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California Fairy Tale
Originally uploaded by halobrien
Today's just been a day for resolving ancient mysteries. I can think of no better evidence the information on the net is getting to a certain critical mass.

OK, see that 45 label there? That's all we had to identify this promo disc when I was at Midland -- so, 1978-1981 sometime.

It's a fun stfnal track. I would type out the lyrics, but it would take a while. Anyway, it has some unique phrases in it: "crystalline eyes" and "try to disguise." (Yes, that's a couplet.) I've been entering those things into Google for years, because I thought sooner or later, someone would type it up.

Sure enough...

Page 34 and page 35 of the yearbook of Temple University's class of 1972. (WARNING: annoying pop-up window each time -- but click on "close" and all will be well.)

The most important thing the anonymous yearbook editor did, though, was give a credit: "Jimmy Haskell, Bill Szymczyk. Joe Walsh"

!!!

Joe Walsh?!

Turns out it's not his album, though. It's Jimmie Haskell's album, California '99. Once I had that, it was "Unlock Special File Zebra!" time.

The scan of the 45 comes from this page, which is a nice write-up, and once had an .MP3 of the song, but no more. Alas. My only copy has been a cassette from Midland days that I'm going to convert Real Soon Now.

Amazon lists both a CD import and the original LP, both out of print (of course) and both for more money than I'd like to spend (especially if I'm saving up my Euros for a set of Lectron blocks...).

Still. Wow. Two multi-decade mysteries down in one day.

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Hal

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