Listening to Lyin’ Eyes yesterday and reminiscing about The Eagles’ great music got me thinking about all the other ’70s American artists we loved to listen to. There were a group of them living in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles who collaborated to create amazing American country rock – Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Bob Seger.
For teenagers in rural Scotland, the lyrics in their songs conjured up something totally other-worldly – “Dark desert highways”, “Blue bayous” and “Tequila sunrises”. Also until then I hadn’t really listened to the lyrics of songs properly, it was always about the melody or the artist (typical teenage girl) but these guys were telling a whole story in a song. Yesterday’s Lyin’ Eyes tells an incredibly sad story and makes me realise how lucky I am to have married my best friend and not had to resort to “the cheatin’ side of town”. (One of the best lines ever in a song.)
Anyway, by chance when I was in the car today, this song came on the radio and although more from the soft rock/easy listening camp, it totally reminded me of those great American songs from that mid ’70s era. I’d Really Love To See You Tonight was in the UK Singles Chart in September 1976 and told the sweet story of a guy who just wanted to “hang out” with (probably) an old girlfriend, no strings attached. It was recorded by England Dan and John Ford Coley and was their biggest hit in the UK.
I’d Really Love To See You Tonight by England Dan & John Ford Coley:
They definitely weren’t teen idols (see picture below) but there is something about this song that I’ve always loved – What not to love about the line “there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around, and I’d really love to see you tonight”. Where we lived there was never, ever a warm wind blowing and the stars were usually hidden by cloud, so something really exotic and romantic-sounding.
I am partial to a “story song” and re-reading these lines, know that I’ve been there. Sometimes it’s just really nice to meet up with an old boyfriend, post-breakup, knowing you are never going to get back together but just to reminisce about good times. All very lovely until you bump into them with their new girlfriend, in which case the pain comes right back, but tolerable if you’ve put on a great outfit that day and perfected the hair and makeup. My 16-year-old self didn’t know about any of that as not really had any great romances yet, but boy did I enjoy listening to that line about the warm wind blowing the stars around.
I’d Really Love to See You Tonight Lyrics
(Song by Parker McGee)
Hello, yeah, it’s been a while
Not much, how ’bout you?
I’m not sure why I called
I guess I really just wanted to talk to you
And I was thinking maybe later on
We could get together for a while
It’s been such a long time
And I really do miss your smile
I’m not talking ’bout moving in
And I don’t want to change your life
But there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around
And I’d really love to see you tonight
We could go walking through a windy park
Or take a drive along the beach
Or stay at home and watch tv
You see, it really doesn’t matter much to me
I’m not talking ’bout moving in
And I don’t want to change your life
But there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around
And I’d really love to see you tonight
I won’t ask for promises
So you don’t have to lie
We’ve both played that game before
Say I love you, then say goodbye
What's It All About? 
Reblogged this on What's It All About, Alfie? and commented:
Cheating a bit here but this is a post I wrote back in January just after starting the blog. All of a sudden it has become relevant because summer has finally come to Scotland and last night we had a wonderful evening in the garden with our neighbours. Back in January I said that we never get warm winds in Scotland but you know what, I think last night we did. It is also starting to get dark a lot earlier now so there were even stars and if I looked closely enough I think those warm winds may even have been at work on them. A magical evening that tore me away from Rio, and those very compelling Olympics.
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Always liked their harmonies on that song. And they did a pretty nifty cover of Todd Rundgren’s “Love Is The Answer” too.
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Yes just listened to that one again and took me right back to the late ’70s. Thanks for the comment.
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Yes, that’s one of the borderline rock stable of 70s easy listening. On a compilation with the Captain and Tennille, John Denver and – my personal guilty pleasure – Oh Lori by Alessi. Oh, and the Bellamy Brothers. Lovely tunes, romantic ambience and could well be playing quietly as the two of you sit down to prawn cocktail and a steak with a bottle of Blue Nun already empty.
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Pretty sure you’re not checking in any more but just in case, one of my latest posts was about the song Oh Lori – One of my guilty pleasures also. https://jukeboxtimemachine.com/2016/10/12/oh-lori-alessi/
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