Was in a Righteous Brothers cover duo as You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ hit #1.
b’day 2/18/47
Spent my 18th birthday
at Newport KY’s Flamingo Club
playin’ blue-eye’d soul
into the early mornin’
final set over at 4:00 am
we smuggled single malt
into the all night grill
for the crusty sunrise special
bliss’d out from giggin’
bleary-eyed and blasted
we’re mixin’ with fellow players
from other early AM clubs
among willing groupies
and loud hangers on
all sittin’ and chattin’
a family of the night
steel-heart working girls
soul-bruised painted strippers
burnt drink slingers
and tired cocktail mules
hipsters grifters drifters
and slick gamblers
from behind the sealed doors
of those private upstairs rooms
swell perfumed boys
and sisters of the leather
queens and trannies
pimps pushers and the cops
we’re huddled and hidin’
from those cruel first rays
ready to scurry off
to our well-curtained rooms
it’s time to score
whatever gets us through
‘till sundown next
strikes up the band again
but right now the jukebox
volume up to the ceilin’
is blastin’ out the #1
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
many noddin’ — YES
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: dVerse
Absolutely adore what you’ve written here for this prompt. You’ve put me in the scene….the language, the imagery….the song! Just a great response to the prompt!
Thank you very much Lillian! 🙂 That was the scene. I was in it for years. This is a significant reimagining of a piece I wrote several years ago.
You took us there; the hustle, emotions and the music
Much love…
Glad you came along Gillena! 😉
Rob, I love the world you wove here. I remember reading the original version of your poem awhile back and love how you’ve tweaked it. “A family of the night” is a perfect term for it. You were living the dream of so many.
My memories of those years in bands Lisa, making music, have shown me how little I realized how lucky I was.
That is such an awesome song – I love it! You got a good one, and you did it great justice, Rob.
Yours,
David
Thank you David… 🙂
This piece gives off such a great vibe and mood. I really like it!
Thank you JYP! 🙂
I so love that picture of you, Rob 😀 this is an excellent, excellent poem that just sings! I can hear you through your words.
Thank you Sanaa… 🙂 …that photo was taken in 1963, when Dave and I first formed the Brothers Royal. They were part of our promo “head shot” package. I was 16-years-old – 58 years ago! Wow!
No doubt is current today as well…except, of course, for Willie, who just hikes back to his bus for a toke!
Ahh yes – wild Willie…! 😉 …man’s the modern day methuselah.
Great descriptions, I can definitely feel the vibe! Enjoyed this!
Thank you Tricia! 🙂
Wow … such an adventurous life you must have had. Maybe there were many who didn’t make it thoush
It’s funny Bjorn, while those years unfurled, to me I was just having fun, albeit a very wild time making music, traveling, meeting people — the potential dangers never registered as a danger or deterrent for me… but yes it was crazy. I lost a number of friends during those years. Lost them to Viet Nam, to drugs, to aids, to the dark under-thread of “the life” of a road musician, always targeted by the red necks in those days (60’s & 70’s) for our “long hippie hair, and “weird hippie cloths” — though I personally played it safe and cool as I could, opting when able, for mind, logic, and my authoritative voice over fists. But I knew how the hell to fight to win — if necessary. My memory of those years are full of creative joy, very uniquen friends, and wonderful adventures!