Welcome to Boomtown America
Like What You Hear? Share It With a Friend!
Welcome to Boomtown America. The only place on the web designed by and for Baby Boomers and ALL our passions and interests.
Our music mix is unique. It was created by radio professionals who went beyond a 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s “oldies” mentality. We have created nothing less than a mix of ROCK & ROLL’S GREATEST HITS – everything from the dawn of rock right up through today!
Our Challenge to You: Listen when you’re working or relaxing. Take a couple of days to experience the incredible depth and variety of music we offer. If you like what you hear (and we know that you will), PLAY IT FORWARD!
Invite 2 of your friends or family members to give it a listen in the same way. Spread the word. The Baby Boomers have a home on the Internet – Boomtown America!
1991: Picking up their tour right where they left off, Lynyrd Skynyrd reunite for the first time since the 1974 plane crash that claimed the life of three of the band’s members, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Ronnie’s place is taken by his younger brother, Johnny Van Zant.
The True Stories Behind Rock’s “1-and-Done” Classics
“Angel of the Morning” (1968)
As is often the case with 1-Hit Wonders, the composer and producers of “Angel of the Morning” actually had long, successful careers, even if the Turnabouts did not.
The song was written by Chip Taylor, the same many who gave us “Wild Thing,” “I Can’t Let Go” and others. He has said the line “There be no strings to bind your hands, not if my love can’t bind your heart” came to him out of the blue one morning. Within ten minutes, he had written the entire song.
He hoped the song would be the breakout single for a young lady named Evie Sands. But Evie would have a career filled with near misses. The small label that produced her version of “Angel of the Morning” went belly-up shortly after they released it. With no push from the label, the song died a swift death.
At this point, Paul Revere of “and the Raiders” fame enters the story. Revere had been pushing a Seattle band he believed in, Merilee Rush and the Turnabouts. Revere secured them a recording deal with hitmakers Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman. They gave “Angel of the Morning” to Merilee and her band and that version quickly became a million-selling hit.
Sadly, Merilee never cracked the Top 40 again although she continued to perform for many years.
One other interesting note, the Turnabouts guitarist Carl Wilson (no, not the Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys) eventually hooked up with two sisters named Anne & Nancy Wilson and helped them form a band called Heart.
Maybe it was just slightly ahead of its time, but Occasional Wife deserved more than the single season on NBC that it got.
Michael Callen starred as skirt-chasing junior executive Peter Christopher. He loved his job at a baby food company, but the big boss Max Brahms (Jack Collins) believed in only married executives, preferably married execs that planned on having plenty of babies. Unwilling to give up the bachelor life or his career goals, Christopher hired cocktail waitress Gretta Patterson (Patricia Harty) to pretend to be his wife… occasionally. (You see where the title comes from).
What Gretta got out of it was a free apartment (two floors directly above Peter’s) and a generous allowance that allowed her to leave cocktail waitressing behind.
Much of the physical comedy involved the couple having to perpetually scramble up and down the fire escape between their apartments to either appear to be married (if the boss was around) or unmarried (if one of Peter’s many girlfriends happened to drop by). The series had a running gag involving the neighbor (Bryan O’Byrne) who lived between their two floors observing their comings and goings without ever uttering a line.
The show also gave early work to Stuart Margolin (who gained fame as Angel on The Rockford Files) and Jack Riley (who became Mr. Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show).
There was real chemistry between Callan and Harty. So much so that the two eventually became a real husband and wife two years after the show left the air.
The show debuted to solid ratings, but as the season wore on and ABC’s The Invaders gained viewers, Occasional Wife slowly sank in the ratings and was cancelled after its first season.
As there were only 30 episodes, it never really went into syndication and has not had an official release on home video. It’s a shame because it was a comedy that was funny – more than occasionally!
Okay. You’ve retired and now you’re thinking of moving to your dream state. When you arrive, do you buy a new home/condo or rent?
Here’s what the experts say…
Buying a home is good financial decision if you’re planning on owning for 10 years or more. Often times your dream state turns out be less than you hoped. So those in the know say you should rent first, for a year or two, to see if like the area before actually buying. Now you know.
Oh, and wishing you a long and happy retirement!
This could be the very first item of authorized Beatles merchandise outside of buttons and photos: the authentic Beatles Sweater!
And check out the fab hairdo on the lovely model!
It’s mosquito season again. For those wary of chemical repellants, the CDC says oil of lemon eucalyptus is an effective natural alternative.
You can find this ingredient in many products either online or at your local discount store.
How much were the Beatles paid for their first 3 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show?
