Betty who?

My favorites are: Betty White, Betty Boop, Betty Crocker, Betty Grable, Betty Ford and Betty Rubble but my #1 is Black Betty.

Linda Ronstadt

Here are two live performances featuring the most angelic voice.

Justine

Going to the barbershop, gonna have him do me up, gonna get clean for my little buttercup. The Righteous Brothers perform Justine complete with go-go girls dancing The Monkey and the "James Brown." This high-energy tune was originally recorded in 1958 by Don and Dewey.


Justine, Don and Dewey, 1958

Saturday morning dose of 1965

New Musical Express is a British publication (now online) established in 1952. From 1959–1972, NME held concerts featuring the winners from the reader's poll of favorite artists. From 1964 on, the concerts were filmed for tv viewing. Here are some performances from the 1965 show:

The Moody Blues  •  Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
The Seekers  •  Herman's Hermits  •  Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders  •  The Rolling Stones  •  Them  •  The Searchers
Dusty Springfield  •  The Animals  •  The Beatles  •  The Kinks

backup singing

I've always had a fondness for songs with terrific backup singing.

John Fogerty

I was a fortunate son last night to be able to see John Fogerty and his kids put on a blast of a show in Boston. One huge, sing-along fest.

school dances

As a teenager in the late 70s and early 80s, my school threw lots of dances and I attended most of them. After the 7th grade, we stopped having dances in the gym to preserve the floor. They were then held in the cafeteria and the resident deejay was Mr. Taylor, one of the teachers. Every time I hear Cars by Gary Numan, I remember how impressed I was that he played this cool, weird, new-wavish song at a dance in the fall of 1979. Satisfaction was always played even though it was 15-years-old. Stairway to Heaven was usually the last song.

meet me at the pool

Travel to Venezuela and Israel. Take a dip or squiggle poolside.

Saturday morning dose of 1965

Maggie Thrett has got me goin' loopy with her groovy tune Soupy.


Soupy, 1965 (thanks Funky 16 Corners)

Staying cool?

Get outside, splash around or grab some grub and have a picnic.

Eddie Kendricks

This song reminds me of riding in the car as a kid. It was #2 on the charts in 1974. Check out these platforms and boogie down, baby.

I wanna go home

Do you feel like Earth isn't your true home? That's because it isn't.

beat school

Where are my sunglasses and cigarettes? It's time for writing class.

Martha and Dusty

In 1965, several Motown groups appeared on Ready Steady Go along with host Dusty Springfield. Martha and the Vandellas join Dusty for a fabulous version of Wishin' and Hopin' – the original Salt-N-Pepa. 

In this clip, Dusty is backed up by Motown greats. What a show. 😃

Tico rocks!

Tico kind of sings along to Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes.

I Dig Everything

Check out this early tune by David Bowie. Can you dig it? I dig it.


I Dig Everything, 1966

fuzz and twang

Billy Strange, guitarist/songwriter and member of The Wrecking Crew performs Satisfaction. Strange's guitar is heard on a ton of hits but my favorite is his rockin', surf sound from The Munsters (1964).

Welcome summer!

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Remember what it's all about.

weeeeeeeeeeeee!

How have I never heard of this beast from England? As a kid I would dream of taking a rollercoaster places instead of a bus or train. This is what it would've been like. 😜 Coooooool! Whoooooooooaaaaahhh!

gliddy gloop gloopy

Last weekend I attended an intense, 3-day retreat in the lovely state of New Hampshire. On two occasions we had to spend time alone in the woods at night. Looking up at the starry sky was my solace from my vivid imagination running wild especially after being told there was a mama bear with cubs spotted in the vicinity. That's right, I'm woo-woo.


Good Morning Starshine, Oliver, 1969

Come On and Sing

Dancing Machine

Brown + Orange = Brorange, the official color of the 1970s.

It's Madison time

Two regulars from Baltimore's teen dance program The Buddy Deane Show (1957-64) demonstrate The Madison in 1959. This program was the basis for The Corny Collins Show in Hairspray.

Can you dig it?

Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?

Don't Be Cruel

Before opening your big, fat mouth, is what you're about to say kind?
Is it helpful? Or is it cruel? If the latter is true, perhaps look into that.

Happy Easter

Heavenly souls, go in peace to love and serve the Lord. No, really.

yeah yeah

Check out this groovy rendition of The Monkey's Uncle originally recorded by The Beach Boys and Annette Funicello from 1965.

To Sit On a Sandwich

What do you mean you think the 1960s were weird? Hold the mayo.

burrrrr, I'm cold

The Doors perform their first #1 hit Light My Fire on a beach in Malibu from 1967 during Morrison's pre-smelly-leather-pants era.

One ticket to ride...

...to Nocovidtown, please. Live at Shea with actual audio from 1965.

Got My Mojo Working

Muddy Waters performs live on Canadian TV. At Newport in 1960.

Is this Heaven?

Chicago Transit Authority...

...before they shortened their name. Where's my cowbell damn it?

Smackwater Jack

Here is a terrific live performance. Tapestry was released in 1971.

I'm a model

I'm too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan. Show me Blue Steel.

sidewalk surfing

Skateboarding makes its way to the east coast and New York City.

• A California skateboard team, 1964
• Hanging out at the beach in California, 1966
• Skateboard Champion Patti McGee, 1965
• The Devil's Toy, 1966

Na?

Want to know what the German tv show Beat Beat Beat was like in 1966/67? You do? Well you're in luck. Yippppppppeeeeeeeee!

hmmmmm

the electric house

If you're a mid-century-modern freakazoid, you'll dig this 1950s promo film from Westinghouse. The heating bill is how much?!

I'll take one of those flip-up screen walls please. Fluffy! Nooooo!

The Ikettes

The after-holidays make me a little blue. Good thing for leftovers.

Happy Christmas

Here's a mix to help you make your season merry and bright.

donkeys or cats?

The cat version makes me want to scratch my own eyes out. Aaahh.


Lou Monte, 1960


The Christmas Cats

Where does she live?

She don't come from no city, she lives way down in Diddy Wah Diddy.

Diddy Wah Diddy, Barry and the Remains, 1966