The AI-Team, Vol 2

"I pity the fool who don't like these songs!"

 Old School's the Rule 

 In the Battle Against 

 The Anime From Within! 

No, dear friend. That's not a typo in the title at the top of the page.

 Today's post does not focus on The A-Team.

 

It focuses on

The AI-Team...

delightful characters

emerging from the

rapidly expanding

 cutting-edge

technology of

Artificial

Intelligence

art.

Yessum, we're in the middle of an AI boom,

and today's post offers a mix of past and present...

...20th century boomer songs and dazzling

AI art renderings of the 21st century.

  

In a recent post hosted by

Dr. Mary Harris from the

TV series Mary Kills People,

you heard three Mary songs:

"Sweet Mary," "The Wind

Cries Mary" and "Along

Comes Mary."  In this

edition of AI-Team,

Shady Del Knight is

once again going all

girlie on you, playing

ten of his favorite songs

that also have a girl's

name in the title.

To illustrate the theme

of the post, the songs

are accompanied by

modern AI-generated

images of women

and girls.

How many of these

 girl name songs do

you know, remember

or like hearing for

the first time?

Lulu

Our first featured girl song is a real Lulu. Released

at the height of the surf-rock craze, this gem of

the genre swept the nation like a tidal wave.

 Jan And Dean tell the tale of the whale, introducing

the queen of the surfer girls-- "Honolulu Lulu!"

"Honolulu Lulu" - Jan And Dean

(Sept./Oct. 1963, highest chart pos.

#11 Hot 100/#10 Cash Box)

Linda

At the start of that same year, 1963, Jan & Dean released this

next song as their last single in the doo-wop/teen pop vein.

 (The record that followed, the chart-topper  "Surf City,"

firmly established J&D as a hit-making surf-rock duo.)

What an interesting story behind this song! It was written

for a baby girl who went on to fame as Linda McCartney,

the wife of Beatles' dreamboat Paul McCartney!

In 1942, while on a tour of Europe during WWII,

American songwriter Jack Lawrence dedicated

a ditty to Linda Eastman, the one-year-old

daughter of his attorney Lee Eastman.

The song, published in 1946 after Lawrence left the military,

was recorded by several artists, but Jan And Dean's version

is the grabber. Penetrating the top 30 in the spring of '63,

here's the toe-tapping song about-- "l-l, l-l-l, l-l-l-l-Linda!"

"Linda" - Jan And Dean

(Apr./May 1963, highest chart pos.

#26 Cash Box/#28 Hot 100)

Susan

In the mid 60s, American record buyers were going wild

over British bands. To imply that they too came from the UK,

a polished, horn-driven, blue-eyed soul and psychedelic pop

band from Chicago were given the name The Buckinghams.

1967 was the biggest year for The Bucks. All 5 of their top 40

hits charted that year... leading Billboard magazine to name

The Buckinghams "The Most Listened to Band in America."

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here's lead singer Dennis Tufano and The Buckinghams with the

last single in the group's 1967 hot streak, a song about-- "Susan!"

"Susan" - The Buckinghams

(Dec. 1967/Jan. 1968, highest chart pos.

#6 Record World/#7 Cash Box,

#11 Billboard/#7 Canada)

Sally #1

Our next girl name song was originally waxed by rock & roll

legend Little Richard. In 1956, Richard's single spent 19 weeks

 atop the R&B chart and brushed the top 5 on the pop survey.

Eight years later, The Beatles, who admired Little Richard

and performed his hits during their concerts, released

a great cover. I found a brilliantly remixed version and

reimagined video for your listening and viewing pleasure.

 From May, 1964, here are The Beatles with Paul McCartney

on lead singing the praises of-- "Long Tall Sally!"

"Long Tall Sally" - The Beatles

(from May 1964 album The Beatles' Long Tall Sally,

rel. as single and reached #1 in Sweden & Denmark

in June, July & August 1964)

Jenny

Rock & Roll titan Little Richard is also the inspiration

behind the next featured girl song. In 1957, Richard's

original entitled "Jenny, Jenny" peaked at #2 on the

R&B chart and went top 10 on the pop survey.

 In late 1965, rock & roll/R&B wildman Mitch Ryder used

"Jenny, Jenny" in a mashup with "See See Rider Blues"

aka "See See Rider" aka "C.C. Rider," a blues song

from the 1920s about a lover who sleeps around.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here are Mitch Ryder and his band The Detroit Wheels on

Hullabaloo doing their top 10 hit-- "Jenny Take A Ride!"

"Jenny Take A Ride!" - Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels

(Jan./Feb. 1966, highest chart pos. #10 Hot 100/#17 Cash Box,

live performance on Jan. 24, 1966, episode of Hullabaloo)

Pam

Now here's another Beatles song with the name of a girl in the title.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

From the September, 1969, album Abbey Road--

"(You should see) Polythene Pam!"

"Polythene Pam" - The Beatles

(from September 1969, album Abbey Road)

Elenor #1

Check out this groovy girl song by The Turtles,

the LA-based psychedelic pop band led by

Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman.

 With deliberately goofy lyrics, the ditty was penned as

a satire of the group's biggest pop hit "Happy Together."

 One of the first pop recordings to utilize the Moog synthesizer,

the Turtles' single had a vibe that listeners couldn't resist

and the record made the top 5 in the fall of 1968.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here are Howard & Mark ("Flo & Eddie") doing

their latest hit live on Kraft Music Hall!

"Elenor" - The Turtles

(Oct./Nov. 1968, highest chart pos. #5 Cash Box,

#6 Hot 100/#4 Canada, Sept. 1968 live perf.

on TV show Kraft Music Hall)

Sally #2

Now here's the second Sally song in today's lineup.  R&B singer

and songwriter Mack Rice wrote and first recorded this ditty

in 1965. Rice's version reached its peak at #15 on the R&B

chart, an achievement that was eclipsed the following year

when gravel-voiced R&B great Wilson Pickett covered it.

 Pickett's record went top 5 on the R&B survey and crossed over

to the pop chart, penetrating the top 20 on Cash Box and the

top 5 in Canada. Pickett's version is also ranked #114 on

my list of The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here's "The Wicked Pickett" with a single that made

Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs

 of All Time - "Mustang Sally!"

"Mustang Sally" - Wilson Pickett

(#6 R&B/#16 Cash Box/#23 Hot 100/#4 Canada,

#114 The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell)

Renee

The Left Banke was a baroque psychedelic pop band

based in New York City. Millions of fans across America

and around the globe were saddened when news broke in

 January, 2020, that the group's lead singer, Steve Martin,

later known as Steve Martin Caro, died at the age of 71.

 Martin possessed one of the most beautiful and distinctive

voices in all of pop music, as you will hear as he sings

one of the most evocative songs ever recorded, the

band's debut single, a top 5 hit in the fall of 1966.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here are Steve Martin and The Left Banke with a song regarded as

 the definitive work of the baroque pop genre-- "Walk Away Renee!"

"Walk Away Renee" - The Left Banke

(Oct./Nov. 1966, highest chart pos. #2 Cash Box/#5 Hot 100,

#129 The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell)

Eleanor #2

Earlier, The Turtles paid musical tribute to "Elenor."

To conclude today's show, here's a different girl song

with a different spelling of that same name. Released

along with "Yellow Submarine" on a double A-side

single in August, 1966, from the Beatles' Revolver

album, resulting in two chart-topping worldwide

hits, it's the story of a lonely, ageing spinster

by the name of-- "Eleanor Rigby!"

"Eleanor Rigby" - The Beatles

(#1 UK/#11 Hot 100/#12 Cash Box,

from Aug. 1966 album Revolver)

I hope you liked these girl name songs of the past

and new AI generated images of women and girls.

Meet more enchanting members of

 The AI-Team 

next time, and remember... 

 Old School's the Rule 

 In the Battle Against 

 The Anime From Within! 

 See you next time! 

The AI-Team, Vol 1

"I pity the fool who don't like these songs!"

 Old School's the Rule 

 In the Battle Against 

 The Anime From Within! 

No, dear friend. That isn't a typographical error

in the title of my post at the top of the page.

 Today's post does not focus on The A-Team.

 It focuses on The AI-Team... delightful characters emerging

from the breakthrough territory of Artificial Intelligence art.

These creations are out of this world. World? I mean universe!

As you can see, the sky's the limit in this

rapidly expanding cutting-edge technology.

Above, for example, incredibly detailed and lifelike but totally unreal,

is the "charming and mischievous space adventurer" Nova Stardust.

Yessum, we're in the middle of an AI boom...

and today's post offers a mix of past and present...

...20th century boomer songs combined with

dazzling... mind-blowing...

21st century AI art renderings.

  

Shady's going Old School - playing ten of his favorite songs

that have the word "school" in the title or make reference to

School days, school days,

dear old golden rule days,

Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic

Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick

To illustrate the theme of the post, the songs are accompanied

 by modern AI generated images of teachers...

college women...

bookworms in the school library...

 and studious schoolgirls doing homework.

 How many of these old school songs do you know or remember?

Okay, here we go with the first of our school related songs.

When we were at school, our games were simple

I played a janitor, you played a monitor

So sang the English pop rock band The Hollies in 1967. 

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

 Here they are on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour doing

a song that was a top 3 hit in the UK and made the top 10

in the U.S. The Hollies sing-- "Carrie Anne!"

"Carrie-Anne" - The Hollies

(July/Aug. 1967, highest chart pos. #9 Hot 100/#10 Cash Box,

#9 Canada/#3 UK, live perf. on Dec. 10, 1967, ep. of

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour)

I used to carry her satchels

She used to walk by my side

But when we got to her doorstep

Her dad wouldn't let me inside

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

The following year, The Hollies changed their tune

and their schoolgirl's name and gained a top 40

hit in the U.S. with-- "Jennifer Eccles!"

"Jennifer Eccles" - The Hollies

(July/Aug. 1968, highest chart pos. #40 Hot 100,

#54 Cash Box/#19 Canada/#7 UK)

The chicks are jealous of the new girl in school

They put her down and they treat her so cruel

But the guys are goin' out of their minds

'Cause she's the finest girl you'll ever find

Jan And Dean scored a double-sided hit single thanks to this school-

girl song on the B side of their top 10-charting "Dead Man's Curve."

From the early spring of 1964, here's "The New Girl In School!"

"The New Girl In School" - Jan And Dean

(Mar./Apr. 1964, highest chart pos. #26 Cash Box,

#37 Hot 100, B side of "Dead Man's Curve")

So kids, stay in school,

don't be no drag

Take a fool's advice and

stay out of that bag

Tell me one more time people,

looka here, what he said

Without an education

You might as well be dead

In the fall of 1966, Soul Brother #1 James Brown was riding

high on the charts with a musical public service announcement.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

The single reached the top 5 on the R&B chart and is ranked

high at #27 on my list of The Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell.

Brown's message to the kids of America: "Don't Be A Drop-Out!"

"Don't Be A Drop-Out!" - James Brown

And The Famous Flames (Oct./Nov. 1966,

highest chart pos. #4 R&B/#39 Cash Box,

#50 Hot 100/#35 Canada)

Up in the mornin' and out to school

The teacher is teachin' the golden rule

American history and practical math

You're studyin' hard and hopin' to pass

Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll, it's the merry mister Chuck Berry

with his chart-topping hit from the spring of '57--

"School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)."

"School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)" - Chuck Berry

(Apr./May 1957, highest chart pos. #1 R&B,

#3 Cash Box/#5 Hot 100/#24 UK)

After school we have to rendezvous

Gonna plan all the things that we're gonna do

Trade bookin' for cookin' and I'll quit my lookin'

When our days at the school are through

In the spring of 1960, Bobby Rydell, one of the most

popular teen idols of the pre-Beatles era, scored a top 5

hit with a song about a school that's most definitely cool. 

Enjoy this rare colorized clip as Bobby does-- "Swingin' School!"

"Swingin' School" - Bobby Rydell

(May/June 1960, highest chart pos. #5 Hot 100/#6 Cash Box)

Don't know much about history

Don't know much biology

Don't know much about science books

Don't know much about the French I took

Three music giants co-wrote this next school-related ditty:

Lou Adler, Herb Alpert and Sam Cooke. Sam was first to

wax the song, resulting in a top 10 hit in the spring of 1960.

 Fast-forward to the summer of '65 when England's Herman's Hermits

cracked the U.S. top 5 and topped the Canadian chart with their cover.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here's kid tested - mother approved Peter Noone

and his Hermits' doing-- "Wonderful World!"

"Wonderful World" - Sam Cooke cover by Herman's Hermits

(June/July 1965, highest chart position #4 Hot 100,

#5 Cash Box/#1 Canada)

I used to get mad at my school

(Now, I can't complain)

The teachers who taught me weren't cool

(Now, I can't complain)

You're holding me down (Ah-ah),

turning me 'round (Ah-oh)

Filling me up with your rules

(Fool, you fool)

Released by The Beatles in 1967 on their album Sgt. Pepper's

Lonely Hearts Club Band, this song features Paul on double-

tracked lead vocals and John and George on backing vocals.

McCartney sings:

It's "Getting Better" all the time

Lennon sings:

Can't get no worse!

"Getting Better" - The Beatles (from May 1967

album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)

Everybody screamed

When I kissed the teacher

And they must have thought they dreamed

When I kissed the teacher

Now, here's the opening song on the Swedish

pop group ABBA's 1976 album Arrival.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

This rare clip captures ABBA in a live performance that fall

on Polish TV, performing-- "When I Kissed The Teacher!"

"When I Kissed the Teacher" - ABBA

(Oct. 1976 live perf. on Polish TV in Warsaw)

When the ivy walls

Are far behind

No matter where our paths may wind

We'll remember always

Graduation day

To conclude my musical essay on old school songs that are

old school cool, let's go way back to June, 1956, and listen

to the best known hit by The Four Freshmen, a male vocal

quartet from Indianapolis. The nostalgia song was a major

early influence on The Beach Boys who went on to make

it a regular part of their concert lineup. This special Y/T

hybrid took the original Four Freshmen studio recording

and remixed it to sound more like The Beach Boys.

We'll remember always-- "Graduation Day!"

"Graduation Day" - The Four Freshmen

(May/June 1956, highest chart pos. #12 Cash Box,

#27 Hot 100, remixed in the style of The Beach Boys)

I hope you learned your lesson today.

Meet more enchanting members of

 The AI-Team 

next time, and remember... 

 Old School's the Rule 

 In the Battle Against 

 The Anime From Within! 

  See you soon!