Raised on Radio...

The other day, I changed my desktop wallpaper to the cover from Journey's Raised on Radio album. I never owned it (in fact, I only knew a couple songs from it.) But I liked the title and I love the art work. The title means a lot to me because I consider myself Raised on Radio.

Music meant so much to me as a teenager, I would find myself in situations right out of the songs...like when I was 15 and was hanging out by "the drive-in and that's when I met [a girl]. Standing on [her] momma's porch [she] told me she would wait forever. Oh, and when I held her hand, I knew that it would last forever..." And that summer did seem to last forever. (But I wouldn't say "those were the best days of my life.")

Later, when I went to my first non-school sanctioned dance, I met up with her again (we hadn't seen each other in a couple years) and we danced to Every Rose Has it's Thorn by Poison. While dancing, we were singing along and this one part of the song made me look squarely at her and sing "I hear you found somebody new, and that I never meant that much to you...To hear that tears me up inside and to see you cuts me like a knife...I guess every rose has it's thorn..." All the while I was singing this, she was emphatically shaking her head. But it was over for us. It was time to move on. "Every night has it's dawn. Every cowboy sings a sad, sad song. Every rose has it's thorn."

There have been many other circumstances, but these were two right off the top of my head. I thank my Mom for this ability since she was the one who raised me on radio...8-tracks...LPs, 45s, cassettes and CDs (she's since moved in to MP3s too!). Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I'm really grateful for my love of music.

Thank you for driving with me down memory lane. (And don't worry Princess...you're still "every woman in the world to me", "you're the inspiration" for "always and forever.") [Thank you, Air Supply, Chicago and Shania Twain for popping into mind "just when I needed you most."]

The Gift That Started It All...

I'm sure I've spoken of this on more than one occasion to more than one person. But why not say it again.

Back in 1980 something, my parents brought home a Commodore Vic 20 computer. It was just a keyboard with a wire that hooked up to the TV.

We had a tape recorder that hooked up to it to "save" files to (that sounded quite interesting when played on the stereo!)

But when it was on, it was a wonderful learning opportunity for a 12 year old boy.

I learned how to make it display words on the screen. Then I learned how to animate the words. Then I used ASCII characters to draw pictures on the screen. I also had the idea to write a program that would carry on a conversation with the user. (I still haven't written that one yet!)

But this one little gift for our family catapulted me into a love and career for the rest of my life! I wasn't given a fish...I was given a fishing pole and a tackle box.

Thank you, Mom and Dad! I'm eternally grateful for the future you gave me in that one gift.

Back to the Future...

I just sat down and watched Back to the Future the other night. I really enjoyed seeing it again. I could have done without the swearing, but other than that, I loved it. Especially the parts featuring the vehicle of my dreams ever since I saw it the very first time...It was love at first site!
It was 1985 when Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd took a Delorean back in time. Huey Lewis and the News did a couple songs on the soundtrack. And I fell in love with the 1985 Toyota Pickup truck with roll bars and KC lights.

One day, I'll own a truck like it. My wife tells me after the kids go to college. Anyone enrolling 8 and 9 year olds? Please? :)

Christmas Flashback...

During this past Christmas time, I found myself remembering a particular Christmas when I was young. I had wanted an Erector set and specifically asked everyone I could for one to make sure Santa got the message. I knew I would be getting one big gift and I wanted it to be that.

However, when I woke up on Christmas morning, I found that Santa had instead brought me something called "Robotix." I had no idea what it was so I smiled and felt bad that my big present was not exactly what I had asked for.

But after I opened it up and saw what it had inside the box and what it could do, I really enjoyed it.

It had parts that snapped together in different ways, 4 or 5 motors, a control pad and wires to connect the motors to it. When the buttons on the control pad were pressed, the motors turned which moved the parts attached to them.

Looking back, it was one of my favorite presents. I even found myself wishing to find it again so I could play with it during my vacation. This is a toy I think my kids would enjoy...and I'd love to show them how to!

Roller Skating...

I've been wearing a new pair of boots lately and they feel bulky and heavy...much like roller skates did when I was a kid. Wow, it's been forever since I've roller skated. I think I'd like to try it again next time I have extra money laying around.

I really liked skating around the hardwood floor of our local roller rink at night. It was really fun living just a block from the place. I remember going every chance I could. I went for various reasons...the feel of the wind blowing past me as I moved (not so) effortlessly around the floor; meeting new people (specifically girls); and finally (obviously the most compelling), the lights and the music.

It was great to be out getting exercise while listening to all of my favorites. I liked when the DJ would put on a slow song and turn the lights down low and announce that it was a "couples skate." I couldn't skate during those, but I did get to hear the music and see the lights.  They did have all boys skates and all girls skates.

Every night, I watched people do the Limbo ("Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack go under Limbo stick!")  I also remember watching other cool skate tricks like "the whip" when people would join hands and try to throw the farthest person to the outside of the rink.  "Shoot the duck" (where you skate while sitting on your back skate with your other foot stretched in front of you), and also backwards skating.  None of these did I do, (because I was too chicken) but it was really fun to watch.

I even remember the stage at the back of the roller rink (which was never used, but could have been.) Wow, what a cool memory. Sure my hands and knees were sore after every night of it, but, hey, it was worth it!

Top 5 Songs...

I thought it would be interesting to find a list of the top songs through the years that define the decade we remember so well. So, according to Billboard Records, here they are...the top 5 songs for each year of the 80s. I hope it brings back good memories for you, as it did for me while compiling it.

From 1980:
Blondie - Call Me
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
Olivia Newton-John - Magic
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Captain & Tennille - Do That To Me One More Time

From 1981:
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Diana Ross/Lionel Richie - Endless Love
Kenny Rogers - Lady
John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

From 1982:
Olivia Newton-John - Physical
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock N' Roll
Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder - Ebony And Ivory
J. Geils Band - Centerfold

From 1983:
Police - Every Breath You Take
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Irene Cara - Flashdance...What A Feeling
Men At Work - Down Under
Michael Jackson - Beat It

From 1984:
Prince & The Revolution - When Doves Cry
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson - Say Say Say
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

From 1985:
Wham!/George Michael - Careless Whisper
Madonna - Like A Virgin
Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
Chaka Khan - I Feel For You

From 1986:
Dionne Warwick & Friends - That's What Friends Are For
Lionel Richie - Say You, Say Me
Klymaxx - I Miss You
Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald - On My Own
Mr. Mister - Broken Wings

From 1987:
Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian
Heart - Alone
Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

From 1988:
George Michael - Faith
INXS - Need You Tonight
George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

From 1989:
Chicago - Look Away
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much

Music From Movies...

The other day I found myself thinking of all the songs from movie soundtracks that I could think of. It was a fun little game I played for a good few minutes while driving to or from work. So, "Sherman, set the wayback machine to the awesome 80's..." and we'll revisit some of those songs from soundtracks in the past.

Footloose: I owned the soundtrack to this one, so I'm a little biased. It was also filmed in Utah County where I grew up and spent pretty much all of the 20th century. But this soundtrack featured Deneice Williams singing Let's Hear it For the Boy, Kenny Loggins sang the title track, Shalimar pressented Dancing in the Sheets and Mike and Ann Wilson sang Almost Paradise.

Top Gun: This movie produced a few different songs, like Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins and Take My Breath Away by Berlin.

Mannequin: Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship.

Breakfast Club: Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds.

Vision Quest: I can't say I remember this movie much at all, but I do remember Crazy For You by Madonna extremely well (as it conjures memories of the Heber Creeper and 6th grade!)

Back to the Future: One of my very favorite movies featuring Huey Lewis and the News singing The Power of Love.

Ghostbusters: Ray Parker, Jr. gave us the theme song. A nice little Halloween treat.