Barcelona, Spain

If you dig architecture (Antoni Gaudi), art (Picasso, Miro, Dali), a blow-out of a festival and delectable food (tapas, pinchos), then go
to Barcelona before you die. Did I mention sangria and mojitos?

During the third weekend in September is La Merce, a festival that began in 1902 – musical acts, performances and lots of drumming (check this out). When was the last time you went to a fun parade?
For me it was never, until I saw The Parade of Giants.

The people of Spain can really throw a party. Arriba! Andale!



The swell drumming in the movie above is from this video.

Saturday morning dose of The Beatles

Here's the complete concert at The Washington Coliseum in 1964.

don't point

I cannot stop laughing at the hilarious paintings of these fools.

feeling nostalgic

Sheila E, Prince, and Sheena Easton with Prince take me back.

Honey Lantree

Honey wails on the skins in 1965's Pop Gear, a.k.a. Go Go Mania.

• Google Eye, The Nashville Teens • Big Energy, Sounds Incorporated

Larry Graham and Dave Koz

I like to keep my posts short and sweet, but I need to gush for this one. I received a last-minute invite to see a legend perform at the cozy and wonderful Cabot Theater last night. It ended up being one of the best shows I've ever seen. The energy and talent were overwhelming and the audience participation was a blast. They had everyone singing, groovin', and clapping double-time at one point. Larry Graham, funk pioneer, was one of the original members of Sly and the Family Stone and invented the bass-slapping technique. He also collaborated extensively with Prince. Their renditions of Sly's and Prince's songs were perfection with Koz as the horn section with his sax. Prince was looking down for sure.

• Graham playing bass with Sly and the Family Stone

• Dave Koz with Postmodern Jukebox

Saturday morning dose of kitsch

I love this alien. The man with the alligator head, not so much.
Looking forward to seeing this exhibit at the PEM in Salem, MA.

Nashville Cats

The Lovin' Spoonful pay tribute to the Nashville Cats in 1966.

summertime

Summertime in New England is too short for my needs. Wah.

Saturday morning dose of 1968

The Equals perform Baby Come Back on Top of the Pops in 1968.

The Cuff Links

When my friend Tracey found out that I did a post for our friend Suzanne, she said "where's my post"? Tracey's parents bought her this 45 record in 1969, for obvious reasons. Get out your bubblegum.

Leonard Cohen

I was recently telling my friend Suzanne about this beautiful song.

here piggy wiggy

Just when everything is groovy, your pig goes missing. Damn it.

Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

Who better to have backing you up than The Edwin Hawkins Singers. They sing live with Melanie on a Dutch tv program in 1970. Wowza!

Happy 4th of July

Let freedom ring! And I'll take mustard on my hot dog please.

Saturday morning dose of Shindig!

Gladys Kravitz

We've all encountered those pesky gossips. What's up with them?

hey space cadet

Planning a trip on Virgin Galactic? Get a new do for the occasion.

Elvis Costello

In an era when my friends and peers were swooning to Journey and REO Speedwagon, I thankfully had Elvis (the second one). Explore:

• Pump It Up
• Oliver's Army
• The Beat
• Radio, Radio
• (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
• Watching the Detectives
• Accidents Will Happen
• Green Shirt
• Alison live (love the organ!)

Shebang tv show

Here's a complete episode of Shebang from 1967 featuring Motown. Shebang was an LA-based dance show that aired from 1965-1968.

For me, Kasem will always be the voice of Shaggy. Punch it!

that's a spicy meatball

An early birthday present is taking me to see Mamma Mia! at Boston's Opera House tonight. Listening to the radio in the 1970s, Abba was all over the place. I cannot stop thinking of this commercial from 1969.

De La Soul

If you dig 1980s and early 90s hip hop, then you probably already know these guys. If not, sharing is caring...



• Say No Go
• Me, Myself and I
• The Magic Number
• Transmitting Live from Mars

Eclectic sampling at its best:

• Five Feet High and Rising, Johnny Cash (1959)
• You Showed Me, The Turtles (1968)
• Peg, Steely Dan (1977)
• Schoolhouse Rock (1973)
• I Can't Go for That, Hall and Oates (1981)

My Old School

Steely Dan performs in 1973 after a very informative intro.

so long

A rock and roll pioneer and trailblazer has passed. A huge thanks to Chuck Berry. The clips below are from a 1965 Belgian television show.

• Maybellene
• Roll Over Beethoven
• Memphis
• No Particular Place to Go
• Promised Land/Johnny B. Goode medley

Good, Good Lovin'

I'll be seeing the tremendous Darlene Love tonight in Boston and I'm sure she'll be getting some good, good lovin' from the audience. In the video above, The Blossoms perform on the very last episode of Shindig! in January 1966. Groove along with them on Shindig!:

• Dancing in the Street
• Needle in a Haystack
• I Like It Like That
• Night Time is the Right Time with The Righteous Brothers
• Backing up Aretha Franklin

UPDATE: I was once again blown away. Gotta love Love!

Shirley Ellis

1965 was an energetic year. It was a good one for Shirley too.

Saturday morning dose of the 70s

Time to put on my "Get on Down!" t-shirt. Yeah, baby.

To love or to hate?

Here's a guide. 1971: The Persuaders  1984: The Pretenders

sour power

Groovy gum commercials featuring The Four Seasons and surfing.

Saturday afternoon dose of 1958

Terrific footage of teens with music and dancing for everyone.

Devo

While decluttering recently, I came upon my Devo ticket stub (click to enlarge). Apparently, my mom let me see them on a school night.
Things became a little weird in the early 1980s, and I loved it.

If something was quirky and made me laugh from its absurdity and wackiness, the better. Enter, Devo. If you like to dance or want a giggle, these will make you, at least, bob your head:

• Whip It
• Girl U Want
• That's Good
• Through Being Cool
• Beautiful World
• (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
• Peek-a-boo
• If you're really adventurous, watch this

At the concert I bought a red, flower-pot hat. I also bought a concert t-shirt. The concert was during their strange, plastic-shoulder, potato-body phase. When the t-shirt became too small to wear, I gave it to a friend with the stipulation to give it back when she no longer wore it. A few years ago she returned it. Ta da.

A very Devo Christmas in 1982. The above photo is THIS!

customer service dos and don'ts

Want a job at The Krystal? Then stop being a trollop already.

Oh No Not My Baby

Maxine Brown performs at The Bitter End in 1968. The Carole King-Gerry Goffin tune was recorded by Merry Clayton in 1972.
Here is a peek at the creative process with King on piano.

Have a listen to Maxine Brown's 1964 recording:

The Letter

The Box Tops perform live at The Bitter End much to the audience's excitement. Why would you want to name yourself after the top of a box? Am I missing something? Just like a little, bitty baby now.