December 31, 2022

Happy New Year!

Whether you're going out, staying in, having Chinese food or will be asleep by 10, enjoy starting off the year on a good foot. Yippeee!

December 24, 2022

Merry Christmas!


In the photo above, my sister Janet and I visit Santa in 1966.

This is the 1966 Goodyear Christmas album sold in their stores.

December 17, 2022

The Beat

Every Christmas as a teenager, my mom would ask me for a list of 6 albums that I wanted. I would giggle at the thought of her in line with my selections. One of the Christmas commercials that aired in 1982 was for K-tel's "The Beat." I wanted it. I gave my mom the address to send for it and she came through. I still have it. I'm too lazy to make a new Christmas mix so here are some old ones. Enjoy the season!



Click on the album to make it big. Some of the groups on the record:
Go-GosSplit EnzWaitressesDepeche ModeDuran Duran
Kim WildeBow Wow WowHaircut 100A Flock of Seagulls

December 10, 2022

push it over


I love backup singing in the 1960s. Here are 2 songs I've fallen in love with that have groovy backup singing and they're both about pushing:


Push a Little Harder, The Avons, 1963
The timpani and the "space organ" crack me up.


Push a Little Harder, The Enjoyables, 1964
How do you not enjoy a song by a group called The Enjoyables?
Beautiful harmonies in the style of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions. Keep On Pushing and since we're pushin' it...

November 26, 2022

November 19, 2022

Eugene Church

Thanks to Christopher from Lost and Found, I now have a new favorite song. Eugene Church had a big hit with Pretty Girls Everywhere in 1958. Here are The Walker Brothers doing a version. Lol. Yeah!


Good News, Eugene Church, 1960

November 5, 2022

Weeeeeeeee


Let's go! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

October 29, 2022

Run!

I cannot stop playing this song this morning. I guess the message for the day is: young hearts run free. Run hearts, run! Thanks, Candi. 💛


Young Hearts Run Free, Candi Staton, 1976

October 22, 2022

Saturday afternoon dose of 1979


David Bowie, Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias perform Bowie's tune The Man Who Sold the World as SNL's musical guest in 1979. I loved Real People as a teen, especially the segments with the weirdos.


The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie, 1970

October 15, 2022

Frankie Lymon


I cut back on reading biographies and autobiographies. I didn't like the ugly things I was learning. So many of our beloved artists were abused, ripped off and discarded. I have yet to learn much about Mr. Lymon because it didn't end well. I prefer to think of him as an incredible performer who contributed greatly to the world. He was only 14 in the above clip while singing the decades-old standard Goody Goody.



Goody Goody, Frankie Lymon (without The Teenagers), 1957

October 8, 2022

September 24, 2022

Hit the Road Jack

I was feeling the need for a little Ray Charles this morning.

September 17, 2022

The Twilight Zone

One burger with everything and a slice of pie. That's 45¢ please.

September 10, 2022

back to school to learn the golden rule

Bobby Rydell sings about swingin' at school. This is from 1960.


My first day of school as a first grader in September 1971

September 3, 2022

August 27, 2022

Tony Dow

The only times I've cried after a celebrity death were for Phil Hartman and most recently, Tony Dow. I always wanted a big brother and I wanted him to be just like Wally. Every morning at 7:30 from grades 1-6, I sat crosslegged in front of the tv to watch reruns of my favorite show before going to the bus stop. I wouldn't get up until the theme song ended and the last credit passed: Hair Stylist.... Florence Bush. When I see it now, I realize how well-written and humorous the show really was. I loved how pop-culture references were often used – Wally saying something like "Who do you think you are, Tony Curtis?" It had a huge impact on me and every episode taught me a lesson.

August 20, 2022

August 7, 2022

Never On Sunday

Melina Mercouri was awarded the 1960 Grand Prize at Cannes for best performance in this controversial film about a prostitute.



Nana Mouskouri followed by Connie Francis in English, 1961



Now that we're on the Greek thing, have a dance with Zorba!


Zorba's Dance, Mikis Theodorakis, 1964

July 29, 2022

In the blink of an eye





We really can handle anything that life throws at us. The roof of the condo building I've lived in for almost 20 years went up in flames a few nights ago displacing us for a year. I'm now forced to figure out what comes next, but that's life. Always remember this: things don't happen to you, they happen for you. Enjoy the rest of summer and stay cool.


That's Life (That's Tough), Gabriel and the Angels, 1962

July 23, 2022

It's hot!

Get to the beach, the pool or just sit in the shade under a tree. 🔥

July 16, 2022

Carl Perkins

We've all had people who inspire us. One of George Harrison's biggest influences was rockabilly giant Carl Perkins. The Beatles covered several of his tunes and George and Carl remained friends to the end.

July 9, 2022

hi, we're psychotic

These folks should learn to be a little more hospitable. Don't ya think?

July 2, 2022

Happy July 4th

The Pops playing on the Esplanade is a big deal in Boston. Chaka Khan headlines festivities this year at the Hatch Shell. Yipppeeee!

June 25, 2022

Jim Messina

Jim Messina and his band were incredible last night at the fabulous TCAN. He had a Q&A session after the show and I asked this: "What tv shows did you watch in the late 50s/early 60s to see your favorite singers, bands and musicians?" He talked about a Ranch Party-like program that featured The Collins Kids, Johnny Cash and other country artists. He loved Ozzie and Harriet because of Ricky Nelson.


Stood Up, Ricky Nelson, 1957


Jim Messina and the Jesters in Teen Band Play-a-thon at P.O.P.



My friend Glenn and sister Janet groovin' and enjoying the show.

June 11, 2022

Paul McCartney at Fenway Park



My friend Glenn was in the 5th grade when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Like many kids then, his world changed after that broadcast. He bought a cheap organ, then eventually bought a Hammond organ, then started singing in a band at 16 in 1969. The name of it was "The Sidewalk Society." How 1969 was that? 😆 We finally saw Sir Paul in person. Click on pic to make it big.

Glenn still has his Beatles scrapbook and Beatles bubble-gum cards.



Here are school pictures of Glenn in the 1960s during Beatlemania.



Above, Glenn and the crowd sing along with Paul and his band.

They performed my favorite Wings tunes from my grade-school years:


Jet, Wings, 1973


Listen To What the Man Said, Wings, 1975


Let 'Em In, Wings, 1976

June 4, 2022

The Leaves

Enjoy mid-60s garage? You might dig The Leaves. They were the first band to record Hey Joe in 1965 and appeared as themselves in this.


Dr. Stone, The Leaves, 1966

May 28, 2022

May 14, 2022

please knock first

All of the music that we've heard throughout our lives comprises our life soundtrack. I'm glad I heard a lot of songs like this as a wiener.

May 7, 2022

Happy Mother's Day

The Runaways perform their 1976 tune in honor of their moms.

April 30, 2022

April 23, 2022

share-dos

Come on gang. We're off to the salon to finally get our share-styles.

April 16, 2022

Tell Me All About It...

...when I swing by with my boat. And bring your dancing shoes.

April 9, 2022

Strawberry Letter 23



Shuggie Otis originally recorded this tune in 1971. I love the bass.
Johnny Otis was Shuggie's dad. Learn about the Godfather here.

April 2, 2022

mid-60s chicks




Gonna Get Along Without You Now, Tracey Dey, 1964




I Found My Place, Reparata (without the Delrons), 1965

March 27, 2022

Wanna shag?



Hep cat college kids from 1937 demonstrate the Collegiate Shag.

March 20, 2022

Learn the Cha Cha Cha

Looking to learn the Cha Cha in German? You're in luck. They dance to the Frito Bandito song at one point which is based on Cielito Lindo.

March 12, 2022

Bucky Beaver

Great. Now I can't get this jingle out of my head. Hey look, it's Jan.

March 5, 2022

February 26, 2022

Did you see me?!


I love seeing audiences being filmed during music programs. The joy and excitement of people viewing themselves on monitors makes me smile. What a blast it must've been living in LA and seeing these shows in person when they were broadcasted. Keep on Dancing, baby!