CAN SHADY DEL KNIGHT KEEP YOU
ENTERTAINED IN THE COMING YEAR?
ENTERTAINED IN THE COMING YEAR?
IS
PETER
GRIFFIN
"THAT GUY"?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's exciting to be starting my first full year of blogcasting from
my new facility here at SPMM - Shady's Place Music & Memories.
S-P-M-M means more music with less talk, so let's get to it.
The gang's all here! I am pleased to welcome back the six members of
The Shady Bunch, the staff of cool DJs who will keep the great sounds
coming at you throughout 2019. The honor of spinning the first
record of the new year goes to my good friend Shady Green
who invites you to climb aboard his Wayback Machine!
Hey, thank you, Shady Del Knight, and happy new year
to one and all! My first nugget of the year is a real mind-
blower, and if you're following our simulcast on YouTube,
you will enjoy seeing as well as hearing this performance.
It's the singing Singer Family of San Diego, California,
along with a group of go-go dancers from the local
Young Actors' Theatre.
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
Together they flash us back to 1971 with a cool cover of Tommy James'
biggest solo hit, the million seller "Draggin' The Line." Look out,
world... here comes-- The Singer Family!
world... here comes-- The Singer Family!
"Draggin' the Line" - Tommy James
(cover by The Singer Family, San Diego,
ft. go-go dancers from Young Actors' Theatre)
The Zinger (Singer) Family of Southern
California there with a treat for the eyes
as well as the ears, bringing back the era
of psychedelic sunshine pop, performing
the song "Draggin' The Line"... a top 5
hit for Tommy James of Shondells fame.
Hard to believe, but Tommy's groovy
tune almost got buried on the B side
of the single. Fortunately the decision
makers recognized the hit potential of
"Draggin' The Line," changed their
minds at the last minute and
released it as the A side.
That's it for me today. I'll be back soon to give you a good
long ride in my Wayback Machine. Now it's time for me
to turn over the mic to everybody's favorite pooch,
S-P-M-M's very own Hound of Sound-- Toto Moto!
Thanks, Shady Green! You're a RUFF RUFF RUFF
act to follow! (BA-DUM-BUMP) My first record of
the year is a big beat ditty that's guaranteed
to blow out your woofers. Woofers... get it?
(BA-DUM-BUMP) It comes to us from across
the great pond, and I don't mean the
one I made on the
living room floor.
(BA-DUM-BUMP)
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
Remember when The Dave Clark Five were just as popular in
America as the Fab Four? Here's the English pop rock quintet
with one of their earliest and biggest hits-- "Bits And Pieces!"
America as the Fab Four? Here's the English pop rock quintet
with one of their earliest and biggest hits-- "Bits And Pieces!"
"Bits And Pieces" - The Dave Clark Five
(Apr./May 1964, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100/#2 UK)
The DC-5 with one of their biggies from 1964, "Bits And
Pieces." I need to go huntin' for a hydrant, but I'll be back
later in the year with more nifty numbers like that one
in Toto's Top Tunes Time Tunnel. Up next, my good
buddy The Geator, Jerry Blavat, who just now dug
up a nugget from his show Geator Gold. I think
you're gonna dig it, too. Take it away, Jerry!
Alright, faaantastic!!! How 'bout a big round of applause
for my canine compadre, Mr. Toto Moto? Greetings and
salutations! I am the Geator with the Heater... I am
the Boss with the big Hot Sauce... and you're tuned
to the greatest little station in the nation, S-P-M-M!
for my canine compadre, Mr. Toto Moto? Greetings and
salutations! I am the Geator with the Heater... I am
the Boss with the big Hot Sauce... and you're tuned
to the greatest little station in the nation, S-P-M-M!
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
My first spin of the year is a bombastic dance record dedicated to
all my yon teenagers on the Discophonic TV Scene. My good friends
The Contours from the Motor City are here to ask the musical question,
"What does every man look at first?" and it ain't what you think, y'all!
all my yon teenagers on the Discophonic TV Scene. My good friends
The Contours from the Motor City are here to ask the musical question,
"What does every man look at first?" and it ain't what you think, y'all!
"First I Look At The Purse" - The Contours
(Sept. 1965, highest chart pos. #57 Hot 100/#12 R&B)
The great Motown Sound of The Contours and "First I
Look At The Purse." I gotta split, but I'll be back soon
with more great sounds of yesteryear on Geator Gold.
Look At The Purse." I gotta split, but I'll be back soon
with more great sounds of yesteryear on Geator Gold.
Now here to play the next song is a stupendous
record spinner, a real winner, my main man...
Mr. Shady Blue!
record spinner, a real winner, my main man...
Mr. Shady Blue!
Thank you, Jerry Blavat, and happy new year, everyone!
By now it's no secret that I'm crazy about Elvis the Pelvis,
hence the name of my radio show Stuck Like Glue On
Shady Blue. My first song of the year is a sweet
ballad that Elvis sang to his lovely co-star
in the 1965 movie Girl Happy.
By now it's no secret that I'm crazy about Elvis the Pelvis,
hence the name of my radio show Stuck Like Glue On
Shady Blue. My first song of the year is a sweet
ballad that Elvis sang to his lovely co-star
in the 1965 movie Girl Happy.
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
It's Shelley Fabares (Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show) forgetting
all about Johnny Angel as Elvis serenades her with "Puppet On A String!"
"Puppet On A String" - Elvis Presley
(from Apr. 1965 film Girl Happy)
Elvis "The King" crooning the tune "Puppet On A String"
to pretty Shelley Fabares in the movie Girl Happy.
Keep it here on S-P-M-M Radio for lots more
pelvic platters and great oldies of the 50s
and early 60s made by other artists on
my show Stuck Like Glue on Shady Blue.
Now here's my good buddy Dell Rat Tom
to play one of his favorite Jukebox Giants!
to pretty Shelley Fabares in the movie Girl Happy.
Keep it here on S-P-M-M Radio for lots more
pelvic platters and great oldies of the 50s
and early 60s made by other artists on
my show Stuck Like Glue on Shady Blue.
Now here's my good buddy Dell Rat Tom
to play one of his favorite Jukebox Giants!
Thank you, Shady Blue, and happy new year! I'm beginning 2019 with a
flashback to a day in May of 1965. I was sick and spent that entire day in bed.
Yet, that evening, I begged my dad to drive me to a discount department store
so that I could buy a certain record, one of the most exciting sounds I ever heard.
flashback to a day in May of 1965. I was sick and spent that entire day in bed.
Yet, that evening, I begged my dad to drive me to a discount department store
so that I could buy a certain record, one of the most exciting sounds I ever heard.
It was "Wooly Bully" by rock 'n' roller Sam The Sham
and his band The Pharaohs. Named after his pet cat,
"Wooly Bully" was Sam's first and biggest hit. The
record shot to #2 on the chart only to be denied
the #1 spot by the Four Tops smash hit "I Can't
Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)." It was
quite an accomplishment for Motown's Tops and
Sam, a Tex-Mex artist from Dallas, to hold the top
two spots on the Hot 100 at a time when British
Invasion acts were dominating the chart.
Here now are Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs with that
rockin' little record I just had to have - the one that
got me up out of my sick bed-- "Wooly Bully."
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
"Wooly Bully" - Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs
(May/June 1965, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100)
Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs with their signature song
"Wooly Bully." Don't touch that dial. I'll be back throughout
the year to spin more of the greatest hits of the Shady Dell
on my regularly scheduled show Jukebox Giants. Now,
here's one of the coolest guys you're ever gonna meet.
For him cool comes naturally, and so it is apropos
that he hosts a program here on S-P-M-M called
Natural Hy. He's my Shady Bunch buddy Hy Lit!
Thanks, Tommy boy! I appreciate the kind intro, my friend.
Hey, this is your pal on the radio, your man with the plan,
on the scene with the record machine here at station
S-P-M-M, where the cool oldies go to live forever.
Callin' uptown, downtown, crosstown - here, there,
everywhere, yours truly Hy Lit, and I'm starting the
year off right with a story song inspired by one of
Aesop's fables - The Farmer and the Viper.
Hey, this is your pal on the radio, your man with the plan,
on the scene with the record machine here at station
S-P-M-M, where the cool oldies go to live forever.
Callin' uptown, downtown, crosstown - here, there,
everywhere, yours truly Hy Lit, and I'm starting the
year off right with a story song inspired by one of
Aesop's fables - The Farmer and the Viper.
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
It's without a doubt one of the grooviest sounds around, a Northern Soul killer,
a guaranteed dance floor filler, from the man who gave us the #1 smash
"Show And Tell," Al Wilson-- "The Sssssnake!"
"The Snake" - Al Wilson
(Sept./Oct. 1968, highest chart pos.
#27 Hot 100/#32 R&B)
#27 Hot 100/#32 R&B)
HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM YOUR PALS
"THE SHADY BUNCH"
AT S-P-M-M...
THE STATION THAT'S #1
FOR MUSIC AND FUN!
What a groovy way to ring in the new year! Enjoyed all the selections. Nice to see Elvis doing his thing, too!
ReplyDeleteHave a very Happy New Year! Hope 2019 is a good one!
Hi, Sherry!
DeleteYessum we're open, and happy hour features two-for-one drink specials on Alka-Seltzer on the rocks. :)
Happy new year to you, dear friend! Thank you for being the early bird, the first person to comment on a Shady's Place post in 2019!
In recent years it seems like every Elvis recording and film has undergone remastering, and the clip in this post from the 1965 movie Girl Happy is a fine example. What a joy it is to see Elvis wooing beautiful girl-next-door Shelley Fabares in HD and hear the clarity of his singing and sweet Shelley's speaking voice.
I'm happy to know you also enjoyed the selections presented by the other Shady Bunch deejays. Keep your dial set to SPMM for much more music and fun throughout 2019.
Thanks again for coming and have a great year, dear friend Sherry!
Wooly Bully is always fun to hear!
ReplyDeleteHmmm... well that's certainly an interesting take on Dragging the Line. I'll admit some of the visuals made me laugh. I sometimes wonder how you come across some of these covers! ;)
Hope your new year is getting off to a good start, Shady.
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteHappy new year to you, dear friend, and thanks for coming over on the holiday!
Whenever I "go shopping" on YouTube for a specific original studio recording of the past, I typically play at least a few seconds of every upload to find the one with the best possible sound and hopefully picture quality to match. I have found that the farther down the page you scroll, the more likely it is that you will come to interesting cover versions like the one in this post by The Singer Family. To me their rendition of the Tommy James hit is a great find, a video that brings back the sensational psychedelic Sixties with bell bottoms, peace signs, lava lamps, Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, hula hoops and go-go dancers. I think the Singers resemble the Partridge Family and the whole gang did a tremendous job. I hope they produce more cover videos in the future.
I wish you and yours a wonderful 2019, dear friend Kelly. Thanks again for joining the fun and I'll see you soon!
Happy New Year, Shady!
ReplyDeleteGreat song and video featuring Elvis and Shelley! It’s hard to imagine that Shelley would go on to play the extremely patient girlfriend of a college football coach. “One, two, tres, cuatro” has delighted me since grade school, learning the Spanish name for PBJ was quesadilla. Al Wilson actually crushed a long-held belief that my great-grandma wrote that story – ha! Terrific line-up of memorable melodies to begin a new year!
Hi, diedre!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? I am very happy to see you again. Welcome back to Shady's Place as I begin another calendar year of blogging!
I keep remembering Shelley Fabares playing the cigarette smoking mother in the 1993 Gwyneth Paltrow movie Deadly Relations. After years of watching Shelley on Donna Read, in Elvis movies and on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and similar light romantic series, it was quite a jolt to see Shelley as an older woman in that dramatic role.
I'm glad you enjoyed that ditty by Sam The Sham. I'm pretty sure my dad and I went to a J.C. Penney store that evening so that I could add "Wooly Bully" to my collection of 45s. "The Snake" has always been a favorite of mine and I was thrilled to find this video with nicely remastered sound.
I'm so pleased you could be here to help me kick off another year, dear friend diedre. Thank you again for coming. I wish you and your family all the best in 2019!
Happy New Year from this Ms. Sicky ☃️. That first video....I never knew it was done by the square looking family, it’s actually quite weird and very Brady Bunch:). I know the other songs but love Wooly Bully but didn’t know it was the name of his pussy cat. Elvis is always great and did you know Shelly is married to B. J. Hunnicutt...Mike Farrell? She was also fun on the tv show Coach. These are great songs for the New Year. May this year coming be filled with health and better news and times. Wishing you and your wife much heartfelt happiness.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThank you very much for coming by, dear friend. I'm pleased to see you!
I just came from reading your latest post and I'm sorry to learn that you are "poorly" as they say at Downton Abbey. Guess what? So am I! I came down with a bad head cold the day after Christmas and still haven't shaken it off. I wish us both healthier days ahead in 2019.
The version of "Draggin' The Line" in this post is a cover by a musical family in San Diego, The Singer Family. The original was recorded by Tommy James who had a string of mid to late 60s hits with his band The Shondells including "Hanky Panky," "Crimson And Clover" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion." Clearly the The Singer Family was trying to remind us of those other singing families of the 60s and early 70s, The Partridge Family, The Cowsills and The Brady Bunch. I think they succeeded!
I remember when Shelley Fabares was married to record and movie producer Lou Adler in the mid 60s. In 1964 and '65 Shelley made the best recordings of her career but, unfortunately, they were among the poorest selling. So it goes in the fickle music business.
Thank you again for your kind visit and for wishing us a better year in 2019. I appreciate you expressing that, BB, and I wish you the same. Happy new year to you and your hubby, dear friend!
Happy New Year, Shady Bunch!
ReplyDeleteWhat a groovy post to welcome in the New Year and I was only familiar with a few songs - the Contours, Elvis, and Dave Clark. I wasn't familiar with the other songs, but I enjoy them all the same. I will have to jam to these pieces tomorrow morning when I go back to working two jobs. :)
I look forward to exploring music with you this year, dear friend. I always love learning from you. I hope that you have a wonderful and joyful 2019!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteHappy new year to you, dear friend! How's 2019 treating you so far? :)
I'm glad you dropped in to sample these groovy sounds played by the six SPMM Radio deejays. I'm a little surprised you remember that 1965 Contours record. Although it brushed the top 10 on the black chart, "Purse" halted less than halfway up the Billboard Hot 100 and was not nearly as big as their crossover hit "Do You Love Me." At the Shady Dell, it was a 1966 Contours single, "Just A Little Misunderstanding," that became a Jukebox Giant.
I hope you get another chance to jam to the tuneage as you go back to work tomorrow. Thank you again for making time for a visit and have a wonderful 2019, dear friend JM!
I'm not feeling too well. Got my health back, but enjoying all the unsavory aspects of getting my health back lol. I'm exhausted.
DeleteI've been in some pain and haven't really had the chance to jam. Will be forcing myself to skate tomorrow because I hear it helps cramps. Maybe I'll jam as a warm up. :)
Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteI and several of my blog friends are ailing as we start the new year, and I'm sorry to learn that you aren't feeling well either. I'm sorry you are in pain and hope tomorrow's visit to the skating rink eases your symptoms and perks you up.
Thanks for dropping in and please take care of yourself, dear friend JM!
Happy New Year Shady and pals! You picked winners for this first post! I had to laugh at the styles on the video by the Singer family. Were the 70's really that crazy? Well, OK, I did have the boots..and the mini..and the long hair..and that's all I'm admitting to! Fun video and song and then don't get me started on Dave Clark 5..seriously, I hated them when they started out because I was such a Beatles fan that I thought Dave Clark was just poor imitators! I was so loyal the the Fab4! But secretly I thought they were really good back then..I'll never admit it in print again! OH how cute was Shelley and Elvis together! I enjoyed that movie and I've always loved Shelley Fabares. I still enjoy the Donna Reed show on reruns. So this first post of 2019 brought me back many years and the memories are great! I hope you have a fabulous 2019 and I'm looking forward to many more fun, interesting, informative and just plain good stuff here! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteHappy new year to you, dear friend, and thanks so much for dropping by!
I knew you'd zero in on the late 60s/early 70s clothing and hair styles worn by members of The Zinger Family (The Singer Family) as they covered that Tommy James hit. "Were the 70s really that crazy?" Ever seen the way ABBA dressed? :) I would say The Singers nailed their performance, using props that recall the era, flanked by go-go dancers, and doing a great job of singing the song - a wonderful production, in my opinion.
Yessum, there were two camps of fans, the ones who preferred The Beatles and those who liked their rivals The DC5. It was like comparing apples and oranges because the bands had completely different styles. Like you I favored The Beatles from the very beginning.
I pay attention to the number of likes and favorable comments on YouTube, and I can testify that Shelley Fabares continues to be wildly popular. It was a magic moment when Elvis crooned his love song to pretty Shelley in Girl Happy, the first of three Elvis films that featured Shelley as The King's leading lady and love interest, the others being Spinout and Clambake. Shelley was the quintessential sweet, wholesome girl next door. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
You are so kind, YaYa. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed these retrosonic songs spun by my staff of DJs. Stick around because they'll all be back with their own individual shows later in the year.
What a great friend you are, YaYa, and I thank you for your ongoing support. I look forward to keeping you entertained throughout 2019. I wish you and your delightful family all the best in the new year!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteI really got a kick out of watching the “That Guy” video! I use to love “That Girl” in my youth!
I also loved the family singing, “Dragging the Line” Wow! That young girl had a deep voice! LOL!
Anything Elvis is fun to watch. Most of his movies were corny/cheesy but, like a train wreck, you had to watch!
Thanks for sharing all these fun filled video AND...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hi, Toni!
DeleteHappy new year to you, dear friend! Thanks for coming over to get a taste of the music variety that will be presented in 2019 at Shady's Place. Each of these six SPMM deejays picked a platter they hoped would please, and it seems like in your case it is "Mission Accomplished."
I'm glad you singled out that clip from Family Guy. Seth M and his gang nailed the famous show opening sequence of the hit TV series That Girl.
The "Dragging The Line" performance by the singing Singers of San Diego is very well done when you take into consideration all the elements that went into it and the choreography of the go-go girls. The deep voice synced over the little girl was a nice touch of humor. At the 2:14 mark you see a quick shot of the dragon at Balboa Park. Mrs Shady and I posed on that dragon when we visited her brothers in San Diego in 2014.
In recent years I have gained a greater appreciation of Elvis Presley. I created the SPMM Radio personality Shady Blue and his show Stuck Like Glue so that I could feature Elvis songs and videos like the one in this post.
I'm delighted to know you had fun here on your first visit of 2019. I hope you will continue to make Shady's Place your home away from home throughout 2019. Thanks again for your friendship and support, Toni, and have a great year!
I went to a free show at Hershey Park to see Sam the Sham not really expecting much. I was really surprised. He asked the audience if they would mind if he just played a guitar solo. He did and believe me that guy can really play. I never got to see him again, but would have paid big bucks for a rerun.
ReplyDeleteJerre
Hi, Jerre!
DeleteHow, are you, good buddy? Thanks for dropping by as I kick-off another calendar year of blogging and my first full year of operation at my new headquarters, Shady's Place.
Based on your reports over the years, you have seen a cavalcade of great music acts perform at Hershey Park. According to Wiki, Sam the Sham is still alive and kicking, and next month he will celebrate his 82nd birthday. What an interesting life he has had! Here are some additional tidbits from Wiki: << After leaving the music business, Sam worked in Mexico as an interpreter and as a mate on small commercial boats in the Gulf of Mexico. Sam later became a motivational speaker and poet and still makes occasional concert appearances. He was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2016. >> If Sam is still performing, there's always the chance he will return to Hershey Park or appear at another nearby venue.
Thanks again for being here for my first post of 2019, Jerre. Stick around for my next post coming right up on Saturday, plus lots more fun and music, including a heaping helping of Dell style doo-wop, scheduled throughout the year.
I wish you a fabulous year, Jerre, and thanks again for your continued friendship and support!
Oh my goodness Yes! Love starting off with the fun go-go dancers and lava lamps. I want to wrinkle my nose and jump in the video and dance with them!!
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of Woolly Bully. LOL- it what they call an ear worm in that it gets stuck in your head and it becomes annoying. I used to have an album when I was a kid that had tons of cheesy songs like that. Ahab the Arab, itsy bitsy teeny weeny polka dot bikini, Gitarzan.... etc was on the album.
Cheers to a Happy New year and good health. I also got a cold for Christmas and being snotty in the head.
Hi, Holliberry!
DeleteHappy new year to you, dear friend! I'm delighted to have you here as I begin another year of blogging, this time in my new penthouse suite called Shady's Place.
How about those singing Singers? They added many groovy touches to their video including a Hula Hoop and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, a toy and game introduced in 1964. The go-go girls came from the Young Actors' Theatre of San Diego and their dancing enhanced an already great performance of "Draggin' The Line" by the musically inclined family.
I agree that the pounding beat and nursery rhyme lyrics of "Wooly Bully" can get stuck in your head for eons, but I can think of worse fates. I think I owned that same various artists album you mentioned. It contained all novelty songs, several by Ray Stevens. It probably included "The Streak" Remember that one? << I hollered "Don't look, Ethel!" But it was too late. She'd already been mooned. Flashed her right there in front of the shock absorbers. >>
I'm sorry to learn that you and I have that one particular thing in common as we start the year - a head cold. I wish us both better health in the very near future. Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Holli, and for your loyal support during the three or four years we have known each other. I am very grateful to have you in my circle. Happy new year to you and Todd!
Happy new year, Shady!
ReplyDeleteI laughed at how Peter Griffin-in-drag ran away terrified when his mannequin-doppelganger winked at him. I dare say Ann Marie showed a bit more fortitude.
Wow, that Singer Family! I think they threw in every '60s cliche but the day-glo kitchen sink.
Elvis and Shelly looked so purty together at that Technicolor motel. Incidentally, in addition to the Donna Reed Show, and Coach, Shelly also appeared on-and-off on One Day at a Time as Ann Romano's devious co-worker (also on that show: Shelly's aunt, Nanette with-the-differently-spelled-last-name as Ann's mother.) And, of course, she was a mainstay of, if not the Frankie and Annette beach movies, then all the copycats. I love her in everything she does.
Finally, great hearing Wooly Bully again!
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for coming over, good buddy, and happy new year to you as well!
When I saw Peter Griffin-in-drag I laughed, I cried, I threw up in my mouth a little, but it is a dern funny bit, isn't it? I never missed an episode of That Girl, which followed the awkward romance of Ann Marie and Donald. No, not THAT Donald! :)
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video produced by The Zingers of Zan Diego which threw in every '60s cliche but the day-glo kitchen zinc.
Elvis and Shelley made a cute couple in Girl Happy and they were paired again in two more Elvis vehicles, Spinout and Clambake. Of all the leading ladies in The King's movies, she is my favorite - so natural, so down-to-earth in a Hollywood fantasy sort of way.
I didn't watch One Day At a Time very regularly, and therefore I forgot, or didn't know, that Shelley had a recurring role. I knew that Nanette was her real life aunt. I agree that Shelley is adorable and has a strong fan base to this day. Now you have reminded me of Bonnie Franklin, the actress who played Ann Romano. In the summer of 2012, Bonnie appeared on several episodes of my favorite soap The Young and the Restless. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and died a few months later at age 69.
Wow, Kirk, I'm delighted that you got so much out of the post. I wish I could take credit for the musical menu, but the songs were selected by the Shady Bunch deejays. Remember our slogan, "SPMM radio personalities make sound decisions... all of them good!"
Thanks again for swinging over, good buddy Kirk, and once again, happy new year to you!
I forgot to mention the devious co-worker's name. It's Francine.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kirk! I am writing another reply because it helps run up my comment total and makes the blog appear more popular than it really is. :)
DeleteHave a terrific 2019, my friend!
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DeleteNow that was fun! HAPPY NEW YEAR TOM! I see you're ringing it in right. Well, let's see: the holidays are over and normally I get kinda bummed out when the season of good tidings and cheer and everything merry gives way to January, but this year I'm damn glad the holidays are over! So now what? (Wait, don't I say that every morning when I turn on the news?? Oh Lord, here we go...) :)
ReplyDeleteBut thanks to you and your station SPMM, I'm taken back to a time less troubled and I'll take that anytime!
I got a real kick out of The Family Guy's rendition of the intro to "That Girl", which I watched all the time. "That Guy": funny stuff! I think I prefer Marlo Thomas in the lead role though. :)
You threw a curve-ball with your first song. I saw the title and was excited to hear Tommy James' "Draggin' the Line"... but then I'm introduced to The Singer Family. That was a fun cover version. They did a great job with it and I loved seeing their portrayal of the groovy fashion and styling of the era. Loved the go-go dancers in the highly coveted (at least on my end) white boots. I wanted a pair of those go-go boots so bad back then! The family surely had a good time doing this cover. I adored the little one popping up every time mouthing that low bass line "Draggin' the line." Good stuff. And great info about how that song almost ended up on the B side! That could've been tragic! Some music angels were certainly looking out for Tommy James on that one!
I also really enjoyed Toto-Moto's pick, "Bits and Pieces" by the Dave Cark Five. I don't recall the band by name but I know the song. I liked their performance, especially the part where they simultaneously stomp their feet.
The next one up I never heard. This is an interesting one for sure. Honest. He doesn't hold back in telling the world that he's after a woman's money. Well, good for him... At least he's not like Dirty John (are you watching that limited series on Bravo, a docu-drama about the real Dirty John? Fascinating and scary true-life story). (Part 1 of 2 – comment continued below)
Hi, Michele!
DeleteThank you for coming by and happy new year to you, dear friend!
Looks like you and your sore fingers were working overtime as I slept. I still wasn't feeling very well last night and retired early. Today I feel a little better but this bug is definitely hanging on for dear life. It has been many years since I had an illness of this duration. Like you I am happy that the holidays are over. But wait, Valentine's Day will be here before you know it! :)
I'm glad you got a kick out of the clip from Family Guy with Peter Griffin imitating That Girl. Family Guy remains at the top of my list as the TV series with most laughs per minute.
I am also thrilled that you got so much enjoyment from the tuneage played by the boss deejays at SPMM Radio... "the station with personality." I'm thankful that I stumbled upon that Tommy James cover by The Singer Family. Literally and figuratively, they hit all the right notes as they performed Tommy's sunshine pop hit "Draggin' The Line." It's interesting that "Draggin' The Line" is also categorized as a "Christian rock" song and originally released in December 1970 on a single as the B side of "Church Street Soul Revival." Both songs were included on Tommy's 1971 album Christian of the World, a collection of songs exploring his Christian faith. When "Draggin' The Line" was re-released as an A side in 1971 and became a radio hit, many listeners believed it made reference to cocaine use, just as his hit song recorded with The Shondells, "Crystal Blue Persuasion," is associated with the use of speed (see White & Pinkman). Tommy claims "Draggin' The Line" is simply a work song, the words to be taken literally.
I laughed when I first watched the video for "Bits And Pieces" because it seemed to take forever for the director to punch up the actual lead singer on camera. At the beginning they kept showing the wrong guy on the lead vocal parts. They should have done a trial run before the actual performance to get the camera shots locked down and avoid an error of that magnitude.
The Geator's pick, "First I Look At The Purse," seems inspired by "Money (That's What I Want)," the Barrett Strong record that went into the history books as Motown's first hit single. The Contours make no bones about it. When the guy meets a girl, the first thing he checks out, the thing that matters most, is the size of her bank account. If you listened to the end of the song you heard the line:
She can be covered with the rash
Long as she got some cash
Really, guys?.... Really? :)
I love Connie Britton from American Horror Story and 9-1-1, and I have heard great things about Dirty John. I want to see it. Thanks for reminding me.
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(comment continued: Part 2 of 2):
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong with Elvis. I don't think I ever saw that movie with the Donna Reed star who played the Mary Stone character. Or heard the Puppet on a String song.
Your final song here is one I'm very familiar with, but not so with the artist. Interesting group. I checked them out on Wiki. Did you know that he based the band name and their look on Yul Brenner's portrayal of a pharaoh in the film "The Ten Commandments"? I love that Sam's biggest hit is a song about his cat!
Funny story about your 'need' to get a 45 of the song was so strong that it drove you to get to the store when you were very sick. Reminds me of the night I just had to have a jewelry armoire from Walmart. Well they're open 24/7 so it was in the wee hours of the morning (2:00am-ish) and I went and bought that dang armoire, hacking and coughing the whole time. I got it home and trekked it up the stairs and proceeded to put it together. Took me until around 6am then I called my doctor when the office opened. Here I had pneumonia. A woman on a mission, illness be damned! haha Anyway, thanks for sharing that story. It brought back some memories from a few decades ago...Interestingly, I took my Mom out for errands the other day and we were on the side of town where I used to live so we went cruising around, driving past my old condos and the house I lived in before buying this one, reminiscing. Ah, those days when I was young and had fun! :) Anyway, we drove past the condo where I was living when I had pneumonia and just had to go buy that jewelry armoire. I still have it btw...
I never heard The Snake before but I enjoyed it very much. Great storytelling song. I remember the fable for sure. How fun that it was put to music. I don't recognize the artist by name and I also don't recognize the song titled "Show & Tell." I'll have to go check it out. I'll do that tomorrow...
Thanks for a great New Year's treat from the SPMM!
Gotta go grab a bite to eat and kick back for a change...
Happy New Year, my friend. May it be an amazing one for us all...(and you know what it would take to make that come true... :) )
talk soon,
Michele at Angels Bark
Thanks for sharing that piece of trivia about the inspiration behind the name and look of Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs. In the mid and late 60s there were many bands using such gimmicks to get noticed including Paul Revere and The Raiders, Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, and Count Five - the California garage band that wore Count Dracula-style capes when playing live. Gimmicks aside, they had three other things in common: talent, a great recorded sound, and the right break at the right time. Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs were the real deal. The only problem I have with the band is that many of their songs sound pretty much the same, derivative of their first and biggest hit "Wooly Bully."
DeleteThanks for sharing the story about "rising from your death bed" to go to Wally World in the middle of the night and purchase that jewelry armoire. You must have been driven by powerful forces to stay up all night assembling it, given that you had come down with pneumonia!
Al Wilson died more than ten years ago, but he left behind some great soul recordings, his best sellers being the ones you and I mentioned. "The Snake" went top 30 in the U.S. and slithered to much greater popularity in England where it became a favorite in the clubs of the Northern Soul movement. Wilson's "Show And Tell" was a smash hit ballad in the early weeks of 1974, topping the Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It was huge in my neck of the woods.
Thank you again, very much, for staying up late and enduring the pain in your fingers to write such a tremendous comment, Michele. I wish you, your mother and your hound dogs a safe, healthy and happy 2019!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI don't watch 'The Family Guy' program but I do remember watching 'That Girl' when I was a kid but that being said, I did get a kick out of video. I always welcome smiles on my face first thing. Speaking of firsts, Happy New Year!!! I could've sworn I came by yesterday but it was a bit chaotic since I had a doctor appointment. I hope you and Mrs. Shady enjoyed ringing in t he new year together.
I haven't heard 'Draggin' the Line' in a long time. The Singer Family was fun to watch and they did a nice job covering Tommy James' vintage hit. The year of its release I turned 10. Tommy James is one of favorite oldie groups.
DC5 is one of the vintage bands I was reintroduced to a handful of years ago. I didn't know them by name but their biggest hits I did. 'Bits and Pieces' however this 1964 #4 hit tune is new-to-me.
The Contour I hadn't heard of before now. Perhaps, I know some of their songs. I'll have to check with Google to learn more. I wasn't making the connection of the title 'First I Look At The Purse' to its meaning, so I read the lyrics and then it became clear and I thought boy, oh boy, there have been many times I have thought the same thing about a few of DD#2 boyfriends in the past. She has a heart of gold and in those early years after she first moved out, she could not see that those bummers were using her for what she could give, her hard earned money and cell phone. It's a shame when anyone is used like that and then tossed aside.
'Puppet on a String' is an introduction to my ears. Elvis was such a handsoe fella who made all the young girls'hearts swoon. I never got into the whole swooning part. I always thought it was silly. I just had simple crushes and none of that other silly stuff.
Sam Sham 'Wooly Bully' I do know. Another oldie I haven't heard in a while but always great fun to listen.
I can't say with complete accuracy if I'd heard Al Wilson's 'The Snake' but it sure do sound familiar. I can say this much if this song crossed my ears somewhere over the years then it's been decades since I've heard it. You're right, it really is a groovy sounding track!
As always, my friend you know how to dig through your archives to bring something new to myears which never disappoints this gal! Here's to another year of friendship and fun!!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteHappy happy happy new year, dear friend, and thank you for dropping by! I'm glad to have you here as I begin 2019 by reintroducing the all six members of The Shady Bunch deejay staff, the on air personalities who will keep your toes tappin' to tunetastic mewsic throughout the coming year.
For the first time ever, Mrs. Shady and I did not ring the new year together. I was sick (and still am) and she was tired that night, so we both went to bed well before the clock struck twelve.
I'm delighted to know that you got a giggle out of the Family Guy scene with Peter Griffin as "That Guy."
I'm also glad you enjoyed The Singer Family's version of "Draggin' The Line." You were ten when the Tommy James original was riding high on the chart and I was 21! I have discovered that an age difference of only ten years can make a huge difference in the music that is remembered and loved. For example, "Bits And Pieces" is new to your ears even though it was one of the DC5's biggest American hits. I'm guessing you might recall one or more of their later hit singles "I Like It Like That," "Catch Us If You Can," "Over And Over," "At The Scene," "Try Too Hard" and "You Got What It Takes." The Dave Clark Five's 1966 single "Nineteen Days" is the only record by the band to make my list of The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell.
Popular songs, even those rendered in a rollicking, humorous style, often reveal painful truths about human nature. "Purse" and "Money" (the song I mentioned in my reply to Michele's comment above) are examples of this. Another is "Long Green (The Root of Evil)" by The Kingsmen, and yet another is the last song in this post, "The Snake," a metaphor for the type of man or woman you described in your comment, someone without a conscience who uses people and throws them away. I am sorry to learn that your daughter trusted the wrong people along the way and got hurt.
Love struck/star struck girls and their exaggerated swooning over pretty boys or handsome, successful older men were common elements in movies and TV series in the early and mid 20th century. Thankfully, a more mature and honest approach to relationships is being presented in more recent years.
I'm excited to know that the Shady Bunch personalities played several songs that are new to your ears and that you liked what you heard. Stick around because they will all be back with their full radio shows throughout the coming year.
Thank you again for being here today, dear friend Cathy. I too look forward to another year of friendship and fun with you. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Dat was fun, friend Shady … smiles … Whishing you and your loved ones a very happy and healthy New Year says this Alberta cat and her cat. Onward bound, eh? PS: I added a post to my travel blog.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteHappy new year to you, dear feline friend, and thanks for popping in!
I'm glad you had some fun checking out my first post of 2019.
WHAT??? Are you saying that you are leaving snowbound Alberta again and going on another trip to the tropics? I guess I will need to visit your travel blog and find out.
I wish you a wonderful year, cat. Thank you for your continued friendship and support. Lubbins lubbins lubbins!
Happy New Year, Tom :) I'm so late to this post, probably because I used my first holiday vacation in 9 years to schedule all my posts for this week ahead of time so I'm just now getting caught up on my reading list! "Girl Happy" is my absolute favorite Elvis Presley movie. I especially love the scene where he dresses in drag and digs his way into the jail. They don't make 'em like that anymore, haha!
ReplyDeleteHi, Ashton!
DeleteHappy 2019 to you, dear faithful friend! I am very happy you could be here for my first post as I begin another calendar year of blogging.
I'm delighted to know you are familiar with Girl Happy and to learn that it is your favorite Presley pic. I will need to watch it again to catch that scene you mentioned. I keep picturing Mary Tyler Moore as a nun in Change Of Habit, the last Elvis film, shot in 1969 and released in January 1970.
It's so nice to see you, Ashton. I hope little Alexis is doing well and had a great Christmas. Happy new year once again. Please stick around for more music, memories and fun throughout 2019 here at Shady's Place!
Well, I'm bringing up the rear, Shady and guys! I am so impressed with your presentation, and enjoyed seeing Toto Moto, The Geater, Hy Lit, the various shades of Shady, and, Dell Rat Tom!
ReplyDeleteI too, love to see anything from Elvis, except for the puppet show in GI Blues with Juliet Prowse where Elvis sings "Wooden Heart" to a puppet! I continue to watch his movies when there is a celebration for him. I remember "puppet on a String" in the movie with Shelley F. It was a cute movie!
* Shady, I'm sorry, but will have to come back later on or tomorrow to finish! A fun post, I must say! See you soon!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteYou caught me right before bedtime, my good friend, so I need to cut short by reply, too.
I'm very pleased that you didn't miss this post and that you enjoyed the songs in it and the Shady Bunch deejays who spun the records.
Thanks to Shady Blue there will be much more of Elvis Presley on SPMM in the coming months and years, so stay tuned for that. I like the German language parts of "Wooden Heart," a #1 charting single for Elvis in the UK, and a #1 charting hit in the U.S. in the form of a cover recorded by Elvis soundalike Joe Dowell. Remember Joe's version topping the chart in the summer of 1961?
Thank you very much for taking time to visit and comment, dear friend Suzanne. I truly appreciate it. Now please take good care of yourself and get well soon!
Hi Shady.
DeleteI wanted to add that Sam the Sham is a cool favorite of mine! I believe he still resides in Dallas, TX. and from time to time he appears on my radio station to visit with the DJs! "Wooly Bully" was a blast of a song, wasn't it! Guys and girls all loved it, and it was a favorite in the dance clubs. This group could really draw you in with their fun stage presence!
I have never heard "First I Look At The Purse", lol! I had to laugh at the goofy title, but, really the song is great! The Contours were very good and pull this one off so professionally!
Thank you for this great post, you guys! The Dave Clark Five is a handsome group, aren't they! I love everything they do...the beat of their songs is enough to get you stomping!
Take Care, dear Shady! See you next time!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteIt's great to see you again, dear friend! You seem a bit perkier today. I hope that means you are feeling better.
Like several other groups of the 60s, Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs employed a gimmick, dressed as they were in costumes, but they were the real deal and gave us many Tex-Mex style rock 'n' roll nuggets. Remember "(My girl is) Red Hot"? I'm glad you can still catch Sam being interviewed on local radio there in the DFW market.
How about those lyrics to "First I Look At The Purse"? They include:
She can be covered with the rash
Long as she got some cash
The intentions are clear - money, that's what they want. Even without the clever writing, the record delivers that great Motown sound. I think it is one of The Contours' best and I like it more than "Do You Love Me."
I like The Dave Clark Five's cover of "Do You Love Me" more than the original by The Contours. The DC5 were indeed a bunch of ruggedly handsome chaps, with "chiseled features," I guess you could say - bold and British. For a short while at the start of the British Invasion, The DC5 were viewed as a threat to the Beatles in the U.S. in terms of popularity and fan base size. To me, it was like comparing apples and oranges, because the Beatles were a polished pop combo and the DC5 performed a grittier style of British R&B/rock.
Thank you for returning to chat, dear friend Suzanne. I'm pleased that you got so much enjoyment out of my first post of the new year. Please take good care of yourself and Scootie and enjoy your week!