Welcome to vol. 9 of
my globetrotting series
BANDSTANDS IN
FOREIGN LANDS!
I'm Shady Seaweed, here to bring you more great
music performances that originated from TV studios,
big halls and nightclubs in Europe and other parts
of the world from the 1960s through early 2000s.
music performances that originated from TV studios,
big halls and nightclubs in Europe and other parts
of the world from the 1960s through early 2000s.
Join me now for another exciting
trip back in time as we visit
Bandstands in
Bandstands in
Foreign Lands!
GRAHAM BONNEY
& THE REMO FOUR
BEAT-CLUB
BREMEN, WEST GERMANY
Pop singer Graham Bonney has spent most of his life in Germany where
14 of his singles reached the upper half of the chart. Bonney also hosted
his own television show, Hits a Go Go, one of the music series I will be
featuring in future episodes of Bandstands in Foreign Lands. In 1966
Bonney broke through in the UK with the top 20 entry "Supergirl,"
his only hit in Britain. Looking as warm, cuddly, non intimidating,
kid tested and mother approved as Peter Noone, Bonney charmed
the girls in the studio audience when he appeared on the German
music show Beat-Club. Here he is, gotta love him (or not???)...
the girls in the studio audience when he appeared on the German
music show Beat-Club. Here he is, gotta love him (or not???)...
Graham Bonney (and the Remo Four) with "Supergirl!"
"Super Girl" - Graham Bonney & the Remo Four
(May to Sept. 1966, highest chart pos. #1 Germany,
#19 UK, on Sept. 24, 1966 episode of Beat-Club)
SISTER SLEDGE
TOPPOP
THE NETHERLANDS
The next bandstand on our whistle-stop tour of the world is in Holland where
we find a group of all American girls, Philly's phenomenal singing siblings
Sister Sledge. Their 1981 single "All American Girls" went top 3 on the
R&B chart in the U.S. and top 10 in The Netherlands. Sister Sledge
performed their international hit on the Dutch TV show TopPop.
"All American Girls" - Sister Sledge
(Mar./Apr. 1981, highest chart pos. #3 R&B/#6 U.S. Dance Club,
#6 Belgium, #8 Netherlands, perf. on Dutch TV series TopPop)
SHALAMAR
TOPPOP
THE NETHERLANDS
I'd like to linger a while longer in Holland... wooden shoe? Up next, Shalamar,
the American disco/dance trio created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey
and Soul Train creator, producer and host Don Cornelius. Shalamar's classic lineup
included lead singer Howard Hewett along with Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel,
former dance partners on Soul Train. (Hewett and Watley went on to successful
solo careers.) It's interesting that, over a three year period from the summer of
1980 to the summer of 1983, Shalamar records performed better in the UK
than here at home in the U.S. One example of the phenomenon is the single
"I Can Make You Feel Good" released in the summer of '82. Stateside the
record merely Bubbled Under the Hot 100 and peaked in the lower top 40
on the R&B side. The song was much more popular in the UK where it
reached #7 and in The Netherlands where it made the top 10. Here's
a clip of Shalamar doing "I Can Make You Feel Good" on TopPop)
"I Can Make You Feel Good" -Shalamar
(July/Aug. 1982, highest chart pos. #102 Bubbling Under/#33 R&B,
#7 UK/#10 Netherlands, perf. on Dutch TV series TopPop)
LOOSE ENDS
6.20 SOUL TRAIN
LONDON, ENGLAND
You just watched a 1982 performance by Shalamar. Now meet the above mentioned
Jeffrey Daniel - singer/songwriter, dancer, choreographer, style icon and former
member of The Soul Train Gang as regular dance partner of Jody Watley.
Daniel left Shalamar in 1984 and wound up in London in 1985 as the
"presenter" (the word commonly used for M.C. in the UK) on the TV
music series 6.20 Soul Train, a UK version of Soul Train endorsed
by Don Cornelius. Here's a great clip from 6.20 Soul Train of a
performance by Loose Ends, a British Soul/R&B trio that
enjoyed its greatest success in the 80s. Released in 1985,
the band's 5th single, "Magic Touch," was one of their
biggest hits. Here's Jeffrey Daniel with the intro.
performance by Loose Ends, a British Soul/R&B trio that
enjoyed its greatest success in the 80s. Released in 1985,
the band's 5th single, "Magic Touch," was one of their
biggest hits. Here's Jeffrey Daniel with the intro.
"Magic Touch" - Loose Ends
(June/July 1985, highest chart pos. #16 UK,
#23 Ireland, perf. on 6.20 Soul Train)
THE FOUR SEASONS
LEGS & CO
TOP OF THE POPS
LONDON, ENGLAND
"In winter 1963
It felt like the world would freeze
With John F. Kennedy
And The Beatles."
(lyrics from "Life in a Northern Town")
A cold dark winter came early in 1963 when JFK was assassinated.
How well I remember (and wish I could forget). I also remember
December 1975 when The Four Seasons released "December, 1963
(Oh, What A Night)," a song co-written and produced by original
Four Seasons keyboard player Bob Gaudio. The single features lead
vocals by drummer Gerry Polci with regular front man Frankie Valli
on backing vocals and bassist Don Ciccone, the former lead singer
of The Critters, singing the falsetto parts. The unusual combination
yielded an international hit - #1 in the U.S. and UK. Let's stay in
London where the lovely ladies of Legs & Co are set to snow plow
their way through The Seasons' seasonal song on Top Of The Pops.
"December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)" - The Four Seasons
(Feb./Mar. 1976, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100/#1 UK,
dance perf. by Legs & Co on Top Of The Pops)
PAUL REVERE
AND THE RAIDERS
RAIDERS' 1969 EUROPEAN TOUR
Here's one of my favorite songs by Paul Revere And The Raiders - "Let Me" -
one half of a "doublesider" - two great songs released back-to-back on a single -
the second song being the fab flip "I Don't Know." Both songs are found on
the 1969 album Alias Pink Puzz. The single and the album both performed
well enough on the U.S. and Canadian charts to get the band band invited
to join The Beach Boys on a European tour in the summer of 1969.
Here are Paul Revere & The Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay
doing "Let Me" on an unknown European television
program while on that tour.
to join The Beach Boys on a European tour in the summer of 1969.
Here are Paul Revere & The Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay
doing "Let Me" on an unknown European television
program while on that tour.
"Let Me" - Paul Revere And The Raiders feat. Mark Lindsay
(June/July 1969, highest chart pos. #20 Hot 100, #16 Cash Box,
#12 Canada, from 1969 album Alias Pink Puzz,
performance on European TV show)
I hope you enjoyed volume 9 of
BANDSTANDS IN
FOREIGN LANDS!
Stay tuned for the next edition coming soon.
Have a Shady day!
It's always interesting to see what was popular elsewhere at the time. Sometimes it's very different from here.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for being the early bird again this time, good buddy!
You're right. I never heard of Graham Bonney, but he was a consistent hit maker in Deutschland. Shalamar's single flopped in the U.S. but hit in the UK and Holland. Loose Ends is another group I never heard of until I discovered "Magic Touch" on a various artists disco-funk compilation I bought a couple of years ago.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, good buddy Alex!
I do remember but I don't, friend Shady as my carnie carousel days are just a blurr … amd a way to make money … My family and I worked many carnies in order to make money, honey, but livin a much quieter life now. By the way, did you see the super wolf moon eclipse last night? Days are dark here in the winter, but That was dark. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zKTTv9LigXU?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0. Much love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteThank you very much for coming over on a Sunday to sample the sounds presented in this edition of Bandstands in Foreign Lands!
You always share fascinating tidbits about your earlier life, dear friend, and I enjoy learning your family history.
I missed the wolf moon because it was cloudy and stormy here (and still is). Thanks for linking me to your video. Is that you scratching Theo's tummy?
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend cat, and have a wonderful week!
Sorry the link won't prolly work as is too dark due to the eclipse … so here is Theo … lounging in broad day light … smiles … Much love, cat. https://youtu.be/T1IgHVvX2-0
DeleteThank you for showing me more footage of Theo, dear cat. Theo has beautiful markings and a face that conveys wisdom. What a wonderful pet you have, dear friend!
DeleteHappy Sunday, Shady! I don't know about your neck of the woods, but we're in a cool zone today at about 31°. We've got sunshine, and warmth trying to climb into the 50s.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Shalamar with "I can Make You Feel Good", and Loose Ends "Magic Touch", which by the way is my favorite today! This song is like a delightful mix of 60's Soul and early 70's Disco. The trio has fun stage presence, with the dancing and dynamics that kept me smiling! Great and Great!
How about that cute little Graham Bonney-I enjoyed his song and video. I always appreciate seeing entertainers inviting their audience to join them on stage.
Sister Sledge is always a treat! These ladies have their stuff in order, don't they! "All American Girls" is a very cool song-love the video with these pretty ladies!
You slay me, Shady...with your love for Legs & Co, lol! Granted, they are good dancers, and this time out, they remind me of Fairies in pastels, without wings! Good song by the Four Seasons! They were definitely one of my all-time favorite groups!
I don't remember "Let Me", Shady, but as I listened, I came to like the song a lot. Could be because of Mark Lindsay...he was key to Paul Revere and The Raiders. I vaguely remember what took place with him and the group later, and will have to go back and refresh. To me, he was a class act.
This is a good sample of some of the bands in foreign lands. We always wonder what it was like in Germany, Holland and UK during the 60's, 70's and 80's. Times were very similar to our days of Rock and Roll and Soul. Seems like teens are "teens" everywhere!
Thank you for your research, hard work, and love of music with history, Shady Seaweed. This is where I usually say, "I hope you are staying cool, my friend." Well, you are always COOL, but today, I hope you are staying warm, my friend! Have a great week, Shady! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI am very happy to see you, dear friend! Thanks for doing some globetrotting with me as once again we go on a whirlwind tour of Bandstands in Foreign Lands.
The clouds are racing across the sky over here today. We have strong, gusty winds and the temperature is delightfully chilly. I'll take this unsettled weather over heat and humidity any day!
I'm pleased that you enjoyed the songs in the post and especially thrilled that you singled out as your favorite the British R&B band Loose Ends and their smooth, urban contemporary style hit "Magic Touch." That video is one of the few clips from the short lived 6.20 Soul Train show that qualifies for my series on the basis of good quality sound and clean video. You also get to see and hear presenter Jeffrey Daniel, formerly of Shalamar and, before that, one of the The Soul Train Gang dancers.
That Graham Bonney video is another great find, and nicely preserved. Those German teenagers seemed rather awkward as they joined Graham on stage to dance. I notice that on German music TV shows in particular. For example, the GoGos, the professional dance troupe on the German music series Musikladen, are regarded as the worst dancers on any of the European music TV shows.
In September 1979 I saw Sister Sledge perform "All American Girls" live on the grandstand of the York Interstate Fair. It will soon be two years since one of the sisters, Joni Sledge, died at the age of 60.
An essential element in my Biffle series is a look at the dancing women on the various European music TV shows. As I already mentioned, the Gogos of Musikladen were among the least coordinated. The dance companies on Top Of The Pops which included Legs & Co, Ruby Flipper and Pan's People, are arguably the best. Whenever I find a nicely restored clip available on YouTube, I insert it in the lineup.
The Paul Revere And The Raiders seen in this post are what some people call "the Dick Clark Raiders" because, by the time the Raiders released Pink Puzz and "Let Me" and toured with The Beach Boys in 1969, the only original members that remained were Revere and Lindsay. Drake Levin, Jim Valley, Phil "Fang" Volk and Mike "Smitty" Smith had all left the group. The guys you see singing with Mark in this clip are lead guitarist Freddy Weller and Keith Allison, formerly a regular on Dick Clark's Where The Action Is, on bass. Purists disliked the new PR&R lineup and its updated psychedelic rock sound. I loved their mid 60s sound and style but also dug this new look and sound of the late 60s.
I agree it is fascinating to get a glimpse of the youth culture in other countries during the years we were coming of age in America.
Suzanne, you are a delight. Thank you again for your kind visit and marvelous comment. I hope this means you are feeling better hour by hour and day by day. Keep warm and enjoy the week ahead, dear friend!
Saturday we had strong, gusty and chilly winds! As you said, I too, will take the chilly over stifling heat any day! I am getting better each day, and am trying to catch up with work at home, etc.
DeleteI liked seeing Mark Lindsay and group without the raider costumes on, and the song is great! It's funny...I never paid attention to Paul Revere in the group (didn't even know that was him) because Mark Lindsay was the group! He is so talented!
Well, I'd better get on with it. Scootie is spending the weekend with his little brothers and I will pick him up tomorrow afternoon. Have a great week, dear Shady!
Hi again, Suzanne!
DeleteThe strong, gusty winds you experienced yesterday in Texas arrived here in Florida today. Thanks for sending them! The wind was so strong blowing in from the Gulf that I could even smell the pot of beef stew you were cooking on the stove. :)
I am relieved to know you are feeling better, dear friend. What a blessing it is just to get back to normal, know what I mean?
Yessum, Paul Revere was a showman. (He died in 2014.) Without a doubt, however, the main attraction of the PR&R band was Mark Lindsay, and when Mark left to start a solo recording career, The Raiders were never the same again. I'm sure you remember the singing - guitar playing Paul McCartney look-alike Keith Allison from his regular appearances on Dick Clark's Where The Action Is. Cuddly Keith was also a favorite of female fans.
I hope Scootie had a fun weekend with his brothers and that you get him back tomorrow without any delays or hassles. Thank you again for coming to chat, dear friend Suzanne, and have a safe and happy week ahead!
December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) is one of my favourite Four Tops songs! I remember always hearing this song on the radio when growing up and I believe it this hit was on one of the first CDs I bought when I was 9.
ReplyDeleteSister Sledge too! Same with Legs and Co! Thanks for helping me walk down memory lane from my childhood and all the fun I had with music back then, that I still do. I guess I really was exposed to it all at a young age.
I wasn't familiar with Graham Bonny, but his style seems interesting. I might have to check out more of him, can I find him on YouTube?
Have a great Sunday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteHow are you holding up, dear friend? Thanks for making time for a Sunday visit as my Biffle tour of Europe continues here on SPMM.
Yessum, it seems like you were exposed to some classic Boomer music at an early age. I'm guessing your dad was primarily responsible. I was in my mid 20s when "December 1963" rode the chart. Quite frankly, the song always gives me "a stack attack" because I immediately associate that month with a nation mourning the death of a great president. It was a cold, gloomy winter until the Beatles came along and perked us up with their revolutionary look and sound.
Like you I was not familiar with Graham Bonney until I discovered this video on YouTube. He was a household name in Germany, however, with a string of 14 hit singles.
Thank you again for breaking away from your period of mourning long enough to visit Shady's place. Try to have a good week, dear friend JM!
Yes! Dad for the older music, mom for the rock of the 70s and 80s, then Daniel for music of the 90s. Daniel was the foreign exchange student Nan housed and mom is nine years younger than dad. When I became a middle school student, that's when I started listening to rap, country, classical, and all that. Though, my aunt does love classical and always wanted to see symphonies as a kid, but didn't discover it until I was much older.
DeleteI'll have to take a look on YouTube! I'm feeling a bit better; I just burned a copy of the song that was written for Mimi to a CD that I'm going to put into my Happiness Box. I'm thinking my Happiness Box project through the years will help me tell stories of my young life that I can look back on when I'm older and share with others.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I want to try to scrapbook, I haven't been feeling motivated.
Hi, again, Jessica Marie!
DeleteIt's interesting how friends and family members exposed you to various time periods and styles of music, leading you to develop eclectic taste. From the early 50s until the end of the 80s, I followed music that was current. At the start of 1990 I quit following the latest chart hits, turned my attention back to the past and delved into music released in the 40s before I was born. Eventually I leapfrogged back to the 80s and 90s and continued forward in time until I finally got caught up in the new millennium. A few years from now my interest in music will span a full 80 years!
I'm happy to know you are feeling better, dear friend JM. Take it one day at a time and remember that Mimi wants you to smile and be happy again. Have a good week if not a great one!
Hi dear friend,
DeleteYou know, I've been doing that too. Going back, then spanning forward. It's funny, I'm starting to listen to music that was popular 10 years ago, which at the time I was living to mostly heavy metal and classic rock. Though, in college I started getting current while keeping true to myself. WOW, 80 years! You know, I'm probably the same way, plus classical and old negro spirituals. I might span centuries. ;)
This week was better. The boy is warming up and surprisingly, I've been calm. I started my Happiness Box 2018 scrapbook and I think that took my mind off the sadness.
Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend.
Hi again, Jessica Marie!
DeleteAs they say in motivational seminars, he (or she) who has the most choices wins. Eclectic taste in music is a gift we give ourselves because we never get bored. It is exciting to explore genres we previously avoided or neglected and discover great artists and recordings including those that existed decades before we were born.
I am very happy to know your mood is on an upswing, dear friend. 2019 can and will be a great year for you. Thanks again for coming to chat, dear friend JM. Have a wonderful weekend!
Some of these are quite familiar, but I don't recall ever hearing about Graham Bonney before. Yep... pretty generic and wholesome. I got tickled at the dancers who each got their 15 seconds of fame on stage with him.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks so much for coming by, dear friend! I'm glad you were here for volume 9 of my Bandstands series which features U.S. artists performing abroad and foreign hit makers that are not well known stateside.
Graham Bonney had a Peter Noone thing going on, didn't he? I think he must have been influenced by the success of Herman's Hermits because he seems to be imitating Noone's innocent, boyish pop style. To me the camera work and/or editing of the show was rough and the dancers looked awkward. If the "Supergirl" song is less than inspiring, at least the clip is valuable as an educational resource so that we can study the way teenagers dressed, danced and behaved in Germany in the mid 60s.
Thanks again for your visit and kind comment, dear friend Kelly, and have a wonderful week!
I've actually heard of most of these artists even though I was deep into the mommy hood in the 80's. However, I would be super remiss if I didn't thank you for my dear Paul Revere and the Raiders...seriously one of my favorite groups while growing up. (please don't judge!) I saw them in concert many times. The final big concert I had tickets for got cancelled because McCormick Place in Chicago had burned down. I can still remember how sad I was! Then in the early 70's they played near the hospital I worked at in a suburb of Chicago. The sad thing was it was outdoors at the local YMCA. I felt bad because they had been so popular. There were a ton of people there and it got scary because everyone started pushing and trying to get out of the place and all of a sudden somebody picked me up and carried me out. I don't even know who it was. Anyway, that's a little history that nobody really cares about! Ha! Thanks for featuring my fav group without their costumes! Wait, that sounded weird...you know what I mean! Have a good week. We're digging out of 14in. of snow. Never a dull moment!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you so very much for coming over again on a weekend and for this terrific comment, dear friend! In this edition of Biffle you had an opportunity to view the hair and clothing styles worn by recording artists and European teenagers of the period from the mid 60s through the mid 80s, and to see some exciting live performances.
Shucks, Paul Revere And The Raiders are one of my favorite bands, too, YaYa. I can't say that I like their earliest recordings, those instrumentals they released in the early 60s but, when they broke through in 1965, I bought their records and remained a fan even after they reinvented themselves in 1967 with new personnel and a new direction to their music. "Let Me" has always been one of my favorite Raiders songs, especially the long album track with the extended instrumental jam in the middle. I played that album many times in my apartment at college. Like many once popular bands of the 60s, The Raiders went from playing major venues to late career appearances at malls, small lounges and YMCAs, especially after they lost lead singer Mark who was the major draw for many fans. I am very happy to know you got to attend a Raiders show and that you were not injured in the pushing and shoving that went on in the crowd. I know you must wonder who it was that had the presence of mind to pick you up and carry you off to a safe place that day. I'm so glad he did. Was he a masked man? :)
14 inches of snow? I hope you took some pictures with your big girl camera, and I hope you don't need to travel any time soon. Stay safe and warm, have a wonderful week, and thank you again for being such a great friend, dear YaYa!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteNice mix of tunes in a 22-year span! Somewhere there are half a dozen jewelry boxes missing their little dancers, but “Oh What a Night!” was indeed a memorable song for such a haunting time in history. Graham Bonney was downright (almost) American in style and sound – complete with adoring fans. What, exactly, do you suppose those Raiders wanted someone to let them do? I thought All American Girls sounded a bit like “We Are Family” (probably a different artist). I really liked that ‘feel good’ song by Shalamar. I would have liked it even more the year it came out. I would hope all those people were not on the payroll, but Loose Ends certainly had the perfect party atmosphere!
Have a terrific week!
Hi, diedre!
DeleteI am delighted to see you, dear friend. Thanks for coming!
Thanks for doing the math and informing us that these songs and performances covered a span of 22 years, a very exciting period in popular music. Pop gave way to rock, rock was eclipsed by disco, and disco evolved into post-disco funk and club music.
I don't know exactly what the Raiders were driving at with their "Let Me (baby, don't you get me?)" song, but there are several comments on YouTube from women who enthusiastically state, "I will." :) Sister Sledge is the same sibling quartet that had the monster disco hit "We Are Family." Two years later they released this single, "All American Girls" which wasn't nearly as big a hit, but I have always loved both songs. I'm happy to know you appreciated the sound of Shalamar doing a single that struggled in America but hit big in parts of Europe. The 6.20 Soul Train show tried to imitate the U.S. Soul Train show, and that meant populating the set with professional grade dancers. The series lasted only one season in 1985 before being replaced by another London-based music TV series called Solid Soul which ran for two seasons between 1986 and 1987.
Thank you again for your kind visit and wonderful comments, dear friend diedre. Take care and I hope to see you again soon!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteIt was a warm greeting to find your presence on the 4M dance floor on Sunday morning and I'm sorry for showing up two days late. I always enjoy your Bandstands in Foreign Lands edition and this post didn't disappoint. I don't remember your first guest singer, Grahamy Bonney either by name or his #1 hit "Super Girl". I got a tickled how you described him as 'Mother approved'. :) I do enjoy his sound and will have to visit YT later to see what other mewsic catches my ear.
Sister Slege and Shalamar I do know by name but I'm not sure that I've heard either of their featured songs you shared before now. Loose Ends is an unknown group but I sure do dig their 80s dance floor sound, though. Did they have a US presence on the airwaves and charts? I was only 2-years-old when JFK was assassinated, so I don't recall that infamous dark day in history. Every time I look at footage of it, I'm filled with a deep sadness. I felt so horrible for Jackie and then all of America for the loss of our President. Oh the evils!
I always love watching Legs & Company. You just don't see this stuff on TV anymore thanks to feminist stealing a gal's fun to be a woman. I know a lot of sexual harrassement and abuse is out there then and now but seriously, there's nothing wrong with gals being gals. Our society gets so offended by every little thing. What a shame, what a shame! These days you can't tell a man or a woman apart with men less masculine and women less feminine behaving. If anyone wants to know, I like masculine men. There's not such thing as toxic masculinity IMO. That's just craziness. I love seeing girlie girls! Anyone who believes a gal can't be intelligent while being soft and gorgeous is off their rockers. Oops, I'm ranting! You should've knocked my soapbox out from under my feet. lol You're too much of a gentleman to do that. Anywho back to the mewsic...one more thing, keep those Legs & Company videos playing on SPMM!
I remember the oldies band Paul Revere and the Raiders but 'Let Me' is not one of their hits that ring a bell. Thanks for sharing a whole lot of good tunes. I can't wait to check out your next edition in this series. Have a boogietastic week, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteHow nice of you to come over as you recover from your scary injury, dear friend. Thank you for being a trouper! I apologize for being late to your blog this morning and late getting here to reply to your comment, but I had a darn good reason - an internet outage. We just got back online a few minutes ago.
I'm thrilled that you found so much to enjoy on this tour of Bandstands in Foreign Lands. To answer your question, the UK based R&B band Loose Ends placed half a dozen singles on the U.S. chart. Their biggest American hit was "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" which brushed the top 10 on the pop side and reached #1 on the R&B chart in 1985. Their next release was the song they performed in this post, "Magic Touch," which did well in the UK and Ireland but, for some reason, was not released in the U.S., Canada and other countries. Shucks, given the success of their previous single "String," you'd think the record company would have issued "Magic Touch" stateside as a follow-up, but that was not done. Were they afraid of success? :) It's a little confusing, because the Brit band was originally named Loose End before becoming Loose Ends, and there was also an American act called The Loose Ends that released three records in the mid 60s.
I was in junior high when JFK was assassinated. Adding to the horror of the event was going home from school that afternoon and finding my mother sobbing hysterically on the sofa in front of the TV. She had campaigned for Kennedy and was inconsolable. Mom remained glued to the live coverage of the surreal events all that weekend. The assassination changed her and I am sure it changed me as well.
I'm glad you were not offended by the skimpy costumes worn by Legs & Co. Like you, I remember a time when people were not nearly as touchy and sensitive about such things as they are today, and I miss those times. In some ways I think the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. You are always free to express yourself here at Shady's Place, dear friend. You and I agree on more than you might think. I am not about to knock your soapbox out from under your feet... lest you suffer another nasty fall! :)
"Let Me" was Paul Revere And The Raiders' last major hit single before they changed their names to The Raiders and achieved a #1 hit with "Indian Reservation." The band's four earlier Shady Dell hits "Just Like Me," "Kicks," "Hungry" and "Good Thing" are my top favorites followed by "Let Me," "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon" and "Cinderella Sunshine."
If you are enjoying my Biffle series, then you should be pleased to know that there are a total of 50 volumes on the schedule. You are cordially invited to join me for every one of them. :) Thank you again for visiting while still on the mend, and for this excellent comment, dear friend Cathy. Take good care of yourself and enjoy the rest of your week!
Tom,
DeleteWe do agree on many issues, especially on matter of masculinity and femininity. Oh boy, I'm so glad you didn't kick my soapbo out from under me. I don't think I can take another fall. lol I will definitely check back for not on this series but all of your posts. You always enlighten my mewsic education with fabulous sounds of the past and present!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThat's very nice of you, dear friend - the vote of confidence. I love to enhance your mewsic education in an entertaining fashion. Thanks again for joining the fun and enjoy the rest of your week!
I know I'm late. I just now buried by computer out of the snow.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to echo what the first person said about a song being a hit in one country and not another. I'd like to add, the songs that were hits elsewhere aren't, to my ears, all that stylistically different than what you would have heard on the US radio around the same time. And even weirder, some of the acts you played here are AMERICAN, yet they had to go somewhere else to get a hit. I have to believe it's all a matter of timing.
Of course, "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) was a hit here in the USA, and it's great hearing that again. As for the girls dancing in the bikini-like costumes, maybe instead of calling themselves Legs and Co. they should call themselves Belly Buttons and Co. since that's pretty much what distinguishes a bikini from a non-bikini bathing suit (or in this case, non-bikini dancing outfit.) I don't mean that as a criticism, that just what jumps out at me.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteHow are you, good buddy? Thanks for dropping by to take another Biffle trip at Shady's Place!
Your friend and neighbor YaYa received 14 inches of snow in her neighborhood. Sounds like you also needed to dig out from under a heap of the white stuff there in the Cleveland area. By the way, did you know that Cleveland rocks?
Good observations, Kirk. As I mentioned in other replies, Brit funk band Loose Ends already had a hit in the U.S. with their previous single but, for some reason, "Magic Touch" was not released stateside. It could have been another hit for the group in this country. Shalamar's "Feel Good" sounded like other post-disco dance recordings that became hits in the U.S. on radio stations and in clubs in the early 80s after the revolt against Disco died down. It is surprising that the Shalamar single performed so poorly on the domestic charts. Many American solo artists, groups and bands found a more receptive audience and a larger fan base in other countries including Madeline Bell, Edwin Starr, Tommy Hunt and The Walker Brothers.
The Top Of The Pops dance companies Pan's People, Ruby Flipper and Legs & Co wore a variety of costumes for their performances, and sometimes the midriff was exposed. I agree that for performances like the one in this post they should have called themselves Belly Buttons & Co, The Belly Button Brigade or The Navel Academy.
While we're on the subject, I say we bring back The Swedish Bikini Team. Remember their appearances in TV commercials for old Milwaukee Beer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c2NEFPqTwY
I'm having a t-shirt printed up with a picture of The Swedish Bikini Team and the slogan:
MAGA - MAKE ADVERTISING GREAT AGAIN
(BA-DUM-BUMP)
Thanks again for joining the fun, good buddy Kirk. Enjoy the rest of your week!
I wasn't familiar with any of those artists. Thanks for introducing some new ones. I thought it was funny that a Belgian band was singing "All American Girls." I don't think they were exactly all American. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry!
DeleteIt's good to see you, dear friend. Thank you for coming over!
Our generation gap is showing if you don't remember American recording acts like Sister Sledge, The Four Seasons and Paul Revere And The Raiders. Sister Sledge were indeed "All American Girls" from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia. In the video they performed on a bandstand in a foreign land - a music TV show broadcast in The Netherlands. Understand? :)
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Sherry, and enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!
Wooden shoe know it that I am here so late😀. Amazing how some sang and it looked like they were lipsyncing..enter eye roll 😁. Yes that called for another happy face because I am being cheeky. I am not a fan of Shalamar or that lady in black with gloves and a very pretty necklace. I couldn’t play the last one but I always love Paul Revere and I like the 4 seasons even with the very skantillay clad gals. I wonder what they look like now? Anyhoo, always enjoy these even if I come here late
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