Andy and I were talking about obscure records. You know, the kind you own that you don't think anybody else does.
It started off with a discussion of Rick Wakeman. Andy said he had the Strawbs albums, the group Wakeman was in before Yes. I said I bought Rick's initial solo album, "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," but I not only did not own any Strawbs albums, I didn't know anybody who did.
And then I couldn't remember whether I had the second Rick Wakeman solo album, I couldn't even remember the name. But online right now I can see it was "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" and I did. But I stopped there.
Then I asked Andy if he had any Stone the Crows albums. He said he did, and I was stunned, then he said it was his roommate. All I could think about was Les Harvey being electrocuted on stage. And the next album being entitled "Ontinuous Performance," sans the "C," in tribute to Les. And of course Stone the Crows featured Maggie Bell, who was on Swan Song but had no success, however her vocal abrasives on "Every Picture Tells a Story" were divine. One of the few women who can hold their own with Rod the Mod.
And eventually we went deep into the Yes albums and tributaries. Like Badger, we both had the initial one, with the Roger Dean cover, and I even had the subsequent one featuring Jackie Lomax on vocals.
How about Horslips? I had an album by the group.
And then City Boy. Andy had not even heard of them.
But Andy bought all the Genesis albums in order, whereas I went back after Peter Gabriel's solo record, but we both agreed "Foxtrot" was great.
And then I brought up Rachel Sweet, who I said I saw at the Whisky. Thinking about it now, I'm not so sure. I just checked, she did play the Whisky in '79, and I did own her album, I'm going to have to think deeper about it. And Dyan Diamond, she had that one great track, I saw her at the Whisky, what ever happened to her? There are women with the same name, is she that newscaster?
Andy said he was the assistant for the agent for Rachel Sweet. And that he went to see a Stiff lineup, and the opening act was the Records.
THE RECORDS!
And I said even though the first album had the hit, the second one, "Crashes," was not only better, it's one of my favorite albums of all time.
I said that, and then I thought about it, and I realized it was true.
I mentioned "Girl in Golden Disc." And then there was "Hearts Will Be Broken" and "Man With a Girlproof Heart" and the exquisite "I Don't Remember Your Name."
"There I was
In the middle of a crowd
At a party I didn't want to go to
There I was saying goodbye
To someone I never said hello to
Was he the man
Who shook my hand
At the door when I arrived
My girlfriend said
You're the host
Might as well be the Holy Ghost
Alive
I don't remember your name
I think it's best
That I level with you"
YouTube: tinyurl.com/nhhxr7pk
Not as good as Joni Mitchell's "People's Parties," but damn close.
And then Andy mentioned Will Birch and I said I've gotten e-mail from him and then I said that on the second album Jude Cole was a member of the group, did Andy know Jude's Reprise album with that great opening cut, "Start the Car"? It was so good, I was surprised he gave up and became a manager.
And then Andy mentioned "Hearts in Her Eyes," and how the Searchers had done a cover.
I own that album, but the track is more significant because I remember hearing the Searchers' version the night I met my ex-wife. It was playing over the stereo and it emboldened me to talk to a woman who turned out to have a boyfriend and I told Miles we had to leave, after all this party featured babies, and we were expected at the Rainbow. But then...
"Some girls have a whole lotta
Trouble finding one boy
Others want a lover and some
They just want a fun boy
My girl, she's smart
She's never ever
Gonna give up her heart
And she's wise
She's got hearts in her eyes
She's got hearts in her eyes
Like a kid in a toy shop
She can't stop
She wants all the boys
She's got hearts in her eyes"
And then I couldn't get it out of my head.
I was weaving through the novices on the way to ski in the sun on Swingsville. By this time in the afternoon it's the only slope at Vail with light on it, it faces west. And I'm zipping along singing "Hearts in Her Eyes" to myself.
Like a kid in a toy shop I couldn't stop.
And I just entered the bedroom, about to strip off my ski clothes, and I was still singing "Hearts in Her Eyes."
Maybe you'll be singing it too.
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