Saved By the Belle - Volume 2: I'm A Fool, Just a Silly Fool, To Be In Love With You!

COLD OPEN:

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

"I'm A Fool" - Dino, Desi & Billy

(July/Aug. 1965, highest chart pos. #17 Hot 100/#19 Cash Box,

scene from Christmas 1966 film Murderer's Row)

Smile and say "cheese!"

It's time to meet the micest member of

the Shady Bunch Rodentia Intelligentsia! 

 Hi, folks!  I'm... 

 Belle Rat the Dell Rat 

 ...the ladies' answer to Denny the Dell Rat. 

Welcome to my S-P-M-M radio show

 Saved by the Belle 

 The Music and Musings of 

 Belle Rat the Dell Rat 

I'm on a mission to save you from boring elevator music.

I'm no Minnie Mouse, and the tunes I play are not Mickey Mouse.

My show brings you the best and most memorable sounds

from the glory days of your boomer youth.

At the top of the show, you saw Dino, Desi & Billy perform their

biggest hit "I'm A Fool," a top 20 record in the summer of 1965.

The teenage pop trio included two kids of celebrities (above left & center).  

"Dino" was Dean Martin's son Dean Paul Martin, Jr.  "Desi" is the son of

Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz. "Billy," William Hinsche, was a schoolmate.

Dino married Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill, but tragedy struck at

age 35 when he was killed in the crash of his Air National Guard jet.

Bravo to the YouTube uploader

for doing some creative editing

and starting that video with a

scene from dad Dean Martin's

1966 Matt Helm secret agent

movie Murderers' Row co-

starring Ann-Margret. Dino,

Desi & Billy appeared in

that flick, and you saw

the real life father and

son exchange lines of 

dialogue... a great

intro for the trio's

signature song

"I'm A Fool."

 

Speaking of fools...

have you heard about

the fool on the hill?

CLICK TO

START THE

VIDEO NOW!

For starters, he has a foolish grin,

a thousand voices and nobody

seems to like him. Complete

details now in this report by

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66!

"The Fool On The Hill" - Beatles cover by

Sergio Mendes And Brasil '66 (Sept./Oct. 1968,

highest chart pos. #6 Hot 100/#7 Cash Box)

That was Brazilian pianist

Sergio Mendes and his Latin-

styled group Brasil '66 with a

song that fell just short of the

top 5 on the U.S. chart in the

fall of 1968, a memorable cover

of "The Fool on the Hill," a song

originally released in November,

1967, on The Beatles' EP and

album Magical Mystery Tour.

Featured singers on that hit

by Brasil '66 were Lani Hall,

 who married Herb Alpert in

1973, and Karen Philipp, who

posed nude for Playboy in

1972 promoting her acting

role in season one of the

hit TV series M*A*S*H.

I have always loved The Beatles and found comfort in their songs. Up next,

one of my favorites by the Liverpudlian moptops. Paul wrote the verses

and chorus, John contributed the "Life is very short" middle. During

the recording session, George came up with the brilliant idea to

slow down the middle, making it sound like a German Waltz.

The creative use of a Salvation Army pump organ marked the

start of a series of innovative compositions and experimental

recording and sound mixing techniques in the years that followed.

Here are evolutionary, revolutionary Beatles and- "We Can Work It Out."

"We Can Work It Out" - The Beatles

(Jan./Feb. 1966, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

Those were The Beatles performing "We Can Work It Out," a song recorded

around Halloween, 1965, during the sessions for the Rubber Soul album.

Released as a single, the song shot to the top of pop charts all around

the world in the early weeks of 1966.  "We Can Work It Out" spent

three weeks at #1 on Billboard and four weeks at #1 on Cash Box.

It was the 7th biggest selling single of the entire Sixties decade.

You're boppin' to the beat on S-P-M-M

Rat-ro Radio... the station with personality.

You've got a rat to rock, and I'm her, she's me.

Like my new poodle skirt?

 I'm runnin' down the groovy sounds of the

1950s, 60s and 70s, those Wonder Years

classics that never grow old. 

It's hard to believe there was ever a

time when most peeps in the world

had not yet heard of The Beatles.

It's equally hard to believe there

was ever a time when ABBA,

the pop group from Stockholm,

Sweden, was unknown in many

countries including the U.S.

Here's an ABBA ditty that

takes us back to that time.

START VIDEO NOW! 

Anni and Aggie wore conservative

business attire to sing one of their

catchiest and best feel good

songs-- "Ring, Ring!"

"Ring, Ring" - ABBA

(Feb./Mar. 1973, highest chart pos. #1 Denmark,

#2 Sweden, Norway, Austria & Belgium)

From early 1973, that was ABBA,

unknown in America and much

of the civilized world at the time,

but soon to become a household

name and global phenomenon.

They performed "Ring, Ring,"

the song that gave them their

first break in parts of Europe.

Hope I soon hear the ring ring

of the dinner bell... 'cause I'm

getting hangry for my cheese.

After all, I need to keep up my

strength so that I can continue

to fight for your rat to party.

If you're just tuning in, I'm

your Hostess With the Mostest...

Belle of the ball, leader of the pack,

queen of the Rodentia Intelligentsia...

 Belle Rat 

 the Dell Rat 

... the micest member of the

Shady Bunch deejay team.

Far from mousy, I'm the

pick of the litter - the

prettiest, perkiest and

 most personable

member of the

Rat Pack.

I'm playing the best tunes in town and telling my rat tails tales

here on S-P-M-M Rat-ro-sonic Radio. My show is called

 Saved by the Belle 

and we're right in the middle of a 7-in-a-row cheddar cheese block party,

so let's get back to the songs from the soundtrack of our boomer youth.

How about a little bubblegum to go with your pop? I've got just the thing.

Here are Tommy James And The Shondells with their breakthrough hit,

a chart-topper in the summer of '66-- "Hanky Panky!"

"Hanky Panky" - Tommy James And The Shondells

(June/July 1966, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box & Canada,

dance perf. by The Action Kids on Sept. 28, 1966, ep. of Where The Action Is)

Coming in at #41 on Shady's

list of The 200 Greatest Hits

of the Shady Dell (mid 60s),

that was "Hanky Panky," the

semi dirty ditty by Tommy

James And The Shondells.

In that rare video clip, you

witnessed The Action Kids

dance troupe on Dick Clark's

TV show Where The Action Is

performing a choreographed

beach ball routine on the sand

and playing a friendly game of

dodge ball at the water's edge.

BOOTH ANNOUNCER:

IT'S A

BELLE RAT

THE DELL RAT

(ECHO CHAMBER)

DOUBLE PLAY-AY-AY-AY-AY-AY-AY 

That's right, Johnny Olson, I'm double-dippin' into

Tommy James' brand of sweet bubblegum pop.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Hey... is that Casey Kasem?... or just a-- "Mirage"?

"Mirage" - Tommy James And The Shondells

(May/June 1967, highest chart pos. #10 Hot 100 & Cash Box,

studio dancers on American Bandstand & Shebang)

You just got hit with a double-barreled bubblegum blast from the past,

a double dose of Tommy James And The Shondells. In a split-screen special,

you heard the group perform "Mirage," their top 10 hit from the spring of 1967,

while the kids on Bandstand and Casey Kasem's Shebang danced to the beat.

Before that, Tommy and the band played their chart-topper "Hanky Panky"

on a 1966 segment of Where The Action Is taped on Malibu Beach.

RATS!!!

Shady's waving me off, so I need

to scurry on home. It's just a hole

in the wall, but the food is good.

I hope you enjoyed volume 2 of

 Saved by 

 the Belle 

 The Music and 

 Musings of 

 Belle Rat 

 the Dell Rat.  

Yay! The Shady man says I have time for one last song, and I've got a dilly,

a brilliantly restored video of Gary Puckett And The Union Gap appearing

on The Ed Sullivan Show in the spring of 1968 and introducing their new

single "Lady Willpower." It was a live performance, not lip sync, because

nervous CBS censors worried that the song's lyrics "the facts of life"

 were too dirty for the Ed Sullivan viewers and sponsors to tolerate.

 Really?   Seriously???

CBS executives asked Gary to change the line to "the way of life" and he

agreed. Gary proceeded to turn in the amazing live performance you

are about to watch.  This episode of The Ed Sullivan Show aired on

 May 12, 1968, nine days before the single was released, making

this moment in pop music history all the more special.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Now this is Belle Rat the Dell Rat reminding you that a Dell Rat

must be brave, and a Dell Rat must behave.  See you next time!

"Lady Willpower" - Gary Puckett And The Union Gap

(June/July/Aug. 1968, highest chart pos. #1 Cash Box/#2 Hot 100,

#4 Australia/#5 UK, live perf. on May 12, 1968, ep. of The Ed Sullivan Show)

I gotta run

(because

Belle Rat's

hungry)...

but I hope

to see you

next time!

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

 Belle Rat the Dell Rat 

Artwork courtesy of my wonderful longtime friend Belle Unruh.

Born in California's Inland Empire... 

Belle moved to Canada as a teenager.

Thank you very much for contributing these delightful

"Belle Rat" drawings to Shady's Place, dear friend Belle!

SMOOCHES!

Saved By the Belle - Volume 1: Psychedelic Lollipop Surrealistic Pillow Thingy

COLD OPEN:

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" - The Platters

(Dec. 1958 thru Feb. 1959, highest chart pos.

#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box/#3 R&B, scenes from

Aug. 1973 film American Graffiti)

Smile and say "cheese!"

It's time to meet the newest member of

the Shady Bunch Rodentia Intelligentsia! 

 Hi, folks!  I'm... 

 Belle Rat the Dell Rat 

 ...the ladies' answer to Denny the Dell Rat. 

Welcome to my new S-P-M-M radio show

 Saved by the Belle 

 The Music and Musings of 

 Belle Rat the Dell Rat 

I'm on a mission to save you from boring elevator music.

I'm no Minnie Mouse, and the tunes I play are not Mickey Mouse.

My show brings you the best and most memorable sounds

from the glory days of your boomer youth.

At the top of the show, you experienced an awesome split-screen effect,

a custom YouTube video with The Platters performing "Smoke Gets In

Your Eyes," their chart-topping hit from late 1958 and early '59, while

on the large portion of the screen you were treated to scenes from the

1973 coming-of-age comedy film American Graffiti. Set in the summer

of '62, Graffiti features The Platters' romantic ballad in the soundtrack.

Watching the nocturnal adventures

of Steve, Laurie, Terry "The Toad,"

Debbie, Curt and the rest of those

California teenagers reminds me

of when I was their age. I used to

sneak out of my bedroom window

to meet up with guys and girls

I wasn't supposed to be with.

Alright, let's shift gears now

and jump ahead in time to the

rockin' psychedelic 60s as I

play one of the biggest and

most important hits of the

genre presented in another

awesome split-screen vid!

CLICK TO

START VIDEO!

It's the San Francisco-based Jefferson Airplane

with their signature song-- "Somebody To Love!"

"Somebody To Love" - Jefferson Airplane

(May/June 1967, highest chart pos. #5 Hot 100 & Cash Box,

scenes from May 27, 1967, ep. of American Bandstand)

That was Grace Slick and company,

the Jefferson Airplane, performing

their 5th single but first major hit,

"Somebody To Love," together on a

split-screen with the studio dancers

on American Bandstand groovin' to

the band's exciting new hard rock

sound. Speaking of breaking on

through to the other side of the

success barrier, here's another

band that did just that in the

weeks and months after

"Somebody To Love"

peaked on the chart.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW! 

It's Jim Morrison and his psychedelic rock band The Doors with

their own sig-song, a record that went all the way to #1

in the summer of 1967-- "Light My Fire!"

"Light My Fire" - The Doors

(June thru August 1967, highest chart pos.

#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

Come on, baby, "Light My Fire" cried rock legend Jim Morrison...

a Doors ditty that rode high on the chart throughout the summer of '67.

Belle Rat the Dell Rat keeping you company

here on S-P-M-M Rat-ro-sonic Radio.

Baby, it's cold outside... and I'm warming you up

with red hot platters fresh from the jukebox. 

Ready for another split-screen

dazzler? I've got it. Check out

Motown's mighty Temptations

on the left side doing their chart-

topping 1966 single "Ain't Too

Proud To Beg," and on the right,

a cool dance routine performed

on Dick Clark's music TV show

Where The Action Is.

CLICK TO

START THE

VIDEO NOW! 

Watch as Jeri, Lesley, Roberta

and The Action Kids entertain

you with The Temptation Walk!

"Ain't Too Proud To Beg" - The Temptations

(June/July 1966, highest chart pos. #1 R&B,

#10 Cash Box/#13 Hot 100, dance perf. by

The Action Kids on Where The Action Is)

From 1966, that was rare and nicely

restored footage of The Action Kids,

the exciting dance troupe on the

TV series Where The Action Is,

doing The Temptation Walk

along with a restored clip

of The Temp's on stage

performing one of

their biggest cross-

over hits-- "Ain't

Too Proud To Beg."

If you're just tuning in, I'm

your Hostess With the Mostest...

Belle of the ball, leader of the pack,

queen of the Rodentia Intelligentsia...

 Belle Rat 

 the Dell Rat 

...newest member of the

Shady Bunch deejay team.

Far from mousy, I'm the

pick of the litter - the

prettiest, perkiest and

 most personable

member of the

Rat Pack.

 I'm playing the best tunes in town and telling my rat tails tales

here on S-P-M-M Rat-ro-sonic Radio. This is the premiere of

 Saved by the Belle 

and we're right in the middle of a 7-in-a-row cheddar cheese block party,

so let's get back to the songs from the soundtrack of our boomer youth.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here now are The Mama's And The Papa's in various performances and

outfits, doing their breakthrough hit and signature song "California Dreamin'."

"California Dreamin'" - The Mama's And The Papa's

(Feb./Mar. 1966, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears, that was the LA-

based psychedelic sunshine pop and folk rock quartet

The Mama's And The Papa's. (Yep - that's the exact

 spelling on the label of the original Dunhill single.)

Hot during the cold winter months in the early part

of 1966, the song "California Dreamin'" became a

signpost of the California sound and heralded

the arrival of the 60s counterculture era.

You're boppin' with Belle on

S-P-M-M... the station with

personality. You've got a rat

to rock, and I'm her, she's me.

I'm runnin' down the groovy

sounds of the 50s, 60s and

70s, those Wonder Years

classics that never grow old.

 In the fall of 1970, singer -

songwriter Neil Diamond

achieved his first #1 hit on

the Billboard pop chart,

his third million-selling

single and his break-thru

UK hit, all with the song

you are about to hear.

 The pop troubadour is

literally beside himself in

this split-screen restoration

video. Here's Neil Diamond

appearing on The Johnny

Cash Show and singing

his soft rock favorite--

"Cracklin' Rosie!"

"Cracklin' Rosie" - Neil Diamond

(Sept./Oct. 1970, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box,

#1 Canada, perf. on Sept. 30, 1970, ep. of The Johnny Cash Show)

Hot-hot-hot in the chilly weeks leading up to Halloween in

1970, that was "Cracklin' Rosie," one of Neil Diamond's

 biggest hits and catchiest singalong songs. 

In addition to topping the pop charts in the U.S. and Canada,

"Rosie" reached #1 in New Zealand, #2 in Australia and Ireland

and also peaked at #2 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart. 

RATS!!!

Shady's waving me off, so I need

to scurry on home. It's just a hole

in the wall, but the food is good.

I hope you enjoyed the debut of

 Saved by 

 the Belle 

 The Music and 

 Musings of 

 Belle Rat 

 the Dell Rat.  

Earlier, you saw and heard the Jefferson Airplane perform "Somebody

To Love," their breakthrough top 5 charting hit from the spring of 1967.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

To play us off, here's the band's follow-up single, a record that

approached the top 5 on Cash Box during that magical, mystical

Summer of Love. Grace Slick sings-- "White Rabbit!"

"White Rabbit" - Jefferson Airplane

(July/Aug. 1967, highest chart pos. #6 Cash Box/#8 Hot 100)

I gotta run

(because

Belle Rat's

hungry)...

but I hope

to see you

next time!

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

 Belle Rat the Dell Rat 

Artwork courtesy of my wonderful longtime friend Belle Unruh.

Born in California's Inland Empire... 

Belle moved to Canada as a teenager.

Thank you very much for contributing this delightful

"Belle Rat" drawing to Shady's Place, dear friend Belle!

Now this is Belle Rat the Dell Rat reminding you that a Dell Rat

must be brave, and a Dell Rat must behave.  See you next time!