Hey there friends! Thanks for tuning into our modest little Radio Dial!
Today, we bring you a top 20 pop classic with an alternative country pedigree…
a sweet little song dreaming of a vacation in the islands. Pour yourself a
banana daiquiri, and enjoy “An American
Dream” by The Dirt Band and Linda Ronstadt!
“I
beg your pardon momma, what did you say? My mind was drifted off on Martinique
Bay.”
The title track pulled from the 1979 LP
of the same name by The Dirt Band, (a.k.a The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), An
American Dream peaked at US #13 on the pop charts and features hitmaker Linda
Ronstadt on harmony vocals.
A humorous and charming tale about a
Georgia resident who longs for an island getaway, An American Dream finds a
male protagonist chatting up a female love interest, and suggesting that even
though they can’t afford a trip, they can enjoy their time together by daydreaming
that they are on a tropical vacation.
“It’s
not that I’m not interested you see, Augusta Georgia is just no place to be…”
Written by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter
Rodney Crowell, and originally recorded by him in 1979 under the title “Voila, An American Dream”, the tune gave
The Dirt Band their first major pop hit in a decade, following 1970’s US #9
classic “Mr. Bojangles”.
Author Rodney Crowell recorded albums
and released singles regularly starting in 1978, but major hits eluded him in
the early part of his career. He ended up enjoying success as a songwriter through
much of the ‘80s, when his tunes were covered by iconic country musicians such
as Emmylou Harris, Crystal Gayle, Jerry Reed, and the “Man in Black” himself,
Mr. Johnny Cash.
After years as an “alternative country”
songwriter, Rodney’s career took an immediate turn into the mainstream in 1988
with the release of his LP Diamonds and
Dirt, which produced no less than five consecutive chart toppers on the US
Country singles chart!
“Keep
on talking, mama, I can hear… your voice, it tickles down inside of my ear.”
Rodney’s biggest success as a
songwriter as far as pop music goes, would come in the form of Bob Seger’s 1982
US #2 hit “Shame on The Moon”, a personal
favorite of mine which appeared on this very blog wayyyy back on April 4, 2012.
However, Crowell’s only hot 100 chart
entry as a performer was on his own “Ashes
by Now”, a US #37 minor hit in 1980, which was later remade by country cutie Lee Ann
Womack. Lee Ann’s version from 2000 hit #4 on the country charts and peaked
just shy of the top 40 by hitting US #45.
“I
feel a tropical vacation this year… might be the answer to this hillbilly beer.”
“American Dream” is one of several songs
that I call “first grade songs”, which are tunes that I vividly remember
hearing on the radio while getting ready for school and eating breakfast with Mom
during the ’79 – ’80 school year.
In addition to American Dream, I recall
Steve Forbert’s “Romeo's Tune”, The Cars' "Let's Go", Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", Charlie
Dore’s “Pilot of the Airwaves”, and “This Is It” by Kenny Loggins. Even now,
almost 40 years later, these songs make me think of scrambled eggs and toast, the
smell of coffee brewing, and walking out toward the bus stop after getting a
goodbye kiss from Mom.
While I don’t expect the tune to remind
you of your grade school memories, give this forgotten former hit a listen and
see if it brings you back to a special time in your life… maybe some time spent
in the islands, or dreaming about it…
“I
think Jamaica in the moonlight… sandy beaches, drinkin’ rum every night…
We got no money momma, but we can go… we’ll split the
difference go to Coconut Grove.”
