Gimme that ol' time Rock n' Roll

A pharmaceutical rep leaned around the doorsill of my office. “Seasons greetings!”

“Thanks. Bring some doughnuts?”

“Better.” He checked down the hall, as though about to do something unseemly. Satisfied, he walked up to my desk and put a sample packet on my blotter. They were erection-producing pills. “You can’t have Christmas without the North Pole, can ya?”

I shoved them back toward them. “I have the Righteous Brothers.”

He looked puzzled. “Don’t know the firm. They out of Europe?” Kids.

The party season has begun. Unfortunately, Tom & Luann and Cheri & David kicked it off early. Tom spares no expense and Cheri, a gourmet chef, no effort. I say “unfortunately” because after their all-out productions, it’ll be downhill from here.

Tom had gone the extra mile by hiring an excellent DJ who targeted the audience well. Two prime evokers of memories are aromas and music. And, there are few better memories than those associated with the slow dances of yore. Or, as my old friend Auggie Passanante used to refer to it, “belly rubbin’ music.”

As we danced, I started compiling a list of the best:

In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins
A Thousand Stars – Kathy Young
Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler
I Only Have Eyes for You – the Flamingos

And then, there are the fast dances that get your blood pumping:

Gimme Some Lovin – Spencer Davis Group
Old Time Rock and Roll – Bob Seger
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg - Temptations
Peppermint Twist – Joey Dee and the Starlighters
Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett

Not the very top shelf, but still get the job done:

Let’s Spend the Night Together – Rolling Stones
Come on up – The Young Rascals
Proud Mary – Credence Clearwater Revival
Money – The Kingsmen
The Twelfth of Never – Johnny Mathis
Since I don’t Have You – The Skyliners
Barbara Ann – The Beach Boys
Mony Mony – Tommy James and the Shondells
Devil with the Blue Dress on – Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
Just One Look – Doris Troy
Stand by Me – Ben E. King
There’s a Moon out Tonight – The Capris
Duke of Earl – Gene Chandler
You are so Beautiful – Joe Cocker
Fever – Little Willie John
My Prayer – The Platters
Tell Me – Rolling Stones
My Girl – Temptations
Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals

Keep the pills. Just give me a driving backbeat, a hot rockin’ momma and get outta my way.