That Solid Wall of Seventies Sound
Braidwood Recreation Club (1974-1979)
Braidwood, Illinois
As long as I can remember, our family made frequent Summer road trips up Interstate 55 from my hometown - Champaign, Illinois - to Braidwood. It’s a small town South of Joliet on historic Route 66 (cue Nat King Cole’s classic version).
Our final destination was the Braidwood Recreation Club. My Grandpa Manley was a charter member dating back to 1951.
My Grandpa, Robert Clayton Manley, leaving us a loving legacy for the outdoors. I’m honored to share your middle name, Grandpa.
Braidwood is one of the cornerstones shaping my love for nature, the outdoors, sports, and music all in one place.
Countless picnics.
Maiorano and Tracy family reunions and birthday parties.
An endless open field to run or swing the Wiffle Ball bat.
A well-stocked playground to climb, spin, and teeter.
Braidwood is where I did my first camping, stoked my first campfire, caught my first fish, took my first canoe ride, and doggied my first paddle.
I stuck with shallow waters dreaming of someday swimming to the rafts floating far off in the deep end.
I also built sand castles on the beach at the water’s edge facing the largest channel of lakes and watched bigger kids brave the high dive near one end of the beach.
At the driest edge of the sand surrounding the beach stood a short, white concrete wall. On either side of the sand stood a beachfront building with bathrooms, beach chairs, sprayers to rinse your sandy feet, and a concession stand stocked with snacks and frozen treats.
Hanging from the corners of that baby blue and white building were loudspeakers that looked like hand-held megaphones. One of the amplified sounds from those loudspeakers I never liked to hear:
“It's the top of the hour. Time for a 15-minute break. If you’re over 18, you can keep swimming. All others, please exit the water now.”
“Aw, man! Do we have to?!”, I complained.
Regardless of adult swim time, I always loved the other sounds coming from those same loudspeakers. At any given moment, the latest hits on the radio played strong. The source was WLS-FM radio out of Chicago. My oldest ear bro, Todd, confirmed it.
To this day, when I hear certain songs from the ‘70s, I instantly find myself back on the soft sand between the shallow end of the lake and that concrete wall.
I feel that hot sun on my face.
I smell that strong scent of coconut Coppertone suntan lotion.
And I listen to another inspiring track from that solid wall of seventies sound.
The Soundtracks Series (Part I) Playlist:
Playlist Highlights:
“Barracuda”; “Crazy on You”; “Magic Man” - Heart
“Rhiannon”; “Dreams”; “Go Your Own Way” - Fleetwood Mac
“Fly Like an Eagle”; “The Joker” - The Steve Miller Band
“Hotel California”; “Lyin’ Eyes” - The Eagles
“Blinded By The Light” (by Bruce Springsteen) - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
“Dream On”; “Walk This Way” - Aerosmith
“Couldn't Get It Right”; “I Love You” - Climax Blues Band
“Lido Shuffle”; “Lowdown” - Boz Scaggs
“Jet”; “Silly Little Love Songs” - Paul McCartney’s Wings
“50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” - Paul Simon
“Evil Woman”; “Livin’ Thing” - Electric Light Orchestra
“Baker Street” - Gerry Rafferty
“Hold The Line” - Toto
“Sultans of Swing” - Dire Straits
“Right Back Where We Started From” - Maxine Nightingale
“Surrender” - Cheap Trick
“The Logical Song” - Supertramp
“Life’s Been Good” - Joe Walsh
“Doctor My Eyes” - Jackson Browne