When I listen to music, or more
specifically, songs...I am usually reminded of a particular person,
place or time in my life. Oftentimes, these are mental “snapshots”
from my younger days and even my youth, as I still tend to listen to
much of the music I enjoyed as a young man. Why my taste in music
hasn't stayed “current”, I really don't know. Musically, I
admit, I am stuck in the 70's and 80's (and maybe some 90's stuff?)
for the most part! I do venture out into the modern music world on
occasion and find myself enjoying more recent stuff, but less than I
probably should.
This particular song takes me back to
the age of about 10, when I was “riding around” all summer with
my friends, on a bike with a “Banana Seat”! Riding into the 7-11 parking lot past a row of pay
phone booths, to buy a few pieces of “penny candy”. You know...Jolly Ranchers, Mary Jane's, Fireballs and
the like. I can almost feel the hot, humid, Michigan summer...and I remember the smell of fresh cut grass...and the
incessant buzzy noise of grasshoppers.
Like so many of the tunes I like, this
song has a strong violin/orchestral presence. It also has a rather
typical “Motown” feel, though this song was produced in Florida
and not Detroit!? The song speaks to that universal topic...the
power of falling in love. Although the concept was a bit foreign to me at
this young age, I would appreciate the lyrics later in my life:)
The lead singer has the most unusual
habit of completely distorting the last part of some of the words in
the song. It's a most unusual annunciation and for some reason, his
careless addition of an “N” sound at the end of words that don’t
end with an “N” for instance, adds a strange novelty to the song!
I love the drum intro, that leads right into the sweet, rich violins...and that crisp, simple drum beat and the soaring violins sustain the song till the very end.
It is also obvious how old the song is, given the line, "I found myself phoning her at least ten times a day..." I mean, no one "phones" anyone these days! (You younger folks, just substitute "texting" for "phoning"!)
The group, “Cornelius Brothers and
Sister Rose”, is comprised of siblings; two brothers and two
sisters, and they have that “cool” 70's vocal harmony that was so
prevalent in those days. They actually had two pretty big songs, so
technically they are a “Two Hit Wonder” I suppose?!? This song
hit number 2 or 3 on the charts, and got a ton of
airplay on the local radio station CKLW.
(Windsor, Ontario)
A good memory from the long past summer of 1972!
Click the link below.
Too Late To Turn Back Now
