1978 Junior High Memories

In February of 1978, I was wrapping up my Junior High basketball career. My friend Scott Crine scored 38 one night and I had two. Of course, I still brag that the two of us combined for 40 points. Youngsters today cannot imagine having to call a friend and talking to their parents first. Even worse if you talked to someone you had a crush on, everyone in the house could hear it and all of the families on the party line had access to your conversation. Luckily, we had a phone with a very long cord. I could stretch it to the other side of a metal filing cabinet and tuck my head in behind it. That way I could at least get a bit of privacy. Sometimes mother would interrupt to make sure that I was not on a long-distance call. I had friends that lived a couple of miles away, but they had a Bear Valley number and that would cost us an extra 75 cents or so per phone bill. Anyone with a 585 (Ithaca) number got a raw deal. If you had a 647 (Richland Center) number, you could call free to Bear Valley. We lived closer and could not. What an injustice that was! In the Spring of 1978, my mom would buy me a western style leisure suit for 8th grade graduation. Luckily no photos of that exist.

When I wasn’t playing basketball, or bothering the young ladies in my class, I was listening to the radio. My new Panasonic stereo with AM/FM, cassette recorder, and BSR Turntable was always ready. I was making mix tapes and taping favorite songs off the radio. Our comedy troupe, known as Marty and the Corndogs were getting together on Sundays to record future classics such as Ronnie Had an Accident, Chicken or Brave, and Modjeski Has to Go. Some of these recordings still exist but will never be released in case some of the group members wish to someday run for political office.

Favorite songs from February of 1978 include Peg-Steely Dan, What’s Your Name-Lynyrd Skynyrd, Long Long Way from Home-Foreigner, Turn to Stone-ELO, Thunder Island-Jay Ferguson, Breakdown-Tom Petty, and Shout it Out Loud-Kiss. The top Five record albums were #5. Born Late-Shaun Cassidy #4. Grand Illusion-Styx #3. News of the World-Queen #2. Rumours-Fleetwood Mac #1. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack. Those represent lots of youthful memories.

I hope that you will join WRCO FM 100.9 and WRCO.com for Those Were the Days on Saturday night. Please be aware that high school wrestling could last past the start of the show. We will be on with you later for requests until the midnight hour. Let’s have a little unwind time on Saturday. We can all use it. Perhaps you will request a song for your sweetheart?

Phil