Sunshine Pop of the Sixties

This bizarre video clip is worth watching, if only to hear Lawrence Welk, a native German speaker, say “Dionn-a Warwick-a” (apologies to the great Dionne Warwick!)  No, this is not the fabulous Dionne singing this time … nor  is it the arguably even-more-fabulous diva, Aretha Franklin.  It’s Lawrence Welk’s daughter-in-law, Tanya Falan.  I would never question Falan’s talent; she certainly can carry a tune.  But it probably didn’t hurt her career to have a world-famous father-in-law, a big band leader with his own musical variety show.

Nevertheless, with about as much soul as an airline commercial, this performance might make you cringe.  Just think of it as a novelty.  One wonders if poor Dionne or Aretha – or the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song’s composers – ever saw this particular rendition.  Maybe they cringed, too.  Or maybe they just said a little prayer.

Here is a video clip of the Australian folk-pop group The Seekers, performing their hit “Georgy Girl” which reached number one on the US pop charts in February 1967. Originating in Melbourne, The Seekers were the first popular music group from Down Under to make it big in the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Georgy Girl” is the title song on the soundtrack of the 1966 movie Georgy Girl, starring Lynn Redgrave. The song was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. Interestingly, the co-writers of the song were not Aussies but Brits — Tom Springfield, the brother of Dusty Springfield and actor Jim Dale, who narrates the Harry Potter series of audiobooks.

The song appeared both at the beginning and at the end of the movie – each time a slightly different version than the pop single release.

It is unclear exactly where and when this clip was filmed, but it appears to be from 1967, after the song had become a monster hit.

Put this eclectic German import on your wish list! Released in 2003 on the Universal Jazz label, this 2-CD set is a fabulously offbeat collection of ’60s easy listening, lounge, and pop-rock. Some of these tunes are recognizable, while others are … well … not so much. You get the great sunshine pop anthems, such as Spanky & Our Gang’s “Like to Get to Know You” and The Critters’ “Mr. Dieingly Sad”, nestled among truly obscure tracks like “Always You” by The Sundowners. Now that’s what I call high-contrast living. Who were The Sundowners, anyway? More on this mysterious British trio in a future post.

There’s a smattering of schmaltz here and there (Doc Severinsen, anyone?) but it is quite admirable to see how no stone was left unturned. Universal Jazz really put together a glorious compilation of grooves. If you like American vocal groups (The Mamas & the Papas, The Cowsills, and The Sandpipers), you’re in luck. If you want to hear a French chanteuse (Claudine Longet) or the Doris Day of Germany (Heidi Brühl), they’ve got you covered. There’s something for everyone. And who can resist the cover art … come on, people.

To sum up, this is an astonishing set of 40 tracks, many of them almost impossible to find elsewhere. Believe me, you’ll be the envy of lounge and easy listening fans, who pride themselves on their acquisitions of uncategorized ’60s eclectica. Get it while you can … and get easy!

One of my favorite songs from the ’60s is, without a doubt, the Tremeloes’ version of “Silence Is Golden”. Many prefer the 1964 recording by The Four Seasons, but this one is far superior, in my view. No offense to the Jersey Boys, who rocked it, but you only need to watch this video to experience these Brits’ raw talent. Their vocal performances, in four-part harmony, are astonishing … especially given the fact that this was filmed LIVE. The Tremeloes are performing here for a crowd of awkwardly groping teenagers, shuffling on the dance floor. (I hesitate to call it “dancing”, but the kids’ hairstyles make it amusing and more bearable to watch.) Maybe the song isn’t Sunshine Pop, per se, but it’s an exquisite slice of British Invasion pop that hit #1 on the UK charts and appeared on the 1967 album Suddenly You Love Me.

Visit CNN/entertainment for a great story about music and its lasting impact on people’s lives, “Love at First Listen” .

Here’s a link to the CNN user-generated news site, iReport , where you can sound off about which album “made you a music-lover for life”.

And, finally, here’s a link to a video posted by one iReporter (BoSoxGuy) and his take on the Great Albums of 1969.

Enjoy!

I miss records. Not only the sound quality — crackles, fuzz, and all — but the experience of lying back between speakers, studying the cardboard sleeve and liner notes while listening. What ’60s teenager didn’t spend hours doing that? (Or what ’80s teenager, as I was?) Vinyl LPs are still around, but they’re purchased mostly by DJs, rather than by the general public. If you’re on this side of the Digital Divide, like me, you probably listen to music on an MP3 player or from streaming radio and/or you have a media player like iTunes installed on your computer. I don’t even own a traditional stereo system anymore … nor do I know many people who do. But I seriously miss it.

This video clip features a fantastic collection of ’60s records — many of them considered “sunshine pop” today. You might assume that the collector is middle-aged, a Baby Boomer, someone who grew up with this music.  He’s spiriting us down Memory Lane, right? NOPE! He’s only 20 years old. That just goes to show you, this music stands the test of time … and it’s winning new fans!

Take a look:

Spanky & Our Gang, a folk-rock ensemble with origins in Chicago and Florida, emerged during the Summer of Love, a time so memorable in pop music. Their breakout single (“Sunday Will Never Be the Same”) was released in May 1967 on Mercury Records and would reach #9 on the charts the following month. The song had been offered previously to the Mamas & the Papas, as well as to the Left Banke, but Spanky & Our Gang – the dark horse in this trio – took it and ran with it. Malcolm Hale, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, created the choral opening with layered harmonies that would become the band’s signature sound. With its flawless production and exceptional vocal performances, the song launched the group’s first stunning success.

Written by Terry Cashman and Gene Pistelli, “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” is a heartbreaking tale of lost love. Musically, it sounds remarkably upbeat for a breakup song, but the lyrics tell quite a different story. Sunday was a day for romantic rendezvous and now the love affair is over. Sad. Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane manages to express the song’s melancholy with vocal beauty alone; her voice is slightly scratchy, a touch hoarse, a little on the verge of breaking. Yet, all the while, she stays afloat during the song’s jaunty moments and belts the song’s chorus out of the park. It is a brilliant performance. Stewart Mason of All Music Guide writes: “(It is) Mamas and the Papas-style folk-tinged sunshine pop with none of the jazz or art music elements that would color later singles.” True, “Sunday” is more straight-up folk-pop compared to their later releases; however, this is the band’s first crowning achievement – and certainly one of their best.

It would be difficult to argue that the ultimate sunshine pop band was not The Association – and they’re still around!  Like the Beach Boys, they were a product of Southern California, and the group enjoyed much commercial success in the late 1960s, with several hits on the Billboard charts.  Their first smash single was “Along Comes Mary”, a swinging baroque pop song that preceded their debut album, And Then … Along Comes the Association, released in the summer of 1966. The album was produced by Mr. Sunshine Pop himself, Curt Boettcher, a highly influential singer-songwriter and musician.  Boettcher would also work with, you guessed it, The Beach Boys.  The Association’s first number-one hit, “Cherish”, flooded the airwaves in September 1966.  (You’ll be reading more about “Cherish”, a sunshine pop masterpiece, in future posts!)  The following year, they took the stage as the opening act for the Monterey Pop Festival, and throughout the Summer of Love, the band was riding high on the success of their second number-one hit, “Windy.”  “Never My Love” reached the number-two spot as the band continued to define — and dominate — the sunshine pop genre.  After 1968, the Association did not manage to get into the Top 40, but they have endured as a group (with personnel changes) for more than four decades.  Today, the group still retains one of its founding members, Russ Giguere.

Twelve years ago, the California-based record label Varèse Sarabande released Sunshine Days: 60s Pop Classics, a five-volume CD series.  It is, to date, one of the most comprehensive collections of sunshine pop songs.  Consider it a must-have!  Released and sold individually, each CD contains 14 to 16 tracks.  The first volume features 14 sun-drenched tunes – all upbeat, pop-oriented, and clearly reflective of the mood that defines the genre.  Some were Top 40 hits (like Spanky & Our Gang’s “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” and Tommy James & the Shondells’ “Crystal Blue Persuasion”) while others are not so recognizable (The Arbors’ “A Symphony for Susan” and “Another Time” by Sagittarius.)  There is no chronological order to track listings, so you can purchase any volume to start your collection.  You can also download specific tracks from this series, if you’re a big fan of iTunes and iPod or other media players.  Check out Amazon, 7Digital, or Napster for downloading individual songs.  Want to try before you buy?  Last.fm lets you listen to full tracks before purchasing downloads.

Hello, music fans – and welcome to your source for everything SUNSHINE POP!

This will be a spectacular trip for us all. Whether you remember the ‘60s or not, and whether you’re a Baby Boomer or a teenager or something in between, you’ll find something groovy here. Just keep reading and let us explore the sweet, summery sounds of a time when life seemed simpler than today.

Sunshine pop. What is that, exactly? It is a musical genre that flourished from the mid-‘60s until the early ‘70s – and you know it when you hear it. A few of these songs were typical AM radio fodder, although many of them have remained obscure. Some of the tunes were considered experimental in their sound and some were not. Yet they all seem to radiate an unmistakable energy. Back in the day, this music provided a welcome escape for listeners, especially in such chaotic and troubled times. Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement, sunshine pop transmitted nothing but happy feelings. With their fluid harmonies and stylish production values – all in a 3-minute package (more or less) – these songs were life rafts of hope in a turbulent world.

Now sit back, relax … and come up to the sunshine!