Becky Mather

The Village’s, FL

Oh, songs, I remember first it was Herman’s Hermits.

I am Henry the eighth I am, Henry the eighth I am I am.

But also then, Stairway to Heaven.

In my early 20s we would be down at the Poison Apple in Silvis.

I was a concert chick. The Allman Brothers, they are still a favorite. Their piano sound is just tremendous.

Especially Jessica.

Heard it first in high school. But later at the U. of Iowa with Drew and Jimmy. We would be out, bars there had a 3 am license.

But honestly, to tell you the truth,Eric Clapton’s Layla is the best song ever recorded.

Layla

Sheila Kramer Tjaden

Monticello, IA

I grew up second to the youngest of 12 Kramer kids so my older siblings played 70s tunes a lot, like over and over. They were the soundtrack to my youngest years.

It was Kiss, Meatloaf, Cheap Trick, The Eagles, and Bridge Over Troubled Water.

They would play music on Saturdays while we were all cleaning. It made it fun.

One summer my older brother took my sister and I out for the whole day of adventure. First to the pool and then for ice cream. I remember singing Cecelia over and over. The easy lyrics, the dance beat. So easy to love that song. Everytime I hear it I remember our magic summer day out.

Only later did I realize the meaning.

Mom would not have approved.

Cecilia

Faye Finnegan

Dubuque, IA

At Loras I belonged to the Sigma Delta sorority.

We wore blue coats and our 70s theme song was a version of The Beach Boys’ California Girls.

We would get in a circle at chapter functions and sing “Wish they all could be Sigma Delta girls.”

The Midwest farmer’s daughter was me.

My friends are close and we still gather. The tradition continues at weddings, any time there is music involved.

Our circle is strong.

California Girls

Donna Loewen

Dubuque, IA

The songs of Bread painted Donna Loewen’s growing up. She was preparing for her senior Homecoming in the fall of 1972 at Dubuque Hempstead. She was nominated for queen and had purchased a purple gown at Seiferts. It was a classic number, one that she still has today, having used it for a costume during her days as a classroom teacher. She admired a senior named Greg and a mutual friend nudged Greg into escorting Donna to the dance where she was crowned queen. Their coming together included one kiss but it was just for that night.

The songs by Bread, Baby I’m a Want You, Everything I Own, all take her back to that time of unreturned affection.

Later during a summer visit home, Greg called Donna to come over for a barbecue. She arrived to meet his new girlfriend. She was happy for him.

Much later in mid-life, he contacted her to meet, only to reveal he was gravely ill from cancer and passed away just weeks after. He asked for a kiss at that meeting.

Donna also remembers Helen Reddy and the songs that defined the decade of women’s liberation and she can sing it yet today.

I am Woman

Susi Brent

Rock Island, IL

Oh, there are so many, but Stairway to Heaven is one near the top.  I was in my early ’20’s and we were at the Poison Apple in downtown Silvis.  Yes, it was kind of a disco joint, but they played it.  This bar had a 3 am license, so it was a late night hangout.

I had every one of their albums and saw them in concert in Chicago with Peggy and Jeanie.  I remember it was indoors.

I loved the Allman Brothers too, I have all my life.  Jessica is a favorite.  That piano is just tremendous.  I heard it first in high school and saw them in concert in Iowa City with Drew and Jimmy.

And then, Eric Clapton and his band Derek and the Dominos with Layla.  It may be the best song ever recorded.

Layla

 

 

Jane Ertl Root

Guttenberg, IA

We were Abel Island girls driving around in a Chevy van chasing Guttenberg guys! Silly Love Songs was always on the radio that summer. The guys sang too. Denny, Jimmy, Mark, and Greg Schneider (more of an island guy), they all knew the words. Whenever I hear it today I’m a teenager back in the passenger seat of that blue & white van, driving the streets of Guttenberg.

Silly Love Songs

 

Deb Ertl Moser

Guttenberg, IA

Oh it was Kiss, definitely. And we were always at Lakeside.

The guitars were winding and the drums were so loud, it was just a blast of sound.

It was my junior year and Lisa had painted us up to look like Kiss.

We were in my Mom’s basement and we were out of control an awful lot.

They actually did come around in concert, but I could not go.  I remember Chris went to the concert.

When I finally got to see them myself much later, Lisa was right there on my shoulder, a vodka and orange juice in hand.

Rock and Roll All Nite

 

Ammi Hugo

Pretoria, South Africa

i remember going into a record store.  It felt like it was part of the underground and I had all this class by being there. This was the only album I bought.  I loved her throaty voice and I played it over and over. The memory takes me to Pretoria.  It was a sunny time.  I was living this young hip life in the suburbs working as a nurse.  And it was an introspective time, parties and drinking, and really having the time of my life.  But White Rabbit was the sound of ultimate daring.

It curled in my gut and I can still feel it that way.

I also loved Peter Sarstedt and Where Do You Go To My Lovely?

White Rabbit

Norma Thiese

Guttenberg, IA

I was a student at UNI in Cedar Falls and I lived in Campbell Hall.

There was this grad assistant who called me.  You know, we just had phones in our room.  They were by the door.  He was a senior.  As soon as I picked up and said hello he would start signing, “You’re so vain.”

I do think about him now when I hear that song.

You’re So Vain

 

Deb Eulberg

Guttenberg, IA

It was winter and I was with friends.  We were driving around.
I can remember Robin Ackley was in the backseat.  It was snowing and Robin jumped out of the car and just played in the snow.

We don’t do those things now. You know, I don’t think we were drunk.  It was the music, we were just cruising the backroads on a winter night.

American Pie