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Each week our Boomer-In-Charge, Hershel Chicowitz, has something to say about life, society, or what's going on... from the perspective of a baby boomer. This is what's on his mind the week of July 12:
A while back, I wrote an essay I called "We Are Not One Boomer." The essay explained why, for many reasons, there are many differences between us 76 million boomers. This week, I'd like to concentrate on music that defines and separates us.
We have a feature here at BBHQ called "Music by the Month." Each month, we look back at the music of a specific month in, what I call, the boomer years: 1956 to 1974. This month, we feature July, 1959. What a month it was! Take a look:
Paul Anka, one of the rare artists who have lasted throughout the history of rock n' roll, had the number one song in July, 1959: "Lonely Boy." ("I'm just a lonely boy; lonely and blue; I'm all alone, with nothin' to do.") Frankie Avalon, another classic rock icon, had two hits in the top 20: "Bobby Sox to Stockings" and "A Boy without a Girl." And Bobby Darin had his second hit, "Dream Lover."
"In 1814, we took a little trip;
along with Colonel Jackson, down the might Missis-sip.
We took a little bacon, and we took a little beans;
and we fought the bloody British in a town called New Orleans."
That was Johnny Horton's big hit, "The Battle of New Orleans." Do you remember the chorus? We also took a ride on the "M.T.A." with the Kingston Trio. ("He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston; he's the man, who never returned.") And in the midst of this, "Along Came Jones," ("If you don't give me the deed to your ranch, I'm gonna' throw you on the railroad tracks.") by the Coasters. But Connie Francis caught us with "Lipstick on Your Collar" ("Bet'cher bottom dollar, you and I are through; 'cause lipstick on your collar, told a tale on you."). And we were left with "There Goes My Baby," by the Drifters.
(All those lyrics rolled right off the top of my head... why do we remember all this stuff?)
We had "Personality" by Lloyd Price and a "Big Hunk O' Love" by Elvis Presley. But that was "Just a Little Too Much" (Rick Nelson).
That same summer we also listened to "Venus" by Frankie Avalon, "Charlie Brown" by the Coasters, "The Happy Organ" by Dave "Baby" Cortez, "Come Softly to Me" by the Fleetwoods, "A Teenager in Love" by Dion and the Belmonts, "Sea of Love" by Phil Phillips, "Til I Kissed You" by the Everly Brothers.... and, oh yea.... a cute, little song called "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin.
Whew!!
I was just a kid in July of 1959. But my older (much older) sister had introduced me to the sound of rock n' roll. Neither of us had any idea that this sound would stick with both of us for the rest of our lives.
(If I wanted to be a cynic, I would ask you how many songs from the summer of 1999 anybody will be listening to in 40 years. But that's not my point here.)
My point here is that this music made a profound and positive impression on me... and I suspect, on my peers. It was a good thing! The problem is that millions of boomers had not even been born in 1959... and millions more were rightfully interested in "The Cat in the Hat" and not "Mack the Knife."
That is a primary reason why "we are not one boomer." You late boomers were more likely to listen to Pink Floyd; Earth, Wind and Fire; and Iron Butterfly. There is nothing particularly wrong with them; they are not my favorites, but they're OK. They do not carry the softer, overtly romantic, and carfree and positive tone that the songs of the late fifties do. And that is a shame. You cannot convince me that that has not made a difference in our outcomes, or that the cynical and coarse music of today will not make a difference in our childrens' outcomes.
On the plus side, true quality lasts... and lasts... and lasts. Here at BBHQ we list hundreds of oldies radio stations around the country still playing the songs of my youth. And we have the lyrics to dozens of songs of the late fifties in our Music Room. If you are a late boomer, an X'er, or a kid-of-a-boomer (some call these kids echo-boomers), please check the lyrics to some of these songs. They will show you some of what you missed. If you are looking for an escape from today's chaos, 1959 is a heck of a good place to start.
The good news is that it is not too late. It is never too late.
Have a good week!
If you want to write more, we're open to offerings from other boomers. If you have something to say of interest to boomers, write it as well as you can in 700-900 words, and send it to us. We can't guarantee we'll publish it, but we'll surely consider it.
For more of Hershel's essays, check the BBHQ Archives or the Boomer Essays.
Hershel will have something else to say on July 19; mark your calendar to come back to BBHQ every Monday.
BBHQ celebrates the 30th anniversary of Woodstock all summer long. And you can get your ticket here!
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
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The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
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Copyright © 1999 Baby Boomer HeadQuarters (BBHQ) All rights reserved.