Musical MeMe

OK, I got tagged by the Fab Phlegm Fatale. Here's how this musical MeMe works:
1. Go to the Billboard #1 Hits listings ;
2. Pick the year you turned 18;
3. Get nostalgic over the songs of the year;
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you;
5. Pass it on to 5 more friends.

Y'all are gettin' 1973, the year I actually turned 18,in June and 1974, because I was 18 for 6 months of that year, too.
So, w/o further ado, here's my stroll down Musical Memory Lane:

1. Friends- Bette Midler because you really do "...got to have friends". I have been blessed through the years with friends great and small, grand and glorious. I even have some now that I had when this song was on the charts. Jane, Geo and DossieRe spring to mind first; Thanks for bein' there through the really bad times and pullin me out of those deep, dark holes.
2. Daniel - Elton John now, I'm not a huge EJ fan, so don't get the wrong impression. There is another song of his on my list. I just happen to like these two songs, not his entire body of work. And remember, these songs came out before he went totally around the bend in the river of sanity and reason. The reason this song made the list is b/c my "Baby" step is named "Daniel".
3. Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissburg & Steve Mandell I think I've admitted this before in this forum, but in case I haven't...I'm queer for Banjos. There! It's out in the open. And while I'm admitting little musical secrets, I enjoy Bagpipes, too. Outside of the Bluegrass and Country genre, this was the first wide play banjo music had gotten on the radio, so I was in hog heaven!
4. Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed Well, it was a flagrant slap in the face of authority figures everywhere, what 18 y.o. wouldn't be enchanted by that? Besides, walking on the "Wild Side", thought not in the way LR means, was pretty much my theme song for my teens, or so I liked to think.
5. Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest once again, a song just written to appeal to the heart and desires of an 18 y.o. girl getting her first taste of freedom. I still like dancin' in the moonlight, with a partner, by myself, doesn't matter to me.

Ok, 1974 comes around and I'm still 18. I just couldn't resist pickin' 5 from this year as well.

1. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynrd Nanny's fam came to Texas from Alabama back at the beginning of the 1900's. She was just a little younger than I was when this song came out. I have always been proud of living in Texas, which is part of the South. And I love Southern men, even the Bubbas, they have good hearts. So I loved the line:" I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern Man don't need him around anyhow!" A few years later, a favorite singer/songwriter of mine, Warren Zevon, came out with a song "Play it All Night Long". It had the line, " ' Sweet Home Alabama', Play that dead band's song..." A friend of mine thought that was bordering on sacrilegious, I knew it was Zevon being Zevon...he never met a Sacred Cow he wouldn't bar-b-que.
2. Jazzman - Carole King this one just made my spirits soar whenever I'd hear it, maybe b/c I it chased MY blues away while I was listening. I think I'm gonna have to go online and download it to the 'puter today. CK was one of my favorite singe/songwriters of that era, and Tapestry will always make my top 10 list of Chick Albums.
3. It's Only Rock & Roll - Rolling Stones , as with Elton John, I've never been a huge Stones fan, although I come closer to being a fan of theirs than his. I like more of their songs than EJ's, that is. Just like my pattern with EJ, I've never bought one of their albums or purchased a concert ticket. I've been content to listen to their stuff on the radio. But they have produced some incredible music over the years. Whichever comedian said Jagger looks like a "Rooster on acid" nailed that one. Now that he's in his mid-60's, it's just pathetic. But, the music holds up over time.
4. Jessica - Allman Brothers Band This is still some of the BEST drivin' music ever written, recorded and played. Whenever I'm going on a long road trip, this one gets put on the mix CD. And thanks to Cruise control, I don't automatically hit the accelerator when it comes on, but I want to. I do however, dance in my seat. Always have, hope I always do.
5. The Bitch is Back - EJ yeah, y'all saw this one comin' dincha? When I said I had 2 Elton John's on my list those of you who know me just knew this was the 2nd one. I may not be a REAL bitch, but I play one quite convincingly at times. This song just struck a chord, for what I think are obvious reasons.

And now...who to tag...I tell you what...if you're on my link list and Phlegm didn't tag you, consider yourself tagged. Yeah, yeah, I know that's more than 5,DEAL.