My Duran Duran Scrapbook 2

I have this vivid memory of being on the playground at my grade school sometime in 1982 listening to the popular girls discussing who their favourite guy in Duran Duran was. I really wasn't into that group then, although Hungry Like the Wolf was one of the only 10 45s that I had in the 1980s. I was laughing on the inside about them going so ga-ga over these guys. I was a little familiar with their names but not their faces. I was always too busy studying or reading mystery and other novels to care about watching MTV or looking at those teenie bopper mags. It wasn't until about 1993 that I could fully understand why my classmates had been crushing on these Duran Duran guys for that is when I really got into their music and if I had been into it back in the 80s and was part of that popular crowd I would have been agreeing with a couple of them who said that John Taylor was their favourite. It hasn't been until recently that I am not ashamed to admit this. I didn't get all these photos until starting in 2007 though when I was going through my late in life boy crazy phase. The one of him with Simon and Nick is from a fan club and it came as a bonus suprise gift when I ordered a couple of books on ebay - it was nice of this girl to include that with them.

Duran Duran - NYC October 25, 2011

My brother and I really enjoyed this concert 2 weeks ago. The seats were better than I expected - 5th row in the bottom section towards the left in a section towards the left but not close to the stage. Those seats would've cost 30.00 more. I might have been willing to pay that if my brother hadn't wanted to come with me. I suppose we could've gotten tickets in seperate sections. Nah- I would've been cutting into my computer savings fund to do so. I guess that I got a little spoiled after the last 3 concerts of general admission and being pretty close to the stage.

My brother was happy when they did The Reflex, Notorious and Wild Boys, the latter being not a song of theirs that I really care for. I was pleased that the did Planet Earth, Is There Something I Should Know and Careless Memories. Mark seemed a little disappointed that they didn't do Girls on Film, nor did they perform Save a Prayer. I wasn't that upset about this but felt bad for the people who had either never seen them in concert before or haven't in a long time so if they liked these songs I'm sure they would've been disappointed just as I would've been if they hadn't done the 3 that I mentioned.

They did 7 songs from the new album. I like Leave a Light On and Before the Rain. Mark said that they should've only done 5. I didn't even have the new album yet. I ordered this a couple days after the concert. I usually buy the souvenir tour books at Duran Duran and Bon Jovi concerts but did not do so this year for either group. It was 35.00. I need that money for more important things now. Rio, my former #1 favourite song was last and right after the show I was already wishing that I could see them again.

Yes, I did look into getting tickets for Atlantic City but there were none available when I checked a few times. No way would I drive down there. I looked into options and taking a bus from NYC seemed the best bet. The Borgata just happens to be the place furthest from the station so I would've had to take a cab. It's probably for the best that this didn't work out because that Saturday was the day of the storm and power outage in New Jersey. I feel kind of embarrased for hoping that they will return to this area sometime next year so I can see them for one final time. This was the 8th time in 6 and a half years. The first was also at Madison Square Garden in 2005.

Someone spilled their beer on my jacket and my arm which was kind of upsetting. I've always been afraid that this would happen. I dislike the smell of beer. I tried to let this go but it was in the back of my mind a little during the first few songs. She did give me tissues to wipe it up and 5.00 toward the dry cleaning. I can sort of laugh about this a bit but it would've been nice if I didn't let it affect my enjoyment during those songs and also I was too embarrassed in the beginning to really get into the music because I was afraid that my brother would tease me alot about that. He is always teasing me which is annoying. He actually thinks that I have a crush on Simon LeBon. I'd rather him think that then know who it really is that I like in that group. I was using my binoculars alot, esp. on John Taylor. It was like being in the front row then. I wouldn't let myself use them as much at first though, also because of the shame issue.

I am so glad that I somehow found out about a presale for this event for WPLJ listeners. I forget how. This is why I was able to get such good seats. I haven't really listened to that station in a long time but I used to often. The 2 morning djs were on stage before the show. A group called Neon Trees was the opening act and they were on for about 30 minutes. I don't know anything about them. The one song did sound familiar.

My K-tel Albums

I had the K-tel album Wings of Sound which I got as a gift in 1980. I played it on my record player alot. I remember some of the songs on it - Rock With You - Michael Jackson, This Is It - Kenny Loggins, Escape (The Pina Colada Song) and Gold. I should've kept it despite the fact that it started skipping eventually. I got these 3 albums and the 2 tapes in the late 80's and early 90's at flea markets and a record exchange store. I actually had the Soundwaves one on an 8 Track that my friend got me for Christmas in 1980 or 1981. I like these and a few other songs on it - Upside Down - Diana Ross, Steal Away - Robbie Dupree and Let Me Love You Tonight - Pure Prarie League.

I went to the Wikipedia site to find out some info on this company. Their first album was 25 Great Country Artists Sing Their Original Hits in 1966. They were started in Winnepeg, Manitoba and then in the U.S. in Plymouth, MN and also in the UK and Germany. In 1984 the US division filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. They had compilation series such as Super Hits, The Number One Hits and Dynamic Hits. I can't help laughing at the titles of some of their albums. One called Power Hits had a Carpenters song Yesterday Once More on it. I used to like that song. Summer Crusin' had 1950s music.

My favourite songs on Hit Express are Do You Believe in Love - Huey Lewis and the News and Don't You Want Me - Human League ; from Blast Off - Hurts So Good - John Cougar. I used to like more of the songs on each of these albums and tapes but I guess I kind of lost interest in them after a while. I'd love to see which other albums that this company had. A disco one called Night Moves from 1979 was mentioned. Maybe I can look into that somewhere on the internet.

Favourite Elvis Songs

This is one of about the 14 Elvis 45s that once were my Dad's but now my mom has because he took stuff from her during the divorce like the cuckoo clock that her mom got her in Germany so she just kept some of his records. She has a few of her own too. I remember my parents being upset when the heard on the radio that Elvis had died. I always enjoyed his Christmas and other albums that my parents played. Mom didn't even like him when she was younger but grew to like his music. A friend of Dad's brought back a little stone from Graceland for him. I'd like to go there someday.

1. Little Sister

2. Suspicious Minds

3. Kentucky Rain

4. Return to Sender

5. All Shook Up

6. (You're the) Devil in Disguise

7. Heartbreak Hotel

8. Don't Be Cruel

9. It's Now or Never

10. Crying In The Chapel

11. (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame

12. Can't Help Falling In Love

13. She's Not You

14. Stuck On You

15. If I Can Dream

Favourite 70's songs Part 3

1. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Spinners
2. Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters
3. Take It Easy - Eagles
4. When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman- Dr. Hook
5. Lady Love - Lou Rawls
6. Gold - John Stewart
7. Have You Seen Her - The Chi-Lites
8. Kentucky Rain - Elvis (written by Eddie Rabbit)
9. Kiss an Angel Good Morning - Charlie Pride
10. Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
11. Baby Come Back - Player
12. Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
13. Cold as Ice - Foreigner
14. Lady - Little River Band
15. You Are Everything - Stylistics
16. Diamond Girl - Seals and Croft
17. Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest
18. Southern Nights - Glenn Campbell
19. Brandy - You're a Fine Girl - Looking Glass
20. Wishin' You Were Here - Chicago
21. Lotta Love - Nicolette Larson
22. You Can Do Magic - America

Favourite Disco Songs Part 3

1. Stomp! - The Brothers Johnson
2 Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
3. Best of My Love - Emotions
4. I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
5. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
6. Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale
7. Boogie Nights - Heatwave
8. Shame - Evelyn Champagne King
9. I Want Your Love - Chic
10. I Feel Love - Donna Summer
11. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
12. Let's Groove - Earth, Wind and Fire
13. Tell Me Something Good - Rufus
14. Let It Whip - Dazz Band
15. Turn The Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson
16. Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches & Herb
17. The Hustle - Van McCoy
18. How Deep Is Your Love - The Bee Gees
19. Love Hangover - Diana Ross
20. Take Your Time (Do It Right) - S.O.S. Band

YouTube is my jukebox

I have a very long wish list of CDs but because of going overboard on buying clothes, jewelry and other stuff I couldn't stick with my plan of buying 1 or 2 a month. I don't know how long it will be before I can fit CDs back in my budget but for now I'll just have use YouTube as my Jukebox. I really had not thought about doing this until a few days ago. I didn't even know that you can save stuff in a favourites section. I have 32 songs in it now.

I have figured out how to get songs at Amazon.com and have about 12 of them only when I tried figuring out how to put them on a disc I was getting confused. I got them on there but the disc only plays on the computer. Not sure what I did wrong. Maybe part of it was that I used the wrong kind of disc. Well, even getting these MP3s will have to be put on hold too.

I enjoyed seeing some of the live performances and even the cheesy videos of the songs that I have saved so far. I never really watched MTV. I haven't seen that many videos in my life. Yesterday it was Kool & the Gang - Joanna and Cherish also. Some of the songs just have slideshows which is okay. The one for Wildfire was nice - pretty horses. I'm looking forward to saving more songs.

Favourite 70's songs Part 2

I didn't have any trouble deciding this past Saturday night which station to listen to like I sometimes have in the past - was not in the mood for the 80's on WPLJ so I went back to the 70's on WCBS. I did put PLJ on for about 2 minutes during a commercial just in time to hear Duran Duran - A View to a Kill. I used to like that one alot but it really wasn't doing anything for me this time. Oh well, I guess my tastes have changed lately

1. Best of My Love - Eagles
2. Reminiscing - Little River Band
3. Then Came You - Dionne Warwicke and the Spinners
4. She's A Lady - Tom Jones
5. Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphy
6. Amie - Pure Prarie League
7. Summer Breeze - Seals and Croft
8. Dust in the Wind - Kansas
9. This is It - Kenny Loggins
10. Crusin' - Smokey Robinson
11. The Things We Do For Love -10cc
12. Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe
13. You Can't Change That - Raydio
14. Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
15. The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
16. After The Lovin' - Englebert Humperdinck
17. This Masquerade - George Benson
18. You Are The Woman - Firefall
19. Always and Forever - Heatwave
20. Where Is The Love - Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway

Favourite 70's songs

I was listening to Saturday night 70's last night and really enjoying this. It got me to thinking about other songs that I like from that decade. They are mostly mellow and some country crossovers. This list is in no order of preference.

1. Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn
2. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
3. Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
4. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
5. I'll Be Around - The Spinners
6. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right - Luther Ingram
7. Before The Next Teardrop Falls- Freddie Fender
8. Lonesome Loser - Little River Band
9. Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
10. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight - England Dan and John Ford Coley
11. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls
12. Use Ta Be My Girl - The O' Jays
13. Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
14. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
15. Fire - Pointer Sisters
16. After The Love Has Gone - Earth, Wind & Fire
17. Reunited - Peacher & Herb
18. The Devil Went Down To Georgia - The Charlie Daniels Band
19. The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
20. You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
21. My Life - Billy Joel
22. Sail On - The Commodores
23. How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
24. Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon
25. I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbit
26. Smokey Mountain Rain - Ronnie Milsap
27. Do You Know the Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwicke
28. Back In Love Again - LTD
29. Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips
30. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glenn Campbell

I'm pretty sure that 19, 25 and 26 are the 70's. I should look this up in my Billboard book but I don't feel like going into the basement for it.

Favourite Disco Songs

I was in the mood for disco music last night so I put the mix tape that I made into my walkman. I'm no longer ashamed to say that I like some of this type of music and don't care that alot of people think that disco sucks. It brings back good childhood memories like the time my brother, 2 friends and I were dancing to Donna Summer in my basement.

1. Good Times - Chic
2. Could It Be Magic - Donna Summer
3. He's The Greatest Dancer - Sister Sledge
4. Upside Down - Diana Ross
5. Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation
6. Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
7. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
8. Boogie, Oogie, Oogie - A Taste of Honey
9. Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees
10. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
11. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
12. Fly Robin, Fly - Silver Convention
13. More, More, More - Andrea True Connection
14. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

These are the main ones that come to mind. I'm sure that there are more that I like. Come To Me is on my Pure Disco CD. I like that too - didn't know it was considered disco. It was on a K-Tel album that I had - Wings of Sound.

8- Tracks

I was thinking about the 8-Tracks that my family and I used to have. We didn't have that many, maybe 10. Doris Day's Greatest Hits, The Village People, Dolly Parton's Heartbreaker, Englebert Humperdinck, Shenandoha, Oklahoma, and a goofy one with CB related songs on it. There were also 2 Christmas music mix ones- I liked Nat King Cole's Mrs Santa Claus on the one. My friend got me a K-Tel Soundwaves with hits from 1980 on it. I had a couple of K-Tel records too.

My father put an 8-Track player in our 1976 Chevy Malibu station wagon. We thought it was so cool to have this in our car at the time. Our family friends also had one in their car. I remember listening to Billy Joel in their car once and also on the stereo in their home. We had a big stereo that played records and 8-tracks.

I see 8-tracks at flea markets sometimes and laugh a little inside. Am I having a false memory or was there a clicking sound right during the middle of some of the songs and it switched over to the next section? I keep meaning to look up on the internet when 8-tracks first came out and when they offically died. Same with cassette tapes. I still have plenty of those but no 8-tracks, didn't even keep those for nostalgic purposes.