Here is an oddball 45 and, if I'm being honest, not usually my cup of coffee. I picked it up as part of that massive haul about four years ago and only recently got around to giving it a proper spin. The A-side did absolutely nothing for me, which is exactly why every record collector should follow the sacred commandment: always flip the platter over. Sometimes the treasure is hiding on the side nobody bothered to mention.
Thankfully, that was the case here. The flip side delivers some surprisingly appealing doo-wop flavored sounds, which is not what I expected from a 1988 release. It's like finding a vintage diner jukebox hiding inside a Reagan-era time capsule.
As for the title, I was never much of a Lone Ranger fan. I knew who he was, of course. Much like Lawrence Welk, the Lone Ranger seemed to exist primarily so older generations could ask, "You know who this is, right?" while looking disappointed when you didn't.
What I do remember is the bizarre episode where Clayton Moore, the original Lone Ranger, was sued for appearing in public wearing the Lone Ranger mask. Imagine spending decades becoming synonymous with a character only to be told, "Sorry, you're no longer allowed to be the guy you've been playing your whole life." The lawsuit stemmed from a new Lone Ranger film that was on the horizon. The studio apparently felt there was room for only one masked man on horseback.
The irony, of course, is that the movie ended up riding straight into obscurity while Clayton eventually got the right to wear the mask again. Sometimes the good guys really do win in the end. Meanwhile, this forgotten little 45 has probably provided more entertainment in my house than that movie ever did.
So saddle up, flip the record over, and enjoy a lesson that applies equally to vinyl and life: sometimes the good stuff is hiding on the other side.
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