This Valentine's Day, Austin Powers Enquires... "What's Old, Pussycat?"

 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 make it here today. The chap's
home knitting a sweater from belly button lint. Riddle: What do
you call a hula hoop with a nail in it? Answer: a navel destroyer!

 That's a gag, dove... oh go on now, 

 I saw you crack a smile just then - YEAH! 

Shady has invited me back to host his annual Valentine's Day dance
and instructed me to spin records for your enjoyment. I've got a song
by a Welsh heartthrob plus an exciting lineup of Brit birds for you,
so prepare to meet the strapping gent from Wales and
greet my fine feathered female friends.

 TOM JONES 

I'm sure you remember Tom Jones crooning the hit theme from the
1965 Woody Allen - Peter Sellers comedy film "What's New Pussycat."

If you don't please listen. If you do... please listen.

"What's New Pussycat?" - Tom Jones

(July 1965, highest chart pos. #3, theme song

from June 1965 film What's New Pussycat?)

Nicely done, master Tom. That was "What's New Pussycat?" Well now,
I would like to enquire... "What's Old, Pussycat?" It's my way of getting
you stoked for stacks 'o vintage wax by a bevy of beauteous Brit birds.

 LESLEY 

 DUNCAN 

Lesley Duncan is best remembered for her 70s
work as a singer/songwriter. In the mid and late
60s, Lesley was a backing vocalist for Dusty
Springfield and the Walker Brothers.
At the same time Lesley wrote

and recorded her own songs.

One of Lesley's finest solo singles was
released at the height of Beatlemania.
Both songs on the slab, the A side,

"Tell Me," and the fab flip side,
"You Kissed Me Boy," were
written by Lesley and her
brother Jimmy. My Pick
to Click is the killer bee.

"You Kissed Me Boy"

Lesley Duncan (Feb. 1964,
B side of "Tell Me")

 BARBARA KAY 

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, singer Barbara Kay fronted
show bands, became a session singer, signed with the Pye
record company and released singles of her own.

In the summer of 1965, Barbara released a version of "Yes I'm Ready"
covering the U.S. hit by Barbara Mason, a teenage soul singer from Philly.

Barbara Kay did a fine job with that
sweet love song, but I like the B side
even more. Listen as Barbara serves
a savory slice of Brit girl pop on the
pleasing platter "Someone Has To Cry."

"Someone Has To Cry (Why Must I)"

Barbara Kay (July 1965, B side

of "Yes I'm Ready")

 MARTHA SMITH 

I read the news today oh boy

Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire

John Lennon forgot to mention another phenomenon in Blackburn -
schoolmarm turned pop singer Martha Smith.

Martha landed a contract with Pye
and in February 1965 released one of
the great ballads of the Brit pop genre,

"As I Watch You Walk Away." I urge you
to listen to the entire drama-drenched
song which I think was deliberately
performed in a melodramatic, soap-
opera fashion. I smile and shake my
head in disbelief every time I
experience this recording.

"As I Watch You Walk Away"

Martha Smith (Feb./Mar. 1965)

 MAXINE 

 DARREN 

Manchester, England's Maxine Darren had powerful

pipes, waxed great songs written by Mitch Murray

and wore her hair in a trendy Ronettes style. None

of those factors brought the singer the success she

deserved. In 1965 Maxine released a fine double-

sider, "How Can I Hide It From My Heart" b/w

"Don't You Know." Here's the fabulous flip.

"Don't You Know" - Maxine Darren

(April/May 1965, B side of

"How Can I Hide It From My Heart")

 PETULA CLARK 

Beach Bloke Brian Wilson had his Pet Sounds, and I've got Pet sounds

of my own - two fantastic ditties warbled by English sparrow Petula Clark.

It took me 50+ years to discover this exciting recording by Pet, a cover of
"Dancing in the Street," the signature song of Martha and the Vandellas.

This fantastic dance floor filler is the lead track of Petula's hit
1965 U.S. album I Know a Place.

"Dancing in the Street" - Petula Clark
(from 1965 album I Know a Place)

In 1965 Chicano rocker Chris Montez, the fellow who had a hit in 1962 with
"Let's Dance," switched to easy listening and made a comeback with "Call Me."

Penned by UK composer Tony Hatch,

"Call Me" was first waxed by Pet Clark

and released on her 1965 EP of the

same name. The song is also found

on the above mentioned U.S. album

I Know a Place, issued in the UK as

The New Petula Clark Album. Let's

 have a listen to the original version

of "Call Me" by Miss Pet Clark!

"Call Me" - Petula Clark

(from Nov. 1965 EP Call Me

and I Know a Place aka

The New Petula Clark Album)

 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!