This morning, as my dear wife, Carrie, and I were heading east to our place of work, I heard a song on the radio that came back to me very heavily.
What possessed an 8 year-old kid to fall in love with this song is beyond me. But it was me in 1976. Released on The Eagles album “Hotel California” on December 7, 1976, “New Kid in Town” was the A-side of a 45 that featured the tune “Victim of Love” (great guitar lick) on the B-side. I was not a new kid in town in 1976. I was living in Brownstown, Indiana the same town I was living in when my Mom and Dad broght me home from the hospital. Still, there was a dark tone that resonated with me even when I was eight. I know that sounds silly. It may be. It may not be. When I hear two particular phrases in that song, time stands still. There is still the same angst that presses up against my spine that did all those years ago.
“There’s so many things you should have told her,
But night after night you’re willing to hold her, just hold her.
Tears on your shoulder….”
“Where you been lately? There’s a new kid in town.
Everybody loves him, don’t they?
And he’s holding her, and you’re still around…”
Those just hit me just right. They seemingly always have. There is a twinge of desperation…a sort of cry in Glenn Frey’s voice that is not to be found in many straight-forward Eagles songs. It was a nice reminder this morning. It was neat to go back for a few minutes and think about a song that should not hit an eight-year-old like that one hit me. But…I have always had a funny musical sensibility. When my friends wanted to hear Hank Williams, Jr. or Alabama or David Allan Coe…I wanted Elton John and Neil Diamond and Paul Anka. Don’t even ask how The Moody Blues were considered. And…I knew it had to be that way. They are still my good friends. We don’t listen to music together. We never did too much even then. The football locker room and the high school weight room were where we listened to music. We did pretty much depend on 96 WQMF in those hallowed spots…rock and roll…fast paced tunes help the muscles move. I don’t care what Richard Simmons says.
For the record, I have never been too enamored by The Eagles. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt…but if anyone ever called The Moody Blues “pretentious”…they never heard of The Eagles. I was at a solo concert given by Don Henley, “Mr. Desperado” at the Louisville Gardens in 1990 at the HEIGHT of his solo hit album “End of the Innocence”. He sang 13 songs. That was it. He did make a bleeding heart plea about saving Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden Woods Project”. The Eagles did not pursue Thoreau’s plea to “simplify” unless it meant simply charge more for your concerts when folks show up to kiss you musical ring.
Here is what I know. When The Eagles reformed in..what was it…1994/95? They hit the big barn circuit with their concerts and charged out the nose. A few years earlier I had seen Pink Floyd play for over three hours at Rupp Arena for 18.50. When The Eagles came to Deer Creek in Noblesville the pavilion seats were 85 bucks. This was over twenty years ago. This is when the concert ticket prices decided to sky-rocket. The Eagles got it and so did everyone else. I can say not all have gone this route. Bob Seger has been kind. The Moody Blues have been relatively kind. Garth Brooks is kind. Paul McCartney is not kind….but he does sing 36 songs!
Last week Joe Walsh, Eagles guitarist and singer, played The Louisville Palace. He sang twelve songs. I knew the set list beforehand. I wanted to go. I think he is great. I will not, however pay 7 bucks a song to hear anyone…The Moody Blues included…so far. Carrie and I saw Joe Walsh open for Bob Seger in Detroit in 2013. Walsh played seven songs then we heard Bob Seger’s huge set…and the tickets were comparable to Walsh’s ticket prices at The Palace. Not good. Not good at all. But that is the way it is. Some groups just like to milk the old cow.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson