Captain Fantastic

“Captain Fantastic raised and regimented hardly a hero, just someone his mother might know.” - Bernie Taupin.

In this episode - Captain Fantastic . . .

1975 was my first full year of college; like most teens, music was my world. The ideals of our small midwestern town of Cuba, Illinois, were being reshaped by a record, at least for me.

For those who don't remember, 1975 was the year the album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was released; music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. Hundreds, maybe thousands of hours were spent with that album spinning on turntables while studying that grotesque album cover.

During the 1970s, many records spun on home stereo systems and radio stations throughout the world that brought artists like Elton John to your town. LP Record albums with flashy covers were the delivery vehicle for music, lyrics, album art, and what parents considered wild ideas in the minds of the baby-boomer generation. In hindsight, music had a powerful impact on this young, impetuous high school graduate. What kept going through my mind? Who was Captain Fantastic?

I became a devoted fan of Elton John and Bernie Taupin and began collecting all of Elton's records. The question haunted my thoughts: How could I ever see someone who had risen to Super-Star in concert? The tickets must be outrageous!

WGN Radio Chicago announced that Elton would perform three nights at the Chicago Stadium. We waited impatiently for concert tickets to go on sale. The announcement came, sold out! How is that possible? Undaunted, early morning of July 28, 1976, my friend Chris Sharpe and I began the long five-hour drive to Chicago. As you can imagine, there were doubters, "You guys are idiots - get tickets, absurd; it's obvious you don't understand what sold out means!"

Rocking out to tunes on the eight-track player in my Opel Kadett, we hit the road, determined to see this concert. It was the first night of the show. During the long drive to Chicago, the discussion continued: "How will we get tickets?"

I'll admit the lyrics, "Should have stayed on the farm, should have listened to my old man." surfaced in my thoughts.

It was early afternoon when we finally arrived at the Chicago Stadium; the enormous parking lot was empty. The concert was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Without a doubt, I had decided that morning; we would go directly to the ticket window at the Stadium and ask for tickets. The shocked look on Chris Sharpe's face was priceless when the ticket agent said, "You guys are in luck; the concert seating has been rearranged for tonight's show. How about two tickets for row six." Excellent! We shouted in unison.

. . . A fog drifts from the stage with multi-colored flashing lights - the eerie sound of an organ rises to a crescendo and then drops to complete silence. A solitary piano plays a familiar melody, the crowd waves their arms, and lighters glow throughout the Stadium. Funeral For A Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding from the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - rocks the Chicago Stadium, and the performance begins. What a night! After years of listening to Elton John on the radio and watching those records spin, I could not believe that we were sitting in the sixth row rocking out to Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting - Crocodile Rock - Bennie and the Jets - Grey Seal - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - and Yes - Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy. It was a night to remember two guys from Cuba, Illinois, who bucked the odds, laughing at all who called us idiots, ecstatic from seeing Elton John at the height of stardom.

That night, while driving home, with our ears still ringing, I realized success comes from doing - not wishing opportunities would drop into your lap. When the odds are stacked against you, give it your best. Never give up. Never, never give up.

Maybe through music, Elton and Bernie spoke to the youth of America that you, too, could be Captain Fantastic - hardly a hero, just someone his mother might know.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

(Updated - April 20, 2023)

The Who Was - Series

In this episode, the Who Was? - Series . . . With over 250 titles, Penguin Random House Books Who Was? - Series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Are you a bibliophile, an individual who loves and frequently reads books (a bookworm)? What is it that compels you to pick up a book? Is it the cover, is it the title, how about an interest in a specialized subject, or just - perhaps it's a whim? One of my ultimate goals with these podcasts is to reach a young audience. I've found that reading children's books is a gratifying and educational experience. Yes, even grown-ups can understand difficult concepts. To my surprise, both children and adults seem to appreciate the experience. With education such a hot topic in the news right now, we need to be reminded that whether it's going to school, visiting a museum, or online learning, the goal of education (both young and old) is to nurture an interest in learning. William Butler Ye

Big Apple, Big Charge

In this episode – Big Apple, Big Charge . . . Welcome back to On the Fly, your weekly dose of quirky observations and unexpected trends. Today, we're fresh off a trip to the Scaffolding/Plywood jungle, where we witnessed a phenomenon that will make you rethink your relationship with the humble wall socket. That's right, we're talking about New York City, and it's . . . wait for it — Free, ubiquitous electric outlets! New York constantly buzzes with traffic, jackhammers, honking horns, and helicopters. But what struck me most was the sheer volume of people glued to their devices while commuting and navigating the streets with hundreds of construction obstacles. It's like everyone's “plugged into” some invisible grid—phones, tablets, watches, headphones, earbuds, e-bikes—you name it. And that's where things get interesting. But, unlike our quiet suburban life, free outlets in NYC aren't exactly abundant. So, how do these New Yorkers keep their gadgets

What Time Is It

In this episode – What Time Is It . . . In the era before smartphones, let’s say we’re on a telephone call, and you ask me, “What time is it?” As a five-year-old, my reply is, "The big hand is on the two (2) and the little hand on the eight (8).” You would then say, "Alright, it's ten minutes after eight o’clock or eight-ten, right?" This is how we learned to tell time as children–remember? Well, what happened . . . During dinner last week in Westfield, NJ, a retired high school teacher told our group, “Did you know that children today cannot read the time on a traditional watch with an analog face?” “Why not?” we asked. “Because of smartphones and the proliferation of digital clocks.” “Wow! That’s hard to believe.” Welcome to this week's episode of "On the Fly." Today, we'll compare classic mechanical watches to modern quartz watches and explore an unexpected social shift. To begin with, let me take you back a few days. I’m a traditionalist and pre

It Runs on Steam

In this episode – It Runs on Steam . . . If you’ve seen Back to The Future III, you may remember Doc Brown's line, “It Runs on Steam !” Recently, I visited my good friend Billy in Westfield, New Jersey. Among his many other hobbies, Billy is a steam engine enthusiast. He proudly fired up his miniature steam engine and confidently explained its workings, which got me thinking . . . (Sound effect of Billy's steam engine whistle) Have you ever considered how environmentally friendly a steam engine powered by renewable energy could be? There would be no need for gasoline, batteries, diesel fuel, or Uranium-234. Imagine an engine powered by water—yes, water. I can hear the naysayers: "But . . .” Welcome back to On the Fly, where we dive into one of history's most fascinating inventions. Today, we're firing up a revolution – the Industrial Revolution, that is – with the mighty steam engine! For centuries, people relied on muscle, wind, and waterpower to get things do

On The Fly

Search This Blog