That Was Then THIS IS NOW Vol. 10: The End - Period, Full Stop. No More Jarring Juxtapositions of Female Vocalists Past and Present!

 You've come a long way, baby... 

 Is that Denny Crane 

 hosting a beauty pageant? 

Welcome to Vol. 10 of my series 

Jarring

Juxtapositions:

That Was Then -

This Is Now! 

Why did I strike through Jarring Juxtapositions and This is Now?

To be honest, I have run out of enjoyable modern songs

to serve as counterpoints to the oldies but goodies.

And so, I am bringing this long running series to an end

and presenting, in this 10th and final volume, ten great

"That Was Then" songs, with no "This Is Now" metal

and hip hop madness to remind us of how much times

have changed and how much innocence has been lost.

So join me in a celebration of the look,

sound and the attitude of female singers

then... and now!

THAT WAS THEN

THE LENNON SISTERS

It's a different world, my friend. When

I was a boy in the 1950s, girls looked

and acted like The Lennon Sisters, the

darlings of The Lawrence Welk Show.

The wholesome meter was pegged

when 'lil Chanet" and her singing

siblings appeared on a 1956 episode

of Welk's program and performed

"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be,

Will Be)," the song introduced by

Doris Day in the Alfred Hitchcock

film The Man Who Knew Too Much.

"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" - The Lennon Sisters

1956 perf. on The Lawrence Welk Show)

Que sera, sera

Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be

In one of their early appearances on The Lawrence Welk Show

in the mid 50s, 'lil Chanet" and her siblings visited the

zoo and sang "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," a song from

the 1946 Disney movie Song of the South.

"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"
The Lennon Sisters (1950s ep.
of The Lawrence Welk Show)

THAT WAS THEN

LULU

Now here's Lulu, the cute, bubbly and wholesome Scottish

pop singer and actress who stole our hearts in the movie

To Sir With Love and had a hit record singing the title song.

Sung by Lulu, "Boom Bang-A-Bang" is best known as the British

winning entry at the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest held in Madrid.

 The single made #1 in Ireland and Norway, #2 in the UK and was a

major hit throughout Europe as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

In the rare and brilliantly restored clip you are about to see,

Lulu performs the song on Pop Goes the Sixties, a TV special

co-produced by the UK's BBC and West Germany's ZDF.

The show, broadcast New Year's Eve 1969, reviewed

the top hits of the 60s decade.  Here's perky Lulu

singing her award winning "Boom Bang-A-Bang." 

"Boom Bang-A-Bang" - Lulu

(Mar. 1969, highest chart pos. #1 Ireland & Norway,

#2 UK/#3 Switzerland/#4 Belgium, co-winner of

1969 Eurovision Song Contest, Madrid, Spain,

Dec. 31, 1969, perf. on Pop Goes the Sixties) 

THAT WAS THEN

THE SHANGRI-LAS

Now here are the fabulous drama queens of pop, The Shangri-Las,

with a song that might be the biggest Underachiever of all time.

Amazingly, it never rose above #99 on the Billboard chart!

 In August, 1965, "Right Now And Not Later" was released as a

single from the edgy girl group's second album "Shangri-Las - 65!

The backing track sounds like it was inspired by Motown's highly

successful H-D-H composing team and, in particular, by Supremes

songs like "Stop! In the Name Of Love" and "Come See About Me."

The Shangri-Las scored substantial hits before and after this single

but, for some reason, the groovy song failed to catch on. 

Watch and listen as The Shangs appear on an October, 1965 episode

of the teen music TV series Shivaree and perform a song that's too cool

for school and should have been a hit-- "Right Now And Not Later!"

"Right Now And Not Later" - The Shangri-Las

Sept./Oct. 1965, highest chart pos. #99 Hot 100/#150 Cash Box,

#106 Record World, perf. on Oct. 2, 1965, ep. of Shivaree)

THAT WAS THEN

BONNIE AND

THE TREASURES

The times they were a changin' in the 1960s. No longer were

songs only about love found, love lost and having good times.

More and more compositions were calling attention to social

issues. The song you're about to hear, "Home Of The Brave,"

is one of them. Recorded by Bonnie And The Treasures, 

"Home Of The Brave" was released as a single a few

weeks before Barry McGuire's chart-topping hit

"Eve Of Destruction."  The girl trio's single

didn't do as well on the chart, but it's a

cool Shangri-Las style girl group sound.

 Watch this rare clip from an October, 1965, episode of Dick Clark's

Where The Action Is as Bonnie & The Treasures, the trio of Charlotte

(Charlott) O'Hara (Charlotte Matheny), Sherlie Matthews and Clydie

King, perform "Home Of The Brave." Jody Miller had the bigger hit

with this message song about nonconformity, but this is the definitive

version. Adding to the magic of this performance are The Action Kids

female dancers Roberta Tennes and Jill Gordon. Lead singer "Bonnie"

left this world in 1976. The lovely Roberta Tennes (close-up at :37)

danced in movie musicals and was one of The Gazzarri Dancers

on Hollywood A Go-Go before joining The Action Kids. Roberta

passed away in 2015. I wish I had a time machine!

"Home Of The Brave" - Bonnie And The Treaaures

(Sept. 1965, highest chart pos. #77 Hot 100/#83 Cash Box,

scene from Oct. 8, 1965, ep. of Where The Action Is)

THAT WAS THEN

DONNA LOREN

When I was a boy in the 1950s, I never missed an episode of

The Mickey Mouse Club. On March 7, 1957, her 10th birthday,

budding pop singer and actress Donna Loren appeared on the

Disney series' Friday "Talent Round-Up Day."

  Behold how little girls looked, spoke, sang and conducted themselves

back then as you watch Donna's performance of "Pennies From Heaven!"

"Pennies From Heaven" - Donna Loren

Appearing on The Mickey Mouse Club
March 7, 1957

THAT WAS THEN

ANNETTE

Now let's flash back to 1962

and watch a nicely restored clip

of a song and dance number by

America's sweetheart, former

Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer

Annette Funicello, a multitalented

idol of the boomer wonder years.

Shirley, every mother's son and,

more importantly, every son's

mother approved of showgirl

Annette as she performed

the song "Mr. Piano Man"

in The Golden Horseshoe

Revue on The Magical

World of Disney.

"Mr. Piano Man" - Annette

 (Sept. 23, 1962, perf. on

"The Magical World of Disney" 

 - The Golden Horseshoe Revue) 

 INTERMISSION 

1950s Drive-In Intermission Animated Short – "Buttercup Popcorn"

THAT WAS THEN

CONNIE FRANCIS

By 1958, Connie Francis had gained a reputation for crooning

easy listening romantic ballads. Her recordings were popular

with older folks but, with the era of rock & roll transforming

the pop music scene, many teenagers found them boring. 

Struggling on the chart and in desperate need of a hit, Connie waxed

"Stupid Cupid," an uptempo rock & roll novelty number written by

the Brill Building composing team of Howard Greenfield and

the late, great Neil Sedaka who died earlier this year.

The result was a top 15 U.S. hit for the songstress that summer.

Across the pond, Connie's platter was a smash in the UK where

it spent six weeks at #1.  Here now is Connie Francis with

a catchy sound that appealed to younger ears and got her

career as a recording artist back on track-- "Stupid Cupid!"

"Stupid Cupid" - Connie Francis

(July/Aug. 1958, highest chart pos. #14 Hot 100/#16 Cash Box)

THAT WAS THEN

THE SHIRELLES

Written by the Brill Building team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King,

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" is one of the greatest pop songs of

the 60s and a chart-topping hit single for The Shirelles, one of

the greatest girl groups of all time. On the single's first pressing,

the title was simply "Tomorrow." After that it was lengthened

to "Will You Love Me Tomorrow." (The word "Still" is not

in the title.) The fab flip is the killer bee "Boys" which was

famously covered by The Beatles and Pete Best. 

Hard to believe, but this innocent sounding Shirelles record

was banned by some radio stations due to its "sexually charged"

lyrics. (Shady says: Gangsta rap was still light years away!)

Watch, listen and remember the way we were back then as

The Shirelles perform-- "Will You Love Me Tomorrow."

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" - The Shirelles

(Dec. 1960/Jan. & Feb. 1961, highest chart pos.

#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

THAT WAS THEN

LESLEY GORE

The country ballad "Young Love" was co-written and first

recorded by Ric Cartey with backing by The Jiva-Tones.

Released in November, 1956, Ric's record failed to chart. 

Within weeks, covers of the song were released by three other artists:

Sonny James, Tab Hunter and The Crew-Cuts.  All three of those

versions went on to become hits in February and March, 1957,

with movie star Hunter's cover enjoying the greatest success. 

In late 1965, pop star Lesley Gore released the song on a single

and had a minor hit in the U.S. and a more substantial one in

Australia where the record approached the top 20. To conclude

my series That Was Then - This Is Now on a high note,

here's Lesley with her biggest commercial success

of 1966, an excellent cover of-- "Young Love!"

 

"Young Love" - Lesley Gore (Apr. 1966, highest chart pos.

#50 Hot 100/#57 Cash Box/#43 Canada/#24 Australia)

I hope you enjoyed my 10-part series

Jarring Juxtapositions:
That Was Then - This Is Now!

Musically speaking, if I had my druthers, I'd choose to return to 

 Then

MARCIA!  MARCIA!  MARCIA!

End of series - period, full stop. 

Pretty Paper, Precious Presents and Powerslams: For Christmas - Round 5 of my WWF Grudge Match!

Welcome to Round 5

of my

WWF

(Wow What Fun)
Grudge Match!

WWF Grudge Match is inspired by the pro wrestling exhibitions I watched

on television when I was a kid. Today I present, for your entertainment and

edification, original recordings, covers and a song parody, all competing

for your approval. Your mission, Jim, if you decide to accept it, is to

tell me which songs and which versions, if any, you prefer.

LET THE

WWF Grudge Match

BEGIN!

Remember, ladies and gentlemen...

This is only an exhibition...
This is not a competition...
Please... no wagering.

 JIMMY BOYD 

This is a kinder and gentler edition of Grudge Match because it features the uplifting

sounds of the season. The first Christmas song brings a tear to my eye every time

I listen, because it takes me back to my earliest memories of childhood. In fact,

this was the first record I ever owned, given to me by my parents, I was told,

on my second birthday. The song was waxed by 13 year old Jimmy Boyd,

a California singer who, in 1960, lived many a young man's dream by

marrying beautiful model & actress Yvonne Craig who later played

"Batgirl" on the hit TV series Batman. Let's go way back to the

age of innocence, Christmas time 1952, to hear an evergreen

that generations of children know and love. Jimmy Boyd

sings-- "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." 

 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" 

 - Jimmy Boyd (Christmas 1952, 

 highest chart pos. #1 BB/#6 Cash Box) 

 THE LENNON SISTERS 

In my previous post, The Lennon Sisters invited us to enjoy the holidays on

"Christmas Island." The sweet sibling songbirds from Lawrence Welk are back

this week to take part in my Grudge Match. Here now are The Lennon Sisters

singing their version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." 

 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" 

 - The Lennon Sisters (from 1960 album 

 Christmas With The Lennon Sisters) 

 WHAM! 

1984 was a tremendous year for the English pop duo Wham! The act

scored three chart-topping singles in the U.S. with "Wake Me Up Before

You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper" and "Everything She Wants."

The song "Last Christmas," released in the UK and other countries as the double A

side of "Everything She Wants," shot to #1 in three countries and #2 in eight others.

The music video shows Wham! members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley

along with their girlfriends and other twenty-somethings enjoying the holiday

at a Swiss ski resort. In conjunction with the charity super group Band Aid,

George and Andrew donated all royalties to the mid 80s Ethiopian famine.

 "Last Christmas" - Wham! 

 (Christmas 1984, double A side 

 of "Everything She Wants," 

 highest chart pos. #1 Denmark, 

 Slovenia & Sweden) 

 MEGAN SINGER 

Who can forget Shady Green's contribution to my

New Year's Day, 2019, post - the singing Singer Family

of San Diego, California, and their cool cover of the

Tommy James hit "Draggin' The Line"? Requests

have been pouring in (from my mama) to see

it again, so here goes.

Just when you thought it was safe to stick your hand in the fan, daughter

Megan Singer is back with another cover. Miss Singer proves she's a

zinger with this a delightfully gruesome piece of performance art

entitled-- "Zombie Last Christmas!"

 "Zombie Last Christmas" - Megan Singer 

 (Christmas season 2016) 

 THE LENNON SISTERS 

Please listen to a third song from The Lennon Sisters' 1960 Christmas album.

Here again are 'lil Chanet," Kathy, Peggy and Dianne, The Lennon Sisters,

singing a seasonal song that was written in 1934 and has been popular

ever since and recorded by many artists-- "Winter Wonderland." 

 "Winter Wonderland" - The Lennon Sisters 

 (from 1960 album Christmas With 

 The Lennon Sisters) 

 TONY BENNETT 

In 1968 the ageless wonder Tony Bennett, sometimes nicknamed

Tony Benefit for donating so much of his time to charitable causes,

reached Billboard's special holiday chart with this fine rendition

of "Winter Wonderland." Yule love it! 

 "Winter Wonderland" - Tony Bennett 

 (Christmas 1968, highest chart pos. 

 #87 Billboard US Holiday 100, 

 from 1968 album Snowfall aka 

 The Tony Bennett Christmas Album)  

 I'm wrestling with the idea of

bringing you more volumes of

WWF Grudge Match

Stick around... oh, and by the way...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

That Was Then - This Is Now, Volume 6: The Jarring Juxtaposition of Female Vocalists Past and Present!

 You've come a long way, baby... 

 and these jarring juxtapositions 

 offer indisputable proof! 

Welcome to Vol. 6 of my series

Jarring Juxtapositions:

That Was Then - This Is Now!

It is not my intention to pass judgement. (That's your job. :) This series
merely invites you to compare apples and oranges. Hard as it might be
for you to believe, I enjoy all of the female recording artists you
are about to see and hear. Join me on this jarring journey
back and forth through time as we compare the look,
the sound and the attitude of female singers

then... and now!

THAT WAS THEN

THE LENNON SISTERS

It's a different world, my friend. When I was a boy in the 1950s, girls looked,

sounded and behaved like The Lennon Sisters, the popular sibling singing

group on The Lawrence Welk Show. In 1960 the girls released the holiday

album Christmas With The Lennon Sisters.  Listen as 'lil Chanet," Kathy,

Peggy and Dianne invite us to ditch the cold weather and spend the

holidays basking in the tropics on-- "Christmas Island."

""Christmas Island" - The Lennon Sisters

(from 1960 album Christmas With The Lennon Sisters)

THIS IS NOW

 KITTIE 

Our musical journey takes a jarring turn

and we find ourselves in the zombielike

clutches of Kittie, an all-female metal

band from Ontario, Canada. Formed

in 1996, Kittie names alternative

bands like Nirvana and Alice In

Chains as major influences.

In 2000, Kittie released their debut

album Spit with a dozen songs,

all written by band members

around age 14. As if by the

mysterious process of

spontaneous generation...

"Charlotte" arose from Spit!

"Charlotte" - Kittie

(July 2000, highest chart pos. #60 UK,
single from January 2000 album Spit)

THAT WAS THEN

CILLA BLACK

Her real name was Priscilla White but she called herself Cilla Black.

I regret that I only came to fully appreciate the English sparrow's talent

a year or so before her death in 2015. Until that time the only Cilla Black

song I knew was "You're My World," a single that reached the top 30 in

the U.S. in 1964. Maybe it's because some of Cilla's best recordings

were not released stateside. Here's one of them, a cover of Dionne

Warwick's soulful ballad "Anyone Who Had A Heart." Cilla took

the song, made it her own and eclipsed Dionne's version in the

UK with a single that spent three weeks at the top of the chart!

"Anyone Who Had A Heart" - Cilla Black

(Feb./Mar. 1964, highest chart pos. #1 UK)

THIS IS NOW

 AMARANTHE 

To bring you down from your blissful Cilla Black-induced Brit girl high,

I give you Amaranthe, a Swedish metal band that boasts three lead zingers,

each performing a different style. The band has two clean vocalists, one male

and one female, plus a growling cookie monster who handles the rough stuff.

The beauty among the beasts is Elize Ryd who made Playboy Magazine's

list of "The 14 Hottest Metal Maidens in Face-Melting History." Eliza's

vocals start at the 55 second mark of the song if you can hang on

 through the angry, transgressive rapping that precedes it.

 Feel free to sway, snap your fingers, tap your toes and

zing along as Amaranthe assaults your senses with--

"GG 6!" 

"GG 6" - Amaranthe

(Nov./Dec. 2019 single from Oct. 2018 album Helix) 

THAT WAS THEN

DORIS DAY

"Whatever Will Be, Will Be

(Que Sera, Sera)" was intro-

duced in the 1956 Alfred

Hitchcock film The Man

Who Knew Too Much

starring Jimmy Stewart

and Doris Day. Doris

released the song as a

single. The record spent

27 weeks on the pop

chart and made a

determined run

at the #1 spot.

However Doris's ditty was blocked week after week by

the man who would be King - Elvis Presley - and his

colossal doublesider "Hound Dog," b/w "Don't Be Cruel"

along with another mega-hit,"My Prayer" by The Platters.

"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" - Doris Day

(July thru Sept. 1956, highest chart pos. #2, from June 1956
Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much)

THIS IS NOW

 IN THIS MOMENT 

Image courtesy of DesignWeapons @ deviantart.com

Nearly identical to Doris Day in appearance and singing style

is fresh faced girl next door Maria Brink, but whereas Doris

sang "Whatever will be, will be," Maria leaves nothing to

 chance, boldly commanding "Adrenalize me." (I'm sure

she's referring to an exciting game of shuffleboard.)

"Adrenalize" is the second single released by Maria

and her menacing male menagerie, the LA-based,

in-your-face metal band In This Moment, from

their 2013 album Blood. Ladies and germs,

if you can believe your eyes and ears...

experience the spectacle, the brutal

multi-sensory blitz, the sound and

the fury-- In This Moment!

"Adrenalize" - In This Moment

(Feb./Mar. 2013, highest chart pos. #18 Active Rock,

#20 Mainstream Rock, from Aug 2012 album Blood)

When I was young, I fell in love

I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead

Will we have rainbows, day after day

Here's what my sweetheart said.

"You're joking... right?"

Have a Shady day!

Today in History: One Small Step for a Man.....

...one giant leap for blogging.

That's right, dear friend. It was 50 years ago today

that man first set foot on the moon, 20 years ago

today Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play,

and 11 years ago today, on July 20, 2008, that I,

Roseanne Roseannadanna  Shady Del Knight,

became a blogger. Hard to believe, but here

I am eleven years later still practicing the

art of blogging... and I am determined

to keep practicing until I get it right.

To salivate (correct usage) my 11 year

blogiversary, I am throwing a party...

a party to end all parties (until the

next one comes along).

The gang's all here - The Shady Bunch - my staff of veteran DJs.
They brought stacks-o-wax to spin for your listening,
dancing, hugging and smooching pleasure.

To get this thang underway, I am happy to introduce
the first of my boss jocks, Shady Green, The Dean of Keen.

Hey, thank you Shady Del Knight
and congratulations on reaching the
eleven year blogging milestone!

Ready for a mind bending, mood altering, otherworldly experience? Hop aboard my
Wayback Machine as it takes us to 1968.
That year The Lennon Sisters, those
singing sibs of Lawrence Welk Show
fame, released an LP of flower power,
bubblegum and sunshine pop covers
that includes "Green Tambourine" the
psychedelic song originally recorded
by The Lemon Pipers, a single that
topped the pop chart that year.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

On this special remix, The Lennon Sisters track was slowed down to

match the tempo of the Lemon Pipers' original, creating a surreal effect.

Mr. Welk would never approve, but Shady Green, The Dean of Keen,

  thinks it's serene. Listen as Dianne, Janet, Peggy and Kathy turn on,

tune in and drop out with-- "Green Tambourine!"

"Green Tambourine" - The Lennon Sisters

(from 1968 album The Lennon Sisters Today!!)

The Lennon Sisters proving they're cool with a more than
capable cover of the psychedelic pop hit "Green Tambourine." 

In the summer of '85, Canadian rocker

Bryan Adams reached the top 5 in the

U.S. with the single "Summer Of '69."

As we observe the 50th anniversary

of that great summer when we were

young and restless, I am proud to

bring you an exciting new cover

unveiled on YouTube just days ago.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

It's a collaboration between the young

Romanian guitar virtuoso Andrei Cerbu

and singer Beatrice Maria Florea. Watch

and listen as Andrei and Beatrice take

us back to the-- "Summer Of '69."

"Summer Of '69" - (July 2019 Bryan Adams

cover by Andrei Cerbu & Beatrice Maria Florea,

orig. Aug. 1985, highest chart pos. #5 Hot 100/#7 Cash Box)

From Romania with love, that was the fabulous cover of the 1985 Bryan Adams hit
"Summer Of '69" uploaded one week ago by YouTube sensation Andrei Cerbu and
his partner, singer Beatrice Maria Florea. Now its my pleasure to toss the ball to my
good friend and fellow member of The Shady Bunch - Hy Lit. Hyski, take it away!

Thank you, Shady Green. Hyski here, Hy Lit,
your pal on the radio, and we're taking to the
sky on a Natural Hy with a golden goody
from one of Philly's phavorite girl groups.
It's a string of cool covers rolled into one,
a medley of songs penned by the great
New York based songwriter, arranger
and producer Mr. Teddy Randazzo.
The medley includes  "It's Gonna
Take A Miracle," a hit in the 60s
for The Royalettes and a hit in the
80s for Deniece Williams, plus three
songs made famous by Little Anthony
& The Imperials: "I'm On The Outside

(Looking In)," "Hurt So Bad" and
"Goin' Out of My Head."

START THE VIDEO NOW!

Two of these ladies went on to form the hit disco group The Ritchie Family.

Back in '71 they called themselves Honey And The Bees, and this

is their super soul medley-- "Gonna Take A Miracle!"

"It's Gonna Take A Miracle" (Medley)"

 Honey & The Bees (Aug. 1971)

"It's Gonna Take a Miracle" - the ice cool medley sung by Philly's phinest,

Honey And The Bees. Now I'm gonna pass the mic to my Philly phriend,

The Geator With the Heater, Mr. Jerry Blavat. Jerry...?

Alright...thank you, Hy Lit, and greetings and
salutations to all my yon teenagers out there!
I am the Geator With the Heater. I am the
Boss with the Big Hot Sauce, and congrats
to my main man, Mr. Shady Del Knight,
on keeping us entertained for the last
 eleven years, first at SDMM and now
here at SPMM. I was just standing by
the punch bowl at Shady's anniversary
bash looking for the eats when I found
a tasty treat. Fiction and Fact from
The Geator's Almanac: In 1963 the
rock 'n' roll band The Dartells took
the song "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes,"
made famous in 1960 by Nat Kendrick
& The Swans, reworked it, and came up
with a hit of their own. Chew on this
for a while-- "Hot Pastrami!"

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

"Hot Pastrami" - The Dartells

(Apr./May 1963, highest chart pos. #11)

The Dartells with their biggest hit, "Hot Pastrami," a single that brushed

the top 10 in the spring of '63. Now, I am happy to turn things over to my

good friend Dell Rat Tom, host of Jukebox Giants. Take it away, Mr. Tom!

Thank you very much, Jerry, and congratulations to
Shady on 11 years of blogging! On Jukebox Giants
I bring you the greatest hits of the Shady Dell.
This one takes us back to 1967, a pivotal
year in the Dell dance hall.  

START VIDEO NOW!

If there was any lingering doubt that the times
were changing and West Coast rock was gaining
a powerful foothold in the dance hall jukebox,
it was erased for good in The Summer of Love
by this band, Jim Morrison and The Doors.

Here they are doing their second single...
the chart-topping smash "Light My Fire!"

"Light My Fire" - The Doors

(July/Aug. 1967, highest chart pos. #1)

The Doors with their signature song "Light My Fire," one of the biggest
rock hits ever to play on the dance hall jukebox at the Shady Dell.
Now it's time for me to vacate the announcer's booth and let
another member of The Shady Bunch take over.
Shady Blue... how-do-you-do?

I'm all shook up, Tommy Boy, excited to be
part of this 11th anniversary extravaganza.
Hi, everybody!  You're Stuck Like Glue
On Shady Blue here on S-P-M-M... the
station that's #1 for music and fun.
By now you know that I love this
guy - Elvis "The Pelvis" Presley.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Here now is the hip-swiveling King
performing one of my favorites in the
1962 movie Girls! Girls! Girls!--
"Return To Sender!"

"Return To Sender" - Elvis Presley

(Nov./Dec. 1962, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100/#1 Cash Box,

from OST of Nov. 1962 film Girls! Girls! Girls!)

"Return To Sender" from Girls! Girls! Girls!... a movie in which Elvis

was caught in a love triangle with Stella Stevens and Laurel Goodwin.

I could think of a worse fate. It's time to wrap up Shady's anniversary

dance party, and we're going out with a bang and a bark. Here to

introduce the last dance is Shady Del Knight's deejay dog,

S-P-M-M's All Night Satellite-- Toto Moto!

Heidi ho, and thank you, Shady Blue!

This is Toto Moto, The Hound of Sound, your

Hi-Fi Fido, your Rocker Spaniel, The Pooch
with the Hooch. I'm not ashamed to admit
that I piddled on the rug with excitement
when I found out Shady Del Knight has
been blogging for eleven whole years.
That's more than 60 of my dog years!

Congratulations to you, my human pet!

To bring the anniversary bash to a close,
let's tumble through my Top Tunes
Time Tunnel to the fall of 1964 at the
height of the British Invasion hoopla.
Here's the English R&B rock band
Manfred Mann with their first and
biggest U.S. hit, a #1 charting cover
of a song originally recorded by the
American R&B group The Exciters.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

It's a doggone ditty that I think is mighty pretty-- "Do Wah Diddy Diddy!"

"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" - Manfred Mann

(Sept./Oct. 1964, highest chart pos. #1)

Brit band Manfred Mann with a hit single that shot to #1 on both sides of the pond,

"Do Wah Diddy Diddy." Hey, I gotta poop, so I'm saying goodbye and scooting

through the studio's doggie door. Back to you, Shady Del Knight!

A friend is someone who gives you total

freedom to be yourself." - Jim Morrison

Thank you, Toto, and thanks to the rest of The Shady Bunch for bringing

their A sides to the anniversary bash. I also thank you, dear reader,

for joining the party. It doesn't matter if you have been following

me for eleven days or all eleven years. I am grateful. Thank you

very much, my friend, for spending some time in the Shady.

 I promise to do my best to keep you entertained

throughout year number twelve.

Have a Shady day!