Remembering my dad, Ron Dorfman, who passed away on July 20, 2014. This show features some of his most favorite songs from 80s (and 70s/90s) new wave, post punk, and modern rock (as we used to call it back in the day, when I was in high school and he and I listened to Live 105 together.)
I have many fond memories of him associated with some of these songs, including the laughs we would share over some of the funnier ones ("Money" by the Flying Lizards...) as well as his attempts to sing along in the car (he'd be the first to admit he could not carry a tune.) He had a great appreciation for lots of different kinds of music, and an open mind to newer music.
He was a "cool dad." He took me to my first concert (which, admittedly, was Debbie Gibson; thank goodness I got better taste soon after that): we saw Tears for Fears in 1990, Morrissey in 1991, Sting in 1992, the Live 105 Listener appreciation party in 1992, Tears for Fears again in 1993, R.E.M. in 1995...and a few others I can't remember right now. We had house parties when I was in high school, and I'd spin my $3 80s records acquired at Amoeba (back when you could find those cheap treasures in their vinyl bins) while he kept the bean dip and punch (non-alcoholic) coming from the kitchen. Good times.
Playlist
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Story of My Life by Social Distortion on Social Distortion -
Our House by Madness on The Rise and Fall -
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police on Ghost In the Machine -
I Melt With You by Modern English on After the Snow -
Perfect Kiss by New Order on Substance -
AEIOU (And Sometimes Y) by Ebn-Ozn on Feeling Cavalier -
Mirror In the Bathroom by The English Beat on I Just Can't Stop It -
Shake It Up by the Cars on Shake It Up -
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears on Songs From the Big Chair -
Something So Strong by Crowded House on Crowded House -
Don't Look Back by Fine Young Cannibals on The Raw and the Cooked -
She Drives Me Crazy by The Flying Pickets on The Original Flying Pickets Vol. 1 -
Money (That's What I Want) by The Flying Lizards on The Flying Lizards -
Girlfriend In A Coma by the Smiths on Strangeways, Here We Come -
People Are Strange by Echo and the Bunnymen -
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes by Elvis Costello on My Aim Is True -
Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush on The Kick Inside -
More Than This by Roxy Music on Avalon -
Golden Years by David Bowie on Station to Station -
So. Central Rain by R.E.M. on Reckoning -
Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics on Touch -
Skin Deep by The Stranglers on Aural Sculpture -
Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond on The Stars We Are -
Can't Help Falling In Love by UB40 on Promises and Lies -
We Are Each Other by The Beautiful South on 0898 Beautiful South -
Caravan of Love by The Housemartins