RIP, Andrew Gold

[Starman]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

Shannon by Henry Gross was the cheesiest schmaltz of the 1970s, and challenges Honey by Bobby Goldsboro and Tell Laura I Love Her as the cheesiest schmaltz evah.

"Shannon" however is by far the best song about a dead dog that has ever made the Top 40.

 

[CarltonBanks]

The guy that will always personify the 70's music scene for me is Gordon Lightfoot. He had a string of terrible, catchy tunes.

But his lyrics were confusing as hell at times. Ever actually listen to the words of "If you could read my mind?" If so, please tell me what the ghost in a wishing well is all about.

Uh, about an old-time movie?

You know that ghost is me.
And I will never be set free
as long as I'm a ghost you can see.

WTF? He is referencing the ghose in the movie, I guess, but what the blue blazes is he talking about?

It's a metaphor in which he is comparing himself -- in the view of the ex with whom he is breaking up, to whom the song is addressed -- with a ghost in some spooky old BW movie they once watched. He's saying, "to you I am nothing more than a ghost now."

It's like the "old-fashioned love song" in Three Dog Night's "Just An Old-Fashioned Love Song," it's not referring to a specific article (or song, or ghost from a wishing well) but simply the IDEA of some vaguely-remembered shared experience by which the singer can appeal to the romantic nostalgia of the ex.

See also "Taxi" by Harry Chapin.


It's also a good technique by songwriters to give the audience (made up primarily of teens) the feeling they are older, wiser, and more mature than they really are.

I'll be damned...I actually understand it now. And it is way too simplistic for me to have not "gotten" it before.

 

[holy bull]

A part of me still holds some rudimentary affection for "Shannon." There, I said it.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

Dupree actually had two hits: "Steal Away" and "Hot Rod Hearts".

And strangely enough, he had a song on the WWF's album "Piledriver", which was "Girls and Cars". The song was as an entrance theme for Rick Martel and Tito Santana.

It's amazing what one can find on wikipedia.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

Dupree actually had two hits: "Steal Away" and "Hot Rod Hearts".

And strangely enough, he had a song on the WWF's album "Piledriver", which was "Girls and Cars". The song was as an entrance theme for Rick Martel and Tito Santana.

It's amazing what one can find on wikipedia.

Technically, Gold had two hits, too: "Thank You For Being a Friend" and "Lonely Boy."

 

[D-3 Fan]

The guy that will always personify the 70's music scene for me is Gordon Lightfoot. He had a string of terrible, catchy tunes.

But his lyrics were confusing as hell at times. Ever actually listen to the words of "If you could read my mind?" If so, please tell me what the ghost in a wishing well is all about.

Don't hate on the "Edmund Fitzgerald". Lightfoot's greatest feat.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

Dupree actually had two hits: "Steal Away" and "Hot Rod Hearts".

And strangely enough, he had a song on the WWF's album "Piledriver", which was "Girls and Cars". The song was as an entrance theme for Rick Martel and Tito Santana.

It's amazing what one can find on wikipedia.

Dupree was seen outside Titan Sports offices holding a sign that said, "Will Write Songs for Wrestlers for Food"

 

[holy bull]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

I coulda been one of those. Minus the beard (can't grow one), hit (never had anything resembling one) and sensitivity (am a prick).

 

[Bubbler]

Listened to a 1982 countdown today on XM and he got name-checked. Recorded before his death. Weird.

The song he played on was Juice Newton's Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me. Not a bad song, really. And the guitar in that song is obviously reminiscent of his playing on Linda Ronstadt's 70s songs.

 

[CarltonBanks]

The guy that will always personify the 70's music scene for me is Gordon Lightfoot. He had a string of terrible, catchy tunes.

But his lyrics were confusing as hell at times. Ever actually listen to the words of "If you could read my mind?" If so, please tell me what the ghost in a wishing well is all about.

Don't hate on the "Edmund Fitzgerald". Lightfoot's greatest feat.

I grew up on the shores of Lake Erie...that song meant a lot to me when I was a little kid. But "Sundown" is another story.

 

[Football_Bat]

As far as 70s singer-songwriters go, there was some godawful cheese but also some damn good ones. Jim Croce (RIP) comes to mind.

 

[93Devil]

RIP

Lonley Boy is a great song and was playing in the background when Amber Waves was not doing what is best for her child. If it is good enough for Sean Penn's brother and Paul Anderson, it should be good enough for all of us.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

I like both 'Lonely Boy' and 'Shannon'. Maybe because I grew up in that decade, I've got a softer spot for tunes like that, but as cheesy as they may have been, they were way more often than not very listenable, hummable and memorable. Nick Gilder, Walter Egan, Brewer and Shipley, even Terry Jacks fit that bill.

There are the exceptions. Never liked David Gates and Bread, for example. And 'Wildfire' either. Guess I more partial to odes about dead dogs than dead horses.

 

[exmediahack]

I think the lyrics of "Lonely Boy" are very whiny, however it is a catchy melody and I love the bridge.

 

[CarltonBanks]

Speaking of 70's cheese, the first time I watched the Yacht Rock shorts I have to admit I laughed my ass off. God damn that's smooooth.

 

[dooley_womack1]

I like both 'Lonely Boy' and 'Shannon'. Maybe because I grew up in that decade, I've got a softer spot for tunes like that, but as cheesy as they may have been, they were way more often than not very listenable, hummable and memorable. Nick Gilder, Walter Egan, Brewer and Shipley, even Terry Jacks fit that bill.

There are the exceptions. Never liked David Gates and Bread, for example. And 'Wildfire' either. Guess I more partial to odes about dead dogs than dead horses.

One Toke Over the Line and Magnet and Steel rawked

 

[steveu]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

Shannon by Henry Gross was the cheesiest schmaltz of the 1970s, and challenges Honey by Bobby Goldsboro and Tell Laura I Love Her as the cheesiest schmaltz evah.

"Shannon" however is by far the best song about a dead dog that has ever made the Top 40.

Shall we ask Casey Kasem what he thinks? (Someone's got to get this joke.)

 

[Starman]

Gold was a charter member of the sensitive bearded "one-hit wonders" of the 70s with Robbie Dupree, and Henry Gross.

Shannon by Henry Gross was the cheesiest schmaltz of the 1970s, and challenges Honey by Bobby Goldsboro and Tell Laura I Love Her as the cheesiest schmaltz evah.

"Shannon" however is by far the best song about a dead dog that has ever made the Top 40.

Shall we ask Casey Kasem what he thinks? (Someone's got to get this joke.)

Well, "I Am The Walrus ('No You're Not,' Said Little Nicola)" mentions, but is not about, a dead dog.

 

[steveu]

We'll give it a little longer. If no one gets it, I'll post the link.

 

[finishthehat]

I figured everyone knew you were referring to the expletive-filled Kasem rant about having to do a memorial to a dead dog.