A quintessential example of a combo from the era of 'bubblegum pop' was the 1910 Fruitgum Company, a group that seemed by its very name to signal the kind of music it performed. And even though that name is not a familiar one now, in its few short years of existence the group was able … Continue reading 1910 Fruitgum Company Helped Define A Musical Era
Tag: Oldies
Diamonds Might Have Been An Exception To The Rule
It's common knowledge that the early days of rock and roll included many instances of white performers redoing songs originated by black artists, in the belief that it made them more accessible to mainstream music fans. The most often mentioned example is Pat Boone vs Little Richard, and Boone's watered-down renditions did sell a lot … Continue reading Diamonds Might Have Been An Exception To The Rule
The Silly Saga Of Alley Oop
Even if you think about the sheer number of silly songs that have shown up in pop music through the years, you still have to classify 1960's "Alley Oop" as one of the most unusual. The idea came from producer/musicians Gary Paxton and Kim Foley, a couple of experienced pros who'd formed a studio band … Continue reading The Silly Saga Of Alley Oop
Return Of The Knife Guy
A while back I wrote a piece about my childhood memories of trying to learn how to throw a knife like guys in movies. At the risk of sounding like someone who is spending way too much time thinking about sharply pointed objects, I thought I'd pass along the fact that I've now recalled another … Continue reading Return Of The Knife Guy
Shelley Fabares – The Teen Idol Years
I've always enjoyed well-written TV sitcoms with likable characters, and one of my favorites from the 1990s was Coach, which starred Craig T. Nelson, Shelley Fabares, and Jerry Van Dyke. It has been rerun fairly often through the years and Mrs. BigGeez and I have tuned in a number of times, but she had to … Continue reading Shelley Fabares – The Teen Idol Years
Following In The Footsteps Of The Monkees
Most of us remember the Monkees, a 1960s group that was cobbled together for TV and went on to become a veritable hit machine, eventually rising above its origins to become a respected musical combo. But what you might not remember is how music supervisor Don Kirshner went on to create another pop music success, … Continue reading Following In The Footsteps Of The Monkees
Jody Reynolds’ Classic Tearjerker
One of the mainstays of early rock and roll was the tearjerker song, especially the kind that spoke of a sadly departed lover. There were plenty of memorable ones around, including "Teen Angel" and "Tell Laura I Love Her," but one of the earliest -- and best -- was "Endless Sleep," a million-seller for Jody … Continue reading Jody Reynolds’ Classic Tearjerker
A New Year’s Day To Remember
The start of a new year inevitably makes me think of a memorable occasion about a dozen years ago. If you've done the math, then you know I'm referring to Y2K -- January 1st, 2000 -- when the world was nervously awaiting the arrival of the dreaded Millennium Bug. I was right in the middle … Continue reading A New Year’s Day To Remember
Ohio Express Specialized In Bubblegum Pop
One of the many genres bouncing around the music scene in the 1960s was something known as 'bubblegum pop', a light and frothy sound that seems a little silly now but often featured some surprisingly addictive tunes. One that might qualify is a million-seller from a group known as Ohio Express, an instantly recognizable song … Continue reading Ohio Express Specialized In Bubblegum Pop
Whatever Happened To R.B. Greaves?
One of the original goals of the GMC was to provide a place for fans of the music of the past to participate -- not only by reading about the music and the performers (and listening to it!) but also by taking advantage of the 'comment' feature to have lively and informative discussions. A good … Continue reading Whatever Happened To R.B. Greaves?
Geezer Music Club 