The New Kid In Town

5:23 PM / Posted by Artster63 / comments (0)

Taking a trip back to my early teens, brings up memories of moving to a new neighborhood (the 10th Ward -Southeast Side of Chicago) and the nerve wrecking proposal of having to make new friends. To one side were the Matczak's, a fun time family of four with two teenagers, Christy and Scott. To the other side were the Pettigrews, a slightly stricter parochial family with three teens, Carla, Paul and John. As it turns out it wasn't that hard to fall in place with the neighbors as they were very outgoing and welcoming to my new neighborhood. Polish, Italian and Hispanics living in harmony.

"There's talk on the street; it sounds so familiar
Great expectations, everybody's watching you
People you meet, they all seem to know you
Even your old friends treat you like you're something new"

Okay, okay, your probably saying, "That's nice Art but what about the Eagles?" I'm getting there. Take it easy. Anyways, a few months after settling into my new hood there was a song I kept hearing on the radio. New Kid In Town had been released and WLS Radio seemed to be playing it every-other-song. That was cool because I dug the song big time. It fit right into what was happening in my life at that time. And what that was is I had been dating my neighbor Christy for I think a fairly short time. I don't remember if it was a few weeks or a few months, but I remember her family and always having a great time whenever I'd go over. Needless to say to this day every time I hear that song I remember the Matczaks and especially Christy. Summer love 1976. That's old school people.

"You look in her eyes; the music begins to play
Hopeless romantics, here we go again
But after awhile, you're lookin' the other way
It's those restless hearts that never mend"

Naturally with such a great song I ran out to get the Hotel California album. Great investment. Every song from Hotel California to The Last Resort was awesome. A few plays later they were memorized and ready for my one man concerts in the basement. You remember... air guitar.

A couple of months ago I had a great surprise waiting in my gmail and that was an invite from Christy to be buds on Facebook. How cool is that, to come across someone you hadn't seen or spoken to in 30+ years and then there they are? Needless to say a quick click on yes and a brief note took me right back to the mid 70's. Sitting on the front stoop with her, talking and listening to the radio. Laughing and just hanging out. Good times!!!!

"There's so many things you should have told her,
but night after night you're willing to hold her,

Just hold her, tears on your shoulder"


Do you remember the early teen years? Guys first discovering "the other sex" and vice versa. Actually taking time to comb your hair or brush your shoes off. Maybe even iron your clothes or wear something you thought smelled good like English Leather. Those were the days lol.

"Where you been lately? There's a new kid in town
Everybody loves him, don't they?
Now he's holding her, and you're still around"

So as my fanship (is that a word?) grew for the Eagles I eventually collected their earlier hits like Witchy Woman, Desperado, One of These Nights and Take It to the Limit.

Instead of vids, here's my Eagles jukebox I want to share with you. The Eagles at their best. Vids are cool, but with these guys, unless you're there live, it's just not the same.

So tell me, what, when or who do the Eagles remind you of?



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