A video gaming song that no one here but myself has heard before.

[fairyland]

I don't know the policies about sharing certain things here, but I have a late 70s or early 80s song from a local mid-New York band that I would like to share with the group. It's so local that they are not listed any where on the internet, nor is the record label and there is no copyright nor date on the vinyl or sleeve. I'm guessing that they was a college band that time has long forgotten. I'm pretty sure that this one has not been enjoyed my many aside from myself lately and I hate to see this forgotten classic to stay buried when so many other's would probably get a kick out of it.

The group is called "Open End", the song is "Video Games". Written by Rick E. Lewis. I love it greatly and I really hope I'll be allowed to share. Perhaps it'll even end up being a popular gamer's cult song like Joe Walsh's Space Age Whiz Kids? So, would I be allowed to post the link here in the forum to the file? I'll attach the images as a teaser. Thanks for reading!

[slapdash]

Generally speaking, Digital Press surely can't encourage illegal copying of various media. On the other hand, no one can stop you from making an MP3 and offering to let others listen to it, so if you could just email me a copy... :-)

EDIT: of course, I do see SOME names on that sleeve; you could always trying tracking down some of the people involved and seeing if they'd give permission to make a webpage about the single or something.

[fairyland]

I've tried looking up the names, but so far the only one I'm almost certain about is Roy Reehil, who was the writer of the B-side song "Maybe Someday". http://reehil.com/ He seems to be a forest ranger or something higher up in forestry field. He had authored a couple coffee table books on the Adirondacks and lives about 20 minutes away from the PO Box & zip code on the 45, so I'm pretty sure he's the one. None of the other names or businesses I could locate.

I'm feeling a bit intimidated to contact the person though. It took about 3 years to get the courage to posting about this song. Anyone feeling bold enough to contact the person for me? I'm not the type that would deal with this well if I was rejected or scoffed at for being some nerd about a song that they rather wish was left for dead.

Anyway, I forgot to mention why I put this in the arcade section. There is a lot of arcade blips and beeps, so it's a song about arcading and not home gaming.

I'll post the lyrics, as I assume that's probably not that much more illegal than my posing images of the sleeve artwork.

------------------

"Video Games - Open End"

Bartender, another 40 quarters,
Bartender, another glass of beer,
Stand back...and let me go in the corner,
Whoa, I mean it, stand back, I go where nobody hear.

Well I am a...jet plane fighter, and I'm a...rocket man,
And I'm a...race car driver, oh yes I'm a...haunted man,

On the..the video games, they're driving me mad!
Won't you play play, oh won't you play play, oh won't you play.
The video games, you know that they drive me out of my, out of my, out of my, my my mind.

Won't you play play play,
The video games,
Won't you play play play,
The video games,
Won't you play play play,
Oh whoa, the video games.

20 thousand, 40 thousand, 50 thousand, 60 thousand, 80 thousand, 90 thousand, 100 playing over again...just give me a break.

Baby, I don't want you around,
I said lady, don't need you around, (oh lord)

I mean lately, why I don't need anyone,
When I can whiz, bing, zing, bang, whirl, zang, clang,

On the..video games, they're driving me mad!
Won't you play play, oh won't you play play, oh won't you play.
The video games, you know that they drive me out of my, out of my, out of my, my my mind.

The video games, they're driving me mad!
Won't you play play, oh won't you play play, oh won't you play. (repeat x 3)

The video games, you know that they drive me,
Outta my, outta my, outta my, outta my, mi-mi-mind.

Won't you play play play, The video games.
Games, games, video games (repeat several times to fade)

[slapdash]

I sent a note; cross your fingers.

[Dr Fritz]

I am Rick E Lewis...How did you find this song? WOW what a surprise!!!

Glad you like...

[slapdash]

I got a response from Roy:


It's not an odd question if you are the person who wrote the song.
It's okay for him to email me but I can't give permission to post the song.

If I'm reading him right, it's "the right guy", but not the guy who wrote the song...

Rick, did Roy send you, or did you find this thread some other way? I haven't heard the song myself, but am curious about it. Any chance you would give permission to post the song somewhere? Or heck, are there still copies for sale? My brother still has a working turntable...

[Nitrosport]

I got a response from Roy:



If I'm reading him right, it's "the right guy", but not the guy who wrote the song...

Rick, did Roy send you, or did you find this thread some other way? I haven't heard the song myself, but am curious about it. Any chance you would give permission to post the song somewhere? Or heck, are there still copies for sale? My brother still has a working turntable...


Fairyland said that Roy wrote the B side song so that would be why he can't give permission to post the video games song. Rick E. Lewis would have to give permision.

Oh and for the record, I think this would be an interesting song. I wouldn't mind hearing it.

[slapdash]

Well, I understood THAT much, it was mostly the second line confusing me... But it's all clear now! Roy found the thread via Google (because I'd forgotten to copy & paste it into my first note, duh) and sent it to Rick. So "gang's all here" now; well, some of them anyway. :-)

[Dr Fritz]

here is the Youtube link to a video made at the time the record "video games" was released...it's not the best audio/video quality, but here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2x9Rhbv35s

[slapdash]

Hey, cool! Too bad the original film is gone. :-( Thanks much for sharing that!

(Is that a Farfisa?)