It is no secret mrpeenee and R Man lead a very, VERY quiet life. Almost every evening you can find fireside reading while Renaissance music fills the background. And yet, Saturday night we were out experiencing the mad gayness of San Francisco nightlife, Yes, it's true, there we were in a little boite callled the Rrazz Room (ridiculous spelling their own idea) watching local drag phenom Justin Bond (Kiki of Kiki and Herb) in his new show, Queens of AM Radio.
Having been though the evolution of FM radio in the late 60s, I assumed this would be a tribute to girl groups like the Shirelles and Dixie Cups as well as, surely, Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. Which was fine with me.
Instead it turned out to be a trip down a much more recent memory lane, specifically, according to Bond, "1972, poolside, in Los Angeles." Darlings, I was there, 17 years old in 1972 (go ahead and do the math, I'll wait for you) and believe me, that intro sent shudders down my delicate spine. Warranted, too, as it turned out.
It was a very amusing show, but still, an evening that includes Afternoon Delight, Midnight Blue, and Midnight at the Oasis cannot be considered an unmixed blessing. High points were Linda Ronstat's Different Drum and the Carpenters Superstar mashed up with Joan Baez's Diamonds and Rust. Pretty great, but still, Afternoon Fucking Delight?
Plus, as I mentioned, I was there, and I remember by 1972, AM radio was the province of your grandmother and old cars. Even Melissa Manchester's Midnight Blue (you were wondering where that came from, weren't you?) was on FM radio. Crappy FM radio stations.
The best thing about the show was the very casual air of it all, Bond had his IMac on a stand in front of him to read the lyrics and at one point in the big finale of one of the numbers, stopped and announced, "I don't even know what key we're in." I didn't either, sweetie, but you know what? It didn't matter, a good time was had by all.
Thinking of you's working up an appetite
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a little Afternoon Delight
Rubbin' sticks and stones together make the sparks ignite
And the thought of rubbin' you gettin'so excited
CHORUS
Skyrockets in flight, Afternoon Delight
Afternoon Delight, Afternoon Delight.
"The thought of rubb' you's.." "Rubbin'" is bad enough, but combining it with "you's"? Maybe in Pittsburgh, but it still makes me shudder.
OK, so the Skyland Vocal Band, of Washington DC, turns this into the first number one song of this nation's third century (July 10, 1976) AND they get their own summer series.
Go figure.
It was Starland Vocal Band. Sky is so sixties, the seventies were all about stars.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I stand corrected. It was my dyslexic mind. Once it starts to whirl, you never know what will come up and out next.
ReplyDeleteSounds fun to Miss J, tho admittedly she'd rather HAVE some afternoon delight than have to listen to that cheesy song about it.
ReplyDeleteAfternoon Delight AND Midnight at the Oasis (and I do like Maria Muldaur, thank you very much, but not that particular song)? Brave soldiers, you and R. . .
ReplyDeletei have kiki & herb's DVD and it is amazing. i just love her. too bad this solo outing didn't amaze as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how just a few years in adolescence make such a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteAt 17 you were already a cool, informed FM snob. The same year, at 12, I was still an uninformed, plebeian, AM listening, Top 40 loving geek!
I love Justin Bond, & KiKi & Herb & the idea of re-looking at dubiuos hits from the 1970- 1985.
ReplyDeleteThis ditty is in my own act:
Muskrat, Muskrat, candle light
Doin' the town & doin' it right in the evenin'
It's pretty pleasin'
Muskrat Suzie, Muskrat Sam
Do the jitterbug at a Muskrat Land
& they shimmy, Sam is so skinny
& they whirl & they twirl & they tango
Singin' & jinglin' a jangle
Float like the heavens above
Looks like Muskrat Love
Nibblin' on bacon
Chewin' on cheese
Sam says to Suzie
Honey, would you please be my Mrs
Suzie says, yes, with her kisses
Now, he's ticklin' her fancy
Rubbin' her toes
Muzzle to muzzle
Now anything goes as they wriggle
Sue starts to giggle
& they whirled &t they twirled & they tango
Singin' & jinglin' a jangle
Floatin' like the heavens above
Looks like muskrat love
Don't tell anyone, but I had that Melissa Manchester album back in the seventies. Which is undoubtedly why I turned to hard drugs just a few years later.
ReplyDelete