Long live the 70s; the 70s are dead

Originally published March 15, 2007

I've never listened to music when I've run before, but this time around, I listen to my IPod. I haven't figured out if dialing up 70s rock anthems is good or bad for a run. Good because you can lose yourself in WAY too familiar tunes and enjoy the memories associated with the time when you could run but didn't need to. Bad because . . . well, you have the beat that you couldn't really dance to as a teenager that now won't let you get into a consistent running rhythm, and you have the reminder that this music is 25-30 years old and if it's politely referred to as 'classic,' then so are you.

A few years ago, I volunteered to work at a festival sponsored by the Keller (a small town near me) Chamber of Commerce. I had the opportunity to go to the airport to pick up 'The Classic Rock All Stars,' who performed at the festival. Loved Rare Earth as a kid, and lead singer Peter Rivera (really Rivers) was there. Jerry Corbetta, lead singer and organist for Sugar Loaf also was a member of the band, and so were Dennis Noda (who?) from Cannibal and the Headhunters (who?) and Mike Pinera from Blues Image, Iron Butterfly and Alice Cooper (job hopper).

Pete Rivera has a son who plays baseball in the Dodgers system. Hearing the guy who warned 'Hey, Big Brother' sound like a soccer mom asking about today's game was a little unsettling (but sweet) . . . has everybody grown up (thank God!)? Jerry Corbetta, who also sang with Frankie Vallie (but shouldn't try to hit those high notes now), asked about a church organ that Van Cliburn donated to a church in Fort Worth. 'Dang, we had lunch the other day and I forgot to ask.' Felt bad for Dennis Noda. He hummed a few bars of the Headhunters 'Land of 1,000 Dances' when I said that I didn't recognize the band or the song title. I was ecstatic when I blurted, 'It's that song that high school bands play!' Probably didn't impress him too much. Wasn't a huge fan of Mike Pinera's bands, but he seemed to be having the most fun on stage, fun enough that even never-heard-of-him teenagers played air guitar with him.

Gray hair, pot bellies, scratchy voices and all . . . loved listening to the All Stars.
BUT, I probably need to create a new running playlist for my IPod. Enjoyed a good run tonight . . . then had to decide between going out for pizza or Mexican food. Hmmm?