If you lived through the mixed-bag that comprised AM radio
in the 1970s, you probably remember the following odes to deceased pets. Whether
you dismissed ‘em as sappy drek or cried til the grooves wore out on the 45,
they will stir up lotsa “Me Decade” memories.
Shannon-Henry Gross
Henry Gross, one of the founding members of Sha-Na-Na, is
best known for this 1976 tearjerker. Written about the death of Beach Boy Carl
Wilson’s Irish Setter, the song made it to number 6 on the Billboard charts in
1976 and was ubiquitous on AM radio. The song is the catalyst for an infamous
outtake from Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 radio show. Kasem’s rant about a “Long Distance Dedication” to a
dead dog placed after an up-tempo song has been a viral favorite for years. Click Here to Listen
Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphey
I always loved the piano intro to this 1975 hit song. Even
if the lyrics about a doomed, mystical horse are too sappy for you, the haunting music
will get to you. Songwriter Michael Martin Murphey has enjoyed a long and notable career, recording songs in several
musical genres, including country/western, pop, cowboy and folk. His hit songs
include “Still Taking Chances”, “Carolina
in the Pines” and “A Long Line of Love.” Murphey also wrote the song, What Am I Doing Hangin' Round for the Monkees.
