Family Matters

Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“You Can’t Pick Your Relatives”
This is my response to the challenge.

This week at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “You Can’t Pick Your Relatives”. Our challenge is to write about a song that mentions family members as suggested by our friend Di of pensitivity101. Sometimes it’s difficult finding good songs for SLS and other times there’s a plethora of songs, which is the case this week. With so many options, I decided to go with three songs that were hits in the late 60s and early 70s, ones I liked back then, sang along with, and enjoyed hearing again. Let’s have a look and a listen!

First song this week was a hit in 1973 for a group called Stories, an American art-rock/pop band formed in New York City in 1972 by keyboardist Michael Brown (The Left Banke) and vocalist Ian Lloyd. Brown and Lloyd met through their fathers, both veteran session violinists who were working together. As it turns out, Stories was a one hit wonder; their big hit was the chart-topping cover of Hot Chocolate’s “Brother Louie”, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with over 1 million copies sold. Shortly before the song became a hit, Michael Brown left the band due to musical differences; the band continued for a short time before calling it quits.

“Brother Louie” was written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson of the British soul band, Hot Chocolate. The song tells the story of a white man (“whiter than white”) dating a black woman (“blacker than night”) and dealing with parental disapproval. Stories’ version features a faster, rock-oriented sound compared to the original, with popular funky base lines.

This is “Brother Louie” by Stories

Up next is a performer I have admired since the first time I heard her. I still greatly enjoy her music and think of her as one of the best female pop recording stars of all time. I’m talking about the fabulous Dusty Springfield. Born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien in 1939 to Irish parents living in West Hampstead, London, UK, Dusty’s family was a musical one; in 1960 she formed The Springfields …. a successful folk-pop trio with her brother, Tom Springfield, and Tim Feild, becoming the first British group to have a top 20 hit in the US. Dusty went solo with “I Only Want to Be with You”, a major hit that established her as a blue-eyed soul artist. Some of her other iconic hits were “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”, “Son of a Preacher Man”, and “Wishin’ and Hopin’”. Her look, featuring a bouffant hairstyle and dark, dramatic eye makeup, made her a fashion icon of the “Swinging Sixties”. Dusty Springfield had battles with depression, substance abuse, and intense self-doubt. Later in life, she opened up about her bisexuality and re-emerged in the 80s through a successful collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys on “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” Dusty died of breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 59; she was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame later that year.

Released in late 1968, Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man” is a seminal blue-eyed soul track from her album, Dusty in Memphis. Songwriters John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins wrote the song with Aretha Franklin in mind, as her father was a preacher; ironically, Aretha passed on it, although she did release a cover version of the song in 1970. Ronnie Wilkins stated he grew up as a preacher’s son, which inspired the title. Recorded in Memphis, the song features backing vocals by the Sweet Inspirations, with Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mother). “Son of a Preacher Man” saw a massive resurgence in popularity after it was featured in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 classic film, Pulp Fiction. The lyrics describe a forbidden, nostalgic romance between the “wild” son of a local minister, highlighting themes of youthful temptation. This is one of Dusty Springfield’s songs which is great fun to sing …. I still know all the words!

This is “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield

Closing out the lineup this week is a group which I wasn’t crazy about at first, and it’s only in the last 20 years that my feelings changed. The Who, formed in London in 1964, are known for merging raw energy with technical skill, often featuring Roger Daltrey’s passionately defiant vocals, John Entwistle’s lead-style bass, Keith Moon’s whirling dervish drumming, and Pete Townshend’s feedback-driven guitar. Among their accomplishments is pioneering the rock opera format. The band evolved from an earlier group, the Detours, and initially aligned with pop art and mod movements. Their first major single, “I Can’t Explain” in 1964, broke into the UK top 10, followed quickly the next year by the anthem, “My Generation”. In 1969, they released Tommy, a concept album that was a critical and commercial success, establishing The Who as a world-class act. Drummer Keith Moon died in 1978; following the death of John Entwistle in 2002, the band continued as a duo with Daltrey and Townshend. The Who were inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1990; they have sold over 100 million records worldwide. As of 2026, the band continues to be recognized as one of the most influential acts in rock history, having performed at major events, such as Monterey Pop and Woodstock. Here’s an interesting piece of trivia: when Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey, was still a young boy, he was taught to play the drums by Keith Moon; years later, Zak would go on to become the drummer for The Who.

“Squeeze Box” is a song featured on The Who’s 1975 album, The Who by Numbers. Written by Pete Townshend, it is known for it’s a lighthearted, country-rock sound and it’s heavy use of sexual double entendres. Townshend wrote the song after purchasing an accordion and learned to play it in one afternoon. He has described the lyrics as a “poorly aimed dirty joke” that he wrote for his own amusement. The phrase “squeeze box” is slang for an accordion, but also acts as a metaphor for the vagina. The song was not originally intended to be included on The Who by Numbers; rather it was proposed for a 1974 TV special where the band would be surrounded by 100 topless women playing accordions. It was Townshend’s friend Ronnie Lane (of the Faces) who heard the demo and convinced him to include it on the album. “Squeeze Box” features banjo, accordion, and guitar, all played by Pete Townshend; the song differs from the typical Who sound by incorporating a country-like, “lilting rock” feel, though Keith Moon’s drumming remains distinct. As a single, the song peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart and #16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was also highly successful in Canada, reaching #1. Pete Townshend was surprised by the song’s success as he did not hold it in high regard, while Roger Daltrey has always praised its “simplicity and catchiness”. “Squeeze Box” became a staple in the band’s live set during the 1975-76 tours and was revived in 1982 and 2014. During performances, Daltrey and Townshend would often highlight the sexual innuendo with hip thrusts during the ”in and out” lyrics.

This is “Squeeze Box” by The Who

You Can’t Pick Your Relatives

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week and to Di for her terrific theme suggestion. Be sure to follow their links and check out their sites.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some great music. I hope you enjoyed the theme for this week as well as the information and songs I featured.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2026

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