Like anyone in my age bracket I loved Ducky's lip synching scene in "pretty in pink". I learned everything I know about society and romance from John Hughes (and the first two Karate Kid movies). I learned the concepts of social strata and that the real losers never get the girl (go back and watch, with the exception of "Weird Science" the true nerds of the movie never end up with the objects of their affection)
Many confused years layer I had finally ended up with a girl I wanted and through her girlfriend met the co-president of the buffalo scooter club "the Tundra Schmucks". This guy and I became great friends (lasting much longer than the relationships that introduced us). Through his vintage scooter club sub culture I was introduced to a touch of "mod" culture but more importantly their affinity for soul and rock steady music. I had attended a couple of their scooter rallies, and though I never bought a bike I did buy into the vintage soul albums they played. I remember at the first event I heard Ducky's song "try a little tenderness". I asked the guy who was spinning the records who the artist was and I was shamed into the information. I bought an #otisredding greatest hit cd when I got home and loved it. This was the second cd of his I purchased. I've never been a fan of "greatest hits" collections. The deep tracks are where an artist lives.
Mr. Redding was my mix tape secret weapon for years. I never used Ducky's song, that would be too obvious, but a track like "she put the hurt on me" was a foolproof transition song to follow one of my drowsy slow core favorites. I've since gone on to be an avid collector of soul music gems but Otis Redding will always be my measuring stick of the genre.
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