A True Story
Author’s Note: Jim is my older brother Jim (Jimmy)
Junior’s Farm is a song released by Paul McCartney in November 1974.
In the summer of 1974, we moved from Jackson Heights Queens, NY to NJ.
One of the most important summers of my life due to such a big move and upheaval.
Just before that move, we had the Chris Horvath incident, also related to Jim. You can read about that true story here.
When it comes to music, I have songs that were “oldies” (from past generations), let’s say, and “current” songs that were from my generation and part of my consciousness when they first became hits.
The transition from “oldies” to “current” songs was in 1970 - 1971
For example, all of these songs released in 1970 are “oldies” to me.
1. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
2. (They Long to Be) Close to You - The Carpenters
3. American Woman / No Sugar Tonight - The Guess Who
4. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B.J. Thomas
5. War - Edwin Starr
6. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
7. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
8. Get Ready - Rare Earth
9. Let It Be - The Beatles
10. Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
11. Abc - The Jackson 5
12. Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
These songs released in 1970 are all “current” ones. So interesting to see some 1970 songs are “oldies” and some are not.
Band of Gold - Freda Payne
Candida - Dawn
All Right Now - Free
Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image
Come and Get It - Badfinger
Indiana Wants Me - R. Dean Taylor
25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
Whereas all of these songs below released after 1970 are “current”songs to me. Notice some Beatles members' solo songs. We have "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison, which in my mind is totally different than any Beatles song, as they are “oldies” and My Sweet Lord is "current."
Notice "Draggin' the Line" by Tommy James. That is "current", where Crimson and Clover, also by Tommy James, released in 1968 is an "oldie".
One last good example of this is the Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds cover by Elton John (1975) is “current” and the original Beatles from 1968 is an oldie.
1 "Joy to the World" Three Dog Night
2 "Maggie May"/"Reason to Believe" Rod Stewart
3 "It's Too Late"/"I Feel the Earth Move" Carole King
4 "One Bad Apple" The Osmonds
5 "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" Bee Gees
6 "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" Raiders
7 "Go Away Little Girl" Donny Osmond
8 "Take Me Home, Country Roads" John Denver
9 "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" The Temptations
10 "Knock Three Times" Tony Orlando and Dawn
11 "Me and Bobby McGee" Janis Joplin
12 "Tired of Being Alone" Al Green
13 "Want Ads" Honey Cone
14 "Smiling Faces Sometimes" The Undisputed Truth
15 "Treat Her Like a Lady" Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
16 "Brown Sugar" The Rolling Stones
17 "You've Got a Friend" James Taylor
18 "Mr. Big Stuff" Jean Knight
19 "Do You Know What I Mean" Lee Michaels
20 "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" Joan Baez
21 "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye
22 "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" Paul & Linda McCartney
23 "Ain't No Sunshine" Bill Withers
24 "Signs" Five Man Electrical Band
25 "She's a Lady" Tom Jones
26 "I've Found Someone of My Own" The Free Movement
27 "Superstar" Murray Head & The Trinidad Singers
28 "Amos Moses" Jerry Reed
29 "Temptation Eyes" The Grass Roots
30 "Superstar" The Carpenters
31 "My Sweet Lord" George Harrison
32 "Sweet and Innocent" Donny Osmond
33 "Put Your Hand in the Hand" Ocean
34 "Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)" Daddy Dewdrop
35 "For All We Know" The Carpenters
36 "If You Could Read My Mind" Gordon Lightfoot
37 "Help Me Make It Through the Night" Sammi Smith
38 "Rainy Days and Mondays" The Carpenters
39 "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" Cher
40 "Never Can Say Goodbye" The Jackson 5
41 "Rose Garden" Lynn Anderson
42 "Don't Pull Your Love" Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
43 "It Don't Come Easy" Ringo Starr
44 "Mr. Bojangles" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
45 "I Love You for All Seasons" The Fuzz
46 "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get" The Dramatics
47 "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" Carly Simon
48 "If You Really Love Me" Stevie Wonder
49 "Spanish Harlem" Aretha Franklin
50 "I Don't Know How to Love Him" Helen Reddy
51 "Yo-Yo" The Osmonds
52 "Bridge over Troubled Water" Aretha Franklin
53 "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted" The Partridge Family
54 "Draggin' the Line" Tommy James
55 "Proud Mary"
So for example, in 1969, when I was four, songs like Sugar, Sugar and Build Me Up Buttercup, are oldies.
Whereas songs from 1972 are extremely “current” ones. Brandy, You’re A Fine Girl (my favorite song of all time), Maggie May, and Backstabbers, etc.
American Pie (1971), by Don McLean, is another good example of a “current” song in my heart and mind.
So, in November 1974 Junior’s Farm came out. It was the first “current” Paul McCartney song to me so it stands out emotionally from my nine year old brain. The whole point of me describing “oldies” and “current”, is that Paul McCartney post Beatles is a completely different musical artist to me, literally, and why Junior’s Farm impacted me differently, than say, I Want To Hold Your Hand.
I am not sure how I first heard Junior’s Farm. It is most likely that my sister Mary had gotten that new solo Paul McCartney album and she played it for me in her room as she did hundreds of songs on records and the radio throughout my childhood.
I have taken the long way to get to my point of this true story, and thanks for your patience.
There is a line in Junior’s Farm, which was really the reason for me writing this Jim related memory.
Paul sings. “Take me down, Jimmy!”
You can hear that part by clicking here Take Me Down Jimmy!
I literally thought that Paul McCartney was talking to my brother! Still to this day it is one of my favorite parts of any song.
Listen to the full song here. Junior’s Farm
