Saturday, June 24, 2017

Saturday 9: Listen to the Music

Saturday 9: Listen to the Music (1972)

Because Zippi requested it.

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. (Love me some Doobie Brothers!)

1) The lyrics say, "What the people need is a way to make them smile." What song lifts your spirits and makes you smile every time you hear it?

A. I haven't heard this song in many years, but I thought I'd try for something original. So here you go, Ray Stevens doing The Streak.

2) Lead vocalist/composer Tom Johnston reports that he's made a lot in royalties because so many radio stations use this as a jingle. Tell us a jingle that sticks in your head.

A. This is a local commercial from my childhood that for some reason I've never forgotten: Evan's Drugstore! Evan's Drugstore! Good prescription service. Intersection of Airport and Williamson Road. Delivery in the city, and in the county too! For drugs, cosmetics, school supplies, it's Evan's Drug Store.

There's also this one:

Hooray for Valley Dale! Hooray for Valley Dale! Hooray for Valley Dale all hail it's Valley Dale! Valley Dale Bacon! Valley Dale Sausage! Valley Dale Weiners! Zing Zing Zing Zing Valley Dale! (I don't have that exactly right. But you can watch it here.)

3) The Doobie Brothers got their start in San Jose, California. San Jose is the largest city in Northern California, thanks to all the tech companies that have headquarters there. Let's talk about the device you're on right now: are all your applications up to date?

A. On my personal computer, which I am using at this moment, yes, everything is up to date. I can't say the same for some of the other things I use. I mean, my laptop has Windows Vista on it. I think my Kindles (yes, in the plural) are up to date and probably the Nook, too. But not the laptop.

4) When they were still a local band, the Doobie Brothers had a strong following among bikers. Are you attracted to biker culture?

A. No, I am not.

5) This week's song is from Toulouse Street, which is considered their "breakthrough" album. Tell us about a moment in your own life that you consider a "breakthrough."

A. In October 1984, I picked up a copy of The Fincastle Herald and saw my first article in print. It was headlined "Making Shiloh Apple Butter" and I'd taken the photos and written the copy, and it wasn't edited much. I was so excited that I met my mother at the local store where she stopped every day on the way home from work to pick up bread or milk or something so I could show her the article.

After that I knew I would be writing for the rest of my life, even though my mother had told me more than once that it was a dead-end career and I'd never make a living at it. Up until two years ago, I wrote for The Fincastle Herald and other local publications for living. While it did not make me rich, it made me happy and it allowed me to contribute to the household coffers.

6) In 1987, the Doobie Brothers did a benefit performance for Vietnam Veterans at the Hollywood Bowl. Next to the Beatles, it was the fastest-selling ticket in Hollywood Bowl history. Which group do you listen to more often -- the Doobies or the Beatles?

A. I would listen more to the Doobies. I know a lot of Beatles songs but I am not a big Beatles fan (please don't throw your shoe at me, Sam.).

7) In 1972, when this song was popular, Wranglers were America's best-selling jeans. Are you brand-loyal to one jeans manufacturer?

A. Generally all of my clothes are made by Alfred Dunner. They make the only ones that seem to fit me and all of my blubber. I would buy something else if it didn't run short or long or tight in the knees/thighs/ass or whatever.

8) Grocery stores saw seafood prices fluctuate wildly in 1972 because of a series of confrontations between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic. (Iceland won.) What was the most recent seafood dish that you enjoyed?

A. ::sniffle:: ::sob:: I last had seafood several years ago. At that time we discovered I am allergic to, at the least, shellfish, and as a result I stopped eating seafood altogether. It made me very sick and I have been afraid to try it since. It makes me sad because I adore seafood. (I went to a local allergist and was told they don't have the wherewithal around here to actually test you for food allergies.)

9) Random question: Which of these "top ten" lists would you prefer to be on -- the sexiest, the smartest or the richest?

A. Either the smartest or the richest, I can't decide. Maybe if I were on the smartest list I would also be rich, eh?


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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for the Pigs on Parade. It literally made me smile.

    Love the story of seeing yourself in print for the first time.

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  2. I don't know what I would do if I became allergic to seafood... no more lobster!

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  3. Your answer to # 5; if you do something that makes you happy everyday then you are very rich. Not everyone can say that they truly love what they do. Happiness is a wealth all it's own, and it' is priceless.
    I love " the Streak" What about " The Squirrel that got loose?" I use to live in Pascagoula Mississippi so I smile a little every time I hear it.

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  4. Oh, thank you for stirring up a good memory. My grandfather thought "The Streak" was the funniest thing ever and would play it over and over yelling along with the "Don't look, Ethel!" part each time. :)
    What a great "moment" and since it lead to a career that made you happy, a successful moment, too.
    I thought the same thing (pretty much) about #9. If I'm smart enough I should be able to find a way to get rich!

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  5. Thank you for getting the streak (whistle included) stuck in my head! :) It's been a very long time since I heard it!

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  6. I haven't touched my Nook in a long time. I use to like to travel with it. Then I heard that they were no longer supporting it. Another electronics device..... :)

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  7. I remember that thrill of seeing my name in a by-line. It still kinda thrills me, though it's been at least 30+ years since the first time.

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  8. I also loved your "first published" story.
    And yes, it's best not to "test" and allergy to shellfish. That's way too dangerous.

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