The Hot Air tribute to the passing of a musical genius
posted at 8:08 pm on July 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
I’m tired of all the demands from the closed-minded, telling us we should ignore this tremendous talent taken from us far too soon. Stop the resentment, people. Unlock your hearts and give this man his due. Click on the image to watch:
Decades later, that music still grabs me by the heart. When he left us, a simpler time passed with him as well.
Blowback
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Thanks, fogw.
*tips hat*
Pablo on July 7, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Ed Morrissey on July 7, 2009 at 9:28 PM
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 7, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Ed Morrissey: I’m tired of all the demands from the closed-minded, telling us we should ignore this tremendous talent taken from us far too soon.
What demands? And what tremendous talent are you talking about?
Loxodonta on July 7, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Did Ralph Nader chase your friend in the Corvair?
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Yep. Link is for the younguns.
Buy Danish on July 7, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Bwaaa! I got my start wrenching cars on a Vega, a stick-shift forest green Vega with chrome Cragar SS wheels. Belonged to a buddy of mine who couldn’t figure out why he was always stalling in first gear.
Turns out that the actual first gear had broken and jammed the cam slot closed so it pushed the stick into third gear; took it apart and found the most appalling workmanship you could possibly imagine. I could make a better manual assembly from Legos and super glue.
Bishop on July 7, 2009 at 9:33 PM
I used to brag that I got a bunch of 8 tracks from Columbia House to impress a date that I was going on in ’80. Man what a dork.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 7, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Just back ‘em up against each other…carefully…when you do unite :D
JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Cragers?!! Damn, another rich kid!
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:35 PM
I did not have a Pinto…but I set one on fire once, shortly after I got my license in the 1980′s.
F15Mech on July 7, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Whoa……. Is that your first post? How did you find it?
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Three of my Furies had the 318, best engine ever built. The other had a 360. I also had a 318 in a 1974 Dodge Dart Sport, and my current vehicle, a 1999 Dodge cargo van, also has a 318.
I’ve had two of the old slant six engines, in a 1974 Duster and a 1974 Valiant.
backwoods conservative on July 7, 2009 at 9:36 PM
The Bobcat was a very cool car. It was also the site of my first kiss.
Amazing what sparks the memories! Fun thread.
sherry on July 7, 2009 at 9:36 PM
I don’t know if I’m fatigued from a long day, sick to death of Michael Jackson hysteria, or a little of both… but Ed, I almost fell for it — I was ready to launch into some sort of mindless invective against the tacky spectacle that was today, and lump you in with all of it… BUT you fooled me, you son of a gun. :-)
D2Boston on July 7, 2009 at 9:36 PM
This old guy traded in his Pinto back in ’73 for a 240Z.
Sweet ride.
fogw on July 7, 2009 at 9:37 PM
How come Betty White always look the same age to me?
I love shows from that era. Best opening theme music. They don’t do that these days.
JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 9:37 PM
He might have tried, but when those three two
barrels were in tune, there was no catching that
thing.
cozmo on July 7, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Betty was Allan Ludden’s wife. Remember him?
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 7, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Yah, his old man had enough money to buy Cragar’s for his son’s car but apparently not enough to enlist the help of a qualified mechanic. Not that I wasn’t a decent wrencher, but trying to piece that car back together was hit and miss; I’m not sure it ever ran right again.
Bishop on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Expand, please.
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Hey, Ed, some of these guys think this is a thread about Michael Jackson, but I’m taking you at face value. Still, for a moment there, I was afraid the Pod People had gotten to you too. You’re right about Jim Croce, he was just getting started.
I don’t remember those times being all that simple, though. Remember, this guy had to compete with disco. I’m just sayin’…
manwithblackhat on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Doh……….. So sorry to hear that Ed… My first car cost me $700.00, it was a 1967 MG 1100…. Now that my good man was a fine Motor Carriage… God I wish I still had it… ;(
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 PM
And we would have enjoyed it.
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Went into The Vault, back to the beginning. Clicked on a couple of posts, and aided by the word search function in Firefox, there it was.
Pablo on July 7, 2009 at 9:41 PM
My first ride was a Hand me down 1968 Chevy Impala. Was supposed to get brothers mustang but he hit a tree and totalled it out. Like to never forgave him for that.. It took a bit of time!!!
Dire Straits on July 7, 2009 at 9:42 PM
As for pure dorkified dorkiness even in an age of anemic, pitiful, hateful dork cars, no one here has mentioned the Pacer?
Ugly as he!l but damm if that car wasn’t built to last. It was so sloppily made, the tolerances were so large that somehow it allowed to car to survive mechanical problems that would have killed other cars of the day.
At let me tell you, we once removed the block from a Pacer without a chain hoist, it was that small.
Bishop on July 7, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Wheash….. For a second there I was worried you might have bribed Ed… :P
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Yeah, he was only 30. it’s a shame that there wasn’t a Congressional Resolution honoring him. Perhaps they had more important business back then.
Pablo on July 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Dang! I’m a charter member too, just like lots of vets here.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Lord. The AMC Pacer. Glass dome on wheels.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:44 PM
How fitting, a ‘conservative’ tribute to a guy that died 35 years ago. Way to keep up with the times! I hear that John McCain is aware of the internet, btw.
simplesimon on July 7, 2009 at 9:45 PM
If you have been around that long you should know I am the only person to have ever successfully pulled a coup here and taken the site over… :P
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Could you make sure I get napkins and a straw when you get off break?
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:46 PM
oh you mean that has-been that killed himself with drugs?
katablog.com on July 7, 2009 at 9:47 PM
’74 Matador 2 door Frog with whheels
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Jim Croce–one of the greatest!
I have a goodly amount of his work on my iPod.
Bob's Kid on July 7, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Eh, libs are still waxing nostalgic about FDR and he died 64 years ago.
You put the simp in simple.
Bishop on July 7, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Harry Chapin : “Taxi”
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Ah, you get to stand in the corner. While you’re there, you can listen to this.
Pablo on July 7, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Nah. The Che thread ran it’s course over at KO’s
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Hey, dork, don’t worry…Columbia House would have impressed me!
ladyingray on July 7, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Mr. Tanner, 30,000 Pounds of Bananas.
backwoods conservative on July 7, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Fishbowl Deathtrap. All that glass to go flying in an accident.
Did you know the front and rear windshield supports were simple metal tubes, no internal support whatsoever? When those cars rolled, they came out utterly flattened to the tops of the doors.
Bishop on July 7, 2009 at 9:51 PM
YIPPEE !!
The thread has turned to automobiles.
Here’s my contribution
franksalterego on July 7, 2009 at 9:52 PM
I thought Croce was the heart and soul of the most depressing music ever recorded. Didn’t Ben & Jerry’s used to give away Croce singles of Time in a Bottle to girls that purchased a quart?
ericdijon on July 7, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Without clicking, I am guessing Jim Croce (spelling??) from the pic.
Jim708 on July 7, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Hey, we found another one! This one went through more than 230 comments without getting a clue!
Ed Morrissey on July 7, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Where were you in 79′? I spent a whole penny for 10 cassettes and it took me 3 years to buy the rest of my “obligation”!
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Dire Straits on July 7, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Let’s try that, one more time
franksalterego on July 7, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Nope.
But I just googled that guys name, and yeah…I’ve seen him in clips and stuff…
TV stinks today. You guys had the best shows…YouTube has episodes of shows like All in the Family (love it!) and Odd Couple, etc. Always wathcin’ ‘em.
JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Nailed it!
Now there was a real talent.
Great first name too!!
Jim708 on July 7, 2009 at 9:54 PM
The only TV show I watch with a passion is LOST, and it’s on hiatus until next year *sigh*
JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Croce did white boy blues. Damned good stuff, and it’s a shame we lost him so young. But then, I’m depressed that we lost Brad Nowell even younger, and due to his stupidity.
Pablo on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Oh, we we going for the Judy Garland meme…
ericdijon on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
I was in Tennessee waiting on a dork like you!
Three years? Sorry, man….
ladyingray on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
That too!
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
1978 Pinto wagon.
Ed Morrissey on July 7,2009 at 9:28PM.
Ed: Shagon Wagon eh!
My stepdad,bought a new Chevelle 300 Deluxe Station Wagon,
powerglide,283,and real posi-traction rear-end!
I have at the moment,the orignial window sticker,and was
bought new,for $3,646.35!
Which,later on,I dropped a 350/350Hp engine and a turbo 350
tranny into it,tall about go!
It was a real sleeper!!:)
canopfor on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Go stand in the corner with the rest of your friends.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
1979 Married 6 years having my first born
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:57 PM
we were
ericdijon on July 7, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Ultimate car I had I sold to get married 1967 GTO Convertible
black/black
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Tennessee?! Damn, I was so close in Kentucky.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 9:59 PM
And boy howdy do I know that corner…
ericdijon on July 7, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Taking tips and getting stoned. Isn’t that how Algore worked his way thru Harvard?
Del Dolemonte on July 7, 2009 at 10:00 PM
hahaha….
I swear, those cars from the ’70s y’all drove must have had some faulty exhaust…coming in the car…y’all are nuts!
Wouldn’t want it any other way tho ;)
JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 10:00 PM
My friend sold his Porche 944 to get married…
ladyingray on July 7, 2009 at 10:01 PM
We never read the articles, the links or watch the videos, we just take the picture and the headline and run with it. Can’t you tell? /
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2009 at 10:01 PM
ROFL!! Post post of the day.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Yeah…that was pretty damn close…you should have shopped around better…
ladyingray on July 7, 2009 at 10:01 PM
No kidding, I thought he did it turning tricks on the senate floor for Senator Stubbs…
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Three of my furies..
backwoods conservative on July 7,2009 at 9:36PM.
backwoods conservative: DOH!!!!!!! I forget the 318!
Duster and Valiant,thats cool,
I’m a Chevy man,but I do apprec
iate all American made auto’s!:)
canopfor on July 7, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Husband had a 66 GTO, not convertible, two actually. Loved that car.
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Lou: You look cute today, Mary.
MTM (blushing, giggling): Why, thank you, Mr. Grant.
Lou: I hate cute.
davidk on July 7, 2009 at 10:03 PM
That was Bill,Gore made money as a male prostiture.
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 10:03 PM
What, are you 10? Give us a break, we’re reliving old 70′s times here.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 7, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Hmmm, he should have kept the Porsche and sold the bride… ;P
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 10:04 PM
There are a whole lot of folks that do that just so they can be first to comment, or are like my nine year old and are afraid that if they don’t constantly get noticed, they will disappear.
cozmo on July 7, 2009 at 10:04 PM
When you hit a Pinto from behind they had a tendency to explode/catch on fire.
It was a joke (never happened)
…kinda like “only 3 F-15′s I ever worked on crashed” (did happen).
F15Mech on July 7, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I do not disagree….
ladyingray on July 7, 2009 at 10:05 PM
ROTFLMAO… Too slow…. :P
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I loved that car too. I guess it’d worth quite a bit now, but I got 36 years and counting out of the wife. A few dings, a little rust, and doesn’t have the high end torque anymore, but it was my best trade
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Lord. The AMC pacer!
BacaDog on July 7,2009 at 9:44PM.
BacaDog: We used to call that,back in the day,
a pregnant Gremlin!!haha:)
canopfor on July 7, 2009 at 10:05 PM
You should stand in the corner for 318 minutes for ever forgetting that engine.
backwoods conservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:06 PM
So did I. But I still bragged to my prospective date thinking it would help. BTW, didn’t fulfill my obligation.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 7, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Heh. Found a good Virginia girl, though. Thank God I’d sold the Pinto by then.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Dear gawd…How DID you guys survive on AM music radio?
[JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 9:17 PM]
Back then DJ’s knew how to play the good songs … like over and over, every half hour. :)
Dusty on July 7, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Harry Chapin, Mr. Tanner
backwoods conservative on July 7, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Not a vehicle known to provide privacy when you ran out of gas.
ericdijon on July 7, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Military or civil service? My husband was an aircraft electrician then moved onto logistics A-6 and F-14.
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Let’s not trash Croce, he met a horrible end in a small plane crash…
Del Dolemonte on July 7, 2009 at 10:09 PM
You couldn’t hear the radio through the glass packs
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Thought you were younger than that Jeff. (Hope that was politically correct.)
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 7, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Now I know you are lying… You couldn’t give those things away let alone sell one… :P
doriangrey on July 7, 2009 at 10:09 PM
LOL. But, lots of window area to steam-up.
Was the Pacer a hatchback? I forget.
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Remember when Ford made the Mustang 2!!!
Worst mistake ever!
canopfor on July 7, 2009 at 10:10 PM
LOL..I’m so old I make dirt look young
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 10:10 PM
My wife is laughing, she confirms my immaturity
Jeff from WI on July 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM
There’s always someone more desperate than you! :D
BacaDog on July 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Blasphemer! Bringing up that piece of…you know what…
heh, I have a Pony convertible, by pride and joy.
JetBoy on July 7, 2009 at 10:12 PM
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