ho, ho, ho

Here's hoping your Santas are creepy and bright. Happy Holidays!


Nuttin' for Christmas, Barry Gordon, 1955
Barry Gordon plays the paperboy at the beginning of this video.

two turntables and a microphone

I love Beck's music. Jack-Ass samples Them's version of the Bob Dylan song It's All Over Now, Baby Blue from 1965. Weeeee!


It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, Them (featuring Van Morrison), 1966

Carmen Miranda

Learn about the Brazilian legend and have a banana why dontcha.

I Feel Love

During my early teens in the late 70s, Donna Summer blasted from a lot of radios. Last night I saw talented diva Rainere Martin at the Cabot. It quickly became a sing-a-long groovefest since she performs mostly Donna Summer songs with a sprinkling of other well-known disco hits. It's hilarious how we remember all those background vocals and instrument/synthesizer beeps and boops to sing along with.

Dance people from that era will surely dig her show. Smiles galore.

Miss Jayne

Mariska Hargitay's parents were bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay and bombshell Jayne Mansfield. Look at what Jayne could do.

Help!

let's dance!

Hey Sam the Sham, what's a ring dang doo? I'd like to know.


Hanky Panky, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, 1966


The Phantom, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, 1966


Haunted House, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, 1966

Saturday morning dose of the 80s

While Bette Midler is being held after her kidnapping, there's nothing to do but work out. For best results, be consistent like the turtles.

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A djellaba is a long, unisex, hooded robe with full sleeves originally made of wool worn in Northern Africa to protect from wind and sand.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