N is for...

Nobody Does It Better...Carly Simon, 1977.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

This song rolled a lot of sentiment into its notes, and Carly sang it so well. I had no real thoughts for what "it" was, and just assumed it was a catch-all phrase. As much as I wanted to be told I was the best, by someone other than my parents, I also wanted to find someone who I thought was the best...again, besides my parents.

Nobody does it better
Makes me feel bad for the rest

Really, was it even worth starting a search in my elementary school, or would I just feel badly for all of those boys?

Nobody does it better

Though sometimes I wish someone would...

Although I am not sure I could have done first day of third grade in 1977 any better.

I just want to clear up any confusion you may share with my fourteen-year-old daughter. That is most definitely not a bowl haircut. It is a Dorothy Hamill.

M is for...

Mercedes-Benz...Janis Joplin, 1970.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

If I had to pick the top three songs from the "road trips with my father" play list, this one right here shines. (I cannot tell you the others as they may still show up.) My father's cars typically did not have radios, so we just sang what we wanted, how we wanted. He taught me Mercedes-Benz very early on. I don't know what all of my five-year-old friends were singing back then, but I doubt it was being belted out with as much feeling as when we sang Janis.

EVERYBODY...
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime no help from my friends
So oh Lord, wont you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?

That's it!

One take to record that song, and she was gone three days later.

Once again, I cannot limit this to one song for this letter. My mom is a fan of Janis Joplin as well, and often played her Pearl album. There were songs that found their way into tiny nooks of my brain. I did not even realize they were there, until hearing the songs years later, and being temporarily puzzled by their familiarity. This is one of those...

Me & Bobby McGee...Janis Joplin, 1970.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose...

Hey, hey, hey Bobby McGee!

L is for...

Lonely Night...Captain & Tennille, 1976.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

Lonely night

I cry myself to sleep

Tell me what am I gonna do...

Angel Face, what happened? Toni? Daryl? I had to find out the news when I saw it trending, even after all of the days we spent together. 

In the summer of 1977, my mother took me to see the Captain & Tennille in concert. (Awesome, I know!) Daily singalongs with them on our stereo had me more than ready. Can't you turn back the hands of time, to the days when you were mine, and each other's? 

I promise you I'll change my ways
I promise you love's here to stay
Hey, little man depend on me
I'll be yours for eternity

Sadly, that didn't work out quite as planned. Guess someone will have to Shop Around now.

Two hip chicks in the summer of 1977.

K is for...

Knock Three Times...Tony Orlando & Dawn, 1971.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

I am going to start right off by admitting that for quite some time I thought these three people were Tony, Orlando and Dawn. I did not realize that Dawn was sharing a name.

I have had this song stuck in my head for at least four days of this month. Finally we have reached the letter to set it free...into your head! You're welcome.

Hey girl whatcha doin down there
Dancin alone every night
While I live right above you

I had these visions of some matchmaking apartment complex...

Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me
Twice on the pipe, if the answer is no

...that must have had an exposed plumbing system.

J is for...

Just the Way You Are...Billy Joel, 1977.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

When I initially thought about Billy Joel, it was hard for me to remember the days before 1980's Glass Houses. That album, and its lyric sheet, took me completely by storm. I did dabble a bit before then though, as songs like Movin' Out, Only the Good Die Young, The Stranger and Scenes From an Italian Restaurant played as a soundtrack in the background of my life, leaving their indelible mark. Words I did not even know I had committed to memory would come out over the years as these songs stood the test of time.

This song though, Billy telling me he loved me just the way I was, offered such reassurance. It gave that sense of hope that not only was I an incredible eight year old, but also that someday would find someone who shared the sentiment. It was always about that for me, these songs serving not only as some sort of foreshadowing for what I could expect relationships to be, but I fully expected to have songs written about and sung to me. Danger, danger! (I got my head on straight in the eighties though when I gleaned my wisdom about love from John Hughes movies. More danger!! But I digress...)

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are

By 1979, I was trying some new fashion though...

...and clearly rocked it! (I blame that sassy Julie McCoy and the rest of the fashion forward Love Boat crew.)

Don't go changing to try and please me
You never let me down before

Thanks for stopping by!

I is for...

It's Too Late...Carole King, 1971.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

My favorite record album in my Aunt Tina's collection had to have been Tapestry. Carole's engaging voice, the beat and the storytelling words she sang, made it impossible to not join in. I loved the rhythm this song started with, as she began her day...

Stayed in bed all morning

Just to pass the time

The song is rather sad on one level to my adult ears, but Carole's voice was so hopeful and reassuring that I just sang along in bliss. After all, they really did try to make it.

There'll be good times again for me and you

But we just can't stay together can't you feel it too

Still I'm glad for what we had 

And how I once loved you

Just for the record, in return for all the times Aunt Tina let me hang out in her room listening to music, I did return the favor by inviting her to some swell tea parties.

OK, I tried, but...Impossible! I cannot limit myself to one "I" song from Tapestry. Inconceivable! So without further ado...

I Feel the Earth Move...Carole King, 1971.

Go ahead. Hit play, crank up the volume and get up...you know you want to! Feel that earth...move...under your feet!

There we go. All set? Cool. Have an Incredible day!

H is for...

Hopelessly Devoted to You...
Olivia Newton-John, 1978.

A Serenade of Seventies songs, from the soundtrack of my life, is my theme for the A-Z challenge this year.

Did I love the movie Grease? Let's see, I had a pretty substantial sized stack of the hot pink edged trading cards, a well-worn record album, awesome hand jive skills, a fairly certain belief that I would someday meet my first steady boyfriend on a beachy summer vacation, and a fantastic Grease themed party for my tenth birthday.

My black leather jacket transformation was still four years away.

I must point out that super seventies seagull mural that my mom painted in our apartment living room. Yes, my mom is that awesome, but no, she has not touched the walls with that kind of flair in my current home.

On with the serenade...

Guess mine is not the first heart broken
My eyes are not the first to cry
I'm not the first to know
There's just no getting over you

The way for the proper way of handling a breakup was paved here for me. No notion of putting on your big girl panties and moving on, but instead, sing sad songs on somebody's porch. Be hopeless! That ought to draw him back.

Oh Sandy! Ready yourself for the big part...

BUT. NOW. There's nowhere to hide

Since you pushed my love aside

I'm out of my head

Hopelessly devoted to you