Boo!

There's still time to get your Weenie costume ready. This Motown tune wasn't a hit until the Northern Soul scene made it one in 1974.


There's a Ghost in My House, R. Dean Taylor, 1966

it's a thataway

Soulville, Dinah Washington, 1963


Soulville, Titus Turner, 1963


Soulville, Aretha Franklin, 1964

All on board the train

A djellaba is a long, unisex, hooded robe with full sleeves originally made of wool worn in Northern Africa to protect from wind and sand.


Marrakesh Express, Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969

Arthur Alexander

Learn about Arthur Alexander and his origins in Muscle Shoals.



Dusty Springfield, above, performs Alexander's Everyday I Have To Cry on Ready Steady Go!. Did she have the hugest hair or what?


Everyday I Have To Cry, Steve Alaimo, 1963

A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, Arthur Alexander, 1962


Anna (Go To Him), Arthur Alexander, 1962, (Beatles' version)


Soldier of Love, Arthur Alexander, 1962, (Beatles' version)


You Better Move On, Arthur Alexander, 1962, (Stones' version)

Looking good

You're wearing that? Come on man, step it up. You gotta look sharp.


Look Sharp, Joe Jackson, 1979

hold me, thrill me, kiss me

Kisses on Paper, Suzy Wallis, 1966

Elvis needs boats

Elvis is in Nutty Buddies. Whooooooooaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

beatniks

Once upon a time, some tired people lived in Greenwich Village.


Washington Square, The Village Stompers, 1963


Washington Square, Billy Strange, 1964

Take us to your leader...

...where we will play, twist and bring peace to your lovely planet.

Tony Wilson

His fantastic show at The Regent Theatre in Arlington was a wave of funk and fun as he mostly covers James Brown tunes. The stage full of talent was an extravaganza. If you love James Brown, don't miss it.

My neck!

Who knew that a Beav post would finally get me riding this? It was faster, scarier and more intense than I thought it would be. The fact that it flies through the woods is most unique. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Love Rollercoaster, Ohio Players, 1975

I ain't scared

Every once in a while I'll catch a Beav episode. The ones with Eddie and Lumpy are my favorites. The rollercoaster effects crack me up. I think I'm due for a summertime road trip. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

up and at 'em

Nothing wakes me up from a lazy, hazy, summer day like a polka.

Isn't life strange?

Much of today's music doesn't move me which is why I delve into the past to discover musicians that do speak to me. Last night I saw John Lodge of The Moody Blues at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. Their music has always sounded so beautiful to me. Maybe you think so too...


Isn't Life Strange, The Moody Blues, 1972


Legend of a Mind, The Moody Blues, 1968


Tuesday Afternoon, The Moody Blues, 1967

The Mellotron (looping tapes) was used in many of their songs.

nice wheels

Growing up in New England, I was always intrigued with California: movies, tv shows, summer year-round, swimming pools and movie stars. How are we getting to the beach? Hitchin' a ride, how else?

Mini-Me

Which hat are you wearing to the tennis match? That's swinging.

Can you believe the uproar minis caused in the mid-1960s? Hmm.

Some folks know about it, some don't

Hey, let's dance. Tommy Roe performs the Shirley Ellis tune on Hollywood a Go Go. Check out Gladys Knight and the Pips belting it in 1969. I love the choreography by the Pips – especially here.

The Nitty Gritty, Shirley Ellis, 1963


I See It, I Like It, I Want It, Shirley Ellis, 1965


Soul Time, Shirley Ellis, 1967

Live it up, baby!

Hope y'all are livin' it up and enjoying summer. Whooooaaaaahhh!

Live It Up, Dusty Springfield, 1964

Romeo Void

I might like you better if we slept together, but probably not.

Joan Baez

Joan performs on The Midnight Special in 1971. Live version.

We're going to dance....

...and have some fun. Whoooooooaaaahhhh! Summertime at last!

Can I help to cheer you?

Take a trip through the 1960s and explore with The Who. Live.

Welcome Summer! (Donna, that is)

Hello, could you tell me where the bad girls are? I'm new in town.

Are you bananas?

Whenever I grocery shop and walk through the produce section, I start singing the Chaquita Banana song but it doesn't last long because I don't know the words... until now. This commercial was shown in movie theaters in the 1940s to plug the benefits of bananas. Cha cha cha.

Let Chaquita show you how to make a banana pie, banana scallops and an elegant banana fan for your summer party guests.

Saturday morning dose of 1965

Tossing and Turning, The Ivy League, 1965

The Barbarians

Head down to Cape Cod and squiggle around to The Barbarians.

Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?, The Barbarians, 1965

Let's start over

Maxine lip-syncs on a shimmering ocean and sings an incredible live version to an audience of corpses. Dancing on American Bandstand.

The Tide Is High

I never knew that Blondie's version wasn't the original. Yippeee!

The Tide Is High, The Paragons, 1967

Where were you?

I was in the right place, but it must've been the wrong time. Oops.


Right Place Wrong Time, Dr. John, 1972

Get on up Big Bird

Eddie Floyd performs Knock on Wood at The White House.


Big Bird, Eddie Floyd, 1968

Marvin and Tina

Marvin Gaye and Tina Turner perform a medley on Shindig in '65.

Happy Easter

Jesus is just alright with me. Thanks Doobies and thanks nerd.

Voices in the Sky

Bluebird flying high, tell me what you sing. If you could talk to me,
what news would you bring? Of voices in the sky.



This beautiful song by The Moody Blues is from their 1968
album In Search of the Lost Chord. Speaking of bluebirds....

Saturday morning dose of 1969

Above, Bill Deal and the Rhondels perform at The Peppermint Beach Club in Virginia Beach in July 1967. Whoooooaaahh!


May I, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, 1969

shake, shake, shake

Last weekend a friend and I put on our boogie shoes and headed to Bally's in Rhode Island to see one of my favorite bands. What a humble and grateful person KC is. I loved how much he let his incredible band shine. His career started with writing Rock Your Baby in 1974 inspiring John Lennon to create Whatever Gets You Thru the Night. In the 70s and early 80s, one of the best ways to see bands and singers was on the Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas Shows. They both aired everyday from 4-5. Here's KC and the Sunshine Band in 1977.
 

What's the password?

I cannot stop playing Wynder K. Frog's 1967 version of Green Door. It has now replaced my morning coffee. During prohibition, a restaurant with a green door was a speakeasy. The mo ya know.


Green Door, Wynder K. Frog, 1967


Green Door, Jim Lowe, 1956

dancing at The Shoreline

The Shoreline was the hip spot for kids in Peyton Place to go-go.