December 26, 2015
December 24, 2015
favorite Christmas presents
game lasted until college and this commercial ran year after year.
In the 5th grade (1975), I snooped for presents in my parent's closet
and found some.... unwrapped. It sucked. I had to pretend to be excited. It was the Christmas that I received Gnip Gnop and Kerplunk.
My favorite Christmas toy, however, was my Krazy Kar, my big gift
for Christmas 1969. I played with this thing until the wheels fell off.
My sister Janet and I open presents next to my shiny, new toy.
On the chair in the background is Janet's Beautiful Crissy doll.
Did you notice our cat Marvin under the wrapping paper?
Above, Janet bombs around in my Krazy Kar while I try to yank
some kid off of my tricycle. In order to protect the innocent, his face
has been covered with a happy Santa. Merry Christmas!
December 20, 2015
December 13, 2015
December 9, 2015
Carrie Anne
A tremendous live performance on the BBC with a strange string
interlude by The Hollies sans Graham Nash from 1969.
December 6, 2015
December 3, 2015
November 22, 2015
Ronnie Spector
I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Ronnie Spector a few nights ago in a very intimate setting at TCAN in Natick, Massachusetts. She looked gorgeous and sounded gorgeous. Her hair was bigger than huge, thank God, and her band and backup singers were the best.
I've never sat so close to a performer and could not make my smile go away. In between each song she sat and told stories about her career and the song she was about to sing. There was a slide show with video too. One of the top 5 shows I've ever seen. Thanks Ronnie!
She ended the show with Frosty the Snowman. The Ronettes
were a huge part of Phil Spector's Christmas album from 1963.
• Kids Cha Cha to Be My Baby on American Bandstand
• Appearing on American Bandstand, September 1963
• Say Goodbye to Hollywood, 1977
I've never sat so close to a performer and could not make my smile go away. In between each song she sat and told stories about her career and the song she was about to sing. There was a slide show with video too. One of the top 5 shows I've ever seen. Thanks Ronnie!
She ended the show with Frosty the Snowman. The Ronettes
were a huge part of Phil Spector's Christmas album from 1963.
• Kids Cha Cha to Be My Baby on American Bandstand
• Appearing on American Bandstand, September 1963
• Say Goodbye to Hollywood, 1977
November 15, 2015
learning "The Hustle" to "Popcorn"
In the summer of 1975 when I was 10-years-old, my family went camping with some of our neighbors. One night at the campground rec hall there was a square dancing party. Besides do-si-doing, we learned The Hustle, the new dance of the day to the song Popcorn.
Just when the big, bad world is getting me down, I find this.
Thank you, Jesus. Whoooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
Some references to "penquins" and "drying your nails" in the comments section for the video above – a European Community Auditions.
Just when the big, bad world is getting me down, I find this.
Thank you, Jesus. Whoooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
Some references to "penquins" and "drying your nails" in the comments section for the video above – a European Community Auditions.
November 14, 2015
November 12, 2015
November 3, 2015
Hand Jive
Johnny Otis, Three Tons of Joy and Lionel Hampton perform Willie and the Hand Jive on The Johnny Otis Show in 1958.
October 31, 2015
Happy Halloween!
October 28, 2015
October 23, 2015
Saturday Night Beech-nut Show
This Dick Clark show was broadcast live from NYC and featured almost every pop singer from the 1950s. It aired from 1958-1960.
October 21, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 17, 2015
The Dusty Springfield Show
Get ready to fall in love with Dusty and her backup singers. My favorite performances from her 1966 tv show are below. Fantastic.
• intro
• another intro
• meet the backup singers
• gospel
• ending and closing credits
• Losing You
• Anna (El Negro Zumbon)
Pink Martini does a fabulous version of Anna (El Negro Zumbon). I've seen them many times. One of the best shows out there.
Check out Anna being sung in the 1951 film of the same name.
• intro
• another intro
• meet the backup singers
• gospel
• ending and closing credits
• Losing You
• Anna (El Negro Zumbon)
Pink Martini does a fabulous version of Anna (El Negro Zumbon). I've seen them many times. One of the best shows out there.
Check out Anna being sung in the 1951 film of the same name.
October 16, 2015
October 12, 2015
Upbeat tv show
The Cleveland, Ohio music show aired from 1964-71. Read about host Don Webster's recollections here. Otis Redding appeared on Upbeat the day before his death. Below, Redding sings Respect on Upbeat.
October 11, 2015
Otis Redding

• Wow
• Wow again
• Once again, wow

October 10, 2015
October 7, 2015
the Hula Hoop
October 4, 2015
September 26, 2015
Saturday morning dose of 1967
Thank God for those who travel to the beat of a different drum. Linda Ronstadt performs Different Drum live. Hear a wonderful tribute to Ronstadt by some of the greatest female singers from today.
September 21, 2015
Darlene Love Induction
Check out Bette Midler inducting Love into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The two then perform a rendition of He's a Rebel.
September 15, 2015
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
A friend and I recently journeyed to Cleveland, Ohio to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a rock and roll history junkie, I was in heaven. It felt like my life was flashing before my eyes, especially while viewing 1980s music videos at the MTV exhibit. Yahooooooooo!
Why is it in Cleveland you ask? Because Alan Freed, who coined the term "rock and roll" was a deejay there in the early 1950s.
Above, a mid-60s British Invasion exhibit featuring clothing, concert posters, instruments, video and drum covers. Groooooooooovy!
Above, Ringo's drum set used during their 1964 world tour.
An hour from Cleveland in Sandusky, Ohio is Cedar Point. Being a roller coaster freak, we had to visit. Amusement parks sure have changed since I was a kid. Yikes. My voice is still hoarse from screaming with joy.
Why is it in Cleveland you ask? Because Alan Freed, who coined the term "rock and roll" was a deejay there in the early 1950s.
Above, a mid-60s British Invasion exhibit featuring clothing, concert posters, instruments, video and drum covers. Groooooooooovy!
An hour from Cleveland in Sandusky, Ohio is Cedar Point. Being a roller coaster freak, we had to visit. Amusement parks sure have changed since I was a kid. Yikes. My voice is still hoarse from screaming with joy.
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