Taxi

[simple_gifts]

Was taking a late night drive last night and caught the full play of this tune from 1972 when I was only 8; I clearly recall hearing this tune on the radio and it was the first "45" that I ever owned. The younger guys can look up what a 45 is.

Despite the time gone by the song still stands as a solid piece of song writing craft to which i have a strong emotional attachment. I struggle to point to anything within the last 15 years that could even approach this lyrically or musically or withstand the test of time; writers have just deferred to the cut and paste verse chorus verse chorus chorus ending song writing style and are more interested in churning "something" out. I have attached a lot of emotional posterboards to the song, but I suspect a lot of people have; that is part of its power.

I especially enjoy the use of the cello and in the verse that starts
Quote:

"It took a while, but she looked in the mirror"

there is an entire counter melody happing with the cello happening in the background.



It is too bad this song is overshadowed by the more played (and shorter) Cat's in the Cradle

Chapin was killed in an auto accident in 1981.

 

[79sunrunner]

Glad you brought this up. I almost never hear his music on the radio anymore. Unfortunately, I didn't grow up during the baby boomers era, but I at least know what a 45 is! In fact, vinyls are making a come back since their sound quality is better than the digital internet downloads most kids buy today. Most under 25 years olds now own new record players.

 

[Barkleymut]

this was my favorite song as a kid (born in 73) mainly because my grandma had the 45 on the turntable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_8909dNJ0 btw, how was I to know what Kama Sutra was? lol

 

[Burt]

Most of his songs were too long to play on the radio.

I liked the line "I stashed the bill in my shirt"

Great writing. Says a lot with a few words. Miss him alot, but his daughter said he rarely slept, ate horribly and he died having a heart attack that caused the accident. At the time he was driving on a suspended license due to too many violations.

He gave a higher percentage of his income to charity than probably most performers.

 

[simple_gifts]

Maybe you should look up the source of the term "Lovin' Spoolful" too.

 

[Maximus1966]

Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
Most under 25 years olds now own new record players.


Say what?

 

[Lead Shoes]

Originally Posted By: Maximus1966
Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
Most under 25 years olds now own new record players.


Say what?


LOL no... no they do not.

 

[Vikas]

And they have stash of 78rpms

 

[dailydriver]

Yes, he was quite the songmeister.

We have hosted his brother, Tom, and his daughter Jen at our concert series, as well as doing a tribute concert to him.

That was my fave song by him, and it was popular when I was working in the city (Big Apple) about which he was writing/singing in that epic tune, during the weekends as a parking lot attendant at my step dad's lot.

 

[Rick in PA]

Good song. Roads in life not taken...
Thanks for posting.