Category Archives: Song Blog

21. Two cats in the yard

Song Blog

During my stay in London the winter of 1978 -’79, I was introduced to a bunch of new music. After Kate Bush, my favorite song was probably “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I don’t even know if I heard it on a radio or stereo, but I do remember Tim and George singing it.

Once I returned to the states I learned it was by CSN&Y when I called up a local radio station to ask that it be played. They didn’t play it, but I learned the name of the band, and bought myself the album.

I still stop dead in my tracks and get warm all over whenever I hear it played on the radio or over a speaker at a store. When I hear it at home I smile and have a sudden urge to let our two indoor cats into the backyard, throw some flowers in a vase and light a fire in the fireplace. (I don’t really let the cats out)

Once Cindy and I got into a pretend argument because we wanted to claim that song the song of our present lives.

Edited to add this interview by Graham Nash explaining the song. (thanks Del!) I love it when something I love is explained. It makes it so much better. Usually. I love a good steak, but don’t want to know that much about it.

20. First Rock Concert

Music, Song Blog,

I remember very little about the first rock concert I ever attended. I’d heard of Boston, but didn’t follow the band and probably couldn’t name a song sung by the band. I certainly cannot name one now. With the lead singer’s suicide last week, Boston has been in the news lately. Thus my memories of this band. (which are next to none)

It was 1978 and I was working as a waitress at an all night pancake house to pay for yet another trip to England. One of my co-workers – her name escapes me now but I’m pretty sure she’s mentioned in my journal of the time – had an extra ticket to see Boston in Chicago and asked if I’d like it. We’d ride in together and it would be fun. I figured it would be an experience if nothing else, so accepted the ticket.

I don’t even remember where the concert was although a website indicates it may have been at Comiskey Park. Our seats were pretty high up – I remember there were a lot of lights and maybe even smoke on the stage. The security was not very good because everyone around us was smoking pot – as were the folks I was with. On the way there, the guy who was supposed to be my date showed me a little glass vial he brought and explained it was a drug that you inhaled that opened your veins or something and you got high. He may or may not have used it at the concert – I don’t remember. Much later I heard more about a drug called poppers and guessed that the vial contained a nitrite inhalant. I was glad I didn’t try it like he’d suggested I should.

All-in-all, I cannot really say I was disappointed in my first rock concert because I had no expectations. However, the music was too loud, the people were too rowdy, the smoke was too thick. Not my cup of tea, I suppose.

But if you are a Boston fan, here’s a little something for you.

19. Happy Pi Day to You

Song Blog, ,

Yesterday afternoon my daughter informed me that today was Pi Day and she could earn five bonus points if she brought a pie to geometry class.

Sure enough – it’s Pi Day alright. The Internet told me so. And several musicians have written songs about it. Although it really is only Pi Day in the US because we put the month before the day when we write our dates. (Do any other countries do that? Canada perhaps?)

My favorite pie song is the Don McLean one though. I first heard American Pie the year it was recorded, in 1971. I’m sure of that. The day after I heard it I was standing outside my junior high school – it was 9th grade. I was fifteen. I was trying to describe the song to my best friend, Cindy. She was either not paying attention, or didn’t care. I recall being frustrated, but not as frustrated as I was weeks later when she described the most fabulous song she’d ever heard. It was the same song. That happened a lot with Cindy.

I still like American Pie, but so does everyone else. It was my son’s favorite song for years.

And then there’s this.