Summer memories

[missm]

I know everyone here was a child at some point in their lives and I wonder...what is your favorite Summer memory.

Mine was always the end of school and that first Monday off. There was nothing like racing around the streets all day with my younger sister and our cousins on our bikes!! Of course, there was always a baseball game in the street and then everyone into my Aunt's house for Bob Dale's Afternoon Movie!!! There was always one week of Elvis films. Then there were the trips to the beach with the bonfires my Mom loved so much!!Yep, those things are my fondest memories of Summer.

My best Summer was in 1984. I met my husband and knew he was the one!! We met on July 6th!! I snagged him for good on September 15th. So, yep, that is my best Summer memory!

[Raspberrybelle]

A summertime hike high up into the mountains as a young teen.

I went to Church camp for two years in the summer where I learned a lot of woodlore. The third year I was designated along with others an "Old Pioneer" and got to go on a long hike and camping trip into the wilderness. We had a horse and a donkey to carry some supplies but we each carried a pack on our backs too.

It was so beautiful. There were no roads, just rocks, trees, sky, and fresh air.

In the middle of the first day of the hike on our way to the camp it started to rain. Then the thunder and lightning became heavy and loud. We were only a few yards from the tops of the mountains and I thought that it would be wonderful if we had stereo speakers blasting Bethoven along with the lightning and thunder cracking and rolling around our heads.

Then it cleared and everything was fresh and green. We proceeded to the camp area and I chopped wood for hours for the camp fires so we could dry out.

It was wonderful!

Belle

[darlene]

Oh goodness, when I was a very little girl, running around in the back yard with my cousins and hearing the tinkling bells of the Sonny Boy Ice Cream Truck! Running over to it yelling "Stop!" before it left and yelling back to our Moms, "Look! Ice Cream!" And the memories of that luscious "Dreamsicle," combination of orange sherbet on the outside and the sweet vanilla creamy inside. Herman and I still eat a combination of orange sherbet/vanilla ice cream sometimes to recall that luscious confection we both loved.

Girl Scout camp, when my girlfriend and I were the only two who failed the swimming test and nearly drowned each other and our two Girl Scout leaders.

Summers at the shore with my sister, or my family and my aunt, uncle and cousin at Metedeconk, the best beach and picnic area ever. And going back there with Mom, just the two of us, just before she passed away. She had tears of joy in her eyes for those memories and so did I.

My 18th summer with friends at pool parties and at Seaside--romantic summer nights listening to Beach Boys and The Lettermen and hiding under a lifeboat way after dark...

Years of fun and playing and hearing such incredibly gorgeous music with cherished friends at the PSTA and ASTA Summer String Conferences, and finally, summers with Herman as retirees, with all the time to enjoy them!

--D

[Guest Fresh]

Dar, do you remember an ice cream pop called a "Clarabelle"??

It was only sold on the ice cream trucks, and it was on a stick, bullet-shaped, chocolate covered shell with banana and strawberry creamsicle underneath?

[Raspberrybelle]

Sounds yummy.

Belle

[darlene]

I think I do, Rob. It sounds very familiar. I think I may have had one. I seem to remember the ice cream man giving out cards or points or something. Prizes? I don't remember but I remember collecting SOMETHING! Maybe toward a free ice cream. Can't remember...

Missm, what GREAT memories! Especially the one about meeting the man of your dreams, whom you married. GREAT STUFF!!! Indeed that was the SUMMER OF LOVE!!!

--D

[Carol in Pgh.]

Well, we never went away on vacation. Our summers were spent at the community pool and once every summer, our big thing was my mother would pack a big picnic (bologna sandwiches and potato salad) and we would spend the day at Kennywood Park. I remember my dad would peel those rubber things off the metal cap of Pepsi Cola to get a discount on the rides on Pepsi Cola Day. It was hard for me though because I always got really bad motion sickness. I always loved the picnic part of it though.

[Wendy-Ann]

The summer of '77.

I was a full fledged Bay City Rollers fan and I lived and breathed them.

I also discovered the song, “Let's Pretend.â€

If I close my eyes...I can see my Daddy watching the Phillies in the family room. My sister is talking on the phone in the kitchen as my Mom is cleaning up.

The air has a slight humid feel, but there is a warm summer breeze grazing through the screens of the open windows.

I would go upstairs and close the door and play the “Dedication†album...over and over and over again.

Sometimes, my friends Libby and Sue and I would walk down MacArthur Rd to Clovers. There we would buy the newest Tiger Beat or 16 Mag. The Roller graced both covers.

And then there would be times that we would gather in Libby's small bedroom in Saddler-town. It was a part of Haddon Twp., NJ, but it was also a part of the underground railroad. We became blood sisters in that room. We talked about our dreams...oh and kissing boys.

Then as the night drew to a close...we'd hear a honk outside of Libby's bedroom window from the street below. 11 PM sharp! It would be my Daddy waiting to drive me home. I can still see him now. When I'd get into the car he'd say, "Did you have a fun time, Bananer-Ann?" Don't ask me why he called me that.

At the end of the summer, me, Maria, Sue, Libby, Cheryl Titus and her mom (God LOVE that woman), drove to Bay City, MI to see the band get a key to the city. It was the very first time I was interviewed for the news and my sister ended up on the front of the newspaper the next morning.

There was so much that happened in those 90 days...and since then, I've traveled the world, been on TV and in newspapers, lived in London and done some of the most incredible things.

But nothing, nothing will top the Summer of '77...it was the best summer of my life.

This verse from Baby I Love Your Way, for some reason reminds me of that summer.

Moon appears to shine and light the sky

With the help of some fireflies.

Wonder how they have the power to shine, shine, shine

I can see them under the pine.

[Wendy-Ann]

and finally, summers with Herman as retirees, with all the time to enjoy them! --D

JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PaulMaul]

The summer of '77.

I was a full fledged Bay City Rollers fan and I lived and breathed them.

Fantastic post! I almost feel like I was right there with you. And the Bay City Rollers! The only band so cool they were on a Wacky Packages wrapper!

[Kirk]

Have I ever mentioned I love the 70's!?!

The summer of '77.

I was a full fledged Bay City Rollers fan and I lived and breathed them.

I also discovered the song, “Let's Pretend.â€

If I close my eyes...I can see my Daddy watching the Phillies in the family room. My sister is talking on the phone in the kitchen as my Mom is cleaning up.

The air has a slight humid feel, but there is a warm summer breeze grazing through the screens of the open windows.

Have I ever mentioned I love the 70's!?!

I would go upstairs and close the door and play the “Dedication†album...over and over and over again.

Sometimes, my friends Libby and Sue and I would walk down MacArthur Rd to Clovers. There we would buy the newest Tiger Beat or 16 Mag. The Roller graced both covers.

And then there would be times that we would gather in Libby's small bedroom in Saddler-town. It was a part of Haddon Twp., NJ, but it was also a part of the underground railroad. We became blood sisters in that room. We talked about our dreams...oh and kissing boys.

Then as the night drew to a close...we'd hear a honk outside of Libby's bedroom window from the street below. 11 PM sharp! It would be my Daddy waiting to drive me home. I can still see him now. When I'd get into the car he'd say, "Did you have a fun time, Bananer-Ann?" Don't ask me why he called me that.

At the end of the summer, me, Maria, Sue, Libby, Cheryl Titus and her mom (God LOVE that woman), drove to Bay City, MI to see the band get a key to the city. It was the very first time I was interviewed for the news and my sister ended up on the front of the newspaper the next morning.

There was so much that happened in those 90 days...and since then, I've traveled the world, been on TV and in newspapers, lived in London and done some of the most incredible things.

But nothing, nothing will top the Summer of '77...it was the best summer of my life.

This verse from Baby I Love Your Way, for some reason reminds me of that summer.

Moon appears to shine and light the sky

With the help of some fireflies.

Wonder how they have the power to shine, shine, shine

I can see them under the pine.

[Carol in Pgh.]

Darlene, quick...grab your money I hear the ice cream truck coming

[Carol in Pgh.]

Is that really you Wendy Ann?

[marathon mama]

I often forget that they sang "Let's Pretend":

Their arrangement has a more pronounced beat, and doesn't have anywhere near the emotional effect of the Raspberries' version.

[Wendy-Ann]

The (cover) version you hear above is a studio cut and not the fully produced version that was released on the album. I have added that below.

From what I know, the band, along with Jimmy Ienner and Clive Davis went to Miami and voted on the songs for the album, Dedication (OK, with Clive having the final say). It seems like Let's Pretend was not a favorite and was voted against being a track on album. Looks like that decision was out voted by Clive. Glad it was.

But this was the first version that I remember.

MM, you are right...Leslie doesn't sing it with the raw emotion that Eric does. But I have to say, for a 14 year old, I felt every “emotion†I could when I heard this version.

It was innocent enough for me to be taken a back by the melody and the lyrics. I knew this was a special song and it has always been my favorite from the Rollers. In fact, I can't remember another Rollers fan who claimed this as their favorite.

This song was one of the reasons I flew to Cleveland to see the Raspberries. It was an extremely emotional moment when I heard the opening chords and realized I was about to hear “Let's Pretend.†It was also an amazing moment when I was able to tell Eric that. I kind of felt stupid right after I blurted out my feelings but oh well, that's me. lol

And when I listened to this back in '77, all I could picture was a boy and a girl holding hands and kissing and wanting to just be together. It was exactly what a 14 year old needed to feel. I knew nothing about sex nor to be honest, would I have ever wanted to know anything past what I thought this song was about.

At 48, Eric's (original) version of this song holds a whole new meaning for me.

[Carol in Pgh.]

Well Wendy Ann...you were adorable then and beautiful now.

[Carol in Pgh.]

Listening to both versions I have to say that Eric sings it with a lot more heart! His you feel in your soul!

[Wendy-Ann]

Listening to both versions I have to say that Eric sings it with a lot more heart! His you feel in your soul!

Exactly.

But that's because both versions were produced for 2 different audiences. I believe Jummy Ienner knew exactly what he was doing by not trying to replicate the original version of Let's Pretend. He knew the BCR version was geared to young, YOUNG teenagers. He hit a home run.

Also, Leslie McKeown was a wanna-be sexy 20 year old boy, but far from a sexy man. I don't think he had the "natural" sexuality (like Eric) it takes to pull off the original version. He was never "sex on legs". He tried to be, but trust me on this...he wasn't. Far from it. lol

However, Leslie pulled off this version extremely well. It got my attention.

I love both versions, but by far, the original is the best.

PS: And this goes to show the boys that we CAN discuss songs.

[angelina]

[quote name='

I love both versions' date=' but by far, the original is the best.

PS: And this goes to show the boys that we CAN discuss songs. [/color']

Whereas ec's version is like a great kobe steak (meaty, succulent and memorable), the BCR version is like (with apologies to James) a white castle burger (flat, gaseous and cramp-inducing)