No. 631 – I Only Have Eyes for You

Performer: The Flamingos

Songwriters: Harry Warren, Al Dubin

Original Release: Single

Year: 1959

Definitive Version: None

When I wrote awhile back that Green Onions was the oldest song on this list, I obviously misspoke. This is the oldest song on the list; it’s the only Fifties song that made it.

Why I didn’t think of it is easily explainable. First, I knew this version from American Graffiti, the success of which, of course, led to Happy Days and which came out in 1973. Also, Art Garfunkel had a big hit with this song two years after that, and I couldn’t decide which version I wanted to include. I decided to go with the original, ergo, this is the oldest song on the list after all.

Appropriately enough, this song also harkens back to an older time—my first date. I’d say first girlfriend, but that would be pushing it. Mindy and I had two dates, the second and final of which was to the Upper Arlington Homecoming Dance in 1979. In fact, it was the only formal dance I attended during my high-school years. No, I didn’t go to my own prom; I went to two of Beth’s proms.

Anyway, Mindy and I met in French class soon after the school year began, and I was feeling uncharacteristically optimistic. I hated junior high for most of the three years I was there. When I wasn’t being teased by the dudes, I was being ignored by the girls. I got to high school and within two weeks, I had a date. This was going to be different.

The original date was to be the Homecoming Dance, but we went out beforehand after I asked her to Homecoming—to see The Amityville Horror. Mom was on chauffeur duty, at least after the movie, and she handled her responsibilities capably. In other words, she left us alone. And I received my first real kiss that meant anything that day. We’re off to a good start, right?

So the Homecoming Dance came along, and I was a total spaz. I’m pretty sure I took Mindy out for dinner beforehand, but I couldn’t now tell you where. It wasn’t to McDonald’s, of that I’m certain. But Mom had to get the corsage, because I had no idea what I was doing. (I did pay for it, though.) And I was so nervous that I literally made myself sick at the dance—to the point where I had to have Dad come and get us and take us home. (Dating before you have a driver’s license blows.) At least we got to dance to this song—performed by a live band with a chick singer—before we left.

Well, needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), Mindy dropped me like a knuckleball on a windy day almost immediately after that. At the time, I was ticked at the notion that she went out with me only to have a date for Homecoming, and I’m pretty sure I said that to her in righteous indignation.

The more likely reason that went unsaid was she didn’t want to go out with someone who was a total spaz. In retrospect, I can’t say I blame her. Not all of us can be cool in high school like Ron Howard.