K-Mart Radio Network Mix CD

A few years ago, I discovered a tracklist of a mixtape I had made back in the '90s. It inspired me to wax nostalgic on the value of mix-tapes but it also inspired me to go back and find more tracklists in scattered notebooks or on the tapes or CDs themselves (here and another CD here).

This summer I realized I had forgotten about an important mix CD I had made in the late '90s My K-Mart Radio Network Mix CD!

This image just screams 90's to me. You have to admire the effort here, go on, admire it with me. By the way, although a second volume was planned I never got around to it.

This CD demands a little more explanation. My first job was at the neighborhood K-Mart because my friend Philip worked there.  I worked there from December 1994 through January 1995. I had to briefly quit as I was planning on being in the school musical and wanted to enjoy the last of my senior year. One of the mangers was nice enough to hire me back in June 1995, I kept the job until June 1997.  It was a long two years. 

The pay and management were horrible but my friends made it worthwhile (as Philip got most of our friend's there a job at some point).  At any given point while working there, there was a good chance I had a friend clocked in when I was there. Soon enough, I got to know more people and it was its own little community. Although we had much to complain about at the time, it really was a perfect "first job". I have many great memories of those days.  I can still smell the place in my head. I'm surprised I have never written "K-Mart Fragments" but it's due to happen one of these days....

I started as a checker and ended up working at almost every department, at least a few times. I spent some time at Service Desk (which was stressful and overall awful) but mainly I spent my time in Lay-A-Way. That was the sweetest gig at K-Mart because it was in the back of the store, surrounded by hardware and auto accessories. Basically, you could hide back there. We might get busy on Saturdays or for an hour or so, but otherwise, there was plenty of time to relax. I could grab a video game magazine and read it in the back or study for an exam and no one would be the wiser. 

No matter where you worked though you could not escape the "K-Mart Radio Network" that played while the store was open (I always found the store to be eerily quiet once we closed). 

In between store promos and announcements, the "network" played classic '60s tunes including rock and Mo-Town. There was also a heavy dash of '70s R-n-B and pop-folk with good dose of '70s and '80's adult contemporary songs.

In the beginning, my friends and I complained about the "lame" music....but after being forced to hear these songs over and over AND over again, our attitude began to change.  I don't want to dramatize this but the K-Mart Radio network forced me to re-evaluate my snotty 19-year-old attitude towards music that wasn't '90's alt-rock. It got me to admit that maybe I didn't know it all, it challenged me to have more of an open mind to music than I did before. 

This was in the infancy of the internet, it wasn't that easy to figure out the artists or song titles. Googling song lyrics didn't even occur to us because Google didn't exist yet. Over the next two years, my old buddy Philip and I would track down the songs and purchase entire CD's often to get to just one song. 

Honestly, I think Philip picked up the vast majority of them, he would usually surprise me by playing a new CD in his car when we were out cruising around town. Once we had compiled numerous CD's it was just a matter of time before this puppy came along. 

Here was my mix CD of the K-Mart Radio Network, Vol. I. 

1. Doobie Brothers - "Without Love"
2. BJ Thomas - "Hooked on a Feeling"

3. The Buckinghams - "Kind of a Drag"

4. Paul McCartney - "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"

 5. The Spinners - "I'll be around"
6. Eric Clapton - "Layla"
7. The Chi-Lites - "Have You Seen Her?"
8. Madonna - "Borderline"
9. Beatles -"Lonely People"
10. Peaches & Herb - "Reunited" 
11. Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline"
12. Chicago - "Saturday in the Park"
13. Stylistics - "Betcha By Golly Wow" 

14. Chi-Lites - "I'm gonna make you love me"
15. Simon & Garfunkel - "El Condor Pasa" 
16. Roy Orbison - "Pretty Woman"
17. Prince - "Raspberry Beret"
18. Peter Frampton - "Baby I Love Your Way"
19. Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth"

I would be happy to make a playlist for you but I know the odds of someone listening to it is between slim and none. So, get YT or Spotify and look up some of these oldies. They won't let ya down. 

It's true you can never really go back home again.  The old K-Mart shut down in the '00s and I've lost contact with most everyone that was at the store. I found one of our friends back in the early days of FB but I don't think he posts much and besides, I deactivated my account awhile back too. 

To be honest,  I haven't really talked with Phil in over four years (Phil, are you there, man? I miss ya).  I'll never see that K-Mart community together again and that makes me a bit sad. I know annoying Chris passed away in a car accident in the early '00s and I am sure some of those older folks have passed away too (old Marvin in gardening and the ancient German lady who smoked like a chimney, Heidi). I would pay good money to go back to re-live a few hours working at K-Mart. Time is like that, your brain can take you back in a flash. Geez, I'm getting old.  

At least I still have the music to help me reminisce and remember...and now you do too. 

Stuff O' Fragments

 It's October, so let's celebrate by writing a blog. 

Or ya know, have a beer, whatever floats your boat.

Life Update/Fragments

I went camping with my son this past weekend for Cub Scouts, it went great. Although the worst part of camping continues to be sleeping (or rather staying asleep), just an awful night of sleep. I used to think the Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts was a fascist organization meant to brainwash our children. In my honest opinion, it kinda is. But our pack is laid back, and honestly, as one friend put it, it would be fascist to refuse my son to join. He just adores outdoor stuff, knives, camping, playing outside, etc. Also, I am my son's father. I can nip some of the worst brainwashing elements out and embrace the fun stuff. 

I got some good news. I will be presenting a paper at a national conference in June after all.  Barring the pandemic getting even worse, both the wife and I will be going and making a vacation out if. Yay. One day I might have an official site for some of my projects (which will not be connected to this blog in any way, shape, or form). Until then, I am a man of mystery, readers. 

Privacy Aside

Okay, look, I know it is extremely unlikely for anyone to connect the dots back to my real identity (in fact, if one was so inclined an observant reader could figure out who I am if they really wanted to or were bored out of their mind)...but I would rather not push my luck to include rando's in real-life tracking me down or former students reading some of my private thoughts.

Okay, look, I am aware that it's a little weird that I don't mind if random people on the internet know some of my deepest private beliefs but don't want people that actually know me to find out about the blog? That feels like a major contradiction. It's not like I am hiding some deep dark secret in plain sight, but I must admit I would feel like if someone's reading this, I have to be okay with them essentially reading my thoughts. That's not something I am willing just to let go of easily. 

Basketball Fragments 

It was weird rooting for the Lakers, but I did. I actually did. I like and respect Lebron, especially his stance on social issues. Obviously, his game is incredible and speaks for itself.  I also really like Danny Green & Caruso (I am an Aggie after all). I liked their whole rag-tag bench of has-beens and loveable losers. 

Okay, look, except Dwight Howard. He's still annoying and unlikeable. 

Looking forward to the draft for the Spurs. The first lottery in 20 odd years for the Spurs....this draft is supposed to be weak but ya never know. It will at least be interesting. The Spurs have an interesting array of young talent but really no superstar potential. White may be a fringe all-star at best. The jury is out for Keldon Johnson, but as stacked as the West is, I think the Spurs will be in the lottery for the next three years (bare minimum). 

Election Anxiety Fragments

I am not as anxious as I was a month ago as I am holding out hope Biden can blow Trump on election night, so badly, he just has to concede the next day. That is the best outcome for our nation. Otherwise, riots, looting, people dying, and the the further erosion of democracy and social norms. It really is that dramatic. If the GOP sows the fascist field and keeps embracing the alternative facts of Trump world, we will be in a scary state of affairs. 

So, ya know, I'm holding out hope for a Biden blowout. 

Okay, look, I am not saying it's in the bag because we've never had an election during a pandemic, there could be delays with the early mail vote, and of course, Trump himself will claim it's rigged against him, so who knows what will happen? But I'll be waiting with bated breath and hoping with prayer all goes well. 

Okay, look, that's the end of the blog. I hope you noticed a pattern. 

Go enjoy a nice cup of coffee, sit on the back porch, and think about all you're grateful for. 

I'll be back to post my election recap (probably but maybe not).