Booker T. Jones

I'm so grateful to have seen Booker T. Jones once again last night at my favorite venue. Being at TCAN is like being in someone's basement with great artists performing just feet in front of you. Hearing his groovy organ playing the songs I love left me grinning throughout the whole show. Click on the photos to make them bigger.

Growing up in Memphis, he started in the biz at 15. Besides the Hammond, he also played his guitar for a number of tunes. Several standing Os were given along with tons of love. Thanks, Booker T.



Booker T. recorded Green Onions in 1962 at the age of 17.

now boarding

Everybody on board. Let's cha cha all the way to cha cha ville.


Choo Choo Cha Cha, The Rinky Dinks, 1959

Saturday morning dose of 1963

Comin' Down, Jackie Shane, 1963 (Learn about Jackie Shane)

chill

When things are swirling all around you, detach and know that it will pass. During these unprecedented times, my latest painting entitled "The Happy Snowball" reminds me to relax and chill out for it will soon be over. Grab your popcorn and watch the mayhem play out and all the tacky gold get ripped down because it really can't get any worse.


Take It Easy, Hopeton Lewis, 1966

jingle jangle jingle

I love the mid-1960s jangly sound dominated by The Byrds.


Have You Seen Her Face, The Byrds, 1966

Martha and the Vandellas

Motown songs never cease to change my mood. The pounding rhythms, background singing and creative lyrics really get my body groovin'. The tunes of Martha and the Vandellas are my favorites.


Quicksand, Martha and the Vandellas, 1963


Heatwave, Martha and the Vandellas, 1963


In My Lonely Room, Martha and the Vandellas, 1964


You've Been In Love Too Long, Martha and the Vandellas, 1965

never be a dirty bird

I'll never understand the mindset of people who litter. For decades starting in the 70s, Woodsy Owl reminded us how not to be little piggies. This 1970 ad ran for years when I was a kid and had a huge impact on me. Give a hoot and pick up your trash and ciggy butts.

people are strange

If the hippie movement had an aroma, what would it be?


People Are Strange, The Doors, 1967

the whole world is watching

This Rolling Stones tune was released during the chaos of 1968.

shake a leg

How do I dance when I can't hear the music? Pump up the volume.

clickety clack

Rockabilly group Lonnie Lee and the Leemen perform Frankfurt Special on Australia's National Bandstand which aired from 1958-1972. The tune is from the 1960 Elvis film G.I. Blues.

women of few words

Robins have flown back to New England for the spring and summer. I love watching them boogie across the grass searching for worms.

bossa nova baby

The Kessler Twins sing Quando, Quando, Quando in a Scopitone film from the early 1960s. Here's the original by Tony Renis.

Saturday morning dose of 1969

All you groovy peeps sing along now: Gliddy glup gloopy Nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo. Sabba sibby sabba Nooby abba nabba le le lo lo. Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba Early morning singing song.

Lucretia MacEvil

How can people be so heartless? Don’t these ding-dongs know anything about karma because it’s real, folks. Make the world better.

Pee-wee sings Sly

I know you've all been jonesing to hear Pee-wee and friends singing Sly and the Family Stone. You're in luck. Jambi grants your wish.

Cilla Cilla Bo Billa

Cilla performs on Ready Steady Go!. She sings her first hit here.


Love of the Loved, The Beatles, 1962

I Got a Line on You

Divine Spirit, move me in the direction of my highest good, the good of all concerned and the good of all affected. Whooooooooaaaahhh!

spread your tiny wings and fly mmmkay

A sibling received this 45 for Christmas when it came out in 1970. I loved it and would play it over and over. What a beautiful voice.

mambo, cha-cha, twist, watusi

Will you please be my valentine and go to the dance with me?

Sylvester

Surround yourself with folks who make you feel mighty real.
Sylvester performs on The Merv Griffin Show with Two Tons O' Fun (Martha Wash and Izora Armstead) before they became The Weather Girls. Learn about the unfortunate mistreatment of Martha.


Do Ya Wanna Funk?, Patrick Cowley and Sylvester, 1982

3(a+b)–2(c+d)=

As a teenager, my mom would ask me "why don't you know your math like you know your music?" I recently met Bob and Gary on vacation and we blabbed nonstop Beatles and 60s music and the fun lasted hours. Gee mom, I don't ever recall talking algebra with vacationers during my travels. But then again, I don't need calculus to paint pictures. Nevermind. Keep up with your math, kids. 😀

picture day

I'm fascinated with school pics and how styles change. Say cheese.

Let me describe it

Dorothy Dandridge and her walking rainbow have outfits made while singing about Zoot Suits and reet pleats. I want a brown gown with a zop top with a hip slip, a lace waist in the sharpest taste. Yowzaa!

Learn about Zoot Suits and the violent, racist riots that followed.

Pata Pata

Miriam Makeba and her girls perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.

The bee's knees

I'm in love with the Charleston. Cut a rug and be the cat's meow.

• A Charleston competition • Check out this dame
• These fellas were big in the 1930s • footage from 1925
• this guy's a living museum • the Gatsby Girls • Josephine Baker

take your pick

Here are three versions of Gordon Lightfoot's 1965 song (That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me by Lightfoot, Waylon Jennings and Peter, Paul and Mary. Gordon looks back at his HOF induction.

mom + dad approved

I walked and whistled all the way to Tucumcari and this is what I get? It all works out though, unless you're evil, then you're cooked.

Jimmie Rodgers had his own summer replacement show in 1959 and appeared as a guest on the programs of others many moons ago.

Happy Christmas!

I love this 1965 Ray Conniff Christmas special featuring traditional songs from his 1962 album. It includes Wilbur from Mister Ed and a go-go version of Joy to the World. Play it while making your figgy pudding. Have yourself a joyous Christmas and a groovy new year.

Sam the Snowman is seething

Santa convinces Sam to stop being gloomy and be joyous instead.

Santa's been naughty, again

'Tis the season to be jolly so deck the halls with boughs of holly.

The Shangri-Las

Have a listen to one of the original "tough girl" groups of the 1960s.


Heaven Only Knows, The Shangri-Las, 1964


The Dum Dum Ditty, The Shangri-Las, 1965 


The Train From Kansas City, The Shangri-Las, 1965


I Can Never Go Home Any More, The Shangri-Las, 1965

Shangri-La is the fictional, Himalayan, tropical paradise in the 1937 Frank Capra film Lost Horizon. It was remade as a musical in 1973 with music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David.

Dick Van Dyke

My first movie theater experience happened at age 3 in 1968 while seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Do I remember? No, but the film was shown every year on tv and it was my favorite. I've always loved the physical humor of Dick Van Dyke and the movie has a great story, good songs and a creepy child catcher. It also stars Benny Hill.

Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I'm grateful for this guy who sings to animals.

Man, dig that crazy chick

Let's hear it for those short shorts. Fifteen-year-old Bob Gaudio of The Four Seasons is playing piano and co-wrote Short Shorts. If you want to sing along, here are the lyrics: Who wears short shorts? We wear short shorts. They're such short shorts. We like short shorts. Repeat.

Sock it to me!

Let's boogie back to 1968 for a psychedelic dance party and roller coaster ride courtesy of Where Angels Go... Trouble Follows.

Reach Out of the Darkness, Friend and Lover 
#10 on the Billboard Hot 100, 1968

I'm hooked after one look

Just One Look, Doris Troy, 1963


Just One Look, The Hollies, 1964


What'Cha Gonna Do About It, Doris Troy, 1963


What'Cha Gonna Do About It, The Hollies, 1964

Saturday morning dose of 1965

I love this video of a meetup in Central Park in New York City.


Tell Me What You See, The Beatles, 1965

Happy Halloween

This is my latest painting entitled There's a Monster Under My Bed. 


Get your kicks from this Halloween mix.

buzz off, creep

Some people are weak, corrupt and greedy. Just tell them no kings.


Tell Him No, Travis and Bob, 1959


Tell Her No, The Zombies, 1964


No, No, No, Chris Montez, 1963

Have a fix of 1966

Teenagers dance to The Theme From "A Summer Place" on The Jack Spector Show out of Providence, Rhode Island in 1960.


WMCA, January 1966, Jack Spector (for Radio Caroline)


KHJ, September 1966, Frank Terry and Gary Mack

I'm a white bird I say

White Bird, It's a Beautiful Day, 1969

PopSpot

PopSpot was a 10-minute show which aired from October 1964 to March 1965. It featured one group per week performing three songs. Here are two episodes with Manfred Mann and Dusty Springfield.

I see mashed potatoes

Both Sides Now, Judy Collins, 1967 (written by Joni Mitchell)

Boomtown tv show

If you were a kid living in the Boston area between 1956-1974, then you probably watched Boomtown hosted by the beloved Rex Trailer. What I recall most was the theme song Hoofbeats and how the audience entered the studio waving to Hey Look Me Over with some in their Cub Scout and Brownie uniforms. At Halloween the kids wore costumes.


Hoofbeats, Rex Trailer, 1956


Hey Look Me Over, Ronnie Hilton, 1961
This tune is from the 1960 musical Wildcat starring Lucille Ball.

The chaos will eventually end

This is my latest painting entitled This Too Shall Pass Gas. Yup.


Trouble in Paradise, The Crests, 1960