I came back from Germany in 1973 to the same school I left 3 years prior. Most all of my friends were still there but things had changed. My stature had changed dramatically due to puberty and I was more interested in the opposite sex. I picked up right where I left off with Darrel Wilmore, who had been my best friend in 3rd and 4th grade. He had learned to play guitar and I saw that the girls were very much interested in guys who could play so after much cajoling and pleading, I convinced my parents to get me an electric guitar and suddenly I was in a band. Under Darrel's tutelage, I learned how to play Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad and Steppenwolf songs. What I enjoyed more than anything, though, was a Beatles book that I bought with my grass cutting money. Being able to strum along and sing the best written rock songs was amazing fun and it gave me the confidence to keep learning. I started forming my own ideas as to what I liked to listen to and play (which aren't necessarily the same thing). Songs that I still resonate with me today from that time period include :

         
The Loco-Motion, Grand Funk Railroad
Bennie And The Jets, Elton John
Band On The Run, Paul McCartney and Wings
Time In A Bottle, Jim Croce
Nothing From Nothing, Billy Preston
The Joker, Steve Miller Band
Living For The City, Stevie Wonder
The Air That I Breathe, Hollies
Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Steely Dan
Mockingbird, Carly Simon
Tell Me Something Good, Rufus
Radar Love, Golden Earring
Oh Very Young, Cat Stevens  
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
I Shot The Sherrif, Eric Clapton
Jet, Paul McCartney and Wings
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Elton John
Hello, It's Me, Todd Rundgren
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing, Stevie Wonder

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