The Outfield, "61 Seconds"

Posted by Luminator (A) on February 27, 2021 at 10:38:09

35 years ago, The Outfield's "Josie's on a vacation far away" called out. It inspired us to go out, and buy the album (on cassette), Play Deep .

Your guy friends didn't like your super-smart classmate, nicknamed "Librarian." The latter used facts. Unlike other girls, Librarian did not call names. Her arguments implied that your guy friends were wrong. And that frustrated and ticked them off. But mostly, good grades came so easily to Librarian, while we guys struggled.

Your guy friends liked to tease, calling Librarian your 'girlfriend.' With Librarian being academically superior, and you being an immature freshman, the thought of Librarian being your girlfriend (you didn't have one or any yet) was out of the realm of possibility. In biology, her desk was next to yours, and you didn't think she was as bad as your guys friends made her to be.

Here in the Bay Area, 1985-86 was rainy, the last time it'd be that way, until 1992-93. But one day was dry, so we were able to eat lunch outdoors. A little boombox played Play Deep . Responding to "61 Seconds," Librarian said, "They lied! You don't work from 9 to 5. It's more like 8:30 to 5:00."

Well, for us students, "61 Seconds" meant being late for class. Librarian was never late. She was punctual, turned in her work on time, had enough time during tests to check her work. The rest of us raced to meet deadlines.

One day, you noticed that Librarian barely took any bites or sips of her sandwich, banana, and juice box. She seemed to be shaking off the cobwebs. You asked if she was okay, and she was confused about her condition. She remarked, "I don't feel sick , but I don't feel right."

Later, you were barely five minutes into biology class. Librarian took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, poked your arm, and said she felt dizzy. You raised your hand, and asked the teacher if you could be excused for a moment. You stood up, held out your elbow, and had Librarian hold on. She directed you first to her locker, and then to the office. After the nurse tended to Librarian, the latter, slumped over in a chair, looked at you, and said, "Thank you. Oh, tell Jeanette (her lab partner) to save her notes. Or I'll just use yours."

Back in bio class, your guy friends lay in wait. And they were mean. They said things like:

"You were gone more than 61 seconds."
"Pretty sneaky, whisking away your 'girlfriend'."
"Yeah, using her, to get out of this shitty class."
"Is your 'girlfriend' pregnant?"
"Did you get her pregnant?"
"All it takes is 61 seconds."

You dropped an F-bomb, turned away from your guy friends, and asked Jeanette what you missed.

At the end of the day, as you were getting books out of your locker, you noticed that Librarian's Play Deep cassette was still in your Walkman. On the way home, you listened to that tape. Just as the batteries (playing a cassette drains Walkmen) were dying, you got home. You popped Librarian's cassette into your bedroom's mini-stereo.

The next day, you did not see Librarian at lunch. And then, in bio, you discovered that she was absent. Not known to miss school, she must have been really sick, or out of it. When Librarian did return to school, you handed The Outfield cassette back to her. She smiled (kind of a rare occurrence). You were too afraid to ask, and she never did say what was wrong with her. Nevertheless, without saying much, she showed appreciation for your care. Your guy friends continued to diss her, but there now was this understanding, this respect, between you and Librarian.

The Outfield's "Your Love" continues to dominate airwaves. But the album is very good, with "61 Seconds" holding it up. In Spring 1987, I got my first CD player. When we returned for the 1987-88 school year, I bought The Outfield's Play Deep on CD, which (a) went through dozens of hands, (b) was a major influence on us, and (c) I still have, above.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

61 Seconds (Open in New Window)

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Topic - The Outfield, "61 Seconds" - Luminator 10:38:09 02/27/21 (2)

RE: The Outfield, "61 Seconds" - RGA 17:46:59 05/8/21 (1)

RE: The Outfield, "61 Seconds" - rivervalley817 18:03:31 05/8/21 (0)

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