Remember those songs in the 70s you slow-danced to or sat in a dark corner and cried over during that teen break-up? Or maybe you blasted them in the car with your gal pals, willing him to come back!

Was one of them Sad Eyes or Hey There Lonely Girl? How about The Lion Sleeps Tonight? OK, maybe not that one.

They were classics. Still are. And, Robert John, the man who wrote Sad Eyes and sang all of them, hitting all those high notes perfectly, lives in the area.

In fact, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect ran into John while he was checking out a new, rising country duo (Williams Honor) perform his Sad Eyes as they jammed at Ron’s West End Pub in Long Branch’s West End on the eve of their CD release (more to come on that).

It was an honor for them and everyone else around to meet the man behind those vinyl 70s hits that so many people played over and over again on their record players — yes, record players!

It was a meeting of musical minds from two different genres and generations.

We thanked John for enriching our lives with his music. He’s a pretty reserved, quiet guy. He, however, did say “they did a good job with the song” about the Williams Honor rendition.

He also said he appreciated the thanks and assured us that “yes, that high voice, it was all me,” sans recording studio magic, who hit those high notes that brought solace to many sad eyes.

We-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-we-um-um-a-wayyyyy …  We-de-de-de-de-de- de-de-de We-um-um-a-wayyyyy COOL!

So, our Retro Pic of the Day honors the man himself, Robert John.

Which was your favorite Robert John song?

— Elaine Van Develde