The games got to be WAY too complicated for me. There were too many buttons, too many combinations of buttons, too much happening. It wasn’t fun any more.

But this week I was in Calgary, and played some games on the Wii game system with my kids. Now this is more like it.

Two buttons. Not three buttons, no combination moves (push up twice while holding the b and d button and pressing the bottom fire button), no frustration.

In fact, in some games ou don’t even have to press a button. You just wave that little controller around in the air, and you’re playing a game.

Simple. Easy. Fun.

And it’s exercise. I was worn out after a game of tennis. I needed the break at the 7th inning stretch in baseball. And Boxing was gonna kill me one way or the other. I needed I shower. I was stinky and sweaty. (Smart remarks are not necessary here )

I don’t really mean to sound like a commercial. But it was the first video game thingy that I’ve played in years that I didn’t feel like a bumbling idiot. After all, it’s just a game, and it’s supposed to be fun. Not a challenge.

So Santa, if you have a leftover Wii at the end of your journey on Christmas Eve, you can leave it at my house.

Even though she’s no longer with us, I thought for a couple of minutes, we could honour the day with a few old songs I remember her playing on the piano, guitar, or oh my god… even the accordion… as well as the record player.

So sit back, dig out the old record player…

(we had one just like this, but you had to plug it into the old radio that was on top of the fridge somehow)

and remember Mom with me

[audio:rhythm-and-blues.mp3]

(Rhythm ‘n’ Blues by the McGuire Sisters -1955)

[audio:oh-oh.mp3]

(Oh-Oh I’m Falling in Love Again by Jimmie Rodgers – 1958)

[audio:16.mp3]

(Heartaches at Sweet Sixteen by Kathy Linden – 1959)

[audio:sin-to-lie.mp3]

(It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie by Somethin’ Smith and the Redheads – 1955)

[audio:boxes.mp3]

(Little Boxes by the Womenfolk – 1964)

It was one of the 45 RPM records in the box that has been living in my basement for several years. I have two questions to test your oldie and goldie trivia knowledge. The song is from 1961, and was recorded more or less as a joke, from a segment of a British TV series

• Who recorded the song (as listed on the record label)
• Who was it really?

[audio:Frankfurter_Sandwiches.mp3]

Although I have no way of verifying it, make your best shot WITHOUT a google (or yahoo, or whatever) search.

WARNING: I found that if you listen to it more than once, it’s one of those stupid songs that get stuck in your head, that you just want to go away… daah da da da dah duh Frankfurter sandwiches, Frankfurter Sandwiches…

—————-
Now playing: Nilsson – At My Front Door
via FoxyTunes

I thought I’d post a short clip and make it a contest. The first to “Name That Tune” correctly gets to buy me a beer. All other contestants get to buy two beers.

[audio:name_that_tune_01.mp3]

Need hints?

It’s an old song – came out in 1975. It probably puts some people at a disadvantage because it’s older than they are.

It never made the top twenty.

No one remembers it

Good luck

Since I’m gradually moving all of my stuff from the old house to the new one, I grabbed some 45′s that were in a box in the basement to give it a try. I didn’t look at the titles – just picked up the box and went with whatever I had.

Of course, this was the box of old records I had when I was a kid. Real little – maybe six or seven.

But I am not easily dissuaded, and I ventured forth with my collection of Disneyland, Cricket, and Peter Pan records. You never know. I might want to hear the Ballad of Wyatt Earp or the Astro Boy March someday.

So if you want to hear some of the great tunes I grew up with, listen to the songs below:

[audio:frankie_star_-_big_rock_candy_mountain_b1.mp3]
Big Rock Candy Mountains

[audio:cricketone_players_and_orchestra_-_the_little_engine_that_could.mp3]
The Little Engine That Could

They are MP3′s, and in low quality, so you won’t be able to hear all of the snap crackles and pops as clearly as I can.

Enjoy the music.