Shaun Squad Society

Deep Dive into Shaun Cassidy's Album Room Service

Cindy, Dorese, Dame Season 4 Episode 32

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Ever wondered how an artist transitions from teen idol status to a mature artist with deeper messages? On our latest episode, we're serving up a nostalgic look into Shaun Cassidy's fourth studio album, "Room Service." With its pop-tinged disco influences and slick production by Michael Lloyd, this album signifies a pivotal moment in Shaun's career. Despite critics like Ralph Heibutzski suggesting Cassidy's career had peaked, we passionately argue the opposite, sharing our fond memories and personal appreciation for the artistic growth showcased in this album.

Step into the late '70s with us as we explore the evolution of Shaun Cassidy's music journey from youthful themes to the more mature content in "Room Service" — particularly in tracks like "Falling Into You" and "Time for a Change". Come along as we unravel the intriguing story behind the album cover and how Shaun's strategic moves countered critics' claims of limited creative input. It’s a testament to his resilience and growth, and we can't help but celebrate his ability to navigate the complexities of fame.

From the infectious dance vibes to the emotional depth of Shaun's songs, we dissect the lyrics and themes of love, trust, and longing that defined his late '70s and early '80s sound. Tracks like "Only Because of Love" and "Are You Afraid of Me" take us back to a time when disco influences were reshaping the musical landscape. Our journey wouldn't be complete without some laughs, as we reminisce about blending song lyrics with the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" for a playful listening experience. Join us for a lively exploration of Shaun Cassidy’s enduring impact on music and on our lives.

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Reviewing Room Service by Shaun Cassidy

Speaker 1

So I broke into it At the end.

Speaker 2

I'm like. Look at Sean. He took a disco song. He added his little rap line.

Speaker 1

Yeah, he's creative. I couldn't yeah. When I heard the ending, I'm like what is that?

Speaker 3

That's Sean. Yeah, the ending I was like I don't understand. Yeah, he was making a little rap at the end.

Speaker 1

I'm like okay, welcome to the Sean Squad Society podcast with your hosts myself, cindy, doris, jane, madonna where we invite you to share in our enthusiasm and reminisce about all things Sean Cassidy.

Speaker 2

From his teen idol days to his recent adventures. Back on the road again.

Speaker 3

Please join us for the stories and memories that connected us to those happy days that helped create the Sean Squad Society podcast.

Speaker 1

All right, let's get started. What are we talking about today? We're talking about another Sean Cassidy album.

Speaker 2

Hey everybody, here we are, here we are. It's what day? Is it? It's Room Service Day. It's Room Service, I want some room service.

Speaker 1

Room Service with Sean Cassidy. Yep, that's his fourth studio album. That's what we're going to talk about. So Room Service was released on July 1st 1979 under the genre of pop music and he was still on his Warner Brothers label at the time and Michael Lloyd produced this album. So this was his fourth album. What did you think?

Speaker 2

I loved it.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Speaker 2

Room Service is probably my next second favorite album. Oh Under Wraps is my favorite only because of the one song.

Speaker 1

Yes, your favorite song.

Speaker 2

Yeah, but yeah, I loved Room Service he grew.

Speaker 1

I was surprised by it. I didn't know what to expect.

Speaker 2

You know what. You know what we should do. We should ask the critic, ask the real critic what did they think of Room Service? Yeah, there are critics out there Well let's read what the critics really thought of this album and then we could give our assessment, because I think we're going to be like, more on target.

Speaker 1

I think we'll be more accurate as a fan, because these, these people that listen to it are really critical yeah, he uses big. He uses big words in this, but it's written like a critic.

Speaker 2

Yeah, it is, it is. I mean, I I can barely understand what he's trying to say. He starts off saying Sean Cassidy's pop rock career. Oh, this I should say. This review was written by someone by the name of Ralph Hybutsky.

Speaker 1

Hybutsky. I think it's Hybutsky. Okay, don't know who he is.

Speaker 2

No idea Sean Cassidy's pop rock career had effectively peaked when the album came out, when Room Service came out, although he was still gamely trying to push the river.

Speaker 1

Okay, what's the?

Speaker 2

river. I think he's like saying he's trying to Sean had peaked, yeah, but he's still trying to get up there with one more girl, Keep the train going right, yeah, yeah, he's a go-getter, yep, push the river. What else does he say? That didn't make a lot of sense to us. He's saying, overall, that there were a lot of musicians on this album, right? Yeah, 13 different musicians, and he didn't say who they are. But Sean and Michael Lloyd was amongst them.

Speaker 1

Yeah, and I think his friend David Jolliff too.

Speaker 2

David Jolliff, of course, played on this one.

Speaker 1

Yeah, michael Lloyd was the songwriter producer and he pulled out all the steps for this record for Sean.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 3

Yeah, he did that for Sean, but he also did it for Osmonds and Leif Garrett. Did you guys know that?

Speaker 2

Oh really, yeah, Michael Lloyd. He worked at Warner Brothers, Warner Curb Records, I guess, so maybe he was. If you are not labeled or affiliated with it, I could be wrong.

Speaker 3

Did you guys know he also supervised the music soundtrack for Dirty Dancing? Oh okay, remember Eric, when we talked about him too, so that's pretty neat.

Speaker 1

He was a popular producer back then, yeah, and he was young.

Speaker 3

He also worked with Belinda Carlyle, barry Manilow, and by the age of 13, he had formed his own band at Beverly Hills.

Speaker 2

Kind of reminds you of what Sean did. Yeah, yeah, kind of reminds you of what Sean did.

Speaker 3

Yeah, yeah, so it reminds you a lot of Sean. But, cindy, you told me something really cool about Michael Lloyd.

Speaker 1

Oh yeah, he was playing at Sean's concert, so back in 78, he was the guitarist on stage so I got to meet him. I don't know if it was before or after the concert, but yeah, I met him, got his autograph. He's a pretty cool guy, that's cool.

Speaker 3

Yeah, that really is.

Speaker 1

Yeah, he seemed young, like the same age as Sean, but I know he was older. But he looked younger. Yeah, yeah, but he was a good addition to his band, for sure.

Speaker 2

Cindy, what does this guy, ralph, say a little bit about some of the songs on that.

Speaker 1

Because he's boring me already. I don't even want to go through a lot of what he said. But let's, yeah, let's go straight to the chase here. What is it? Well, first he said it's, it's uh, it's the uh. Problem with the album is not the production. It's a slick, yet solid exhibit of the late seventies LA sound. Well, that's kind of funny.

Speaker 2

We're each going to talk a little bit about our assessment of the songs and it's kind of funny. Before you shared with me this this guy's review, I have written my own reviews and I got some of the same words. So that's kind of ironic.

Speaker 1

So you're on the same page then Not really, because I don't like some of what he's saying.

Speaker 3

Some of it yeah.

Speaker 1

But that's a similarity. But then he went in to say there's a pop-tinged disco song like Are you Afraid of Me? And Time for a Change.

Speaker 2

Okay, we could talk about that.

Speaker 1

I don't think it's disco really, Do you?

Speaker 2

We're going to talk about that. Okay, we're going to get into that.

Speaker 1

Yeah, we'll talk about that when we get to the song and then synth-driven balladry. You still surprise me.

Speaker 2

Yeah, synth rock was getting big in the late 70s, early 80s, so I can see him saying that True.

Speaker 1

Yep. And then there's a nod to Cassidy's Rock and Roll Roots with a slinky remake of the Letter. We all know the Letter right. Remember that song? The Letter? Wasn't it from the 60s?

Speaker 2

Well, she wrote me a letter said she just couldn't live without me anymore.

Speaker 4

It was from the 60s?

Speaker 2

Yeah, that's the box tops. Was it the early 70s or was it the 60s? Not sure. Something like that, something like that.

Speaker 3

Well, I like how it starts out, because it says it gives me a ticket for an airplane, which is cool, since I just bought a ticket for an airplane. Doreen knows about that because she's coming with me, and that's neat because we'll see Sean and Tracy. But anyway, back to this song. Yeah, it says that he doesn't care how much the ticket costs. He has to get back to his girl.

Speaker 1

That's right, yeah, and you know Sean always liked those older songs too, so I'm sure he wanted to include one with his album.

Speaker 2

But the good thing, which I found good maybe a lot of people didn't but for this album there's only one cover tune and this is it, the letter Right and do a lot of covers, whereas his first album, sean Cassidy, is basically all covers, yeah Right. So I thought this was really great. He grew up, started using more original material, but he still did a nod and he found the one he liked.

Speaker 1

And I agree, I like that song. I didn't mind it. I like his version.

Speaker 2

In the original version they don't say airplane. He says give me a ticket for an aeroplane.

Speaker 3

He said, but listen to it.

Speaker 2

He goes, give me a ticket for an aeroplane.

Speaker 3

Maybe I was thinking that way because I was just thinking just straight out Okay, I'm going on an airplane.

Speaker 2

He says airplanes. It's just his phonetic pronunciation of it In the song yeah.

Speaker 3

In the song yeah.

Speaker 1

Maybe they did that for a reason, who knows?

Speaker 2

I think they needed more syllables.

Speaker 3

You know how a song has to flow. Yes, maybe Back then you sure couldn't say well, she sent me a text or she sent me an email because it was all about that letter. Today's version you can, but yeah, yeah so that's what I thought was neat with the time period it's all about that letter. That meant a lot to him. He was going to go get to her.

Speaker 1

Go get to her. Yeah, but it said. The real issue with this album is a lack of material for Cassidy to call his own.

Speaker 2

See now me and. Bruce, are getting on my nerves. Bruce, yeah, what's this man's name? Ralph Ralph. See, I can't even remember his name Bruce Ralph, whoever he was, yeah.

Speaker 1

Darius would be a better critic. Yeah Well, we're the fans. I think we're the ultimate critic. There you go.

Speaker 2

Ultimate critic. But no, you know one thing? He did say, Cindy, that I think I have to agree with the song You're Using Me. Yeah, I think I have to agree with the song you're using me. Yeah, he wrote it. Read the way he wrote this sentence.

Speaker 1

Okay, but that's only because of the iffy company that surrounds them. Although you're using me benefits from a gritty vocal, presumably inspired by hard bitten experience, as half brother David could attest to.

Speaker 2

Okay. So he's using all these crazy words and adjectives, and I think what he's just trying to say is Sean and David were both big teen idols and most of the people they encountered were using them, and that's what this song is about the world of people using them.

Speaker 3

You use them, they use you yeah but, he feels abused in this, the world of people using them, you use them, they use you.

Speaker 2

Everybody, yeah, but he feels abused in this.

Speaker 3

He just feels abused, yeah and used. We're going to get into that.

Speaker 2

But this critic, when he wrote it he was like, yeah, this is kind of the David and Sean could basically both live that can attest to the world of being used.

Speaker 1

Right, right. Better luck if he'd stuck to his stripped down guns on Falling Into you or Break for the Street, whose crisp delivery and guitar work make them the best moments here.

Speaker 2

So I guess it's critic, like those songs he loved Break for the Street and Falling Into you.

Speaker 1

I agree with him there. I agree with him there.

Speaker 2

I can't disagree on Break for the Street.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I love that one.

Speaker 2

That's a great song.

Speaker 1

It is Falling.

Speaker 2

Into you. I'm going to talk a little bit, but it has this I don't know if that's a piano, but it has this repetitive chord all the way through and it's catchy and I love that. Yeah, so, ralph, that was his critics' version of what he thought of the album. Now how about if we tell the world what we think of the album?

Speaker 3

Of each song. Yeah just a little bit.

Speaker 1

What do we think of the album? So the first one is Falling Into you, and if I could play a little bit of that, we can kind of get an idea which song we're talking about.

Speaker 2

Okay.

Speaker 4

Okay, okay.

Speaker 5

One more dance tonight. Shake it up and walk it down.

Speaker 1

Let's have ourselves another round, all right, what do you guys think about that one?

Speaker 2

Well, cindy can you real quick, dane. Before you start, cindy, can you fast forward real quick to the chorus, the Falling Into you chorus?

Speaker 1

Okay.

Speaker 2

That's what I'm going to talk about a little bit, but first Dane's going to speak.

Speaker 3

Okay, yeah, I'll just have something real quick, all right Of course. I like that one. This one seems so very personal. He sounds like such a romantic when I heard the words yeah. And I like the part where he says let me woo you. What girl is going to tell her man no to that? No, that's all right.

Speaker 1

Nah, I don't want to be wooed, and that was the name of the at the time, right how they described it.

Speaker 3

Yeah, that's true, I don't think they use it so much these days, but back then they did no, but it sounded good.

Speaker 1

Yeah, he could say that now that makes me happy, but I love the music in it. I love the piano. Yeah, I love all that that caught my attention right away.

Speaker 2

Yes, At that chorus there's a repetitive piano chord. That really drives home to me.

Speaker 1

It's a really nice up song and of course he likes to talk about his loves.

Speaker 3

I just remember seeing some girls dance into that song and they were swaying to it like it was just perfect for that. So the tune and the it sounds really good. It has a good feel to it.

Speaker 1

Yeah, and Sean and David Jalop wrote it. Good job.

Speaker 2

Okay. So when I first heard Falling Into you as a kid now again we talk about these songs we listen to and I wasn't a little girl by the time Room Service came out. Sean had grown, we had all grown.

Speaker 1

Yep.

Speaker 2

And you could tell the songs are more adult themes. Yeah, they were Falling into you, okay.

Speaker 1

I had to get adjusted to it.

Speaker 2

Well, listen to this Take it slow and make it last. There's a line in the song that says take it slow and make it last, and there's a part that says let's have ourselves another round. Ain't no man or woman child gonna stop us now. Come on, baby, let me woo you. Okay, what's this song about?

Speaker 1

Come on y'all. What is this song about?

Speaker 3

He's falling in love.

Speaker 2

I know what it's about, and when I was that young, I was listening to it and I'm like come on feeling your love, holding me tight tonight, I was like, wow, I mean, I'm 18 years old, 17. I liked it. And I got Sean Cassidy telling me come on, baby, let me woo you tonight me.

Speaker 3

Come on, baby, let me woo you tonight. I like the woo part, the other was too much.

Speaker 1

I was like oh no, I'm not going to talk about that part. And the end says let's have ourselves another round.

Speaker 3

Ain't nobody going to stop us now we're home. Oh yeah, that's falling in love.

Speaker 1

Keep going.

Speaker 2

So absolutely this song, the first cut on the album. Let us know, sean Cassidy was not singing to 12-year-old girls anymore. No, this song was his graduation.

Speaker 3

Yeah.

Speaker 2

And we graduated right there with him and it was wonderful. This song is one of my favorites.

Speaker 3

Yeah, it is Well, instead of falling into, you say falling into love. That's what it sounds like.

Speaker 2

Yeah, but see I'm going more graphic with this. The romantic side is falling into love. The graphic side is we all know what was going on. Yeah.

Speaker 1

I couldn't say that, yeah, yes, oh, but we didn't talk about the album cover. Well, oh, yes, remember, there's a story with the album cover. Okay, and who is that looking at him? Well, we still don't. Well, we don't know her name, that's for sure it was a model.

Speaker 2

We believe it was a model that he knew from high school. He took her to a prom or something Right, and then he hired her to do the album cover. That's all. There's no story behind her.

Speaker 1

No, okay, right, it was his idea, right. So Sean said in one of his Q&As, and I have it here. It says his fourth album, which is called Room Service, was his idea, just like the other ones. The notion that you never had any privacy, privacy that there were eyes on you all the time. Hey, no wonder I stopped performing for so long, right? So I guess he didn't like having the eyes on him right?

Speaker 3

well, he sure is smiling right there. He's smiling back like keep your eyes on me.

Speaker 2

This thing here, this album cover, it's like a metaphor of yeah, just looking at y'all.

Speaker 3

Sean always has a message. There's always a message and it's saying even though I don't like you guys, just always watching me and not giving me my privacy, I still give you my smiles.

Speaker 1

Yeah, yeah. He still wants you to enjoy his music and everything. He just doesn't like the living in a fishbowl, like he says.

Speaker 2

And by the time room service came out, maybe it had. You know it was starting to get to him. Yeah, we have been through sean cassidy, born late and under wraps, and by the time room service came out, he's like yeah all right?

Speaker 1

yes, I'm just here, you're always I gotta get out of the fishbowl I gotta get out of yeah, get me out of the fishbowl. And I understand. I mean we look at it one way, he looks at it another way. He enjoyed, I guess, the attention and getting his music out there, but when you're constantly clawing at him and stuff, that just kind of gets old.

Speaker 4

And pulling his hair out.

Speaker 3

He said that Girls were even pulling his hair out, jumping on his car.

Speaker 1

Yeah, who would like that? Who would want that to happen to them? That's kind of scary, that is sad. You know you have to kind of pull away from that because that's a safety issue, I think with everything.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I read somewhere he was just so happy he could go in somewhere and then people didn't even notice him at first.

Speaker 2

Right, it does come with the word quote unquote teen idol. It happened from way back in the 50s.

Speaker 1

Right.

Speaker 2

They were doing it all the way through the 60s, the 70s, the 80s. So that's part of that job and it is a hard part of time.

Speaker 3

No, he was smart, he's always been smart, and so he knows when to take time out and when to say OK, back off.

Speaker 1

Right, he went into his writing career after that, so he was good. Yeah, it's a good thing. He has other talents, you know.

Speaker 3

Exactly.

Speaker 1

But he's multidimensional.

Speaker 2

The second song on Room Service Time for a Change. Mm hmm, yeah.

Speaker 1

Words and Music by Sean Cassidy. There you go, see.

Speaker 2

I was doing a segue. He went into writing.

Speaker 3

Words by Sean Cassidy.

Speaker 2

So, dan, what do you got to say about Time for a Change? I don't Well wait a minute.

Speaker 1

I don't agree with the critic then, because the critic kind of said that he didn't have a lot of input with his own stuff on this record, but lot of input with his own stuff on this record but Sean wrote a lot of songs on this record.

Speaker 2

That's why I was trying to say I didn't agree with a lot of what he said.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I don't know where that came from.

Speaker 3

No, it just to me this song it seems like a breakup song, like as if he's been jaded and so he's pretty upset. Was he trying hard to win her heart back or was he losing his mind over it? I think the song sounds very like a high range too.

Speaker 2

Let's hear some of it.

Speaker 5

Okay, in the land of the jaded romance writing a dream, knew it was time for a change. Had to start a rearrange Cause I knew it was time for a change. Had to find another way. Had to wait till I'd notified we went back to the wall. I was leaving it all to the rain.

Speaker 1

All right, what did you think of that?

Speaker 3

one. Well, it seemed like it was very high range. I'm not a singer, but it seems very, very, very high and the song to me just seems like a breakup song, because he felt jaded by his romance. Yeah, he was trying so hard to win her heart that he was the one losing his romance. Yeah, he was trying so hard to win her heart that he was the one losing his mind.

Speaker 2

Yeah, what does it say? In the lyrics there, cindy.

Speaker 1

It says rolling the dice, banking on a second chance in the land of the jaded romance, riding a dream, steering a passion for your heart, I'm giving you what's left of mine, leaving only the words behind, lost in the crowd.

Speaker 3

I was losing my mind and I knew it was time for a change. There you go. Well, his romance with this girl was just. It just made him frustrated and he had wanted it to work out, but he knew it wouldn't.

Speaker 1

Yeah, right, yeah, and he says time for a change. I was giving it all to the wind only never satisfied. Now you're here and it's clear that was giving it all to the wind, only never satisfied. Now you're here and it's clear that you made it a time for a change.

Speaker 3

Yep.

Speaker 1

So he's moving on yeah.

Analyzing Shaun Cassidy's Song Lyrics

Speaker 2

Yeah, I was losing my mind and I knew it was time for a change. When I first heard this song, I used to dance to it. It has sort of a that chorus, has sort of a dance, feel You're right, even with that high.

Speaker 3

Okay, yes, high for subtle? I think so too. Yeah, you kind of want to get up and dance, see it?

Speaker 2

doesn't make me want to dance, Even though it's not an uppity lyric the chorus though Disco was kind of getting big back then in the late 70s and it sounds to me like a couple of these songs were trying to put that little bit of a dance feel in them.

Speaker 4

Yeah.

Speaker 2

And I got to tell you I wasn't listening to the lyrics.

Speaker 1

No, me neither. Yeah, I like the song.

Speaker 2

I like the music, I wasn't listening to that sound and it had a great sound to me, so I enjoyed it a lot.

Speaker 1

Yep, all right. All right, let's go really high. Yeah, let's go to the next one. Then it's only because of love. So let me play that a little bit and then we'll talk about it.

Speaker 5

I believe you All right.

Speaker 1

Oh, what's the consensus on that one?

Speaker 3

Well, his relationship here he saw as true and encouraging because she, you know. But then he was saying that he'll never let her go, no matter what, which I thought was cool. But their relationship was so strong, so that's why he felt that way and that's what I got out of the song. And yet, even if his woman were to tell him he's a fool, he'd still feel like she was. She was telling him the right thing and still loved him.

Speaker 3

Yes, and it made me think of like with my own sons. Sometimes I say things to them and I'm like, well, you shouldn't do this and you look like this and that shirt looks really bad on you. But really they should realize that's love, even when you criticize, right.

Speaker 1

And he says it's some secret that you got inside is pulling me along for the ride, but everything's all right, so I guess he agreed to it.

Speaker 3

He's right there. He just trusted her yeah.

Speaker 2

Now I really listened to this song again for the first time in years. I listened to it today and first thing I said is this song sounds very much like a song written in the late 70s, early 80s. The sound of it. See, I'm listening.

Speaker 2

You guys are in tune to the lyrics and I'm listening to the beat, the melody, the sound, all of that, and I'm like this song definitely has that. The chorus had a sound of some other song I cannot put my finger on it but some other popular song that we all heard on the radio in the late 70s, early 80s. And then I said, okay, if I were to listen to the lyrics, here's the one that caught me Only because of love would I surrender control, share my heart, bear my soul. Oh, Only Only because of love. Well, that's the lyric I took from here, and I remember when I was a kid listening to it. I would go around singing that.

Speaker 1

Yeah, michael Lloyd wrote that song.

Speaker 2

This is Michael. What did you think of it, Cindy?

Speaker 1

I don't know, I didn't like it too much. It wasn't one of your favorites. I sang along with it, but it was kind of like, okay, I'm waiting for it to end, I don't know yeah.

Speaker 2

Well, you know, every album, every artist has a song or two on our album that we just don't do.

Speaker 1

Right, I mean, yeah, you get into some, you don't get into others, so this is one of them. I didn't get into, yeah.

Speaker 2

Well, I think we can move safely on to the next one.

Speaker 1

Yeah, let's play this one. The next one, number four, is Are you Afraid of Me? So let me play a little bit of that one to sometime somewhere.

Speaker 5

She was a part of his perfect life. She used to tell him that she'd be his wife someday, someday soon. Not true, she knew. Only Are you a baby All right?

Speaker 2

Is this the one we had a video to? No, I don't think this is the one.

Speaker 3

Okay, but all right. Well, this song is one that I know Drees loves, but in the song, when I look at what it means to me, well, she used to tell him that she'd be the wife someday, but then he realized that's not. That was not true. So he wondered if I guess she was afraid of him. He really wants the forever and she was the perfect piece to his puzzle to finalize his perfect life. That's what we all see when we think we found the perfect person. But I don't understand the ending of this song. The lyrics confused me, but I'm sure Drees can explain it to me or to us.

Speaker 2

Well, I'm no Sean Cassidy lyricist person here, but I got to tell you capacity lyricist person here. But I gotta tell you, when I first heard this song all those years ago, when I listened to it today, I almost felt the exact same way. I love this song. I do, too this song to me, and this is what I wrote in my notes. This song is totally Rod Stewart. The beginning sounds just like Do you Think I'm Sexy? Which was Rod Stewart's nod to disco. And then I wrote this song as Sean's answer to disco. It's almost like they had to put a disco nod in there. And this is it. And then I went into listening to the lyrics. Oh, my God, I love this song. Did I touch you in a place that breaks too easily? Is it much too much? Is it just much too much for you to give your love to me?

Speaker 1

I mean that and this, but it's talking about she's rejecting another man. The man she's rejecting is there, still holding on. So does that mean she doesn't want to give her love to him because she didn't want to give her love to the other guy? I don't know. I don't know either.

Speaker 2

All I know is he asks is it much too much? Can you just I'm asking too much for you to give your love to me, Maybe Spend the night with me? Is she having an affair? That's the part that I'm getting to. Oh, so she's with this guy and he wants to be with her forever, but she's with another man.

Speaker 3

That's not good.

Speaker 1

Well, could be there it is. And then here's the part, when she was part of his perfect life, when she used to tell him that she'd be his wife someday, someday soon. Not true. She flew away. So she didn't want to get married to the other guy.

Speaker 3

And yet he wanted the piece of the puzzle that she fit in away. So she didn't want to get married to the other guy, and yet he wanted the piece of the puzzle that she fit in Well maybe she didn't trust love.

Speaker 2

That could be.

Speaker 3

Maybe we don't know the backstory Right.

Speaker 2

That could be, but you know the fun part of this song and I hope Cindy can find it Sean busts into a rap. Oh no, no, there's a whole rap section. He goes girls on the outside trying to make it inside, boys on the east side trying to take a little rap, so I broke into it At the end. I'm like look at Charlie. He took a disco song. He added his little rap line.

Speaker 1

Yeah, he's creative. Yeah, when I heard the ending, I'm like what is that?

Speaker 3

That's Sean. Yeah, the ending I was like I don't understand. Yeah, he was making a little rap at the end.

Speaker 1

I'm like, okay, can you find this ending? Yeah, let's see if I can get to that part in the end.

Speaker 2

That was Sean's little rap. Yeah, that's his little rap. I'm like listen to Sean. He was a little bit before his time doing rap, but yeah, this was always my favorite. I do like that one. Yes, it's got that whole disco kind of sound that one works Like Rod Stewart. It's just a fun song.

Speaker 3

It is. I just didn't understand the last part of the lyrics, but maybe somebody will tell us.

Speaker 1

Right, yeah, I mean, I don't know either, because I always listen to the melody.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

And I don't pay attention to the words.

Speaker 2

But yeah, maybe some listeners will tell us their input on what he was saying.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I thought it was just like a trust issue. She didn't trust to connect. And are you afraid of me? Did I touch you? Did I hurt you, didn't break your heart? He doesn't understand it. Yeah, but you't understand it, but you're breaking mine, right, yeah. Okay, let's go to the next song. The next one is Break for the Street, in Words and Music by Sean Cassidy.

Speaker 5

Let's hear this one His lovely wife, with whom he shared a simple life, suddenly finds she's needing more, longing for the love that died so many years before, when she was seventeen and he was twenty-one.

Speaker 1

All right, I like that one.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I like the beat in this song. I remember thinking that when I was listening to it, but it explains so much that happens with couples. This was a young couple, you know, the girl was underage, she was 17.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Speaker 3

And the guy was 21. And I'm sure they had a fun honeymoon and she still really probably hadn't lived much of a life yet. But here he was, this new husband of 21,. And they're trying to survive this marriage because he's out there working. But it seemed like it would all be a fantasy. But many new couples, you know, sometimes they don't realize that after the honeymoon comes the bills. You know, his new wife was 17 and he was a hard worker. His new bride got to stay at home. She lived a simple life, but then she started missing the olden days, maybe, of romance and courtship, and then years go by and she starts to feel incomplete. So this guy thinks he's doing, doing his part by working very hard. Right, guys feel that, but the woman's like, where's the romance? And he's feeling like, well, I am romancing her by working.

Speaker 3

You know but it sounds yes, but it sounds like she just packs up and gets her suitcases and she needs more. And then it was strange how it continues from here. It says break for the street. So maybe you girls can explain that to me in just a minute. But her next love was the age of her husband. Remember when they got married? So 36 now, is that what it was? She turned the tables yeah, she's the older woman. Yeah, it was just like the way it went together. So her next love wasn't any better.

Speaker 3

So it sounds like she should have just stayed with the original husband and worked through this and instead of going and try to find new romance, because you go back into this pattern again.

Speaker 1

Right, she says, suddenly find she's needing more longing for the love that died so many years before. Uh-huh, she was 17. He was 21. She wants that woo again. Well, yeah.

Speaker 2

I mean, I listened today and I'm like basically everything James said. I thought this is a housewife. She's 17 years old, got married, became a housewife. He's doing his part.

Speaker 1

He's providing Right, but she wants more, so she breaks for the streets, she leaves, she runs away.

Speaker 3

Yeah, it took a little while. That didn't work out for her.

Speaker 2

And yeah, then she found she was a cougar. She met a 21 year old. And this is the classic story of just getting out of there. I got to go.

Speaker 1

Yeah, so she said. It says before it began it was over and done so incomplete. So the second time is still incomplete. So she hasn't been finding what she wanted in a relationship.

Speaker 3

What's break for the street? Just to leave?

Speaker 1

Yeah, I think it's to leave.

Speaker 2

Yeah, we used to say that all the time as kids. Maybe it was a 70s phrase. I got a break for the street. I got a break for it. We even got shortened to break for it. We got a break for it. You heard people say make a break for it. That's what they mean Run.

Reflecting on Break for the Street

Speaker 1

Run for it, get out of there Go somewhere else that didn't work out for her. The husband was doing all he could do and she wasn't happy, that's sad, that's the typical married couple A lot of times, not all.

Speaker 2

You know, he was young too, like it says they were both young, and he wanted to make a good life for her, a good home for her.

Speaker 1

So he was doing his best, yeah.

Speaker 2

Working hard, but it wasn't enough for her.

Speaker 3

It's hard because men think so much differently than women. We still want romance, but they want to feel appreciated, so we don't have the same brains.

Speaker 2

And over all of those deep lyrics was a catchy song. Yeah, it was the music, everything was so catchy about it. I really used to listen to that song over and over.

Speaker 1

Yet again, I didn't pay attention to the words, I just liked the music.

Speaker 2

So I got to tell you guys you know how I tell you guys funny stories when we used to listen to Break for the Street, my sister and I. You know it says the corporate example where the middle class stand alive. That's in the first verse. We would go the corporate example of a middle class stand alive. Then we go ah, ah, ah, ah staying alive.

Speaker 1

Oh, no, BG's in that.

Speaker 3

That's funny.

Speaker 1

Every time we heard the song we would go Go 70s. We would do that. I never thought of that, but yeah, it makes sense. That's cute.

Speaker 2

Stay alive I wish we had a video.

Speaker 1

Yeah, this song was written in 79, so I wonder if the Bee Gees song was out already.

Speaker 2

Yeah, it was out. Yeah, Sunday Night Fever had been out by then, right, right. So we would just go. Ah, ah ah. I stand a lot, that's funny.

Speaker 3

I didn't do that.

Speaker 2

It was a great song Break for the Street.

Speaker 1

Kids. It was a good song Break for the Street.

Speaker 2

Kids.

Speaker 1

It was a good song. Yes, yep, I like that one.

Speaker 3

Yes, I think it had a good message. I like the words.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it was. It was a good song, it was interesting. It was engaging with a good beat, right. You know how they used to rate that on American.

Speaker 4

Bandstand American Bandstand.

Speaker 1

Yeah Well, song, it's got a good beat.

Speaker 2

that was yeah, that was this one, so they would say the same thing over and over again.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I like the. It's a good beat. I could dance to it.

Speaker 2

That's exactly what they say. It has a good beat, I can dance yeah, it was funny so much up there saying okay same thing over and over yeah all, right all right next song heaven in your eyes heaven your eyes.

Speaker 1

Words by howard greenfield, music by Michael Lloyd. So another Michael Lloyd song.

Speaker 2

All right, let's hear it.

Speaker 1

All right, let's hear it Another favorite, yep.

Speaker 5

Magic touch my life. The moment that you smile, the world forgets all of me. You unlock my heart and all the feelings there. I never thought I could see Heaven in your eyes. It's just too good to be true. Heaven in your eyes. It's just too good to be true. Heaven in your eyes. I've never been so high Heaven in your eyes. Nobody does what you do. Just one look and I could touch the sky.

Speaker 3

All right, oh, makes me want to melt. I like how it starts. It does. Yes, it's one of my all-time favorites. There's another one that, like you said, there's songs that have heaven in it.

Speaker 1

There's so many Right, I was going to mention that.

Speaker 3

Yeah, and there's a YouTube video of him singing this, but I think they put too much eye makeup on him. I don't know if you guys saw the YouTube video on this one, but it shows. It does show all the girls in the audience and they were just mesmerized. So the camera kept going in onto the girls' faces in this video that I watched and Sean's collar. It was funny. It was turned up but he didn't have those white satin pants on or anything. He sings and he's singing into the song and he goes no more lonely nights anymore since she came along. Well, love does make one high and it says that in the song and it's so neat to watch all the feathered hair in this audience in this.

Speaker 4

YouTube video. It's funny.

Speaker 1

It was. It was cool though.

Speaker 2

Yeah, feathered hair. Follow them everywhere. I have not seen it.

Speaker 3

I'm going to find it and he has so much eye makeup on he really didn't need it. But it's beautiful and I just love seeing the girls just looking at him just mesmerized they. But it's beautiful and I just love seeing the girls just looking at him just mesmerized.

Speaker 1

They weren't like yay, Sean, they were more like Sean Well, heaven in your eyes. So they're showing their heaven, I guess. Oh, yes, Good point.

Speaker 3

Very good point. There he was singing those high notes. No wonder, you know, he wanted to stop back then when I watched him sing and I was like, oh, he's probably thinking I need to run, yeah, but I'm. I'm so happy that now, even though he felt that way, maybe back then somewhat, that his wife, tracy, has encouraged him to come back out, you know, instead of having to run from all these girls that are mesmerized. So we're a whole different crowd now. I mean, he's always been a good entertainer. You know, lots of his songs have heaven in them. Like we said, yeah, and Cindy and I talked about that.

Speaker 1

It's like heaven, yeah. Yes, the other song we like it's like heaven, yes.

Speaker 3

Okay, so I know the two for sure, and then the rest just make us feel like we're in heaven.

Speaker 2

Yeah, they do. Heaven in your Eyes. Oh, my God, I forgot all about this song, All about it, all about it. Never thought about it for years, Listened to it today and I'm like, oh, you know what this song reminds me of. You guys probably won't get it, but back in the day we used to call songs like this slow jams. Like they kind of have this R&B blue-white soul sound and you called them slow jams. Like they kind of have this R&B blue-white soul sound and you call them slow jams. And that means you just sat there and you swayed and you swooned and like James says all that falsetto singing, Like if you think about some of the early bgs, early um, uh, blue-eyed. So what the blue-eyed? So it's just white people singing, really r&b sounding.

Speaker 1

So just like your holland notes your bgs used to be, you had a good guitar in there, yeah, somewhere this song.

Speaker 2

like James says, it's got that swooning sound to it. Yeah, I forgot all about it, but I like it.

Speaker 1

It mesmerizes. It was a nice mellow song.

Speaker 2

I agree it was good it had more of a R&B. Feel like you could just sit there and get into that smooth sound of it Wait till you watch that video.

Speaker 1

Speaking of that, the next song has a video that I guess I'll play the video instead of the audio and we could see the video. He performs this song at some show, but I'm not really sure where he's at.

Speaker 2

Yeah, I didn't look and see where it said he is.

Speaker 1

Yeah, no, but the next song's called You're Using Me, and Words and Music by Michael Lloyd. I heard that song before somewhere else before, I don't know where.

Speaker 2

On the album.

Speaker 1

Before the album yeah, it's a familiar song, yeah, it has sad words to it, though yeah, all right. So are you ready to watch the video? Here we go. I'm ready.

Speaker 5

Love don't come free. Oh, but you send me, but you send me. I've had your bacon and egg and then I did it all.

Speaker 2

Put that on those Brown. Are they black leather, brown leather?

Speaker 5

But you send me Chicks, kill me around when I'm down, pushing me all over town.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I think it's brown leather or black leather.

Speaker 2

She has on a brown plaid shirt right.

Speaker 3

Yeah, so his pants would be brown.

Speaker 1

but Look at his See how he went from sand pants to leather pants.

Speaker 3

Yeah, oh true.

Speaker 2

He looked at the audience. It's almost like they don't know what to take from this.

Speaker 1

Oh it looks like it's from.

Speaker 2

Germany yeah, it's from Germany.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it's from Germany.

Speaker 2

Okay, maybe that's why, yeah, it's a Hamburg and he's into it. Sean is into it. He's trying to get the audience into it. But here's my favorite part right here he gets like down into it.

Speaker 5

Yeah.

Speaker 3

His hair is so shiny.

Speaker 2

I don't know what are we trying to get from this video here, because one of these, well, I those girls are not clapping in the front.

Speaker 1

What's their problem?

Speaker 2

Did you see? That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 3

They're mesmerized again.

Speaker 2

No, those two girls were looking in different directions.

Speaker 1

I'm like wait a minute. You're watching Sean Cassidy. You better be into this.

Speaker 2

Yeah, I'm not paying him any attention, but the older gentlemen behind them are into it. Because it's an adult song. I don't think this audience is getting it.

Speaker 3

Okay, so they're not getting it.

Speaker 1

I'm thinking maybe it was a general show over there, so not everybody in the audience was a fan. They were at a show so they didn't know how lucky they were. Talk show or something like that, yeah.

Speaker 3

Yeah, they didn't realize how lucky they were.

Speaker 1

That's all Interesting though he had different clothes on, he tried to look older.

Speaker 3

Yeah. In this song it seems like some of the lyrics are interesting. He compares what he takes from this girl to what he thinks a dog puts up with. I was like that's sad.

Speaker 1

Yeah, yeah, yeah he doesn't like, nobody likes to be used, but you know that's just unfortunate. But he says listen, I don't know what to do, but I got to learn to start using you. Then you'll have taste of how it feels to be wasted, so she's going to use him. So now he's going to use her.

Speaker 5

Oh, wow.

Speaker 1

You're using days are going to be through. No, I don't think that would be Sean either, but not at all. This girl is just a user.

Speaker 2

But you know what you guys, Every song he wrote, who wrote this one?

Speaker 1

Michael Lloyd.

Speaker 2

Yeah, see, so every song he sings isn't always his personality, it was just the song yeah, so every single lyric of this song is hard-hitting. Yeah, every one of them. Yeah, right, this is almost like an abusive relationship.

Speaker 3

I know Everyone can see that your love is not free, so I was like, how is she making him pay?

Speaker 1

Yeah, a lot of these songs in this album. You know, are you Afraid of Me? You know she's Not Very Happy. Break for the Street, she's Not Very Happy, you know it just sounds like a sad type of thing. The relationships don't work. Drama, you know. But then Sean falls into you and heaven in your eyes. That's true. That's true, you know. Time for a Change is a second chance, so it's kind of like a jaded album.

Speaker 2

almost it sounds like it's just yeah, yeah, up and down, every single lyric, every one of them, it's. Everybody can see that your love don't come free. You're using me, you're making me pay every night, every day. You're using me, abusing me. Yep, oh my God.

Speaker 1

This will make the guys want to run Exactly, but I think the next song coming up is going to be better. This one is called the Letter. We know that's the cover song.

Speaker 2

Yeah, the box tops.

Speaker 1

It was written by Wayne Carson. Okay, yeah, words of Music by Wayne Carson, and here's a little bit of the song.

Speaker 5

I ain't got time to take the fast train. Lonely days are gone. I'm a-comin' home, but baby, she wrote me a letter. I don't care how much money I gotta spend, gotta get back to my baby again. Lonely days are gone. I'm a-comin' home, but baby, she wrote me a letter. Well, she wrote me a letter, said it just couldn't live without me. No more. Listen, miss, can't? You see I've got to get back to my baby once more.

Speaker 1

Okay, so the letter.

Speaker 3

Yeah, it starts out and it kind of made me think of this recent ticket that I bought that I will be heading out to see Sean in California, but it starts out with him wanting to get a ticket to be drawn to go see her. But I think two people are always drawn to each other this way. When they're falling in love, and it doesn't matter what it is, they'll spin whatever, they will get a plane ticket. And back then, when he wrote this or who wrote the song, Wayne Carson.

Speaker 1

Okay, well, back then I think it was a 60s song, or 60s, early 70s, early 70s.

Speaker 3

So definitely the only way you could. You know.

Speaker 1

Okay, sorry, it was written in 1967. Okay, late 60s.

Speaker 3

Yeah, well, he said that she wrote him a letter and she was just whatever it takes, get here. So, of course, with that much falling in love, you're just like it doesn't matter how much it costs, I'm going to get there, I'm going to see her. And this song sounds different than some of the others because it's definitely it's yeah, it's one direction. It's not where they're fighting, it's encouraging into that?

Speaker 1

Yeah, it's encouraging. She's not running away today this time.

Speaker 3

No this one she wrote him a letter, yeah, and she said she needs him there because she cannot live without him. Yeah, so you know, we always feel that way when you're falling in love.

Speaker 1

Yeah, but this is good he got the letter. He don't care how much money, he's got his money.

Speaker 2

Nope, lonely days are gone. I'm coming home.

Speaker 1

He's not taking a train. He's going to take a plane. Yep gone. I'm going to come home.

Speaker 3

He's not taking a train, he's going to take a plane, whatever it takes. Anyway, I sometimes feel that way about just Sean's talent. I'm like I don't care what it takes. If he's going to share his talent with us, I'm there, I don't care what state.

Speaker 2

I used to like this song back in the day. This was when, you know, I heard it on oldie stations. Oh you know when I was too young to hear the original Right, or if I did, I don't remember, but I remember that you know, during you listen, like here in Chicago, we listen to certain radio stations and they would play an oldie in there.

Speaker 1

Right, that's when I remember. So the letter, yeah, I remember that song, I mean Sean's cover of it's. Okay, you know, it is what it is, yeah.

Speaker 2

Like you said, it is what it is. He put a little bit of a different arrangement on it, but it wasn't bad. I liked it. It's a good song.

Speaker 1

So now, the last one on the album is called you Still Surprise Me, and it's written by Sean Cassidy and Jay Gruska I believe Jay was in his band.

Speaker 2

Okay.

Speaker 1

Yeah, this one's slow One of his friends. All right, let's hear a little bit of it.

Speaker 4

You can break me with your heart. You can break me with your laugh. You can tear me apart, turn me away and then love me back. You can catch me with your charm away and then love me back. You can catch me with your charm and save me in your arms, and I never know what to say, cause you still surprise me.

Speaker 5

You still get one by me. You still surprise me in your own way.

Speaker 1

All right, that's a cute song.

Speaker 3

It's slow, it's almost too slow, but it's still pretty. It sounds like she kind of though messes with him. She can break his heart, but she can also surprise him with her warmth. So it's another one of those songs where it's back and forth. But he still gets surprised by her and maybe that's why he can't let her go. He can't resist her because she's not I mean he's not in a boring relationship and he still sees the joy you know, through it. But you know she goes back and forth with her attitude towards him.

Speaker 1

Yeah, and it's funny when I look at these songs, because falling into you starts with you know she's interested, and then the other songs are like no, she's not interested, she's gonna leave. And then by the end of the album it gets better again. He's gonna go see her on the airplane and you know he enjoys being with her and she still surprises him.

Speaker 3

He enjoys being with her and she still surprises him. Yes, and she's. And he still sees the warmth. Even though it goes back and forth you know how life can be he still sees the warmth through all of it.

Speaker 2

Yeah, this is a very slow, melodic piano songwriter singer song. There's a man, a piano, singing the song.

Speaker 1

Yeah, and it's always like at the end of his albums right.

Speaker 2

It wraps up the albums nicely, but here's what I took out of this song. This song is a note. It's kind of a love letter and a thank you note Because he knows that she helps him. Like he doesn't want to leave. That's the part of the song that says I don't want to leave, but you push me out, like she gets him up and out the door to do whatever it is that he doesn't want to do. You still surprise me. You still get one by me.

Speaker 5

I love this song.

Speaker 2

Remember I said earlier that Heaven in your Eyes is a slow jam. It's got kind of that melody where you sway and you listen and you can move to it. This is a different kind of slow song.

Speaker 1

This is your slow love song, where you just sit, there's a simple piano going on and it's just such a beautiful song, and it sounds like it's an encouragement too, because when the world seems too cold and he wants to hide out, she comes along, she opens the door and pushes me out and she says take your time, you'll do just fine. I think she kind of pulls him out of whatever he's going through.

Speaker 2

Whatever that is, it could be a little depression. I just don't want to be a part of it right now, and that's why I think this is a love letter and a thank you note. It's a beautiful song, and I can't be the only one who remembers that he's singing it at one of his concerts.

Speaker 3

I could see him singing this I don't remember, but he probably did.

Speaker 2

Because he was telling us that we still surprised him. True, this was one of my favorite songs. It wraps the album up nicely, it wraps everything, puts a nice little bow and guess what? It even wraps this episode up nicely. It sure does.

Speaker 1

Yeah, perfect. So the album was a different, different from his other ones. He was trying to step up, I think.

Speaker 2

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1

You know, but then he went to WASP, so that's another whole story.

Speaker 2

That's a different episode, a whole different yeah, oh boy, another, another time.

Speaker 3

But the this album I thought was really neat, on the very back where it's like yeah, let's finish up with saying this is what you guys had. I fed you, that's what's on the menu. I have these songs for appetizers and these songs for entrees, and then he's. You know, whoever was with him was quite happy.

Speaker 1

She left lipstick on the cup, so I guess she made her way into the room right, because the front of the album she's peeking through the window and on the back cover there's some lipstick on a cup.

Speaker 3

So you just have to wonder. Maybe she came in and they just sang together or something.

Speaker 2

She had some room service. Okay, Dame, that's what they did. They sang.

Speaker 3

Yep, yeah, they did, they just sang. Well, the lipstick got on the cup, so it means she didn't kiss him or anything.

Speaker 1

No, she was just having some tea. What are you talking about? Yep, yeah.

Speaker 2

Dame, you still surprise me in your own way there you go.

Speaker 3

Oh, thanks, darius, I guess that's good, this was great you guys.

Speaker 2

I loved revisiting Room Service. I haven't really listened to the whole album in years and it was so much fun. Hope everybody out there enjoyed it too.

Speaker 1

Thank you from the bottom of our Team. Dream hearts Keep on crushing.

Speaker 3

Always believe in magic and have a peaceful shuntastic week, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, instagram Thread and subscribe to our new YouTube page.

Speaker 2

Make sure to keep in touch with us at our email shuntsquadSociety at gmailcom.

Speaker 1

The Sean Squad Society podcast, including past, present and future versions, and its contents are owned and controlled by the Sean Squad Society. The podcast is written, produced and recorded at the Borden Studios and the views and opinions are solely those of the Sean Squad Society podcast. We may think we are always right, but we may get things wrong from time to time, so we assume no responsibility for errors of submission of content.