WWTBAM Bored

221. SWEET BABY JAMES-JAMES TAYLOR (1970)
Album: Sweet Baby James

Written for his infant nephew, it has served as a nerve-soothing pleasure for me as well, lo these many years.




220. I'M GONNA BE STRONG-GENE PITNEY (1964)
Album:It Hurts To Be In Love and Eleven More Hit Songs

Pitney brings out the drama in this powerful ballad. Talk about your crescendos..
this song builds in intensity throughout, and he climbs up the ladder note for note
until he reaches the upper atmosphere. Great performance and it always sends shivers
up my spine.




219. QUADROPHENIA-THE WHO (1973)
Album: Quadrophenia

This was one of the songs that played over and over on the in flight music channel during
the class trip to Spain. It is always the first thing I think of when I hear it. There are
some classic rock staples on the album, but I enjoy this instrumental more than any of them.
It incorporates all four thematic elements scattered through the record for each band member.

About a million years ago, I was visiting a friend from college. We were on our way to a movie, or a bar, or something, I can't remember, it was a million years ago. She asked if I minded if we swung into a little hole in the wall record shop because she was always on the prowl for Gene Pitney albums. And they had two! Score!

She was just here for a long weekend visit with her cousin. She still has numerous cousins in the area, also an aunt who at 89 is still a soloist for her church. I wish I'd asked her if she's still a Gene Pitney fan -- next time I see her, I will.