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These (Truly) Are the Worst of Times

It's cool, no worries. You don't need to convince me.

I worked at a shopping mall bookstore between newspaper jobs in the early 80s. Next door was an indoor ice rink where they played "Mr. Roboto" about every 45 minutes. I hated the song until I saw the accompanying video on YouTube. I occasionally watch it for laughs. It's hilarious!
 
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Mr._Graybeard said:
Sure, I remember Hartsfield, along with Starcastle, a low-rent version of Yes from Champaign. Sadly, they were doing the Yes thing about five years too late.

On the topic of low-rent, I've always regarded REO as a poor man's version of The Eagles. WADR I don't know what DeYoung did to "ruin" them, since their greatest commercial success apparently came after that ruination. But their success came in the Eagles' wake fairly closely.

When I was at Mizzou around 1980, there was a Missouri band that was a cult favorite called The Skeletons, AKA The Morells. A ladyfriend from La Plata was a fan.
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Funny. I posted earlier that I saw an REO cover at a concert in the park last Sunday. The headliners were an Eagles cover.

Honestly, I don't dislike any of the groups that get dissed repeatedly around here (like Styk, but don't like "Mr. Roboto," like Journey mainly for Schon's guitar work, etc.). The Eagles are just so-so for me, recognizable music that really doesn't get me going. I still have REO songs circulating in my brain from last Sunday. Eagles songs come and go, you follow along, but once they're done, they're gone. They never cover Don Henley. "Sunset Grill" is the best thing anyone associated with the Eagles has done.
 
Another Central Illinois band in the Styx/REO mold,
Head East had a quick cup of coffee in the bigs back then.

 
Re: Rupert Holmes.

1, it's a masterpiece of a song in sound and the lyrics
2, look at him at the height of fame, he looks like your 8th-grade science teacher
3, he is so ..... I don't have the word .... but the way he pumps his fist during the "making love a midnight" part is so forking perfect
4, at the end he repeats the chorus, with oomph, and another fist pump and it's so glorious
5, there are few stories in song that are better than this
6, a song based on NEWSPAPER personals
7, all of the reviewers from YouTube League of Reactionaries LOVE the twist of fate

 
Slacker said:
Another Central Illinois band in the Styx/REO mold,
Head East had a quick cup of coffee in the bigs back then.

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I was at a show where a roadie for another band on the bill was stabbed in an altercation with the Head East crew (allegedly).

I'll see if the interwebs has something on it. Late 70s.

Edit: Let's see if the link holds:

1 Jun 1979, Page 51 - Star Tribune at Newspapers.com
 
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Songbird said:
Re: Rupert Holmes.

1, it's a masterpiece of a song in sound and the lyrics
2, look at him at the height of fame, he looks like your 8th-grade science teacher
3, he is so ..... I don't have the word .... but the way he pumps his fist during the "making love a midnight" part is so forking perfect
4, at the end he repeats the chorus, with oomph, and another fist pump and it's so glorious
5, there are few stories in song that are better than this
6, a song based on NEWSPAPER personals
7, all of the reviewers from YouTube League of Reactionaries LOVE the twist of fate

Click to expand...


What we have here is another poor lost soul, led astray by Rupert Holmes.

I'll be back to explain.

Edit:

The relationship in the song is doomed.

It's built on deception, lies and deceit.

BOTH are looking to step outside their relationship and make the beast with two backs at midnight with a random stranger who likes a shirtty 'tropical' drink and is too stupid to come in from the rain.

Sure, they'll get back together, but then, things will get stale ..

Soon, very soon, they'll be hosting neighborhood gatherings, serving gallons of a shirtty 'tropical' drink, and before you know it car keys are being thrown in a bowl.

All wrapped up in a catchy pop tune to spread this message of deception, lies and deceit to the masses.
 
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Songbird said:
Re: Rupert Holmes.

1, it's a masterpiece of a song in sound and the lyrics
2, look at him at the height of fame, he looks like your 8th-grade science teacher
3, he is so ..... I don't have the word .... but the way he pumps his fist during the "making love a midnight" part is so forking perfect
4, at the end he repeats the chorus, with oomph, and another fist pump and it's so glorious
5, there are few stories in song that are better than this
6, a song based on NEWSPAPER personals
7, all of the reviewers from YouTube League of Reactionaries LOVE the twist of fate

Click to expand...

That song sucked then, and that song sucks now.
 
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