"The Old Crowd" was selected to be the B-side of Mercury single #72180. The A-side, "She's A Fool," would peak at number-5 on the Billboard Chart in 1963, but "The Old Crowd" should've been a hit too.
It had everything going for it. The song was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. It was produced by Quincy Jones. Lesley Gore, coming off of the successes of "It's My Party," "Judy's Turn To Cry" and "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," was never better. The melody is lovely and haunting. The lyrics reveal a longing to go back to high school days in order to spend one day with old friends. Of course that's not possible, is it?
Christians believe that Jesus, who died and rose again, has gone to prepare a place for all of like precious faith. Jesus refers to this place as "my Father's house." Paul refers to heaven as "home."
He writes that one day we, who are alive, will be reunited with those who have gone home to be with the Lord. We will one day "be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
It will be great to see "The Old Crowd" again! "What a day of rejoicing that will be!"
• Ken Haskins is pastor of First Christian Church in Carson City.