Hi, I'm Debbie the Dellette...
a teenager of the 1950s
dancing at the Shady Dell.
I am also president of the Old York -
Shady Dell chapter of the
Top Hit Club of America!
Today my friends and I will make
you regret the day you were born!
What do I mean by that? When you hear the records my fellow Dell rats
play at today's meeting, you will wish you had been a teenager in York, PA,
in the 1950s and 60s and a regular at Shady Dell during those golden years.
in the 1950s and 60s and a regular at Shady Dell during those golden years.
Remember, as these original
Dell rats spin their songs:
"Don't just listen with your ears -
listen with your heart."
The rats are restless and eager to get started. I second that emotion.
(Debbie bangs the gavel.) The meeting of the Old York - Shady Dell
(Debbie bangs the gavel.) The meeting of the Old York - Shady Dell
chapter of the Top Hit Club of America will hereby come to order!
As I review the minutes of our last
meeting, I recall that in volume 2,
original Dell rat Jerre Slaybaugh
joined Dell rat Tom Anderson,
and the veteran vermin took
turns playing Dell classics.
Today our good friend Dell rat
Ron Shearer returns to play
dueling banjos turntables
with Tom. Rat Ron...
the floor is yours!
THE TEMPTATIONS
Sup, Debbie? The Dell jukebox was home to many
records by The Temptations including their first pop
chart hit, "The Way You Do The Things You Do."
I wonder how many people remember the B side
of that single. Most Dell rats do, and we have the
Del-chords, York's great doo-wop soul group, to
thank for that. The Del-chords were influenced
by The Temptations, covered their songs and
always made sure we knew all of the Temps'
early recordings, even most of the B-sides.
It was like a personal triumph for so many
records by The Temptations including their first pop
chart hit, "The Way You Do The Things You Do."
I wonder how many people remember the B side
of that single. Most Dell rats do, and we have the
Del-chords, York's great doo-wop soul group, to
thank for that. The Del-chords were influenced
by The Temptations, covered their songs and
always made sure we knew all of the Temps'
early recordings, even most of the B-sides.
It was like a personal triumph for so many
of us when "The Way You Do the Things
You Do" hit both nationally and in the
Dell jukebox, and the B-side I am
You Do" hit both nationally and in the
Dell jukebox, and the B-side I am
about to play, "Just Let Me Know,"
also received heavy airplay.
also received heavy airplay.
"Just Let Me Know" - The Temptations
(Mar./Apr. 1964, B side of "The Way You Do The Things You Do")
MARCY JOE
Shady, years ago on your old blog, Shady Dell Music & Memories, you posted
"Lover's Medley: The More I See You; When I Fall In Love"... a beautiful duet
recorded by Pittsburgh songstress Marcy Jo and
Hazleton's Eddie Rambeau.
I've got another great one, a solo record by Marcy Joe aka Marcy Jo, this
time backed by a group called Lugee & the Lions which consisted of
Lou Christie, his older sister Amy, Kay Chick and Bill Fabec.
Here's Marcy Joe with her 1961 regional hit (and I like
the name of the song)-- "Ronnie."
"Ronnie" - Marcy Joe aka Marcy Jo
(June 1961, highest chart position
#64 Cash Box/#81 Hot 100)
Thanks for that "Ronnie"
song, Ronny... and that
killer B by The Temps.
Now let's hear from
Dell rat Tom who's
standing by with his
first play of the day.
THE SIX TEENS
FEAT. TRUDY WILLIAMS
Thanks, Debbie. The first song I'm going to
spin today was recorded by a Los Angeles
based vocal group called The Six Teens.
In 1956, when they began making
records, The Six Teens were all
teenagers or younger. The group's
youngest member was their twelve
year old lead singer Trudy Williams.
Did... did you
say Trudy?
My wife's name
was Trudy.
In 1957, 25 years before the English new wave band
ABC scored a U.S. hit with "Poison Arrow," little
Trudy Williams and The Six Teens made a dent
in Billboard's pop chart with "Arrow Of Love."
"Arrow Of Love" - The Six Teens
featuring Trudy Williams (Aug. 1957,
highest chart position #80 Hot 100)
Thank you, Tommy boy!
Now let's turn the table
and the mic back over
to Dell Rat Ron and
listen to a couple
more of his faves.
Now let's turn the table
and the mic back over
to Dell Rat Ron and
listen to a couple
more of his faves.
JAMES BROWN AND
HIS FAMOUS FLAMES
HIS FAMOUS FLAMES
Earlier I played a record by The Temptations.
The Motown men were heavy hitters at the
Shady Dell, and so was this R&B titan dubbed
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business -
James Brown. In 1962 Brown released his
5th studio album Good, Good, Twistin' which
contains the hit single "Shout and Shimmy"
along with two other JB gems, "I Don't Mind"
and "Good, Good, Lovin'." I'm going to play
another song from the album. It was released
on the B side of Brown's 1964 single "So Long,"
a great ballad from his 1963 Prisoner Of Love
album that sold poorly as a single and merely
Bubbled Under at #132. Here's that obscure
flip side-- James Brown And His Famous
Flames doing "Dancin' Little Thing!"
"Dancin' Little Thing" - James Brown And His Famous Flames
(June/July 1964, B side of "So Long," from
1962 album Good, Good, Twistin')
1962 album Good, Good, Twistin')
MAJOR LANCE
Now here's one of my favorite songs that
our hometown heroes The Delchords liked
to cover. It was written by Curtis Mayfield
and recorded by Major Lance, the man
who hit big with "The Monkey Time."
I think Major Lance did
just as good
a job on his record as the Delchords
did in their live sets. Is Major backed
by The
Impressions or by Billy Butler
and The Enchanters? It was a topic
that often came up when Dave, Buddy,
Ike and the other Chords discussed
records that involved Curtis Mayfield.
"It Ain't No Use" - Major Lance
(July 1964, highest chart
pos.
#68 Hot 100 & R&B)
Thank you, Ron.
Now, it's back to
you, Dell Rat Tom,
to bring today's club
meeting to an end.
MONICA ROCHA
To wrap up today's club meeting, I've got a
double dose of a sensational young Latina
singer from SoCal's Inland Empire region.
Described as "a young voice from an old
soul"... Monica Rocha covers R&B and
soul songs of the 1960s and 70s, sounds
Dell rats love, and she makes them her
own... turning them into new classics
that will surely stand the test of time.
You just heard Dell rat Ron play "It Ain't No Use," a song written by
Curtis Mayfield and recorded by Chicago R&B singer Major Lance.
Now you're about to see and hear Monica Rocha perform another
song penned by Mayfield and originally recorded by another
Chitown soul great -- Gene Chandler. In the late winter and
early spring of 1963, "Rainbow," not to be confused with
Russ Hamilton's pop hit of the 50s, brushed the top 10
on the R&B chart and went top 50 pop. A live version
entitled "Rainbow '65 Part 1" recorded by Chandler
at the Regal Theater in Chicago, cracked the top 3
on the Black Singles survey early in 1966. Fast
forward to March, 2021, when Monica Rocha
laid down this fine cover of the deep soul ballad.
"Rainbow" - Gene Chandler cover by Monica Rocha
(March 2021)
MONICA ROCHA
& MALIK MALO
Finally, Monica is joined by singing partner
Malik Malo on a cover of "Hello Stranger,"
the official theme song of the Shady Dell.
First recorded in 1963 by Barbara Lewis,
a crossover hit for the diva, "Hello Stranger"
was waxed again in 1966 by the R&B group
The Capitols and released as the B side of
their top 10 hit "Cool Jerk." Both songs on
that Capitols 45 were huge hits at the Dell.
In early 2020, Monica and Malik brought
the smooth groove back to life in fine
chicano soul style.
"Hello Stranger" - Barbara Lewis/Capitols cover
by Monica Rocha & Malik Malo (Feb. 2020)
I hope you had a good time eavesdropping on this meeting of the
Old York - Shady Dell Chapter of the Top Hit Club of America.
Stay tuned for more golden greats of the 50s and 60s spun by
Dell rats Ron, Tom and Jerre Slaybaugh coming up in future
volumes. This is Debbie the Dellette. See you next time!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI found myself listening to your tunes while playing catch with fellow A2Zers this morning and still have your songs playing. There's nothing like stopping off at your place because I know I'm in for a real treat with sounds of yesterday or the introduction of an artist(s) covering oldies. Thanks for providing some fabulous background music to play and for your visit this morning, my friend. Have a good day!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThe Early Bird trophy is all yours this time, dear friend. Thanks a lot for coming by and spending some time in the Shady!
I'm happy to know the records played by Dell rats Ron and Tom were on the soundtrack of your morning as you plowed through this busy period that immediately follows the conclusion of the grueling A to Z blog Challenge. I'm willing to bet that most of these ditties were new to your ears, because they are rather obscure.
Thanks again for making time for a visit and comment, dear friend Cathy!
I like the Temptations, always did. They had some really great songs. Of course I recognized James Brown. That cover of Hello Stranger was pretty good. I recognized that song right away.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mary!
DeleteHow are you, my new friend? I'm happy to see you back here at Shady's Place and I thank you very much for dropping by!
Yessum, The Temptations cranked out many classic soul songs, and the one played by original Dell rat Ron Shearer is what we like to call a "killer bee" aka a "killer B" aka a "fab flip." The song "Just Let Me Know," the B side of the Temps' breakthrough hit, is seldom heard, but another smooth sound from Motown. I always say that it's a sign of greatness when an artist, group or band has songs to burn, and that one would be an example.
The Capitols' cover of the Barbara Lewis hit was huge at my old hangout The Shady Dell in York, PA. I'm glad you like Latina artist Monica Rocha's recently recorded cover.
Thanks again for coming early and finishing 2nd in the Race to Shady's Place, Mary. Enjoy the rest of your week, my friend!
I like Monika's voice. A very talented young lady!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Hi, Sherry!
DeleteHow have you been, dear friend? It's good to see you and I thank you for swinging over for a visit. You finished third in this week's race to Shady's Place and thereby claim the coveted bronze statue of Shady himself!
I'm happy that you recognize the talent of Chicano soul diva Monica Rocha who hails from the San Berdoo area of SoCal. To the delight of Dell rats, Monica specializes in covering 50s doo-wop and soul ballads of the 60s and 70s.
Thanks again for coming, dear friend Sherry!
James Brown always sounded like James Brown - and what a career he had.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteYou nailed down 4th place in this week's race, good buddy, and take home the life-size cardboard cut-out of Shady Del Knight. Thanks for dropping in!
There are more great James Brown recordings than I can find time to post, it seems. That's why I was thrilled that Dell rat Ron brought this little known relic, "Dancin' Little Thing," to spin at the latest club meeting presided over by Debbie the Dellette. Rumor has it that Debbie was a dancin' little thing at the Shady Dell of the 1950s.
Thanks again for joining the fun, good buddy Alex!
I have many JB 45s and I Don't Mind and In the Wee Wee Hours of the Night are two of my favorites. If you like covers, dig out the I Don't Mind cover my the Moody Blues. Good post. Jerre
ReplyDeleteHi, Jerre!
DeleteHow have you been, good buddy? Thanks for attending the latest meeting of the Shady Dell Chapter of The Top Hit Club of America! Debbie and Ron say hello.
I remember several times in the past when you have told me how much you like the early career recordings of James Brown, those sweat-soaked R&B ballads he waxed before turning into the Godfather of Funk starting in the late 60s. I was juiced when Dell rat Ron whipped out his copy of King 5899 and played the killer B "Dancin' Little Thing." I will check out that Moody Blues cover of another of your JB favorites "I Don't Mind."
How about that cover of Gene Chandler's "Rainbow" by Monica? It gave me goose bumps. She's the real deal!
Thanks again for coming to the clubhouse and listening to the kinds of sounds Dell rats love. Stick around because you will be spinning platters with Dell rat Tom in the next volume of Debbie's series. I also invite you to check out the post coming up on June 2. Roving reporter Toni Deroche paid a return visit to The Shady Dell and she's got the latest pictures taken inside the house! I hope to see you then, good buddy Jerre!
Some of these were too early for me but of course who doesn't know and love James Brown? I really liked the last one featured.. really fun to sing along with! But I have to ask a question. Did the Dell Rats choose the songs that played or did the Ettlines decide? What made you play the B sides back then? Just curious today! I always picture a room full of teens dancing and meeting first loves or just being there and feeling cool in a space that was made for good music, kids, and fun. When you hear these songs does it instantly transport you back? I'm sure they do. Have a good week Tom!
ReplyDeleteHi, Yaya!
DeleteThanks for coming to the platter party, dear friend!
I'm pleased that you enjoyed the seldom heard James Brown B side that Dell rat Ron Shearer played at the club meeting, and that you recognized the greatness of young Latina soul thrush Monica Rocha.
To answer your questions, Dell rats indirectly chose the songs that were found in the dance hall jukebox. They did so by "voting" every night with their dimes and quarters inserted into the machine. The jukebox kept count of which records were played often and which ones were not. Hot records stayed in the box and records that didn't get played very often got pulled. I remember being at the Dell one afternoon when no one else was there. In the quiet dance hall, I encountered a uniformed vendor loading 45s into the back of the jukebox. Perhaps John relied on a record vendor, record label reps, local radio station programmers or the managers of local record stores to choose jukebox records for the Dell. The more these sources learned about the tastes of the Rodentia Intelligentsia, the easier it was for them to stock the box with the type of sounds rats loved.
Regarding your question about B sides, Dell rats were curious as cats. Eventually the B sides of most new records got played at least once to determine if the B side song was Dellworthy. In many cases it was. Some of the greatest hits of the Shady Dell are obscure B sides, some of them played more often than the A sides that were national hits.
As far as first loves, I met the future Mrs. Shady #1 on the dance floor of the Dell in June of 1968, so things like that could and did happen there. I remember a newspaper article with stories of local married couples who first met at the Dell.
Truth be told, every recording in this post was new to me and not part of my youth. I heard all of them for the first time either in the 2010s or in the 2020s. The last two by Monica Rocha were released in 2020 and 2021. I honestly don't remember any of the others from my boyhood and teenage years. This series is aimed at uncovering lost treasures, and Dell rats Ron and Jerre are experts at naming the great yet little known nuggets of the past and introducing them to you... and to me.
Thanks again for your kind visit and your excellent questions and comments, dear friend YaYa!
Hi Shady,
ReplyDeleteThe Temptations were a good listen for Nan's birthday today. It helped ease the tears. The Temptations are my go-to group and always a good listen.
I love your playlists and this is my first time listening to Monica. I absolutely love her voice. I can't wait to listen to again tomorrow.
Since Bliss died and since Gregg is gone, I'm not a fan of WRTI's new lineup. I'm looking for a new classical radio station. Lately, I've been listening to documentaries on YouTube and of course your blog, but I miss classical too.
Have a great evening!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteWelcome, dear friend! Thanks for entering the clubhouse and listening to the vintage tuneage spun by original Dell rats Ron and Tom.
Happy birthday in heaven to your dear Nan. I'm glad to know these old songs eased the pangs of pain. Monica Rocha is a tremendous find. I am subscribed to her YouTube channel and will bring you more of her soulful covers in future posts. Monica and Malik Malo make a great duo.
I'm sorry you aren't finding what you want on WRTI lately. I hope your search for a new source of classical music bears fruit.
Thanks again for taking a look and a listen, dear friend JM. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Hi Shady,
DeleteThank you. The past few days have been difficult. Not only because of Nan, but I feel like my 30s have been a whirlwind so far. One of my friends just gave birth and while I'm so happy for her, it hit differently. I don't know if it's because I'm in my 30s because when I had friends who gave birth in their late teens and 20s, I didn't feel pangs of jealousy. I'm ace and I'm not interested in relationships and children aren't in my cards. Maybe it's hitting me now because time is getting finite. I'm so sorry to unload, it has been an emotional few days. However, I am happy for my friend and while my life path looks different, my path can still bring joy too.
I gave your playlist a listen to again and they helped ease the blues. Music really is medicine to the soul. Temptations will always be my go-to, they just know how to cheer people up. :)
I'll have to subscribe to Monica Rocha because I really loved her sound. Until I can find a new classical station, when I am not on calls, I'll be on YouTube. I'll give new channels a follow. Can't wait to listen to Malik Malo and Monica. :)
Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteI hear ya, dear friend. Just think how you'll feel when you are in your 70s as I am. Every decade passes more quickly than the last and you start to get very stingy with your time. I want mine to be well spent teaching, learning and being part of the solution. If I were you, I'd do some reframing and be thankful that you have your freedom at this stage of the game. You are not tied down and have all your options open. That's a gift.
I'm glad Ron & Tom's platters helped chase the blues. You have eclectic taste in music from hardcore rap and metal to innocent 50s doo-wop and 60s sweet soul. Monica Rocha isn't as prolific as some YouTube artists like Romania's Andrei Cerbu and his gang, but when she does upload a new song, you know it'll be great.
Thanks again for coming and happy Thankful Thursday to you as well, dear friend JM!
Shady, you did a great job putting this post together. I always bought my $1.00 45s for the "A" side but more times than not, fell in love with the "B" side. The Temptations could never do anything wrong and both sides were "A".
ReplyDeleteI can picture myself dancing at Hugh Carsella Hall to the song Ronnie. Oh, we teenagers loved our broken hearted music.
Hello Stranger is still good and it is nice to hear that others are still covering it.
James Brown is the icing on the cake of this fun post.
Thank you, as usual, for taking me down Memory Lane.
I hope you are doing well, Shady and and are taking in some sunshine. Life is slowly coming back.
Hi, Arleen!
DeleteI'm thrilled to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming to the clubhouse, having your hand stamped by Debbie the Dellette and listening to the rusty relics played by original Dell rats Ron S. and Tom A.
Now that I know you enjoyed digging for gold on the B sides of your 45s, I am more confident than ever that you would have made a great Dellette. The Shady Dell's Rodentia Intelligentsia had radar for cool. When a new record arrived in the dance hall jukebox, they wasted no time listening to the flip side. Many forgotten flips that were ignored by top 40 radio stations were elevated to mega hit status by savvy Dellions searching for danceworthy Dell songs.
I'm excited that you liked the sweet teen pop ditty "Ronnie," one of Pittsburgh's favorite oldies sung by local artist Marcy Jo aka Marcy Joe. If you checked the stats, you noticed that Marcy's record performed considerably better on the Cash Box chart than on Billboard, and I guarantee it was a big hit in Western PA. Thanks for letting me know it is the type of innocent snuggle song you and your friends enjoyed at one of your favorite venues.
I am genuinely delighted that you found so much to like at this meet and greet. When The Top Hit Club of America returns, Dell rat Jerre Slaybaugh will be playing his own stack of wax and Tom will be back to spin more of his faves.
It does my heart good to take you on a stroll down Memory Lane, Arleen. Speaking of "Memory Lane," do you remember that 1963 hit single by The Impalas aka The Stereos aka The Tams aka The Hippies on Philly's Parkway Records? A few years ago I became friends with the group's lead singer, Carole Varleta Devine aka Chi Chi McCauley aka Chi Chi. I interviewed her for a two part post on my old blog and have stayed in touch with her by email. A resident of your part of PA, Carole performed for years at a local club called Casa Cafe in Warrington, Bucks County. Perhaps you have heard of Chi Chi (Carole) or of that area venue.
Thank you again for coming over to play with me in the Shady, dear friend Arleen. Stay well and come back and see me again soon!
you did a great job putting this post together with another one.
ReplyDeleteWould you like to follow each other? If the answer is yes, please follow me on my blog & I'll follow you back. thank you.
http://www.rosetinz.com
Hi, Roseline!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you and to welcome you to Shady's Place Music & Memories. Here you will find good friends and good tunes and have good times.
Thank you for the compliments on my post. I regard blogging as an art form and I see that you are an art lover as well. You have an exciting blog devoted to travel, art, good food and lifestyle. I already checked out your visit to the art museum that displays the works of Dutch impressionist painter Van Gogh and others. Mrs. Shady and I would be in our glory there because impressionist art is our favorite style.
If the style and substance of my Shady's Place blog genuinely appeals to you, then I hope you will choose to follow me and I will follow you as well. Thank you again for taking a peek at what I'm doing here. I hope to see you again soon, Roseline!
Guys...Guys! This was one of the most informative, and exciting meetings with your club ever! I quickly went from one favorite to three, so I think this qualifies for an A#1 post!
ReplyDeleteEven though I don't know a few of the artists, I enjoyed all of the videos. The Six Teens "Arrow of Love" is a cute song, and the video was fun. I didn't recognize the Temptations' "Just Let Me know", but I liked it also. Marcy Joe's name I don't recognize, and the song "Ronnie" is slow and pretty.
James Brown's "Dancin' Little Thing" is not one I remember, but what a good video, and song. This one makes me think of a little doo wop, but in the later 50's. I get a thrill out of seeing James' black and white videos with his cool suits and hairstyles.
That Major Lance was a very cool guy! I didn't recognize his name, but the voice came to me loud and clear..."Um, Um, Um, Um, Um! "It Ain't No Use" is so good, it should have charted highter than 68! I always liked hearing "It's All Right" by him too. Sad to learn that he passed away so young.
Kudos to Monica Rocha and her Gene Chandler cover "Rainbow". I didn't know the song, but she has a very pretty and strong voice...her style makes me think of some of the late 50's and early 60's girl tunes. WOW! I love Monica and Malik's "Hello Stranger"! I'm already a big fan of the song and Barbara Lewis, and these two just went over the top with it! The video is great, and the two artists performance and vocals are superb! They truly made it their own!
Okay you'se guys! Great meeting and post! You put a lot of work into this one, as always and you should be proud! Have a wonderful rest of the week. Take care, dear Shady!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks for dropping into Shady's clubhouse where Debbie the Dellette is banging the gavel and conducting her latest meeting of the Top Hit Club! I hope you are well this week, dear friend. You certainly seem in good spirits, and that makes me happy.
Wow, you found a lot to like in this batch, didn't you? Yessum, how about that video for "Arrow Of Love" using scenes from the mid 60s western sitcom F Troop starring Ken Berry (later in the cast of Mama's Family), Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch and guest starring Julie Newmar as the long lost Indian daughter Yellow Bird?
I'm glad you liked the first two platters spun by Ron, that neglected Temptations flip side and Marcy Joe's teen pop ballad. There's something about Pittsburgh oldies, Suzanne. Many of them are what I would call deceptively simple, such as "Ronnie." Yet, by virtue of the fact that the artist, Marcy Jo, is from Pittsburgh, she and her song are automatically, certifiably cool. At Penn State I hosted many parties at my apartment. A few of the guys who attended were from Pittsburgh. Let me tell you, they were fiercely loyal and enthusiastic about "the Pittsburgh sound."
Many fans prefer the records James Brown released in the early phase of his career. I like his output from the 50s through the mid 70s, but wasn't very interested in his later career recordings. Major Lance was one of the many U.S. artists who were better known and more highly respected across the pond. His recordings were hot on the Northern Soul circuit in England. Major's daughter, Keisha Lance Bottoms, is the current mayor of Atlanta and was on Joe Biden's short list of potential V.P. running mates in the 2020 election.
Gene Chandler's "Rainbow" was one of my favorites and I had the record in my collection. I was thrilled to discover San Berdoo singing sensation Monica Rocha and hear her fine version. When Monica teamed up with Malik as a duo singing the Barbara Lewis hit "Hello Stranger," I was in soul/doo-wop heaven. I hope they collaborate often in the future. I'm very excited to know that you admire the quality of their cover. I know you agree that their performance is straightforward, sincere and no-nonsense, and that makes it a tower of power.
Again, I am so pleased that you got into the rare tuneage presented by Ron and Tom. They both say "hello." I know I threw you a curve ball last week when I told you this post started Wednesday. I forgot that I needed to run my annual Mother's Day post in this Sunday, and so I moved this post to Tuesday. Stay tuned for my yearly salute to Helen Ettline - Mother of All Dell Rats, coming this Sunday.
Thanks again for coming. Take good care of yourself and Scootie and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Suzanne!
Another great line up of music from the 50s. I love what you wrote about listening with heart. Perfect advice for just about all of our encounters in life, heh?
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl-Lee!
DeleteThanks for coming, dear California friend!
Sorry I didn't post "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" :) However I'm happy to learn how much you appreciated the lineup of songs played by two original Dell rats of the 60s - Ron Shearer and Tom Anderson.
I wish I could take credit for the line "Don't just listen with your ears - listen with your heart," but that's a direct quote from Debbie the Dellette. :)
Thanks again for joining the fun at Shady's Place, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Believe it or not, Julie Newmar is now just three years from 90. Along with F-Troop and Batman, there's a blink-or-you'll miss it moment from The Monkees episode she did. The two surviving members of the Prefab Four, Mickey Dolenz and Michael Nesmith (they just today announced an upcoming "Farewell Tour") are both still in their 70s, thus younger than Newmar, so those guys were getting themselves involved with an older woman in that episode. Shades of Mrs. Robinson! As far as Tony Randell goes, I'm afraid I had to look that one up rather than rely on memory, but it's from Love, American Style. What else? Oh, yes, the Six Teens song, to which all the Newmarian imagery was presented as a backdrop, was pretty good.
ReplyDeleteBut my favorite this time was the most recent. That Monica Rocha has one fantastic set of pipes! Stardom's just gotta be in her future!
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteYou gave the burly bouncer the correct password - "swordfish" - and were waved through the door and into the clubhouse where Debbie, Ron and Tom warmly welcomed you to another musical meeting. Thanks for joining the fun, good buddy, as dusty discs meet rusty relics at another session of the Top Hit Club.
I appreciate you continuing my task of sourcing the clips used in that homemade video for The Six Teens' song "Arrow Of Love." Did you know that back in the day I was known as "The Fifth Monkee"? Shucks, it's gonna take some time to drive that image of a bare-chested, dancing Tony Randall out of my noggin. My favorite scenes in Love, American Style were the vignettes in every episode that featured Phyllis Davis, a hottie from Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Wiki sez: << The original series was also known for its 10- to 20-second blackouts between the featured segments. These were performed by a house troupe that featured future Rockford Files cast member Stuart Margolin, future Vega$ leading lady Phyllis Davis and a young character actor, James Hampton, who was known to television audiences of the era as Private Dobbs from the TV series F-Troop. These clips allowed the show to be padded to the required length without adding to the main segments. They generally consisted of then-risque, burlesque-style comedy of manners visual jokes. >> Here is a nice pic of Phyllis and Stuart:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/phyllis-davis-photo-96-1815262466
Did you know that I was married to Phyllis Davis... not once, not twice, but THRICE? I kid you not.
I'm delighted that you and others are giving props to rising singing star Monica Rocha, the pride of the Inland Empire. She sizzles.
Thanks again for dropping in, good buddy Kirk. Enjoy the rest of your week!
I am finally more awake now to listen to all of the songs which was very enjoyable. That little 12 year old has a set of pipes on her and reminded me of the young Judy Garland who also started so young and had a very strong, mature voice for her age. I love that Julie Newmar is highlighted in the video as well. She is very leggy and va-va-va vavoom. I am not a fan of James Brown since he was a rapist and an abuser but he did have a good voice and knew how to entertain...he just always gave me the creeps. Monica Rocha has a great voice and know how to lend it to the oldies but gives a modern twist to it. Hope you are doing well. I am on the mend and moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteHow's it going at this hour, dear friend? I hope your health and spirits are improving and I thank you for coming down for a visit!
Yessum, I seem to specialize in presenting little girls with powerful pipes. Brenda Lee and Wanda Jackson are recent examples of mine and Judy Garland is a good example of yours. 12 year old Six Teens lead zinger Trudy Williams is another. Just think, little Trudy is now in her mid to late 70s! I'm glad you spotted Julie Newmar in that video, in a film clip of her role as an American Indian princess in F Troop. I best remember Julie from the Bob Cummings sitcom My Living Doll and as Catwoman on Batman. On the big screen, I saw her in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Can it possibly be true that Julie (the former Mrs. Shady) will soon be age 88?
Yessum, James Brown was involved in some rough stuff, but you can't deny his talent and showmanship. I'm happy that you share my excitement over Monica Rocha. I hope she continues to crank out killer kovers of 60s and 70s soul for me to use on the blog.
Thanks again for making time for a visit and for your delightful comment, dear friend BB. Take care, get some more rest, and have a nice Mother's Day weekend!