Nov 20, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
As I write this late Sunday night, social media is abuzz with the deaths of iconic people who, for good or bad, were a part of the fringes of media that continues to weave its way through my life.
The first is Mel Tillis. Oh, how I remember “Coca-Cola Cowboy” and “Neon Rose.” Country music was a staple in the family car when we drove up to Grandma’s, on the portable radio when we worked in the garden, on the Hi-Fi for Saturday morning housecleaning. In the late 80s the genre seemed to shift to a more rock feel, so I turned back to the local Top 40 Radio or listened to old tapes. Fast-forward a few years and it’s regained its roots. I now enjoy the croonings of the like of Brad Paisley and Chris Stapleton (especially his remake of Tennessee Whiskey.)
The second is Charles Manson. Living in Southern California, it’s hard to not know someone who knows someone who knows someone who has some connection to someone else who was affected by the 1969 Tate-LaBianca Murders. I can’t say I like any part of this, but his legend is as big as O.J. Simpson or The Billionaire Boys Club. There are just some things that captivate society, and the Manson “family” did just that.
And since these things come in three’s (or so they say), I’m holding my breath and praying it’s not David Cassidy.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : My First Partridge Family Album
Raised on The Partridge Family, I have loved David/Keith even when it went momentarily out of vogue. What can I say? I had the playhouse fantasy of us being the same age and him finding me more irresistible than any other 12-year-old in the world. I watched The Partridge Family every summer afternoon. It was a consistent anchor in a tumultuous world of moving cross-country and teen hormones and debilitating shyness. As long as David/Keith was in my life, I knew everything was okay.
I watched the biographies [even the really bad ones], the tell-all tele-dramas. If he was in a show, I watched it. That man could sell me snake oil in a bottle as long as he sang about its virtues.
As I write this, news reports are telling me of his downfall. His failing body. And a rumor of death that has yet to be confirmed.
This ranks up there with Davey Jones of The Monkees. My first teen idols. Even David’s brother, Shaun, ranked up there. All cute smiles and dimples. And when I saw David in Vegas so many years ago and he looked at me and sang, “I think I love you,” I think I melted!
What’s that? You don’t know the story? Well, let me recap for you:
About fifteen or so years ago, a former boyfriend came to town. We hadn’t seen each other since he moved away over a year earlier, and since it was close to my birthday, he took me to lunch. We drove to the outskirts of the neighboring town, to a quaint little restaurant off the freeway that garnered much attention for it’s 50’s-era style. The food was great, and the coffee was decent. We started talking about really good coffee and he suggested we make the 30-minute drive to the nearest Starbucks [Yeah, this was before my part of the world had a Starbucks on every corner]. I’m game! So off we went on an impromptu coffee run.
Now, when I say I live in the Southern California desert, I mean it. Most yards are dirt, unless you can afford rock-scaping. It’s 90 degrees in the shade, but for Thanksgiving we expect a cool-down trend so it’ll only be 80. Brr. Break out those holiday sweaters, y’all. Anyway, the nearest Starbucks at the time was in Barstow. And how it is that Barstow got a Starbucks long before we did is still a bone of contention around here. Must have something to do with the international outlet stores they have up there.
Sweet. We’re taking a drive, seeing the sights, headed to Barstow. Could life get any more thrilling?
So. You get my excitement at driving just for good coffee. I was thinking this would be a really great birthday!
We were so busy chatting and getting caught up that we missed the first turn off. Hmm. No worries. There’s another one in a mile.
Missed it. Again.
So we kept driving. It’s not easy to get lost on the 15-North. It’s not like there are any side streets to get in the way or mislead us. So we just kept talking, driving, figuring we could turn back once we reach Calico Ghost Town. A darn good birthday drive.
Missed it, yes, again. We were just about to turn around when I saw it. The first billboard indicating Sin City lay ahead: Las Vegas! And what, you ask, did the billboard advertise for that fine town? David Cassidy in Concert. Ohhh, babyyy….! I remember this larger-than-larger-than-life David in a silky red button down suit smiling down at me with The Rio Hotel & Casino in the background. I loved that billboard. I’m pretty sure I drooled. Or squealed. Or both.
I pointed and said, “Ooh, let’s go there!” I was just joking. He wasn’t. He said, “Wanna go?” Just like that. Uhmmm… WHAT?!?! Five dollars in my back pocket. Never been to Vegas. Hair and makeup not quite done properly. We were only supposed to be getting coffee. So I made a quick phone call to my family and said, “Hey, I’m gonna be home seriously late… like, tomorrow morning!” and it was settled.
Two great things happened that night. The first is that David Cassidy stood ten feet in front of me with his microphone, looked into my eyes and sang, “I Think I Love You”, to the dismay of all other females in the audience. The second is that I had a really great cup of coffee. In Vegas.
Now that’s a birthday!
So please, David. Don’t die before I have the chance to put on the old tunes and sit back with a Caramel Macchiato and remember all the good times we’ve had together. Somewhere in my garage is a box of items I never scrapbooked. In there is the table card for your concert. I think I’ll dig it out. And maybe soon I’ll stop in at The Rio and tell ’em Frankie sent me.
TWEET THIS: That One Time Coffee Took Me to David Cassidy @MollyJoRealy #davidcassidy #partridgefamily
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jan 12, 2012 |
I like to make CD’s of my favorite songs. Some are themed for inspiration, or upbeat for those roadtrips I keep getting lost on. There’s always at least one each year that seems to become my Soundtrack for the year: that CD that holds songs that inspire and move me.
Some of the songs are repeats each year. Sometimes, it’s the singer that remains the same. There are songs that remind me of friends. Songs that help me dream big. Songs that bring back memories. And songs that are just great to boogie-oogie-oogie to.
So far this year, I’ve made one CD. (I know, we’re less than two weeks into the New Year, but still…)
The music that so far inspires me is (as always) an eclectic collection. And because I like order, the songs are recorded in alphabetical order by title.
On this year’s first soundtrack, I have the following tunes:
1. “You’re Never Fully Dressed (Without a Smile)” from the Broadway Cast of Annie. This reminds me of my friend Lisa who is always playing the movie, and music, for her kids. Also because it takes place in NYC which is where I’ve got a girl date set up in 4 years with her and Lara. Finally, it makes me smile, just like it implores.
2. “All I Need is the Girl” by Frank Sinatra. I renewed my love for this song when it featured last year on So You Think You Can Dance. Frank is always on my soundtrack in one form or another, especially now that I’m being an Orange.
3. “Beautiful Music” by Barry Manilow. Usually I pick “Copacabana” but this year, I picked something more inspirational. Because that’s just how I feel. Like I was just going through the motions of living until I really began to focus on my writing. And now the World is my inspiration and I can’t get enough of it.
4. “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin. I like the movie with Kevin Spacey. I like Bobby Darin’s music and drive. Mostly, I just really like this song.
5. “Brand New Day” by Ryan Star. This was the theme song for the now-cancelled TV show, Lie to Me. What a great show! What a great song. It’s about someone who won’t settle for being what others think. He goes for what he wants, and he makes it. Love it!
6. “Don’t Mean Nothing” by Richard Marx. When I was in high school, I was the first of my friends to even know about this song and singer. I loved it. It’s so true: people will chat about useless stuff, they’ll use you to get what they want/need, and forget any promise they made to you. But that didn’t keep him down. He fought through the ranks to become a great singer/songwriter. Keep your head up!
7. “Extreme Ways” by Moby. This song features at the end of The Bourne Identity. I just really love the music.
8. “Forever in Blue Jeans” by Neil Diamond. My dad loved this song! And I’ve always loved Neil Diamond. He is a fantastic performer. He never compromised himself, never settled for celebrity status. He’s just a wonderful performer. I also love this song because it puts things in perspective: money isn’t everything. Love is.
9. “Get It While The Gettin’s Good” by Eddy Arnold. Eddy Arnold is my mom’s favorite singer. I can remember sitting out on the porch on warm summer Saturday mornings listening to the record playing on the Hi-Fi. This song reminds me of those days. And my daughter loves it, too. That alone makes this song worthy of being on the soundtrack.
10. “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” by The Monkees. I grew up on the Monkees. In the past, my soundtrack song was “Daydream Believer”. This year I opted for something a bit different. A friend and I went to their reunion concert in 1988 and by sheer luck literally ran into two of them backstage (we snuck in before the concert). Sitting behind us at the concert was Maureen McCormick (Marcia of The Brady Bunch), Robert Pierce (Bingo of Joanie Loves Chachi), and several other actors. We were invited backstage after the concert but then they reneged as it was a “private party”. We were almost in the right place at the right time.
11. “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Buble’. Great song of faith and hope in love and life. Great singer. ‘Nuff said.
12. “I Think I Love You” by the Partridge Family. Another group that I grew up with. And who doesn’t love this song? I can’t separate my love of coffee from this song. It doesn’t hurt that David sang it directly to me in Vegas (See above coffee link for that story!).
13. “I’ll Be There for You” by the Rembrandts. Who doesn’t know this as the theme song for the long-running show, Friends? My daughter is addicted to the reruns on TV, and we watch them every day. Every. Day. It’s a great catchy upbeat tune, and the lyrics say it all. It really is all about Friends.
14. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. Just a quirkly little song that nobody expected to go anywhere. But really. If you know the 80’s, you know this song. And you’re already singing it in your head, aren’t you? Yeah… my job here is done.
15. “New York Minute” by the Eagles. First, it’s got NY in the title. So there’s that. And it features at the beginning of The West Wing Season 2, Episode 16, aptly titled “Somebody’s Going to Emergency, Somebody’s Going to Jail”. I don’t have very many Eagles songs on my iTunes, and it’s not like I want “Hotel California” to be prominent on my soundtrack. But this song I love. The connection to Rob Lowe’s character, Sam Seaborn, I love. So it’s on the List.
16. “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra. Someday this will be my theme song; even if just for a day. From the man who loves orange like I do. From the ultimate singer. How could this not be on my soundtrack?! Seriously?!
17. “One/Finale” from the Broadway cast of “A Chorus Line”. Now who doesn’t want to be that girl. Am I right?!
18. “The Rockford Files Theme” by Mike Post. From the TV show. My dad loved loved loved this show. And it was created by Stephen J. Cannell. He was an awesome writer who encouraged and inspired me to write every day. I had to include him on my soundtrack.
19. “That Thing You Do!” by the Wonders. From the movie of the same name. I’m pretty sure I drove my family crazy when I first got the movie on VHS. I played it over and over and over, day after day after day. There’s some great lines in that movie. My favorite is, “Hey. Hey guys… Chad fell down.” Hilarious scenes, great music. What’s not to love?!
20. “Together Forever” by Rick Astley. To be honest, I couldn’t remember which Rick Astley song was more popular, and since they sound similar, I decided to add them both to the soundtrack.
And there you have it. My soundtrack for 2012. Or, at least, the first part of it.
What does your music sound like?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
