Everything's gotta start somewhere. Before it becomes your favorite food, your favorite movie, or the love of your life, it's just something you've never tasted, something you've never seen, or someone you haven't yet met. And it's also true of favorite musical performers, and of favorite fictional characters. For The Everlasting First, we'll take a series of looks back at my first exposures to a number of rock 'n' roll acts and superheroes (or other denizens of print or periodical publication), some of which were passing fancies, and some of which I went on to kinda like. Each entry in this 26-part series will be devoted to a single letter of the alphabet, and will include my reminiscence of both a rock group or singer and a comic book or comic book character (or other print-related topic) whose name starts with the letter of the day. Yes, it's Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do)'s answer to Sesame Street!
They say you never forget your first time; that may be true, but it's the subsequent visits--the second time, the fourth time, the twentieth time, the hundredth time--that define our relationships with the things we cherish. Ultimately, the first meeting is less important than what comes after that. But every love story still needs to begin with that first kiss.
ABBA: First ABBA song I ever heard was "Waterloo," on WOLF-AM.
ACTION COMICS: First issue I owned was Action Comics # 356 (November 1967), starring Superman in "The Son Of The Annihilator!," plus Supergirl in "The Girl Of Straw!"
ACTION SWINGERS: I don't think I'd even heard of them before coming across a used copy of the group's Decimation Blvd. CD at a shop in Lake George, NY. Bought it on a whim--the album title's sly reference to Sweet's Desolation Boulevard was a positive factor--and subsequently enjoyed it at a rather loud volume. "No Heart & Soul" became an early favorite on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio.
ADVENTURE COMICS: Adventure Comics # 358 (May 1968), starring The Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Mutiny Of The Super-Heroines!"
THE ADVERTS: "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" on Brockport's college station WBSU.
ASTONISHING TALES: A Marvel split-book, published after the era of split-books--Tales To Astonish, Tales Of Suspense, Strange Tales--had passed with the end of the '60s. Nonetheless, Marvel tried it again 1970, and I came in with Astonishing Tales # 2 (October 1970), starring the jungle hero Ka-Zar in "Frenzy On The Fortieth Floor!" and the evil Dr. Doom in "Revolution!" The Ka-Zar story was pencilled by Jack Kirby, and Dr. Doom was drawn by Wally Wood--two legendary comics artists under one cover, for a mere 15 cents! Picked this up off the spinner rack while on vacation in Pensacola.
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Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
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