From April 1965: Whipped Cream and Other Delights

I've always said that 1965 was the best year for music.

Certainly it brought to listeners one of the most iconic records of the decade, if not ever.  Not just for the music, mind you (but oh, that music was fabulous!)...but that sexy, salacious, audacious album cover.

You know the one, because chances are, your parents had this record in their collection, too.

Let's have a cocktail party.  

Put the kids to bed early, put this record on the hi-fi, and put the nibbles on the coffee table.  I hope I made enough rumaki for everyone...

I'll have a vodka gimlet, please, darling.  Will you zip up my new dress?

Now, sweetheart, remember...you promised not to get too tight and argue politics with Stan Facemeyer like you did the other night at the Howards'.  Linda Facemeyer is one of my very best friends, and we hate it when you boys argue.

*DING DONG* Get the door, will you, sweetie?  I can't go out there without my lipstick!

Voodoo Child: Susan Cowsill

At the tender age of eight, Susan Cowsill appeared with "family band" The Cowsills on The Ed Sullivan Show.  You read that right: she was eight years old.

 She may have been a kid, but she works that tambourine and sings like she was born to be in the band with her brothers and mother.   You can't take your eyes off of her.  Whatever "it factor" was or is, little Susan had it, and in spades.  She was a groovy little chick, a real voodoo child.  And when that young lady started dancing?  Forget it.  The girl had moves.

CBS flubbed the audio on the first verse and chorus in this clip.  Stick with it; when the mikes get switched on properly, you get to hear the band's remarkable vocals.

All of the Cowsill children were the victims of their militant, domineering father, Bud.  The Cowsills were so liked by Ed Sullivan, he wanted them for an unheard-of TEN guest appearances for the show.  However, because of the audio flub by CBS at the beginning of the song, Bud had a huge argument with the Sullivan people.  

The Cowsills would only appear once more on the show.

UPDATE from October 2014: I found this clip, a medley of tunes showcasing each individual member.  Little Susan belts out "Sweet-talkin' Guy." 

Susan Cowsill today.  (She's still a groovy chick.)

From 1983: Radio Free Europe

I know, I know.  I'm on a major 1983 kick right now.
Hang in there with me; it'll pass.

I'm posting this clip simply because I can't stop watching it.
It's just that good.

p.s. This was one of the earliest examples of me falling madly in love with a gay man.  Man, Michael Stipe was such a cutie, with all of that angst and gorgeous curly hair.

Thirty Years Ago Today, Courtesy Of Casey Kasem

1983 was an unbelievable summer for music.

I remember it like it was yesterday...listening to WFBQ, Indianapolis' own Q95, for hours on end, laying out in Suzanne's back yard, drenched in Coppertone tanning lotion, drinking Tab (Diet Coke was still a very new product that summer).

I was twelve...going on twenty-seven.  Boy crazy and made up like a cocktail waitress most of the time.  Was there a better purple eyeshadow than Aziza, in those days?  I don't think so.  But yeah, most of the time, I was all dolled up like I belonged in Vegas, not in our humble home in Lafayette, Indiana.

Here's to thirty years ago, here's to great music, and here's to Casey Kasem: a voice every bit as cherished to our generation as the records we spun during that long, hot, distant summer.

From 1970: Gram Parsons Was A Genius

The best-known version of this song, "Wild Horses," is by The Stones, of course. However, the song was originally given to Gram Parsons by Keith Richards as a gift.

Gram...what can I say about him?  He had the voice of an angel and the soul of a tortured poet.  His life was a Tennessee Williams play.  He loved his drink and his drugs and American music in its purest forms.  His was a shattered soul, his voice about hopeful unreasonable love, and those hopes dashed on the ground.

He was far too beautiful for this world.

Gram Parsons

1946-1973

 

The Felt-Up Files: Moments In Love

Oh yes, on the couch with Josh M., it was October 1987, and we're in Sarah T.'s basement rec room.  I remember I was wearing the Benetton sweater that I got for my 17th birthday a few days earlier.  

"Benetton, nice." Josh said, partly into my lips, partly into my cheek.  I guess he saw the tag, or something, when I moved to his lap.

"Birthday," I whispered.  I kicked off my shoes.

"Oh, right," he murmured.   "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," I said.   The word had no sound.

***

Here's "Moments In Love," by Art of Noise, the song of choice for Making Out in those days.

This is not the official cut of the song, but it's my favorite arrangement, with the piano interlude at the beginning.

Have a wonderful Saturday night, everyone
...may you all get felt up tonight.

 

p.s.  The Eighties were a FABULOUS time to be young.

From 1984: Oh, Boy!

 

People

April 30, 1984

I think the vaguely Japanese look and feel of this ad is quite beautiful. 

My favorite.  I had the 45 and played it to the point that my Dad banned it in our house.  The only other records that received that distinction were "867-5309/Jenny" and "Come On Eileen."

From 1968: Safe In My Garden

In May of 1968, The Mamas and the Papas released their fourth album, The Papas and The Mamas.  

Recorded entirely in the insular setting of John and Michelle Phillips' hillside mansion, the record was a real diversion from earlier Mamas and Papas efforts.  While the harmonies were still lush and beautiful, there is a weariness throughout this album, and the songs reflect it: "Too Late," "Rooms," "Mansions," and this tune, "Safe In My Garden."

John Phillips says in his excellent 1986 autobiography, Papa John, that "Safe In My Garden" was about being let down by fame, about being disenchanted by what one finds when they reach the top of the heap, that "having it all" can mean nothing and everything.  

Phillips said, "In other words, it was about me."

From September 1967: Beatle Cartoons Theme, Season Three

A curious mix of the "old" Beatles look, 
with the "Sergeant Pepper" changes.

John Lennon did not like this song, "And Your Bird Can Sing," referring to it as a "throwaway."

The signature dual-harmony electric lead guitar parts were played live (without overdubbing) by Harrison and McCartney. Lennon played the rhythm in the "D major" position with the capo on the 2nd fret (to account for the song being in the key of E).

An excellent article about The Beatles cartoon series.

Both John Lennon and George Harrison were big fans of the show, and there is a persistent rumor that John and George provided their own voices to at least one episode of the cartoon series...uncredited, of course.

Grasshopper: Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips

1966

"Got A Feelin'" is one of the many songs inspired by Michelle.  This song was penned by her husband, John, about her affair with Denny Doherty.  It is one of my favorites because it is one of my Mom's favorites, and it features Michelle's delicate, lyrical soprano prominently.

From 1987: Heaven Is A Kiss And A Smile

One of the most haunting records ever made.

On February 27, 1988, Father Figure topped the Billboard charts, staying there for two weeks. It was a track from George Michael's monster LP Faith, which was released in October 1987.

The model in the video is Tania Coleridge.

There isn't a bad track on Faith,
but this one has been my favorite for 25 years.

Grocery Store Favorites: How Much I Feel

It pains me to list this as a Grocery Store Favorite, because this song is my jam.

Ambrosia took on several incarnations, this one obviously being the most successful. This tune was their biggest hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard chart in 1978. They would follow up with "Biggest Part of Me" and "You're The Only Woman (You and I)," both in 1980.

All three hits qualify as Grocery Store Favorites, which is a real shame, because they are some great examples of Blue-Eyed Soul.

I suddenly have an urge to order a half pound of pastrami, shaved thin.

Grocery Store Favorites, Holiday Edition: Do They Know It's Christmas?

There is such a level of joy in this song, even 27 years later, that I just can't be snarky about it. Watching the video is like seeing old friends again.

Feed the world...let them know it's Christmastime again.

From 1982: What Might Be The Greatest Single Of The Eighties

This clip is mislabeled as being from 1983; that's not possible, as Fridays stopped airing on October 22, 1982.

Still, it's a magnificent capture of a great live version of this song. Here's Tommy Tutone, with "867-5309 (Jenny)."



I owned this on a vinyl 45; I bought it with some of my babysitting earnings at the Zayre right by my church in the summer of 1982. If I remember correctly, I also bought some Faberge Organics shampoo on that shopping trip, too.

It did not make me look anything like Heather Locklear.

Oh, and my Dad banned Jenny and her phone number after I played the record 12 times in a row. "I don't want to hear those numbers in this house again, Laura Beth," he said. "At least not in that sequence."

From 1976: Beautiful Bebe Buell

Some pictures just scream "The Seventies" without any captioning necessary.

Cameron Crowe used Bebe Buell as a source of inspiration for his genius film Almost Famous. When you look at the second photograph, is there really any doubt as to why?

Grocery Store Favorites: Steely Dan, "FM"

Heard on the sound system at Safeway last night.

Songs You Sing To Yourself As You Lie Awake At 4:30am

"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping
"I'm empty and aching and I don't know why..."

Grocery Store Favorites: When Safeway Exploits My Totally Mutual Breakup With Kyle That Was Totally Mutual And That I Am Totally Over. Really.

From 1985, here's Klymaxx with "I Miss You."

I love this song. These are the broads who brought you the genius "Meeting In The Ladies' Room," so this tune was kind of a departure for them.

It's also the song that I listened to over and over and over and over and over and over, circa 1986, when Kyle and I totally broke up by mutual decision and no, I still don't care in the least little bit that he brought some freshman girl named Sindi to the homecoming dance instead of me. In fact, I was glad that he did. It gave me plenty of time to Work On My Anguished Poetry and write "Laura + Kyle 2-good 2B 4-gotten" on the plastic lining of my Trapper Keeper. The Trapper Keeper Memorial is permanent, y'all. That's love.

Now pardon me while I go shop among the many flavor varieties of vodka. My eyes are red because I have allergies, people.

Grocery Store Favorites: Moonlight Feels Right

You know those songs that you always hear at the grocery store, over the sound system, but you never hear them anywhere else?

Yeah, those songs. And I've decided to celebrate them.

From 1976, here's Starbuck with "Moonlight Feels Right." I feel like I should be squeezing avocados and remembering to pick up some of those godawful Totino's frozen pizzas Ken loves so much.



If you'd like to suggest your own Grocery Store Favorite, shoot me an email.

From 1982: My Favorite Song

"Someday Someway," by Marshall Crenshaw