I had just turned 10 years old during the winter of ‘76/’77, but I was already keeping up on the latest music with the devotion of a teenager. On the radio I was exposed to everything from light pop like ABBA, to more classic stuff like Led Zeppelin. But the disco era was also just kicking into high gear with groups like KC & the Sunshine Band and the Bee Gees leading the way. Not fitting into any of these categories, however, is the song that always brings me right back to that winter.
Because of childhood allergies and asthma, we kept a humidifier running in my bedroom overnight in the wintertime. At age ten I was finally deemed responsible enough for the task of filling that monster up each night, and I embraced this assignment with passion and enthusiasm. It usually took a couple full gallons per night – using an empty Kemp’s French Vanilla ice cream gallon bucket. I would have to stand there next to the sink while the bucket slowly filled. One night, facing the boredom of watching the bucket fill, I was inspired to play the keyboards on the bathroom’s faux marble vanity. The sink just happened to be the perfect width and height for me to play, and I could conveniently admire my performance in the mirror behind. The song I played that night was a current hit, Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann and the Earth Band.
And so my ritual began. Every single winter night for the next few years, I would “play” this same song while filling up the humidifier. Topping off each bucket took just enough time for me to play a good portion of the song’s keyboard intro, along with a couple rounds of the chorus – probably somewhere around 16 bars of the song. Sometimes the water ran a little fast, so I would have to speed up the song in order to finish before the bucket overflowed. But I would never interrupt the performance to shut off the water. Sometimes I had to slow it down, too, but I always played the same part every night. Once the humidifier was full, I would brush my teeth and climb in bed.
Nearly 40 years later, every time I hear this song it takes me right back. Not necessarily to my bathroom keyboard performance, but to that time in my life. I loved my bedroom – it was my own personal space. But I especially loved my bedroom in the winter time. Each night I would get all cozy under a pile of blankets, with my favorite one on top – the “jungle” quilt my grandma made for me, with animals and exotic scenes from Africa. Then I would lay back and fall asleep in a childhood paradise, with the calm sound of the humidifier fan and the accompanying little light that gave my room a comforting orange glow. Ahhhh…
I had a fantastic childhood. I was always happy. I had everything I needed. I always felt loved, and I always felt very safe. So whenever I hear this song now, I not only have a vision of skinny little Billy standing there playing the keyboards on the bathroom vanity, but more importantly I experience the warmth and contentment created out of the happiness, love and security of my childhood.
So, cheers to warm fuzzy memories. And a big shout out to Manfred Mann, and of course the original songwriter Bruce Springsteen, for their musical inspiration.
Oh I love that you are sharing these stories! It’s so apparent how much music means to you and this is a perfect way to really honor that connection! I look forward to reading more.
Thanks Michele! Writing these stories has given me whole new appreciation for music. I have so many great memories to share.
Your happiness showed on you as a child. I can related to all this of your family home. As this is one of the places, I totally felt the same while being there.
Wonderful story. A pleasure to read. I too can vividly picture what your writing. Thanks for sharing Bill.
💙 ☮✝
Thank you, Trudi! I know I was very lucky to grow up in such a loving home. Also, our families were so intertwined during my childhood years – I have many fond memories of us being together. I miss seeing all of you…and sad that so many of us are gone now.
Love your writing style Bill. Your descriptions and images were so real. Thanks for sharing and I really look forward to more stories and memories. Rock On!
Thank you, Lisa! I really appreciate your kind words.
Bill,
Congratulations on your first blog post! Great job expressing your passion and connection to music.
Looking forward to your next post!
Thanks Robin! I’ll have another one coming soon!
Bill! Love that you’re doing this! Your writing is so wonderfully descriptive and full of joy. It is amazing how music acts like a time machine and can instantly take us back to a specific moment in time, like this song does for you. Looking forward to more posts!
Thank you Liv! That’s a good way to put it, writing these stories is as joyful for me as the original experiences. If others can find joy, too, then it’s a win – all around. I’m now appreciating the power of music more than ever.
Bill
That is great I love that song. I was in my late teens driving home from Redwing at 1 or 2 in the morning from my restaurant management job. I love how you have created the music life full circle.
Thanks for sharing your story, Lynette. I think there’s something even more magical with music when it’s heard late at night, or in the wee hours. Very cool.
Bill:
Thanks for sharing your memories of this song. I have my own (of the Boss’s version), but could not articulate them nearly as well as you. I hope you’ll blog more.
Mark
Funny thing – it was years before I knew this was Bruce’s song. I heard his song on the radio one day and I thought to myself, “wow, this is a really weird version!” Haha, the joke was on me! Oddly enough, Manfred Mann’s version is the only Bruce song ever to reach #1 on the charts.
Hi Bill!
I can see Billy in concert and feel the warmth of the jungle quilt, but most of all I know the joy you found in the music! Thanks for sharing yourself like this! Much gratitude, Joan
Thank you, Joan! You’re right – it is all about the joy. And, I still have that quilt now – it’s sitting right behind me on the futon in my office. 🙂
Bill,
I love this amazing story and your perspective is so heartwarming and who I have always known you to be!
I always thought your first album was KC and the Sunshine Band:-) Can’t wait to hear more!
love you
Thanks Tracie! So many of my experiences were influenced by you and Ann. You’ll see many more similar stories in the future. Led Zeppelin II was my very first purchase. Then I joined a record club (8 albums for a penny!) and that’s where most of the records you remember probably came from (Beach Boys, Bay City Rollers etc.). Then my very first record store purchase was the Eagles Hotel California – but you’ll read about that in an upcoming post! 🙂
Congratulations, Sweetie, on a FANTASTIC new blog! I absolutely love this first post – it really made me smile! And it also gave me that warm feeling you talk about…I felt like I was right alongside you from beginning to end. Not only are you sharing ‘your’ story here, but you also help the reader connect with what ‘their’ story might be. Thank you for that! You so beautifully describe the universal way we are each forever impacted by various songs throughout life’s journey.
Lucky me, I have a sneak peek at what else is coming next on the blog, and I can’t wait for more of these fun stories to be published! What a joy to see you doing what you love to do – you’re the perfect person for the job.
I love you, my rock ‘n’ roll – and life – partner!
Thanks so much, Sweetie. You just made my day! 🙂
Omg! Love love love your first blog! What an awesome thing for you to be doing… And perfect! I hung on every word literally… Love your writing style. I could feel the safety and comfort in your bedroom with the warm glow of the orange light and the music going! May the music keep going and going for you forever! Love you and Michelle ❤️
Part of my intention is to bring the readers along with me on these nostalgic posts, perhaps inspiring fun memories of their own. So I’m happy to hear that it worked!
Thanks Sharon!
🙂
You have opened me up to explore all of the songs which have had profound moments in my own life.
I really enjoy your writing style and would agree how you bring the reader right into the scene. I feel lucky to have actually seen most of the places you are talking about and in my head can see most of the scenes which you are describing. Which is an added bonus!
Thank you for this journey through mind and music.
Thanks Blair! I’m really pleassed you’re enjoying the posts. And you do have a definite advantage from being a part of my childhood. I was just 10 years old when you appeared, so a lot of my music memories occurred around the time you were born, or during your own childhood. 🙂