Vintage Fiats

A highlight of a recent trip to Florence, Italy was bombing into the Tuscan countryside via a 1960s Fiat. For many a passersby, seeing a caravan of vintage cars and Vespas elicited constant waves and smiles. Arrivederci! VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

raise your hand...

...if you want to hear Tom Jones and Janis Joplin wail. My neck!

Beatle wigs

Thanks to WMBR's John Funke, I now know a 1964 Coaster's song about a guy in a Beatle wig. Because I need to sing along with it, I needed the lyrics. Since I couldn't find them on the net, I did it the old-fashioned way – by listening to the song 500 times. No need for the lyrics now. I know you're thanking me. How was this fun tune not a hit?!

Wild One, The Coasters, 1964

Because of Ringo's upcoming concert at the Boch Center/Wang Theatre, I've had Beatles on the brain. Check out Cher singing a Beatles novelty song about Ringo from 1964 as Bonnie Jo Mason.


Ringo, I Love You, Bonnie Jo Mason, 1964

Above is Cher's 1959 mugshot for driving without a license at 13.

George Harrison...

...watches his younger, Beatle-self sing This Boy. Neat-O.

Dave Mason and Steve Cropper

I was fortunate to see two legends at the lovely Cabot Theater Thursday night and it was a very memorable evening. It also happened to be the day that Aretha Franklin passed away. Singer Gretchen Rhodes belted out Chain of Fools in her honor and it was spectacular. If you have a penchant for this type of music, see this tour! Steve Cropper was the guitarist and prolific songwriter for Booker T and the MGs, Stax Records' house band. Besides his solo career, Dave Mason started out in the band Traffic along with Steve Winwood.

• Steve Cropper interview, 1984
• Booker T and the MGs, 1968
• Only You Know and I Know, Dave Mason
• We Just Disagree, Dave Mason
• Feelin' Alright, 2018
• Paper Sun, Traffic, 1967

The Spencer Davis Group...

...boogie down the river in 1966's The Ghost Goes Gear. GROOVY!

portable record player

I love everything about this, especially the song by Manfred Mann.

Other groups dug it too:
• The Shapes on Beat-Club, 1966
• The Everly Brothers, 1966
• Rod Stewart, 1976
• Elvis Costello and friends, late 80s

I'm crying

Saturday Night Live spoofs 70s and 80s acts on Soul Train.

uh oh

Now you're gonna die wearing that stupid, little hat. Ay caramba.

Herb Alpert

Check out the interesting bio of Herb Alpert. It has a great ending.

Yowza, Yowza, Yowza

The Irish love American Soul, R&B and Motown, so it only seemed fitting to see musician, songwriter and producer extraordinaire Nile Rodgers in Cork, Ireland. Unfamiliar with Rodgers? No you're not.
Here are some of the artists and musical icons he's worked with:

• Dance, Dance, Dance        • Le Freak        • Good Times
• I Want Your Love        • Everybody Dance
• David Bowie        • Madonna        • Sister Sledge
• The B-52s        • INXS        • Daft Punk

While visiting colorful Kinsale, we were drawn into a pub by the sounds of a fab duo singing everything from Irish folk songs to Johnny Cash. But best of all, they sang The Rattlin' Bog, a song I learned in the 4th grade along with The Erie Canal and Señor Don Gato and haven't heard since. Dontcha just love a good sing-along? Lalalalalaaaaaaaaa!

Kiki Dee

Discovering this song has led me to rediscover Kiki Dee. Maybe it's because I have the music in me, but it's made me so very happy. In 1965, she appeared in the film Dateline Diamonds with Small Faces.

• Itchycoo Park, Small Faces, 1967
• singing backup for Dusty Springfield
• a duet with Elton John

If you have a thing for "originals" like I do, you'll appreciate hearing
Tami Lynn's 1965 recording of I'm Gonna Run Away From You:

get that thing away from me

Here's one for the kids. I think. This was a number 1 hit in 1950.
Beware on your beach walks. I hate when a song leaves you hanging.


The Thing, Phil Harris, 1950

Memorial Day

Thank you to all who serve and have served. Service dogs too!

hurry up summer

I eat up footage like this. Bumpy rides or what? If you enjoy viewing historical films, British Pathé is the best. FUN IN THE SUN.

Where may I find one of these? Want to go to the ski machine?

Substitute

The Who rock out with their 1966 hit Substitute. Yeah baby.

Funky Chicken en masse

Rufus Thomas puts on a great show and the folks are groovin.


Can Your Monkey Do the Dog? Rufus Thomas, 1964

Billy Preston

Learn about Preston and the Hammond. 1950s: with Nat King Cole; 1960s: on Shindig!; 1970s: Will It Go Round in Circles

Studio Two

I grew up in a household with lots of music, singing and dancing and I've been a Beatles fan since I can remember. It must've been exciting to have seen them in person at The Cavern Club and smaller venues before they made it big. I got a taste of that last night when I saw Studio Two at The Center for Arts in Natick and it was scrumptious. These talented guys channeled The Beatles' early years fantastically and left me and the audience shoutin' for more. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

The Witch Queen of New Orleans

Redbone sing about Marie Laveau on Beat-Club in 1971.

Before they became Redbone, Pat and Lolly Vegas were in demand and had gigs all over the Hollywood scene in the mid-60s. Here they perform in the Oscar-winning It's a Bikini World. Is it though?

Sonny and Cher have a groovy night out at The Haunted House.

Saturday morning dose of Shindig!

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Need some new dance moves? Watch this and start practicing, baby.

Bony Maronie

This spoof group appeared on The Steve Allen Show in 1964.
He lets out his inner Ethel Merman here. Waaaaaaaahhhhh!

Do It Any Way You Wanna

Here's some mesmerizing grooviness for y'all disco kings and queens.

What's your hangup, man?

Richard Dreyfuss, Weezie and Mr. Roper appeared in this 1968 teensploitation flick. Let's go out, my mother's a huge drag.



The dancing chick was Rhoda, the child murderer in The Bad Seed.
This intense film is one of the best forms of contraception.

If you don't work...

...you can't eat. That means no tater tot nachos. That's right.

Chicago rocks

If you dig rock and roll history, then enjoy this little lesson.

I can't look away

I'll have what they're having. I'll take one of those green suits too.

Suavecito

Every few years I rediscover this beauteous tune from 1972.

Love Is The Drug

This Roxy Music song from 1975 seems way ahead of its time.

radio station memorabilia

Here's a fun site to visit for promo ads and countdown lists.

Tower of Power

A friend bought some tickets to see Tower of Power at one of my favorite venues for Friday night’s show. I had no idea what I was in for. The band is now fronted by the charismatic, entertaining “Memphis Soul Man” Marcus Scott and the rhythm and horn sections were superb. This show blew me away. It also didn't hurt that we were in the second row.

My parents always relinquished control of the car radio to their kids.
I knew all of the latest pop songs from the car. I’ll often hear a tune and immediately think “car radio song”. So Very Hard to Go is my quintessential car radio song. How can I not throw in What Is Hip?

Very interesting interviews with Emilio Castillo and David Garibaldi


Stop, Howard Tate, 1967

Have a listen to Stop by Howard Tate, one of the songs mentioned in Castillo's interview (above) that inspired the Tower of Power sound.

Joy to the World

This is my Christmas present this year. Screw aluminum.

Santa smokes?

He comes down the chimney and IS a chimney. Happy Christmas!

Three Dog Night

Earth is the insane asylum of the universe, yet the show must go on.

Check them out early in their career on the Hy Lit tv show. This syndicated program from Philly aired from 1965-71. You go, white boy.

• Easy to Be Hard    • Liar    • Eli's Coming     • Shambala
• Mama Told Me Not to Come     • One     • Black and White
• Family of Man     • Joy to the World     • Celebrate

leaf me alone

Billy Fury performs Nothin' Shakin' on Ready Steady Go!.

Happy Thanksgiving

Most importantly, give thanks. Then eat, eat and eat some more. Just
do it 'til ya satisfied. Have that 5th slice of pie in your sweatpants.