FICTIVE FRIDAYS : #22

DR FINETHANG

When I started dating Goldie The Friendly Psychologist, long distance between NYC and LA, she was working at a rehabilitation hospital in Downey, CA. It was a challenging job and Goldie was naturally great at it. Her unsinkable optimism, her sense of humor, her remarkably high medical IQ, and mostly her profound warmth and kindness made her invaluable there. Consequently, she was well-loved at the hospital by the patients and the staff. This was particularly true for an orderly who called her ‘Doctor Finethang’. We thought the sobriquet was pretty funny and of course that’s what I titled the first mixtape I made her.

It’s GTFP’s birthday tomorrow so I was going to try to recreate the mix. But it was so long ago I can’t remember all the songs! Instead, here’s a short set of tunes that I know were on it, that might have been on it, that should have been on it, or that would have made the cut in later years.

She’s Got Everything and When I See That Girl of Mine – The Kinks.

Right out of the gate I broke the cardinal rule of mixtapes by including two songs by the same band. But I couldn’t decide between them and they’re pretty short, so both these Klassics were on.

Kinda Kute – Joe Jackson.

An absolutely perfect pop song, from I’m The Man. Can’t help but think of Goldie whenever I hear it.

You’re The Best Thing – Style Council.

The title pretty much says it all.

Sea of Love – Phil Phillips.

I always loved this song, but I can’t remember if I put it on the tape. At the beginning I was maybe not too quick to drop the L word. But it was the first song we danced to at our wedding, so it definitely belongs.

Can’t Get Enough of You Baby – Colourfield.

My favorite version of a 1965 hit for the Four Seasons.

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – Police.

Another tune that was probably included and another apt title. Second single from 1981’s Ghost In The Machine.

Two of Us – Beatles.

Goldie is really fun to sing with because she’s a natural at harmonizing. She might start on the melody but after a couple of measures she’ll go right to the third. If someone’s already there she’ll go to the fifth. We sometimes sing together–would be more often if I ever learned to play guitar properly–and this has been in our repertoire from the start.

You Said Something – PJ Harvey.

This tune was definitely NOT on the mixtape, having come out a decade or so after I tricked Goldie into marrying me. But it acquired a lot of meaning over the years and now rightfully belongs.

Message of Love – Pretenders.

I have a thing for talented gorgeous brunettes, so a love song by the Ohio goddess fits in here nicely.

Golden Lady – Stevie Wonder.

Goldie’s last name is Golden, and that’s where the nickname came from. This tune, from 1973’s landmark album Innervisions, was an obvious choice. I only learned later that a high school boyfriend once wrote out the lyrics and framed them for her in some big, romantic presentation. What makes it worse is that the guy is actually pretty friendly, and is both better looking and much richer than I. Oh, well. To paraphrase Daniel Johnston, true love found us in the end.

Happy birthday, baby.