Shady's Angels, Vol. 1: Pretty Blue Eyes is a Work of Art!

COLD OPEN!

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

"Venus In Blue Jeans" - Jimmy Clanton

(Sept./Oct. 1962, highest chart pos. #7 Hot 100/#10 Cash Box,

performance on June 5, 1965, ep. of Hollywood A Go-Go)

One of the many hit songs written by the great Neil Sedaka, that was

my first BLUE SONG of the show - "Venus In Blue Jeans' - by the

"swamp pop R&B teenage idol" Jimmy Clanton, a record that made

a convincing run at the top 5 in the weeks leading up to Halloween

in 1962. From 1972 to 1976, Jimmy Clanton was a DJ at an oldies

format radio station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Dell Rat Tom's

old stomping ground, and he and Tom became friends thru

chatting numerous times on the station's request hotline.

Hello and welcome!

I'm Pretty Blue Eyes,

one of Shady's Angels.

Shady's Angels don't

battle bad guys... we

spin great records of

the 50s and early 60s.

To enhance the mood as you

listen to the greatest oldies,

Shady will deck the halls

and plaster the walls

with pictures of

Shady's Angels

...classic pinups by mid 20th

century artists like Gil Elvgren,

Walt Otto, Edward D'Ancona,  

Bill Medcalf, Edward Runci,

Art Frahm, Harry Eckman,

Frederick Sands Brunner

and Joyce Ballantyne.

Along with vintage pinup girls, Shady will decorate with
nostalgic record album art, covers of pulp romance mags
and comics, and soft drink print ads of the period.

So sit back and let

Shady's Angels
entertain you.
Better yet, pick
a partner, head
out to the floor
and get ready
to dance and
make romance!

Two days ago, pop crooner Steve Lawrence

turned age 87. To boomers, Steve is best

known as one half of Steve and Eydie...

the successful duo he formed with his

late wife Eydie Gormé. Both Steve and

Eydie recorded solo hits and I'm gonna

play one of Steve's, a record that made

the top 10 in the early weeks of 1960.

The song was written by Teddy Ran-

dazzo & Bobby Weinstein, the team

that composed the hits "Goin' Out Of

My Head" and "I'm On The Outside

(Looking In)" for Little Anthony &

The Imperials and "It's Gonna Take

a Miracle" for the Royalettes. Here

now is Steve Lawrence with my

theme song-- "Pretty Blue Eyes!"

"Pretty Blue Eyes" - Steve Lawrence

(Jan. 1960, highest chart pos. #7 Cash Box/#9 Hot 100,

scenes from June 1963 movie The Nutty Professor)

This just in: Mrs. Shady Blue had a baby!

(No... not really.)

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

As proud father Shady B welcomed the tot into the world, he sang this
hit from '61 by the Brooklyn trio The Echoes-- "(You're my) Baby Blue!"

"Baby Blue" - The Echoes

(Apr./May 1961, highest chart pos. #12 Hot 100/#15 Cash Box)

If you're just tuning in,

I'm Pretty Blue Eyes,

one of Shady's Angels,

and the newest member of

The Shady Bunch DJ team

on S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio

brought to you in Futuresonic

Stereo Surround! We're right

smack dab in the middle of a

 7-in-a-row commercial free

cruise, so let's get right

back to the music!

Up next, The Polish Prince, Bobby Vinton. Starting in 1962 Bobby

recorded quite a few "color songs" including "Roses Are Red,"

"Blue Velvet," "What Color (Is A Man)," "Petticoat White

(Summer Sky Blue)," "Red Roses For Mom" and the one

that's cued-up on my turntable right now, a top 3 hit

for Bobby in the summer of '63-- "Blue On Blue!"

"Blue On Blue" - Bobby Vinton

(June 1963, highest chart pos. #3 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

Pretty Blue Eyes keeping you company and spinning the best sounds

of the Fabulous Fifties and pre-Beatles 60s here on S-P-M-M... where

we go hunting for the great songs of the past and bring 'em back alive.

Hey, we hit the jackpot!  My next record features not one but two great singers.

As you might recall, DJ Hepcat Black introduced The Collins Kids (Larry & Lorrie)

on his radio show in 2018. In January, 1958, Lorrie Collins appeared on the TV

series The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet and sang  "Just Because" with the

show's breakout star, teenage idol Ricky Nelson. Ricky's attraction to Lorrie
was genuine and they dated in real life. Around Halloween, 1960, the duo
recorded "You Are The Only One," but it was released without Lorrie's
vocals as another Ricky Nelson single. Rick's record made the top 30.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Guess what? I'm gonna play that rare, unreleased

recording of Ricky and Lorrie's romantic duet!

"You Are The Only One" - Ricky Nelson & Lorrie Collins

(recorded Oct. 26, 1960, unreleased)

Pretty Blue Eyes here on the beach, yet also on your radio

thanks to your imagination and S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio! 

Now here is another rare treat.
It's same song, same TV series,

same teenage idol... but this
time a different episode and
a different singing partner.

Released as a single, their

version reached the top 30

in the early weeks of 1961.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

Performing on the last

Ozzie And Harriet episode

of 1960, here are Ricky

Nelson and actress

Linda Bennett!

"You Are The Only One" - Ricky Nelson & Linda Bennett

(Jan/Feb. 1961, highest chart pos. #25 Hot 100/#29 Cash Box,

scene from Dec. 28, 1960, ep. of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)

As you might recall, the youngest member of the Nelson clan was billed as

"the irrepressible Ricky" in the opening title sequence of his family sitcom,

and you just heard Rick doing the same song with two different beautiful

singing partners, assuring each girl, "You Are The Only One." 😍

I hope you liked volume 1 of

Shady's Angels

featuring yours truly...

Pretty Blue Eyes.

Stick around for more vintage
glamour girls and more great

tunes of the 50s and early 60s

coming your way on our next

show right here on S-P-M-M

...the station with personality.

START VIDEO NOW!

To play us off, The Crickets
from their album Something Old,
Something New, Something Blue,
Somethin' Else! It's another
version of my theme song-

"Pretty Blue Eyes!"

"Pretty Blue Eyes" - The Crickets

(from 1962 album Something Old, Something New,

Something Blue, Somethin' Else !!!!!!)

Happy Birthday, John!

John Ettline was born 116 years ago

on the 12th day of March, 1906.

I learned from John's family that

he once worked as a music agent
booking bands for York area clubs.
 He also managed several local
clubs including the historic
Valencia Ballroom, America’s
 first air conditioned dance hall.
For a time John was manager
of Lehmeyer’s, the classy men's
clothing store on North George St.
John himself was a dapper dresser,
a great dancer and a handsome
 gentleman, a ladies' man, a man's
man and very much his own man.

John loved music and dancing, and it's no stretch to understand
why he was inspired to buy the Shady Dell and turn it into
an ice cream parlor and juke joint for teenagers.

To celebrate John's birthday this year,
I picked three songs I think he'd enjoy.

 THE JIVE ACES 

Let's start John's party with a great cover of a song originally waxed

by Ruth Brown, dubbed The Queen of R&B. At the beginning of 1953,

Ruth released the single "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean."

The song became Ruth's third R&B chart-topper and her first hit

on the pop chart. Now fast-forward to modern times and meet

The Jive Aces. On their YouTube channel, the band is described

as: The UK's No.1 Jive & Swing band bringing you the finest in

hot jazz, smooth swing and rockin' rhythm and blues since 1989!"

Here's vocalist Cassidy Janson, who plays Carole King as star of

 the hit West End musical "Beautiful," fronting The Jive Aces on

their version of Ruth's "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean!" 

"(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" - Ruth Brown

cover by The Jive Aces feat. Cassidy Janson (Dec. 2018)

 JIMMY CLANTON 

Louisiana born Jimmy Clanton was known as The Swamp Pop R&B Teenage Idol.

I had the pleasure of getting to know Jimmy in the early and mid 70s when he

worked as a DJ at WHEX radio in Columbia, PA. I used to call in and chat

with Jimmy while he was on the air. He is a heck of a nice guy. I think

John would have liked this song by Jimmy. It's his first hit, a single

that topped the R&B chart and went top 5 pop in the fall of 1958.

Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Jimmy Clanton has the New Orleans

sound down as he sings-- "Just A Dream!"

"Just A Dream" - Jimmy Clanton

(Sept./Oct. 1958, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#4 Hot 100)

 SHELLEY FABARES 

Again this year on his birthday, I think John will enjoy being
serenaded by America's sweetheart, Miss Shelley Fabares
aka Mary Stone, as she sings her sig song "Johnny Angel"
on her hit TV series, the family friendly Donna Reed Show.

"Johnny Angel" - Shelley Fabares

(Mar./Apr. 1962, highest chart pos.

#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box, scene from

TV series The Donna Reed Show)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU.

Something Old, Something New, Something Happy, Mona Wu: Sneak Preview - Beautiful Sunday!

(COLD SHOW OPEN)

"Go, Jimmy, Go" - Jimmy Clanton

(Jan./Feb. 1960, highest chart pos.
#5 Hot 100/#7 Cash Box/#1 Canada)

 

Getting things started on a happy note, that was Jimmy Clanton,

born on the bayou and nicknamed the "swamp pop R&B teenage idol,"

singing his top 5 hit from the early weeks of 1960 -- "Go, Jimmy, Go!"

 

Hey yu! I'm Mona Wu, the pert, purty, perky, pixieish

Pollyanna who worked for the Time Bureau on the

superhero TV series DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

If you watch my show you know that I am a former

food delivery girl who served as the Bureau's

Assistant Coordinator of Creature Upkeep,

that is until they gave me the ax.

You also know that

I am obsessed with

fantasy novels and

magical creatures of

all kinds. I actually

had a crush on

a wolf man.

I also believe music is magic. Good music has the power to

mend your achy breaky heart and make you happy again.

With that in mind, I am proud to announce that next

year I will be joining The Shady Bunch deejay legion.

I'm here today with a sneak preview of my show

Something Old, Something New,

Something Happy, Mona Wu.

 

The songs I'll be playing on

S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio

will spread sunshine into

your world. My tunes are

guaranteed to turn your

frown upside down.

Please listen to a few

samples from my show

and let me know if they

have that effect on you.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

Let's hear from the family pop group

The Cowsills.  They know a girl who

can make you happy - the flower girl

in their hit song-- "The Rain,

The Park and Other Things!"

"The Rain, The Park & Other Things" - The Cowsills

(Oct./Nov. 1967, highest chart pos. #1 Cash Box/#2 Hot 100)

From the fall of 1967 those were The Cowsills with their first
big hit, "The Rain, The Park & Other Things," a record that
topped the Cash Box chart but stalled at #2 on Billboard,
held back by The Monkees monster "Daydream Believer."

Mona Wu here... putting some sunshine

in your day. How's your weekend going?

Here now is an English singer who was

born Peter Charles Green, made records

as Lee Stirling and Peter Lee Stirling,

and finally had a hit in the U.S. using

the stage name Daniel Boone. Catchy!

START VIDEO NOW!

This is another song that's guaranteed

to make you smile.  Sing along with

me: Hi hi hi, beautiful Sunday...

This is my my my beautiful day.

Here's-- Daniel Boone!

"Beautiful Sunday" - Daniel Boone

(Sept. 1972, highest chart pos. 15 Hot 100/#16 Cash Box)

That was Daniel Boone, a one-hit-wonder in the U.S., with his feel good

signature song "Beautiful Sunday," a record that cracked the top 20 and

made it halfway to the top 10 in the late summer and early fall of 1972.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Yep, it's a beautiful Sunday... and it's 5 o'clock somewhere.
That's why my friends and I are having a little drinky-poo.
Firewater makes us silly and, as this song by
Blood, Sweat & Tears goes--  You've
Made Me So Very Happy!"

"You've Made Me So Very Happy" - Blood, Sweat & Tears

(Mar./Apr. 1969, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

"You've Made Me So Very Happy," a song penned by Motown's Berry Gordy,

Brenda & Patrice Holloway and Frank Wilson, and originally released by

Brenda in 1967. You just listened to the great cover by Blood, Sweat &

Tears, the popular jazz-rock band formed and first led by Al Kooper.

When Kooper left, he was replaced on lead vocals by the man you

just heard, Canadian singer David Clayton-Thomas. Released as

a single in 1969, that Blood, Sweat & Tears version spent three

weeks at #2, denied the #1 spot by The 5th Dimension's

mega-hit "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In."

If you're just tuning in, I'm Mona Wu,

how do you do? And you're listening
to a sneak preview of my new show
  Something Old, Something New,
Something Happy, Mona Wu,
coming in 2022 to Shady's Place
and S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Now here's a happy tune that ran
up the chart a few weeks after
that BS&T song reached its
peak. It's Atlanta pop-rock
artist Tommy Roe and--
oh "Heather Honey!"

"Heather Honey" - Tommy Roe

(May 1969, highest chart pos. #14 Cash Box/#29 Hot 100)

You just heard "Heather Honey,"

one of the many easy listening hits

waxed by Tommy Roe. That record

by Tommy barely made it into the

top 30 on the Billboard chart,

but closed in on the top 10

on the Cash Box survey.

Something Old, Something New,
Something Happy, and I'm your
host, Mona Wu, with yet another
great song to brighten your day.

From popular 1959 movie

A Hole In The Head... it's

the inspiring ditty about an

ant and a rubber tree plant

performed by Frank Sinatra

and a chorus of cute kids. 

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here they are, Ol' Blue Eyes and the kids, singing their hit song "High Hopes!"

"High Hopes" - Frank Sinatra "And A Bunch Of Kids"

(July/Aug. 1959, highest chart pos. #22 Cash Box/#30 Hot 100,

from the July 1959 film A Hole In The Head)

Nominated for a Grammy and the winner of an Oscar for Best
Original Song, that was Frank Sinatra "And A Bunch Of Kids"
(that's what it says on the record label) doing "High Hopes."

Oh darn! Shady's giving me the sign to wrap things up.

Now I'd like you to be honest and ask yourself this.

Do you feel happier now that you've sampled my songs?

If so, then won't you

please join me in 2022

for the debut of my new

S-P-M-M radio show

Something Old,

Something New,

Something Happy,

Mona Wu?

Of course, you could

always go someplace

else to get your happy

song fix but, knowing

how much fun it is

spending time with

me... I need to ask:

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

To play us off, here are those men from down under, the Little River Band,

the Aussie pop-rockers who placed ten singles on the U.S. chart between

1977 and 1983. This one took a 22 week ride on Billboard. That's longer

than any other record by the band. Hang on-- "Help Is On It's Way," and

I'm Mona Wu, always here for you, doing my best to make you happy.

I hope to see you next year!

"Help Is On It's Way" - Little River Band

(Oct./Nov. 1977, highest chart pos. #14 Hot 100 & Cash Box)