Austin Powers Smooches for Hours on Valentine's Day!

 Allow myself to introduce..... myself. 

 I'm Austin Powers, super secret spy, 

 international man of mystery, 

 bon vivant, swinging playboy 

 and irresistible babe magnet. 

 London is my home, shag is my bag, 

 planet earth is my playground and 

 danger is my middle name, baby. 

Your regular host, Shady, couldn't be here this week.
He's out of town starring in a one-man show, playing all
sixteen parts in a little theater production of Noises Off.

 That's a gag, dove. Oh come on now. 

 I saw you crack a smile just then, 

 pussycat, admit it -  YEAH! 

In his absence, Shady invited me back as emcee of the annual Valentine's party.
There'll be smooches for hours as I, Austin Powers, treat you to another Brit pop

sock hop featuring records by some of the UK's grooviest thrushes. As an added

bonus, we'll be going Dutch as I play three more songs by a Holland honey who's

the bee's knees, plus a ditty by a girl popper from the USA. The place is packed

with blokes & birds, mods & rockers, stockingtop poppers, backcombed cuties

and punks with cooties. It takes two to tango, and so, without further ado, I'll

put the needle in the groove and we can shag till dawn. Calm yourself, kitten.

Shag is a dance! Every spinner's a winner, so ready - steady - GO!

 SUSAN MAUGHAN 

In 1962 English singer Susan Maughan scored a top 3 hit in the UK with her cover of

"Bobby's Girl," a song originally waxed by Brooklyn, NY, singer Marcie Blane. In 1963

Susan brushed the top 40 with "Hand a Handkerchief to Helen." In 1964 The Beatles

and other Brit bands put an end to Susan's modest hit streak by rendering her style

old school and uncool. Susan's cover of "Kiss Me Sailor," a hit single in the U.S.

for Diane Renay, failed to chart as did a cover of "Hey Lover," a song composed

by Don Covay and John Berry and originally recorded by 12 year old Debbie

Dovale of Clairton, PA, a Pittsburgh suburb, and released in September 1963

on the Ricky label, a subsidiary of the small Pittsburgh-based Co & Ce

Records - home to The Vogues. Here now is that fetching warbler,

Susan Maughan, in a 1964 live performance of "Hey Lover." 

 "Hey Lover" - Susan Maughan 

 (Jan./Feb. 1964) 

 BONNY ST. CLAIRE 

In 1959, American zinger April Stevens had a hit with the sexually suggestive
"Teach Me Tiger." In 1967, Dutch singer Bonny St. Claire (born two days
before Shady Del Knight) was just turning 18 when she released her
debut solo single, a sizzler with a similar name, "Tame Me Tiger."
Background vocals were provided by a group called The Jets.

Looks like Bonny lass lost her balance
and was falling backward off her perch
the moment this publicity photo was
snapped. I hope the poor girl didn't
bust her buns. I fancy this Dutch
thrush. Give her a listen.

GO AHEAD, BABY...

TAME ME TIGER!

 "Tame Me Tiger" - Bonny St. Claire 
 (Nov./Dec. 1967) 

 BONNIE ST. CLAIRE 

 AND UNIT GLORIA 

In the early 70s, Miss St. Claire changed the spelling of her first
name and added a backing group called Unit Gloria. Together
they released half a dozen singles including this one--
"Waikiki Man (do the hula with me!)" 

 "Waikiki Man" - Bonnie St. Claire 
 And Unit Gloria (May/June 1973) 

Bonnie and her group scored a huge hit in The Netherlands with

the platter I am about to play. Clap your hands and stamp your feet

whilst Bonnie sings-- "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet!"

 "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet" 
 Bonnie St. Claire (And Unit Gloria) 

 (Nov./Dec. 1972) 

 LINDA SCOTT 

Now here's pop songstress Linda Sampson of Queens, New York, better known

as Linda Scott. In the late summer of 1961, Linda followed-up the biggest hit

of her career, the top 3 charting "I've Told Every Little Star," with this

top 10 single, "Don't Bet Money Honey," which crossed over to

the top 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart,

 "Don't Bet Money Honey" - Linda Scott 

 (Aug. 1962, highest chart pos. #3 Adult Contemporary, 

 #9 Hot 100/#10 Cash Box) 

 JACKIE TRENT 

This next record, "You Baby," is not the hit song by The Turtles. This is the song

written by Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann and Phil Spector and first recorded stateside

in 1964 by Spector's girl group The Ronettes. The song was covered in 1965 by

American pop princess Linda Scott. I'd like you to hear the version released in

1966 by English singer/songwriter Jackie Trent. Here now is Jackie doing a

song that's a favorite among Northern Soul clubbers-- "You Baby!"

 

 "You Baby" - Jackie Trent 

 (Feb./Mar. 1966) 

 PETULA CLARK 

Songwriter Jackie Trent, the gifted gal you just saw and heard, in collaboration

with her composer/producer husband Tony Hatch, were responsible for many

of Petula Clark's international hits. Just in time for V-Day, were's a song

that Tony alone hatched for Pet, a single that topped the chart

in the U.S. and Canada-- "My Love." 

 "My Love" - Petula Clark 

 (Jan./Feb. 1966, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100, 

 #2 Cash Box/#1 Canada) 

 I hope these super sounds put you in 

 a shagadelic mood, baby. Oh behave! 

 This is your old chum Austin Powers 

 international man of mystery 

 (and music history)... 

 saying ciao for now. 

 Let's do it again real soon, baby... 

 You know you want to... YEAH!