May Music, Day 8, Perm Any One From 100

I haven’t thought about this boy in years. And years and years. Why would I? It was 1976 when I went out with him. For all of about 5 weeks.

But, he who shall be obeyed, Twindaddy, wants to know for his 8th question which song we associate with our first love. So, I dredged my memory. Actually, not much dredging needed. As stated yesterday, ask me about thirty or forty years ago and I’ll give you chapter and verse. Just don’t ask me if I remembered to buy milk when I was out today.

I had been working in a local café for about two years on an afterschool basis. Sounds a bit like child slavery now, I know. But I desperately wanted a wee part-time job and to earn some money of my own.

At that point I was getting 50 pence a week ( 85 American cents ) pocket money which was fine if you just wanted to buy sweets. But I had reached the age where I wanted to buy make-up and cotton wool. Don’t ask, guys. It’s a female thing. Or maybe it was just a me thing. You need the cotton wool to remove the make-up. No big secret.

By working, I earned 50 pence an hour. Riches! All I had to do was wait tables, do a bit of cooking now and again, wash dishes now and again, wash down tables and walls now and again. Better yet, my sister ended up working with me and we had some great laughs while working. Doesn’t get much better. Earning and having a laugh. Oh, it does. Earning, having a laugh and boys coming in to chat you up. No wonder everyone wanted to work in Freddie’s Café.

Three boys in particular came in on a regular basis. And I could always tell when they were about to enter because I could hear their motorbikes arriving. Well, to be honest, they were mopeds. Or ‘poof chariots’ as my eldest brother so unkindly called them back then. Subtle, he wasn’t. Compared to his 150cc worth of Honda I suppose 50cc was a bit on the nerdy side.

But in they would come, I would take their order and, over a period of time, it became apparent that one in particular had his eye on me. And likewise. Steph, he was called by his friends. And they teased him unmercifully for taking ‘ a beamer’ every time I approached their table.

This went on for ages. Months. A year maybe.

This tall, lanky boy with his long, dark curly hair and black leather jacket could melt me more than a little.

Then he phoned me one day and asked me out. He had started working beside said oldest brother and had wangled our home phone number from him. Brother asked, ‘Was that the disease on the phone?’ Steph’s last name was Greek. ( No wonder I have such a thing about Greece. 🙂 ) To be fair, his name was a bit of a mouthful. But still. Bit mean. That’s brothers for you.

I said yes, of course. And it was a lovely relationship while it lasted. For those few weeks previously mentioned. We didn’t fall out. I bricked it, is all. I couldn’t hack it. I was 15. And I suddenly felt too young. I liked him a lot. But I just was not ready to be going out with anyone I realised. He was two years older than me, he could go to the pub (illegally!) while I still was going to the café and the youth club.

So I made up some feeble excuse about having exams in about six months. And dumped him. Face to face I might add. No texts back then. No Facebook. I wouldn’t have done that anyway. I went to meet him to go to the pictures and then didn’t.

I can’t recollect a single song that has anything to do with him. But I looked up songs from 1976 and here’s what came up.

01 Brotherhood Of Man Save Your Kisses For Me
02 Pussycat Mississippi
03 Elton John & Kiki Dee Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
04 Abba Fernando
05 Abba Dancing Queen
06 Chicago If You Leave Me Now
07 Dr Hook A Little Bit More
08 Showaddywaddy Under The Moon Of Love
09 Tina Charles I Love To Love
10 The Real Thing You To Me Are Everything
11 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody
12 The Wurzels Combine Harvester
13 Abba Mamma Mia
14 The Four Seasons December ’63
15 Demis Roussos The Roussos Phenomenon
16 Slik Forever And Ever
17 JJ Barrie No Charge
18 Hank Mizell Jungle Rock
19 Candi Staton Young Hearts Run Free
20 Rod Stewart Sailing
21 Wings Let ‘Em In
22 The Real Thing Can’t Get By Without You
23 Wings Silly Love Songs
24 Demis Roussos When Forever Has Gone
25 Leo Sayer You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
26 Barry White You See The Trouble With Me
27 Billy Ocean Love Really Hurts Without You
28 Johnny Mathis When A Child Is Born
29 CW McCall Convoy
30 Our Kid You Just Might See Me Cry
31 Queen Somebody To Love
32 Sailor Glass Of Champagne
33 The Manhattans Kiss And Say Goodbye
34 David Dundas Jeans On
35 The Manhattans Hurt
36 John Miles Music
37 Manuel & The Music Of The Mountains Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto De Aranjuez
38 The Miracles Love Machine
39 Tavares Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
40 Dorothy Moore Misty Blue
41 Abba Money Money Money
42 Rod Stewart The Killing Of Georgie
43 Sherbet Howzat
44 Tavares Don’t Take Away The Music
45 The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver Arms Of Mary
46 Tina Charles Dance Little Lady Dance
47 Fox S-S-S-Single Bed
48 The Chi-Lites You Don’t Have To Go
49 Bryan Ferry Let’s Stick Together
50 Electric Light Orchestra Livin’ Thing
51 Donna Summer Love To Love You Baby
52 Yvonne Elliman Love Me
53 The Wurzels I Am A Cider Drinker
54 Johnny Wakelin In Zaire
55 Robin Sarstedt My Resistance Is Low
56 Billie Jo Spears What I’ve Got In Mind
57 The Bellamy Brothers Let Your Love Flow
58 Yvonne Fair It Should Have Been Me
59 R & J Stone We Do lt
60 Rod Stewart Tonight’s The Night
61 Bay City Rollers I Only Wanna Be With You
62 Mr Acker Bilk Aria
63 Wild Cherry Play That Funky Music
64 The Rolling Stones Fool To Cry
65 Dr Hook If Not You
66 Andrea True Connection More More More
67 Silver Convention Get Up And Boogie
68 10cc I’m Mandy Fly Me
69 The Bee Gees You Should Be Dancing
70 Elvis Presley Girl Of My Best Friend
71 Gallagher & Lyle Heart On My Sleeve
72 The Glitter Band People Like You People Like Me
73 Diana Ross Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)
74 The Four Seasons Silver Star
75 Rick Dees & His Cast Of Idiots Disco Duck
76 Gallagher & Lyle I Wanna Stay With You
77 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band Blinded By The Light
78 Mike Oldfield In Dulce Jubilo / On Horseback
79 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Now Is The Time
80 The Shangri-Las Leader Of The Pack
81 Georghe Zamfir (Light Of Experience) Doina De Jale
82 The Stylistics 16 Bars
83 Marmalade Falling Apart At The Seams
84 Billy Howard King Of The Cops
85 Bay City Rollers Love Me Like I Love You
86 Simon May The Summer Of My Life
87 5000 Volts Dr Kiss Kiss
88 Guys ‘N’ Dolls You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
89 Bonnie Tyler Lost In France
90 Peter Frampton Show Me The Way
91 Dolly Parton Jolene
92 Diana Ross Love Hangover
93 The Walker Brothers No Regrets
94 Sailor Girls Girls Girls
95 Bryan Ferry Extended Play
96 Pluto Shervington DAT
97 Queen You’re My Best Friend
98 Thin Lizzy The Boys Are Back In Town
99 Paul Nicholas Dancing With The Captain
100 Lou Rawls You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

But, for today, because Phil Lynott is wearing a black leather jacket, has dark curly hair and makes reference to the boys being in town. And because I still really like this one. Here’s my choice.Now I could pick any number from above that I either danced to at the local discos and the youth club or sang along with while watching Top Of The Pops on a Thursday night. And I love quite a few of them, partly from nostalgia but also because they were excellent pieces of music that have stood the test of time.

And, no. I never once had a hair do like that! Nor danced like that for that matter. 🙂

 

 

 

39 thoughts on “May Music, Day 8, Perm Any One From 100”

    1. I had a couple of perms myself. But only on long hair! Just when I saw a few of the hair do’s in the video I was a bit stunned. Did people really have those do’s? I was there in the 70’s but gawd! 😉 x

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  2. Fabulous story, Anne-Marie! And that list! I have a sentimental attachment to ‘The Boys are Back in Town’- mainly summer-y memories of camp and the like. Loving this musical journey of yourn! xo

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    1. I’m enjoying it myself. Although it takes a bit of doing for some of the questions. Now I’m thinking hope for day 9. You don’t realise how much music you know till you try to narrow it down. 😉 x

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      6. Very true. And I really can’t complain. I love my job most days. Except for the crappy bits and stupid regulations. And the paperwork. But even the unions have given up there. Must remember a lottery ticket this weekend. I’ve promised a share to at least two other bloggers if I win. Want some of that action?. I’m good for my word. Just need the right numbers now. 😉 x

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      8. That’s a promise then. Maybe I should just ask everybody concerned for one number each and that might do the trick! I’ll foot the stake. Fingers crossed.:) x

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      12. Sorted. I’ll go ask Oliana for one and Tric. Cos they’re both on a promise. Although I haven’t been in touch with Tric for a wee while. And she won’t be up. It’s 3a.m. here! Might have to guess one for her. What about Rara? You pick one for her. I’m nominating her as part of it. Think of one that speaks orange and green. This better feckin’ work! Freedom for everybody! Made round to go round as my mam always said. 🙂 x

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      14. You like your fours! Smashing. I’m waiting to hear back from Oliana. I always pick 1. So that’s 1,4,44.
        I’ll put one on for Friday’s Euromillions and one for Saturday’s thing.
        And, btw, check out the title of this post. I should really rename it ever so slightly. Fingers crossed. We’re on a promise. Resignations on Monday. And lots of round love spread. Chin up friend. One week or another the deal’s good.x

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      16. Well, for Rara more than any of us then. Cos we still have other things we probably don’t appreciate as much as we should. Just shows that we…I…can switch off from things so easily. She was in my head all day today. And then life goes on. It’s shitty but true. And it shouldn’t be that way but it is.
        I’m getting my head down now. Four hours isn’t really enough but it’ll do.
        I really hope there’s a way for Rara. For her husband. For you. For us all. Going on and moving. Getting up and doing. Coping.
        On a lighter note. I know. I can’t help it. If I don’t, I go to sleep with sad thoughts. And I hate that. The poems are hellish. And I mean hell-ish. Have you ever watched the Youtube video lego animations of Darth Vader in the canteen? If not, give it a go. Although, I’m sure a trooper like you will have found it before. But it is good.
        Goodnight. And I’ll let you know how things go. If you’re in touch with Rara, please give her my love and prayers.x

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  4. College. 1970. Simon & Garfunkel. Bridge Over Troubled Waters. It’s great to follow these. I particularly enjoyed this entry and working with your sis parts 😛 Sorry I’ve fallen behind…
    Ellespeth

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    1. I’m glad you’re enjoying Ellespeth. But, seriously, never fret about getting behind. Life still has to go on around blogging opportunities and writing takes next precedence. It’s always good to see you whenever you can make it.x

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    1. Scary at times where the years ago. And the memory. 😉 But I’ll bet you can remember loads of other things about those busy days. Even if it’s just how shattered you must have felt with those responsibilities. Weans certainly make for quick years and memorable moments.x

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  6. Wow, very sentimental. It was a very nice read, indeed! And those songs! Quite a number of them, I know, especially because we are a nation that still patronizes old songs. A lot of times, our artists even revive them that kids nowadays are not even aware they’re old songs. FM stations still have programs playing, at least, 80s music (the older ones do need to be in more special programs). And that is also why artists of yesteryears now tend to keep coming back to my country to, at least, feel they are still artists and perform in concerts, whereas in said yesteryears, it took forever for them to ever come here..

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    1. I know some of my own kids have come to a lot of old music through the Glee phenomenon. Once they knew it was a cover and we had the LP version, nothing would do but they had to listen to the original. They then end up with two versions downloaded onto I-pods. One way to keep old music alive. Well, depends what it is, I suppose. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the post. I’m still trying to catch up with reading before I try to get round to day 9. I’ll get on by to your mkst recent soon. Saving up emails here. 😉 x

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      1. A lot of new versions suck. If you’re going to revive something, make sure you not only do something different in it, but you actually improve on it if possible, not turning it into something unfit for listening. What’s funny, too, is artists revive songs that are still very much ALIVE.

        As for my posts, no hurries, no pressure, not required. Just truly appreciated 🙂

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      2. Oh, I don’t like it when a song is ruined for me a poor cover. I suppose they never knkw till they try though. 😉
        Catching up as I type.x

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