1989

1989

Fiona Bayly wrote in to let me know she is the 2017 National Masters Champion in the USA Track & Field 15k Championships that were held in sub-freezing weather in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in late October. Fiona finished the year undefeated in her age group and turned 50 this summer, “trying to keep at it, as so many of us are, with just normal life stuff too!” Fiona remembers a tradition from Dartmouth fondly that she misses—“the daily ‘run’ to the Hinman boxes!”

I’ve been in bands since grade school—actually in eighth grade with Eric Berlin. We still play out in bars and are always looking to add songs to our list that could make people get out on the dance floor and have fun. So without further notice, here’s some picks from the ’89s who responded to the question, “What three songs would you want to hear a so-so cover band playing in a bar?” Coincidentally, this gives us a head start on the playlist for the tent for our 30th reunion in June 2019! Alex Selby picked Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” Van Halen’s “Running with the Devil”; Anne Boardman Rohnert. Billy Joel’s “Downeaster Alexa,” Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen,” Steve Earle’s “The Galway Girl,” Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” and “I Shot the Sheriff’ Paul Simon’s “Graceland” (Anne was on vacation and heard a great band playing and sent more suggestions mid-vacation); Bob Jaffe, Grateful Dead’s “Bertha,” Steve Miller’s “Dance Dance Dance,” The Band’s “The Weight”; Bridget Hust, anything NRBQ; Carolyn Allen, The Replacements’ “I’ll Be You,” Weezer’s “Buddy Holly”; Chris Baldwin, INXS’ “Don’t Change,” Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl”; Chris Drew, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” Steve Miller’s “Jungle Love”; Eddie Barker, Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing,” Earth Wind & Fire’s “September,” Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle”; Eric Berlin, “all the songs our band played in eighth grade, plus alot of Led Zeppelin”; Ken Horton. Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” Spencer Davis’ “Gimme Some Lovin’ ”; Lenora Brown, Deep Purple, Journey’s “Stone in Love”; Martha Boss Bennett, Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” Tears for Fears’ “Shout,” Three Dog Night’s “Shambala”; Meg Sommerfeld ’90, Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” Pretenders’ “Middle of the Road,” Tom Cochrane’s “Life is a Highway”; Todd Timmerman, Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.”

Thanks again to everyone who gave me suggestions. There are some songs on the suggestion list we already do, and others, well thank you for thinking more of our abilities. And now I’m curious what your three songs are—are they ones still around from when we were at Dartmouth? Are they ones you’ve picked up since then or from your kids? I’m finally realizing my girls know more about new music than I do, which is great. I teach them about the classics (anything pre-2004), and they keep me up to date on the new stuff. Here’s to continuing to learn, whether it’s from family, friends, classmates or any other sources.

Feel free to email me, snail mail me, Instagram me your news, updates or even top three song picks. I can’t promise I’ll be able to play them, but will definitely take them for a spin.

—Ned Ward, 2104 Graham Ave., #B, Redondo Beach, CA 90278; ned@nedorama.com