Tina Turner

Thanks, Tina for what you brought to the world. Mission accomplished.

• I Can't Believe What You Say, 1964
• River Deep Mountain High promo, 1966
• Playboy After Dark, 1969
• Proud Mary, Ike and Tina Turner Revue, 1970
• Nutbush City Limits, Soul Train, circa 1975
• What's Love Got To Do With It, 1984


River Deep Mountain High, Ike and Tina Turner, 1966

I'm not your stepping stone

Beware of manipulators. You come first. Now where are my maracas?

 

Choir! Choir! Choir!

Are you the type of person who loves singing along to music whether you know the lyrics or not? Then you will love Choir! Choir! Choir! I was taken to their show at TCAN without knowing about them or what was about to happen. I loved it. The theme was George Harrison tunes. There's something magical about a bunch of people singing together. Check them out with David Byrne, Patti Smith and Rick Astley.

Where are you?

There you are. Put that hamburger down and join me in a little shake.
If you love 1960s soul music, you'll dig Funky 16 Corners radio.


Hide and Seek, Lillian Dupree, 1965

Outta my way!

What are you doing on Saturday? I'm Rollerskating. What else?


I Got My Mind Made Up, Instant Funk, 1978

It's a Bikini World

What are you wearing to the go-go party? My bikini, of course.

There's something about you

The Four Tops perform at the Roostertail on Where The Action Is.

yikes

Hey Bob...... I think that may be my jumpsuit that you're wearing.

Killer Queen

Here are two performances from Top of the Pops from 1974.

A Hard Day's Night

Wanna Watusi?

Watusi with Luci Baines Johnson and Steve McQueen in 1964.
Don't know how? Tune in to The Lawrence Welk Show and learn.


Watusi with Lucy, The Dovells, 1964

Saturday morning dose of Soul Train

Take a stroll down the Soul Train line and get down. Whooooah!

Zephyr winds which blow on high...

...lift me now so I can fly. On Saturday mornings, I didn't go outside until after The Shazam/Isis Hour. Words of wisdom from Isis.

Tom Jones

Tom performs on The Dusty Springfield Show in 1967. Here he sings a rendition of Joe Tex's Show Me. On the tv show Beat Room:
• Chills and Fever and What'd I Say, 1964

Saturday morning dose of 1965

For the intellectuals: James Baldwin and William F. Buckley debate.
For the rest of us: commercials and tv show openings. Yippeeee.

It's a Beautiful Morning

During a recent visit to Oahu, my host surprised me with a show featuring Felix and Gene from The Rascals. They wrote so many groovin' tunes and played and performed with so much energy.
Check out this guy talking about Felix and the Hammond.

Felix and Gene perform at The Blue Note. Click pic to make big.


Honolulu Lulu, Jan and Dean, 1963

Thank God for acrylics

Heavy Makes You Happy

Rock'n Mania Records

During my teens, I bought most of my albums from a used record store two towns away. Buying an album for only one song sucked (Blue Oyster Cult), so I would scoop up many of the "best of" albums because all the songs were good. I was often hearing really good music for the first time – like Sam & Dave. What a gas to see video like this.

This is my used Sam & Dave "best of" album. Click on it to make big.

Dance Party USA

I smile when I think of some of the clothing I wore to express myself.

Happy New Year!

Whether you're going out, staying in, having Chinese food or will be asleep by 10, enjoy starting off the year on a good foot. Yippeee!

Merry Christmas!

In the photo above, my sister Janet and I visit Santa in 1966.

This is the 1966 Goodyear Christmas album sold in their stores.

The Beat

Every Christmas as a teenager, my mom would ask me for a list of 6 albums that I wanted. I would giggle at the thought of her in line with my selections. One of the Christmas commercials that aired in 1982 was for K-tel's "The Beat." I wanted it. I gave my mom the address to send for it and she came through. I still have it. I'm too lazy to make a new Christmas mix so here are some old ones. Enjoy the season!

Click on the album to make it big. Some of the groups on the record:
Go-Gos • Split Enz • Waitresses • Depeche Mode • Duran Duran
Kim Wilde • Bow Wow Wow • Haircut 100 • A Flock of Seagulls

push it over

I love backup singing in the 1960s. Here are 2 songs I've fallen in love with that have groovy backup singing and they're both about pushing:


Push a Little Harder, The Avons, 1963
The timpani and the "space organ" crack me up.


Push a Little Harder, The Enjoyables, 1964
How do you not enjoy a song by a group called The Enjoyables?
Beautiful harmonies in the style of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions. Keep On Pushing and since we're pushin' it...

Elvis Costello

What's so funny about peace, love and understanding? Tell me.

Do you wanna dance?

Eugene Church

Thanks to Christopher from Lost and Found, I now have a new favorite song. Eugene Church had a big hit with Pretty Girls Everywhere in 1958. Here are The Walker Brothers doing a version. Lol. Yeah!


Good News, Eugene Church, 1960

Weeeeeeeee

Let's go! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Run!

I cannot stop playing this song this morning. I guess the message for the day is: young hearts run free. Run hearts, run! Thanks, Candi. 💛


Young Hearts Run Free, Candi Staton, 1976

Saturday afternoon dose of 1979

David Bowie, Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias perform Bowie's tune The Man Who Sold the World as SNL's musical guest in 1979. I loved Real People as a teen, especially the segments with the weirdos.


The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie, 1970

Frankie Lymon

I cut back on reading biographies and autobiographies. I didn't like the ugly things I was learning. So many of our beloved artists were abused, ripped off and discarded. I have yet to learn much about Mr. Lymon because it didn't end well. I prefer to think of him as an incredible performer who contributed greatly to the world. He was only 14 in the above clip while singing the decades-old standard Goody Goody.

Goody Goody, Frankie Lymon (without The Teenagers), 1957

oh no you didn't

Cha Cha with Brigitte Bardot. Just keep your hands to yourself.

Saturday morning dose of 1965

Hit the Road Jack

I was feeling the need for a little Ray Charles this morning.

The Twilight Zone

One burger with everything and a slice of pie. That's 45¢ please.

back to school to learn the golden rule

Bobby Rydell sings about swingin' at school. This is a Scopitone.

My first day of school as a first grader in September 1971

Out of Time

Dance along to Chris Farlowe covering The Rolling Stones.

Tony Dow

The only times I've cried after a celebrity death were for Phil Hartman and most recently, Tony Dow. I always wanted a big brother and I wanted him to be just like Wally. Every morning at 7:30 from grades 1-6, I sat crosslegged in front of the tv to watch reruns of my favorite show before going to the bus stop. I wouldn't get up until the theme song ended and the last credit passed: Hair Stylist.... Florence Bush. When I see it now, I realize how well-written and humorous the show really was. I loved how pop-culture references were often used – Wally saying something like "Who do you think you are, Tony Curtis?" It had a huge impact on me and every episode taught me a lesson.

I see your magnificence

"Blue-eyed soul" means white people who sing with a lotta soul.


I've Got News, The Magnificent Men, 1966

Sunday morning dose of Shindig

Jackie Wilson belts his 1965 tune with Billy Preston and go-go girls.

Never On Sunday

Melina Mercouri was awarded the 1960 Grand Prize at Cannes for best performance in this controversial film about a prostitute.

Nana Mouskouri followed by Connie Francis in English, 1961

Now that we're on the Greek thing, have a dance with Zorba!


Zorba's Dance, Mikis Theodorakis, 1964

In the blink of an eye

We really can handle anything that life throws at us. The roof of the condo building I've lived in for almost 20 years went up in flames a few nights ago displacing us for a year. I'm now forced to figure out what comes next, but that's life. Always remember this: things don't happen to you, they happen for you. Enjoy the rest of summer and stay cool.


That's Life (That's Tough), Gabriel and the Angels, 1962

It's hot!

Get to the beach, the pool or just sit in the shade under a tree. 🔥

Carl Perkins

We've all had people who inspire us. One of George Harrison's biggest influences was rockabilly giant Carl Perkins. The Beatles covered several of his tunes and George and Carl remained friends to the end.

hi, we're psychotic

These folks should learn to be a little more hospitable. Don't ya think?

Happy July 4th

The Pops playing on the Esplanade is a big deal in Boston. Chaka Khan headlines festivities this year at the Hatch Shell. Yipppeeee!