Labor

“Okay, listen up, as of today, this place will no longer have a union. Whoever does not like it, can take your equipment and leave. Oh, by the way if you do decide to stay, your hourly pay is now cut in half and all tips will be divided up equally.”

As I stood there in my “butcher’s outfit” which was complete with a hooded sweatshirt, along with other layers of clothing, underneath the freshly washed white apron that was ready for the long day ahead, I watched in horror and sadness as the exodus of multiple butchers occurred slowly before the aprons had a chance to consume stains from wiping their hands after the red blood would splat as they ripped open a tightly wrapped raw piece of meat. The winds of change were abrupt on that Saturday summer morning, which sent a chill that was not delivered by the thermostat. For those who sustained, thoughts on how to generate lost wages later turned to worry as most lived hand to mouth and how to deceive their loved ones from undue burden became the focus by the time, they all tossed their bloodied aprons into the hamper in the locker room. As I looked at the silhouette dressed in a long trench coat with a matching fedora, along with the huge brass ring which held the never-ending cigarette, my usual jovial demeanor disappeared because apprehension immediately settled in until I departed about two months later. So, at the age of twenty-two, I learned that there are situations where “bargaining in good faith,” disappears when a primeval presence emits fear that infiltrates its opponent into submission before even getting to the table.

Since I was an apprentice, my earnings were not in danger (including the “extra’s” that were discreetly given by the butchers to me for my all-day long assistance at their stations), as long as my uncle did not turn in his knives, mallet, or cleavers. Under prior management, allowance for wanted goods off the shelf, was acceptable as long as it did not turn egregious. Since there was a new sheriff (not) in town, a receipt was required, even for a “bazooka gum.” As I held the bag with one hand for the chop meat to be disbursed into long spaghetti strings, while my other was tilted at the elbow chugging a quart of Hershey’s chocolate milk, my eyes observe a patent leather glow entering at the bottom of the strip curtain doors. Suddenly realizing it was the new owners escorting its investors around to view their acquired assets, with one swift motion I heave the entire quart into the grinder while lifting my arm up to feint exhaustion when in reality I was wiping away the evidence from my chin. Informing the folks in the silk suits where the secret sauce is made, I prayed that they did not see the frayed portions of the word “Hershey” inside the clear five-pound bag of red chop meat because I held no proof of purchase. The tour continued towards the chicken department as I would say that was one of the biggest sighs of relief in my entire life.

“Please Errol, you and Johnny-Boy will be out by 11:00 a.m., I need you to work on the 4^th of July.” Acknowledging deceit in his voice but hoping truth would prevail, I exhibited the same dedication that remains with me as I put on the apron for the last time. Bewildered by the number of shoppers when the doors opened at eight, (this was the first time the warehouse ever opened on a national holiday), suspicion about the stated dismissal time being pushed back increased, especially when all the carts were being utilized. Assuming solidarity would augment our chances, we approached my uncle one minute before his declaration of independence. “I LIED! You are here until closing time.”

Knowing my career was to begin on the following Monday with Standard & Poor’s, I had nothing to lose but the trust (and possibly the love) of my uncle, who by this time, along with my dad, was a beloved mentor, the need to leave was greater than the want of another. In my mind, I was making the right decision, as I untied my boots in the empty second floor locker room, out of sight from everyone. Looking into my locker realizing this world would now be in the rear-view mirror, I left with more knowledge of life while deciding to leave the clothing inside.

“Where yooo goin’?” fills the air while guarding the door that could be an escape hatch for would be shop lifters. Looking right into the eyes under the fedora, I informed him that I was tasked with going for coffee for the workers. And just like when the curtains drop on Broadway, his demeanor changes instantly while thrusting his hand in his pocket with the offer to pay. “No, no, it’s on me. Do you want one?” I asked- “Yeah, I take mine black.” As he opened the heavy metal doors, the rays of sunshine were the signs of freedom. Once my feet were out the door, I had to wait for him to close this wonderful chapter of my life behind me as I sprinted the fastest, I ever have, across the four-lane traffic on Atlantic Avenue, down Pacific Street, into the NYC subway as I boarded the B train headed to its last stop at Coney Island. When I saw Johnny later that evening with my sun burn, he sarcastically thanked me for leaving all my work upon him while also being flabbergasted that Richie Cunningham went against the establishment.

To supplement my income during my time spent in the Earnings department within S&P as we were planning our nuptial, my dad took me on as a non-union worker typically on Friday nights and Saturdays knowing full well that the local shop steward was either home or I could easily find a hiding spot if needed. Corporate moving can be exceptionally challenging but not when my father was in charge of a job, his ability to motivate the team of workers was a remarkable sight. At Brooklyn Tech, I took architecture as a major and when I saw the technical drawings that he was examining, I watched in amazement at his skills with respect to floor planning. Not only did he set up the jobs with ease but as always, he would jump into the fray while getting his hands dirty while other foremen would need lozenges rather than ice because their vocal cords were the only thing working. The technical skills that are necessary to avoid injury was something that I did not have and more than a few times, my dad saved me, including when a thousand-pound safe was headed towards my foot, which would have caused immediate amputation, if not for his swift action. There were many occurrences where when I stood up after loading a file drawer on to a dolly while forgetting that the top one would roll free as I lifted my head, you do not know how many hits to the cranium I took. (Or maybe it is evident?) In one memorable moment, I parked my car in a garage and when our shift ended at two-thirty in the morning, we all said goodbye while heading to our individual vehicles. Suddenly I noticed the classic roll down grey metal security gate as I took my ticket out, never even thinking that a parking garage in NYC would ever close. Yes, I picked the one that closed at midnight. Sitting outside on the sidewalk did not last too long because in the infamous lyrics sung by Whodini- “The Freaks come out at night.” After spending five hours in a diner with coffee coming out of my ears, an attendant showed up and after profusely begging, he relented by lifting that metal gate which ended my nightmare.  

Attending a conference, I knew I was out of my league as the conversations turned to vacation places, time shares, along with extravagant descriptions to ensure notoriety. My head remained focused on my plate as I did not even know what was being served for breakfast. “Where are my trusty honey nut cheerios?” is what I asked myself while I turned to the waiter for more of the non-Dunkin’ Donut coffee that was actually giving me instant heartburn. I know, I will drink more water (even that tasted funny) to ensure multiple trips to the laboratory. As the discussion centered on me, there was nowhere else to turn. “Oh yes, I have been to all the islands- Coney, Staten and Long” as my boss almost spit out his coffee amongst the most senior members of the company.

After engaging with an established client for an all-day meeting who at the time was the target of all of our competition, we decided to have dinner and invited a member of the zoning board, whose trust was needed to secure their approval which ultimately could be the deciding factor for the rest of the board members to sanction our permit. The food was delectable as was the conversation, which flowed surprisingly well, while our team purposely limited the libation intake because any holes in perception would lead to the unchanged reality of our competition swooping in with their certification, leaving our residents wondering if we could ever pass anything in our universe. Since the five o’clock whistle had blown, purposeful avoidance of business talk lasted right up until the time when the check was being settled. And just like when the six-hour flight from New York to Los Angeles runs into El Nino as the plane is going to land, the wheels jammed along with the wings, just as the runway appears. “We are not trying to hide anything from the zoning board,” these pleas were ignored while the changeover instantly brought distrust to the forefront as we pleaded for accompaniment to the nearest watering hole. As the door slammed in our faces, we watched the taxi speed away with one less colleague, knowledge of the phrase “frozen in time” became apparent as we all stood there motionless, wondering what to do next.

Converging at the check-out desk early the next morning as the tour continued, it was an all-out avoidance of the board member because a two-hour sleep can wreak havoc on the eyes. Separately entering each door of the van, I jumped to the back after pushing up the second couch row, knowing there was no vacancy for anyone else because of limited space. Keeping our heads down or looking out the window was safely implemented but just like when Pepe Le Pu entered a room, the unpleasant aroma of hangovers permeated the van, like a morning fog. And just like when cheese goes bad, the smell grew in intensity, as well as the anger of the board member because their suspicions were now cemented, while the rest of us regretted the multiple- “Here’s to…” clink. Needless to say, despite the showing to our customers, we remained on the sidelines as our competitors made it to the next bracket.

“You are expected to work seven days a week and that includes the weekends. You are responsible for your team and make sure they realize that we are never off the clock, even vacation days.” As I sat there absolutely flabbergasted, comprehension of pressure by management now made its way to my direct report. The tidal wave that was building for years, achieved a status that was out of everyone’s hands and when it crashed upon shore, nothing was saved. The pressure to grow, instead of managing, has ruined more lives than people realize. Entering the floor as we passed the door where the daily newspaper covered the eyesight entrance to the dean of students, there was that same eerie calmness before an enormous storm. One by one we sat by the phone waiting to walk the plank after the first sacrificial lamb left with tears in their eyes while packing up to move away forever.

Finally boarding the bus again after a stumbling two-year adventure, my work life leveled off again and since that time, I never take any day for granted because ignorance can lead to unemployment very quickly. Since we are headed into Labor Day weekend, I decided to create a set list of songs that are related to work. (Enjoy!)

1— “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke—This was Sam’s second major hit in 1960, three years after “You Send Me” and he wrote it after seeing an actual chain gang of prisoners cleaning up a highway while he was on tour. I love the deep voice behind Sam’s when he introduces the chorus with “Well don’t you know.” The tune was recorded over 60 years ago, and it still sounds amazing. Mr. Cooke was a brilliant man who captured the attention of people across the universe with his silky-smooth voice while his lyrics delivered a message and in Sam’s own words- “Voices ought not be measured by how pretty they are. Instead, they matter only if the convince you that they are telling the truth.” Growth occurs while advancement to the ultimate goal remains elusive.

2— “Baby Workout”—by Jackie Wilson– Thanks to my dad, my library is filled with treasures like this classic tune by Mr. Wilson. “Mr. Excitement” has been referred to as one of the ultimate performers in the history of music. Being good friends with Elvis, he told the King that he would take a handful of salt tablets while washing it down with water to make him sweat profusely before each one of his performances because the “girls love it.”  Unfortunately, he was in the middle of performing a song in September 1975 and collapsed, while the audience believed it was part of his act. He ended up in a coma and supposedly Elvis paid a sizable portion of his medical bills. Jackie passed away in 1984 at the youthful age of forty-nine, aware of his surroundings but never really able to speak after the 1975 incident.

3— “Five O’Clock World”— by The Vogues- The 1960’s is arguably the superior decade for music with a massive diversity of genres and songs like this instantaneously bring a smile to the face. For those who are unfamiliar, please let this sink in. And I will continue to “date” myself but for the television buffs, this was the theme song for “The Drew Carey” show. “Hey!”

4— “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues”- by Jim Croce– Mr. Croce had the “it” factor as I believe all of his songs strike a chord with millions across this land and whenever I hear any of them, I am taken back to a beautiful time as a child growing up during the 1970’s. This funky blues tune is a finger-snapping treasure which depict the hard-working folks at the car wash when it is like one hundred degrees. Remember, tips go a long way.

5— “9 To 5”- by Dolly Parton– Dolly was a favorite of my mother and I remember the first gift that I ever bought for her with my own money being a paperboy in 1978, it was Dolly’s “Here You Come Again,” on mom’s birthday. It may have not been on her list, but when the gift was opened, she looked at me with love in her eyes, which is something I will never forget. Again, for those who are not old enough, the movie has held its own and I believe it can be viewed by this generation. Lily, Jane, and Dolly are still going strong today. “Frankie and Grace” is fantastic, my bride started watching and I was hooked. Seeing Dolly in the end with her friends was wonderful.

6—” Morning Train (Nine to Five)”- by Sheena Easton– Call it bubblegum pop but I usually have a bag of “Big League Chew” in my car and despite being at the beginning of my “hard-rock” addiction, I always had a blind spot for this track. Oh, by the way, this was played incessantly on the radio, every Saturday morning while I labored with my uncle in the meat warehouse. Brings back memories.

7— “A Hard Day’s Night”—by The Beatles– This is one of John’s greatest vocal performances and Ringo’s drumming is intoxicating, especially when he hits the “cow bell” as Mr. Lennon sings “When I’m home…” If I am correct, I believe the opening chords by George were nearly impossible to replicate as I have heard many guitarists speak to the intricacy of the sound created.

8— “Taking Care of Business”—by Bachman Turner Overdrive– It is a toss-up. In my opinion, this song, and Rod Stewart’s “Hot Legs” were “1a or 1b” (or vice-versa) as far as my mother’s all-time favorite tunes ever. From the opening guitar licks, she would demand that the volume be turned up, put her head down while bopping it up and down, while thrusting her right arm at the elbow like she was sawing a piece of wood. I would watch as the music went right into the bloodstream as she transformed right before our eyes and at the 3:52 mark, I have never seen anyone (to this day) let the music take over the soul as she squinted her eyes and danced like there was nobody in the room. When the drums are isolated as the singer hums along, it is a picture of her that will be forever etched in my memory. CRANK IT UP!

9— “Working for the Weekend”— by Loverboy– I remember letting all my school-yard buddies know that I was going to see Loverboy headlining at Madison Square Garden- yes, believe it or not, Loverboy had its “fifteen minutes of fame”- as it drew squalls of disgust which was followed by hysterical laughing as well as pointing. “Go away light weight” LOL. I love it. Seeing that they are back out on tour with Styx and REO Speedwagon brings a huge smile on my face. I know we have all heard this song a million times but when “I-95” plays it here on Friday nights at 5:00 p.m., there is nothing better.

10— “She Works Hard for the Money”—by Donna Summer– She was the Queen during the 1970’s as her songs dominated radio for the second half of the decade, especially with this nationally known tune, which is an anthem for women across the world. My bride can listen to Ms. Summer’s music everyday for the rest of time and the smile on her face whenever she hears this is something to behold. And she even pulls a me as she air-guitars at the 3:06 mark. Pure bliss.

11— “Work Hard, Play Harder”—by Gretchen Wilson– I bet you if you ask my offspring what the one constant thing, I have always professed to them while they were growing up and it was this mantra – “Work hard, play hard” but don’t mix the two. This is the “new country rock” that I can deal with because it leans more to the rockin’ side of things and who does it better than Gretchen?

12— “Allentown”—by Billy Joel-One of my favorites as a seventeen-year-old while even keeping this from the school-yard buddies because this was pop music to them. I love all the noises, grunts, and whistles in this tune. I have to hand it to Mr. Joel; his legacy is untouchable as he continues to sell out the Garden each and every month- absolutely incredible.   

13— “Who Can It Be Now?”—by Men at Work– Can it possibly be a “one-hit wonder?” I mean no disrespect to the band or its followers as it is my opinion that this is their biggest hit, but I could be wrong. (My apologies as Stuart pointed out my blunder- “Down Under” is another huge hit). Anyway, this tune is tremendously addictive and when I played it over the speakers at the Carnival in July, the residents were singing and dancing all over the place.  

14—”Blue Collar Man”-by Styx– Grace, you can skip over this tune as I know it will not be a big loss. I have loved this tune since its inception in 1977 as I still sing along with Tommy with the same fervor that I did when I was a teenager. I love this track so much that I had a T-shirt made with just some of the lyrics on the front and back. Now when I hear it, I am at the Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago with the sun setting in the backdrop as Styx tore it up in July 2019 as Emily, Linda, and others rocked out.    

15— “Working Man”—by Rush– I realize that this song definitely interrupts the flow of the setlist, but it is too great to not include. Seeing them for their last tour, performing songs in reverse heading towards the first album, was incredible and despite John Rutsey being on the drums for their debut, the late Neil Peart performed his magic as well as anyone has ever played the drums. The guitar solo by Alex Lifeson has to rank up as one of the best ever, it makes my jaw drop every time I hear it. While I was the DJ at the Carnival, I had this 10-year-old kid walk over and ask me if I had this tune on my I-pod. Of course, I responded but this is not a general public crowd pleaser, and I told him if he came back after 10:00 p.m. I would play it for him. His parents took him home after his request. Oh well. I saw a recent picture of Dave Grohl hanging with Geddy and Alex, preparing for the Tribute Concert for Taylor Hawkins this Saturday in London. (There is an additional show on Sept. 24 in Los Angeles). If you have “Paramount Plus” you can watch it live beginning at 11:30 a.m. this Saturday. CBS will broadcast part of that show with a one hour special at 10:00 p.m. 

16— “Dirty Work”—by Steely Dan– How enjoyable are the blending vocals when they sing in unison – “… I’m a fool to do your dirty work… I don’t wanna do your dirty work no more…” Each time I hear a Steely Dan song I am back in Otisville during the summers of the 1970 decade. Great times.  

17— “Car Wash”—by Rose Royce– I cannot even imagine a world without this song. This has to rank up there as one of the utmost tunes ever recorded but especially during the 1970’s. I include it on most of my party set lists. Love this track.

18— “Dear Mama”—by 2Pac– Beautiful track written by Tupac Shakur back in 1995 as he felt he owed her something deep after all the heartache he caused her. “And there’s no way I could ever pay you back, but my plan is to show you that I understand: you are appreciated.” Poignant words that I believe resonates with many people around the world.

19— “Working Class Hero”—by John Lennon– Lennon’s solo career had to happen because just like George there was an extreme need to breakout on their own and John’s dedication to the working class as well as being the poster child (along with Yoko) for peace is something that is considered to be at a higher level than being a member of the Beatles. His lyrics cut right to the bone.

20— “Cat’s in the Cradle”—by Harry Chapin– Unfortunately for generations, this song hits the heart harder than most because it was typical for parents’ to work such long hours that despite providing a roof as well as love, there was a yearning for more. I know this song is about a father/son relationship, but it can be used in any family situation, in my opinion, because the dynamics may have changed but at the end of the day, working long hours can take away more than sleep. As we celebrate this “long” weekend, please ensure that you spend time with your loved ones to put more memories in the bank because unfortunately for many, it is back to work on Tuesday.

Album Review: I Love You, But… by NICK ARNE

“What are you doing now? What are you looking for? We have to go to the hospital!”

As I shuffled through my closet at four in the morning, the focus shifted to what our newborn baby would see first once the eyes blossomed into this new world after being safely tucked away in mom for most of the year. Forgetting that my bride was in an extremely uncomfortable state of affairs, especially in brand new territory, my obsession with being presentable reared its head as I frantically searched for a suit to wear to welcome our child into the world. Of course, the grey one felt too tight, so I switched to the black. Wait, I am not going to a funeral, and I changed to the trusty blue while rifling through the rack for that perfect “power” tie. Recognizing time was of the essence but just like when you claim that this will be the last handful of honey roasted cashews before Thanksgiving dinner, it took the pain of my wife’s face (and a couple of choice words) to finally accompany her in the car with the original “casual Friday” clothing.

The air was frigid upon our entry to the hospital in the dark of the morning and while waiting in the room for the doctor’s arrival, contractions actually contracted to the point of elimination. I walk the doctor out of the room while offering him the keys to my car while his look of inquisitiveness was met with no sign of contrition because this was now home until we greeted our child. There are nurses, doctors, and medication, if needed, to assist with the delivery since, in my mind, getting her there was the first piece of the puzzle. “Doc, I do not even know where we are, I had to do two practice runs in my car to ensure I knew how to get here” as the keys dangled from my hand with no attempt to grasp in return. Walking back into the room, I calmly sat in the chair next to the bed while the doctor contradictorily informed her the situation would be better because of immediate medical attention.

The nighttime morning turned into early afternoon during intermittent periods of sleep along with frowns of disappointment of not being in our own house waiting for the ultimate celebration. And just like the old Saturday night “Thriller” movies that were shown on WPIX at midnight, I could see the hand searching just like the one that eventually sunk into the mud or quicksand. Trying to explain that I was tired of standing up is preventative medicine for those out there who are close to partaking in childbirth because it could lead to pain. Approaching the eighteenth hour after initial notification, exacerbation along with trepidation became the belief instead of jubilation. The nurse assigned to our room refused entry because of the temperature as my bride seemed to be shivering while my focus was not the heat but worry about what was transpiring.

Just about dinner time, the process has finally begun while I am wondering why I am the only person in the room. Prepayment for the delivery was completed weeks before as the receptionist stated that in her twenty years on the job, she had never seen anyone settle a bill prior to a birth, so that cannot, be it? Why wouldn’t the nurse ask one of her colleagues to switch if she could not do her job? Was the doctor upset with me because I handed him my car keys? Shrieks in unison were now evident, although her scream was filled with pain while mine with anxiety, as they filled the empty room, which finally caught the attention of those outside. And just like when Mariano would come in for relief, the doctor enters while putting his arms in the air while two nurses apply the rubber gloves over his hands. Maybe they knew because the baby enters literally a few minutes after entering the room. “Why are you crying? She is the one who had all the pain?” The tears of joy were abundant as the squeals of a newborn occupied our hearts.

As we entered the car, I look over at him while he continues to look straight ahead with no words being spoken. His spikes do not even meet the floor during the silence. “Are you playing little league baseball because of me?” The look I received is something I will never forget along with his response- “I did not want to disappoint you dad.” That was the final practice attended as I made it clear that it is his life, and he could do what he wanted to do with no reservations about my feelings.

Right around the tenth grade he informs us that playing guitar is what he wants to do. Okay, he has already been going to music lessons for most of grade school, it will now become a different instrument in high school. Maybe obsession with perfection runs deep in our family because the relentlessness of setting the bar higher continues to this day as we would request relaxation, but that only led to further refinement. On our journey for college life, it became clear that “Plan B” was the same as “Plan A.” Traveling to witness the progression of his execution of becoming an accomplished jazz guitarist was something to behold, especially when he was handed a degree in his cap and gown. His graduation was only a steppingstone because enhancement will continue to grow with each passing day. I remember him telling me on a recent gig with former college classmates and other older musicians who hadn’t heard him play in a while, that he was gratified to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with them, as both parties acknowledged acceptance.

Folks, I will approach this review as I would any other that I have performed and just like when I did an appraisal of “Diamond Star Halos” by Def Leppard, I freely admit that I am a “homer,” but just like my dad did when he was the manager of his softball team that I played on, if I did not “cut it” I would have been riding the bench just like any other player, knowing full well that being his son was not an advantage in any way shape or form. I have witnessed, maybe not as close as one might think, the labor of love that began prior to this pandemic but except for live performances, I had no access to the final product. There was a listening party at the house with the long-time friends who have been playing together for some time now and the smiles were bountiful. As mentioned last week, it is amazing how time flies by and to say how proud we are is an understatement. Without further ado, here is my review of “I Love You, But…”

The album begins with the soulful and bluesy tune called “No Good” as I can picture those old movies with the likes of the “Rat Pack” as the room is filled with smoke from cigarettes, while drinks and gambling are abundant. The piano playing adds the flavor while Nick’s sultry vocal prowess attracts the attention of even the toughest in that barroom as they all nod in appreciation when he carries the word “love” at the 2:26 mark. As everyone gathers around the stage it appears that the song is ending, but the heartbeat of the bass is alive as the lead guitar slides in unassumingly as the room has gone silent with the focus on the musicianship. The smooth bass lines are backed by the perfect drumming, while the guitar work makes one sway their head up towards the sky feeling the smile from Stevie. The stares from the tuxedo and gown wearing audience turn into claps for the guitar solo which rides out the song into the dark of the night.

The second tune – “Call Me (When You’re Coming Home)”- takes one right back to the 21^st Century as the fresh sound begins with the quick roll of the snare drums which will quickly have you snapping your fingers and swaying your head from east to west. The addictive groove is supplemented by the nice organ sound while the chorus will remain in your head throughout the day. “Oh, staring at your picture… after scrolling through my phone… will you call me, when you’re coming home… because you know that I miss you… so please don’t postpone… will you call me when you’re coming home…” There is a nifty guitar solo at the 1:32 mark which stretches about forty-five seconds into my favorite part of the song when Nick begins to sing “come on, let’s quit the dance” and when the harmonizing background vocals kick in, it sends the tune into orbit. Larry Davis’s drumming keeps the fun in this tune alive while Niles Spaulding bass playing reminds one of the infamous, Rex, because of its flawlessness.

“Will You Still Want Me” is a reworked tune with the acoustic version now appearing on the album and highlights the beautiful voice of Mr. Arne as the flow is picturesque, with a feeling of being on a hillside with a guitar strumming into the sunlight. The lyrics depict a fretful situation where it seems that there is still love on one side while wondering if the other will ever come around. One can feel Nick’s voice which enters the heart with a nice tone as no matter what happens, he will still be the best friend. The background vocals supplied by Sabrina Mason are heavenly. Be aware, this track is explicit.

“Small Town” could be the best song on the album, but it is extremely hard to choose from because all the tracks will grab your attention. I love the “double” effect of his vocals which fill the headphones nicely, especially when you squeeze them into your head as hard as you can. Rosemary Minkler’s piano playing is luscious and when Nick and Sabrina’s voices blend together, I am off to another world. The guitar solo is “off the hook” as I am left wanting more, similar to the way I was when I was sixteen years old salivating for more guitar solos on “Don’t Say No” by Billy Squier. It is a wonderful tease because it keeps one coming back for the next tune.

The beginning of “Aftewards” makes one forget about a guitar solo as the beautiful bass lines, along with the acoustic sound, sweetened by the piano makes me drift off into a “Zen-mode.” Again, the vocal abilities stand out on this track while the soft bass lines that follow the drumming is incredible. I feel like I have heard this song before, that is how good it is.

“Side two” begins with “Let’s Leave Tonight” which is a tune that requires crowd participation as you will not be able to keep your body still while you dance and clap into the center of the dance floor. At the 1:22 mark you can air-guitar just like Chuck Berry as the tasty riffs will make it easier to slide across the floor.  The tempo slows a bit around the 2:04 mark but comes back with the pulsating bass lines as you begin to air-drum. Folks, this song has it all, a wonderful collaboration amongst all the musicians capped off with a “Woo!” at the end.

“If You Knew” is a touching track which tugs at the heart strings as the melody begins and the echoing of Nick’s voice adds to the splendor a little more than a minute into this “sleeper” of the album, meaning this could be the best of the bunch. “I’m falling for you… but I don’t know what I’d do if you knew…” melts into your ears as his soulful singing is impressive. Sad but beautiful tunes is what enriches me as I feel like I am in the back seat of a car riding along a highway while the windshield blades slowly wipe away the pain.

“I Hope You’re Not Okay” is a “folksy” tune which could conjure up images of Dylan and you will sing along to this song despite the message because of the lap steel guitar being played wonderfully behind his voice by Christopher Davis. And as the song ends, there is a message of hope as Nick sings- “God, I hope you’re okay.”

“Pour Me a Drink” is my favorite song on this stellar body of work. “Oh, so pour me a drink… so at least I can laugh… while I’m sinking… give me a light so at least I’ll be bright when I burn out…”  Again, the lap steel, this time provided by Dan Boris, makes it extremely easy to sway slowly as you sing along with his attractive voice. The mellow flow will make you drift off into the clouds and do not be surprised if you constantly hit rewind because the nearly four-minute song will fly by in what will seem like seconds.

The easy-going approach continues for the last track on the album- “Alone Together”- and I could picture Mr. Petty or Mr. Mayer covering this tune as the delightful melody warrants your attention. The story depicted in his words are sincere as one can tell that the love of his friend is what matters the most and hopefully that message is received.

“I Love You, But…” is a body of work that delivers an assortment of genres all wonderfully blended together where the end result is a dazzling accomplishment of singing and musicianship that keeps you coming back for more. The offerings are well crafted and thought out while the purposeful avoidance of surrendering to any one attribute is what separates this album from the rest.  Folks, without a doubt, this will be on heavy rotation and will be at the top of the highlight reel when the best albums of 2022 are recognized at the end of the year. It has my vote, what about yours?

Sandy

“One ticket for the eight o’clock showing of Grease, please.”

As we made our way to the concession stand you could smell the popcorn which seemed to brighten up the dark inside of the Fort Way movie theater. For some reason, each of us ordered a large tub with butter, as well as a coke, and to this day, my self-indulgence for the colossal box of milk duds, which has never dissipated, was just our first snack of the night, despite never eating popcorn any other time. Protecting your image was of the highest order of the day, especially entering the first year of your teenage life and since Travolta brought Brooklyn to the forefront with his seemingly effortless portrayal of what life was like in the borough after the Dodgers left town nearly twenty years earlier, in the classic “Saturday Night Fever,” we all took up nearly a whole row to witness “Grease,” despite the coming attractions, which depicted it as a love story.

Tony was the slick, good looking guy whose obsession with his hair and clothes was only topped by the worry that something or someone would touch the locks or spill something on the new shirt that cost half of your earnings that week. Working forty hours just to wait for Friday and Saturday nights in Brooklyn was entrenched into our fiber just like it had been for our parents and grandparents. Getting dressed up for two nights out was worth the effort at our jobs as a salesperson (newspapers), hairdressers or working at any department for a supermarket chain all week long because by the time the next Friday night rolled around, the excitement was always new because you never knew what would transpire. Maybe you would meet Cinderella or Prince Charming or anyone that was your soulmate. Tony represented approximately one hundred percent of the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn while Bay Ridge and Sunset Park residents had the desire to become him, however the presence of the Chuck Taylor converse high top with the triple ring white socks displayed almost to the kneecap severely diluted any chance of being selected at the door of the 2001 Odyssey club on 64^th street and eighth avenue. There is a reason that “Warm Beer and Lousy Food” was right up the block.

“I’m going back to Australia, I might never see you again,” Sandy laments as she is about to cry in Danny’s arms, while his response is “Don’t talk like that Sandy.” “But it’s true, I just had the best summer of my life and now I have to go away… it isn’t fair.” As Danny begins to kiss her, I am already melting, and the movie is less than two minutes old. “Danny, is this the end?” “Of course not, it’s only the beginning!” I had to look into my pile of popcorn because of the image to uphold amongst all of my friends, who were looking to unload on the first hint of sentimentality.  As Frankie Valli started to sing the title song, I instantaneously knew that I was going to like this better than “Saturday Night”- which I know is blasphemous, but I was smitten by Olivia Newton John, and this was the only movie where I knew what it was like to fall head over heels for a “movie star.” It was my first “crush” for someone who I thought exemplified the person that I wanted to be with- honesty, innocence, child-like qualities, and a pureness which was exemplified by her natural beauty. (By the way, I married her, my bride) And just like Danny did when he was with his friends, I made a face along with my buddies who initially wanted to leave, but we all sat back down when Mr. Zuko started to treat Ms. Olsson like he was Tony from “Saturday Night Fever” feigning  embarrassment to be around her while hanging with his leather jacket fiends, who would show no mercy- this was just the way it was in Brooklyn.

When I heard that Olivia had passed away last week, I was heart-broken because I wanted things to never change. I certainly did not sign up for this. Why can’t things be the same as it was back on that day when “Grease” was released on June 16, 1978? How could time fly by so fast? Why are my childhood idols and crushes going to the other side? As I read John Travolta’s dedication to Olivia, the tears started to flow because of the beauty of his words, it is the most poignant thing I think I have ever read in my life. Life is not fair, and her passing is the proof in the pudding.

Folks, I know that moving forward is what our loved ones would want us to do, and I think by doing so, we honor their wishes. And I know that we should not live in the past but, in my opinion, it is alright to go back in time to cherish those moments with the people who we still love, as well as the times that are forever etched in our memory. If I could go back in time, I would have revealed my emotions for Sandy as she wondered aloud the pain of never seeing Danny again because the summer was ending. Displaying that you love a person for who they are is nothing to ever be ashamed of and if criticism is ushered at your doorstep, please know that it is not your issue, as a good friend reminded me this past week.

At 13 years old in 1978, my weekdays during the school year were filled with learning scholastic items that were essential for the foundation while the non-scholastic teachings were necessary as we had the best of both worlds which included ascertaining how to navigate on the streets of Brooklyn. My naivety has always been my greatest asset, in my opinion, because just like Sandy, I imagined a world where everything was perfect. And I know this will sound crazy, but television made a tremendous impact on my life. Every Tuesday, I wanted to be as cool as “The Fonz” but I knew my being was being portrayed by Richie, while episodes like “The Draft Dodger” on “All in the Family” polarized me to my core as I never knew there was another side. Even though I grew up in an apartment building, I knew that my life was drastically different than that of “The Evan’s family” depicted on the severely underrated (in my opinion) “Good Times” sitcom, which made me look at things through a lens that I never knew existed.

As mentioned, the summer days were passed by heading to the “N” train line on eighth avenue and 62^nd street to trek to Coney Island to spend the day in the sun playing “ultimate frisbee” or football. And in one of the most unforgettable moments, Johnny-Boy disappeared into the sand as the waves washed up on the shore as he unknowingly stepped into a waterhole, while I continued to walk not realizing that he was nearly drowning despite not being anywhere in the ocean. Other summer days were spent at the school yard where I often tossed a frisbee to myself because everyone was still sleeping or roaming centerfield, which included going up the seven steps to the entrance on the 48^th streetside, to shag fly balls from whomever showed up to play the greatest game ever, baseball. Nights were spent playing backgammon with a friend who I am still in touch with even after forty years, which is something to behold. And, of course, my journey into my own domain of music was just beginning as I was already engulfed into the world of Boston, KISS, Foreigner and The Cars.

Knowing full well that I could not in any way be associated with Danny (or Tony for that matter) because I could never pull off the “leather jacket” look but in a weird, twisted way, I knew that I could impress Sandy with my athletic abilities because well, that is what I lived to do. When Travolta pulled the mask of the catcher and made it slam on his face, I fell over with laughter but at the same time I realized that he was playing sports to win Sandy’s heart over. Watching him purposely hurt her was similar to my sitting there in the movie theater making believe that I went along with his degrading behavior because of anticipated backlash, was all due to immaturity. Everyone went along with it because like many other things in life, avoidance is the path of least resistance. Olivia’s portrayal of Sandy is brilliant as she slowly becomes Danny and shows him what it is like to be on the other side of fraternity hijinks with the effort to humiliate.

When Sandy sheds her “school-girl” image for the woman which appeared in the slim black outfit, along with a cigarette, at the end of the movie, it was a moment in my life for which I will never forget. I was completely blown away and bowled over as she taught Danny a huge lesson about love. It displayed her ability as an actress, who literally changed right before our eyes, as all of our jaws dropped to the floor in what could have been the biggest transformation in cinematic history. Olivia Newton John’s depiction as Sandy will forever be etched in my heart because I fell in love with her character as well as her and it was always something that I could fall back upon whenever I needed those moments to return to the periods where the days were long, while worries never entered when I laid my head on the pillow. Over the years, when I saw her being interviewed, I always had a huge smile because I went back to my fascination as I prayed for her battle with cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and everyone who is feeling the way I do. Olivia, you will be severely missed but your spirit will live on in our hearts. This week’s playlist is dedicated to Sandy, and it will contain songs that remind me of her, tunes from 1978, as well as affectionate tunes, along with my childhood memories. (Enjoy!)

1— “Sandy” by John Travolta—What better way to start off this playlist than with a song called “Sandy?” First off, we all know it was the other way around, meaning that Danny was the one who hurt Sandy and she was perfectly in her right to toss his ring back at him. But despite all that, one can hear the pain in John’s voice as he knows that he cannot live without her, especially at the end of the song when it sounds like he is about to cry while saying “Oh Sandy.” Over the years, I have watched in amazement at their relationship, never realizing how much they genuinely loved each other by continuing to make albums, including a holiday body of work. (Sorry folks, I must have done something because I cannot add this to my list on Spotify, it has disappeared from my account).

2— “Summer Nights”—by Olivia Newton John & John Travolta– “Grease” is arguably the greatest musical in cinematic history and this song, in my opinion, has to be considered in the top twenty tunes ever created. Now we all know that Olivia was a singer, but John was an actor and to sing a song that is known around the globe for all generations, is mind boggling. When Ms. John begins to sing the bridge at the 2:32 mark and when she holds the note while saying “then we made our true love vows,” I actually dissolve. And now when John softly asks “wonder what, she’s doing now” it takes on a heavy new meaning as a tear slowly streams down my face. My parents both loved this movie as well and I remember always seeing a smile on my mother’s face whenever she heard this tune. I think she put herself in Sandy, especially when the acclamation of friendship was cemented with all the girls as they played hardball with Danny and Kenickie. My mom would look over at my dad with that playful look which she knew would get to him and he made the perfect Danny because he had the slick backed hair while totally pulling off the leather jacket look. And, in my opinion, the ending of this song is the ultimate of any other tune ever recorded.  

3— “I Love You, I Honestly Love You”— by Olivia Newton John- I was nine years old when this song was released and just like songs by Karen Carpenter, I knew immediately that this recording would stay with me for the rest of my time on this planet. Childhood enchantments are real, and I used to dream that Olivia would wait for me to grow older so we could marry whenever I heard this song. Each time I hear it, I am back in Otisville during the summers of the 1970’s as I am running through the woods from the back of my grandparents’ house towards the school, which we all thought was a shortcut and the coolest thing to do as a teenager. I know I repeat this a lot, but this tune is in my top twenty songs of all-time, I know my “twenty” is extremely crowded and bursting at the seams. Tell me this is not a classic track?

4— “Is This Love”- by Bob Marley & The Wailers– Taken from his 1978 album “Kaya” this classic tune can put a smile on anyone’s face as the groove is extremely delicious. This tune can be used at any party, but especially on a nice summer night in the backyard on the deck or around the pool. “I wanna love you… and treat you right… I wanna love you… every day and every night.” How infectious are the lyrics and flow of this song? I drift off into another world. Such a shame he passed away only three years later at the age of thirty-six.

5—” We’ve Got Tonight”- by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band– It seemed that during the late 1970’s into most of the decade of 1980, Bob Seger and his band were on the radio at least once per hour as they continued to churn out “hit after hit.” This song has always been at the top of the food chain for me as I love beautiful ballads, and this was filled with “power” before that phrase came much later with the “hair-bands.” Folks, I cannot even describe what songs like this do to me, it takes me back to those times whereas a pre-teen or teenager when we were bored to tears as we sat with our backs up against the Pershing well wall on a sweltering summer day trying to figure out what to do next. Boy, what I would give to be back inside that well with my friends at that moment, knowing what we know today, I would hug each one of them and tell them that I will always love them. Or I would like to go back outside the O’Leary house and play “red light, green light.” How about stoop ball on Suzie’s stoop? Being on that porch one more time while the streetlamp illuminated the beautiful summer night as we played backgammon. Walking to the Lutheran church on 44^th street between seventh and eighth avenue in our Sunday clothes, while wondering why St. Agatha’s (just four blocks away) had multiple mass times while Gloria Dei Evangelical only had a 10:00 a.m. gathering that lasted at least an hour more than the catholic get-together. Watching my friends “skitch-ing’” on the back bumper of an MTA bus during a snowstorm along eighth avenue. Playing Pac-Man inside “Izzies.” Watching the “Joe’s” play hockey in the street with the huge goalie net, along with “Flip” as no one else but those three could play that sport like they did. Waiting in the lengthy line for that soft ice-cream on the cone from the truck that always arrived just around dinner time as we talked to each other while pulling out our crumbled dollar bills to ensure we would be able to enjoy that delicious treat. And if you did not have enough money, there was always that adult who would pay for us, even if we were not their child. Pay it forward, that is how it was… and hopefully it still is, as I know I still live it that way.

6— “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”— by Bee Gees- I will play the “six degrees of Kevin Bacon” as I always associate Travolta with the Bee Gees and then its an immediate right turn to Olivia. (And Olivia did perform a duet with Barry on “Face to Face” from the “Physical” movie soundtrack). And my apologies for the melancholy mood. As I grew older, the words from this song that strike a sudden coldness are the following- “… I could never see tomorrow… but I was never told about the sorrow.” The beauty of this tune is unbelievable despite the sullenness and while I was cleaning this past weekend I put on the Bee Gees early years, while drifting off. I sat at the end of the living room table (do not tell my bride) while thinking of Olivia’s passing, along with others who have shaped the person I am today and thanking them for their deep impact on my life. The Gibb brothers had the most eloquent harmonies this world has ever heard.

7— “Baby Come Back”—by Player– Waking up to the smell of the coffee perking on the gas stove as I could see the blue flames surround the bottom of those old coffee makers while my mother carefully stood there to turn down once the brown bubbles started to burst inside the top ring. “You give us 22 minutes; we’ll give you the world.” Once we knew what was going on the world, the switch over to Harry Harrison and Mr. G on WCBS FM radio 101 on the dial, I knew it was time to start the day. While walking down the long staircase to peel off the plastic tie that crunched the N.Y. Daily Newspapers, while always checking to see if the Mets had won the night before, this song would follow me along the route and the rest of my day. “Now that I’ve put it all together… give me the chance to make you see… have you used up all the love in your heart…” Classic, absolutely classic.

8— “Kiss You All Over”—by Exile– Despite my initial journey into the world of hard rock, I already had the foundation from my parents of recognizing worthy songs, no matter from which decade or genre. Songs like this were all over the radio and with no offense to the band or its followers, this is by far their greatest tune (as far as popularity) and whenever I hear it, I am back in 1978 waiting to leave Pershing to play ball in the school yard after running home to drop my books off. And in an infamous story, the school yard had padlocks around both entrances as I went to play. What happened? Why are we locked out? Unbeknownst to me (because of my naivety) there were issues with drugs where I am assuming the people who lived on both 48^th and 49^th streets complained to the local precinct. Of course, I went home to write a letter while my mother provided the envelope and stamp. A few days later there is a ring of the doorbell. As my mother lifted the screen window to see who it was, she was stunned to see a police officer and thought the worst. When she opened the door, the patrol officer asked if I was home as he lifted the letter out of his back pocket. My mother’s anxiety dissipated as she called for me to come down. Now I was scared because why would the police come for me? As I looked up to this “skyscraper” of a man, I think the blood rushed out of me as he explained that there were bad people who were at fault, but he felt my objection and reminded me about when the teacher would keep the whole class after school because of one or two people who were acting out. A few weeks later, the locks were removed.

9— “The Groove Line”— by Heatwave– “Leave your worries behind… ‘cause rain, shine, won’t mind… we’re ridin’ on the groove line tonight…” As I battled Loida for the stereo during Mr. Goldberg’s music class, the rivalry was pure fun and despite the title of rocker, I have always had a taste for great disco songs. What a perfect title for a song that contains an addictive groove, which has to get the entire family on to the dance floor to enjoy the moment. Songs from 1978 just keep getting better with age. Crank this way up and put on those cool, shiny sneakers to dance around the room. It is impossible to not move during this tune, all aboard!

10— “Shame”—by Evelyn “Champagne” King– Living in Brooklyn during 1978 was incredible for me as the borough was enjoying the spotlight brought on by Mr. Travolta as Tony. He was also at the tail end of “Welcome Back Kotter” by portraying the lovable character “Vinnie Barbarino” which put New Utrecht high school on the map as well as the 69^th street bus. My world was engulfed by “Happy Days” as the Fonz became a legend before our eyes and in the meantime, disco was king. My youthful ignorance is one of the few things that I no longer miss as I recognize the sweet sound of this tune by Ms. King. This is always on my setlist for fun songs!

11— “We’re All Alone”—by Rita Coolidge– The 1970’s was filled with an array of beautiful songs by lovely women, which included Rita, that sound as fresh today as it did when they were released over forty years ago. The arrangement of this tune is flawless. Turn it on and flow back into your mind for the wonderful memories.   

12— “The Closer I Get to You”—by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway-A few months ago, my oldest opened my ears to another side of Mr. Hathaway which blew me away. The grasshopper is now in the lead as I was aware of his impressive vocal prowess but not as familiar with his musicianship. Roberta Flack is a wonderful singer, and this tune has to conjure images of Cupid pulling back the arrow.  

13— “Magic”—by Olivia Newton-John– It is funny how time changes things and when “Xanadu” was released in 1980, the movie was panned by the critics and the box office sales did take a huge hit. The soundtrack was more popular because of Olivia and ELO. Over the years, Xanadu, grew in popularity to now where it is considered a “cult classic.” There is something “mysterious” about this tune because, in my opinion, it starts out unassuming and despite the urge to turn the channel or “skip,” it sinks into the blood stream like many of her songs.

14—”Dust in the Wind”-by Kansas-By now you all must have heard the story? Okay if not here it is- Kerry Livgren was writing songs for the fifth studio album for Kansas and as he was playing the acoustic guitar, a finger exercise caught the ear of his wife. She walked into the room and said- “that song should be on the next album.” Kerry looked at her like she was crazy because in his mind, it was just practice. At the recording studio the following day, he plays it for the rest of the band. Phil Ehart, the drummer, said his jaw hit the floor as everyone knew this was going to be as big as “Carry On” and to this day, the average person can name only two Kansas songs, which includes this wonderous tune. Folks, when I tell you that I listened to this track over and over again on the floor with the pillow to protect my ears, you would not believe how obsessed I was with it. Steve Walsh’s vocal performance is his best ever as I often wish that I could sing it like him. Practice led to perfection.   

15— “Can’t Smile Without You”—by Barry Manilow– I would tell Olivia’s family, friends, and Mr. Travolta to not listen to this song because the waterworks will go on for hours. From the opening whistle, my eyes began to water and when Barry says he finds it hard to do anything without you, the temptation to turn it off will approach. But as his warming voice settles in, it will make you sway back and forth- (“American Idol” owes him residuals) as a smile will appear while you remember the happy times.

16— “A Man I’ll Never Be”—by Boston– Once I am in the mellow mood, it is hard to turn away from and if this playlist is too depressing, I totally understand if you turn it away or off. I remember when I wrote about my top ten songs by Boston over a decade ago and this tune landed in the first position, I received a message from a friend that stated I purposely go off “main street” just to show that I am cool, or something like that. By now, one has to know that I have always journeyed off the “less traveled” road with all of my top lists for artists that I have a deep knowledge and in 1978 when this was released, I picked up the needle to play this track endlessly. Sadly, it took on a new meaning when Brad Delp, the legendary singer, took his own life in 2007. Brad, please know that you are one of my childhood heroes and your music will live on forever.

17— “Physical”—by Olivia Newton-John– After the disappointment of “Xanadu” Olivia came roaring back with this movie and song, which is also a cult classic as well… but maybe shared by a larger audience. There is a nice guitar solo in the middle of this huge 1980’s hit. This is pure fun.

18— “My Best Friend’s Girl”—by The Cars– Okay, I caught a lot of opposition when I named my top ten Cars songs, and this did not make the cut. “Are you kidding me?! This is a classic! How can this not be in your top ten?” Take a breath, here it is because in 1978 this band from Boston turned my world upside down. David Robinson’s drumming had this way of making you feel like you were falling right into the mix, and I blended in as Elliot Easton’s guitar playing added the chocolate to the malt shake and Ric Ocasek’s vocals are the cherry on top. This could be his best vocal performance ever.

19— “Baker Street”—by Gerry Rafferty– I think if I were asked to produce the most memorable songs of my childhood, (and in 1978), this track would definitely have to be near the top of the pile. I used to think that this was the coolest song to be on the radio in part because of the saxophone feature, which is mesmerizing and the guitar solo at the 4:41 mark, is off the charts. I spent my summer days listening to this amazing track and despite being over six minutes long, it always seemed to fly by.

20— “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”—by Meatloaf– I know “Bat” was released in 1977 but this song was issued as a single in February 1978 and it has remained on the radio ever since. This is a fantastic tune to start on side two of one of the best debut albums ever. It begins with the piano, like the Christmas song that the Eagles recorded, with that familiar sound, and this quickly became one of my most favorite songs. I love the part where Meat exclaims- “… you’ll never find your gold on a sandy beach… you’ll never drill for oil on the city streets… I know you’re lookin’ for a ruby in a mountain of rocks… but there ain’t no Coupe de Ville hiding at the bottom of a cracker jack box…” This album contained one epic song after another, and this may just be the one that is wanted the most.

21— “Feels So Good”—by Chuck Mangione– Again, acknowledging that this was issued in December 1977, the title track of this album became a nationally known song on “pop” radio in 1978 despite being a jazz tune. Call it what you want but this is a phenomenal song which was everywhere as Mr. Goldberg asked me to play the alto sax behind the lead trumpeter, and I remember how intricate it was to play but we pulled it off in the Pershing auditorium.  

22— “You’re the One that I Want”—by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John– Folks, it does not matter where this song ended up on the Billboard charts for 1978, in my mind this was by far and away the superlative tune for that year. And I will take it a step further, it has to rank as one of the most stupendous songs ever created in the history of music. Again, my thoughts go back to my mother as her smile was electrifying when she saw Sandy emerge with that tight black outfit with her hair spoofed out, while dad had that sly smile on his face. I played this track during our town Carnival back in July and everyone from the grandparents down to the little ones were singing and dancing like there was no tomorrow.

23— “Live On”—by Olivia Newton-John featuring Beth Nielsen Chapman & Amy Sky– “You’ve got to live on.” My apologies but this song had to be included because of its poignancy because it bears the pain and suffering but there is a message of love as Olivia implores her loved ones that brighter skies will come again. “Cry the tears you cry and then… live on… live on… love is all we leave when we are gone…” Written in 2016 during her reoccurring struggle with cancer, it is a message of hope despite the aching of the heart. No doubt about it, this is a tough song to listen to, but it was written and sung by a woman who led by example for all to follow.

24— “Hopelessly Devoted to You”—by Olivia Newton-John– When Sandy belted this song out when she was sleeping over with all the girls, it ranks as one of my most beloved scenes for any movie ever made. My infatuation went into overdrive when I saw her at the top step of the porch with her impeccable hairdo as I wanted to push Danny to the side. How could he treat her like she didn’t even exist? This iconic scene is up there with when Judy Garland sang “Over the Rainbow” in the “Wizard of Oz.” Watching this now brings a tear to the eyes as I am praying for her husband, children, family, and friends, which includes John Travolta. At the end of the song, Danny’s face appears behind the letter that Sandy dropped in the children’s pool laying on the grass, such a touching memory. As I say goodbye to my first cinematic love, the pain is real despite never meeting her. Sandy will forever be in my heart. Olivia Newton-John, you are a gift to us all.

My Top 10 List for METALLICA

If you do not give it a chance, then you will never know what you are missing.

As Cheezie was letting each one of us in the huddle know what route he wanted us to run, the opposing team family and friends started to blast “Hit the Lights” by Metallica from their debut album. And just like when I am sitting in the pew at the seven-thirty morning mass on Sunday, if there are unwanted noises, my focus is disrupted as my bride, who I learn from each day, implores me to concentrate on what is at hand. It is the first gathering of the offense at the concrete field at Farragut Road in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn and prior to the time I turned twenty years of age, I could not digest what was blaring out of that boom box because at that time, my heaviest intake was AC/DC. Needless to say, it was my own deficiencies that resulted in taking me off my game as opposed to the guy lining up against me talking smack. Even my usual boast while on defense of imploring that one player to let his quarterback know to throw to someone else because his day was over before it started as I would be on him like a blanket that engulfs a newborn.

When my school-yard buddies would blare the Mighty Led Zeppelin inside the well of the Pershing junior high school, I was right there next to them, especially when the entire double album – “Physical Graffiti” – was highlighted. As soon as Metallica became the main meal, I would scurry away further amplifying the “light-weight” status. In my early twenties, I lived to play baseball, football and to attend live shows. My first all-day concert occurred in 1988 at the “Monsters of Rock” tour which featured “Van Hagar,” The Scorpions, Dokken, Kingdom Come and Metallica. The boys from San Francisco were third on the docket and I was unprepared for what was to arrive at my doorstep. From the opening riff, it was like a buzzsaw as I could feel the darkness surround me despite there not being a single cloud in the sky on this brutally scorching summer day. From my vantage point in the middle tier of Giants stadium, I witnessed from afar a cloud of dust as I assumed there was the biggest brawl ever. In a clearing, I can see guys slamming into each other with brute force, but no punches thrown, and despite being floored, bodies just kept bouncing back up waiting for the entrance, like a family waiting online at Disney to enter “Space Mountain.”

As I sat in my seat, I see this person in front of me taking what I thought was a huge breath and as I saw the spit exit his mouth in slow motion, like when involved in a car accident, I was wondering why the direction was not straight to the floor. The deluge exploded on the entire side of a face, one row below, while the man feigned virtuousness by quickly turning around himself, to ensure his innocence with a look of astonishment. The man wiped his face with his arm while seeking revenge but lacked the evidence which I witnessed. Where am I? There seems like there is a pause to the madness, but I see forty thousand arms thrust in unison at the elbow while chanting “Die! Die! Die!” and again the same person heaves a tremendous amount of saliva onto the familiar surface. At this point, the victim and I leave our seats simultaneously but in different directions, as my destination included a lock while every few minutes my feet, which were visible, faced both the wall and the door that had the security device. There were enough booths to dissipate complaints or knocks as I huddled without a team thinking back to that moment at Farragut Road. (This was not the only time I locked myself inside, during a flight back to New York, I actually stepped upon a commode to escape a maniacal underwriter at MBIA, who had overheard a colleague through my phone, speak about a new issuance for a singular “billion dollar” HELOC transaction which needed insurance, ahh the good old days).

After settling into Ringwood in 1991, my seemingly secluded world found a loud somewhat familiar partner while watching MTV and witnessing “Enter Sandman.” What else do I have to lose, I will finally give Metallica a chance and once it clicked, there was no turning back. Similar to finally tasting shellfish as a husband, there was disappointment on looking back to wasted years of what could have been, but indulgence is one of the main ingredients of obsession. I feasted on the original recipes to the point where I could not wait for the next dish on the menu, but I had four other albums (five if you include the “$5.98 EP” of covers) to digest to hold me over. And just like lobster, scallops, and oysters- Metallica went right to the top of my food chain.

On Saturday July 18, 1992, I was going to see the band who would eventually become my heroes on the historic tour with Guns & Roses. I heard that the bands were alternating who would be the closer at each city and my hope was that Metallica would close out Giants stadium that night because I had seen the exodus of fans on the Monsters of Rock tour. “Good luck following us” was what the entire tri-state witnessed as the first song from Metallica was “Creeping Death”- yes, the same song where I sought shelter just four years earlier. The blistering set matched the summer weather as the excitement had reached a level that I had not seen or heard since the Diamond Dave led Van Halen concerts during the early 1980’s. As I mentioned in another post, Guns lackluster beginning after the frenzy of Metallica caught the attention of Axl as he cursed out the audience and that was the first time, I left a concert for which I used my hard-earned money. Folks, that was the last time I attempted to see a Guns & Roses concert despite being their biggest cheerleader for the prior four years. Axl was upset about something at Madison Square Garden when I first endeavored to witness them and despite a New York City law which has a Cinderella midnight closing time, they finally took the stage at 11:15 p.m. after Soundgarden performance as opener ended at 8:45 p.m. Then Sal and I drove to Hershey Park in June 1991 to see them and for some reason after Skid Row (with Sebastian) finished their set early, Guns were late again. By the time they took the stage, the skies opened up and they returned to resume at nearly midnight. Knowing we had a three-hour ride back home to New Jersey, we departed. The Metallica-Guns was the third strike.

On Monday March 10, 1997, I head to Madison Square Garden by my lonesome to view one of the greatest bands ever as everyone could feel the anticipation while wondering what would be the last “pre-game” song that would be played before the lights go down. While we are all sitting or standing waiting, all of a sudden, I thought I saw James emerge from a tunnel with his cool guitar strapped around his neck with Kirk and Jason not too far behind. Wait, the lights are still on, but they caught the Garden off guard as they played the insane “So What” as we all saw Lars up on stage crashing his drums. Folks, observing Metallica live in concert is something to behold as it is an amazing spectacle that is always highlighted by intensity, stellar musicianship and a hunger which has never dissipated, it’s as if they are still eighteen years old. They tore up MSG with five songs included in the two encores.

In 1998, I took my brother and his friend to Giants stadium on Friday July 17 with Days of The New (remember them?) and Mr. Jerry Cantrell. Cantrell blew the doors open as Metallica was… well, Metallica. A few days before Thanksgiving in 1999, I invited multiple members of my family (who sat in the luxurious MBIA corporate box) while my younger brother and I basted in the crowd, witnessing history as they played with the New York Symphony. As usual when the night was over the crowd was savoring for more. I could go on for days about my love and appreciation of these musical geniuses, but I will move on, just know that each time they arrive in the New York area, I was there and will continue to attend.

More than a decade ago, my oldest son wore me down as I purposely avoided trying to produce my favorite ten songs by this legendary unit because it is like determining what your best Beatle tunes are, which is nearly impossible. Despite the fact that it took nearly three weeks to complete, I did create the list and caught grief, which I expected. Since that time, the double disc- “Hardwired to Self-Destruct”- was released in November 2016. This time around, I am “winging it”- meaning that I have not put in an extreme amount of time but that is offset by the knowledge of their catalog. However, it does not mean that the task is any less difficult because I listen to all ten studio albums with minimal skipping over tracks- yes that is right, even “Load,” “Re-Load” and especially “St. Anger,” which still receives relentless negativity.

I am putting a different twist on this list as I purposely set out to include a song from each of their studio albums, which happens to equal ten. This does not diminish it because as I was doing my usual battle of songs, I actually had nine different albums on first take (and not done purposely) because I was looking at the various “walk” inventories on my classic I-pod which I utilize for my excursions around my town on foot. Without further ado, on this day, at this moment, here are my top ten Metallica songs! (Enjoy!)

10— “Mama Said” —I can recall the first time I heard this track- I could not move for two reasons- the first being that it sounded like a country song and two, it is extremely personal tale of a sons’ heartbreaking relationship with a mother. James Hetfield’s parents were Christian scientists that believed God’s fate, no matter what it is, was to be accepted and this included not seeking medical attention. James’s mother rejected treatment when diagnosed with cancer and she passed away when he was just sixteen years old. This track was written as a final goodbye. He had a difficult relationship with his parents which is depicted in the following part of the song- “… Mama, now I’m coming home… I’m not all you wished of me…” Long term therapy assisted in his ability to come to terms with his connection to his mother. The lyrics are a stunning revelation of the pain he suffered and the words that strike me the most are- “… Never I ask of you… but I never gave… but you gave me your emptiness… I now take to my grave… so, let this heart be still…” I do not know what my life would be without the love of my mother, I do not even want to think about it. In my opinion, this may partially explain the difficulties he has experienced throughout his unbelievable career. Mr. Hetfield, please know this, and I realize that we watch from afar as fans but your openness, determination, and ability to ask for help when needed, is something that resonates far deeper because it allows comfort to know that isolation is avoidable. This personal trait alone is worth the price of admission… and then there is your gift of music. You have gone above and beyond.  

9— “Dirty Window”— I know- it sounds like Lars is playing on top of garbage cans and yes, I acknowledge the entire world scratches their head on trying to figure out why Kirk has no solos on the entire St. Anger album. And to take it even further, Dave Mustaine, who was an original member sent packing back to the east coast on a four day bus ride with no money in his pockets after James and Lars kicked him out prior to their debut album being released (but he has writing credits on the first two albums); had been vocal about the “Nu Metal” of the 1990’s which he criticized the lack of guitar solos. The reason cited was that the new bands did not possess the talent of a lead guitarist which led, well to an album like St. Anger. I have no answers for why Mr. Hammett seemingly took no part in this “controversial” body of work, only he knows. All that said, in my opinion, there are gems on St. Anger that shine through with “killer riffs” along with the never-ending energy displayed by Mr. Ulrich on the drums. Over the past few years, I have listened to this Metallica song more than any other, in large part due to the inclusion of the setlists created on my walks around town. I assume that residents have seen me air-guitar as well as air-drum to this infectious tune. “This house is clean baby!” Crank this way up!

8— “Metal Militia”— Whenever I stay indoors too long or have not had a “metal” or “hard rock” session, while no one is home, I start to twitch knowing that I need something loud. About a month ago, the house was empty, and I had finished my weekend chores, I took out “Kill ‘Em All” and blazed my way around the living room like a horse that had been locked in the barn all weekend long. I understand somewhat (but do not agree) with the exodus of the initial brethren after their debut because it’s not like “Ride” and “MOP” are “pop metal,” but to each their own. With no offense to Kirk Hammett, can one imagine if Dave had remained in the band and Cliff Burton were still alive? Wow. Metallica began its roots with arguably two of the greatest guitarists in the history of metal- Mustaine’s skills as a lead guitarist can never be denied and Hetfield’s ability to create riffs is legendary. Their brilliance has been copied but never replicated. And do not think for a second that Metallica cannot pull this off in concert in 2022? Robert Trujillo, the bassist since 2003, is a beast on bass and would make Cliff proud with his prowess as well as his ability to perform like a human spider as I have never seen a bass guitarist do the things that he does on stage. Every once in a while, (okay maybe more than that) I need to thrash it out. OMG, this is so great!

7— “Fuel”- I feel the same way about this song as James did when “The Black Album” was released with all the criticisms, while he directed our attention to “Sad But True” to inquisitively ask how this cannot be heavy enough? From the moment, James exclaims- “Give me fuel… give me fire… give me that which I desire…” I was hooked by the riff and to this day it still pumps the blood throughout my body. I will never forget when I played this tune for my youngest when the fifth grade was upon us, the protrusion of the eyes said everything. Now I acknowledge that since the “Big Four” shows, in my opinion, that songs from the “dark years” (Load, Re-Load and St. Anger) have fallen to the wayside (it seems) but I say that this tune can stand “toe-to-toe” with their current setlist.

6—” The Frayed Ends of Sanity”- Love the beginning where it depicts the Winkie’s chant who are seemingly guarding the wicked witch of the west’s castle in droves as the lion pleads with the tinman and scarecrow to turnaround. I wish I could have been in Finland in 2014 when Metallica finally debuted this song in concert in its entirety. If you have seen them over the past decade, they frequently played the beginning of the track before they ushered in “Seek & Destroy” as one of the encores. I have mentioned numerous times before, but I will say it again, I painted my first child’s room with this album blaring throughout the entire house. Who knows how many coats of paint I layered but I will say the thrusting motion of the broom was extremely consistent? I know that sometimes Mr. Hammett takes criticism but his lead solos on this track is astounding. The groove is flawless, and the beautiful changes exemplify their proficiency in leading the charge of the metal movement.   

5— “Wherever I May Roam”— Each time I hear this track I am back on the Garden State Parkway driving for what seemed like hours to play for a softball team with the hopes of obtaining a public finance job within S&P. The persistent savior was the black album as I would constantly listen to it in its entirety and then reinsert the disc to hear it all over again and before you knew it, I was in centerfield.  Right before the beach season began, I exited the team as I realized the only asset that I was going to be was on the softball diamond. Anyway, dare I say that this song could be the best that Lars and James have ever written? “I adapt to the unknown… I ASK NO ONE!” I can listen to this song for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and twelve months of the year. Witnessing them play this tune in concert was a dream come true as I sung every word back at James, while air-guitaring to Kirk and making those crazy faces that Jason used to make. Never forget the impact that Mr. Newsted made to this powerhouse of a band. Can you imagine trying to replace Mr. Burton and then seemingly have to deal with the dark days between Lars & James, while being dictated to that going off to make other music was forbidden? Jason, to this day, has been a class act and he deservingly was inducted into the Hall with the rest of the boys in 2009. His bass playing on this track is stupendous. And of course, Lars will keep you head-banging.

4— “Creeping Death”—Imagine that the song which forced me into hiding of a restroom has been in my top ten tracks by Metallica for a long time? If you do not give it a chance, you do not know what you are missing. Oh, how true this is. I will repeat this story again- back in the day, Matt Pinfield hosted a special event on MTV in 1998 in San Francisco where fortunate fans were able to sit in an intimate venue to witness the band pour through their classics. And then the unexpected occurred as James asked for a volunteer from the audience to sing “Creeping Death” with the band. This long-haired dude came to the forefront while Lars continued to ride him so as to scare him away from this once in a lifetime opportunity. He stood his ground while it seemed that both James and Lars did not want him to even attempt but once the band started to play the beginning of the tune, you could see this guy was ready and the head-banging kicks into full gear, the man was possessed, like he should have been. “Slaves, Hebrews born to serve… to the Pharaoh… heed, to his every word… live in fear…” as he nailed it and you could see the admiration in all of the band members eyes as he made his dream come true without a misstep. Now, I am no longer in fear as I take part in the “Die, Die, Die” bridge part of the tune when I see them live, with no bad flashbacks.

3— “Cyanide”— Who knows, maybe it was Rick Rubin… or maybe it was that the boys were in a good place and the addition of Mr. Trujillo has always been a positive, as I believe this is the jewel from “Death Magnetic” which some might refer to as the “comeback album.” This tune has it all: time changes, heavy riffs, smashing drums, pulsating bass lines along with a flow that is undeniable. James’s vocals are crystal clear as it seems with each passing body of work, his voice improves which cannot be easy with this genre. What else is there to say about Lars that has not already been stated? I have read all the polls about the greatest this, the best at that- I am finally at a stage in my life where I am learning to tune out the complaints or negativity. I will say it again- Lars is the only drummer for the band called Metallica. Similar to Mellencamp, he has mellowed somewhat with age but make no mistake, his youthful energy and excitement of being the drummer for this legendary band shines through with every one of his skilled performances. It can never be written or said that he has not given every ounce of sweat and tears to his artistry. And what I love most of all is his appreciation of all those who have come before him, walks side by side with his peers and lifts up, while admiring those trying to make a career in an industry that can be brutal. Tell me he is not all over this song? I cannot even air-drum to this track because I lose my breath. Folks, this is one of the greatest tunes Metallica has ever crafted.  

2— “Master of Puppets”— It had been almost a decade when Metallica reemerged and played Madison Square Garden in November 2009 (not including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts that took place a month prior) and I was a witness, along with 18,000 of the brethren, that their performance of MOP felt like the building was moving. I go back and forth with which version I love more because the one with the symphony is absolutely astounding but I will refer you to the original rendition. I will go back to my confusion on why some of the congregation walked away after the debut album because there is no way I can comprehend that even the “thrashiest of the thrashers” do not hear what I am letting soaking into my bloodstream- this is arguably the “Magnum Opus” of any metal song in the history of the genre. Yes, I know- what does this lightweight know? Maybe it is me but at the 5:10 mark when the rumbling of the drums before James starts to sing- “Master… Master… where’s the dreams that I’ve been after…” is the utmost feeling of any song I have ever listened to. And if Donny Osmond can appreciate Metallica, how can you go wrong? You have to give it a chance.

1— “Spit Out The Bone”— Oh my… can you imagine that in 2016, more than forty years after their career began that this was waiting to emerge? I almost want to cry so as to implore you to listen to this phenomenal tune, it really is beyond comprehension that this is what is left in the tank- this tells me that the end is nowhere near in sight, although physically on a tour this will only become harder- this is not your dad’s Rolling Stones tour. Last year, I had the backyard to myself as I blasted this track while utilizing my trustee wiffle ball bat to air-guitar while I freakishly ran around the pool, hyperventilating to this speeding Acela racing its way towards D.C. Folks, this track is stupendous as the band is above working on all cylinders, while I truly am left scratching my head in bewilderment because this is absolutely unbelievable. Recently on tour in Europe, James had a “senior moment” where he felt like he should not or cannot be up there performing because of an “unworthiness sentiment” which spilled into a beautiful exhibition as the rest of the family wrapped their arms around him letting James know that they will always be there for him. My gratitude for James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo (and of course Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted) is endless as I know my life has been enhanced because I finally gave them a chance. What are you waiting for?

Baseball

“Errol, I think he is coming out to see you.”

As the home plate umpire passed the shortstop and his foot hit the outfield grass, I knew I was in trouble. Maybe I should let “blue” do his job and not be calling strikes from left-center field? His slow deliberate stride stopped when his nose rested on top of mine while his eyes filled with rage were peering down right through my soul as he calmly asked how it was that I could determine a hitter’s zone from more than two hundred feet away while his position was standing right behind the batter. The entire S&P men’s softball team had never witnessed anything like this as even our opponents were left flabbergasted while my uncle walked over from leftfield to ensure that my big mouth would not go off again. Miraculously, I had nothing more to say as I realized the embarrassment that I had caused upon myself and teammates as I could see all the spectators around the outside of the fence at Central Park pointing their fingers to strangers in my direction. Despite being tourists, they knew that this was an argument of which I had no chance of winning despite maybe not even knowing what sport we were playing.

Ever since I could walk, the obsession with baseball is only topped by my fixation of music. I have my dad to thank because in my eyes he was the slickest and fastest player who possessed the knowledge of the game in every setting, like no one other. I would watch in awe as no matter where the opposition played him, he was able to direct the ball with his bat to any spot where they were not and typically ended up on second base. I have seen him beat out a throw from shortstop as everyone watching from the sidelines would state- “did you see that?” Growing up on 46^th street, my initial recollection of playing ball is with my uncle (we go way back) as he would pitch a wiffle ball to me in the front courtyard of the apartment building we lived in while giving Jimmy the ability to flex his daily complaints for us to go play in the street.

Evolving into a pre-teen, as long as there was teenage supervision, I was allowed to play “three-sewer” stickball on the one-way street. If you were batting, there was an unobstructed vision of a car careening down the block while you alerted the infielders who then turned to their teammates at the third sewer to go in between the parked cars. First and third base were often the bumper or front end of a vehicle while the middle sewer typically became second base. If the ball soared over that third sewer from your bat, it was an automatic homerun. “Triangle” was another form of baseball without second base that included pitching to the opposing player who utilized his or her hand to slap the ball into place. Typically, this was played during the time where alternate side street parking rules were in effect because there was ample room for first and third.

As we “graduated” to dirt, which was rare in Brooklyn as most of its residents probably played on concrete, the concept of a team brought us together as a family under the guiding hands of Mr. G who was the coach/father of our Flynn Celtics. We traveled together in the back of his “oily” van as his day job was that of some kind of mechanic as his fingertips were always black from the shop, he owned on eighth avenue. Trips to Shore Road or Prospect Park were numerous as our skills were sharpened under his tutelage with help from Mr. McNair and Mr. Addison. Not only were we playing the game we loved but some of life’s lessons were front and center as we learned how to collaborate well with each other while also recognizing that every player had a role to our success or to lift us out of a slump. Frankie and Henry knocked in the runs while the ninth batter, along with the guys on the bench knew that survival meant each contained a key role to encourage achievement while acknowledging that mistakes would only enhance the accomplishments.

As I took off from first base in one of the numerous situations that Mr. G was certain would occur at some point in an actual game, I can see the threads of the baseball about to make a dent on the front of my head as Sean made sure that the runner on first would hit the deck with his rocket arm as he threw to complete the double play. “Hey, what are you doing? Trying to kill me?!” I protested as he turned his back to get set for the same drill. Okay, he wants to play it this way in practice. As Mr. G hits the ball with his fungo, this time I get a better jump as the second baseman throws to Sean at second. As the ball arrives in his glove so do my metal spikes into his ankles. Knowledge of his fall would certainly subtract the pain that I applied to him, I quickly rolled away as he fell on the cloud of dust. Emerging like a bear protecting its cubs, he screams loudly that it was a dirty play while I quickly returned to first to continue the drills.

Baseball turned into softball as I entered my late teenage years and prior to marrying my bride, I played on nine teams which guaranteed at least one game each weeknight while Saturday and Sunday always consisted of double-headers. One night in Sunset Park as the sun was setting, I hear the ball off the bat and the next thing is Cheezie’s voice screaming- “Errol, that’s yours!” Vinny had the most powerful arm but his feet had some trouble getting to the ball so the assumption is that the roadrunner next to him would be perched underneath. Trouble was that by twenty years of age I did not know what “far-sighted” meant but as the ball hit the ground well behind me, the shock and awe of the entire team was the only thing I remembered as walking off the field I could feel their scorn for solely losing the game. The next day there was a visit to the eye doctor.

Entering what I thought was the prime of my playing career, I called the number in the local paper advertising playing opportunities in the Ringwood softball league. Knowing full well that teams do not want the guy who signs up through a phone number, I was resigned to driving back to Brooklyn to play. My bride answers the call and informs the person in charge of the league, who then relays to Frank that he needs to sign me up to his “Orange Crush” team because I will immediately make his team better. I would have not stated that but Frank to this day is glad that he accepted a player through an ad in the paper.

“Jay, is he spinning in centerfield?” Joe, by this time would never turn around from the mound, he would just turn his head to the left to check with his first baseman. “I only see the top of his head as he has already dug a hole” Jay responds.  Why is it so hard to throw a strike? Isn’t this high-arc softball I would ask myself. Despite the fact that I was in centerfield, Joe heard the non-stop complaints or offers to switch positions, like I was in his ear. I would like to apologize to Joe once again for my maniacal behavior as I know I made his life miserable, again from the outfield. To this day, the Orange Crush has a special place in my heart.

For the past thirty years, I have been able to participate with a family from Brooklyn that adopted me as I was included in all their family reunions. The brothers and cousins were some of the best players I have ever competed with as they taught me how to catch the ball behind my back. There were two rules required when we were young that had to be adhered to—one, if it was a fly ball to the outfield (not a line drive) it had to be caught behind the back and two, all the outfielders had to be sitting down as the pitcher released the ball to the batter. I can remember watching with my jaw on the floor as Jimmy would hit the ball to the third baseman and the next thing you knew, he was in the dugout scoring a run as he never stopped around the bases while the erroneous throws had all in stitches on the sidelines. It was a time to show off as Ronny, Tommy, Richie, Billy, Robert, and Pauly, made sure the crowd would not leave disappointed. And the most amazing player was their father who would often pitch but when he took a line drive throw from either the infield or outfield, the ball would end up in his throwing hand. Wait? What did I just see? He has a glove, why doesn’t he use it? Folks, it was a magic trick as his glove would stretch out first, appearing to catch the ball, but he would retrieve the throw with his right hand which was positioned well behind the glove (think of when someone is falling off a ladder and you bend your elbow while putting your hand up like a stop sign). The ball would seemingly blaze through the glove into his hand as he was already pitching to the next batter. His presence is missed on the mound, but his spirit is with us all.

Back on the field with the S&P men’s softball team, I implored a grandfather who was with his daughter as she held his grandson in her arms as the baby’s head faced the right-hand batter to move to a spot behind the fence at the game they were watching. “There is no way someone from your field will hit it this far, we will be fine” was the last thing I remember him saying to me as a foul ball line drive screamed towards them as my uncle and I put our hands on our heads. My nightmare came true as the ball, like a missile launched with precise direction, hits the top of the baby’s skull as the shrieks from him, the mother and grandfather are something I will never forget. I quickly yelled to my uncle to stay with them as I take off like a rocket to search for a cop roaming Central Park with no care that I immediately stopped our game because of this crushing foul ball. About a half-mile away from the field, I see a police officer walking near the carousel. I had never run as fast as I did that day as he could see the fear on my face while I turned to race back to the scene of the travesty with that police officer following close behind. Prior to his run back with me, he radioed for an ambulance and as we came upon the scene, two EMS personnel carefully strapped this newborn onto a gurney as I tried not to cry in front of the mother and grandfather. “The baby is crying, that has to be a good sign” were the last words I said to both of them as the back doors of the “bus” closed. To this day, I never found out what happened to that little baby. As I stood in the outfield, I could feel the tears well up in my eyes as I prayed for that baby’s safe outcome.

Leaving the “Orange Crush” team in 1999 to this day had been one of the most excruciating situations in my life because these guys were more than teammates, they were family and moving to the Nutmeg state broke my heart forever. Here we go again as I have to sign up through the local newspaper. Having played five seasons on a team where I felt no connection, I switched teams to play with a group of gentlemen who have become family. Brian, Phil, and Rick took me back home to Ringwood as I felt that I held a core of people in my heart just like I experienced in Ringwood. I found an older brother in Rick as he had as much energy and enthusiasm as me while we always were in a ball of sweat prior to the actual game because of our intense “pepper” preparation.

“Do what you have to do to get this guy out. Dive, play in as so to dare him to hit it over your head, throw him out from the outfield- do not let this man get a hit!” I implored our outfield to not let Danny get on base because of his boisterous mannerisms. As I arrive at second base after hitting a double, here he comes towards me from his shortstop position. “I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing” as he hugged me and from that moment onward, our mutual respect for each other on the softball diamond spilled over to a cordial friendship as we always exchange pleasantries in our greetings away from the diamond.

Similar to the Ringwood experience, Brian would ask Rick if I was spinning in the outfield because of another “base on balls.” “He is spinning like a top out there!” replies Rick, as some things never change. And just like in Ringwood, I experienced the joy of winning a championship in Connecticut.

Achieving success in baseball can be difficult, just like life, but the relationships, strategies employed, teamwork and individual effort are learning experiences that foster strength even if ultimate celebrations never occur. Sometimes in life when all the parts fall into place, while the cohesiveness is to the point where a team becomes a family off the field, success can be consistent. When I came back to the S&P men’s softball team, they were in the midst of winning five straight titles, which is difficult in any league. We had “swag,” but we did not flaunt it as we were all in it together to accomplish a feat that few have ever executed. I believe the team ended up winning seven out of eight championships and the first person who I hugged was my uncle as we ran towards each other in the outfield. Walking in with our arms around each other is the picture that resides in my mind like it was yesterday. He (and my dad) taught me how to play this game as a child and to be able to celebrate together (on numerous occasions) as adults will be cherished forever.

As the baseball season continues into the “dog days” of August, I decided to create a setlist of tunes that relate to “America’s game” and songs that include words like “home,” “away,” “out,” or “ball.” (Enjoy!)

By the way, my condolences to the family and friends of Vin Scully, who passed away at 94. Talk about baseball, he is by far the greatest baseball broadcaster in the history of this beautiful game. He is a beloved figure everywhere but especially in Brooklyn.

1— “Bring It on Home to Me” by Sam Cooke—As mentioned, Sam is my favorite male singer of all-time and this is one of his best efforts ever as the groove is extremely infectious. He hits the “cover” off the ball and in my opinion, this is a perfect lead-off hit of any century. Have you seen the movie “One Night in Miami?” Great movie.

2— “Walk Away from Love”—by David Ruffin– This song will always take me back to Otisville N.Y. because in the summers of 1975 and 1976 this tune was played incessantly on 77 AM WABC radio.  This was David’s last top ten hit in his solo career. He is probably best known as being part of The Temptations during the “Classic Five” period of years between 1964 through 1968 with Mr. Ruffin taking the lead vocals on such smash hits as “My Girl” and Ain’t to Proud to Beg.” He had a strict upbringing by his father, a minister, and quarreled frequently with the Temptations, finally demanding too much as they went their separate ways. Long struggles with substance eventually ended his life in 1991 and Tammi Terrell stated prior to her death that David was the cause of the reoccurring massive headaches by smashing a motorcycle helmet on her head. Hopefully, all is well with everyone on the other side of home.

3— “If You’re Out There”— by John Legend- When I could no longer play with the S&P softball team in 2008 and 2009 because my life was turned upside down as my position was eliminated, I discovered Mr. Legend with his solid album- “Evolver.” This is one of my favorites, in large part due to the message that John is delivering, and despite being recorded nearly fifteen years ago, we still need to listen. “No more broken promises… no more call to war… unless it’s love and peace that we’re really fighting for… we can destroy hunger… we can conquer hate… put down the arms and raise your voice… we’re joining hands.” I wish the words to this song could come to life.

4— “Out of Left Field”- by Gregg Allman– For the purists out there, please hear me out- I recognize that Percy Sledge originally sang this tune and I know that it is impeccable. But I do think that Gregg’s version has come out of left field to nail the runner at the plate as he pays homage to Mr. Sledge with this brilliant rendition. Taken from his last solo recording- “Southern Blood”- Gregg chose his favorite tunes of all-time and put his spin on them while remaining true to the way the game is played. Folks, I am pleading with you to have “Southern Blood” in your music library, it is nothing less than spectacular on his last at-bat.

5—” Call Me (When You’re Coming Home)”- by Nick Arne– I discovered this super cool song by chance by an impressive young man who has “mad skills” as a vocalist and guitarist. My bride and I have seen him locally in western Connecticut more than a few times with the anticipation of attending his second album event, which will be released on August 19^th. Looking forward to his next body of work.  

6— “Your Love”— by The Outfield- I love this “one-hit” wonder (with no offense to the band or its followers) from 1985 when I had just left my teenage years. Maybe it is the name of the group, but I have always pictured myself in centerfield just waiting to shag some fly balls, which is one of the most enjoyable things that I have loved to do in my life. There is nothing like the smell of the grass and waiting for that ball to land in the glove.  

7— “Centerfield”—by John Fogerty– Centerfield. This one word means the world to me as I have always dreamed of playing this position for the N.Y. Mets but despite this never occurring, my adoration has never dwindled, and it appears on my list of the most important things of my life.  Remember the “Friends” episode where Chandler and Monica use their hands to describe where they each fall after Chandler falls asleep during a meeting and is selected to run the Tulsa office? God, family, friends are obviously at the top and centerfield is really not that far behind.

8— “Give It Away”—by Red Hot Chili Peppers– The boys are back with their stadium tour with John Frusciante back on lead guitar for his third stint with the band. Last week I was in the “pink bubble” as I proudly celebrated my bride’s successes at the Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas, along with all of her beautiful friends and whenever there was a prize giveaway, this song would blast from the speakers into the huge auditorium. As I watched everyone in the aisles dancing to this funkified treasure, the smile on my face told the story as I beamed with pride that a hard rock/metal song made the Mary Kay setlist. Folks, there is nothing like a Mary Kay event, it is a love fest filled with high energy, love, faith and above all, a shoulder to rest your head upon, if needed, as the camaraderie in this family is a sight to behold.

9— “Play Ball”— by AC/DC– I will never forget when the Turner Broadcasting System utilized this track in 2014 to highlight the Major League Baseball playoffs as I could not believe that an AC/DC song would ever be used to spotlight anything in a general public setting. I would look over to my two boys with this huge smile on my face so much so that one would have thought that it was my song that was being played. I called my dad and said- “That is AC/DC on TBS… what’s up?!” Folks, AC/DC is one of the greatest bands this universe has ever heard or seen- it is just a fact! Now, let’s all play ball.

10— “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)”—by Meat Loaf– It is a tie between “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” by Elton and the entire “Bat Out of Hell” album that I can remember my good friend, Cathy, listened to the most while we were growing up in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. Her obsession with “Bat” made me a believer as I also became engulfed with this legendary body of work. I love the beginning as the back-and-forth banter between the man and woman ends with a sarcastic- “I bet you say that to all the boys!” This tune has to be considered one of the most enjoyable songs ever crafted as the beautiful flow is topped by the beyond addictive chorus as there is no way to get this out of your head once you hear it again. I know Michael Lee Aday had a wonderful career, but this is his masterpiece, along with Jim Steinman and Todd Rundgren. Rest in peace, Mr. Aday.

11— “Check it Out”—by John Mellencamp– The “Lonesome Jubilee” album changed my life forever and this is one of the reasons why. How great is this song? I can remember laying on the hardwood floor with the pillow wrapped around my head as I sang along to this wonderful treasure while my mom requested for the door to remain open. She was not too happy when we all went to see John at MSG on Thanksgiving night but recognition for his craft was appreciated. Thanks, John, for creating this brilliant track.

12— “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”—by Motley Crue-My other obsession in the late 1980’s besides Mr. Mellencamp was The Crue as I know I wore out the album sleeve of “Dr. Feelgood.” Mom was not as accepting of the Motley Crue sound and I slipped on the headphones when she was in the dining room sipping her coffee but when Jane left the house, the walls would shake with pleasure. Remember I mentioned that the tailgaters for the NY Jets would have this blasting extremely loud while slobbering on ribs while the NY Giants fans sipped chardonnay as they took in Bruce. Friends of mine had implored me to make Bruce a “bucket-list” item but with the “thousands of dollars” price tag that both Ticketmaster and his camp seem to think is fair game for his 2023 arena tour, I will pass.

13— “Shout it Out Loud”—by KISS– “… Call all your friends in the neighborhood… And get the party started (get the party started) … don’t let them tell you that there’s too much noise… they’re too old to really understand…” Mr. Claus brought me “KISS ALIVE II” for Christmas in 1977 and for the entire school vacation that week, I remained in-doors listening to each side hundreds of times. I studied the inside sleeves of the albums down to the recording engineers. My next-door friend, Karl, kept ringing my bell inquiring if I were going to come outside to play as he could not understand my obsession. Whenever I hear this song now, I am immediately at the United Center in Chicago on March 2, 2019, with my dear friends witnessing the greatness of KISS.

14—”Nobody’s Home”-by Kansas-Talk about obsession? When Kansas released their fifth studio album- “Point of Know Return” – in the same year (1977) I was conflicted because I loved the outdoors but unlike today where I can just wear headphones, the only way I could listen was in my bedroom. This album changed my life (I know I say that all the time) because each and every song is brilliant, so how could I leave the house? During the past decade I have reunited with my childhood band and have seen them in concert more than ten times as they are like fine wine. At the time of this recording, the cracks of the original unit were on display as Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope eventually left to start a Christian rock band. (Kerry actually saved Dave as he was immersed in the “rock star” life). Steve Walsh, one of the greatest rock singers in the history of the genre, wanted more freedom while the recently departed Robby Steinhardt needed to leave because of the direction of the band. The two original members, Rich Williams and Phil Ehart are still going strong with a semi new unit and they flat-out rock. Mr. Walsh sings this beautifully but the message may be a bit murky. No matter, I love it.  

15— “Is She Really Going Out with Him?”—by Joe Jackson– Mr. Jackson is the answer to the question that I usually pose to anyone I meet- “What was your first concert you ever attended?” It was the summer of 1980 (now 42 years ago, OUCH) and I was able to convince my parents to let me see him at Central Park. Even I was a bit nervous because going to Manhattan when you lived in Brooklyn was a far trip. I laugh now because where I live currently, any trip to the New York area takes me a minimum of 90 minutes. Anyway, for the folks who never heard of Joe Jackson, he was one of the hottest “new wave” acts that emerged in 1979 and his fame lasted more than fifteen minutes as he seemed to create massive hits. I am hoping that this song rings a bell with all of you out there- Joe Jackson is the man! Yes, I know this is from “Look Sharp.”

16— “I Come First”—by Halestorm– Okay folks, in my opinion, Lzzy Hale, has saved the hard rock genre as she is carrying the torch forward with her energy, hunger and love of the genre she adored as a kid growing up. Her latest album, “Back from the Dead” is an absolute homerun. There is no other way to listen to this but LOUD. All hail LZZY!

17— “Home Sweet Home”—by Carrie Underwood– Okay take a deep breath and please do not punch the screen. Yes, I know the original by Motley Crue is the ultimate version but there is a reason Vince, and the boys were satisfied with Carrie’s explanation on why she wanted to cover this gem. After listening to the rendition, the boys gave it a thumbs up. I am not sure if this adaptation will have the general public running towards The Crue’s catalog, but it will open up ears and minds as they realize that even Carrie loves this tune. I love Ms. Underwood’s version and am amazed by her career. (Of course, Spotify does not have Carrie’s version).

18— “I Stay Away”—by Alice In Chains– When “Jar of Flies” was released in the beginning of 1994, I was immediately hooked to this brilliant body of work as it is extremely mesmerizing because of the musicianship and the unbelievable vocal prowess of the late Layne Staley. Folks, there is a reason that the video for this tune has been viewed more than 22.5 million times and believe me it is not due to the claymation figures. It is because of Jerry Cantrell’s guitar playing, Sean Kinney’s drumming, Mike Inez’s thumping bass parts and Layne’s singing. Has anyone ever sung like him? Listen to this tune and you will know that there was only one Layne.

19— “Home”—by Foo Fighters– I know everyone is probably tired of me adding a Foo Fighter song to almost all of my playlists but I cannot help it because when I grieve it makes me want that person here with us and by playing their music, I feel like Taylor is not gone. This tune will forever put me back on the Cape Cod beach roaming for miles as I listen to the angelic Dave Grohl’s vocals as he guides me right through the clouds. I listened to the entire “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” album on Sunday morning July 24^th as I assisted with the take-down of our town’s Carnival. When this song came on, I hopped on to the top of the stack of pallets, sat there and looked up to the skies. Rest in peace, Mr. Hawkins. “Wish I were with you, but I couldn’t stay… every direction leads me away… pray for tomorrow, but for today… all I want, is to be home.”

20— “Reach Out I’ll Be There”—by Four Tops– How amazing was this era of music? I still say that the beginning of the Motown years is the greatest music ever crafted and the Four Tops were a huge part of the success. It really is mind boggling that these songs sound as fresh as they did when they were released more than a half a century ago. I can never get enough.   

21— “Cowboy Take Me Away”—by The Chicks– Whenever I hear Natalie’s voice, I am home, and this song is filled with her beauty and elegance as well as the subtle musicianship that makes me go back to my early childhood days growing up with all my friends on 46^th street.  

22— “Second Hand News”—by Fleetwood Mac– 1977 was a momentous year for music as the legendary “Rumours” album was released and I also wore out the album sleeve on this one. This is the first song on side one and it set the table for the rest of the batters behind leadoff. If you listen to this body of work, you will hear a team effort as Lindsay, Christie, Stevie, Mick, and John collaborated extremely well together and the result is a grand slam homerun.   

23— “Bring it on Home”—by Little Big Town-If you ask my two boys which Little Big Town song, they heard the most while they were growing up in our house, I bet each would say that it was this one. This was the tune that made me fall in love with this foursome. I still maintain that this outfit is the best vocalists on the planet today as their harmonies are peaceful. When I heard them perform this live in concert it was another check off my bucket list.  

24— “Mrs. Robinson”—by Simon & Garfunkel– “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio… our nation turns its lonely eyes to you… woo, woo, woo… what’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson… Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away…” I do not know why but those lines have always made me tear up and I believe it takes just about anyone to that good place where the wish of the day would be to hold time still. As we huddled around the family reunion this past weekend, realizing that Father Time has caught up with many, if not all, of us, while reminiscing about our love of the game. The main ingredient that resides within is an affection for baseball and while we were growing up, it was number one on the menu of things to do. Baseball, in my opinion, has been (is) a diversion from the worries in our life as well as a concept for millions across this universe because imagining yourself batting in the bottom of the ninth inning of game seven of the World Series, with the score tied and two outs, while your friend is getting ready to pitch that wiffle ball to you, is a goal that few people ever achieve, while the rest of us have visions of grandeur. Baseball keeps those dreams moving forward. “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio” just may be the most prolific lyrics ever written because it is not only about baseball… but life as well.