in my work. I’m moving forward as a teacher of students, a hopefully reliable help to younger teachers and a bit of a happy curmudgeon.  In other words, I now sometimes identify with the words and ways of Sacred Heart’s Dr. Bob Kelso. 

There are no more characters after Dr. Kelso’s age to align with on “Scrubs” so I’m pretty much in a holding pattern with that.  One thing to glean from this ‘Scrubs Evolution’ is I’m still learning new things.  New ways to teach and help others and maybe even finding a few new revelations about myself.  To quote a line from the “Scrubs” TV theme, “I can’t do this all on my own, no I’m no Superman.”

NEXT WEEK: SOME SONGS ABOUT CHEAP SEX.

Last year when songwriter/music producer Jim Steinman died, I wrote a blog paying tribute to his works.  I put most of my focus on his collaboration with Meatloaf on the landmark “Bat Out of Hell” album. 

Well, now Meatloaf himself has passed away at the age of 74 so I thought I’d re-play some of what I blogged last year. 

 Jim Steinman wrote all the songs for “Bat Out of Hell.”  Tracks from that record included the title track, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” the operatic “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and other great songs that made both sides of that disc fun to listen to.

“Bat Out Of Hell” came out in late 1977. At that time my stereo’s turntable spun albums by The Who, Elton John, Queen, Eagles and Bob Seger. Meatloaf’s songs were also played loudly and often in my bedroom.

This record had a bold orchestral sound to it.  It was very theatrical, as was 270 pound Meatloaf performing concerts in black slacks and a ruffled tuxedo shirt all breathy and sweaty.  Lots was made of Meatloaf’s heavyset body and long hair but his vocals easily eclipsed whatever his look was.

So back in 1977 at age 16, I was full of piss and vinegar and of course teen lust.  At that time, I’m not sure any other set of songs were as much in my wheelhouse as what “Bat Out of Hell” brought me.

You had the drama of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” with the whole idea of ‘going all the way’ that lit fires of passion and wanting. Lyrics like “Well I can remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday, parking by the lake and there was not another car in sight, and I never had a girl looking any better than you did, and all the kids at school, they were wishing they were me that night.”   How can you listen to that and not think about the night you had with that much wanted “hot date”?

There was the angst and frustration of “All Revved Up and No Place to Go.”   “I was nothing but a lonely boy looking for something new, and you were nothing but a lonely girl, but you were something, something like a dream come true.”  And then to go on to the chorus of this guy and girl with “Every Saturday night, I felt the fever grow, do you know what it’s like, all revved up and no place to go.”

Finally, there was my favorite track, “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth starting with the boy-girl recitation asking “Would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?” This followed by the sung lines, “It was a hot summer night and the beach was burning, there was fog crawling over the sand, when I listen to your heart I hear the whole world turning, I see the shooting stars falling through your trembling hands.”  I didn’t have a beach to take girls to but I sure wished one was nearby.    

Then top this off with the killer line “You were licking your lips and your lipstick shining, I was dying just to ask for a taste, we were lying together in a silver lining by the light of the moon, you know there’s another moment to waste.”  Been there, done that. Whew!

Just re-writing these Jim Steinman lines brings me back to cranking those songs every Friday and Saturday night before going out with friends to high school parties to guzzle cans of Old Style & Olympia beer, all charged up and hoping to chat up a girl or two.  After that, who knows what might happen?

Me and most of my high school buddies were a bit slow to get out of the gate with the opposite sex; like Bob Seger so aptly sang we were ‘Working on mysteries without any clues.’  Eventually, all of us did find our footing with girls and thankfully I had the songs from “Bat Out of Hell” there to let me know I wasn’t alone in my wanting. There was someone who knew how I felt, there was hope and yes, maybe even a slight glimpse of paradise by the dashboard light…

So now we bid farewell to Meatloaf at age 74.  As many of the obits are saying, he was quite a character, full of charisma and passion.  And to Meatloaf and his song partner Jim Steinman I add, thanks for the music and the memories that remain…

NEXT BLOG- My evolution through the characters on “Scrubs.”

Thanks to this bastard COVID virus my in-theater movie going has slowed down to just a handful of films seen over the past 22 months. I used to catch 3 to 4 movies a month, sometimes more when the high quality releases hit big screens in the fall of each year.

Anyway, this year I was able to resume my long running Christmas Day tradition of seeing a film in the theater.  (And I’m not even Jewish)  I chose the much hyped “Licorice Pizza”, the latest offering from Paul Thomas Anderson.  P.T. Anderson has written and directed great movies like “Boogie Nights,” “Hard Eight”, “Punch Drunk Love”, “Magnolia” and one of my very favorites, “There Will Be Blood.” 

So, at 3:15 p.m. on Christmas Day I walked out of the Oak Brook AMC Theater (just 2 days after 4 people were injured by gunshot at the adjoining mall which is a story in and of itself) and tried to figure out what I just watched for the last 2 hours.  From the grumblings I heard after the film from the crowd leaving that screening room, I think everyone else was in my boat too.

“Licorice Pizza” is a look at goings on in the San Fernando Valley circa 1973.  Cooper Hoffman (son of the late great actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman) plays Gary, a fifteen-year-old child actor who pines for twenty-five-year-old photography assistant Alana played by Alana Haim, she from the real-life L.A. based sisters band Haim.  Gary is upfront about his feelings but Alana plays him off as only a business partner in his water bed store.  He then veers into other business attempts and Alana volunteers for a guy running for mayor of Encino, California. 

I could tell you more but it would be hard to explain.  Hard to explain the Japanese restaurant connection (which involves some complained about racial stereotypes) and the weirdness of Jon Peters (played by Bradley Cooper) who acts half-crazy over his affair with Barbra Streisand.  Then there’s the 10 minutes of screen time devoted to Sean Penn as a movie maker and his old pal played by Tom Waits who re-live some past movie stunt they made but in the most insane and befuddling way!

“Licorice Pizza”, as many of the glowing reviews states, is a film more about incidents than plot.  If you want a much better movie that is more about incidents than plot, right off the top of my head I’ll tell you to re-watch Barry Levinson’s classic “Diner.”   And if you want a movie about a young guy meeting and wanting a woman in California, I’ll tell you to check out the criminally under-appreciated “Dean.”

The trailer for “Licorice Pizza” earns an A+ grade.  Lots of fast cuts, wacky short glimpses and ‘boy meets girl/girl flashes bare chest to boy’ stuff shown.  I read this movie was Paul Thomas Anderson’s nostalgic look at life in the Valley as he remembered it in the early 1970’s.  Whatever. I gave the movie a C+ which may have been a plus sign too generous. 

Regarding “Licorice Pizza’s” trailer, I put movie previews into three categories.  The first trailer being like Anderson’s movie preview; weird, quirky parts of a film that make you say, “Hey, this looks like something different and special!”  But it isn’t that special.

The second kind of trailer can show us those wacky glimpses but it IS special and memorable.  Think of movies like “Rushmore,” “The Big Lebowski,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel” or recent Oscar winner “Parasite.”

Then there’s my LEAST favorite movie trailer, the one where most if not all the twists, turns, jokes and spoilers are shown WITHIN the three-minute preview!  Hollywood often treats us movie goers like five-year-olds who cannot wait or tolerate being surprised. 

You want to see a quality movie trailer that gives away nothing and has more twists and turns than a tub full of snakes?  Check out this old one for “The Usual Suspects.”

So here I close out 2021 with a disappointed look back at a movie that sure looked good or at least somewhat interesting.  I hope 2022 brings us all good health, lower prices on goods we buy and yes, better films that fulfill the promise of their previews.

Mick Out

Words cannot describe how thankful I am that the first semester of the 2021-2022 school year is over.  It’s been the most challenging 16 weeks I’ve ever had in teaching. 

This year my self-contained class is eleven students, ten of whom seniors.  All the kids were well behaved with few disciplinary problems.  The challenge was each of my seniors has varying course requirements to earn credits towards their graduation. Their official transcripts dictated me setting them up in a wide variety of classes.  Normally we teachers are used to running and planning 5 to 6 courses total.  This semester I had 23 different courses to plan, monitor and teach!  Back in August, it took me two weeks just to sort out this mess and properly plan matters out.  This wasn’t the kids’ fault, or anyone else’s, it was just unfortunate happenstance.

The best way to describe this mish-mash of classes is this:  Pour a bag of M&Ms, a bag of Skittles and a five lb. bag of brown sugar on the floor.  Now separate each of those elements with a broom.  

Add to all this, thanks to that bastard virus we’re all still masked up.  Movement around the school is limited to staying in our room & P.E. time in the gym.  These students are tired of school and understandably restless.  They ask for and get frequent trips to the restroom just to move about and get a break.  I don’t blame them, again it’s bad circumstances and they’re making the best of it. 

I can’t forget to note how scheduling left me with a load of IEP meetings.  Between late August and mid-November, I had to be a part of 13 such reviews and transition meetings.  Three of these meetings were for one student due to red tape and other needs.  Another student required 2 meet-ups.  And it’s not just the meetings, it’s the planning and other paperwork that needs to be covered.

To make things more difficult, during this semester, our school has been short of staff members. We’re still in need of teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior workers.  Everyone in the school is exhausted from covering for staffers who were absent for whatever reasons.  Ms. Cat, my assistant is a fantastic help to my room but even she had to miss several days due to unforeseen things that came up.  

Still, everyone with all hands-on-deck, made it to the Winter Break.  I told some co-workers we might be working with a skeleton crew, but that skeleton has arms that are long and strong.  Anyone who knows me knows nobody outworks me, it’s one of my best assets.  It was that way in my radio days and remains that way with teaching; yet these past four months were harsh and hard.     

The best news out of all this is one of our students made a full transition to their home school and three other kiddos graduated!  I’m thrilled for and proud of them.  The hard work they put in and the support we give them does pay off.

Come early January when we return, I’ll be starting with a lighter caseload of students and fewer courses to track.  It SHOULD go smoother and hopefully what I dealt with between mid-August and now made me stronger and more bullet proof of tough challenges.

For our winter break, I’m happily laying way low.  No need to run out to a bunch of holiday events and that’s just fine by me.  This is a chance to re-charge and catch my breath. 

TIME FOR A COLD BOTTLE OF SHINER BOCK BEER. OR TWO OR THREE…

Enjoy the holidays folks, I’ll be back in January.  Class is happily dismissed!

In wrapping up this semester and this year, I defer to Eric Church’s tribute to hard workers, “Drink in my Hand.”