Yeah, that's my family around 1958 - (from left) brother Don, Mom, sister Sue in Mom's lap, Dad, and I'm the Calvin (of Calvin & Hobbes) look-alike in my Dad's lap. The reason for this nostalgia is that Hotels.com has been using Jimmy Durante singing "Make Someone Happy" in their latest TV commercial. That just happens to be one of the tunes that made an impression on me when I was a little kid, and it got me to thinking about other songs that had that effect as well, at least before my discovery of rock, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. So to lead off on this nostalgic musical journey, here's the old Schnozzola:
Another song that made a big impression on me as a child was Nat King Cole singing "Smile". I seem to remember him singing that at the end of his weekly TV show. I've always loved Nat's voice and his way of styling a song, and I think his version of this tune is what set the standard for me.
Finally, like most of the kids of my generation, Disney animated movies were a staple, and they were always musical. The one bit of music that always stuck in my head was Jiminy Cricket singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" in Pinocchio. I don't know why, but there it is.
There were other musical moments in my childhood - for instance Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" in The Wizard of Oz and the music as the heroes approach Emerald City in the same movie - but these three set the standard for everything I heard afterward. Lush orchestrations and lush choral passages are pretty corny by today's standards, but when I hear these I'm five years old again, and life is no longer complicated and stressful. Yup, I'm a sappy old man alright!
I remember having a PINK phonograph record of something or other. I also remember my mother listening to Glen Yarborough. My goodness.
ReplyDeleteI just love that picture! Another happy childhood memory was going to the White Coffee Pot, Jr. and perusing the songs on the tabletop jukebox. I seem to associate a song "Make The World Go Away" with that jukebox. Does that ring a bell with you at all? Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
ReplyDelete...loved the post! Sweet, sweet photo. You are a Calvin look-a-like! :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember I always loved Nat King Cole's voice as a kid too (I still love his voice)--"Rambling Rose" was a favorite of mine when I was really small.
Jimmy Durante 's music was used to great effect in "Sleepless in Seattle ". I loved the soundtrack so much I bought the CD & still play it regularly. This song was used at the end of the film when the protagonists finally meet. They also used Durante's version of "As Time Goes By". Nat King Cole's cover of "Stardust " is used. It's one of the most romantic soundtracks I've heard. You have musical taste well -tuned.
ReplyDeleteDang! Looks like you've been hit with a serious case of nostalgia too - happens to the best of us, Roy. I've been busy digging up my past and recycling it - I believe there's a future in it :-)
ReplyDeleteJiminy Cricket's roots go deep in my family. Cheers, Roy.
ReplyDeleteA Fascinating post Roy, and you are so right : songs can be a great trigger for memories, just like places and images and even particular smells. I think back at the old radiogram my parents had, and the 78 records whirling around so fast they almost achieved escape velocity. And that is a fine old photograph Roy - perfect Sepia Saturday material.
ReplyDeleteThis article really hit home for me,happy childhood memories are often triggered by the great songs of the past,like the jimmy durante song. MADMEN makes me feel like that sometimes.....
ReplyDeleteA Fine Photo Roy..I Imagine Your Toes A-Tapping As You Were Being Photographed!
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