bummer

Check out this intriguing and somewhat sad video of a photo series.
The pics were inspired by a book of matches from the 1960s.

1965 Wurlitzer jukebox

Thanks to one cool hombre, a 1965 jukebox has been lovingly restored and has come back to life to continue to blast out grooviness.

Martha and the Vandellas

A great find for me is a live tv performance that I didn't see the first time around. Often, groups/singers lip-synched or lip-synched to a live recording. If you dig Motown/Soul, you're going to love this 1966 performance. There's even a Hammond and a Leslie speaker.

Dolly want a cracker?

What do you mean the 70s were tacky at times? I'm not seeing it.

Mean Woman Blues

In the 1957 film Loving You, a hideous creep gets what he asks for. Right on Elvis. I mean, violence is never the answer. A packed juke joint and the jukebox isn't even playing? What's wrong with these people? If you can listen to Roy Orbison's 1963 version and not move your body, you might be dead inside. You may want to check on that. Just sayin'.




Mean Woman Blues, Roy Orbison, 1963

shagalicious

I think this glam band was inspired by Mrs. Brady. That's Sweet.

please don't kill me

Trick or treat yourself to a good ole scary movie. Happy Halloween!

Take a left

Gladys Knight and the Pips entertain the housewives making dinner LIVE on The Mike Douglas Show in 1968. Below, is Marvin Gaye's superb version of The End of Our Road as well. Soul at its finest.



ROCK HISTORY GEEK TIDBIT: When Casey Kasem's syndicated radio show American Top 40 premiered during the weekend of July 4, 1970, the first song to be played was Marvin's The End of Our Road because it was #40 on the list. The show started with song #40 and counted down.

let's twist

Just 2 presses on the jukebox starts a party. Get out the crab puffs.

Vintage Fiats

The highlight of a recent trip to Florence, Italy was bombing into the Tuscan countryside via a 1960s Fiat. For many a passersby, seeing a caravan of vintage cars and Vespas elicited constant waves and smiles. Arrivederci! VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

raise your hand...

...if you want to hear Tom Jones and Janis Joplin wail. My neck!

Beatle wigs

Thanks to WMBR's John Funke, I now know a 1964 Coaster's song about a guy in a Beatle wig. Because I need to sing along with it, I needed the lyrics. Since I couldn't find them on the net, I did it the old-fashioned way – by listening to the song 500 times. No need for the lyrics now. I know you're thanking me. How was this fun tune not a hit?!

Wild One, The Coasters, 1964

Because of Ringo's upcoming concert at the Boch Center/Wang Theatre, I've had Beatles on the brain. Check out Cher singing a Beatles novelty song about Ringo from 1964 as Bonnie Jo Mason.


Ringo, I Love You, Bonnie Jo Mason, 1964

Above is Cher's 1959 mugshot for driving without a license at 13.

George Harrison...

...watches his younger, Beatle-self sing This Boy. Neat-O.

whatever I want, I get...

...so buy me a Schlitz already honey. Swing it man. Me craaaaaazy.

Dave Mason and Steve Cropper

I was fortunate to see two legends at the lovely Cabot Theater Thursday night and it was a very memorable evening. It also happened to be the day that Aretha Franklin passed away. Singer Gretchen Rhodes belted out Chain of Fools in her honor and it was spectacular. If you have a penchant for this type of music, see this tour! Steve Cropper was the guitarist and prolific songwriter for Booker T and the MGs, Stax Records' house band. Besides his solo career, Dave Mason started out in the band Traffic along with Steve Winwood.

• Steve Cropper interview, 1984
• Booker T and the MGs, 1968
• Only You Know and I Know, Dave Mason
• We Just Disagree, Dave Mason
• Feelin' Alright, 2018
• Paper Sun, Traffic, 1967

The Spencer Davis Group...

...boogie down the river in 1966's The Ghost Goes Gear. GROOVY!

portable record player

I love everything about this, especially the song. Let's go for a bike ride and dance in a field. Okay, let me change into my dress and shoes.

I'm crying

Saturday Night Live spoofs 70s and 80s acts on Soul Train.

uh oh

Now you're gonna die wearing that stupid, little hat. Ay caramba.

Herb Alpert

Check out the interesting bio of Herb Alpert. It has a great ending.

Yowza, Yowza, Yowza

The Irish love American Soul, R&B and Motown, so it only seemed fitting to see musician, songwriter and producer extraordinaire Nile Rodgers in Cork, Ireland. Unfamiliar with Rodgers? No you're not.
Here are some of the artists and musical icons he's worked with:

• Dance, Dance, Dance        • Le Freak        • Good Times
• I Want Your Love        • Everybody Dance
• David Bowie        • Madonna        • Sister Sledge
• The B-52s        • INXS        • Daft Punk

While visiting colorful Kinsale, we were drawn into a pub by the sounds of a fab duo singing everything from Irish folk songs to Johnny Cash. But best of all, they sang The Rattlin' Bog, a song I learned in the 4th grade along with The Erie Canal and Señor Don Gato and haven't heard since. Dontcha just love a good sing-along? Lalalalalaaaaaaaaa!

Kiki Dee

Discovering this song has led me to rediscover Kiki Dee. Maybe it's because I have the music in me, but it's made me so very happy. In 1965, she appeared in the film Dateline Diamonds with Small Faces.

• Itchycoo Park, Small Faces, 1967
• singing backup for Dusty Springfield
• a duet with Elton John

If you have a thing for "originals" like I do, you'll appreciate hearing
Tami Lynn's 1965 recording of I'm Gonna Run Away From You:

get that thing away from me

Here's one for the kids. I think. This was a number 1 hit in 1950. Beware on your beach walks. I hate when a song leaves you hanging.

Happy Memorial Day

Thank you to all who serve and have served. Service dogs too!

hurry up summer

I eat up footage like this. Bumpy rides or what? If you enjoy viewing historical films, British Pathé is the best. FUN IN THE SUN.

Where may I find one of these? Want to go to the ski machine?

Feel the Joy

As an empath, I often feel the emotions and energy from the people around me. That can really suck, especially if I'm around negative, angry or inauthentic people. Narcissists are the worst to be around. Fortunately, I also feel the happiness that people exude. Going to concerts with like-minded people who are really diggin’ the scene, fills me with great joy and excitement. Thanks to a lively music scene here in Boston, tonight it’s Tavares, and tomorrow night, it’s Gladys. Yah!

• It Only Take a Minute
• Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
• Don't Take Away the Music
• More Than a Woman

UPDATE: I’m so impressed with the caliber of talent out there. Gladys put on one hell of a show. The vibe she sent out was so authentic. My emotions were all over the place. She started with a little discussion of the climate of today, and I loved hearing what she had to say.
Then she sang. Lordy, did she sing.
I did not expect to have so much fun at the Tavares show. They were fantastic. Hearing that great falsetto voice and memorable hits from The Stylistics brought me back to riding in my family’s 1973 Pontiac. The show started, however, with a group called Vinyl Groove. Three guys and two women and they were AWESOME! Almost immediately, the moms took to the aisles and were outta control. They took turns being the leads and backups and sang 70s disco songs that got the crowd rockin’! They play around Boston – check ‘em out for a good time.

Substitute

The Who rock out with their 1966 hit Substitute. Yeah baby.

Beaver joins a record club

Gilbert and Beav get down with their bad selves. June speaks jive.

Funky Chicken en masse

Rufus Thomas puts on a great show and the folks are groovin.


Can Your Monkey Do the Dog? Rufus Thomas, 1964

Billy Preston

Learn about Preston and the Hammond. 1950s: with Nat King Cole; 1960s: on Shindig!; 1970s: Will It Go Round in Circles

Studio Two

I grew up in a household with lots of music, singing and dancing and I've been a Beatles fan since I can remember. It must've been exciting to have seen them in person at The Cavern Club and smaller venues before they made it big. I got a taste of that last night when I saw Studio Two at The Center for Arts in Natick and it was scrumptious. These talented guys channeled The Beatles' early years fantastically and left me and the audience shoutin' for more. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

more cowbell

Sorry for the 19 messages I left, but we need to talk. Call me!

The Witch Queen of New Orleans

Redbone sing about Marie Laveau on Beat-Club in 1971.

Before they became Redbone, Pat and Lolly Vegas were in demand and had gigs all over the Hollywood scene in the mid-60s. Here they perform in the Oscar-winning It's a Bikini World. Is it though?

Sonny and Cher have a groovy night out at The Haunted House.

Saturday morning dose of Shindig!

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Need some new dance moves? Watch this and start practicing, baby.

Bony Maronie

This spoof group appeared on The Steve Allen Show in 1964.
He lets out his inner Ethel Merman here. Waaaaaaaahhhhh!