However I'm going to tweak things a little and target music singles, since I was the kid obsessed with making mix tapes instead of listening to entire albums.
Today I'm gonna feature songs from 1985 to 1987, otherwise known as My Awkward Years.
While the cool kids were break dancing, skateboarding, playing sports, and chasing girls... I was playing video games and collecting baseball cards.
Honestly... it's a good thing I grew up and hung out with those "cool" kids... otherwise I might have been featured on one of those ABC Afternoon Specials. But that's another story for another day.
Let's listen to some music and show off some cardboard...
Tears for Fears: Shout (1985)
Whenever I play 80's music for my students, I always include at least one song from the Songs from the Big Chair album.
1972 Topps #323 and #33
I decided to go with Shout, because it made me think of Earl Weaver and Billy Martin. Both of these guys were known for their entertaining tirades and are two of my favorite managers of all-time.
Bryan Adams: Summer of '69 (1985)
Bryan Adams had a lot of big hits in the 80's. After looking over the list of songs on Reckless, Summer of '69 stood out because baseball and summer go hand in hand.
1969 Topps #440
I wasn't around back in 1969, but thanks to the internet I discovered that Willie McCovey won the MLB All-Star Game MVP Award and launched the 300th home run of his career back in the summer of 1969. To top it off... he took home the NL MVP Award at the end of the season.
Peter Cetera: Glory of Love (1986)
Glory of Love was Peter Cetera's first solo hit after leaving the band that I grew up listening to in the 70's and early 80's. I don't hear this song very often anymore, but when I do Cetera isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It's Tamlyn Tomita:
2010 Rittenhouse Heroes #NNO
This song was featured in Karate Kid II and Tamlyn played Daniel-san's Okinawan girlfriend... Kumiko. She was my childhood crush back then... and my celebrity crush right now.
Beastie Boys: No Sleep Till Brooklyn (1986)
No Sleep Till Brooklyn is a classic. And I can't listen to this song without thinking of the Dodgers and my 1956 Topps Jackie Robinson:
1956 Topps #30
It seems perfect to post my favorite card and my favorite group together.
Bruce Hornsby and the Range: The Way It Is (1987)
Both of my brothers influenced my taste in music as a kid. They're the main reason I'm such a huge fan of 70's rock.
They also opened my eyes to artists like Bruce Hornsby. This song's title instantly made me think about collecting cards before the invention of top loaders and penny sleeves.
1971 Topps #525
Some of you were around back then, right? Remember when we would shove our cards in our bike spokes, or draw on them? Maybe some of you flipped them against walls, or used tape to stick them to your bedroom walls. That's just the way it was.
The Cure: Just Like Heaven (1987)
Back in 1987 or 1988, I went to see The Cure at the Oakland Coliseum. I'm pretty sure it was the first concert I ever attended. At the time, I barely knew their music. But one of my neighbors was a huge fan and invited me to come along. I'm glad I did... because thirty years later, I'm still a fan.
2015 Museum Collection Archival Autographs #AA-RCR
You can't play Just Like Heaven without featuring an California Angels card. I had hope to show off my 1972 Topps Billy Cowan card, but it's tucked away in my 1972 Topps set, which I currently don't have access to.
That's okay... I love my Rod Carew autograph too.
Well that's it for today. I'll try my best to post more cards and music from the second half of my teen years (1988 to 1991) on Thursday.
Happy Tuesday and sayonara!
This is awesome, you're speaking my language with these 80s hits - I was such a huge fan of the Cure in high school - and the baseball card pairings are perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find that 56 Jackie? I feel like you showed it off before, but either way wow that's a beautiful card!
I'm from the previous era musically but the cards are in my wheelhouse. That Ernie photo cracks me up.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Of these songs, I think only the Peter Cetera track isn't a much-listened-to favorite of mine as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm wondering if some Bay Area thrash metal shows up in the later 80's installment... along with lots of A's... the golden years...
ReplyDeleteYour awkward teenage years were my glorious college years. "Glory Of Love" cannot be played without memories of my huge summer crush on a girl. I still own the Tears for Fears and Bryan Adams LPs I bought when they came out (tho I loathe that ubiquitous Summer of '69 song). Just Like Heaven is all about college parties.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Brings back lots of memories, these were my early high school years. Looks like Night Owl and I are at odds again as I love Summer of '69. Bryan Adams was my first concert and my buddies and I would call into the local radio shows and ask them to play Summer of '69 and Bob Seger's Old Time Rock and Roll.
ReplyDeleteNever really got into The Cure or Peter Cetera but the rest of these would be highlights on my mix tape.
Man, I did not realize that "The Way it is" was a Bruce Hornsby song. As a later Tupac fan, I've heard the melody a lot, and had heard the original, but never knew the artist.
ReplyDeleteAnd The Cure...man there's an amazing band right there. My very first bank pin was "Cure." I can tell you that because that account is long since closed lol. But I was and still am a huge fan of Robert Smith and the bunch.
Fantastic! I am particular fond of Summer of '69. Though I was two!
ReplyDeletePicking one Cure song over another is too difficult. I'm partial to this:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/SQ4m5u016Mo
Even if, in today's world, the title is difficult to read.
Awesome. Post.
ReplyDeleteVery enjoyable list of both songs and cards.
Thanks for sharing.
What a great post. I love the way you told us the music that influenced you growing up using cardboard.
ReplyDeleteBeastie Boys FTW!
chris - lol... i show off my 56T jackie more than any other card in my collection, because it's my favorite card in the collection. i picked it up a few years ago at a card show for $65
ReplyDeletehackenbush - i totally understand. this three year period were my awkward years in terms of life as well as music.
defgav - lol. not sure how often i was rocking out to that song either, but it gave me a chance to show off my crush
ko rob - sorry... no bay area thrash metal. towards the late 80's i was getting more into rap and then alternative. i think the closest i got to metal was anthrax.
night owl - not a fan of summer of '69? that's one of my favorite songs from him. well at least we have glory of love in common. except you actually knew your crush... my girl was from a movie.
arpsmith - i've got your back on the summer of '69 song. i actually prefer cetera's time with chicago rather than his solo stuff. as for the cure... still love listening to their stuff to this day. top 20 band for me.
spastikmooss - my students say the same thing about the 2pac song. totally agree with you on the cure. i'll still pop their music in from time to time.
b man - looks like i have 10+ years on you buddy
jedijeff - great song. if you listen to more recent live versions, he switches the words to "killing another".
bamlinden - thanks for reading
collecting cutch - i could probably do an entire post focusing on the beastie boys alone. their my favorite group of all-time.