European Dreamin

(User David's memory reminded me of this)

Summer of 1985.  We spent a month traveling Europe as a family.  I was culture-shocked.  A suburban American kid.  My solace at night in the hotels was my Sony Walkman.  I listened to this tape.  A lot.  Probably fell asleep to it every night for that month.  This track was different than their other songs.  Very different.  Most of the album channels roots-rock.  60's blues based Rolling Stones stuff. With that funky bass playing though to make it new and interesting.  Not this track.  Years later I read that Jimmy Page had written it for Led Zeppelin, but it was never recorded because of their breakup.

It's like an ode to a love you've lost or never really had.  That and the adolescent hormones made a heady mixture.  Especially to a dorky kid out of his element in countries with so much history.  NOBODY.  Not one person I know likes this song.  I can't help it.  As I've said before, Paul Rodgers is a rock-god.  His voice over Jimmy Page's guitar.  Man, you can't beat it.  Now it's a tradition, I play this .mp3 on my iPod on every flight I take to the continent.  And think about that Midnight Moonlight Lady.  She's out there, Paul.  I know it.