Brad's Music Room

It was a typical Southwest Missouri spring with thunderstorms settling in and drenching the area for days. Surviving on board games, music and peanut butter sandwiches, Bert, Randy and I leapt with childhood joy when the sun finally came out. Escaping the confines of the four walls of our living room we scaled the barbed wire fence guarding the field behind our house. It was a pastoral setting with cows grazing in the distance and the sun glistening on the surface of a small pond. A cardinal sang, announcing that spring had arrived. The perfect prescription to combat our cabin fever. After landing with a squish on the saturated ground we embarked on a journey across the field to the pond beckoning in the distance. That’s when I heard it:

Randy: “I dare you to swim across that pond.”

Normally dry, the rains had transformed this tranquil lowland into a frightening cauldron. A minimum of 3 feet deep and 10 yards in diameter, this milk chocolate colored water feature felt more cesspool than swimming hole. I wasn’t going to back down from a dare but I needed compensation.

Brad: “What will you give me?”

Randy: “I will give you that 45 we were just listening to.”

Ten minutes later, I had a new 45 and a precious memory.

For those of us who prefer to keep our feet firmly on dry ground, the question arises: Why? Perhaps extreme tightrope walker Philippe Petit  explained it best when he answered, after his 1974 tight rope walk between the twin towers, “There is no why.” Or maybe our love for the Beatles makes us do crazy things.

How about you? Have you ever done anything crazy on a dare?

“I Feel Fine” is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon-McCartney) and released in 1964 by the Beatles as the A-side of their eighth British single. The song is notable for being one of the first uses of guitar feedback in popular music.

“She’s a Woman” is a song by the Beatles, written mainly by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon-McCartney. John Lennon contributed to the lyrics and middle eight (the bridge). The song was finished in the studio the morning of the session. It was released as the B-side to “I Feel Fine” in 1964, their last single release that year. It reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 from frequent airplay.

Sir George Martin, Beatles producer, dead at 90

Martin died “peacefully at home” in England, according to Adam Sharp, the founder of C A Management which represents the music producer.

When my voice started changing, mom decided I needed to learn the importance of social graces. Seizing the opportunity to dress me in a suit and tie, she signed me up for “Junior Cotillion.” Topics included acknowledgments of gifts, introductions, participating in group settings, paying and receiving compliments, sports etiquette, first impressions, and (of course) dress code for all occasions. We covered manners in the home and in public places, table manners, formal place settings, skills involved in being a guest, hostess or host, and many other areas of social behavior. Initially, I didn’t want to go but actually found myself enjoying the experience. By far, my favorite part, was learning to dance. We learned many different styles including foxtrot, swing, and my personal favorite, the waltz.

“I’m Happy Just to Dance with You“ is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney^[1] and recorded by the Beatles for the film soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night. Lead vocals are by George Harrison, whose performance in the film marked the first commercial music video segment with Harrison singing lead. It is from Something New, (issued, 20 July 1964) the Beatles third Capitol LP release and fifth American album.