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!

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.

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-Gos • Split Enz • Waitresses • Depeche Mode • Duran Duran
Kim Wilde • Bow Wow Wow • Haircut 100 • A Flock of Seagulls

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...

Elvis Costello

What's so funny about peace, love and understanding? Tell me.

Do you wanna dance?

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

Weeeeeeeee

Let's go! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

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

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

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

oh no you didn't

Cha Cha with Brigitte Bardot. Just keep your hands to yourself.

Saturday morning dose of 1965

Hit the Road Jack

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

The Twilight Zone

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

back to school to learn the golden rule

Bobby Rydell sings about swingin' at school. This is a Scopitone.

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

Out of Time

Dance along to Chris Farlowe covering The Rolling Stones.

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.

I see your magnificence

"Blue-eyed soul" means white people who sing with a lotta soul.


I've Got News, The Magnificent Men, 1966

Sunday morning dose of Shindig

Jackie Wilson belts his 1965 tune with Billy Preston and go-go girls.

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

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

It's hot!

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

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.

hi, we're psychotic

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

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!

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.

Thank you, Maple

I'm laughing, I'm crying, I'm laughing, I'm crying. I'm tired.

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

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

Let's go for a drive

Cars cruising around LA, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

I Feel Free

Repeat after me: I feel free. I feel free. I feel free live. I feel free.

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.

Happy Mother's Day

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

Showdown

share-dos

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

Tell Me All About It...

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

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.

mid-60s chicks

Gonna Get Along Without You Now, Tracey Dey, 1964

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

Wanna shag?

Hep cat college kids from 1937 demonstrate the Collegiate Shag.

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.

Bucky Beaver

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

Pushin' Too Hard

The Seeds perform on The Mothers-In-Law starring Eve Arden.

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!