Shady Dell owner Helen Ettline
didn't have any children of her own.
In a way, we were all her kids
and she was our mom.
Clearly Helen & John
loved kids. Why else
would they have
put up with the
aggravation all
those years?
The Ettlines
believed in kids.
They enjoyed
counseling and
helping kids.
The pictures above and below remind me ever so much of Helen's snack bar
and the jukebox in the adjoining room where rows of diner booths were located.
To remember and honor
Helen on Mother's Day,
I picked six songs that
I think she would enjoy.
Helen, these are for you.
LITTLE ANTHONY
AND THE IMPERIALS
Helen loved the doo-wop soul of Little Anthony And The Imperials.
To begin this year's tribute, I've got the record that enabled the group
to mount a mid 60s comeback after four lean and hitless years.
The song, written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein and released as a single
in 1964, went top 10 on the R&B chart and top 20 on the pop side. In a scene from
an episode of American Bandstand, the teenage studio dancers cuddle and sway
as Little Anthony and The Imperials sing-- "I'm on the Outside (Looking In)."
"I'm On The Outside (Looking In)" - Little Anthony & The Imperials
(Sept./Oct. 1964, highest chart pos. #8 R&B/#15 Hot 100/#20 Cash Box,
#12 Canada, scene from Aug. 22, 1964, ep. of American Bandstand)
BILLY STORM
This year, I am also playing for Helen two songs by a
U.S. solo artist and two by a popular UK duo.
First, here's Billy Storm aka
Billy Fortune, Bill Spicer and
Billy Jones, a Los Angeles
based R&B/Soul singer who
sounded a lot like R&B star
Clyde Mcphatter who sang
lead for The Drifters and had
a string of solo hits. Keep in
mind that Helen played Drifters
records on the jukebox in her
snack bar. In the summer of
1954, Clyde McPhatter and
The Drifters scored a chart-
topping R&B hit with the
calypso styled "Honey Love."
Listen to Billy Storm's fine
cover released in July 1961.
"Honey Love" - Billy Storm
(July 1961)
Billy Storm's vocals can also be heard in A Symposium
on Popular Songs, an animated Disney short released
to theaters just before Christmas 1962.
All of the songs in the production were written by the Sherman
Brothers - Richard & Robert. This one, "Puppy Love Is Here
To Stay" by Jackie Babylon and the Babylonians (with Billy
Storm as the voice of "Jackie"), is a parody of 1950s love
songs and some of the songs that the Sherman Bros.
themselves wrote for pop idol Annette Funicello
and similar artists. Here again is Billy Storm!
"Puppy Love Is Here To Stay" - Billy Storm
(Sept. 1962 single from Dec. 1962 Disney/Sherman Bros.
short A Symposium on Popular Songs)
PETER AND GORDON
I think Helen would also enjoy these two great cover ballads recorded
by the UK duo Peter And Gordon. London born singer, guitar player
and producer Peter Asher is still with us and will turn age 78 next
month. His partner, Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist
Gordon Waller, died young at age 64 in 2009. Let's press
rewind and go back to happier times when Peter and
Gordon were at their peak and in the middle of
an impressive British Invasion hit streak.
Buddy Holly & Norman Petty
wrote "True Love Ways" and
Buddy recorded the song in
the fall of 1958, four months
before his tragic death in a
plane crash. In 1965, this
remake by Peter & Gordon
went top 3 in the UK, top 5
in Ireland and top 15 on
the U.S. pop chart.
"True Love Ways"
- Peter And Gordon
- Peter And Gordon
(May/June 1965, highest
chart pos. #13 Cash Box,
#14 Hot 100/#2 UK
#4 Ireland)
chart pos. #13 Cash Box,
#14 Hot 100/#2 UK
#4 Ireland)
Phil Spector wrote the song "To Know Him Is To Love Him,"
inspired by words written on his father's tombstone that read:
"To Know Him Was To Love Him." Spector and his group
The Teddy Bears recorded the song and achieved
a chart-topping hit in 1958.
In mid 1965, two months after the release of "True Love Ways," Peter And Gordon
gained another hit with a cover of Spector's song using the title "To Know You
Is To Love You." The Peter And Gordon single reached the top 5 on the
charts in Canada, the UK and Ireland and the top 25 stateside.
"To Know You Is To Love You" - Peter And Gordon
(July/Aug. 1965, highest chart pos. #24 Hot 100/#25 Cash Box,
#5 Canada, UK & Ireland)
#5 Canada, UK & Ireland)
THE DIXIE CUPS
Spring is here. Sky is blue.
Birds all sing as if they knew
This song, Helen, is just for you.
To close my Mother's Day salute to Helen, I present a nicely remastered clip
of The Dixie Cups, the soulful trio from New Orleans, appearing on the TV
music show Shivaree performing their signature song, the chart-topping,
million selling hit single from the spring of 1964-- "Chapel Of Love."
"Chapel of Love" - The Dixie Cups
(May/June 1964, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box
& R&B, performance on Apr. 10, 1965, ep. of Shivaree)
Happy Mother's Day, Helen!
We love you and miss you!
Watching that Little Anthony and the Imperials clip makes me wonder how that Bandstand studio was set up. Notice the cameras zoom in on some teenage kids--mostly teenage girls faces--yet they don't seem aware of it. However, the one guy, where the camera zoom isn't nearly as close, gives a wink, acknowledging he's on TV. My guess is there's a monitor which the kids can see but have to be in just the right spot to do so. Do I have anything else to say about that? Oh, yeah, beautiful song.
ReplyDeleteIf you hadn't told us it was meant as a parody, I would have taken the Puppy Love song as a slightly over-the-top example of the real thing, as if some Phil Spector-wannabe producer was really, really trying to get a hit. It was enjoyable, if a bit much.
Love, love, love, love "The Capel of Love", and that's all I have to say this morning. Happy Mother's Day, Helen.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for coming over on the first morning of the first day to take the Early Bird prize, good buddy!
That episode of American Bandstand was probably taped in mid to late July of 1964, because the airdate is listed as August 22, 1964. The show moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles a few months earlier. Regarding your observation about the studio dancers seeming oblivious when the camera had them in a closeup shot, I can possibly shed some light. I began training for a career in broadcasting in 1968 and took advantage of a mock television studio on the campus of Penn State. We did indeed have a monitor or two around the periphery of the set so that we could see which camera shot was live at any given time and check out the composition. I think you are correct in assuming that the studio dancers on Bandstand needed to be in the right spot on the dance floor in order to see themselves on the TV monitor. We need to remember that, in the mid 1960s, most teenagers were shy about being on TV, especially on a network show that was watched by millions of people across the country. That might help explain why some of them didn't look up and acknowledge the camera. They were too shy, or perhaps afraid of making a dumb mistake on television. Here's another possible explanation. Back in Philly, the regulars on Bandstand were quite comfortable with the camera. They actually played to it and hogged the spotlight so much that Dick Clark needed to scold them from time to time. In the summer of '64, the show was brand new out on the West Coast. There was a whole new crop of studio dancers, no regulars yet, and many of the kids were still feeling a bit awkward. I'm pleased that you enjoyed Little Anthony's comeback hit.
I agree that Billy Storm's "Puppy Love Is Here To Say," a mashup of two major pop hits of the 50s - Paul Anka's "Puppy Love" and Danny And The Juniors' "Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay," is so similar to other rock & roll songs of the period that it can hardly be considered a parody. I'm sure you recall the hit novelty song "Who Put the Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)," co-written by Brill Building composing veterans Gerry Goffin and Barry Mann and waxed and released as a single by Mann. The song runs through all the weird nonsense syllables typically uttered by the bass man of vocal groups.
I'm excited that you favor "Chapel Of Love" by the Dixie Cups. That's a nicely restored sync-edit hybrid clip of the girl group appearing on the TV music series Shivaree.
Thanks again for coming early, for your great comment and for wishing Helen a happy Mother's Day. Take care and enjoy the week ahead, good buddy Kirk!
As always, a nice tribute to Helen. -Kelly
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThank you very much for letting me know you were here and that you
liked this year's Mother's Day tribute to Helen. I wish you a happy Mother's Day as well and hope my buddy Pat treats you extra special.
Thanks again for taking a look and a listen, dear friend Kelly!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteYou introduced two new oldies groups to me today with Billy Storm and the duo team Peter & Gordon. I know the Imperials but didn't know the song you shared. The only song and artist I knew in this set is Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups. I remember singing this song when I was a kid. :)
I think it so nice that you pay special to Margaret on Mother's Day and I'm sure she's smiling down on you and the Dell Rat kids she mentored over the years. I'm happy for her that she enjoyed and took an active role in helping to shape the youth who frequent the Shady Dell. Happy Mother's Day to Margaret in heaven!
Please pass my warm wishes to Mrs. Shady for an extraordinarily special day, too! Have a wonderful Sunday afternoon, dear friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteHappy Mother's Day, dear friend, and the same to your DD who is mommy to your pride and joy, LA! Thanks for being here for my annual salute to Helen Ettline - Every Dell Rat's Mom.
I'm excited knowing that I introduced in this post two new-to-you artists: R&B singer Billy Storm and the British duo Peter And Gordon. I wasn't familiar with Billy either until just recently when I discovered some of his songs on YouTube. Peter And Gordon were one of the major attractions of the British Invasion. I'm sure you must be familiar with at least one or two of their other hits such as "A World W/O Love," "Nobody I Know," "Woman" and "Lady Godiva." Do any of those ring a bell? I'm pleased that you enjoyed hearing Little Anthony's big comeback hit "Outside Looking In" and The Dixie Cups' sig song "Chapel Of Love."
I know you meant to refer to Helen in your comment instead of Margaret, but both ladies were major influences to me, one early in life, and the other in recent years, and both deserve to be remembered on Mother's Day and every other day of the year. Yessum, I will let Mrs. Shady know that you extended warm wishes to her on this special day. I hope yours was delightful and filled with love, happiness and fond memories of the past.
Thank you again for dropping in and have a wonderful week, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
DeleteI'm sorry to say that none of the Peter and Gordon hits ring a bell. I had to sample each on YouTube just to be sure that I did not know them. They do have a nice sound. Yes, Yes, I meant Helen. *smack forehead* My brain is still a bit scrambled. April did a real number on me. I'll be so happy to get the last of the biggies out of the way. Yesterday, we got the old freezer out of the house for Home Depot to take away later in the week. That was a chore, most for DH but still a lot of work for me, too.
Mother's Day is always a sweet reminder of the day each of my babies were given to me. The days got completely away from me and they aren't babies anymore, except in my heart. It was especially nice to spend Saturday with my baby. :) Have a good day, dear friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for sharing details of your Mother's Day, dear friend! I hope LA's mommy had special day, too, and I hope you get to see your still little one soon.
I'm certainly happy to have introduced you to Peter And Gordon, one of the essential acts of the British Invasion, a duo worth remembering now that Gordon Waller is no longer with us.
I'm glad your household tasks and problems are being handled one by one. I hope the freezer comes on time so that you can put all of that April stress behind you.
Thanks again for returning to continue our thread, dear friend Cathy, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Hello my friend. Happy Mother's Day to Helen. I'm sure she appreciated your music today. I did not know Peter and Gordon sang either of those songs. I know the Buddy Holly version of True Love Ways but I like the harmony of P & G. Also like their rendition of To Know You is to Love You but I think it reminds me of a female version, To Know Him is to Love Him, maybe by the Teddy Bears?
ReplyDeleteQuiet day for me, which I actually appreciate. I'll be taking Benny for his walk soon and my kids all wished me happy Mother's Day so we're covered. Hope your weekend is going well.
Hi, Janet!
DeleteI'm glad you found my post, dear friend, and thank you very much for making time for a visit. Happy Mother's Day to you!
I'm proud to have introduced you to a pair of covers by Peter And Gordon that you haven't heard before. I think both recordings are great and will stand the test of time as essential nuggets of the British Invasion. Yessum, as I mentioned in the intro, Phil Spector penned the song "To Know Him Is To Love Him." The famous/infamous West Coast record producer was inspired to do so by the words written on his father's tombstone that read: "To Know Him Was To Love Him." In 1958 Spector and his vocal group The Teddy Bears waxed the song using the title "To Know Him Is To Love Him" and their single went all the way to #1 on the pop chart. It's interesting to me that the record also went top 10 on the black singles chart. Spector wrote the song specifically to showcase the vocal talent of Teddy Bears' female lead singer Carol Connors (actual name Annette Kleinbard). Carol was also a prolific songwriter. She penned the car song "Hey Little Cobra," a 1964 hit for surf-rock group The Rip Chords, and co-wrote "Gonna Fly Now," the famous theme song of the movie Rocky.
I'm happy to learn that you are having a quiet day and that your children all contacted you with Mother's Day wishes. I hope you enjoyed your stroll with my buddy Benny. I'm sure your own dear mother was on your mind today, and please know that I thought of her as well.
Thanks again for coming by and have a super week, dear friend Janet!
Happy Mother's Day to Helen! She impacted so many and her legacy will live on beyond any children she might've had on her own.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for swinging by to help me remember Helen Ettline - The Mother of All Dell Rats - on Mother's Day.
I like how you expressed this, Alex. The ripple effect of Helen's influence has surely touched many lives in the four decades since her death. As long as I remain in blogging, I will continue to honor this great woman, the First Lady of the Shady.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, good buddy Alex!
This is a wonderful tribute to Helen. I only know the last song but they all sound do great and loving. I can't help but picture Helen and John dancing to this music, holding each other and enjoying each moment. They had a special love and you showed this today, in the music you picked. Have a fab day and week
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThanks for coming to the Mother's Day party, dear friend!
Yessum, I threw in "Chapel Of Love" at the end there because it is a well known hit, but mostly because I wanted to post that excellent stereo sync-edit video of the trio appearing on Shivaree before it gets removed by the YouTube gremlins who always seem eager to spoil our fun. I'm delighted that you appreciated all of the song offerings in this year's tribute and envisioned John & Helen dancing to them.
I hope you are well and in better spirits this week. Thanks again for showing up for Helen this year and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!
Hi Shady and Happy Mother's Day to Helen. She was an amazing woman with her love towards teenagers. I'm so glad you knew this lovely couple who had a great influence on you.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the songs very much, especially Peter and Gordon. They were a favorite of mine when I was a teen. I met them once at a local radio station where they were signing autographs. It was quite a thrill! I asked if I could kiss them and they said yes and then everyone in live kissed them. Lol. I had a lot of nerve back then, I guess.
"Chapel of Love," is one of my favorite songs from that era. Their voices blend so beautifully. Sorry I am late today, so many things going on in my life. Thanks for the memories.
Chapel of Love is one of my favorite songs from that era.
Hi, Belle!
DeleteI'm thrilled to see you, dear friend! Thanks for being here this year as I pay tribute to Helen Ettline on Mother's Day!
Yessum, when it came to dealing with immature teenagers, Helen and John both had the patience of Job. They did indeed exert a positive influence on us and set an example for people of all ages to learn from and follow.
It's very cool that you actually met Peter & Gordon when they visited your local radio station. That's truly a "brush with greatness." The closest I came to that was meeting Peter Noone aka "Herman" of Herman's Hermits when he came to my TV station circa 1990 to tape an interview and promos for an upcoming oldies show at a local venue. Like his "Herman" persona, Peter Noone is a very nice guy. Peter and Gordon had a great sound, a soulful sound. Their worthy covers of this Buddy Holly song and this Teddy Bears hit stand as British Invasion classics. It doesn't surprise me that Peter & Gordon consented to let you smooch them. You looked so cute, you were the American equivalent of Lulu. :)
I'm happy to learn that the signature song by The Dixie Cups trio is one of your favorites from the period. Please don't apologize for being late, dear Belle. You should feel free to come over whenever you wish because you know you are always welcome, but at the same time you should not feel obligated. I hope all of the things going on behind the scenes in your life are pleasant and positive.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Belle. Take care and God bless!
Happy Mother's Day to Helen. I'm sure she would have loved this.
ReplyDeleteI watched American Bandstand when I was a kid don't recognize these songs.
I hope you have a good week.
Hi, Mary!
DeleteThanks for coming by and bringing Mother's Day greetings for Helen with you, dear friend!
Yessum, I'd like to think at least a couple of these tunes would be to Helen's liking. I never heard her complain about any song, artist or style of music, and so I suspect that her taste was eclectic, as is mine.
That Bandstand clip is from a 1964 episode and so is that Little Anthony comeback single. It would be a stretch for someone your age to know and remember that song unless your mother played Little Anthony records at home, which I assume she didn't. I'm guessing you didn't start watching Bandstand until the Disco years of the mid to late 70s. These days, YouTube uploaders are bringing back remastered Bandstand clips from those years with sync-edited HQ stereo sound. It's going to be a treat for Disco lovers when Thea Queen of Clubs debuts her SPMM radio show right here at Shady's Place.
Thanks again for stopping in, dear friend Mary. Please scratch my buddy Falcor around the neck and have a safe and happy week!
Happy Mothers day to sweet Helen who loved and mentored many teens even though she didn't have kids of her own. You don't have to birth a child to be an example and guide to them. The songs were good pics even though a couple were new to me. Of course Peter and Gordon were in my time line and I always liked them. Happy mothers day to Mrs. Shady and I'm sorry she's missing her Mom on this special day. It was a lovely tribute to Helen this year. I bet she's smiling down on you! Have a good week Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you so much for making time for a visit again this year as I remember and honor Helen Ettline on Mother's Day!
You're doggone right, dear friend. Helen & John were prime examples of people who possessed and practiced superb parenting skills even though they remained childless. They were indeed our mentors and guides. They didn't condemn and judge young people as did so many other adults. I actually think a lot of parents in the community resented the Ettlines for "alienating their children's affection," so to speak, and went out of their way to make trouble for the Ettlines and the Dell. My own mother got fed up with me for wanting to "run to the Dell" every night of my teenage life.
I'm glad you enjoyed the song lineup and learned a couple of new ones. Both Billy Storm songs were brand new to my ears when I discovered them on YouTube around a year ago.
You must have read my comment on your post letting you know that Mrs. Shady misses her mother as much as you miss yours. I loved Mrs. Shady's mother and I miss her, too. She died less than one year after my dad died.
I was happy to see a picture of your sister Midge in your post today. I hope this means she is doing AOK and you can once again put your mind at ease. I thank you again for swinging over for a visit and for your kind remarks about Helen. Keep well and have a wonderful week, dear friend YaYa!