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The other day I was wondering why I grew up with a different version of "Surfin' Safari" than the one I just bought from iTunes; someone pointed out it might be the single vs the album version.

That single came to me from some cassette tapes McDonalds released in 1987 or so, "Rockin' Gold". (For a long time I thought the tapes were called "Shake Rattle and Fries" or maybe "Shake Burger and Fries" but I guess that was just a promotional song)

There were 4 tapes in all... I had "Rockin' Classics" and "Summer Classics", but there was also "Dancin' Classics" and "Lovin Classics"

This metafilter lists tracks for 3 of them but I had to use this Ebay listing for Rockin' Classics:

• Bill Haley & The Comets - Shake Rattle & Roll
• Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie
• Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
• Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
• Dion - Runaround Sue
• Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire
• Chiffons - He's So Fine
• Del Shannon - Runaway

and from that page, Summer Classics:

• Beach Boys – Surfin' Safari
• Chiffons – One Fine Day
• Chad & Jeremy – A Summer Song
• Dion – The Wanderer
• The Lovin' Spoonful – Summer In The City
• Shangri-Las – Remember (Walking In The Sand)
• The Cascades – Rhythm Of The Rain
• Jamies – Summertime, Summertime

Man, that collection imprinted so deeply on me. I remember doing "The Wanderer" for church camp, and goofily over-dramatically quoting "They say that all good things must end some day / Autumn leaves must fall / But don't you know, how it hurts me so, to say good-bye to you...." over and over when graduating high school.

I missed Lovin Classics:

• The Righteous Brothers – (You're My) Soul And Inspiration
• Barbara Lewis – Baby I'm Yours
• The Shirelles – Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
• Phil Phillips – Sea Of Love
• The Association – Cherish
• Bobby Vinton – Blue Velvet
• Teddy Bears – To Know Him Is To Love Him
• The Capris – There's A Moon Out Tonight

and then Dancin Classics:

• Chubby Checker – Let's Twist Again
• Joey Dee & The Star Liters – Shout
• Hollywood Argyles – Ally Oop
• Frankie Ford – Sea Cruise
• Sam & Dave – Soul Man
• Isley Brothers – Twist & Shout
• Wilbert Harrison – Kansas City
• Del Vikings – Come Go With Me

Heh. It took "oh that's the 8-track The Blues Brothers listen to" to run in to Sam & Dave...

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A real life Zen Koan, from 1999:

The Student was stuck in traffic on Memorial Drive and ranting and raving about the infuriating malice or at least callous indifference of the world to his preferences. Then, adding injury to insult, the Driver from the other lane snuck in ahead in a clear violation of the alternate merge rules that were a hallmark of civilized society. Noting the Student's renewed raging fury in his rear view mirror, the Driver Ahead stuck his thumbs in his ears and made moose antlers.

At that moment, the Student was enlightened.