When I went to NIU in the late 60s and early 70s, the student union had a lounge on the lower level called The Tune Room. Bisected by an wide aisle leading to the jukebox and the vending machines, the Greek Side was on the right and the Freaky Side was on the left, and everyone picked a side and stuck to it. The Greeks did whatever they did, and the Freaks played 500 Rummy, smoked cigarettes, and drank vending-machine pop which was 10 cents at the time. Never was the line crossed save one event: the nightly ritual playing of "The Sailing Ship" by the Cryan' Shames, which was on the jukebox along with their lesser-known song "A Master's Fool." As soon as the beginning notes of "The Sailing Ship" broke through the smoke and conversation, we'd all rise and move to the middle of the room. We did sort of a line dance - probably a cross between the Hora and the Electric Slide - and there was one place, in the middle of the song, where everyone simultaneously made the peace sign. I think even some of the Greeks joined in.
NIU has remodeled since then, of course. But if you were there between 1968 and 1972, you'll know what I mean when I ask you which side you sat on, and you will remember "The Sailing Ship." That song, incidentally, is impossible to find as an mp3 download, but the album "Synthesis" is on CD now - as is "Scratch in the Sky," which contains "A Master's Fool" - a rather baroque, ahead-of-its time number that I loved back in the day. I shamelessly admit to ordering both albums, just to get those two songs. I can't wait to hear "The Sailing Ship" again. Sailing....my ship away to sea.....
Yes, I sat on the Freaky Side.
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