The Soundtrack of My Life - The Early Years

After being transported back to my high school / college and early work years during the utterly cheesy (but fun) Rock of Ages Movie last weekend, I thought it would be fun to make a list of songs that immediately conjure up a memory / emotion from the past. I started writing my list and immediately realized it was too long for a single blog post, so I’m going to write a little series to break it into several blog posts instead.

Part One - The Music Memories of my youth
Note - I'm only listing the songs that first popped into my mind - I could list hundreds of songs, but that would be even more boring than this probably already is. Also, as a child of immigrants, my parents didn't have the normal vast collection of music from the 60's - no Rolling Stones or [gasp] Beatles music graced my ears until much later (like college). Just what was playing on the radio at that time.....

Delta Dawn (Helen Reddy - 1973)

I’m brought back to my childhood, singing in my friend’s house, right across the street from ours. Afternoon sunlight streams through the sheer curtains in their formal living room. We all have memories like that, right?


Yesterday Once More or any song from their Singles 1969-1973 Album (The Carpenters - 1974)

I’m in the Living room, lying next to the behemoth of a stereo system we owned (complete with 8-track tape player), rubbing the red velvet cloth that covers the speakers. I love this album so much that I bought it for my iPod, and after 30+ years of not even thinking about these songs, I remembered all the lyrics [every sha-na-na-na, every whoa still shines].



Have you Never Been Mellow (Olivia Newton John - 1975)

This song brings me back to singing in the car with my family. I was so in love with ONJ's ethereal voice - and I probably annoyed my family with my less than ethereal version.


I was also a big fan of the movie, Grease and its fun soundtrack, but no specific memories form in my mind. Instead, I recall listening to the Eagles’ Hotel California as a 5th grader during recess, with my Spirit of ’76 emblazoned transistor radio, under a shade tree. That song hit the top of the charts in May, 1977.



What songs do you recall from your early youth?

Next Installment – The [Dreaded] Middle School Years [can you smell the Love's Baby Soft Or What]

All album cover copyrights owned by the original artists.