When I’m out and about running errands on Saturday afternoons I like to listen to The Saturday Show with Jonathan Schwartz on WNYC. It’s an interesting mix of Jazz, classical and American Standards with a little Neil Young mixed in for good measure. Not my normal choice in music, but every so often I hear something that just knocks my socks off and I appreciate being exposed to good music that I might not otherwise listen to. Today I heard a medley of In the Wee Small Hours/Leaving Again by jazz singer Kurt Elling – his first album will be released in April and while I don’t know that I’d buy the whole album, I’ll be sure to look for that track on iTunes.
My favorite part of The Saturday Show is that he plays nearly a full hour of Frank Sinatra. Hearing Sinatra this way brings me back to when I was a kid and a similar radio show my mother listened to that played nothing but Sinatra standards on Saturday night. She loved his music and always tried to grab one of my big brothers for a dance around the kitchen. I smile thinking of it.
Other music that I learned to like growing up was whatever my older brothers were listening to. I know all the songs by The Eagles, Styx, Kansas, Boston, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I got way more than my fill of Lynyrd Skynyrd; my brother Brian played the drums and had a band that used to practice in our rec room and they played Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama over and over again. I can’t exactly say that I smile remembering that!
What music reminds you of your childhood? What makes you want to grab someone for a twirl across the kitchen linoleum?
My kid brother and I used to dance to the radio too. Then my Mom would go get my Dad and join us. It was one those rare fun things we did.
I don’t think you would recognize the tunes.
My Dad is the big music lover in my childhood home, and he had lots of records (remember big ole records) of big band music, Benny Goodman, Herb Albert, etc. etc. So believe it or not I now have CD’s in my truck’s visor of some of these to play for a change and for when he rides with me somewhere. Any good music makes me want to dance!
My dad always listened to classic country… Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Lynn Anderson, Patsy Cline. Hearing them always makes me smile.
My growing up music also included Skynyrd and singing Tuesday’s Gone With the Wind with the volume cracked up is a vivid memory. I had tickets to see them when just days before the scheduled concert, their plane crashed. I can still sing along to any Eagles, Kansas, or Boston song too. Let Me Take You Home Tonight…. what a song! Thanks for the trip down memory lane Laura. :c)
I remember my parents playing Hank Wiliams SR., Herb Alpert,Neil Diamond,The Vienese Waltzes and Frankie Vallie playing till the wee hours of the morning. My older sisters were in to Neil Young,Led Zeppelin, Steppenwolf, and Frampton.
The evil Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd all in one post.
Weren’t you afraid it might spontaneously combust?
Ronnie and the boys were a local band for we St. Augustine teens. Before fame, they played highschool dances in the area.
Slow twirl? Unchained Melody
Fast twirl? Celebrate.
As a child, my house was always filled with music. This was fun, remembering my Dad’s favorites – Big Band, Herb Albert, Patsy Kline. My Mom loved anything but I remember her playing over and over again on the “stereo/hi-fi” Mantovani orchestra, Mamas and the Pappas, and Ray Charles, particularly his “Georgia”. They both loved Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind” and both of these singles bring back the happiest memories for me. Yes, we danced in the kitchen!
z: Glad you liked to dance anyway.
Naturewoman: Thank you for mentioning those big band names – Benny Goodman and Herb Albert – Icouldn’t come up with them when I wrote this post last night. My dad loved that stuff!
Jayne: My parents didn’t listen to country, but I bet my husband would recognize those names!
Funny how quickly music brings us back.
Larry: Neil Diamond? When was that? I remember his movie – maybe the late 70’s – was he popular before then?
FC: I knew I was taking a chance.
😉
Mary: What year was your dad born? I think you said he’s in his early 80’s, so he’s a bit older than my dad – guess lots of people in that age group liked Sinatra. What about Tony Bennet?
Neil Diamond’s Ketucky Woman came out in 1967-
Laura, your description of Frank Sinatra definitely takes me back to my childhood. My mother truly loved ole’ Frank and we grew up knowing the words to his songs as well as anything else (that is, until the Beatles came along).
My Mom was a big jazz fan..along with Frank, we listened to the Four Freshman (which no one will know) and Erroll Garner, a jazz pianist of the highest order, who I have only begun to appreciate as an adult.
But Frank was The Man. Thanks for reminding me!
Laura,
He was born in 1925. Frank Sinatra was a hit for him as well as Tony Bennett. I remember watching “Lawrence Welk” for too many years… We only had one TV when I was a kid so I was forced to listen to it. Did you?
Jazz is good for your soul. But if I am going to cut the rug, it’s to southern rock.
Trivia- I went to college with Kurt Elling. I didn’t know him personally but we may have run into each other in the music building a few times.
Anything from 1979-1987 Top 40 radio is probably permanently ingrained in my head. I wasn’t into the harder stuff, but I could probably still sing and dance along with Chicago, Journey, etc.
Larry: Thanks. I was just a glimmer in my daddy’s eye then.
beckperson: I’ve heard of the Four Freshman, but I don’t know how! Do you have a favorite Sinatra song?
Mary: We just had one tv also and it was like a real piece of furniture. I don’t know that we were forced to watch Lawrence Welk, probably before my time. I don’t really remember my parents watching much tv.
Dave: That’s sort of a surprise, Dave. Where did you grow up?
Deb: Hi – I forgot about Chicago and Journey. First concert I went to was Journey, had wonderful (not!) behind the stage seats.
Do you know Elling’s music? Like it?
I forget that you’re musically inclined. Tend to think of you more as the woodswoman type.
😉