Category: Entertainment

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Memories of My Arrival in San Francisco

Picture it: San Francisco, August 1986. Before I was employed and settled into my own place, I was staying with some friends of my best buddy in a grand old Victorian on Haight Street, and one afternoon I was poking around in the guest room closet and ran across a cache of vinyl. Among the many records I hadn’t heard previously was this gem, Boom Boom by one-hit wonder* Paul Lekakis. I had no idea a video had ever been made, so stumbling across this on YouTube  the other day was a surprise.

The full 12-inch version, of Boom Boom if you’re so inclined.

Okay, I know it’s not the greatest song in the world, but much like Sparks’ Music That You Can Dance To (that I also found in that same cache of vinyl) it is inexorably tied to my first few months as a San Franciscan.

*Further research via Discogs and Spotify indicate that Mr. Lekakis has put out work since the 80s, but after listening to (most of) it, I can’t honestly say I’ve heard any of it. (And quite frankly, none of that matches Boom Boom—with the possible exception of Fruit Machine, which has that same mid 80s energy.)

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Released 45 Years Ago Today

Giorgio & Chris: Love’s in You, Love’s in Me (1978)

Never one of my favorites, but looked back upon fondly, especially Burning the Midnight Oil.

I get the totally unsubstantiated feeling that Giorgio was fucking Chris at the time and was hoping to make her the next Donna Summer. Unfortunately, Chris didn’t possess the vocal talent of Summer and this is why I think this was a one-off album…

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Peace Out

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Released 43 Years Ago Today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OeX9Rq9cFk&list=PLrpyDacBCh7D9LYtNqpCNxIAyLk4R26uA

Grace Jones: Warm Leatherette (1980)

My favorite—or maybe second favorite—Grace Jones album. I can never definitively say if this or Nightclubbing is my favorite, followed closely by Slave to the Rhythm in third place. Both Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing are so good they could easily have been released as a double LP.

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Released 37 Years Ago Today

Pet Shop Boys: Please (1986)

The soundtrack of my life for the first few months I lived in San Francisco.

For many years afterward I would still jump out of my skin when the computer beeps play in Two Divided by Zero because they were so new and unexpected.

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Released 50 Years Ago Today

Feel old yet?

Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Dark Side of the Moon needs no introduction. It is undoubtedly one of the most influential and well-known rock albums of the 1970s. But for some reason, I never heard it when it was new.

I only discovered this album late in life and my first thought was, “Where have you been all this time?!”

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Released 45 Years Ago Today


Sphinx: Sphinx (1978)

Under the name Sphinx, Alec R. Costandinos and Don Ray released an album with two side-long tunes, Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter, telling the story of the betrayal of Christ. Judas features some monk-like chanting, and a pretty simple ascending and descending theme, but as usual it goes through a bewildering series of tranformations, including what sounds like a bouzouki duel, before climbing to a rousing finale. It’s also a good case study in how Costandinos keeps the rhythm section pumping out dance beats no matter how overwrought the orchestra gets. Simon Peter explores similar territory and about seven minutes in, it breaks into the most furious, kick-ass disco you’re ever going to hear.

Much like Costandinos’ work with Cerrone on Love in C-Minor, I was initially unaware of Don Ray’s contributions to this album, but upon subsequent listening it’s obvious.

And no doubt because of the subject matter, I don’t recall ever hearing it played in the clubs. I only stumbled upon it because it appeared in a full page ad in Billboard Magazine along with Costandinos’ other work.

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Dare I Say…

That this particular performance by The Three Degrees of their 1979 hit, The Runner, written by Giorgio Moroder…

Reminds me way too much of this?

Space Angels, from Battlestar Galactica (1978)

The 3-hour premier episode of Battlestar Galactica, in which this appeared, debuted in September 1978. The Three Degrees released The Runner on the LP New Dimensions, a month later in October.

Just Sayin…

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