RIP, Andrew Gold

[Smasher_Sloan]

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.)

Ponderous, man. ****in' ponderous.

 

[steveu]

Finishthehat, we have a WINNER!



I thought some people would get it, but unless you followed Kasem or AT40 it may be foreign. The clip is utterly hilarious. We now return to our discussion of Gold and 70s songwriters.

 

[Dyno]

I had to add Dickey Lee's "Rocky," which, to me, is even cheesier than "Honey."

 

[jr/shotglass]

I thought both Robbie Dupree songs were outstanding for that genre. Gold's two songs ... not so much.

 

[Dyno]

One of my best memories of college involves the song "Steal Away," so I'll always have a soft spot for it. Plus, I think it's catchy.

 

[Bob Cook]

Some of these cheesy songs hid pretty rank messages. I happened upon Robert John's "Sad Eyes" the other day, a sensitive-sounding song about a **** telling his mistress to GTFO because his old lady is back, and, oh, by the way, stop crying in front of me about, *****, because you knew we were just ****ing til my wife came back.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Torn Between Two Lovers had kind of a dodgy message. And the nerve of asking to be held close while slamming her man with the news of her affair.

 

[CarltonBanks]

Hell, "Smoke from a Distant Fire" is a jumpy little tune about his wife cheating on him. Reminds me of "Train in Vain" by The Clash...music completely at odds with the message.

 

[DanOregon]

"Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
looking forward to a little afternoon delight.
Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ingite
and the thought of rubbin' you is getting so exciting."

Not a text message from a Congressman forced to resign - a #1 song in 1976.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

"Squire James" had the ultimate word on infidelity on the album with "Smoke From A Distant Fire."

 

[Starman]

Finishthehat, we have a WINNER!



I thought some people would get it, but unless you followed Kasem or AT40 it may be foreign. The clip is utterly hilarious. We now return to our discussion of Gold and 70s songwriters.

LOL, I had forgotten about that clip.


GREATEST POP-ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME ABOUT DEAD DOGS (or to mention them in the lyrics)

1. Shannon, Henry Gross
2. Mr. Bojangles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3. I Am The Walrus, the Beatles
4. Old King, Neil Young
5. Youth Culture Killed My Dog, They Might Be Giants
6. Reason to Believe, Bruce Springsteen

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

On the first commercial break on Monday's (6/6) Letterman show, Paul and the band played "Lonely Boy." Paul and Dave talked about Andrew Gold and the many times he sat in with the band over the years.

 

[westcoastvol]

He was a good friend of a friend of mine, who's really shaken up by it all. Said he was a super, super guy, as talented as he was cool.

 

[rmanfredi]

Finishthehat, we have a WINNER!



I thought some people would get it, but unless you followed Kasem or AT40 it may be foreign. The clip is utterly hilarious. We now return to our discussion of Gold and 70s songwriters.

LOL, I had forgotten about that clip.


GREATEST POP-ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME ABOUT DEAD DOGS (or to mention them in the lyrics)

1. Shannon, Henry Gross
2. Mr. Bojangles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3. I Am The Walrus, the Beatles
4. Old King, Neil Young
5. Youth Culture Killed My Dog, They Might Be Giants
6. Reason to Believe, Bruce Springsteen

Pretty sure that several of Paul McCartney's dogs have to be dead by now.

 

[qtlaw]

You can complain about the schmaltz in the 70's all you want, but the reality is that AM ruled back then and to those of us who came of age during that time, there is a very strong nostalgia attached to those songs. Those songs were more innocent than the songs that the youth have gravitated towards in the past 25 years and for that I am grateful. There's no need to grow up so fast. (Of course many of the "innocent" songs were thinly disguised adult themes, e.g. Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight.")

RIP Andrew Gold, I'll always fondly remember your tunes.

 

[Double J]

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.

Topped out at 56 on the chart, though.

 

[Double J]

Finishthehat, we have a WINNER!



I thought some people would get it, but unless you followed Kasem or AT40 it may be foreign. The clip is utterly hilarious. We now return to our discussion of Gold and 70s songwriters.

LOL, I had forgotten about that clip.


GREATEST POP-ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME ABOUT DEAD DOGS (or to mention them in the lyrics)

1. Shannon, Henry Gross
2. Mr. Bojangles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3. I Am The Walrus, the Beatles
4. Old King, Neil Young
5. Youth Culture Killed My Dog, They Might Be Giants
6. Reason to Believe, Bruce Springsteen

Pretty sure that several of Paul McCartney's dogs have to be dead by now.

Martha and Jet sure must be.

 

[qtlaw]

Finishthehat, we have a WINNER!



I thought some people would get it, but unless you followed Kasem or AT40 it may be foreign. The clip is utterly hilarious. We now return to our discussion of Gold and 70s songwriters.

LOL, I had forgotten about that clip.


GREATEST POP-ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME ABOUT DEAD DOGS (or to mention them in the lyrics)

1. Shannon, Henry Gross
2. Mr. Bojangles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3. I Am The Walrus, the Beatles
4. Old King, Neil Young
5. Youth Culture Killed My Dog, They Might Be Giants
6. Reason to Believe, Bruce Springsteen

Pretty sure that several of Paul McCartney's dogs have to be dead by now.

Martha and Jet sure must be.

Pretty sure Mandy was about a dog as well.

 

[Partially Impartial]

Loved 70's AM radio! Going through my early teen years in the late 70's, all the names mentioned here have brought back so many memories. I can't believe nobody's mentioned Jay Ferguson and "Thunder Island" yet. To me, the ultimate summer song. And, a killer guitar solo by Joe Walsh!

 

[Brad Guire]

Loved the theme he wrote for Mad About You. One of my favorite old NBC comedies.