Since first grade Dad's Car Radio has been an idea and a connection between my father and I since he drove me to school on the first day in first grade. I really don't even remember a time when I wasn't listening to music and I really do have my dad to thank for that. Since today is in fact Fathers Day I thought it was more than appropriate to make todays post about artists who were recommended by none other than my father, because without him there wouldn't be a dad or a car, just a radio.
1. Was (Not Was)
A band I was introduced to in first grade was, "Was (Not Was)" and more specifically the song "Walk The Dinosaur" from the first time hearing it I loved the song and I listened to it so much that the disk got stuck in our car CD player for a little over a year if I remember correctly. There were other songs by the band that I didn't like at first but eventually warmed up to, for example "Dad, I'm In Jail" which as a first grader was creepy but as a highschool senior the song is hilarious.
buy the song here on iTunes:
2. The B-52's
In 5th grade I was one of the few children who not only knew who the B-52's were, but actually listened to them on a regular basis. I even brought in a burned copy of the song "Mesopotamia" to the 5th grade ancient history class to listen to while we worked on projects about the city where they "laid down the law." I just had a conversation with my dad last week about how he missed seeing the band live because it was at a time when I had recently been born and he didn't feel right going out. Needless to say I told him that it was a huge mistake and he only would have missed me drooling for a few hours.
3. Warren Zevon
For a lot of people my age, the most people have listened to of the late great Warren Zevon is the catchy tune playing in the background of Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" No offense to Kid Rock as a person, but when I heard "All Summer Long" on the way to school one morning I turned to my dad and then told him how I wanted to punch him in the face for disgracing Warren like that. The original song, "Werewolves of London" was my favorite song before I could understand what the lyric about the little old lady getting mutilated even meant. And now that I have a more extensive vocabulary I still call this tune one of my favorite songs. Warren Zevon also wrote the songs like "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Lawyers Guns and Money" which looking back at their titles now makes me thankful I was too shy to sing these songs on the playground.
A Quiet Normal Life – The Best of Warren Zevon
4. Herbie Hancock and the song "Watermelon Man"
Not til this year have I actually enjoyed the fruit watermelon but since I was a child I have always loved the song "Watermelon Man." With virtually no lyrics the song consists of a jazz melody that even got a shy little girl like me to dance at one time or another. Herbie's album "Head Hunters" includes other tunes of great musical value but it really is "Watermelon Man" that I have to call my personal favorite.
5. Peter Clough
Although my dad isn't a professional recording artist that doesn't stop him from creating songs on a daily basis. Some last 10 second and others are full songs but they all are entertaining and almost always hilarious. Now that I'm older I can contribute to these songs but when I was younger I'd sit in awe at my dad's improvisation skills with lyrics. My favorite song is "I'm Gonna Lock You In My Trunk" which was always a failed attempt at getting me to behave because even at a young age I knew how to rebuttal with the "I'll tell mom or call child services" response. My least favorite however was "We Make The Rules" which is still sometimes used as a tool to annoy me to no end. If you can't imagine the song picture a pouting child with a parent dancing around them singing about how much power they have over them because they do indeed make the rules.
My dad and I never really connected about sports or theatre but one thing we always have shared is a love of music. And if it isn't obvious that's what this whole website is really based on. Music is one of those things that can be shared over generations and I'm glad that we can share new and old music with our readers.