For Half-Pint: Songs Sean Could Never Sing

My freshman year of college (1990-91) I met a boy who re-taught me how to snow ski. My friend Cheri invited me on a ski trip and even though I hadn't been skiing in years, I said yes because it sounded fun and why not, I was going to be home for Winter Break anyway. So we drove up to Big Bear and on the trip up, I ended up chatting with this guy Frank (trust, it took some work to pull that name out of the ole memory bank) who told me I looked like Half-Pint on Little House on the Prairie. Smooth. I wish I could say that it was the first time I'd heard this, but no. In "retaliation" I pulled out the only '70s celebrity I could think of who he resembled and came up with Shaun Cassidy...hence the title of the tape (yes, he misspelled Shaun). We ended up dating for about a month or two after the ski trip - complicated by me being in Santa Barbara and him in Pomona. He was a nice enough guy I suppose, but there was just something off about him that I could never put my finger on...ultimately I think he was just way too into me too fast, which always freaks me out. Or maybe it was his decision to put Kenny G on a mix tape.

Side 1:

1. Metallica - Nothing Else Matters (I think anyone my age will always love the Black Album. Despite opening up "metal" to the masses, it's a really quality album. "Open mind for a different view, and nothing else matters.")

2. Oingo Boingo - We Close Our Eyes (It always makes me sad when people say they don't know who Oingo Boingo is - they were such a huge part of my formative years, I just assume everyone knows them [same with Social Distortion]. Here's another clip from a concert I attended. Goodness I miss seeing them live. Their shows were some of the first I went to on my own and set the standard for what I consider to be a good live performance. It's a high bar. "And if you think I'm worth it. And if you think it's not too late, we might start falling, if we don't try too hard, we might start falling in love.")

3. Queensryche - Silent Lucidity (A beautiful ballad by a band known for quite the opposite, despite the lead singer's silly pronunciation. "The walls you built within come tumbling down and a new world will begin.")

4. Bad Company - If You Needed Somebody (Up to this point, we only knew Bad Company from their amazing 10 From 6 album [side note: the only 8 track I have ever had in my possession is Bad Company-Run With the Pack. Why I kept it is a mystery, I never had an 8 track player of my own.]. This song, perfect 1991 cheese, is one I always belt out when I hear it. I chose this clip to illustrate how God awful the fashion was at the time. I'm not sure how any of us got dates. "If I could hold you tonight, it would last me forever. But the time's never right, when will we be together?")

5. Robert Plant - Ship of Fools (This song always reminds me of the morning radio show on KROQ pre-Kevin & Bean. If I remember correctly, it was Richard Blade, the Poorman [I once saw the Poorman during an early morning surf adventure - his wetsuit had a big hole on his right buttcheek] and a couple other people and it was ridiculously fun. "I built this ship it is my making, and furthermore my self control I can't rely on anymore. I know why.")

6. The Church - Under the Milky Way (Love this song. This is one of the cassettes I purchased in South Korea and still have. "Wish I knew what you were looking for, might have known what you would find.")

7. Eric Johnson - 40 Mile Town (I would never, ever be able to recall this song if it weren't for this tape. Hearing it again, I remember it clearly and can sing it all, but again, I would never have remembered it on my own. "Seems to me we really need to feel love more. Oh an ordinary smile opens up the door. Sometimes all I want to do is dream away, and wake up in some forty mile town.")

8. Extreme - Hole Hearted (Oh sweet Jesus, that's right. Extreme had two hit songs. "If I'm not blind why can't I see, that a circle can't fit where a square should be?")

9. Dire Straits - So Far Away ("I'm tired of being in love and being all alone when you're so far away from me." Long distance was tough, especially since I didn't have a car at the time. Poor Frank.)

Side 2:

1. The Eagles - The Long Run (I have about a three song limit for The Eagles, but man I love me those three songs and I'd go see them live in a second. "Oh I did some damage, I know it's true. Didn't know I was so lonely 'til I found you.")

2. Kenny G - Going Home (Really? I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say this was put on merely for the title.)

3. Chris Isaak - Wicked Game (Probably my least favorite Chris Isaak song, but since I love them all, it's still a good one. "I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you. And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you.")

4. U2 - 40 (I'm guessing he put this on because of 1. My love for U2 and 2. I was at a Christian college. For those few who don't know, this is based on the 40th Psalm. I love this song - it always gives me chills, remembering the passion with which Bono sang it live and the passion the crowd gave back with their singing. "I waited patiently for the Lord. He inclined and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit. Out of the miry clay.")

5. Foreigner - Waiting for a Girl Like You (This band, for me, is right up there with REO Speedwagon. I unabashedly love them and sing along whenever a song of theirs is on. "Maybe I'm wrong. Will you tell me if I'm coming on too strong." Yes. Yes you were Frank.)

6. Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain ("Now I will stand in the rain on the corner. Watch the people go shuffling downtown. Another 10 minutes no longer and then I'm turnin around round.")

7. Extreme - More Than Words (Great harmonies, stirring, quiet, cheesy and delicious. "Saying I love you is not the words I want to hear from you." Amen.)

8. The Cars - Drive (So good it hurts. "Who's gonna tell you things, aren't so great?")