Rock ‘n’ Roll High School 40: Satisfaction in Black Tight Pants

Today’s Rock ‘n’ Roll High School entry comes from writer extraordinaire Janie Emaus, whom I met through one of my publishers, Turquoise Morning Press. I could tell from our first email exchange that Janie and I were going to get on like a house on fire–she’s such a huge music fan with many stories to share. For the second entry in a row, we get a glimpse of music as it was enjoyed by American teens in the 1960s, which is so incredibly cool to me. There’s a reason that my contributors who grew up in that era have such enviable music memories–popular music was in no way disposable then. Makes a big difference.

Janie Emaus

Grant High School, Class of ’66, Currently: Freelance Bookkeeper & author

Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones reminds me of dancing in our backyard at a party.  I can even remember what I was wearing.  Black tight pants and a French beret.    And of  course, any song by The Supremes.

Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: All The Beatles album covers.  Yes..album covers.  This was pre CD days.  Pre cell phones.  Pre “being connected to one another at all times”  days.

Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: The music of my high school years was so good, I can’t think of anything that I hated.  I’d go back there in nanosecond just to listen to the music.

Best show or concert you saw in high school: So sad to say that I didn’t go any concert that I can remember.  I did want to see The Beatles.  But as close as I got to the Fab Four was living next to a Capital Records executive.

Best high school make-out song: God, any song.  I was so excited to just make-out, I didn’t care what was playing.

Janie’s debut Young Adult novel, Mercury In Retro Love, will be released by Turquoise Morning Press in 2012. You can learn more about her on her blog at theboomerrants.com or read more from her in her weekly column at In The Powder Room.

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School 39: Jackie Wilson at the Roller Rink

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School comes from author Lynn Romaine today, one of the fabulous Turquoise Morning Press authors. She talks about so many great artists that haven’t been discussed in previous entries, so this is a treat for me, especially hearing about the Motown stuff. I admire her willingness to say that Elvis wasn’t all that and a bag of chips. He never really did it for me, but I often thought it was only because I wasn’t exposed to his music. Sounds like exposure wasn’t a problem for Lynn and she still wasn’t about to get on the Elvis bandwagon.

Lynn Romaine

Dearborn High School, Dearborn, Michigan, class of ’62 (yes I am that old)

What Lynn does now: Well, I have published five books through small presses, having started writing fiction only nine years ago (never thought I had a story in me). I also have a master’s in information science and work with information online as well as back up transcription and editing work. I call it creative income.

Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: Jackie Wilson, “Lonely Teardrops” (the guy Elvis based his music on), “Crying” by Roy Orbison, Bo Diddley (‘Hey, Bo Diddley’), the Drifters, Hank Ballard

Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: Oh, let’s see, there wasn’t much music poster stuff or any stuff then – we had some early Elvis something or other since my sister went to see him live (in 1959) but I wasn’t an Elvis fan. We only had fan magazines, entire magazines devoted to Elvis.

Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: Ricki Nelson, or any of the ‘white bread’ music that was gaining popularity, especially anything from American Bandstand. In Detroit the cool kids liked R&B based rock and roll, early Motown when it was just getting started (1960). Also I did not like Elvis Presley or any of his newly over-produced music.

Best show or concert you saw in high school: Sorry, I never saw a show or concert, although my sister did see Elvis as I said. Oh wait, I saw Jackie Wilson live – at the local roller rink, where we went, along with teen clubs, to see local music groups.

Optional bonus question:  Best high school make-out song: Sorry, I didn’t even have a boyfriend in high school; I was too busy being a rebel. We were early ‘greasers’ before there were greasers and I went to a ‘frat’ high school where everyone owned a car and wore cashmere sweater sets.

Lynn is the author of Night Noise, an Ecothriller from Turquoise Morning Press. You can learn more about her at lynnromaine.com or on her blog at writingtonight.blogspot.com.