The lost tapes vol 1

Last week, I visited my dad high up in the mountains of Northern California.
He brought out a small box of cassettes he’d found while going through his closet—songs he recorded in the 1960s and ’70s, most thought lost. A previous box of recordings was destroyed during his last move—hours of songs and holiday reels, when he’d let the tape run all day, catching stray bits of conversation from relatives long gone. Then, at some point, someone would grab a guitar, a tambourine, an armadillo and the family would gather ’round the piano to play the old songs late into the night.

Anyway, somehow, these particular tapes got separated.
Fortunately for us.

So we spent the day listening.
A few of the songs hadn’t been played since they were recorded, nearly sixty years ago. Maybe played once for the family and then tossed in the box.

From time to time, I’ll post another here—starting with I Can’t Believe I’m in Love. Recorded with the cheapest drum machine available at the time, which my dad named Randy and speaks to in a Liverpudlian accent (“I was going for Scottish,” he admits.)

Be that as it may, it’s a catchy little song. I love it.
But of course I do.
I think some of you may as well.

Thanks,
I remain,
geo. RAYMOND


I Can’t Believe I’m in Love

by George J. Raymond

copyright 2025



*

‘Cause when I saw her, she saw me

She saw more than I could say.

And I can’t believe I’m in love

Mama you know I am always going to

be your boy. But oh, what a joy

And when I kissed her she kissed me

Like always my face turned red

And we jumped right into the bed

Mama you know I am always going

to be your boy. But oh what a joy

Now don’t cry, I’ve never lied

I’ve tried but I’ve never lied

Please tell me what to do, she

reminds me of you

(whistle break)


Pop listening to the songs long unheard

Supply chain management

.

My friends always make

fun of my eye-glasses

with little windshield

wiper blades on them.

***

But, I know I couldn’t

be the only one who

reads in the shower.

***

Still, I wonder —

***

would my friend still be

laughing

if I shoved these glasses so

far up their ass that they’re

begging to own a pair, too?

***

My guess would be no.

.


The doorway effect

The gangster got up

and walked into the next

room. But when he got

there he could no longer

remember why he got up.

***

“That’s the Doorway Effect.”

said Sancho, laughing.

“Just come back in the room.

Sit down. And the idea will

return to you.”

***

So the gangster did. And as

soon as he did he remembered.

***

“Oh yeh! Get the gun. Kill Sancho.”

.

The grand opening

A new laundromat

opened on my block. And

I did my laundry the

day of the Grand Opening.

***

Later, my girlfriend

asked what I thought

of the laundromat.

And I blurted out, “Grand!”

***

But then I felt dumb

for using the same word

that was on the banner.

***

So I quickly added,

***

“Awe-inspiring.”

.


2.


3.

—Love

*

Love is

like a

river.

A terrible terrible river.

Small anguishes

When I was a kid

I knew I was almost

done with my soup

when I could see

the smiling face

of a clown at the

bottom of the bowl.

***

But it was the before.

***

Knowing he was down

there, unseen. That’s

what made me worry.

Because-who knows how

long that clown

could hold its breath.

.


2.

featured reader

Chewie.