Listening to "American Pie" on grumpy's blog brought up fond memories of my childhood.   My father was definitely the music connoisseur in our family.  (Maybe I should look that up!)  He wasn't home a lot when I was young but I loved getting into his records and listening to various songs.

I can remember listening to Don McLean while I was growing up.  "American Pie" was one of my favorites.  I can remember when I was older finding it fascinating that there were all these "hidden" meanings in the song.  My favorite McLean song is still "Vincent" though.  Van Gogh has always fascinated me.  Chris and I were lucky enough to see an exhibit of his paintings while visiting his mom in California. 

Another  of my favorites was "Teach Me Tiger" by April Stevens.  I loved the "tiger" sounds she made while she was singing.  What is even more humorous now is that the other reason I liked it was because my mother found it so racy!  It was this naughty thing I had to sneak on to the record player.

My dad was a football coach.  Back in the days when I was young some "lucky" coach would have to run the films into the city to get them developed.  For some reason that was often my dad's job.  So we would load up in the family station wagon late on Friday night and head into town.  Usually I would be sacked out in the back with one of those scratchy football blankets.  Playing on the car 8 track player would be John Conlee or Don Williams.  But then every now and then he would play Supertramp.  Who remembers "The Logical Song."

Now though my father listens to one singer-Bobby Blue Bland...the snorter!  If the other car riders are really lucky he throws in a little George Winston.  (Those CDs he stole from me!)  He can make an 11-hour drive on nothing but George!

That love for music is still being passed on.  M is so excited to have won an Ipod shuffle for her walk for Diabetes.  (Thanks again AJ!)  She loves planning all of "her" music she wants to put on it.  Everything from "The Battle of New Orleans" to the newest Taylor Swift.  (I'm glad we can now leave off the Strawberry Shortcake tunes though!)  I'm sure there will be at least one version of "I'll Fly Away" on there too.