Grooving on Harry Chapin

If you're of a certain vintage, you might remember singer/songwriter Harry Chapin. You can read the Wikipedia version of his biography here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Ch...

But this blog post isn't about his life, just a young fan's (at the time) appreciation of his music. I don't remember buying any of his records since students aren't the richest folks. He died in 1981 from a tragic car crash. Where does the time go?

Anyways, after all these years, I can still listen to his big hit "Taxi" multiple times, and still love the bittersweet romance ballad just as much if not more. It just gets you deep in the gut. I like to put it on while I'm writing my fiction to cast a certain pensive mood or atmosphere. You can listen and see a decent rendition of "Taxi" here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5dwks... Harry looks as if he's mellow and content, doesn't he?

His other popular songs "W*O*L*D," and the No. 1 hit "Cat's in the Cradle" are good, too, but "Taxi" is the first song I ever heard Mr. Chapin do (on FM radio), so that's the one I most closely associate him. His songs live on.

Thanks, Harry. "It was raining in Frisco..."
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Published on December 04, 2012 01:39 Tags: ed-lynskey, facebook, hardboiled, mystery, noir, romance
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)    post a comment »
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message 1: by Randy (last edited Dec 04, 2012 09:36AM) (new)

Randy I never bought anything by Mr. Chapin either. Cat's In The Cradle was probably my favorite, but his catalog was all easy listening for this old geezer.


message 2: by Ed (new)

Ed Randy wrote: "I never bought anything by Mr. Chapin either. Cat's In The Cradle was probably my favorite, but his catalog was all easy listening for this old geezer."

Easy listening is a good descriptor of his songs. Thanks, Randy.


message 3: by Michele (new)

Michele bookloverforever Cat's in The Cradle is my favorite. but I enjoy all his music and wish he were still with us.


message 4: by Ed (new)

Ed Michele wrote: "Cat's in The Cradle is my favorite. but I enjoy all his music and wish he were still with us."

"Cat's" was his big hit with a lot of radio play. You can hum it good, too:-) Another young musician tragically killed too soon, yes.


message 5: by Marti (new)

Marti Harry was certainly one of a kind--mellow music, a people person who did benefits, and perhaps his tragic end makes his story more special. VWs don't provide much protection in an accident. Marti


message 6: by Ed (new)

Ed Marti wrote: "Harry was certainly one of a kind--mellow music, a people person who did benefits, and perhaps his tragic end makes his story more special. VWs don't provide much protection in an accident. Marti"

Right, the VW Bugs had the engines in the rear. I had a schoolmate wrap his around a pole for a fatality. I haven't thought of one of those VWs in years.


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