The Story of Therapy Dog Tails 420
Where Everyone Gets a Dose of Puppy Love
CHRONOLOGY 51: TAPCO / ATR 9
Fri., Sep. 6, 2013
… If You Really Love Me - I’m glad I got to this one tonight because it really takes me back to driving across Everhard Rd. past Beldon and down that steep little hill to where it dead ends into Cleveland Ave. on my way to see Paula. This was the Stevie Wonder song that I was hoping to hear and the one that I was waiting for a year or so later when I saw him at Kent and wished he was more like this. How I wish now in 2013 that I could go back to that moment in 1971 when this song was a hit and I was just beginning to realize how amazing Paula Kratzer was. How I wish ...
Superstar - This is another song from that first summer when Paula and I started to think that we had a future together - her mistake. It’s such a hopeless song - another song about the loneliness that I’m feeling now and hoping that Paula has never felt. Imagine Karen Carpenter singing about love and making it so convincing.
9:08 p.m. G. #14.
One Fine Morning - This one really hits hard. Part of this is how often the song has been played. Lighthouse had the “Jesus” stigma attached to them from the start. I don’t know why exactly but I never believed it and it didn’t matter to me anyway. I was going to God Squad meetings that year (freshman) at GCC just for fun because I liked to talk philosophy and metaphysics and that was where it was happening. Then Lighthouse came to GCC that year and, of course, we all went to see them. Paula wasn’t there. I suppose it was a bit early for us although she and I went to see Chicago together at Wooster at about the same time. She was always more concerned about academics than I was. But since I loved this song so much and bought not only this album but the 2 that followed, including the live album that I found during those Evanston years, this song and album is part of Paula and me. I played the LP a lot in Evanston.
Imagine - This one reminds me of Beth before she met Marc. I was only peripherally aware of it until Beth said that it was probably the best thing that John Lennon had ever done. I remember her saying that to Paula and me at their house one night. When she said it, I only then thought that it might be true. Now, of course, it’s obviously true. Beth was right. I wish I’d get the chance to tell her that some day.
Baby I’m-a Want You - This was one of those ubiquitous songs that you couldn’t get away from. I never liked it much - never liked Bread because they were too syrupy and too sentimental. Maybe that’s why I include them in this play list now. I’m feeling very sentimental. I wonder how many times I drove from Massillon to Wooster.
Have You Seen Her - Wow! This one is really powerful. I’ve told the story before. During sophomore year I hitchhiked from Grove City to Wooster a few times. One of those times was on a weekend around Oct. or early Nov. when there was a great snowstorm. I got caught in Wooster and didn’t make it back to GCC until Monday. However on Sunday there was a screening of the film of the basketball game that we had played on Thurs. or Fri. I missed that and didn’t call the school to tell them that I wouldn’t be back on campus on Sunday. I remember hearing this song in the car on my way back to GCC that Monday. At least that’s how it is in my memory. The coach held it against me - that I hadn’t called to say that I couldn’t make the film review of the game on Sunday and he benched me even though I’d been the leading scorer in that game. After about 6 games on the bench my sophomore I’d had enough and quit the team. What more powerful emotion - other than just being with Paula at that time - could there be associated with a song?
You Are Everything - I remember wondering if this was a man or a woman singing. Later I had these songs in Al-Khobar on a cassette so it has double meaning for me now.
Superstar - I was perplexed somewhat because the Carpenters had just had a song with this title ... Mostly it reminds me of the cafeteria at GCC for some reason. But I was and had been a big fan. I’d seen the Tempts in Canton around 1968 somehow when Edwin Starr had opened for them. The Dunbar boys including Jack Schuling had been to the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh to see them by ourselves and that wasn’t the last time. We later got dates together to see them again at a supper club down there somewhere.
Old Fashioned Love Song - This is one of their last good songs. I remember it now because it was on the radio at that time and because I ended up with the LP in Evanston.
9:32 p.m. G. #15.
American Pie - I remember the day that Paula and I drove to Evanston. I couldn’t tell from the map how much city there was between Route 30 and Evanston. We ended up driving right through the center of the city at rush hour. It took forever. We got to Evanston with no furniture so we spend that first night or 2 at the hotel in the center of Evanston and that’s something again that I wish I could go back to because I feel that I didn’t appreciate it as much as I could have.
Our few pieces of furniture arrived - we had spent our wedding night at the Imperial House, the same place where I’d gone for my senior prom with Pam. We moved into that apartment on Clyde Ave. and made the best of it. Paula went to work and I went down to UICC to finish my college career and I remember seeing on the side of a subway car an interpretation of this song. I had no idea what they were talking about and could only think of a guy at GCC who had told a believable story about what was going on during “In-a-Gadda-da-Vida,” a demonic story of course. Paula was going down to Continental Bank where she met a good friend named Dorothy, who later got divorced and moved to Denver as Paula later did, moving to Phoenix instead. I was going to UICC where as a grad student I met a good friend by the name of Ann Christophersen, who was gay and living with a generous guy in a nice townhouse on the near north side, which Paula and I visited on our visit back there in the summer of 1978. Paula was a big hit, of course, and I remember a party just before we left for S.A. People were asking why we would do that and were wondering, no doubt, what someone like Paula was doing with a no-good like me. I was wondering that.
Let’s Stay Together - I had been a fan since the very first time I’d heard “Tired of Being Alone.” This was big at the time and now I can only wish that I had paid more attention to it.
Hurting Each Other - I wish I knew then that I’d be the one doing the hurting.
Slippin’ into Darkness - I had been aware at GCC of “All Day Music” and thought this was a great advance. It reminds me now of GCC primarily but War came to Kent while I was there and I opted not to attend because I’d seen Stevie Wonder and Santana. Since I’d seen Santana twice before - in Cleveland first with Pam and then again with Paula - I’d have been better off blowing them off and catching War, especially since I’d been so disappointed with Stevie Wonder and his new synthesizer oriented music.
Heart of Gold - I loved this the first time I heard it - more than any Dylan song. It was sophomore year at GCC when we got back and so things were really starting to heat up between Paula and me. It reminds me more of GCC than of Paula specifically.
No One to Depend On - This one is painful. I remember a night when Paula and I went into the student union / cafeteria where there was a jukebox. I played this song on a jukebox. I doubt that she would remember this but it is vivid in my memory. The place was almost empty - maybe it was fairly late. But what does that matter now, friend - who doesn’t even exist anymore? I’m just talking to myself.
10:04 p.m. G. #16.
A Horse With No Name. This was a song aimed at me - someone who was starting to understand that poetry was based on metaphor but who still didn’t know what a metaphor was. I didn’t know anything at all when I graduated from high school and so I was always amazed at the poems that Paula could recite for no other reason than that she had been in high school. I had never learned or learned to recite anything at all, which may be one of the reasons why I try to get kids to learn verses of poems by heart to this day. I liked this song but was suspicious of the voice - didn’t know if it could continue or not.
Vincent - I hadn’t thought much of Don McLean’s voice in “American Pie” but this was a superior song and I remember listening to it and trying to figure it out in the car at the time. I only heard music that I didn’t buy in the car. I remember this one from the car. I had no idea that he was talking about Van Gogh but that didn’t matter to me. I never listened to words anyway. The music was good. Paula probably knew of Van Gogh and probably told me about him. She educated me.
Morning Has Broken - I don’t remember this well at the time but it was there and it wasn’t long after that I became aware of it.
Lean on Me - I’m driving on 241 and coming to Fulton Rd. when I hear this on the car radio. I must be going to Paula’s - otherwise, why would I think of it today? It’s not as good as his first song but it is pretty good - very easy to learn on Paula’s mother’s piano as I had done with his first song and that Bee Gees’ song.
I Need You - It seemed strange that another band could name their song the same as a Beatles song but it turned out to be a good song and one that made you think again of America. I associate it with Evanston rather than GCC or Wooster.
School’s Out - As I said, I didn’t know what to make of this while driving back to Ohio from GCC, which is my main memory of it. I didn’t like the song and didn’t think much of the visual rock that followed (David Bowie) although Jim Morrison had started it all.
Take It Easy - This was more palatable than Alice Cooper in spite of the obvious country roots.
Alone Again Naturally - I’m on the beach of a small lake with Paula and my parents. I hope they can think of it again right now as I’m thinking of it and hope that Paula can think of it without hating me as I hate myself now for it. I don’t know where this was. We went often with Ma and Pa to wherever they were going with their trailer. I can only wish now that I had appreciated it more. I don’t know how much I did at the time. I only feel that now I didn’t appreciate it enough.
Brandy - I’m now clearly in that Clyde Ave. apartment for the first time with no other reference. It’s the summer before but I saw these guys on t.v. there. It’s very painful for me to hear this now.
10:38 p.m.
I guess I’m going to fast today ....
Sat., Sept. 7
2:24 p.m.
No reply.
I did fast. I didn’t finish that last beer but I wasn’t drunk when I went to “bed” here on the sofa. I don’t think I can take too many nights like that, however - not because of the beer but because of the heavy sadness that I wallowed in listening to that music. Here’s the complete play list but if I play it again, it might kill me:
Sugarloaf 1970-08-15-003 Green-Eyed Lady
Linda Ronstadt 1970-08-15-025 Long Long Time
James Taylor 1970-09-12-003 Fire and Rain
Bee Gees 1970-12-05-003 Lonely Days
Rare Earth 1970-12-12-017 Born to Wander
Gordon Lightfoot 1970-12-26-005 If You Could Read My Mind
Tom Jones 1971-02-06-002 She's a Lady
Carpenters 1971-02-06-003 For All We Know
Brewer & Shipley 1971-02-13-010 One Toke Over the Line
Cat Stevens 1971-02-13-011 Wild World
Alice Cooper 1971-02-30-021 I'm Eighteen
Ocean 1971-03-13-002 Put Your Hand in the Hand
Bread 1971-03-27-004 If
Tin Tin 1971-04-03-020 Toast & Marmalade ...
Honey Cone 1971-04-10-001 Want Ads
Cornelius Brothers 1971-04-10-003 Treat Her Like a Lady
Doors 1971-04-10-011 Love Her Madly
Carpenters 1971-05-15-002 Rainy Days & Mondays
Fortunes 1971-05-15-015 Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling
Hamilton, Joe Frank ... 1971-05-22-004 Don't Pull Your Love
Jean Knight 1971-05-29-002 Mr. Big Stuff
James Taylor 1971-06-05-001 You've Got a Friend
Bee Gees 1971-06-26-001 How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Undisputed Truth 1971-06-26-003 Smiling Faces Sometimes
Chicago 1971-06-26-007 Colour My World
Paul & Linda 1971-06-40 Heart of the Country
Doors 1971-07-03-014 Riders on the Storm
Gayle McCormick 1971-07-10-084 Gonna Be Alright Now
Bill Withers 1971-07-17-003 Ain't No Sunshine
Rare Earth 1971-07-17-007 I Just Want to Celebrate
Paul & Linda 1971-08-14-001 Uncle Albert/Admiral ...
Stevie Wonder 1971-08-14-008 If You Really Love Me
Carpenters 1971-09-04-002 Superstar
Lighthouse 1971-09-11-024 One Fine Morning
Plastic Ono Band 1971-10-23-003 Imagine
Bread 1971-10-23-003 Baby I'm - A Want You
Chi-Lites 1971-10-23-003 Have You Seen Her
Stylistics 1971-11-06-009 You Are Everything
Temptations 1971-11-06-018 Superstar)
Three Dog Night 1971-11-13-004 An Old Fashioned Love Song
McLean, Don 1971-11-27-001 American Pie
Al Green 1971-12-04-001 Let's Stay Together
Carpenters 1972-01-15-002 Hurting Each Other
War 1972-01-22-016 Slippin' into Darkness
Neil Young 1972-02-05-001 Heart of Gold
Santana 1972-02-12-036 No One to Depend On
America 1972-02-19-001 A Horse With No Name
McLean, Don 1972-03-18-012 Vincent
Cat Stevens 1972-04-01-006 Morning Has Broken
Bill Withers 1972-04-22-001 Lean on Me
America 1972-05-20-009 I Need You
Cornelius Brothers 1972-05-27-002 Too Late to Turn Back Now
Alice Cooper 1972-06-03-007 School's Out
Eagles 1972-06-03-012 Take It Easy
Gilbert O'Sullivan 1972-06-17-001 Alone Again (Naturally)
Looking Glass 1972-06-17-001 Brandy
Raspberries 1972-07-01-005 Go All the Way
Al Green 1972-07-08-003 I'm Still in Love With You
Carpenters 1972-07-15-007 Goodbye to Love
Bee Gees 1972-07-29-016 Run To Me
Chicago 1972-08-05-003 Saturday in the Park
Cornelius Brothers 1972-09-02-023 Don't Ever Be Lonely
Eagles 1972-09-09-009 Witchy Woman
Lighthouse 1972-10-07-034 Sunny Days
Temptations 1972-10-14-001 Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Stylistics 1972-10-14-010 I'm Stone in Love With You
Billy Paul 1972-11-04-001 Me and Mrs. Jones
War 1972-11-18-007 World Is a Ghetto
Three Dog Night 1972-11-18-019 Pieces of April
Carly Simon 1972-12-02-001 You're So Vain
Cornelius Brothers 1972-12-23-037 I'm Never Gonna Be Alone
Anne Murray 1973-01-06-007 Danny's Song
Roberta Flack 1973-01-27-001 Killing Me Softly
Skylark 1973-02-01-009 Wildflower
Wings 1973-04-14-001 My Love
Marvin Gaye 1973-07-14-001 Let's Get It On
Rolling Stones 1973-09-08-001 Angie
Roberta Flack 1973-09-22-030 Jesse
Redbone 1974-01-12-005 Come and Get Your Love
Z.Z. Top 1974-03-30-041 La Grange
Wings 1974-04-20-001 Band on the Run
Anne Murray 1974-04-20-008 You Won't See Me
Hues Corporation 1974-05-25-001 Rock the Boat
ABBA 1974-06-01-006 Waterloo
Chicago w/ B.Boys 1974-10-19-011 Wishing You Were Here
Linda Ronstadt 1974-12-07-001 You're No Good
John Lennon 1974-12-24-009 #9 Dream
Minnie Riperton 1975-01-18-001 Lovin' You
Linda Ronstadt 1975-04-12-002 When Will I Be Loved
Bee Gees 1975-05-31-001 Jive Talkin'
Eagles 1975-05-31-001 One of These Nights
Linda Ronstadt 1975-07-26-047 It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Eagles 1975-09-13-002 Lyin' Eyes
Linda Ronstadt 1975-09-20-005 Heat Wave
Bee Gees 1975-10-04-007 Nights on Broadway
Diana Ross 1975-11-01-001 Theme From Mahogany
Wings 1976-04-10-001 Silly Love Songs
Heart 1976-04-17-035 Crazy on You
Starland Vocal Band 1976-05-08-001 Afternoon Delight
Bee Gees 1976-07-04-001 You Should Be Dancing
Heart 1976-07-17-009 Magic Man
Linda Ronstadt 1976-08-21-011 That'll Be the Day
ABBA 1976-12-11-001 Dancing Queen
Bee Gees 1977-09-24-001 How Deep Is Your Love
Diana Ross 1977-11-05-027 Gettin' Ready for Love
Bee Gees 1977-12-10-001 Stayin' Alive
Eric Clapton 1978-01-07-003 Lay Down Sally
Bee Gees 1978-02-04-001 Night Fever
Peter Brown 1978-03-04-008 Dance With Me
Rolling Stones 1978-05-27-001 Miss You
Linda Ronstadt 1978-08-19-018 Back In the U.S.A.
Heart 1978-09-23-015 Straight On
Linda Ronstadt 1978-11-11-007 Ooh Baby Baby
Bee Gees 1978-11-18-001 Too Much Heaven
Bee Gees 1979-02-10-001 Tragedy
Linda Ronstadt 1979-02-10-044 Just One Look
Blondie 1979-02-17-001 Heart of Glass
Bee Gees 1979-04-21-001 Love You Inside Out
Diana Ross 1979-07-14-019 Boss
Eagles 1979-10-06-001 Heartache Tonight
That takes me right through the 70s.
7:25 p.m.
I’m headed into NYC to hang out with Ron Link and possibly Geoff at a place at 78th & Columbus which Ron says is an after hours joint for Broadway performers. He says the music is good. We’ll see but it doesn’t happen until 11 p.m. I’ll hope to catch the last train back to NJ.
Note: I didn’t get around to it that night but the Diana Ross song was a real favorite. I remember not hearing it on the radio - it wasn’t one of her biggest hits - but picking up the cassette in Al-Khobar and thinking it was a great song, a great performance and a good idea for her to be moving away from pop music a bit toward something closer to jazz. Notice how they glammed her up for the album cover. But her voice was always too good for jazz. I remember seeing her in the Billie Holiday movie, Lady Sings the Blues, and thinking that Diana Ross’ voice was superior to Billie Holiday even knowing that Billie Holiday’s voice was superior to most, though it was her style, her lilt, her phrasing and her deep emotional tie to the music that truly set Billie Holiday apart. But maybe the fact that this record only reached #27 on the chart caused Diana Ross and whoever was working with her at the time to move back toward pop music because she proved that she had much more great pop music in her a couple of years later when she teamed up with the Chic team for Upside Down and I’m Comin’ Out, two of her best ever in my opinion.
AUDIO INSERTED: Diana Ross, Gettin’ Ready for Love
(Once again I insert this track without permission and will take it down upon request.)
IMAGES INSERTED: Record Labels / Sleeves
Having mentioned Billie Holiday and being a big fan of the Boswell Sisters, who turned jazz into pop music a few years before Holiday came along and having discussed the Bozzies in several chapters previously (162, 204 302, 367), I feel almost obligated to include a Billie Holiday song though I certainly intend to get to more of her work and to do a more thorough comparison of her and Ross at some point. So suffice it here to include one of her great early recordings. Miss Brown to You was recorded with Teddy Wilson in 1935. It’s nominally a Teddy Wilson recored but, of course, Billie Holiday had a tendency to make anything she was involved with her own. I don’t know what the racial implications of “Miss Brown to you” were at the time - it seems relatively innocent given the ending to the line - but it certainly recalls for me now the famous Sidney Portier admonition, “They call me Mr. Tibbs.” What I do know is that this a great song and record so enjoy.
AUDIO INSERTED: Billie Holiday, Miss Brown to You
(Once again I insert this track without permission and will take it down upon request.)
IMAGES INSERTED: Record Labels / Photo w/ Teddy Wilson (left)