Who did it better?

[Dan Gould]

I just found out that Dan Fogelberg's hit was actually based largely on a true event, which took place in 1975 in Peoria, where high school sweethearts ran into each other at a convenience store (not a grocery store, and I doubt there was a frozen food section, and her eyes weren't blue they were green, and given that they graduated high school six years before, it would be a shock if the years hadn't been a friend to her.  😁

But in all honesty I always thought of his tune, as effective as it may be, was only an attempt at his own spin on the story told in Chapin's "Taxi" (which I am pretty sure has no basis in reality, but it is true that both died relatively young and unexpectedly, Chapin in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway and Fogelberg of prostate cancer.)

So a perhaps fun poll about these two 70s hits. I always preferred Chapin's tune but what do you say? Here are two live performances to remind you:

Edit to add: Better is in the eye/ear of the beholder.  Better production, better vocals, better whatever.

 

 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Dan Gould