Larry’s Pick: Let’s Go All the Way

This is an extremely personal post from me to Shannon's brother Shane.

I didn't have a lot of time to get to know Shane. First, he still lived in Kansas while Shannon and I were dating. Second, he made the decision to join the Marines, so he was away for United States Marine Corps Recruit Training (aka boot camp).

When we previously took a road trip out to Kansas while dating, there was a lot going on with that visit all the way around so I didn't get to spend a lot of one on one time with anyone. After all, they wanted to spend time with their sister - not her new boyfriend.

But over time, I believe in my heart of hearts that he could tell Shannon was in love with me, and more importantly, that she was happy. Maybe the happiest he had ever seen her. That meant a lot to me in a lot of ways. 

First - I mean look at the guy. He was a freaking rock star high school football player - seriously. He set all kinds of school and State records. Then he went off and became a Marine. So fucking with his sister is not something I endeavored to do.

Second - I was finally going to have a brother. He was close to my age and I really looked forward to bonding with him. Oh the Shannon stories I was looking forward to hearing. On top of that, Shane was a very easy to get along with, happy go lucky guy. Growing up in the same house with Shannon he was exposed to as much music as she was, and loved it just as much. That was my "in", because let's face it, I was a band / pep band geek. Not an all around athlete like him.

When Shane came to Ohio to be in the wedding, we got to talking about music and over the course of the conversation he stated that he loved this one song but couldn't remember exactly who sang it and would love to have a cassette or CD of it. Once he told me what some of the lyrics were I knew exactly what it was - Sly Fox's Let's Go All the Way.

The game was afoot.

I didn't have a copy of the album, but luckily I knew where every Camelot Music and National Record Mart was in the central Ohio area. So off we went. 

For context, this was 1994 and we were out looking for a song that was released in 1985. You would have thought this would have been a slam dunk to find, but you also need to know this was basically a one-hit wonder for Sly Fox. This was also five years before the release of Napster. So if you couldn't find a physical copy - you weren't getting the song.

It was nowhere to be found.

We couldn't find the album itself, the cassingle, the CD single or even a 1980's compilations album that had it. Because this was a short window while he was in town for our wedding, we didn't have a lot of time to look for it. I believe I even had my best friend / best man Aaron looking for it when he had the chance.

We never found it.

Shane was great about it; he honestly said it wasn't a big deal, and I believe that to be true - for him.

But it was for me. I mean it was music related and I wanted to help my new brother. I have carried this with me over all these years. However you interpret any of this, know that I feel like I failed and let him down.

I never had the chance to find the song and get it to him.

I have thought about this often... as well as how he would have expected me to treat his sister. I can only hope I've lived up to those expectations.

So this song is for Shane...I love you brother...

Shannon’s Perspective:

Not much for me to add to this as it is a special memory for Larry.  The only things I will add are...

One- there is not doubt in my mind Larry and Shane would have gotten along famously their love for music was just the start for them.

Two- there is also no doubt in my mind that Larry has not only lived up to but exceeded any expectations Shane would have had for him.  

Below are several pictures of Shane's accomplishments in sports, a summer 1993 visit in Salina, Kansas and lastly but definitely not leastly are pictures from pre-wedding festivities in Gahanna, Ohio.

Let's Go All The Way
Sly Fox

Sitting with the thinker
Trying to work it out
It's a traffic jam of the brain
Makes you wanna scream and shout

Presidential party
No one wants to dance
Looking for a new star
To put you in a trance

Let's go all the way
Let's go all the way
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Let's go all the way

Working in a factory
Eight days a week
Tryin' to make dollar
Down, what a beat

Cartoon capers
Happen in reality
Rich man, poor man
Livin' in fantasy

Let's go all the way
Let's go all the way
Oh, oh, oh, let's go all the way

Wow!

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Living in New York
Looks like an apple core (apple core)
Asphalt jungle
Got to be a man-of-war

California dreamers
Sinking in the sand (the sand, the sand, the sand)
The Hollywood squares are
Living in Disneyland

(Whee, aah!)

Let's go all the way (let's go all the way)
Let's go all the way (let's go, ahh)
Let's go all the way
Let's go all the way
Let's go all the way

We need Heaven on Earth today

(Ahh)

We can make a better way

Let's go all the way

Go all the way

Let's go all the way

Yeah

Na, na, na-na-na
Na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Na, na, na-na-na, yeah

Na, na, na-na-na
Na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Na, na, na-na-na, yeah

30th Anniversary

Our Story - Shannon's Perspective

Our Story - Larry's Perspective

Ghost of a Chance (Rush) and why?