Set the way back machine for 1978, now move the coordinates to the small town of Esher just outside London in England. This is where I was happily residing and trying to figure out how I fit into this thing called life. I was recovering from my first brush with an evil female that had used her charms to easily deceive and use me like a toy. (it wouldn’t be the last). I was enjoying a song that was quickly becoming popular. No, not “Hit me with your rhythm stick” or even “Pop Muzic”. The song I was really enjoying was “Jeans On”. It was a feel good song and felt like a cross between Elton John and Leo Sayer, it was a guy by the name of David Dundas. At the time I had no idea, I just knew it was a good song.
A year later, and half a world a way I am 10 years old, sitting in a 3 bedroom apartment on the NE side of San Antonio listening to my favorite radio station 92.9 KITY. Catfish is asking for requests and I decide to give him a call. I call about 10 times before I get through and hear his smooth and thankfully patient voice. I explain I would like to hear the song about Jeans and he admits to me that the only blue jean he has are the ones he is wearing. I am disappointed but mainly with my inability to describe what I want correctly.
Fast forward a few years, I’m sitting on my sofa in NW San Antonio watching football with my FIL. A commercial for Wrangler Jeans comes on and I hear a familiar refrain. “When I wake up, in the morning light. I put on my jeans and I feel alright” I know it word for word. Are you kidding me? I immediately type the words into Duck Duck Go and BINGO! I have found it. A song I haven’t thought about in 44 years! I can hardly believe it. This is amazing, I have to share this with someone. My FIL is awesome but, being mostly deaf I doubt he heard the commercial and my explanation of what just happened got the response “Oh really?” which can fit almost any occasion. This response being one of the handful he reaches for when he hasn’t heard you but isn’t interested enough to want to ask you to repeat it.
Sometimes amazing things have to wait for their time in the sun. I guess it took 44 years to re-find a great song. The story of how it happened will have to wait for an appreciative audience to find it.
