My musical taste is, like so many great AM radio stations I have enjoyed, “All Over The Road.” I grew up hearing (and enjoying) pop music from such 70’s and early 80’s standbys as The Doobie Brothers, Olivia Newton-John, The Spinners, Captain and Tennille, etc. I was devoted to 80’s top 40 during my high school years, and those songs still are among my favorites. And the 90’s songs I played during so many college radio shifts still bring a smile–moreso for the memories they bring than for the quality of the music.
But my favorite decade for music is the 1960s. Hands down, no negotiating. I heard those oldies but goodies on so many long car trips with my Dad. I listened to Oldies 98.9 WKLX for long, long sessions in college. And for over 15 years of morning shows, I played the hits of The Beatles, Petula Clark, The Beach Boys, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Monkees, The Association, The Four Tops, etc etc etc. and never tired of them. How can you go wrong with songs like this?
(When I saw The Association live in concert last summer, I damn near cried. The whole Happy Together show was just me with one big huge dopey smile on my face.)
So how do we get from rock and roll to Perry Como? Well, Frank Sinatra was my gateway drug to the world of adult standards. One day at WBSU I had to fill in on a jazz show and I was grasping at the record and CD library to find artists whose names I at least knew how to pronounce. There I found a CD of “Frank Sinatra Duets.” Hey! I know how to pronounce that name! I enjoyed what I heard and on a future trip to Media Play I bought a copy of the Duets CD for home listening.
Before long I was a hardcore Sinatra fan, digging the large box sets of his Capitol and Reprise years. But it wasn’t until I moved to Nebraska that I went further down the Great American Songbook wormhole. Seeing Andy Williams in Branson with my folks got me into his easy-going style. I also started digging into Bing Crosby’s non-yuletide work. And the amazing Bobby Darin, who–I read this in a biography–was so apt to…uh….reach climax during performances that his backstage team knew to leave a condom with his wardrobe before each show. Yick. Great singer though.
And then…then, came Perry Como.
The truth is, by the time I get home from a day in radioland, I’ve had my recommended daily allowance of rock and roll. If I’m listening to music at home, it’s to chill out. And Perry Como–Mr. C, if you will– is the man. Beautiful songs, marvelous voice. Here, have a listen:
He was 82 years old in this clip. I love how openly emotional the audience is. The song is by Don McLean by the way.
So, anyway…The Perry Como Renaissance! This past Christmas another of his 1970s holiday TV specials was released on DVD. And in just one week…
(“Perry Como’s Music Hall” was originally “Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall”, sponsored by the people who invented Velveeta. I am guessing the DVD will have the original title of the show, but they didn’t want to give Kraft a free plug on the label.)
I have made the point a time or two that sometimes I think I’m the only person who buys a given DVD. But then I realize: They wouldn’t go to all the trouble to put this out if there weren’t a few thousand people with exquisite taste such as myself.
Two DVDs within a year of each other! Let the Renaissance continue!