On Wednesday, June 9, 1982, I turned 16 years old and in my little part of the world, that meant drivers license and sweet freedom. And because I can be a packrat at times, I've still got my copy of the driving test results.
My score wasn't that great, but I could have gotten a 70 and still been happy. I still don't know exactly what I did wrong on the test, because the state trooper that administered it was an old, grumpy mumbler who acted like he was being punished by being assigned to the Drivers License Division. My ride was a '72 Ford Maverick with a sweet Pioneer tape deck but no A/C. It was a hand-me-down from my father, who upgraded to a Ford Fairmont (I think I got the better of the deal). It was quickly dubbed "The Markmobile" by my friends.
Nowadays, teenagers act entitled to a new car on their 16th birthday (enabled by their parents), but I was grateful to have a car and shared my good fortune by giving rides to my less fortunate friends whenever possible. I never asked for gas money, but riders had to listen to whatever music I was interested in at the time. If they were lucky, they might get Van Halen or Asia, but I was known to subject my riders to Haircut 100, Maynard Ferguson, Spyro Gyra, and Jean-Luc Ponty at times. But what was the rabble listening to around this time? According to Billboard magazine, here were the chart-toppers around that magical date:
Here's the top ten albums from Rolling Stone 371, June 10, 1982. That's a heckuva list right there.
What else was happening in my little music world around that time? From 1978-1988, Houston and/or Dallas annually hosted the Texxas World Music Festival, more commonly known as the Texxas Jam. In 1982, it was held the weekend on June 12-13 in Dallas and Houston, respectively.
The Astrodome was about 75 miles from my house, but unfortunately my concert experiences wouldn't start for another year so that's not my ticket stub above. Still, I wouldn't have minded this show one bit:
Useless trivia: why the extra X in Texxas? Because its easier to trademark a name if it doesn't contain a "Geographical Indication." But also because it looks cool.
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| This thing had a huge V8 engine and drank up leaded gas. And that sums up Detroit in the '70s. |
 | Top LP Tug of War Paul McCartney |
 | Hot 100 "Ebony and Ivory" Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder |
 | Rock Album Asia Asia |
 | Rock Track "Heat of the Moment" Asia |
 | R&B Album Original Musiquarium I Stevie Wonder |
 | R&B Single "Let It Whip" Dazz Band |
 | Country Album Always on My Mind Willie Nelson |
 | Country Single "For All the Wrong Reasons" The Bellamy Brothers |
| Adult Contemporary Single "Ebony and Ivory" Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder |
| Dance/Disco Single "In the Name of Love" (12 inch) Thompson Twins |
 | Jazz Album Breakin' Away Al Jarreau |
 | Inspirational Album I Saw the Lord Dallas Holm |
 | Classical Album Pachebel Canon Academy of Ancient Music |
Here's the top ten albums from Rolling Stone 371, June 10, 1982. That's a heckuva list right there.
What else was happening in my little music world around that time? From 1978-1988, Houston and/or Dallas annually hosted the Texxas World Music Festival, more commonly known as the Texxas Jam. In 1982, it was held the weekend on June 12-13 in Dallas and Houston, respectively.
The Astrodome was about 75 miles from my house, but unfortunately my concert experiences wouldn't start for another year so that's not my ticket stub above. Still, I wouldn't have minded this show one bit:
Useless trivia: why the extra X in Texxas? Because its easier to trademark a name if it doesn't contain a "Geographical Indication." But also because it looks cool.
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