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. 

That Was Then - This Is Now, Volume 9: 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. 9 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

CONNIE FRANCIS

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

and acted like Connie Francis and the other coeds in the coming-of-age

romantic comedy film Where the Boys Are (Spring Breakers 2012 was
 light years away!). Return with me now to the age of innocence as
Connie sings a song from the Brill Building songwriting team of
Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the theme from the movie
that hit theaters at the end of 1960 and marked her acting
debut-- "Where The Boys Are.""

"Where the Boys Are" - Connie Francis

(Feb./Mar. 1961, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

THIS IS NOW

 NICKI MINAJ 

IMAGE COURTESY OF CDCOVERS @ deviantart.com

Like Connie Francis and her girlfriends, Trinidad-born rap star Nicki Minaj

loves to go where the boys are- the beach. And, wouldn't you know it,

Nicki's wearing an itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini. Nicki believes in

partying hard, and she does just that on two Hawaiian islands,

the filming locations for the 2012 music video "Starships,"

an international hit single from her second studio

album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.

"Starships" - Nicki Minaj

(May,June, July 2012, highest chart pos.

#2 Dance Club/#5 Hot 100/#2 UK/#1 UK R&B)

THAT WAS THEN

THE CHORDETTES

Nearly identical to Nicki Minaj in every single way 😋 are the singing sweethearts

of Sheboygan - The Chordettes. The traditional pop quartet made the hit parade

in the 1950s and early 60s with "Lollipop," "Zorro," "Never On Sunday" and the

song you are about to hear, a #1 charting best seller from Christmas time 1954

through the early weeks of 1955. Here are The Chordettes performing their

first single, the biggest hit of their career-- "Mr. Sandman."

"Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes

(Dec. 1954, Jan. 1955, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)

THIS IS NOW

 ADDIE NICOLE AMICK 

 & HALOCENE feat. 

 LAUREN BABIC & 

 ALANNA STERLING 

Lead zinger Addie Nicole's hair ranges from fire engine red to carrot orange,

and the exciting frontwoman is back at Shady's Place along with her fierce

 Phoenix-based rock band Halocene. They're here to perform a metal/rock

cover of "Bang Bang," the chart-topping 2014 hit by English singer

Jessie J in collaboration with American singer Ariana Grande and

the spark-plug who just sang "Starships," Trinidadian-American

rapper Nicki Minaj. Joining Addie Nicole on lead vocals is

Alanna Sterling aka "Mermaid Unicorn."  YouTube star

Lauren Babic will blow you away when she jumps in

on the rap part. Yessum, it's three rockin' ladies for

the price of one - Addie, Alanna  and Lauren -

comin' atcha with guns blazing, doing their

electrifying version of-- "Bang Bang!"

"Bang Bang" - Jessie J/Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj

metal/rock cover by Halocene ft. Lauren Babic

and Alanna Sterling (Feb. 2022) 

THAT WAS THEN

MARIANNE FAITHFULL

Marianne Faithfull turns age 76 this year.
I repeat. Marianne Faithfull turns 76 this year.
The English singer, songwriter and actress was
discovered by Rolling Stones manager and
producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne

had a long and turbulent relationship with
Mick Jagger and the two were part of the
hip Swinging London scene of the mid
to late 60s. Here is Marianne singing
her best known hit, a song penned by
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and
Andrew Loog Oldham entitled--
"As Tears Go By."

"As Tears Go By" - Marianne Faithfull

(Jan. 1965, highest chart pos.

#22 Hot 100/#30 Cash Box)

THIS IS NOW

 ANNALISE MAHANES 

 and imy2 

Lastly but not leastly, here's eye and ear candy for your feastly. Her name is

Annalise Mahanes and she fronts the Nashville-based pop trio imy2 which

stands for "I miss you, too."  The band writes and records original music

with, in their own words, "a dose of confidence, individuality and self-

love... powerful, nostalgic female vocals supported by the band's

undeniable chemistry." Here's Annalise supporting a woman's

right to chews... performing a song you can really

sink your teeth into-- "Bubblegum!" 

 

"Bubblegum" - imy2 (June 2020) 

'Til he holds me

I wait impatiently

Where the boys are,

where the boys are

Where the boys are,

someone waits for me

That Was Then - This Is Now, Vol. 8: 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. 8 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

ANNETTE

A "Teenage Wedding"? How romantic!

It's America's sweetheart Annette Funicello!

Watch and weep as our favorite Mickey Mouse Club mouseketeer

ties the knot and sings her song on a single released at the start

of 1963, an innocent teen pop relic found on the 1962 album

Maurice Chevalier and Hayley Mills Take You to Teen Street. 

"Teenage Wedding" - Annette

(January 1963 single from the 1962 album

Maurice Chevalier & Hayley Mills Take You to Teen Street) 

THIS IS NOW

 THE REGRETTES 

Now meet the California punk rock band The Regrettes...

a group I like so much that I arranged for them to be the only

"This Is Now" act in this edition of Jarring Juxtapositions. 

Prior to forming The Regrettes in 2015, lead zinger Lydia Night

(above in blue jacket with pink flowers) fronted the LA-based

pop rock duo Pretty Little Demons. Before joining Lydia and

The Regrettes, lead guitarist Genessa Gariano (right) led her

own LA band called Genessa. Best known for performing

punk rock, garage and "riot grrrl," a music genre I will

explain in a bit, The Regrettes lace their songs with

elements of 1960s doo-wop, surf rock and pop.

On her list of influences, leader Lydia includes

Phil Spector's popular girl group The Crystals,

Patsy Cline, Lesley Gore and Motown artists

The Marvelettes, Diana Ross and Four Tops.

You can hear those 60s influences in Regrettes songs and see it

in their videos including the one produced for their first single,

"Hey Now," a song co-written by Lydia Night. Travel back

in time with Lydia and her band to 1962 as they appear

on sleazeball Dick Dickey's American Bandstand 

style television dance show for teenagers. 

"Hey Now" - The Regrettes

(Sept. 2016) 

THAT WAS THEN

DIANA ROSS

Originally recorded by R&B/Disco diva Thelma Houston in 1973,

the song "Do You Know Where You're Going To" was

most famously performed by Diana Ross. 

Here's the former leader of the Supremes as a solo artist

singing her chart-topping hit, the theme to the 1975

romantic drama Mahogany in which she starred. 

"Theme from Mahogany

(Do You Know Where You're Going To)"

- Diana Ross (Dec. 1975/Jan. 1976, highest

chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box/#14 R&B, 

theme song from Oct. 1975 film Mahogany) 

THIS IS NOW

 THE REGRETTES 

As I mentioned earlier, The Regrettes are associated with the genre

"Riot grrrl" which is an underground feminist punk subculture

movement that combines feminism, punk music and politics.

Riot grrrl began in the early 1990s in the Pacific Northwest

and since then has expanded to at least 26 other countries. 

In the vid for their 2018 single "Seashore," songwriter Lydia

and her Riot grrrl posse are feeling their oats, laying it on

the line, telling it like it is and sending sexist men

back to the Stone Age where they belong. 

You're talkin' to me like a child

But my words are growin' stronger

And my legs keep gettin' longer 

You're talkin' to me like a child

But I'm not a helpless baby

Not waitin' on you to come save me 

"Seashore" - The Regrettes

(June 2017) 

THAT WAS THEN

PETULA CLARK

Penned and produced by ace UK composer Tony Hatch, the song

"Round Every Corner" was waxed by Brit pop star Petula Clark

and released in the summer of 1965. Pet described the ditty as

"an anti-protest song" - one that uses the musical structure of

a children's singing game to convey a message of optimism. 

"Round Every Corner" - Petula Clark

(Nov. 1965, highest chart pos. #21 Hot 100/#23 Cash Box) 

THIS IS NOW

 THE REGRETTES 

Far be it from The Regrettes to shy away from protest.

They practically invented it.

In the video for the band's 2018 single "Come Through," a song

co-written by Regrettes leader Lydia, the strong, independent

heroine calls out her bf and kicks him to the curb. 

You don't come through

Like you say you do

Now I don't need you to

'Cause I don't need you 

"Come Through" - The Regrettes

(Feb. 2018) 

Regrettes... I played a few

And hope you think

They're worth the mention

To show how far we've come

Long way to go, was my intention

I planned each charted song

Each dancin' step along the byway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way 

Have a Shady day! 

That Was Then - This Is Now, Volume 7: The Jarring Juxtaposition of Female Vocalists Past and Present!

                                             Image courtesy of AsylumCreations @ DeviantArt

 You've come a long way, baby... 

 and these jarring juxtapositions 

 offer indisputable proof! 

Welcome to Vol. 7 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

LYNN ANDERSON

Today's Jarring Juxtaposition journey begins back then, in the early 70s, with multi-

award-winning country singing star Lynn Anderson. In 1967 Lynn began a series of

appearances on The Lawrence Welk Show.  Columbia took notice and awarded Lynn

a recording contract.  Lynn rose to national fame with her biggest hit, a cover of the

Joe South song "Rose Garden." In late 1970, Lynn's single spent five weeks at the

top of the Country chart, and in early 1971 the record reached #1 on Cash Box

and top 3 on Billboard. Lynn Anderson was only 67 when she took ill and

died in 2015. Let's turn back the clock to happier times and watch Lynn

on the TV show That Good Ole Nashville Music doing her signature

song "(I beg your pardon... I never promised you a) Rose Garden." 

"Rose Garden" aka "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden"

- Lynn Anderson (Dec. 1970/Jan. & Feb. '71, highest chart

pos. #1 Country/#1 Cash Box/#3 Hot 100) 

THIS IS NOW

 LETTERS FROM THE FIRE 

In stark contrast to Lynn Anderson is hard rocker Alexa Kabazie, lead zinger

of the San Francisco band Letters From The Fire. Alexa left the band in 2017,

but not before giving us this rock nugget, the first single released from their

debut studio album Worth the Pain. Here now are Letters From The Fire

with "Give In To Me" which went top 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

"Give In To Me" - Letters From The Fire

(May 2016, highest chart pos. #33 Mainstream Rock,
from Sept. 2016 album Worth the Pain)

START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 25 SEC. MARK!

THAT WAS THEN

THE SUPREMES

Now let's go back to 1964, with The Supremes and "Come See About Me,"

their third single of five in a row to reach the top spot on the pop chart.

Two days after Christmas that year, Motown's premier act of the 60s

performed their latest hit on The Ed Sullivan Show, the first of

17 live appearances by The Supremes on the program. In this

extended remix clip you will see The Supremes dressed in

hot pink as they sang on Sullivan, and in black and white

 appearing on other music variety TV shows of the period.

"Come See About Me" (Extended Remix) - The Supremes

(Nov./Dec. 1964/Jan. 1965, highest chart pos.

#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box/#3 R&B)

THIS IS NOW

 STITCHED UP HEART 

A far cry from Diana, Mary and Flo is Alecia "Mixi" Demner, lead zinger of

Stitched Up Heart, a Los Angeles based hard rock/metal band that toured

with the band you saw and heard earlier - Letters From The Fire. In 2016

Stitched Up Heart's debut album Never Alone reached the Top 10 on

the Heatseeker and Hard Rock charts. "Monster," the second

single released from the album, thrashed its way into the

top 30 on the Mainstream Rock survey.

"Monster" - Stitched Up Heart

(Apr./May 2016, highest chart pos. #27 Mainstream Rock,
from June 2016 album Never Alone)

THAT WAS THEN

MARIE OSMOND

It's safe to say Marie Osmond is a woman of many talents. She has hosted a popular

TV variety show and later a talk show with brother Donny. She is an actress who
has starred in Broadway shows, had her own TV sitcom, is a published author,

a doll designer and the pitchwoman for a weight loss program. Meanwhile,

I'm still learning how to wave bye-bye.  As a recording artist Marie sings

country and pop.  Here's a clip of Marie singing "Cry, Baby Cry," the B

side of her uncharted 1977 single "Please Tell Him That I Said Hello,"

on an early 1978 episode of The Donny & Marie Show.

"Cry, Baby Cry" - Marie Osmond

(late 1977, B side of "Please Tell Him That I Said Hello,"

perf. on Jan. 20, 1978 ep. of The Donny & Marie Show)

THIS IS NOW

 HALOCENE & FRIENDS 

Now meet my #1 favorite female rocker of the 2020s - Addie Nicole - lead zinger

of the Phoenix, Arizona, band Halocene. I am 100% SOLD on Addie and her band.

In this performance, Addie and her guys are joined by three other female rock stars

who rose to fame on YouTube in recent years. They include Audra Miller of the

Erie, PA,  band First To Eleven, Violet Orlandi, an artist based in São Paulo,

Brazil, artist Lauren Babic of Toronto, Canada, plus a Toronto-based

male musician, guitarist Cole Rolland. Watch and listen as this

dream team of hot, young and talented rock performers

covers the Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'."

"Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey cover by Halocene

ft. Audra Miller of First To Eleven, Violet Orlandi,

Lauren Babic and Cole Rolland (Dec. 2020)

Cry, baby, cry... and

tears will mend your heart.

Have a Shady day!