Satin Doll - Williams (1975) and Spin Out - Gottlieb (1975)
This photo was taken in a liquor store in 1976. In the 70's and 80's, it wasn't uncommon to see arcade games and pinball machines in pizza parlors, grocery stores, mini marts, laundromats and just about anywhere else. This photo was shared by Beatnik Daddio - not sure of the source.
Ting-A-Ling Double Play (1975) Dave Cash and Larry Bowa
I posted Phillies Fever yesterday, and it wouldn't be right if Ting-A-Ling Double Play didn't have its own entry. It's about how the Phillies middle infield are inspired by food and drink to turn a double play to end a game that has gone to extra innings.
In the first verse, it's an ice cream truck outside of Veteran's Stadium in the bottom of the 14th inning. A hot dog vendor gets their attention in the bottom of the 17th inning in verse two. Finally, a member of the cleaning crew knocked over a soda can in the bottom of the 23rd inning, which sent our beloved 2B/SS combo into a cola-induced, bag-tagging frenzy to end the game with a double play.
Phillies Fever (1976) Dave Cash, Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Garry Maddox
There are plenty of frightening things about this song, but the scariest part to me is the fact that this isn't the first time Dave Cash and Larry Bowa cut a baseball record. One year before "Phillies Fever" introduced disco baseball to the world, our middle infield recorded "Ting A Ling Double Play" It's difficult to say which is worse, but they're required listening for any die-hard Phillies fan.
I love all the neon signs in my local music store. The DVD sign on the right hand side of the door used to say "Tapes" back in the day. They also were the only place to get foreign and underground CD releases in the days before online shopping, like Nirvana: Outcesticides and Smashing Pumpkins: Black Sessions.
Joey Ramone What A Wonderful World
From the album Don't Worry About Me (2002)
One of the best songs ever written was covered by Joey Ramone and released posthumously on his only solo album. The icon of punk rock died 15 years ago today.
Light switch cover sticker Quisp cereal toy - Quaker Oats (1977)
Children (and adults) could collect all three light switch stickers in specially marked boxes of Quisp cereal in 1977. Each sticker featured the quazy alien with a message that encouraged the reader not to waste electricity.
Please Don't Break My Atari Weird Paul Petroskey Thick Syrup Records
I heard this earlier today on the latest episode of the Super Podcast Bros, which I highly recommend to any fan of retro gaming, or video games in general. The song is absolute comedy cheese, but it's also actually pretty catchy. I've had it stuck in my head ever since.
MLB Opening Day April 8, 1981 Pete Rose and Larry Bowa with their World Series Championship rings 35 years ago. This photo was taken before the start of the 1981 Opening Day game against the Cincinnati Reds.
