Kenny Loggins "This Is It"

SIGN OF THE TIMES:

"This Is It" from Kenny Loggins charted on the Hot Soul Singles Chart in 1979. The chart has been renamed several times since then but, next time you think Soul music, try to remember the smooth Yacht Rock sounds of Loggins and Michael McDonald.

Bob Seger "Old Time Rock 'n Roll"

Figuring I would have enough money, I opted not to go to the bank the morning of my first date. I budgeted enough money to afford two bleacher tickets and beverages at New Comiskey Park in Chicago. First things first: I had to wake up my brother who the night prior volunteered to pick up my date Megan. My Grandpa agreed to drive us to the White Sox game that June 1992 afternoon...it was senior citizen day, so his ticket was half-price.

Seeing as it was 10:00 A.M. and my brother still hadn't emerged from his bedroom, I knocked and reminded him we needed to pick up Megan. A few minutes later, he emerged...shirtless...and we hopped into his Nissan. "Oh, great," I thought, "Megan's gonna see Mr. Muscles here and dump me." After Eric dropped us off at our grandparents, my Grandpa was already outside waiting for us. We all piled into his car and headed to Chicago's South Side. At the ticket window, I gasped after noticing a hand-written sign "Bleachers: SOLD OUT!". After purchasing two outfield reserved seats, my budget was blown. I had enough cash to buy Megan something to drink or eat...nothing else. Somehow Grandpa must've noticed my body language because he pulled me close and said, "I see you're a little short on cash," and slipped me money. Now, you should know that my Grandpa was one of the thriftiest humans to ever walk the earth. He's send me with $2 to buy milk and ask for the change (plus the receipt). For him to offer me money was quite a feat!

With a newfound confidence, Megan and I headed to our seats. Grandpa made himself scarce after a couple innings to give Megan and me some alone time. Our seats placed us directly in the sunlight and before long I dipped into my precious stash o' cash to buy Megan a Coke. When I pulled out the money Grandpa gave me, I expected to find a $10 or maybe a $20 bill. Instead, a waded up $5 bill looked back at me. Well, it was better than a dollar.

Grandpa reappeared at the end of the game just before the White Sox lost the game. He found a friend from his old company and chatted with him during the game. Sun burnt, broke and out of conversation, I was ready to go home.

After someone cut off Grandpa in the parking lot, his infamous temper made a cameo. "Where the fuck do you think you're going," he growled. At some point on the drive home, Gramps turned on the radio and Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock 'n Roll" played. It was one of the few songs I remember him dancing to at my Uncle Bob's reception the previous June. Up went the volume and home went the three of us.

Megan decided we should be friends and that was that. I still blame my brother for not wearing a shirt.

Spyro Gyra "Morning Dance"

You might remember watching The Weather Channel's Local Forecast segment and hearing "Morning Dance" from Spyro Gyra. The jazz fusion instrumental actually topped the Adult Contemporary Chart for a week in July 1979.

Billy Joel "Honesty"

"You ain't old. That song might be old, but you ain't old."

-Tamika (the security guard in my office building)

Supertramp "The Logical Song"

Supertramp made use of video and board games to accompany the keyboards, castanets and various other instruments in "The Logical Song". Specifically, you'll hear the Pop-o-Matic Bubble from the board game Trouble! and a sound effect from the handheld Mattel football game. The song went on to become a Top 10 hit for the band in 1979 and remains a staple on Classic Rock radio stations today.

Little River Band "Lonesome Loser"

How excited is this old soul to overhear a 26 year-old refer to Little River Band as "LRB"?!? Anwer: ecstatic! For someone born in the year 1993 to be familiar with a song released in 1979 speaks to how far fans of Yacht Rock music extend. No longer is the genre for people who grew up during the era of smooth music -- it's now reached a new generation of fans who now are hearing it for the first time and suddenly groups like Hall & Oates, Toto and Little River Band ("LRB") are cool once again. Sail on...

Queen "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

Am I the only one who used to think that Kenny Loggins sang "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"?

Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright "With You I'm Born Again"

On Valentine's Day in 1994, WPNT afternoon jock Ken Cocker teased that he would soon play one of the most romantic songs ever made. I quickly wondered what song that could be as I'm sure you also could come up with a half-dozen songs that would fit into that category, right? Cocker eventually played "Your Song". The simple tune indeed is a great love song, but I have my own favorite.

With its flowing melodies and gentle yet soaring chorus, I nominate "With You I'm Born Again" from Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright as an even better "most romantic song ever". I first heard the song on Love-FM, a format that later replaced WPNT, and immediately fell in love with it. In fact, I remember getting goosebumps after hearing it. The sweet song begins slowly (heck, it fades in) and then Preston and Syreeta's understated vocals playfully tease your ears as the percussion and strings join in, build and, eventually, the song takes off. You might find yourself singing at the top of your lungs just as the ballad softly comes to an end...leaving you wanting more.

Prince "I Wanna Be Your Lover"

A recent eight-day trip to Florida to renovate a beach house forced me to live like a Florida local and, for once, not a tourist. There were no trips to the pool, Gulf of Mexico or miniature golf, but rather lots of trips to the hardware and tile store. With a long list of things to do and limited time, I went to work each morning and even borrowed my dad's 1998 Buick LeSabre to make my first of a half-dozen treks to the local Home Depot. Trying to remember where I parked isn't easy in the first place, but when every other car in the parking lot is a Buick, it's that much harder.

One morning, I tuned on the Buick's radio and ended up listening to WDUV-FM "The Dove". The radio station clearly targeted an older audience as it didn't seem to play anything beyond the mid-1980s. The station was a time machine to what Adult Contemporary radio stations sounded like in 1988--minus any elevator music. Just lots and lots of soft rock. You know what? I actually found myself enjoying the no-nonsense and music-intensive delivery. One particular ride down Cortez Road in Bradenton featured The Dove spinning Christopher Cross, Lionel Richie, Chicago, and Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (and odd choice but, again, I'm not complaining). I even caught a bit of Delilah on my ride home and found myself having my own Calgon moment.

Kenny Rogers "You Decorated My Life"

I still remember eating applesauce in a suburban (aren't they all?) Red Lobster at the innocent age of seven and being asked who my favorite musician was. "Kenny Rogers!" I immediately answered. Why Kenny Rogers, you ask? Well, I had no idea who Kenny was or what he sang. I did remember my neighbor's mom always talked about him and I thought he must be a nice guy.

Doobie Brothers "What A Fool Believes"

BELIEVE IT OR NOT?

Michael Jackson once boasted to his pal Elizabeth Taylor that he provided backing vocals for the Doobie Brother's Minute By Minute album--specifically for the title track as well as the album's biggest hit: "What A Fool Believes". Members of the Doobie Brothers dispute this story.

England Dan & John Ford Coley "Love is the Answer"

England Dan & John Ford Coley made the song "Love is the Answer" a hit in 1979. The song is found on an album with one of the greatest names ever: Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive.

Peaches & Herb "Reunited"

How did I know the soft rock radio station where I was working in 2002 jumped the shark? After years of branding themselves as "never lite, sleepy, snoring, or boring", the station took a left turn and added burnt-out soft rock songs to their music library. This allowed "gems" such as "Reunited" to see the light of day. The result: it didn't feel so good. Ratings at the station dipped and within a few months the Program Director was fired followed by a complete format flip to an "all-80's and 90's" format.

Dionne Warwick "Deja Vu"

I once worked with a fascinating guy who worked as a radio DJ at two different stations in the same city. Because of that, his Program Director made him change his name so as to not confuse the listeners. Since it was a rock station, he decided to use the name Ron Dezvous.

Little River Band "Lady"

We're joining our friends the Little River Band today, so grab your walking shoes as we go for a relaxing five minute stroll and get introduced to a "Lady".

Donna Summer "On The Radio"

Speaking of Donna Summer, her 1979 disco favorite "On The Radio" was a such a hit that the TV game show The Price Is Right would play an instrumental version of the tune whenever a prize included a jukebox or radio.

The Doobie Brothers - "Minute By Minute"

Depending on how you view things, The Doobie Brothers either beat themselves or lost to themselves.  Their 1979 hit "Minute By Minute was nominated for the Song of the Year Grammy Award but it lost to "What A Fool Believes" -- the band's other big hit.  Congratulations and I'm sorry.

Earth, Wind & Fire - "After the Love Has Gone"

Hall & Oates didn't want to sing a song they didn't write themselves, so they gave a hard pass to "After the Love Has Gone".  Enter Earth, Wind & Fire who took the song, but struggled to perform it.  The group tried several different takes over multiple days before achieving one they all agreed was best.  The song topped out at #2 on the Hot 100 and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Charts in 1979.

Sister Sledge - "We Are Family"

Every time Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" plays, a wedding reception breaks out.

Nicolette Larson - "Let Me Go, Love"

The buttery smooth voice of Michael McDonald supports Nicolette Larson in the 1979 dentist office favorite, "Let Me Go, Love".  While the song isn't considered a duet, one listen to the tune and you'll agree McDonald does more than just provide backing vocals -- in fact, some have argued that his voice overshadowed hers.