It’s that faint, faint sound of the childhood bell

1981 saw my dad studying at Double Fantasy over and over again. It was a highly emotional work. The variety of sound offered was so impressive, from the “Do Wop” of “(Just Like) Starting Over” to the lullaby “Beautiful Boy”. However, I recall actually picking up the needle and resituating it on the thin smooth black ring that initiated the second track.I learned many things during those weekends in Cedar Falls, Iowa; how to play spades, how to beat my uncle at Othello and how to shotgun a beer (demonstration only, no participation). I learned that reading National Lampoon was the only dignified way that an 8 year old girl could look at pornographic cartoons and maintain her feigned disinterest in anything remotely sexual. I also learned that the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders had “nice outfits”. But the lesson that stuck was the idea that Yoko Ono might have been the unsung heroin of Punk and New-Wave. My father (fueled by Old Milwaukee and the commentary of his snotty late blooming stoner roommate) fervently declared that she was THE seminal female punk vocalist. I didn’t know of classifications like “New Wave” and Punk, to me, was merely vague, strung together images of teenagers w/ unnaturally colored spiky hair. But something clicked. I heard the discord in verses like “Why me \Why you \Broken mirror \White terror” I realized for the first time that something could not necessarily sound good but still be pleasing. Growing up in a Rock-n-Roll household, my ears were never rock virgins. Wailing guitars and cacophonous drums were a part of my aural childhood. But Yoko’s invasive and exotic sounds were my first lesson in the concept of “art-rock”. So, when the Mog-o-sphere started reporting that Yoko’s latest album of remixes was being released I was pretty intrigued that Peaches put her spin on Kiss Kiss Kiss. To be honest, it’s not that amazing as far as remixes go but she had a great song to work with. The end product doesn’t sound all that good but it sure is pleasing.In December of 1980, pops and uncle Buddy sent Yoko a telegram of condolence. The following spring they even received a return telegram with a simple “Thank-you”.