deb2world -
Today’s lesson is:
Know thy source -
the ‘Short Shorts’ (a larger, looser version of what would be known as ‘hot pants’) bit is from “Purple People Eater” (Sheb Wooley, 1958) (yes, I have it - ON 45)
“Purple People Eater” is disqualified on 2 counts:
a) it was a ‘novelty’, and they don’t count
b) IT’S BEEN BLOODY DONE
"Know thy source ": Weeeell, actually:
“Who wears short shorts
We wear short shorts
They’re such short shorts
We like short shorts”,:
And so on is by The Royal Teens, which I have on a 45. The bit in “Purple People Eater” was a small clip that was extracted from “Short Shorts” later. Short Shorts;January, 1958, Purple People Eater; May, 1958.
But the slackers remain - you know who you are…
“She said she believes in Robin Hood and brotherhood and colors of green
and gray
And all you can do is laugh at her doesn’t anybody know how to pray
Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
Arizona, have another look at the world
Arizona, cut off your Indian braids
Arizona, why dontcha go my way
Strip off your pride; your acting like a teeny-bopper run away child
Strip off the paint from the face of a little child saint
Arizona, take off your hobo shoes
Arizona, why dontcha go my way?”
Sorry, I have to tell you that the little lady that sang that one was Diane Renay. And she managed to crank it to number 6 in the winter of 1964 when The Beatles were, in the words of the good folks at Allmusic.com “chewing up the charts.” She had a followup, “Kiss Me, Sailor” which made the top 30.
By the way, I leave for a week or so and come back to find you all are doing incredibly well
“Me 'hats off to the duke!”
I don’t THINK this one has been here yet…
Worries, worries pile up on my head
Woe is me I should have stayed in bed
Can’t get the car my marks ain’t been so go-o-ood
My love life just ain’t swingin’ like it shou-ou-ould
"Well, I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes
<giddyup, giddyup 4-0-9>
Before I knew there would be a time
<giddyup, giddyup 4-0-9>
When I would buy a brand-new 409
<giddyup, giddyup 4-0-9>
Nothing can catch her,
Nothing can touch her,
My 409…"
en-ga-land swings like a pendulum do
bobbies on bicycles two by two
Yep, us old fogies tend to be “history teachers” who harp on ancient music because we were young and vital when it was happening and are in denial because we’re not – and it ain’t – anymore.
That being said, if it’s CAR DRECK you’re after…
Spring, little Cobra, gettin’ ready to strike
Spring, little Cobra, with all of your might
Hey, little Cobra, don’t you know you’re gonna shut 'em down?
Next up: Surfin’ Dreck 
Gonna save all my money (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out) and buy a GTO (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
Get a helmet and a roll bar (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out) and I’ll be ready to go
(turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
Take it out to Pomona (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out) and let ‘em know
(turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out), yeah, yeah
That I’m the coolest thing around
Little buddy, gonna shut you down
When I turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO
WHEEEE!
They come from Anaheim, Azusa, & Cucamonga too
Sewing circle & book review
The little old ladies wait in wild anticipation
For the meetings of the double-A-C A-S-S-N
For the Anaheim, Azusa, & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review, & Timing Association
Suddenly, things here are running r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w-l-y, so I’m going to sign off for now. Sorry there’s no telling when I’ll be back, but let me leave you with…
The heavies at the Pipeline are OK
But they can’t match the savage surf at Waimea Bay
It takes a lot of skill and courage unknown
To catch a last wave and ride it in alone
Ride, ride, ride the wild surf
Ride, ride, ride the wild surf
Ride, ride, ride the wild surf
Gotta take that one last
Excuse me? Yes, it was a novelty, but if YOU check YOUR sources, you will find that Purple People Eater was Number 1 in June 1958. Novelty songs that make it to the top 10 are exempted from the novelty song ruling. Otherwise, we’d lose such wonderful dreck as Witch Doctor and The Streak…
Now, for my Jan and Dean contribution…
Grab your board & go sidewalk surfin’ with me
Don’t be afraid to try the greatest sport around
(Bust your buns, bust your buns now)
It’s catchin’ on in every city & town
You can do the tricks that surfers do
Just try the Wise-a-moto or the Coff-in-2
Why don’t you grab your board & go sidewalk surfin’ with me?
You’ll prob’ly wipe out when first try to shoot the curl
(Bust your buns, bust your buns, yeah)
Takin’ gas & a bush takes a lot of nerve
Just watch for mopeds & pedestrians too
They’ll bug you sharp cayabunga now & skate right on through
Why don’t you grab your board & go sidewalk surfin’ with me?
"I’m gonna wake you up early
Cause I’m gonna take a ride with you
We’re going down to the Honda shop
I’ll tell you what we’re gonna do
Put on a ragged sweatshirt
I’ll take you anywhere you want me to
First gear (Honda Honda) it’s alright (faster faster)
Second gear (little Honda Honda) I lean right (faster faster)
Third gear (Honda Honda) hang on tight (faster faster)
Faster… it’s alright
It’s not a big motorcycle
Just a groovy little motorbike
It’s more fun that a barrel of monkeys
That two wheel bike
We’ll ride on out of the town
To any place I know you like"…
“I better turn on the lights
So we can ride my Honda tonight”…
Kids! Now you know why the US was ripe for takeover by the 'British Invasion"!
note: the “Honda” in question used a 50-80CC engine…
If not for you babe, I couldn’t find the door
Couldn’t even see the floor
I’d be sad and blue if not for you.
If not for you babe I’d lay awake all night
Wait for the mornin’ light to shine in through
But it would not be new
If not for you.
If not for you my sky would fall
Rain would gather too
Without your love I’d be no where at all
I’d be lost if not for you
And you know it’s true if not for you
My sky would fall
Rain would gather too
Without your love I’d be nowhere at all
Oh what would I do if not for you.
happyheathen
“Short Shorts” song I remember listening to from my mothers “best of” album from Readers Digest. They had it as a single song and “Purple People Eater” also a single song. I say it stands.
One month ago today, I was happy as a lark
But now I go for walks to the movies maybe to the park…[more talking dreck]*
Have you seen her, tell me have you seen her. *
This next number makes me nauseous just thinking about
Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones Mrs. Jones Mrs. Jones Mrs. Jones we’ve got a thing going on
Rico -
love songs are not NECESSARILY dreck. Concentrate!
Love, love will keep us together
Think of me babe whenever
Some sweet talkin’ girl comes along, singin’ a song
Don’t mess around, you just gotta be strong
(and it goes downhill from there)
[sub]I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in…[/sub]
cant let this thread slip off the front page!
i just perused happy heathens list and i CANNOT BELIEVE no one has mentioned the brilliant ouevre of kc and the sunshine band.
thats the way (uh huh uh huh)
i like it (uh huh uh huh)…
When you take me by the hand,
tell me I’m your lovin man
When you give me all your love and do it
Babe, the very best you can…
sheer brilliance…
ive got a lot more. keep it comin’ love!
happy, you gotta lotta nerve for berating the ric-ster about olivia newton-frickin-john when you had the temerity to add stevie wonder to the list. man oh maneschewitz!
SV
“If Not For You” is a friggin’ DYLAN song. First Beatles, and now Dylan - wait 'til he runs across ‘The Weight’ or ‘Hey Jude’
"There’s got to be a morning after
if we can hold on through the night
We have the chance to find the sunshine,
let’s keep on looking for the light.
Oh, can’t you see the morning after?
It’s waiting right outside the storm
Why don’t we cross the bridge together,
and find a place that’s safe and warm.
It’s not too late, we should be giving
Only with love can we climb
It’s not too late, not while we’re living
Let’s put our hands out in time…"
olivia covered a dylan song? eeewww… whoda thunk?
i assert that bob dylan is the most-covered artist in popular music. no one even close.
"By your side, satisfied
Through and through
Cause I was born to be with you
<Here ensues a bunch of humming and whistling>
Do I find
Peace of mind
Yes I do
Cause I was born to be with you
All life through
Yes, I was born to be with you"
[sub]don’t let it bring you down, it’s only castles burning…[/sub]