Category Archives: Nostalgicmusicmonth

Tom Petty’s Last Dance

Day 3- Nostalgic Music Month

Tom Petty  and the Heartbreakers By Jon Hilton

If you owned this album, you understand the loss.

The news of the passing of Tom Petty made today’s nostalgia easy to choose. I never met Tom Petty in life, but we knew each other very well when I was young. He guided me through the confusing moments of adolescence and let me know that it was alright to not fit in like everyone seemed to want.  Petty provided a voice that resonated with millions of people and always will. Growing up would have been much more difficult without him and his music and I am one of the heartbroken today.

The five songs that were most influential to me are not the most popular Petty songs but the ones that related to a particular phase of my life and particular experiences. Where the lyrics are a guide inside of the moment and still transport me to that time and place.

  1. Don’t Do Me Like That– Hearing the first notes of this song, takes me back to middle school. A time when I didn’t know much about the world and imagined how people should treat others.  “And you know you better watch your step Or you’re gonna get hurt yourself, Someone’s gonna tell you lies, Cut you down to size”
  2. American Girl- I have known many of these girls in my 51 years. Some were more significant to me than others but all had an impact. It is amazing when you think about it, how much women and our thoughts about them dominate our lives and history.  “God it’s so painful, Something that’s so close, And still so far out of reach”

  3. Breakdown– One of my favorite songs to sing along with still to this day. Makes me happy to hear it and to remember the times when I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that a breakdown It’s alright.  Unique guitar riff, memorable feel and flow.  My “young self” loved this song and my “old self” does too.

 It’s alright if you love me
It’s alright if you don’t
I’m not afraid of you running away
Honey, I get the feeling you won’t

  1. The Waiting – Throughout my life, I have found these Tom Petty words to be absolutely true, the waiting is the hardest part. The sentiment of the song was true. Good relationships and other things don’t always happen in an instant and you have to be patient to reap the benefits of these things.

Baby you’re the only one that’s ever known how
To make me want to live like I want to live now

  1. Even the Losers– My number one anthem of youth. I think we all feel like we don’t fit in or are losers, but even in our awkwardness and self-doubt, there is a girl who can make you feel like it will all be ok in the end.  Even the losers get lucky sometimes. Baby time meant nothin’ anything seemed real, Yeah you could kiss like fire and you made me feel Like every word you said was meant to be. Babe, it couldn’t have been that easy to forget about me.

1a.  Mary Jane’s Last Dance– This is a classic with so many great messages that hit me in so many places. Listen to it and know that life is a fleeting group of experiences that we try to squeeze meaning out of, Tom Petty guided us. Change Indiana to Maine in the lyrics and I knew that girl.

Well I don’t know what I’ve been told
You never slow down, you never grow old
I’m tired of screwing up, I’m tired of goin’ down
I’m tired of myself, I’m tired of this town

We have all felt that way at some point and time.

honorable mention- Free Fallin’, Won’t Back Down, You Don’t Know How It Feels, Running Down A Dream, Learning to Fly, Refugee, You Got Lucky, Here Comes My Girl

Farewell Tom Petty, may you rest in peace and know that in the end

 Tom Petty Day 3- by Mike Martin

Tom Petty added some iconic sadness to #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth. He is on my short list of my favorite musician, and one of the few performers that Shannon and I both completely appreciate.

When I heard of his heart attack and almost certain death. As I right now 7:25. October 2, 2017-his status is unsubstantiated.  These circumstances reminded me of the passing of my uncle-Charles F. Martin. Unc, as he was fondly known by our family, was most surely a family Icon, to say the least.

My Uncle-like my grandfather- was a carpenter by trade and-like myself-a NAVY veteran. He served during WW II and didn’t get into much detail about his service.

I’m not sure if Unc convinced me to join the NAVY after my mother, Maxine Graham, invited the NAVY recruiter to our house-a true hoodwinking and ambush-I must say, but he didn’t stop me.

Unc’s only advice: “Don’t let anyone take advantage of you, you do know what NAVY stands for don’t you-Never Again Volunteer Yourself.”

My uncle and I were extremely close. He treated with respect and never kept me from a worksite-well unless the proprietor ran me off which only happened once. The last thing I remember Unc telling me was that he wished I was living in town, Greenville, Maine, because the opportunity was abundant, and with Scott Patrick and I working with him, we could win a lot of work.

We never got that chance, Unc passed and our family changed forever, but I never forgot the lessons he taught me. No Worries Unc, I Won’t Back Down -even at the End Of The Line,  I love you and miss you every day!

….. “Maybe somewhere down the road aways (end of the line)

You’ll think of me, wonder where I am these days (end of the line………..

…………….. “It don’t matter if you’re by my side (end of the line)

I’m satisfied”

If you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville

 

Monday Won’t Get Fooled Again

Day Two Nostalgic Music Month- October 2, 2017

The Who by Jon Hilton

The Who were so cool!!!

In my life, there have been stages where I was all into one band or another. In 1983-84 I was all about The Who. I was listening to classic Who tracks and thinking that they had figured the whole confusing experience of life out.  The Who made you question the system and the things that people wanted you to accept without question. Follow the rules! Do what you are told!  These were exactly the things I was struggling with as a high school student in the 80’s.  Finding my own path began with The Who.

Top Five Who Songs

Age is a state of mind, not a chronological condition
  1. Behind Blue Eyes– Most people see themselves as the hero, but some circumstances can make you feel like the villain. Life is full of these two scenarios and we strive to make the choices of the hero, but what if those are not accepted? My dreams aren’t as empty as my conscience seems to be.
  2. Bargain –  When it came to love in my life, there were times I felt exactly like this. Giving up everything for the love of the right woman. I call that a bargain, the best I ever had. Life takes that passion away, there is no free ride to me, but there was once.

  3. Won’t Get Fooled Again– The way I looked at authority as a teenager was perfectly described in this song. In fact, it is much the way I feel today. The hypocrisy, lies, and greed I see in the world, make me get on my knees and pray, we don’t get fooled again. But it seems unlikely. I know that the hypnotized never lie.

  4. Baba O’Reilly– I can remember when teenage wasteland included me and now I am far removed from that group, I still think older people look at the young and see them wasting their lives. They don’t need to fight to prove their right and they don’t need to be forgiven.  Life is full of patterns and being young is one of them. It is critical to the development of thinkers and doers in the future.  Let’s get together before we get much older.

1.Who Are You?– The question that I am still answering today. I think all people are continually evolving and this is changing as you move through life. The choices that we make every day define us and tell us and the world who we are.  I really want to know, who are you?  Do you choose positively or negatively in your interactions with others and the world? Only you control the impact that you have. This song has always shown me that truth from the time I listened to it as a young man, to today.

Thank you to the who for providing all the guidance in the early 80’s. Roger Daltry is still the man, he is just a very old man.

Honorable mentions; Pinball Wizard, My Generation, Can’t Explain, Love Reign o’er Me, Squeeze Box, Join Together, The Seeker, Substitute, Magic Bus

Monday, Monday     by Mike Martin

Mondays are a gift from the Universe. At our house, Monday is a time to frantically search for backpacks, homework and sneakers, a time to get back into the routine of our busy lives.

Music is a History lesson. Music videos are often rich with the culture of the times in which the music was created. My children are blessed with a father that forces them to listen to music from many decades.

On Mondays, just to get the week off to a joyous start. I often turn to The Mamas & the Papas. This pleases my daughter Kyera very much.

Monday, Monday 

“Monday, Monday, so good to me

Monday mornin´, it was all I hoped it would be”

The Mamas & the Papas recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968.  I was born in 1966.  The group has four members: John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips née Gilliam.

Denny Doherty has the best tenor voice that I have ever heard. Joh Phillips claims that a wayward brick forever changed Cass Elliot’s voice allowing her to sign a few high notes that she could not hit prior to getting struck with the falling brick-Fascinating. Michelle Phillips née Gilliam is the only member still alive and still very beautiful.

They released five studio albums and seventeen singles, six of which made the Billboard top ten and have sold close to 40 million records. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

My favorite song by The Mamas & the Papas is California Dreamin’ —listening to it, is a– Spiritual Experience:

“Stopped into a church

I passed along the way

Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)

And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)

You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)

He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)”

Even though I grew Catholic and was very connected to the Holy Family Catholic Church in Greenville, Maine. I am not religious; however, I truly believe we are all interconnected through omnipotent forces that defy descriptions!

The Mamas & the Papas’ music speaks to me in a way they no other music can. So, please, enjoy your Monday because I believe that you CAN trust that day.  If you have any doubts, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

p.s. This is Dedicated to the One I Love

“Each night before you go to bed my baby

Whisper a little prayer for me my baby

And tell all the stars above

This is dedicated to the one I love”

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville

 

Sultans of Sentiment

Nostalgic Music Month

Dire Straits  by Jon Hilton

dire straits
Nostalgic Music Month Day 1

It is the beginning of a month-long journey to delve into the music of our lives. In the fall of 1971, I attended kindergarten in Greenville, Maine. It was there that one of my intellectual equals was Mike Martin. From that day to this, music has provided the soundtrack of our lives. And I have been privy to all of his schemes.  We have not always been on the same path, but we both agree that music provides a connection to the past and the people who have shaped our lives.

There was little choice for me on the first day of nostalgic music month. It

You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they make

had to be Dire Straits. From the first time I heard the unique and iconic guitar, to the messages in the lyrics that seemed to capture the emotions of the experiences I was having, Dire Straits has been one of my favorite performers. Most important is the connection to many special people I have known over my life who have shared the music with me.

My top 5 Dire Straits songs are as follows:

  1. Down to the Waterline– It reminds me when I was a young man and was on my own for the first time. Living in South Portland, going to SMVTI. Hearing the foghorn at night, having fun and getting to know all
All of your dreams should come true, you deserve it

of those special people I knew from that time working at campus security.

4.On Every Street– This is a newer song but captures a lot of the old style, and it describes how I feel about so many people that I have lost over the years. Some more than others. When you walk down the street, and you see a crowd of people, “and it’s your face I am looking for on every street…..”   Someday we may meet again.  The guitar at the end……..classic Mark Knoffler.

  1. Sultans of Swing– A song with so many memories and different points in my life attached to it that I remember a different thing almost every time I hear the opening beat, I can’t stop listening because I get a shiver in the dark and it’s raining in the park, but meantime………….and I feel alright when I hear the music ring.

2. Romeo and Juliet– The top two songs are from the same album, Making Movies. This song is particular to the memories of a young man, being Romeo and the first real love that breaks your heart. Like a rite of passage, there are good things that end and in the end, it is best for all involved, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less at the time and the scars that are left are just as real. As we age, people tend to trivialize the past and diminish the importance of many events and the value of people. Deep in our hearts, those things still live and the value will always be there. “All I do is miss you and the way we used to be……….” Everyone feels like that at some point. This song reminds of a time I was young, naive and idealistic. A simpler time.

  1. Tunnel of Love– In my memory when places, people, and love are combined from my past, magic happens and this song reminds me of that magic. There are people that you meet and they are only meant to be in your life for a season, and then they are gone. It is up to you to understand the lesson and take the value from that relationship.  Even when it is clearly your fault that things didn’t work out, this song though sums it up.  We learn our lessons, remember those who mattered and rock away, rock away.   The final guitar solo rips my soul.

Honorable mention: Water of love, Money for Nothing, Telegraph Road, Lady Writer, Expresso Love, Skate Away

There is my half of day one of Nostalgic Music Month for Mike Martins half Read on Here.

Sentimental Street  by Mike Martin

I have a spiritual advisor. His name is Jon Hilton and I have known

Night Ranger
1984, a year of transitional memories. A sentimental street for sure.

him since kindergarten. We speak on the phone often and will argue
with each other even when we agree. We have much in common and are
complete opposites.

With all the negativity in the world, Jon has proclaimed October,
Nostalgic Music Month. He will want to share the credit because Jon is
a team player and one of the many things I appreciate about his
friendship.

Before I gave my word that I send him sentimental music selections each day for the month of October as a way to promote hope and
optimism, as we reflex on the music of our past, I demanded (big
smile) that we use this platform to encourage people to visit our
hometown of Greenville, Maine. (if you a reading this, I am happy to
say that my demand was accepted)

We invite everyone and anyone to join in October, Nostalgic Music
Month. There are many ways to participate including the radio,
cassette, record, DVD and if you post on Social media please use the
hashtag. #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and please feel free to share
Jon’s blog with your friends and enemies.

Night Ranger’s second album, Midnight Madness was released the summer
of 1984. The summer after I graduated from high school. The summer
before a memorable fall that included a miracle pass from Doug Flutie.
I have a memory of seeing Night Ranger in concert, but I am
unconfident that I really did because the memories are foggy. So I am
asking my favorite musician ever Born, Rich Daigle and his favorite sound
man, J Alan Grant-Did Night Ranger open for 38 Special when we saw
them the summer before I joined the Navy?

Now sit back, relax and take a walk down this Sentimental Street-Night
Ranger #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip
to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of
year!

Sentimental Street

Sister Christian

Do you Still Dream About Me

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville

Nostalgic Music Month Success

Nostalgic Music Month a complete success

Nostalgic Music Month took place in October of 2017. Each day Mike Martin and I (Jon Hilton) chose nostalgic music and wrote about what they meant. Each attacked the subject differently and in the end, it was clear that music effects everyone in life. This is a reflection of that process.

What did I learn?  Music is a constant for people of many different backgrounds. I learned that creating something is important to the soul. We should all be looking for ways to create every day. I also learned that many memories of people and events can be brought back to mind by listening to a song. Even though those memories are gone, sometimes they seem real enough to reach out and touch. If only for a minute.

What was great? Remembering the music was great but better than that was to visit the person that I was throughout My life. At different points of my development, there were a lot of different versions of myself over time.  One thing I realized through this project is that the people that were a part of my life are still just as important today as they were then. Even though we are separated by time and circumstance the effects of those people are real. From childhood, high school, college, and adult life. All that affected me are still important.

What is missing? I think we could have actively involved more people if we had planned better. It was the nature of the project that we were not collaborating with each other about the daily productions. There were many artists that I didn’t include because there were only 31 days. I wrote about the ones that resonated with me on that day.  Elton John, Cat Stevens, The Beatles, The Police, Alice Cooper, ACDC, Meatloaf, Pearl Jam and Jimmy Buffett are just a few off the top of my head I wish could have been included. Most of all though, it was fun and that is the juice that made it happen.

What is this leading to? In the beginning, the project was done with no expectations and no set agenda. The results have made me appreciate the ability to create.  It is a powerful thing to create something that didn’t exist before you made it up in your mind.  It is good for your body, mind, and spirit. It has also led to ideas of creating things in other genres. Video, podcasts, and of course more writing. Even if nobody else read these pages, it’s alright. The purpose was for self-expression and growth and that occurred.

The complete list of Nostalgic Music Month with links to each. Feel free to visit each one that resonates with you.

Day 31- Halloween/Dr. Hook

Day 30-Michael Jackson/VanHalen

Day 29-Pink Floyd/Spin Doctors

Day 28-Journey/Loverboy

Day 27-Bob Segar/Iron Maiden

Day 26- David Bowie/Miley Cyrus-

Day 25- Jackson Browne/Don McLean

Day 24- Queen/Def Leppard

Day 23- Rolling Stones/ Bruno Mars

Day 22- Steve Miller Band/ U2

Day 21- Moody Blues/ Kenny Loggins

Day 20- Billy Joel/ Terry Jacks

Day 19- John Mellencamp/ Jack Johnson

Day 18- 1985/ Van Morrison

Day 17- Water/ Thin Lizzy

Day 16- Monday/ Bon Jovi

Day 15- Creedence Clearwater Revival/Micheal Martin Murphy

Day 14- Simon and Garfunkel/ Harry Chapin

Day 13- Bob Marley/ Jim Croce

Day 12- Peter Gabriel/ Ratt

Day 11- Phil Collins/ Depeche Mode

Day 10- Bruce Springsteen/ Alanis Morrisette

Day 9- Bob Dylan/ Nirvana

Day 8- James Taylor/ The Eagles

Day 7- Kiss/ George Thorogood

Day 6-John Denver/Gordon Lightfoot

Day 5- Guns’n’Roses/ Aerosmith

Day 4- The Kinks/ The Congos

Day 3- Tom Petty

Day 2- The Who/ Mamas and the Papas

Day 1- Dire Straits/ Night Ranger

The Halloween Hook

Nostalgic Music Month Day 31

HALLOWEEN by Jon Hilton

There is something about the 31st of October that is embedded in my soul. It probably has to do with the nights spent in my youth participating in organized begging for candy and taking in pillowcases full of candy.  It is the whole fall season that brings on a feeling of melancholy and joy all at once. It is a time to remember the happy times of Halloweens past, the joy of youthful adventure and the thrill of being scared, if only just a little bit. So for today, I am going to focus on the joy of this day in music.

  1. Sugar, Sugar by the Archies– Watching this video transports me back to being about 8 years old and all I wanted was candy for Halloween because of course, I loved getting the sugary treats.  In Greenville, trick or treating was a great experience. I know my Dad would pile us and our friends like Mike Martin into the car drive to a certain street, let us go and do our thing.  Thanks to the generous people in my town was a very lucrative experience in the candy department. We were never disappointed with the haul of sugary treats. It was a night of magic for a kid who loved candy and the memories of it still make me smile today.
  2. No More Mr. Nice Guy by Alice Cooper– As we got a little bit older, Mike Martin and I would cook up some mischief to participate on Halloween. We had been taught well by older kids on what to do. I had seen the messy carnage of November 1st with its smashed pumpkins in the road all over town. We were feeling like it was our turn. So after trick or treating one year we decided to smash as many pumpkins as we could find.  It was the most illegal thing I had ever done, but I liked to smash things. How high can you throw a pumpkin and totally destroy it? What if we threw it from the roof? What if we put it on a train track and let a train hit it?  All of these questions were answered that night.
  3. Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon– One of my passions as a kid was about monsters. There was something scary and interesting about the stories of Frankenstein, Dracula, werewolves, mummies, and creatures from black lagoons. I remember reading books about them and the makeup it took to make actors look like that.  It was all brought to a head on Halloween Night. Costumes are a great thing because they allow a person to become something else, if only for a short time. This type of escape is good for “kids” of all ages as they seek to be released from their everyday existence. This song is for the costumes we all wear, at Halloween and throughout the year.
  4. Leaves That are Green Simon and Garfunkel– One of the naturally amazing things that we get to enjoy in Maine is the changing of the leaves in the fall.  Changing leaves and Halloween go together as we all know. You pile them up and jump in them like Charlie Brown. You also use them to create the meat of a scarecrow.  There is a smell of the small that pictures of foliage can’t bring you. That smell and the feel of the crisp autumn air bring back memories of my life and all that is gone before. I have been blessed in my existence to have lived in so many wonderful fall days.
  5. Season of the Witch by Donovan– One of the iconic images from Halloween is that of the witch. Much like the Wizard of Oz, you have to be careful when dealing with witches, are they good? or are they bad? I have learned that sometimes the witches you meet on Halloween are not exactly what they appear to be. Some seem kind in the beginning, but in the end are not looking out for your best interest. Some which seem less nice in the beginning, show that they are truly good witches in the end. So my experience is that on Halloween, be wary of the witches that you meet promising candy and sunshine.  Judge all your witches by their actions, not their words. Actions show the true nature of a witch.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

Dr. Hook by Mike Martin

My last #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth post on my spiritual adviser’s blog. Jon Hilton is a wise man, a little naïve, but a wise man none the less.

When we were discussing this challenge, I selected the band that was on the radio first and I picked my day 31 choice second.

Thank you, Sean Bolen, for the introduction, you are off the “hook” because today I’m power challenged.

Dr. Hook is an American rock band, formed in Union City, New Jersey. They enjoyed considerable commercial success in the 1970s with hit singles including:

Sylvia’s Mother 

Sylvia’s mother says Sylvia’s busy, too busy to come to the phone

Cover Of The Rolling Stone

Is the thrill that’ll gitcha when you get your picture
On the cover of the Rollin’ Stone

Sharing the Night Together

If I seem to come on too strong
I hope that you will understand

When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman 

When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, it’s hard

AND, one of the best October 31st songs ever recorded. Happy Halloween Folks!!!

Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show – At the freaker’s ball 1974
Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville
#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville
 

Jump on Thriller

Nostalgic Music Month Day 30

Micheal Jackson/The Jackson 5 by Jon Hilton

One of the lessons I have learned in life is that the people that you grew up with have some of the biggest impacts on your life experience. That can be said for the life and music of Micheal Jackson. We watched him grow up from his beginnings in the Jackson 5 to becoming an iconic megastar of the 1980’s.  His talent is undeniable and his songs have punctuated many lives. In fact, the release of the thriller video on December 2, 1983 was an event.  It happened and now generations are blessed with the Thriller Dance.  His music is full of memories and people from the past. Even if you didn’t really like his music you still know the songs. They are woven into the fabric of our society.

  1. Never Can Say Goodbye– The Jackson Five was a part of my childhood. That childhood ended the day I moved from Greenville, Maine on June 15,
    Little Micheal during the Jackson Five days

    1979. this song reminds me of that time and what a hard time I had with the transition to a new town, school, and life. It was ultimately a good experience but at the time one of the most difficult experiences I faced. Leaving behind all of the people that I knew was tough. Life went on and I met plenty of wonderful people and had great experiences.  This song always reminds me of that time and those thoughts. Even though the pain and heartache. Seem to follow me wherever I go. Though I try and try to hide my feelings. They always seem to show, Then you try to say you’re leaving me, And I always have to say no. Tell me why is it so?

  2. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough– To this day when I need a boost in my cardio workout, this song by Micheal Jackson puts some movement in my
    MJ and Eddie Murphy

    body. It is a reminder of those awkward junior high days. When half of you thought you were cool and the other half knew how lost you were.  We never knew how much we didn’t know, and through a process of trial and error we kind of figured it out. It was a long and intense struggle to win the affections of the fairer sex. All else was secondary to that.  Junior high dances were the places much of this took place.  Touch me and I feel on fire. Ain’t nothing like a love desire.  I’m melting I’m melting like hot candle wax. Sensation ah sensation, lovely where we’re at ooh So let love. take us through the hours, I won’t be complaining aw Cause this is love power.

  3. Billie Jean– This is the song that introduced the moonwalk to rural America. I could never do that, but it wasn’t a real priority for me.  Billie Jean was also one of the videos on MTV that I remember being played all the time and since it was played all the time was always present. In the culture of the early 80’s, what was being played on MTV influenced us in the things we thought were cool, the behavior that was acceptable, really in every way. It is hard to imagine today what an icon Micheal Jackson had become but he was probably the biggest star of the era.  She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene. Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one. Who will dance on the floor in the round.
  4. Thriller– As I mentioned before this video was a cultural happening in the lives of everyone alive in 1983. From the warning at the beginning that Micheal Jackson does not support or believe in the occult to the “Thriller Dance”, it was a video with a story. A silly story, but one just the same. It makes me laugh still today watching it. When MJ turns into a werewolf and then a zombie, it is a busy night for him.  If you have 13 spare minutes, give it a watch, it is very appropriate for the day before Halloween.  Vincent Price’s lines have become iconic in and of themselves. A cultural phenomenon for sure and any child of the 80’s knows it to be true. Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand. Creatures crawl in search of blood. To terrorize y’all’s neighborhood
    And whosoever shall be found. Without the soul for getting down. Must stand and face the hounds of hell. And rot inside a corpse’s shell. 
  5. Man in the Mirror– Change is a constant factor in life. It is an inevitable force that occurs constantly. People spend their lives in denial of this,
    His appearance changed over the years but the music remained the same

    because change can be scary. Since it is going to happen anyway, you had better learn how to deal with it. This song urges you to start by making positive changes within yourself and to make the world a better place from the changes that you undergo. Our attitudes of the judgment of others and constantly putting people into simple groups of “us” and “them” causes hate, prejudice, and conflict across the globe. Look at yourself and the thoughts that you entertain every day in an honest way and see what kind of changes you can make for the positive. I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place, (If you wanna make the world a better place). Take a look at yourself, and then make a change. 

    Van Halen by Mike Martin

    There is no argument-Eddie Van Halen can play the guitar.

    I bought my first stereo in 1981 from a local Greenville, Maine pilot who was downsizing. It had a turntable, two cassette players, and a radio. The sound it produced was life-changing.

    The first cassette that I listened to the stereo play was Van Halen, a debut studio album from Van Halen, an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972.

    From 1974 until 1985, the band consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony. The band is one of the most successful rock acts of all time.

    The song that I most identified with, as a fifteen old Northern Maine boy with an Ego bigger the Mount Katahdin, was Runnin’ With the Devil 

    Yeah, yeah, ah, yeah
    I live my life like there’s no tomorrow
    And all I’ve got, I had to steal
    Least I don’t need to beg or borrow
    Yes I’m livin’ at a pace that kills
    Ooh, yeah
    (Ahh)
    Runnin’ with the devil
    (Ahh-hah, yeah)
    (Woo-hoo-oo)
    Runnin’ with the devil
    Yes I’m, yeah, hoo

    I graduated from high school in 1984. Van Halen produced a popular studio Album in 1984, called 1984. It was their most successful album.

    The signature was Jump Van Halen’s most successful single.
    I get up, and nothing gets me down.
    You got it tough. I’ve seen the toughest all around.
    And I know, baby, just how you feel.
    You’ve got to roll with the punches to get to what’s real

    My favorite song from 1984: Van Halen – “Hot For Teacher

    Oh wow, man
    Wait a second man Whaddaya think the teacher’s gonna look like this year? (my butt, man)
    Oh yeah T-T-Teacher stop that screaming, teacher don’t you see?
    Don’t want to be no uptown fool
    Maybe I should go to hell, but I’m doin’ well,
    Teacher needs to see me after school

    In 1986, I spent a majority of my life at sea on the USS Jouett. The Jolly J was preparing for a West Pac cruise and we expended most of our time going through sea trials, inspections and eventually sailing around the

    What Mike Martin looked like with his first walkman

    Pacific.

    I bought a “Walkman” (a music listening device that will always remind me of Joel Wortman) to help me escape while serving aboard the Jolly J. The first cassette I bought was Van Halen’s OU812, released in 1986.

    Van Halen and Diamond Dave had broken up. Eddie met Valerie Bertinelli, hired Sammy Hagar, and Van Halen started producing love songs. I didn’t like Van Halen’s new sound a first, but it was the only cassette that I had so I eventually learned to appreciate the strange new Van Halen songs.

    Hey only fools rush in and only time will tell
    If we stand the test of time (FYI-they didn’t)

    Why Can’t This Be Love

    Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

    #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville

 

Wish You Were Here Can’t Be Wrong

Nostalgic Music Month Day 29

Pink Floyd by Jon Hilton

As I was developing as a human being, the music of Pink Floyd entered my life. I was first influenced by the album the Dark Side of the Moon and the music was thought-provoking and resonated with my experiences in life. There wasn’t a lot of media that addressed the feelings facing the teenage mind. This music provided an explanation for the way I felt back then. The Wall was an experience that provided a visceral punch in the senses. It was so far removed from anything I had ever seen, it provided a paradigm shift in my thinking.  I remember watching this movie in Brunswick, Maine and I remember the people I watched it with. D.H., E.C., and G.N.

  1. Comfortably Numb–  Suffering is a part of life. As young people, we aren’t quite sure of this. I think I was hoping the world would be a happy place all the time. But it isn’t and that is ok. Sometimes there is suffering to help you get to the next level of whatever you are experiencing in life.  Sometimes the pain of suffering is too much for all people and we need to feel comfortably numb. Life ads experience and value is added by the hard times we face. Those are the valuable lessons of life. They are not learned in books but through experience and thoughtful reflection.   Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home Come on now. I hear you’re feeling down. Well, I can ease your pain. Get you on your feet again.
  2. Another Brick in the Wall (part 2)– There is no more ironic song to the story of my life. This is about the brainwashing that takes place in western culture. Our system is designed to produce producers and consumers, not thinkers and creators.  I was listening to this while being brainwashed in that system. And I didn’t have any idea. A young mind is impressionable and moves in a thousand directions. It is easily influenced and manipulated. The problem has and will arise as the obvious reality of the world doesn’t match the story we are/were taught.  Beliefs change, personally and as a society. Accept the change. We don’t need no education . We don’t need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom. Teachers leave them kids alone. Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone. All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall. All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall. 
  3. Money– Iconic song which talks about greed which we all deal with to some degree. Our society labels us by how much money we make. In fact, when you meet someone, one of the first questions you ask is, what do you do for work? It allows them to be put into a box that you can understand and relate to.  Yet, I would argue that has very little to do with who a person really is. There are very rich people who are terrible people and very poor people who possess the highest moral character. How much money you have has a lot to do with your beliefs surrounding it.  You can have all the money in the world and it doesn’t guarantee you a thing.  Money, it’s a crime. Share it fairly but don’t take a slice of my pie
    Money, so they say. Is the root of all evil today. But if you ask for a rise
    It’s no surprise that they’re giving none away. 
  4. Time – Where does it go? Time is a concept that humans have created to mark our activities. It allows us to organize and for some determines the compensation for work performed.  In reality, we are only going to have so long in this experience of life. As you age, the uncomfortable truth that it is going to end becomes more and more of a reality. This physical body will give out and the ride will be over. We hope we will have freedom and stability of thought until the end. But that is not the case for thousands of people. Either their bodies or their minds give out before the end.  Making the most of the time that we have should be the highest priority in life. Enjoy every second you have. Don’t waste your time bitching and complaining. The ride is going to end, why dislike the experience so much. Focus on the good that is present in every moment, because it could be gone before you know it. And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking. Racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older. Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
    Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines. Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way. The time is gone, the song is over. Thought I’d something more to say.
  5. Wish You Were Here– A sentiment that everyone can relate to. No matter where you are in life there are people that you wish were around you more and sharing experiences with. From all of our past histories and stories, there are characters we miss, for all the elements they provided to our stories. Some moments were extremely happy, some were sad, but the shared experience is the thing that binds people. It provides the meaning of everything.  Life brings people into your life and whisks them away as well. All provide a lesson and a spice to your life.  I have been blessed in life to have experienced a lot of spice. And to all the people who provided them over the years, I wish you were here. We’re just two lost souls
    Swimming in a fish bowl. Year after year. Running over the same old ground. And how we found. The same old fears, Wish you were here.

Spin Doctors by Mike Martin

October 29, 2017- Nostalgic Music Month: Spin DoctorsMy brother Kevin Canders told me that I had hit the “bottom of the barrel” when announced to the family that I had decided to take a job selling vacuums. He was wrong.

This is an abbreviate post. It’s Sunday, and thanks to an emergency brake job, a skylight repair, two hockey practices, and a Halloween skating party. I have all of 15 minutes to write this, I could use an entire day.

My most productive period as a door to door vacuum cleaner salesman was from the spring to the fall of 1993. I was a “Van Master” working for Dan Wallace (DW)-a Kirby Vacuum Company legend. We had spent the spring recruiting college kids, out of work construction workers, and one trust fund baby.

Frank Brophy was smart and could answer just every Jeopardy question correctly. Dependency issue got the best of him, and by the time I had met him 1992, he was a shell of his former self. He didn’t have a driver’s license and starting selling Kirby’s with help from the Bangor, Maine public transit.

I think Frank worked for six months before he sold first Kirby, but by the fall of 1993, he was a door knocking machine and a staple on my Kirby sales van. Although several people accompanied Frank and me on our van, Josh Enman and Shawn Towne (after we drove to Milo, got Shawn out of bed, and force him to sell a Kirby to his neighbor on his very first demonstration) were the core of our sales crew.

We sold several Kirby’s daily on the days that worked, but we also never passed up the chance to (Blank) Off as DW would say. One of those days when we decide that there were better things to do, we took the Kirby van to a Spin Doctors concert in Portland. Maine. I must say, it was well worth missing out on the money that I would have made otherwise.

The Spin Doctors are a rock band from the USA that was formed in New York City. They are best known for two hit songs.

Spin Doctors – Two Princes – YouTube

 

This one, got a princely racket

That’s what I said, now

Got some big seal upon his jacket

Ain’t in his head, now

You marry him, your father will condone you

How ’bout that, now

You marry me, your father will disown you

He’ll eat his hat, now

Marry him or marry me

I’m the one that loves you baby can’t you see?

I ain’t got no future or a family tree

But I know what a prince and lover ought to be

I know what a prince and lover ought to be
Spin Doctors – Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong – YouTube

 

Little miss, little miss little miss can’t be wrong

Ain’t no body gonna bow no more when you sound your gong

Little miss, little miss little miss can’t be wrong

Whatcha go’n do to get into another one of these here

Rock ‘n’ roll songs

Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

 

 

 

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville

 

Turn Me Loose on the Midnight Train to Anywhere

Nostalgic Music Month Day 28

Journey by Jon Hilton

In the early 80’s the music of Steve Perry and the group Journey was a part of the fabric of my life. When I remember the high school freshman version of myself. I am sitting in an English class at Lincoln Academy, listening to my teacher Mr. Murphy rattle on about sentence structure. Staring out the window at the rain-soaked soccer field, watching the seagulls fly around and eat worms. My only thought was, “I have four more years of this? I’ll never make it through the boredom.”  The Journey song, Don’t Stop Believing always takes me back to that version of myself and the lessons I learned then. I did make it and it wasn’t all that bad. Now those days are just a random memory or two.  Thank you, Journey, for all the help along the way.

  1. Don’t Stop Believin’– From the opening notes, this song always makes me feel 15. Even though I have never been to Detroit, and I have never taken the midnight train to anywhere, I can relate to that feeling as a young man. We all have dreams, goals, and things we want to experience in life. I am still chasing my dreams and will continue until the day the game ends. This song was a motivation then and it still is today. There is always a chance to achieve success and get what you want in life.  Just Don’t Stop Believing. Working hard to get my fill.Everybody wants a thrill. Payin’ anything to roll the dice, Just one more time. Some will win, some will lose. Some were born to sing the blues. Oh, the movie never ends. It goes on and on and on and on.
  2. Lights– This song takes me to a visit of the 19-year-old version of me. I was living in South Portland, at SMVTI. It was located right on the ocean and at night you had the perfect view of Portland Harbor with all the lights of the city and the boats coming and going along with the lighthouse at Spring Point. It was a time of freedom and growth that only a young man can know. If I only knew how much more I needed to learn then. But youth doesn’t see life that way. It is protected by a lack of experience and a confidence life can take away from you. We were all golden then.  When the lights go down in the city. And the sun shines on the bay. I want to be there yeah, in my city. Ooh, ooh. So you think you’re lonely
    Well, my friend, I’m lonely too. I want to go back to my city by the bay.
  3. Wheel In the Sky– Most functional people set goals and have desires about the things they want to achieve. Sometimes we experience glitches in the system that appear to be setbacks toward our dreams. But when you look at any experience from the end back, you can see how that perceived bad luck actually pushed you toward success. You gained a valuable skill or learned a lesson you needed. That is how the game of life works. The wheel in the sky reminds me of this, to be hopeful in our down times that they will take you where you want to go. It is just not in the fashion you thought you would arrive there. Life is a growth game,  it serves people well to remember that. Oh the wheel in the sky keeps on turning
    I don’t’ know where I’ll be tomorrow.
  4. Feeling That Way– If you have any doubt that Steve Perry’s voice isn’t one of the greatest instruments in music, then listen to this song. When Perry sings his part it grabs you and makes you remember all the times that you were wondering if she was feeling that way about you, or not. This song is a memory of all of those summertime romances. Some were feeling that way and some weren’t. All of the lovely ones that I am thinking of had an impact on me in the best of ways. Take a trip to a memory and listen to this song and appreciate the talent that is and was Steve Perry.  When the summer’s gone. She’ll be there standing by the light. What she’s been to, where she’s gone to. She should know wrong from right. Is she feeling? Are you feeling, you feeling that way too?  Or am I just, am I just a fool?
  5. Still They Ride– Even though it has been over 30 years since I had my moments of growth at Lincoln Academy. There is still a part of me that is firmly rooted in that community. it takes a short trip to
    Midnight train going anywhere

    Damariscotta/Newcastle to be flooded with memories of those old times and the people that I shared that experience with. I still see Wright’s Store in my mind, the arcade at Laverdiere’s.  Yellowfront Grocery downtown, and a thousand other things that have changed. I don’t want them back because they could never be as good in reality as they seem in my memory.  But maybe just for a moment, we can still cruise through town and see those familiar faces one more time.  This ol’ town, ain’t the same
    Now nobody knows his name. Times have changed, still, he rides. Traffic lights, keepin’ time. Leading the wild and restless through the night.

    Loverboy  by Mike Martin

    Today is a good day to pick on my uncle Billy. I coached Madelyn’s softball team this year. I was somewhat hesitant to volunteer my serveries to the team.  Madelyn, like her father, is intense. She speaks her mind and is not scared to show her emotions.

    These facts left me hesitant to lead the team because I wasn’t sure how Maddy would respond to my leadership style. She responded well and the season was a success, concluding with a playoff victory and a sleepover birthday party.

    After our playoff win, the Superstars (the name the 9 and 10-year-old team members decided to call our team) were all recognized for a prominent trait they had shown over the course of the season.

    We, the coaches of the Belgrade Superstars, gave each team member a team photo with a certificate, an award thanking them for their commitment and dedication. Superstars were recognized for loyalty, leadership, dedication, confidence, courage, positive attitude, and other qualities that they brought to our team. Maddy was recognized for her passion.

    Passion is a Martin family tradition and every time I watched Maddy respond passionately to a circumstance created from her involvement on the team. I would think of my uncle Billy.

    Bill Martin is a passionate man. When I was young, I spent much time with my uncle. He is someone that can be counted on. He was always available for the loan of a car or a ride to the concert. (Or a ride home from California but that is a story for another day)

    Loverboy is a Canadian rock band formed in 1979 in Calgary, Alberta. Throughout the 1980s, Loverboy accumulated numerous hit songs in Canada and the United States, earning four multi-platinum albums and selling millions of records.

    In 1982, Loverboy was extremely popular, and when they were scheduled to play at the Augusta Maine Civic Center during the summer of 1982, all my friends wanted to go. I could have found another ride to the show, but my uncle Billy volunteered to be our chaperon, so I had to accept his offer

    I was thankful for the ride, but my uncle, my cousin Heidi and our friend Lisa Rowe were ready to leave long before I was. I am not sure how Heidi and Lisa found me during Loverboy’s performance, but they did, so I had to leave early. Just like I’m ending this post early because Jon Hilton is in a hurry because he is working this weekend vs Working For The Weekend.

    Everybody’s working for the weekend
    Everybody wants a little romance
    Everybody’s goin’ off the deep end
    Everybody needs a second chance, oh
    You want a piece of my heart
    You better start from start
    You wanna be in the show
    Come on baby lets go

     

    Loverboy – Turn Me Loose 
    I was born to run
    I was born to dream
    The craziest boy you ever seen
    I gotta do it my way
    Or no way at all

    Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

    #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville

Maiden Against The Wind

Nostalgic Music Month Day 27

Bob Segar by Jon Hilton

In my musical history, there are several chapters that have been punctuated by the music of Bob Segar. From the time I was a hormonal high school kid to becoming a “responsible” adult, there are messages in these songs which are relatable to my life situations.  From trying to lose those awkward teenage blues to realizing we need to have beliefs that stick with us like a rock. Life is a constant pattern of change and development. The music of Bob Segar has helped a generation or two become more aware of these patterns and to be the best they can be.

  1. Night Moves– The biggest focus of a young man is young ladies. In my early life, winning the affection of girls was one of the most important goals of all activities. I liked sports because they were fun, but also a good way to meet girls. So from an early age, I was working on my “night moves”. This song allows you the chance to look back and idealize those times and the people that you knew. Everyone is young in your memory and none are touched with the harsh pains that reality and loss can bring. Some days it is enough to be able to remember the times before we had so much experience.  I awoke last night to the sound of thunder. How far off I sat and wondered. Started humming a song from 1962. Ain’t it funny how the night moves. When you just don’t seem to have as much to lose
    Strange how the night moves. With autumn closing in. 
  2. Still the Same– Aging is a process that nobody is really prepared for. For much of life we just ignore the fact that we will get older, it will be something that will happen later on. It isn’t relevant now. I am only 20. I am only 30. I am only 40.  It stops there. Nobody ever said I am only 50.  No, at that point you realize that you getting old is happening. Like it or not. But inside, people feel exactly the same. The essence that is you does remain the same. It has more experience and hopefully has figured a few things out about life. But inside we are still the same you. And you’re still the same. I caught up with you yesterday. Moving game to game. No one standing in your way. Turning on the charm. Long enough to get you by
    You’re still the same. You still aim high. 
  3. Mainstreet– There have been a few main streets that have been a part of my life. One for sure is in Damariscotta, Maine. We had nothing better to do than to cruise around town. Ride from one end to the other, to see what is happening? Then to continue on our way to that happening.  Were these wasted times or were they great memories I am not sure. But today if I go to that town, that is what I think of. Cruising around Damariscotta/Newcastle, looking for trouble. I guess we all had to find it somewhere. Through the long lonely nights she filled my sleep. Her body softly swaying to that smoky beat. Down on Mainstreet.
  4. Against the Wind– In any life of substance, there are going to be times that you take a wrong turn, or make a poor decision. That is what happens. These are the moments when we are running against the wind. We will either learn how to adjust our sails and use the wind to our advantage. Or we will allow that wind to blow us under.  There is nothing wrong with the experience of taking a wrong turn because, in the broad tapestry of life, you may gain a skill you need to reach your success. A broken heart today, can lead you to find the person who will allow you to become your best self.  There is no point in regret because the past can’t change and nobody is perfect. Understanding this is one of the first steps to happiness in life.  Well those drifter’s days are past me now. I’ve got so much more to think about. Deadlines and commitments. What to leave in, what to leave out. Against the wind. I’m still runnin’ against the wind I’m older now but still runnin’ against the wind.
  5. Like a Rock– If you take some time and listen to Bob Segar you will feel like you did back in the summertime of your youth. I don’t care who you are, there were moments when you felt like you were indestructible. Life can systematically dismantle this confidence if you let it. The fears and doubts that come into your mind, slowly chip away at your confidence because you know that you can be hurt and you can lose things and people. The fear of losing these things can become worse than the actual experience of loss.  We all still have that strength inside of us, that will allow you to try again, start over and build something totally new. This is courage and it is in you, standing there just like a rock.  I also have the urge to buy a Chevy truck when I hear this song for some reason. My hands were steady. My eyes were clear and bright. My walk had purpose
    My steps were quick and light. And I held firmly To what I felt was right,
    Like a rock. 

 Iron Maiden by  Mike Martin

 

Iron Maiden is an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter, Steve Harris. The band has produced thirty-eight albums, including sixteen studio albums, eleven live albums, four EPs, and seven compilations.

I swear that I have seen Iron Maiden in concert twice both times at the San Diego Sports Arena accompanied by Michael Lally, a longtime friend, and Jolly J shipmate. I got to see Mike the last time I was In Vegas. I met his wife and soul mate, Bonnie and got to watch his youngest child and only son. David, play baseball.

It is a great thing when you see someone that you haven’t seen in 26 years and it feels like you saw them yesterday. Of course, Mike looked a little older and seem a bit more mature, but the bond that share was unchanged and exactly as it was back in the 1980s.

The funny thing about memories is that they are often skewed-the human mind is complicated to understand. I researched Iron Maiden’s 1985-1987 tour dates, and they appeared twice in San Diego during this time frame, on March 23, 1985, their World Slavery Tour and on February 24, 1987, their Somewhere On Tour.

Well, I know for a fact that Mike and I saw the 1987 Iron Maiden show and I know for a fact that I wasn’t welcomed aboard the USS Jouett CG-29 until the early fall of 1985, so there is no way that I saw the 1985 Iron Maiden show in San Diego. I am just wondering where that memory comes from, maybe Mike’s accounts of the World Slavery Tour were so descriptive that I have mentally decided to share his memories, which works perfectly fine for me.

Pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal, Iron Maiden achieved initial success during the early 1980s. After several line-up changes, the band went on to release a series of platinum and gold albums, Since the return of lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith in 1999, the band has undergone a resurgence in popularity and released their sixteenth studio album, The Book of Souls, on 4 September 2015.

I don’t listen to Iron Maiden much anymore and don’t believe that I have even heard one song on their 2015 studio album. But, what I do know for sure is, if my old pal Michael Lally asked me to see Iron Maiden with him for a “third” time, I would be there with bells on!

Iron Maiden – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Full Length

The mariner kills the bird of good omen
His shipmates cry against what he’s done
But when the fog clears, they justify him
And make themselves a part of the crime.

Sailing on and on and north across the sea
Sailing on and on and north ’til all is calm.

Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

Running on American Pie

Nostalgic Music Month Day 25

Jackson Browne by Jon Hilton

Jackson Browne has been an icon for several generations of people. In my life, he has provided comfort in times when things didn’t go so well. But also his songs remind me of the way we live life in the United States. Much of what we have is unprecedented in the history of mankind. We are tremendously fortunate to live the way we do, but we seem unaware of our good luck.  People spend time separating themselves from others, rather than enjoying all we have together.  Jackson Browne reminds me of times in my life where I have had experiences with people who were caring, real and helped me out for no reason other than their own innate goodness.  All people are capable of great goodness and also great evil. We choose where we fall, and the music of Jackson Browne will make sure you fall on the side of goodness.

  1. The Pretender–  There is a dream that we were all taught from a young age. Go to school, get an education, get a good job, be a responsible consumer, retire and wait to die. This is the life of a pretender I think. In my life, I didn’t fit into that plan too well.  Although I tried, it still didn’t fit. Like I was playing a part. Just pretending. There is a calling in all of us to do something bigger than ourselves. I envy all people who understand immediately what that calling is for them. I am still trying to figure this all out for myself.  We are all pretenders to some degree, playing roles throughout life. If we try hard enough we might not even see that they are not who we are.   I want to know what became of the changes, We waited for love to bring. Were they only the fitful dreams. Of some greater awakening? I’ve been aware of the time going by They say in the end it’s the wink of an eye. When the morning light comes streaming in, You’ll get up and do it again Amen.
  2. Running on Empty– Who hasn’t felt like this. Life can take a lot out of you. There are times when you have all you can do to put your feet on the floor every morning. The tank is low and you are just hoping that you can make it to the next chance to get filled up. We are filled up with the love and kindness of other people. Then things change, a new job, a new relationship, or some other circumstance comes to you and life moves easier.  But you should never forget the times you were running on empty and the lessons born from those moments. Hopefully, one time is enough to learn all you need to know.  For anyone who is running on empty today, it will get better. Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels. I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
    Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
    Looking into their eyes I see them running too.
  3. Doctor My Eyes– Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. This simple phrase from Friday Night Lights says all you need to know about life. This song seems to express the desire I have had about looking at life. We all choose to see the world in a certain way. Some choose to see it as a world full of danger and fear. This leads to a heart that is not so full, because you are always trying to protect what you have, rather than share it with others.  I see the world as an opportunity to find happiness and to become a better version of myself. The good news is that you don’t need a doctor to clear up your vision of the world, just the ability to make different choices. How you look at things determines much of what you see.  Doctor, my eyes have seen the years, And the slow parade of fears without crying, Now I want to understand. I have done all that I could. To see the evil and the good without hiding. You must help me if you can.
  4. These Days– All that we have is the time that we are given. It could all be over in a second. As a young person, I never thought about how soon it could be over. You just take this life for granted and assume that it will get better on its own. It won’t. If you don’t take responsibility for your part and take action toward what you desire, nothing will happen. These days we all are living the life our choices has created over the years. The circumstances may be out of our control, but our reactions and actions are all ours. We are 100% in control of the choices we make in every moment. If we are of sound mind, then there is no reason to blame anything or anyone from our past. You are responsible for you! Today is up to you. That is what Jackson Browne taught me in this song. Things are bound to be improving these days. One of these days. These days I sit on cornerstones. And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend. Don’t confront me with my failures. I have not forgotten them.
  5. Your Bright Baby Blues– There have been people I have known who have helped me in my journey. Some do not know how much they have assisted me. They may have only been in my life for a short time, but it was a vital short time. It is amazing that people don’t know the positive effect they can have on another in their journey. My path has taken me on many roads, and on each, I have learned something of value, even though the experience hasn’t always been pleasant. There have always been pleasant things and people sent my way to assist me along the way. This song reminds me of all of those who have helped me survive the difficult times of change and loss. Hopefully, I have been there for those who need me in their times of challenge and change.  I am grateful to the bright baby blues that pulled me through.  ‘Cause I’ve been up and down this highway
    Far as my eyes can see. No matter how fast I run. I can never seem to get away from me. No matter where I am. I can’t help thinkin’ I’m just a day away From where I want to be. Now I’m running home baby. Like a river to the sea. 

Don McLean by Mike Martin

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth is going splendidly. I must admit that it is incredibly challenging to produce some kind of nostalgic music feeling and put it to words daily during the month of October.

I’ve had some successful productions, some so-so productions, and one complete failure when I failed to save my Day 22 submission (a big thank you to U2 for saving my bloody Sunday.)

Today, thanks to my old pal and shipmate, Roger Alston. I am celebrating the West Pac of 86-87 and the “day the music died”

American Pie is a song by American folk-rock singer and songwriter Don McLean. Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one hit for four weeks in 1972 and refers to the 1959 plane crash which killed three young rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.

Roger remained me yesterday that we listened to American Pie often on

American Pie

the USS Jouett CG-29. During my first West Pac, Roger along with our fellow shipmate Audraft Alfonso Young were my tour guides. Roger and Audraft had complete a cruise before I arrived on the Jolly J and each was full of knowledge about how to get the most from visiting the countries of the Pacific.

We had much much fun while on the cruise of 86-87, and I am very thankful for the wisdom shared from my fellow shipmates. But, the most memorable parts (outside of the fortunate car wreck that brought Bill Spillman and I a little extra time on the beach in Australia) are from the

Polly wog to Shellback

time that we spent “Haze Grey and Underway.”

Without going into great detail, we spent our time painting just about everything we could get our hands on, laughing incessantly at a slew of practical jokes that we played on anyone and everyone, while I grew from a mere “Polly Wog” to a seasoned “Shellback”.

Crossing the equator on naval vessels is a religious experience. For Shellbacks like Rog and Draft, you get to beat your fellow shipmates with a firehose as you direct “Polly Wogs” such as myself through garbage pits and other disgusting and painful exercises.

The highlight of the ceremony is a beauty contest and getting your face shoved into a fat man’s belly. I survived and lived to share the experience with others, but I swear that the 12 hours that we, the Ploy Wogs of the Jolly J during the cruise of 86-87, endured more than I was ever allowed

A different American Pie

to inflict on any Polly Wog that I helped initiate.

Don McLean now lives in Rockland, Maine, the town that host the World famous Maine Lobster Festival, which is about an hour from my house. There is controversy around where American Pie was written and what the lyrics represent.

When asked what American Pie meant, McLean jokingly replied, “It means I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to.”

Later, Mclean stated, “You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me … Sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence

I am not sure if I really care what kind of statement Maclean was trying to make through the lyrics of America Pie. What I do know is that this song will forever remind me of three people: Roger Alston, my longtime friend and shipmate 2. Adam Peterson, my longtime friend, a bar patron, former roommate, and candlepin bowling teammate. 3. Danny Daigle, my lifelong friend, a childhood neighbor, and former paperboy.

Don McLean- American Pie (with Lyrics)

But February made me shiver
With every 
paper, I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step

Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville

#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville