Wonder Years, Still Here As Long As You Hear

I used to love to watch the show Wonder Years, not only for the great story lines but the wonderful music and live flash backs of scenes from the Viet Nam War, and Woodstock. It was almost like going back in time to activities and a way of life I knew so well. Yes, I know you can never go home again, but with the style, scenery, and music of this show you could come darn close.

This review is on the fifth CD in this boxed set. I choose to do this one for two reasons. First I didn't believe you would want me reviewing 50 songs, and second I overall like this one best, and considering it's my review, guess I can start with number five.

1. Happy Together - Written by Gary Bonner and Alan Gordan and performed by The Turtles.

As the title suggest this is a happy tune. I love the sound of The Turtles. Music is upbeat and lyrics easy to understand. Do you remember being sixteen and in love? Sure was a difficult time wasn't it? One you thought would last forever, your steady would always be your steady. Times change, the world around us spins at a different pace, yet young love is the same, they always think it will last. For some it will, for the rest of us we'll never forget it, nor will we regret it.

"I can't see me loving nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me the skies will be blue
For all my life."

2. Little Green Apples - Written by Bobby Russell Performing artist Roger do wack a doo Miller.

A story of a family man, and who sees all around him as blessings, as love given to him. It's kind of draggy but the sentiment is sweet.

"I wake up in the morning with my hair down in my eyes
And she says hi
And I stumble to the breakfast table
While the kids are going off to school good-bye
And she reaches out and takes my hand
And squeezes it and says how you feeling honey
And I look across at smiling lips, that warm my heart and sing my
Morning sun, and if that's not loving me all I got to say
Is God didn't make little green apples......"

3. The Tears Of A Clown - Written by Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder and William "Smokey" Robinson. Who else could do this song justice besides the great Smokey Robinson And The Miracles?

Wonderful Musical prelude, with drums, symbols, guitar, and tambourines. The percussion sound is amazing.
Fantastic singing, music lively, theme hiding of true feelings. A theme I think we have all at one time or another used. Hiding our true feelings to protect ourselves from further hurt or rejection. Even though we may successfully hide it from others, it stays with us, so I ask what do we ever gain?

"Now if there's a smile on my face
It's only there trying to fool the public
Don't let my glad expression give you the wrong impression
Really I'm sad, oh sadder then sad
You're gone and I'm hurting so bad
Like a clown I pretend to be glad."

4. Sealed With A Kiss - Written by Peter Udell and Gary Geld This song was made popular by Bryan Hyland.

Summer love, ah just the sound brings back such bitter sweet memories. Twelve weeks of puppy love, of course at the time it was the real deal. I mean dude it was going to stay that way forever. Looking back it was the twelve weeks that was the forever. Just didn't know enough to appreciate it.

"Though we gotta to say good-bye for the summer
Darling I promise you this, I'll send you all my love
Every day in a letter, Sealed with a kiss."

I got one letter following that summer, hmmm he only got one too.

5. Original Music From The Wonder Years - Written by Snuffy Walden, Stewart Levin and Bob Mann. Courtesy of New World Television.

Soulful guitar opening, add piano, close your eyes and let yourself get lost in this wonderful musical composition. It is amazing the places you will be carried off to, the memories that will flood your mind. The current loves, and lost loves of your life. It is a somber number, a melancholy feel. I enjoyed the song and the memories it provided.

6. The Tracks Of My Tears - Written by Warren Moore, William "Smokey" Robinson and Marvin Tarplin. Another recording by Smokey Robinson And The Miracles.

These guys are phenomenal. I can say nothing less about them. Voices that blend together in a perfect fashion. Wonderful harmony, and that sound of the sole tambourine throughout. That little sound to me changes this from a somewhat upbeat tune (with sad words) to a sullen tune (with sad words)

"Do do to doo doo....
People say I'm the life of the party
Cause I tell a joke or two
Though I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue, take a deep look at my face
If you look closely it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears."

7. Walk Away Renee - Written by M. Brown, T. Sansome and B. Calilli
Performed by the Four Tops

Another ended relationship, but no hiding here, or is there?

"Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame
From deep inside the tears I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain, that I choose to hide."

8. The Morning After - Written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirshhorn
Performed by Maureen McGovern

A song of hope, a peaceful tune. I like it. As long as we live there will be a morning after, what we do with it is entirely our choice. We can choose to make it work, hang on with all we have in us, and take life as it comes.
The lyrics of this song coupled with the angelic voice of this artist make you believe there is always hope, all you have to do is try.

"There's got to be a morning after
If we can hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let's keep looking for the light
Oh can't you see the morning after
It's waiting right outside the storm
Why don't we cross the bridge together
And find the place that's safe and warm."

This is my ***** 5 star selection for this disc. Find this song, listen with your heart. Enough said.

9. Original music from The Wonder Years - Written by W.G. Snuffy Walters
Courtesy of New World Television.

Another instrumental with a slow tempo. Yet one more song to sit relaxed and let worries wash away, while you feel the inner peace, the hope of a new dawn, silent prayers for all those you love or have loved. The music alone can carry you to any place you wish to be. When I hear instrumentals like this one, I sit and try and create my own words to go along with it. The words I associate with this tune is, my era has seen many changes, fought wars, seen loved ones die in those wars. Both abroad and at home, through drugs, and violence. The words I see in my mind, show a new generation that with the love, support, and encouragement will allow us to be free of bias, violence, and hate. Yes, it's my instrumental to put words to, and so I have. May each generation to follow pick up the ball, carry it in for a touchdown, and pass it along with pride.

10. Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) - Written by Justin Hayward
Performed by The Moody Blues

Hard song to analyze, or at least for me. However, my perception of it is, it doesn't matter what time of day, day of the week, or any other time measured reference, there is beauty all around us, and we merely need to open our minds, and hearts to it.

"Tuesday afternoon, I'm just beginning to see
Now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me
Chasing the clouds away
I'm looking at my self reflections of my mind
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind
So gently swaying through the merry land of love
If you just come with me and see the beauty of love."

There you have it folks The Wonder Years Disc 5
I sure grew up in a great time, too bad I was too young to thoroughly enjoy it.