When I was in high school, I was aware of the balladry of Dan Fogelberg. Leader Of The Band, Longer, Same Auld Lang Syne… But the song that sticks to my skin is Heart Hotels. This one reminds me of that lonely old house in the woods, the one that was my veritable prison from the joys of my childhood. I was no longer in the place where my heart could soar, where I knew all the kids in my neighborhood and had a sense of belonging and security. Now my heart and mind were parts of an abandoned old hotel, and there, on adult contemporary radio from Wilkes-Barre, came a song that described the decrepitude of my home, with the halls all worn well. I would listen to those last notes as this beautiful balladeer would sing ooh, ooh, oooh, ooooh… and I knew that eventually my sturdy walls would be repaired. What a beautiful song. What a beautiful voice. Oh, and yeah, a saxophone solo break as a bridge.
From the historical writing archive. Original date: November 25, 2019. Recovered from local source material; editorial review is still in progress.