Song #26: Card Fever Strikes (1983) + BONUS TRACK

The sound you hear at the very beginning of this song is a manual credit card imprint machine.
Until about 20 years ago, this machine was commonly used by vendors when you "paid" for something with a credit card.

I recorded it using my Sony Walkman. 
I remember asking a gas station attendant if I could record the sound of the machine, and he kindly complied; "Like this?",  he said. I said, "uh huh".

Time flies even if you're not having fun.  All this seems like it just happened yesterday.

But don't worry kids; in the not too distant future we'll be embarrassed at how crappy our iPhone 5s' were, and reminisce about how we used to drive cars.

One thing that won't go out of style is debt; PIN numbers will just be replaced by DNA markers.

Card Fever Strikes

I was the first one on my block

They said I was worth a million

I got a plastic piece of the rock

The postman said "spend the money"

I'll spend the money

I'm just a normal kind of guy

And there were some things I needed

I bought a Vett to catch her eye

And I'm starting to get conceited

Card fever strikes

Sign your name and you're good as gold

Card fever strikes

Push the limit 'til there's nothing you don't own

Card fever strikes

We flew to lunch in Barbados

And ordered Jamaican bananas

Then caught a late show back on the coast

Next day déjeuner in Atlanta

Card fever strikes

Sign your name and you're good as gold

Card fever strikes

Push the limit 'til there's nothing you don't own

Card fever strikes

Use the phone and you won't leave home

Card fever strikes  

Air card

Rent a card

Gas card

Eat card

Store card

Hotel card

Bank card

Phone card

"Excuse me sir

But I've got to check and see if you card is lost stolen or invalid"

Now I'm on everybody's list

I guess I'm a shinning example

They'll sell me anything I've missed

And there's never a charge for a sample

Britt Bacon: vocals
Ira Ingber: guitars, bass, bgs
Mark Morgan: synths
Pat Mastelotto: drums
Danny Jacob: bgs, guitar
Amy Smith: voiceover

Written by Britt Bacon and Ira Ingber
© 1983

Source: 1/4" analogue tape 30ips


BONUS TRACK!

I came home last year to hear a strange message on my voice-mail, and I couldn't resist putting it to music...

© 2012