Music our parents gave us...

[LC]

As my daughters get older (11 and 8), one point of independence is their broadening music tastes. Of course, they've had steady doses of "my" music: Beatles, Beach Boys, Raspberries, World Party, ELO, John Stewart (my folk side), Elton John, Billy Joel, and Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart. Now I'm trying to be open-minded to their expanding tastes. It's not always easy, but we do have some common ground.

It got me thinking about the music I "inherited" from my folks.

My dad is more of a music appreciator than my mom, but I do remember her listening to Nat King Cole, Herb Alpert, Johnny Mathis, and Tony Bennett when I was a kid. She also liked a lot of Top-40 radio: "Sunny," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," "Julie Do You Love Me," "Sealed With a Kiss".... I also have memories of her watching Tom Jones on his old TV show.

She also endured (and maybe secretly liked) the Monkees, because my four sisters had their records playing every waking minute. ("Here we come, walkin' down the street...")

While my mom is more of a casual music fan, my dad's more of a committed listener. Without having to ask him, I know he'd put Dean Martin at the top, followed by Frank Sinatra, Jerry Vale, and Perry Como. He still listens to a lot of that stuff, and also has come to love the Beach Boys. As a result, I love Dean Martin, and how can you not like Sinatra? And I remember some great Perry Como records blasting from the 8-track in the stationwagon.

So overall, they gave me an appreciation for great vocalists of the 1950s and 1960s. Yet they also were open-minded to revolutionary acts like... The Beatles. As Brian noted on another thread, the Beatles on Ed Sullivan was a memorable event, and I do remember being riveted to the TV as a 4-year-old with Mom and sisters doing the same.

And my dad — I remember an awesome trade he pulled off with my uncle (his brother). We had driven a long way to visit, and just as we were leaving, he gave up one of his Sinatra 8-tracks in exchange for my uncle's 8-track of Abbey Road. Oh yeah! I loved that deal... we heard Abbey Road several times on the way home.

Long trips also meant "greatest hits" 8-track tapes by America, Chicago, and Peter Paul & Mary.... I also remember my folks putting up with a Partridge Family 8-track that had "Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque" on it.

Who else remembers the music your folks played?

PS: Two favorites, as mentioned above. Boy, these songs sure take you back a long way....

 

[Kirk]

My Dad was into Glenn Miller- man, he could jitterbug! I remember listening to all those you mentioned, add in a little Frankie Lane and a few others. My Mom was classically trained, so there was a wide variety of music around the house.

I remember the night the Beatles debuted (I was 10)- not much reaction from the folks.

For years they never really cared for rock and roll. Rock and roll's popularity put an end to the music they liked...unlike today, where r&r is still going strong and this generation can easily find the music we grew up with on the radio and in stores.

Somewhere along the line, my Dad had a change of heart. We were at Disneyland as a family (my folks, my sister and her husband, me and my wife) in 1988...as we were going by one of the music pavillions there was a Beach Boys tribute band pounding out one hit after another. My Dad said, "How come they don't play this great music on the radio anymore?" I chuckled to myself, remembering Dad's reluctance to embrace this very same music four decades earlier. I guess it sounded better after suffering through the disco era!

[GMan]

My dad absolutely LOVED Louis Prima!! He would play it around the house and jitterbug around with my mom! LOL. I do have to say, Louie's band was tremendous, and this is coming from a kid who did not like jazz. The music kind of worked its way into my soul. I enjoy Louie's stuff to this day. They reminded me of a swingin', rock and roll jazz band.

On the other hand...he did not care much for the music I listened to. Oh how I remember his reaction to The Beatles...it was not favorable...lol. I also remember when he flung my "Electric Ladyland" album out the living room window like it was a frisbee! He felt bad about doing it, so he threw me a 5 dollar bill later in the day. Dear old dad...he was a riot. My mom?? She actually started liking the music I played, especially after I got my first guitar and started actually learning how to play. They both loved when I played "Honey Don't" for them. Lol...my dad would start his jitterbugging again...he finally did come around to some of the stuff I loved.

[Guest Fresh]

Louis Prima was great..I have two of his albums on CD. Also a dvd. His wife(at the time) Keeley Smith had a tremendously sweet, clear voice. His sax player was Sam Butera. Great band, great music, great stage show!

My parents liked Elvis Presley from day one! I was only three, but I still remember vividly how the entire family circled around the TV set to watch him on Ed Sullivan.

My father didn't like the Beatles, but my mom thought they were cute. She liked them because they were always smiling and seemed to be having fun whenever you saw them.

[Guest RACHAN]

My Dad loved Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey , Huge big band fan. The only time I ever saw him move past that era was for some reason he fell in love with the Eagles Hotel California album.(other than that..only Big Band)

My mom never once denied us a book or a record.

She loved Johnny Mathis,Tom Jones etc ..but she kind of advanced with the times.

She loved the Beatles,Stones,Motown,classical..you name it.

I can remember her coming home with a David Bowie album & my father glaring at her like she was insane.

She listened to whatever we brought in the door.She didn't always like it,but she gave it a fair shake.

The only thing I ever brought home that she openly despised was Pink Floyd's "The Wall".

[rockynrobyn1977]

LC. Your music in your house growing-up sounds pretty much like my house. My parents are about 21 years older than me, so they were fairly young. My parents kept kinda current with their music when we were young. My mom liked a lot of what I liked through high-school. My dad liked all kinds of music up until he died. He was a 8th grade English teacher, and I know he would have liked this site. He kept current, my mom stopped like 1980. I liked a lot of what I heard growing-up, and my daughter had to listen to it in the car. Now she likes 80's through today. We had a period where she was into C-RAP, and music wasn't all that good through the 90's-00. Now we're both liking a lot of the same music, top 40 & KISS 108, On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Music is a big part of life. Like remembering a song, a grandparent or parent would be singing around the house, and thinking how goofy they were. Or us driving our kids somewhere, and subjecting them to us howling like a dog to our favorite tune. One of my earliest song memory was "Love Is Strange"- Mickey & Sylvia.

[missm]

LC this is a great thread and here is my contribution. My parents loved a lot of different music...classical, country, show tunes and the masters (Nat, Frank, Dean and Bobby). This is the first song my Mommy taught me how to sing for a kindergarden talent show. I won and it was fun singinging it.

[Raspberrybelle]

missm

Sorry about your mom. I hope her passing is peaceful.

Belle

[Raspberrybelle]

My Mom liked Buddy Clark's "On A Dreamer's Holiday" and "Slow Boat To China". She didn't play much music though.

My Dad liked the classics but I didn't live with him. He knew I liked the classics too so he gave me Rimsky-Korsakov's album of "Scheherazade". He really loved that piece.

When I hear it I think of him.

Belle

[Raspberrybelle]

Does anyone remember Judy Canova? Funny music.

Belle

[Raspberrybelle]

Nat Cole was a talented pianist and singer and very classy man.

Belle

[lori]

missm. I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I'm sure this is difficult for you. As for music my parents played, they loved Nat King Cole and to this day, I still love his music. Others they listened to were Patti Page, Engelbert Humperdink. I thought he was so handsome. I'll probably think of othes later, but can't think now of anymore that I liked.

[LC]

MissM, I'm really sorry to hear about your mom. That's very heartbreaking. I hope you get to spend lots of time with her. Hang in there.... L-O-V-E is a great old song, and it's nice that you have that as a connection.

[LC]

GMan said:

My dad absolutely LOVED Louis Prima!! He would play it around the house and jitterbug around with my mom! LOL. I do have to say, Louie's band was tremendous, and this is coming from a kid who did not like jazz. The music kind of worked its way into my soul. I enjoy Louie's stuff to this day. They reminded me of a swingin', rock and roll jazz band.

On the other hand...he did not care much for the music I listened to. Oh how I remember his reaction to The Beatles...it was not favorable...lol. I also remember when he flung my "Electric Ladyland" album out the living room window like it was a frisbee! He felt bad about doing it, so he threw me a 5 dollar bill later in the day. Dear old dad...he was a riot. My mom?? She actually started liking the music I played, especially after I got my first guitar and started actually learning how to play. They both loved when I played "Honey Don't" for them. Lol...my dad would start his jitterbugging again...he finally did come around to some of the stuff I loved.

Giro, I love the image of your Hendrix LP getting winged into the yard. Nice! The "generation gap" in action!

And it's great that you have a memory of him jitterbugging around --- you and Kirk have that in common. I guess my folks just missed out on that craze, but it would have been fun to see. (A "PS" to Kirk: your Beach Boys anecdote is awesome. He was listening a lot more closely than you might have thought! Our parents are usually "cooler" than we give 'em credit for.)

Giro, I also dig Louie Prima. My father-in-law (RIP) was a huge fan. I think this was his favorite — classic, and worth watching:

[GMan]

Larry, my house was a riot!! You should have been there! lol BTW Larry, the record didn't land in the yard...it landed on my front sidewalk, and it was scratched to hell!! lol

[canadianchick]

My Dad totally refused to let us listen to that 'Bleepin Yeah Yeah music'. Luckily working on the railroad took him away from home for a few days at a time and my mom, who was sooo in love with George Harrison, let us listen as much as we liked. Of Course stations we had here were very limited. I do recall my Dad loved Dean Martin, Perry Como and Connie Francis..

[BlondeVelvet]

When I was a teenager (& a huge Raspberries fan) my family was discussing favorite music & artists while eating dinner. My father, who was in his early 50's, was quietly eating his meal, as usual. After listening to this conversation for awhile, he suddenly exclaimed, "Well, I like The Raspberries!" He then turned to me, smiled & winked, then he quietly returned to his meal. He later confided to me he was serious, and he was finding himself humming one particular song to himself while at work. He thought it was a "pretty melody". After he hummed a few bars, I recognized it was "Let's Pretend". It was the beginning of a much closer relationship for us. I guess you could say we "Berry Bonded". Throughout the rest of his life he continued to be especially fond of Eric's music. My Dad passed away in 1998, and when I visit him I play "Let's Pretend" for him and softly sing along. Fortunately I am able to park my car close so I can play the CD player. I know he's smiling. This keeps us close, and I will always cherish the memory of that dinner so many years ago. THANK YOU ERIC!!!

missm- I know this is a difficult time, and my thoughts are with you. I hope in time you will find comfort in the song you are singing to your Mom, as I have with my Dad.

[Guest RACHAN]

Hi Blonde Velvet

That's a very sweet story.

Let's pretend is a BEAUTIFUL song & my favorite.

It was also my sisters favorite,who has passed.

Having a song that can bring you back & make you almost feel like you are with that person again is a gift beyond compare.

(I have to say, as a Mom...it's very touching that you do something like that...)

[LC]

My Dad loved Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey , Huge big band fan. The only time I ever saw him move past that era was for some reason he fell in love with the Eagles Hotel California album.(other than that..only Big Band)

My mom never once denied us a book or a record.

She loved Johnny Mathis,Tom Jones etc ..but she kind of advanced with the times.

She loved the Beatles,Stones,Motown,classical..you name it.

I can remember her coming home with a David Bowie album & my father glaring at her like she was insane.

She listened to whatever we brought in the door.She didn't always like it,but she gave it a fair shake.

The only thing I ever brought home that she openly despised was Pink Floyd's "The Wall".

Rachan,

Yeah — Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey... I do remember some big band music in my dad's LP stacks, the influence of his brother, a jazz musician and professor at a NY State college. I wonder what got your dad into Hotel California from big band music. Actually, there are some memorable melodies on that album along with all that great guitar playing.

I also love that your mom got into Bowie. You must have helped your folks get cool with music!

--Larry

[LC]

BlondeVelvet said:

When I was a teenager (& a huge Raspberries fan) my family was discussing favorite music & artists while eating dinner. My father, who was in his early 50's, was quietly eating his meal, as usual. After listening to this conversation for awhile, he suddenly exclaimed, "Well, I like The Raspberries!" He then turned to me, smiled & winked, then he quietly returned to his meal. He later confided to me he was serious, and he was finding himself humming one particular song to himself while at work. He thought it was a "pretty melody". After he hummed a few bars, I recognized it was "Let's Pretend". It was the beginning of a much closer relationship for us. I guess you could say we "Berry Bonded". Throughout the rest of his life he continued to be especially fond of Eric's music. My Dad passed away in 1998, and when I visit him I play "Let's Pretend" for him and softly sing along. Fortunately I am able to park my car close so I can play the CD player. I know he's smiling. This keeps us close, and I will always cherish the memory of that dinner so many years ago. THANK YOU ERIC!!!

missm- I know this is a difficult time, and my thoughts are with you. I hope in time you will find comfort in the song you are singing to your Mom, as I have with my Dad.

That's a very moving story, BlondeVelvet. Thank you. I bet your dad loved that slow version of "Let's Pretend," if he heard it, that Raspberries played on a late-night rock TV show around 1974.

[bahoodore]

My father new put on music, never owned a record...my mother being from Chile, only started liking "American" music in the late 60s...but her real love was latin music...especially these guys, Trio Panchos...my love of harmony and romantic music stared here:

[Guest RACHAN]

LC

My Mom was more cool than I'll ever be!

She went from being a horn rimmed glasses wearing "here's your tv dinner" type of woman to switching gears & becoming a free spirit in the early seventies when I was little.

She had an epiphany at some point that she had three daughters, so she needed to get more involved.

She volunteered at womens shelters & counseled at rape clinics.

She took me on a march for equal rights when I was 11 (it was also for Gay rights, & when my girlfriend & I wanted to know why some of the men were holding hands..she very matter of fact explained it was because they loved each other & took me over & introduced me!)

She never wanted to be closed minded about anything, from peoples rights..to putting down new things such as music.

Music was Huge for her!

She did all this while still stressing the importance of good manners & education (she wasn't a hippie or anything )

I got off track , but music and otherwise, my Mom was the goods!

[LobsterLvr]

50 years later I still love this gift from my parents. Bert Kaemphert!!

[Guest Fresh]

In New York City, there was a kids tv show hosted by Sandy Becker. He would always play Bert Kaempfert songs on his sketches. Sandy was responsible for "Afrikaan Beat" becoming a top 40 hit for Bert, he introduced the song on his show, mand played it daily! 

 

[Wendy-Ann]

Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and the Andrew sisters.

I LOVE the music of the 40's!!! My favorite song to sing is "Apple Blossom Time." What a beautiful song!

My parents too could jitter-bug, even winning dance contests.

At family functions, (esp. weddings) my parents were always the first ones on the floor. My daddy would also take me and Maria out on the dance floor to teach us how to dance. We loved it!