5 Retro things I've always wanted

Congas and bongos

As a kid, I loved watching I Love Lucy reruns.  My favorite segments of the show were of Desi Arnaz performing in his nightclub The Tropicana. I was always enthralled with the skill and passion that Desi Arnaz oozed while singing and playing his percussion instruments.

I've never been an aspiring musician, but have always had the inkling to take up a musical instrument.  I've messed around with a few musical instruments in my time, but those from the percussion family have always been my favorites.  I did recently buy a modest pair of bongos, and really dig playing around with them.  Playing them feels so natural, and whenever I lay into them, beats come to mind out of nowhere.  Arranging them into rhythmic time with my hands, feels almost as easy as breathing.  I'm not entirely sure why I didn't get into trying my hand at them years ago, but better late than never.

A Ukelele

I'd love to own a ukulele, and learn how to play it.  To me, the ukuleles has always been an endearing instrument synonymous with Polynesian and tiki culture.  How cool would it be to pluck away at one of these at a tiki party, pool party, BBQ, camp fire, while relaxing on the beach, or lounging around in the backyard?  They're so small and compact, you could literally take them anywhere.  My daughter actually wanted one, so we got one for her as a gift.  She's taught herself how to play it, and can compose little ditty's very quickly.

A smoking jacket

Do I smoke?  No.  Am I an aspiring playboy?  Heck no.

I've just always thought smoking jackets were ultra swank!  As a young boy,  I used to see celebrities like Jackie Gleason, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Desi Arnaz, Sherman Hemsley aka George Jefferson, and Cary Grant donning flashy smoking jackets whilst relaxing and unwinding.



The purpose of the smoking jacket was quite simple.  A quality smoking jacket was/is an extremely comfortable garment, made for the express purpose of protecting underclothing from ashes and the smell of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke.  However, they also became widely accepted as a men's garment worn for domestic leisure.  Ah yes, I can imagine sitting back in my easy chair on a cold winter night in a soft silk smoking jacket, matching slippers, heck.. maybe even a fez.  No stogies or cigarette's.. just a good book and maybe a nice glass of cognac.  Now that's the good life!

Schwinn Phantom Bicycle

I've always loved the classic lines and styling of the 1950's Schwinn Phantom.  These bikes are extremely collectible now, and while I can't afford to buy a vintage model, I've found a happy medium that's quickly filling the void.  That would be in the form of my Schwinn Legacy Beach Cruiser. 

My bike features the same frame and similar styling to a classic Phantom, minus several bells and whistles.  I've spent the last couple of summers modifying and customizing the bike to my liking, and it brings me great joy to ride it.

A Pinky Ring

Go ahead and laugh.  Most people including my bride usually chuckle or roll their eyes when I tell them I'm in the market for one.  However.. that just makes me want to get one even worse!  Sinatra, Tony Soprano, heck... even Dr. Evil wore pinky rings.  How can they not be cool?  Actually, ever since I was a kid and saw my old man wearing a pinky ring he bought back in the 60's, I've wanted one.  His ring had a lion head with red ruby's for the eyes.  The fact that my mother didn't care for it, further added to the excitement of getting one.  As a kid I got several cheap steel rings from bubble gum machines that I donned as pinky rings.  I remember one featuring a gorilla face, the other the wolf-man, and of course being a child of the 70's, had a gaggle of mood rings.  It seemed like I was always cleaning a perpetual green stain from my finger that those cheap things would leave behind, but I loved them and wore every one until the broke or wore out.

That's it for now.  Trust me.. I've got a huge retro want list.  These were just the first five things that came to mind, so I may have to continue this topic at a later date.  Are there any retro items that you've always wanted, but just haven't got around to buying yet?

6 retro phrases that I miss hearing..

I'm old school. I know know it, I'm fine with it, and I own it. This old school attitude also carries over into my linguistics, and I occasionally catch young punks people off guard with older sayings I utter. It didn't dawn on me until recently, that many of the phrases I use are quite old. I guess it should come as no surprise, because my parents and grand parents are where I learned most of them.

In no particular order, here are some old sayings I truly miss hearing but still use on a regular basis.

Fair to Middlin'
My grandfather used to love this one.  When I'm asked how I'm doing by an older person, or a Good Ol' Boy from down south or back east, I respond with "Fair to Middlin'". They get a kick out of it, and they totally recognize the old saying. Apparently the word Middling had to do with the best grade of cotton in the old days. Therefore, Fair to middlin' means you're somewhere between fair and very good. 

That really gets my goat!
For some reason, horses can act calmer and be less stressed with goats in their company. Race horses are no exception, and were often boarded with goats for this reason. A horse can get irritated or upset if their goat companion is taken away from them, which is supposedly how this saying came to life.

Blow your cap
Not sure of the origin on this one, but my friends and I always used to say it when we were referring to getting angry, or losing ones cool.

Judas Priest!!
Used in place of taking Jesus Christ's name in vain when angry. A lot of my childhood friends fathers and grandfathers used this one quite regularly.

They're 100 pounds soaking wet with 10 pound boots on.
Used in reference to scrawny, skinny, or petite folks.

Son of a biscuit!
Used in place of the uncouth alternative. Mind you.. this is a widely used saying in my workplace. One of my workmates who is a bit older, uses this very phrase along with "Shucks" as alternatives to foul language. Others at our company found it so amusing, that everyone who knows him has started repeating the phrases in lieu of using profanity!

I've got tons more, but I'm really dying to learn what old sayings and phrases you personally love, miss, and still use to this day. Let's hear them!

Heart warming thrift store finds..

I hate having to peruse thrift stores in a rushed fashion, but it can't be helped sometimes.  Here are some great finds I came across during a whirlwind retro treasure hunt one day. While I didn't buy every item pictured, I still found a couple bargains and spotted a few retro items that made me reminisce.

unused CRAIG handheld tape recorder $1.99

A technological device that has been far removed from society as of late.  There are many applications that this can be used in this day and age (I just need to find them).  My kid in college may be able to use this for recording lectures, and I might be able to utilize it if I interview anyone for a blog piece.

0.50¢ for a Frankie Yankovic polka album!

Rich and soulful Oktoberfest tunes!

 1974 Avon Barber pole cologne decanter $1.99

originally held 3 ounces of 'Wild Country' aftershave

70's Nut jar

70's Handmade coaster set.

I remember all kinds of folks being pretty crafty back in the day.  It's something that has made a comeback in recent years, and is pretty refreshing to see.  Heck.. my daughter is making her own jewelry, crocheting hats & head bands, and is getting ready to open her own Etsy store to sell her items in.

This item reminded me of the days when I had my own calligraphy and stationary sets as a kid.  This 'Gift-Maker' textile decorating paint set is just an example of how much more creative and artistic folks strived to be back in the day.  With this kit, you could create beautiful designs on aprons, purses, handkerchiefs, gloves, and all kinds of other clothing.

I collect beer steins, and my heart almost skipped a beat when I saw this mug.  Alas.. upon further inspection, it was made in Brazil rather than in Germany.

And finally, while it's not a retro item.. I found this Game-Boy Advance for 99 cents.  I wasn't sure if it worked or not, but seeing as there was a game cartridge still inside of it, I figured it was worth the gamble.

 

 

I got it home and put batteries in it to find it worked perfectly.  All I needed to do was buy a battery compartment door for it.  The door will cost me more than the unit and game cost, but in the end.. I'll only be into this thing for under $5.00.  Pretty good deal considering I've paid $50.00 for a used system with no game in the past for my daughter!

Not a bad outing, even though I was a bit rushed.  It's when I'm able to take my time in thrift stores and flea markets that I can really uncover some great finds.  Hopefully my next outing will produce even better results.

Exotica, Polka, and Cha Cha, Oh My!

Retro treasure hunting has paid off in a big way for me over the years, especially in regards to music.  Check out these albums I came across not too long ago for the cost of just 29¢ each..

This is a double album set with 20 of the greatest hits from one of the pioneers of Exotica music.. Les Baxter!

Another patriarch of Exotica music.. Arthur Lyman.  I'll tell you.. there's nothing better than sitting on the patio in the summer, sipping a Mai Tai, and relaxing to the soothing sounds of Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and Arthur Lyman.  I've already tested out these albums, and they play perfectly.  Once I get these ripped and uploaded to my iPod, I'll be able to jump into a tropical mindset no matter the season in this land locked state of Colorado.

I bought this one for Schnitz & Giggles

Not that I'm huge fan of polka or anything, but I do dig listening to it around Oktoberfest.  Ahh.. I can picture myself now filling up my Das Boot with Warsteiner Dunkel, eating Bretzels, Bock-wurst, und Sauerkraut, and listening to some good old fashioned Oompa music!

 If you don't love a good Cha Cha Cha.. then you need to get your pulse checked!

I didn't buy this one, 

but was perplexed by the album cover..

So there you have it.  Five way cool albums that play like they're brand new.  I basically got hours upon hours of listening pleasure for the cost of $1.45.  Most of the time I buy maybe one out of one hundred albums I like at thrift stores, because they're so badly damaged.  These albums I found on this particular day were grouped together by themselves, so I'm wondering if they were owned by the same person since they're in such pristine condition.

Oh.. and pictured below is one more throwback from the recent past for you.  An album hearkening back to a time when kids loved to be as active as they could.  They were hyper and energetic, and it wasn't due to having A.D.D.  I wonder, would the kids of today dig something like this in 2016?

Endangered retro terminology and words..

I love uttering words and phrases that I grew up hearing my folks and Grandparents use. I always get a kick out of blank stares I get from youngin's that aren't familiar with said expressions. However, I'm equally as pleased with the looks of amusement I get from those who are acquainted with such sayings and terms. Here's a few that have been running through my mind lately..


Ragamuffin
In my experiences as a boy, older folks would often refer to us kids as "Ragamuffin's" when we were dirty, messy, or shabbily dressed. We usually heard this term after a long hard day of playing outside when an adult would say something like.. "Judas Priest! Look at the state of you little Ragamuffin's!


Kismet
Basically another word for fate or destiny.


Tappets
Slang for the lifters inside of an engine that open the valves. Eventually, the camshaft that moves the lifters or the valve stem can eventually wear down enough to make the lifters click. On more than one occasion, I remember pulling up somewhere in my old jalopy, only to have an old timer tell me: "Sounds like you need to adjust yer tappets son".


Beer Nuts
These are still around, but a lot of younger folks I've talked to had no clue what they were. For my old man, Beer Nuts were the quintessential snack to eat with beer. He used to stock pile cans of these things in the cupboard for football games and boxing matches. I remember my Dad happily sharing his cans of Beer Nuts with me when I was a wee lad, and thinking I was getting away with something. I simply equated that the peanuts had beer in them because of the product name.


Dungarees
Many folks used to call jeans Dungarees. I remember getting perturbed at this when I was a kid thinking.. how dare they call my Levis 501's Dungarees?!?


Castor Oil
Ugh.. when I was a kid, many households had a bottle of castor oil on the closet or medicine shelf.  I'd go as far to say that almost every household had a bottle at the ready when my parents were kids. Castor Oil is a vegetable oil made from the castor bean, and is primarily used as a laxative. While my parents never made me consume the stuff.. my brother once offered me 50 cents to swallow a spoonful. I accepted his offer, and choked down the thick yellowish oil which about made me gag. Heaven only knows how I kept the stuff down.   Later on during the night, the results were dare I say.. explosive.


Ambrosia
I've eaten countless variations of this fruit salad at get-togethers and church gatherings throughout the 70's and 80's. My favorite salads were the ones with little marshmallows, and plenty of shredded coconut. Oh yeah.. if you're an old cat like me and were around in the 70's, you might remember a progressive American rock band by the same name. Big hits for the group Ambrosia were "Biggest Part of Me", "How Much I feel", and "You're the Only Woman".


Courting
Now widely referred to by most as dating. Kids back in my day however, understood that courting was a serious thing rather than recreational. Courtship was the period in a relationship where both people are trying their best to get to know each other better, so as to decide if a progression toward marriage is in their future.


I could literally go on all day popping off endangered and extinct sayings and phrases. I believe the topic warrants some more posts in the near future. Stay tuned..

5 Things a 20th Century Retro Dad misses seeing..

Breakfast Cereal commercials.

Most of the breakfast cereal commercials today are ridiculous. On Saturday mornings, I used to look forward to watching Monster Cereal, Cap'n Crunch, and Fruity Pebbles commercials just as much as the cartoons! I even used to record them with my cassette recorder, so I could listen to them again after the kids programming had finished for the day. They were incredibly fun and entertaining to watch, and I haven't seen any that are nearly as good in decades.

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis

These three icons always seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid! I'd always see them on movies and TV, even when they got up there in years. I always wanted to be like Frank as a kid, because I saw him as a tough guy and gentlemen. As these three members of The Rat Pack passed away one by one, they took with them a bit of magic that the entertainment world would never get back.

The Old School Jack in the Box restaurants

The food, the characters promoting the products, and who can forget that awesome clown that you had to talk into to order your food! Some of my earliest memories were of me and my old man going to Jack in the Box for an afternoon snack. I'd giggle with delight as he pulled up to the clown head and start talking to it. Marketing just seemed so much more creative back in the day.

Real Cars

A dying breed. The shiny chrome, the elegant curves, and those fancy emblems written in cursive. I appreciated a well built piece of Detroit steel from a very early age. Remember when a 5 MPH fender bender was just that, and not a $3,000.00 repair? I still plan on tracking down an old Ford Falcon like the one above to restore someday. This beauty can easily seat six people, and with a finely tuned six cylinder, can be a pretty economical car. Yes kids.. they just don't make them like they used to.

Good old fashioned diners

I practically grew up in my old man's barber shop, and right next door was a real down home, honest to goodness diner. To this day, I can still vividly recall how the strong smell of the freshly brewed coffee would fill my nostrils the second I walked into the diner. As we took our seats, the jumbled aroma of eggs, Tabasco, hash browns, sausage, pancakes and toast would circle around my head making me hungrier by the minute.

It was a fairly small diner with about eight tables, four booths, and a counter with four bar stools. On the rare occasion.. me and the old man would sit at the bar to eat. To me, this was always a special treat. I loved sitting next to the enclosed rotating cake and pie display that always housed freshly made pecan, apple, cherry, and lemon meringue pies. The waitresses would step behind the bar to make a fuss over me, and made sure I always had plenty of chocolate milk. I never understood why the old man preferred to sit in a booth rather than a way cool bar stool until recently. These days, it's my little one who begs for us to sit on those types of bar stools. The first thing I start thinking about is how my back is going to feel afterward, but like the old man.. I occasionally give in.

It never ceased to amaze me how Dad was treated like royalty in that place. He'd get his coffee topped off at what seemed like every fourth or fifth sip, would get free pieces of fresh made pie, and sometimes.. a free meal all together! One time when my mother dropped me off at my Dad's shop for the afternoon, he was sitting in one of his barber chairs just finishing up a plate of food from the diner. A few minutes after he finished eating, the owner came in the back door of his shop, picked up the plate, silverware and cup, and took it back to the restaurant. I remember thinking "Wow! Eating in a barber chair.. people coming to serve you.. this is the life!"

It wasn't just the regulars that were treated good though. That busy little diner had a warm and friendly atmosphere, and you could practically "feel the love" a midst all of the hustle and bustle. My old man is now retired, and his barber shop long gone, but that little diner is still in business. The next time I have a day off all to myself, I just may have to take a drive three towns over. After writing this post, I've got a real inkling to see if the magic is still alive at that little diner.

Chock Full O'Nuts Coffee - Yet another product I didn't know still existed

I remember my folks talking about a coffee called 'Chock full o'Nuts' when I was a kid.   On these walks down memory lane, I'd proceed to torture dear old Mom with a barrage of questions about the coffee like.. "Mom.. why do they call it Chock full o'Nuts?  Is the coffee made out of nuts?!?  The short answer of  "No" of course wouldn't satisfy any seven year old, so it was always immediately followed up with the question.. "Then WHY do they say it's Chock full of nuts?"  This inquisitive assault would usually continue until I was told to go away and do something like play with my Star Wars action figures, or watch 'Happy Days'.

Make no mistake.. there are no nuts in this coffee!

This coffee's name is a nod to the company founder William Black's New York based nut shops called 'Chock full o'Nuts' that were a smashing success in the late 1920s.  In 1932, his nut shops were converted to coffee shops, because of suffering sales due to the depression.  The 18 coffee shops kept the same name, and were known for selling a cup of coffee and a sandwich for a nickel.

In 1953 William Black started selling his own brand of coffee in stores, named after his original street-side nut shop located on Broadway and 43rd street.  By 1955, Chock full o'Nuts became the number one coffee in  New York city.  While bumpy roads set the company back in the 70s, the company has went through a revitalization in recent years, and is still immensely popular with New Yorkers and Americans nationwide.  

Next time I need to make a coffee run, I'm definitely going to give Chock full o'Nuts a try.  Then it will be my turn to suffer the endless questioning from my kids about the name of this coffee!

Visit Chock full o'Nuts online

Whistle while you work!

My bride told me the other day that there was a spot on the news, that stated whistling is fast becoming a lost art.  I guess I can see that.  It seems like most everyone uses their spare time now with their noses smart phones and tablets.  It used to be that many folks would whistle to pass the time, honing their whistling skills, and personally challenging themselves to get better at whistling their favorite songs and American standards. At least that's how I grew up.  Now, I know many who don't even know how to whistle at all, or have the slightest inkling to whistle (at least for the reasons I do it).

You've heard of the old saying "Whistle While you Work" right?  Well, I'm guilty.. I'm one of those folks who likes to do just that.  Many times, I find myself whistling songs that I'm pretty sure my workmates under the age of thirty may have never heard of.  There's certain ditty's and theme songs that seem like they always have been, and always will be emblazoned upon my memory.  Some of these songs I barely know a verse of, others I can rattle off every word.  I think there's little chance of me ever forgetting any of the songs listed below, and I'm perfectly fine with that.  Here's a short list of songs I regularly whistle..



Listen to the Mockingbird

I can't begin to count the times I've seen or heard this song sung on variety shows, comedies, and cartoons over the years. It was written in 1855, and was one of Abraham Lincoln's favorite songs.  The meaning of the song is pretty somber, having to do with a fellows sweetheart who is now dead and buried, and a mocking bird singing over her grave.  Sounds a bit morbid I know.. but the tempo is incredibly upbeat!   I have great memories of my grandfather singing this song, and then bursting into an enthusiastic whistling solo.   I believe I've also seen Alfalfa from the Little Rascals singing a wonderfully funny and off key version.  It's a catchy tune that always instantly lifts my spirits.

By the light of the silvery moon

I remember being at my grandparents house one cold winter night with my parents, various cousins, aunts and uncles.  We were all in the living room watching the 1953 movie "By the light of the silvery moon" starring Doris Day, on a beautiful 21 inch black and white Zenith television.  I believe I was reading a Spider Man comic book when almost everyone in the room except for the kids burst out singing this song. I'm not sure if it was the final song of the movie, but it was a nice scene with Doris Day and Gordon MacRae ice skating and singing the movies namesake.



I remember being in awe that everyone knew the lyrics and harmonized pretty good to boot!  Below is a clip of that beloved scene.  ( The song begins at about 57 seconds into the video )  Oh, and for you kids that aren't aware, back in the old days.. stating that you wanted to "Spoon" meant something totally different, and much more innocent.

 





American Bandstand theme

What an iconic show for both mine and my parents generation!  Sung by Barry Manillow, the shows theme song was incredibly catchy, and I've been whistling it since I was a boy.   If you want to hear the full version of "Bandstand Boogie" set to an incredibly funny street comedy video by comedian George Gallo, you must check this out..

"Drunken Sailor"

I'm no sailor.  I'm not even a son of a son of a sailor.  However, I dig whistling this old sea shanty while hard at work.  While there are numerous version of this song, the basic lyrics are below if you feel like belting it out sometime..

What shall we do with a drunken sailor? (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

Put him in the long-boat and make him bail her. (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

What shall we do with a drunken soldier? (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

Put him in the guardroom till he gets sober. (repeat 3 times)

Early in the morning.

I assure you there are many more songs I regularly whistle and hum to, but perhaps I'll share those another time.

Interesting facts about various retro advertising icons

The Michelin Man

Most people know of this beloved icon simply as The Michelin Man.  However, he is in fact named Bibendum, or "Bib" for short.  The Latin word Bibendum means to drink, or drinking to be done.  Some of the very old advertising campaigns featured Bib holding a drinking glass filled with sharp items that could normally destroy a car tire.  The connection and subsequently Michelin's motto, was that Michelin tires could drink up road obstacles.

The Pilsbury Doughboy

The Pillsbury Doughboy actually has a name, and it's Poppin' Fresh.  And.. he's not the only one of his kind.  In his early days, he had a wife named Poppie Fresh, a child named Baby Bun Bun, grandparents named Grandmommer, and Grandpopper, and a puppy named Flapjack!!  All characters were available in vinyl toy form, and you can occasionally find whole sets of the Poppin' Fresh family for sale on ebay.

Mr. Clean

 Mr. Clean was created in 1958.  In 1962 during a company promotion to give Mr. Clean a first name, he was donned the first name "Veritably".  While many believe Mr. Clean to be a genie, he was actually modeled after a United States sailor.

The Jolly Green Giant

The Jolly Green Giant has been around since 1928, and was originally conceived to promote the companies variety of unusually large peas that they sold.  When The Jolly Green Giant started appearing in commercials, he was deemed as too scary and menacing, especially when he walked.  This is why you see the giant simply standing in the valley with his arms crossed, and uttering nothing else but his jolly "Ho Ho Ho".

Charlie Tuna

I used to love the StarKist tuna commercials, but always thought it was kind of morbid that Charlie's dream was to be caught by a fisherman so he could in essence be "processed" and sold as StarKist tuna!  There was a rumor floating around for years that Charlie Tuna's likeness was created by actor James Dean, several years before the StarKist company started using Charlie at their mascot.  It stemmed from one of James Dean's friends stating he was with him one night in a Los Angeles diner when Dean sketched out Charlie. This claim has been shunned by both the StarKist company and Tom Rogers, the artist who created Charlie.  Furthermore, no real evidence has ever been found to truly support the claim.

The retro saying - "40 Winks"

When I was suffering from a chest cold last winter, I told a couple of my work mates that I would give anything for a quick 40 winks.  While one of them chuckled, the other was perplexed by the phrase.  He of course was a wee lad of twenty something, and wasn't familiar with the term.

The term "40 winks" was a widely used phrase when I was growing up.  It simply refers to taking a short nap (somewhere other than bed) that would roughly be equivalent to forty blinks of your eyes.  Of course.. no one really believed that said nap would in fact be that short, which made the phrase in itself kind of humorous.  This is because many of the folks who used this phrase most often, and would always push that nap well beyond a mere 40 winks.



For instance, when staying over at my Grandparents house, I would often let my Grandfather know I was going to head out to the local 7-11 to get a Slurpee or a snack, and he would reply with "That's fine, I'm just going to sit here and get 40 winks".  Those 40 winks would usually equate to a 40 minute or hour long nap.  I'd laugh because inevitably, he would again state he needed 40 winks in the late afternoon, or before dinner.


My best friends Old Man would religiously take his "40 winks" after lunchtime.  He would usually say something like "I just need 40 winks, and I'll be right as rain".  We got a kick out of it, because his head would drop wherever he was sitting at the time, and he was down for the count for at least a half hour or so.  Many an afternoon we would giggle upon watching my friends mom clear the lunch dishes, as he sat at the head of the table dead asleep and totally undisturbed.  If he happened to make it to his easy chair, his 40 winks could easily stretch an hour to an hour and a half.  And.. when he awakened, he would jump out of his chair refreshed and ready to take on the world.


Now that I'm in my 40s, I don't often need to grab 40 winks.  The exceptions are when I'm feeling under the weather, or when I've had an incredibly busy and productive day.  My sweet spot for taking my forty winks would probably be between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., and my 40 winks usually equate to about 15 minutes.  It doesn't seem like it would be beneficial, but the times I do happen to take 40 winks, seem to give me a reset, and energizes me for the rest of the day.


Those 40 winks very well may stretch into the half hour to hour range as I get older, but that's fine.  At the very least, it may give my kids some humorous stories to tell someday.

Retro Quote of the week - by Groucho Marx

 

"Why should I care about future generations? What have they ever done for me?"

-- Groucho Marx 

Golden Oldies.. the music of my parents generation

In the late eighties, an oldies radio station was born in Denver Colorado called KOOL 105. They played all kinds of great music from the 50s and 60s, and it was a favorite radio station of my old mans. While I was on the road the other day, I happened to tune into KOOL 105 and was shocked at what I heard. They were playing a Prince song from the 80s! Really? 1980s songs are now considered to be oldies?!?  Wow.. I'm getting old.

I guess there are 30 years separating the decade of the 80s from today, so maybe young people do consider music from bands like Fleetwood Mac and Hall and Oates to be oldies. In the 1980s, the music of the 50s that my parents grew up on, was considered goofy oldies music by a lot of kids. I guess I was pretty naive to think that the music I grew up on, would never be referred to as oldies at some point.

I now have a great affinity towards my parents music that is now referred to as "Golden Oldies". Just look at the titles of the following catchy classics that will forever be burned into my brain.   Notice how a couple of these titles have become phrases and sayings that many still use to this day..

See ya later Alligator - Bill Haley and the Comets
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys
Purple People Eater - Sheb WooleyYakety Yak - by the CoastersTutti Fruitti - Little Richard
All Shook up - Elvis Presley
The Twist - Chubby Checker
Chantilly Lace - Big Bopper
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
Poison Ivy - The Coasters
Splish Splash - Bobby Darin
Alley Oop - Hollywood Argyles
Johnny be good - Chuck Berry
Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett
You talk too much - Joe Jones
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Rock around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets
Charlie Brown - by the Coasters

The playing of these songs would instantly put my old man in a great mood, and I've got to say that they do the trick for me as well. The songs of the 50s and 60s were so much more simpler, upbeat, and innocent. The music was made to get you moving and feeling good. It makes me laugh to think that my grandparents thought of this music to be rebellious noise. I guess some things will never change. Folks will always reminisce about the music from their youth, and some will scoff or detest new music that just doesn't suit their taste.

So how about you? Are there oldies that your parents or grandparents loved, that you find yourself humming or singing from time to time?