"Simple Song Of Freedom" by Bobby Darin.

OK, more 60's: Walden Robert Perciville Cassotto took his artistic name from his childhood nickname and from a malfunctioning Chinese restaurant sign (!). Sammy Davis Jr. called him "the only person I ever wanted to follow". In '69 he sold all his possessions and lived in seclusion in a trailer near Big Sur, CA. There he wrote this seminal "protest" song which changed his career. He established Direction Records, grew a moustache (he just wanted to look like me!), stopped wearing a toupee and basically re-invented himself. Artist? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvY99BJzN-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uVcr7LIusc


Yesterday's answer: "Jamaica Farewell" by Harry Belafonte. Many believe that the song is called "Kingston Town". Irving Burgie ("Lord Burgess") was a Brooklynite - his mother was from Barbados and his father from Virginia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4r5C6MUqO4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX78rpT9tGM

"Jamaica Farewell" by Harry Belafonte.

OK, more 50's: This lovely calypso was written by Lord Burgess and first released on the '56 album "Calypso". It speaks of the beauty of the islands and of love left behind. Peaked at #14 on Billboard. The album was the 1st LP to sell one million copies, is #4 on Billboard's Top 100 Albums, spent 31 weeks at #1, 58 weeks on Top 10 and 99 weeks on the charts! Covered by Jimmy Buffett, Sam Cooke, Carly Simon and Sting. Artist? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4r5C6MUqO4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX78rpT9tGM




Yesterday's answer: "Our House" by Madness. What's happened to MTV? Last I heard, MTV stood for "Music Television" - do they even play music anymore? From Jeff Bluml: "No they don't so I feel they should change the name to Stupid Unrealistic Teenage Angst Soap Opera TV."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shVdK2cbRuA

"Our House" by Madness.

OK, more one-hit wonders: This British ska/pop group's biggest US hit was an '82 Foreman/Smyth composition that peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 and at #5 UK in '83. Most of its success came from the witty video during the early days of MTV (when they actually played music!). It won Best Song at the '83 Ivor Novello Awards. Even though widely considered a "one-hit wonder", they did have another US Top 40 hit ("It Must Be Love"). Part of the just-released "Love and Other Drugs" soundtrack. Group? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shVdK2cbRuA


Yesterday's answer: "Thirsty Boots" by Eric Andersen. I first saw him at a coffee house shortly after arriving in Philly in '73 - wonderful singer/songwriter - I also love his "Close The Door Lightly When You Go".
http://www.youtube.com/w...atch?v=g70zT3lXPZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmlJCUhcn8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q841UwxzMF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgxF3j66smg
Yesterday's answer: "Thirsty Boots" by Eric Andersen.

"Thirsty Boots" by Eric Andersen.

OK, back to the 60's: Eric Andersen sang the first part of this Civil Rights Era folk classic to Phil Ochs while at the 14 St. Subway Station in NYC on their way to The Village. "...written to a civil rights worker-friend. Having never gone down to Mississippi myself, I wrote the song about coming back." Ochs liked it and encouraged him to finish it. He wrote the last verse on a matchbook cover while in Judy Collins' bathroom (!). Phil brought Eric onstage at the '66 Philadelphia Folk Festival, where he performed it for the 1st time - he recorded it shortly thereafter. Covered by Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio and John Denver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g70zT3lXPZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmlJCUhcn8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q841UwxzMF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgxF3j66smg

Yesterday's answer: "Baby I Love You" by the Ronettes. Check out the beehives on the video! Ronnie was the original "bad girl" of rock & roll, having had liaisons with Keith Richards, John Lennon and, of course, crazy ol' Phil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ_X8SZp1eM
http://www.youtub...e.com/watch?v=gbbRkHazUIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4H9yZBjgSI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVRWktdnODg

"Baby I Love You" by The Ronettes.

OK, back to the 60's: This '63 release was The Ronettes' 2nd single after the hugely successful "Be My Baby". A Barry/Greenwich composition, it was produced by Phil Spector featuring his trademark "wall of sound". It was released shortly after JFK's assassination when the nation was not in the mood for upbeat songs so it only peaked at #24. Veronica (Ronnie), her sister Estelle and cousin Nedra were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in '07. Cher and Darlene Love & The Blossoms added background vocals with Leon Russell on piano. Dave Edmunds' ('73) and The Ramones' ('80) covers were commercially more successful than the original version. Andy Kim's rendition hit #9 in '69.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ_X8SZp1eM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbbRkHazUIg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4H9yZBjgSI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVRWktdnODg

Yesterday's answer: "Al Di La". Translates as "Beyond" in English and "Mas Alla" en espa~ol. WAY up there on the all-time 60's makeout song hit parade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ8f8bIxx-E
Absolutamente! Los Latinos hacian una version bien chevere en los bailes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI-HX2jtvzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch...?v=wz5J0XmWe2U

"Al Di La"

OK, back to the 60's: This Carlo Donida composition is an Italian love song popularized in '61 when Betty Curtis sang it as Italy's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest. It is also one of Connie Francis' best-known performances. Emilio Pericoli's '62 version peaked at #6 on Billboard and at #3 on Easy Listening. He sang it in the '62 movie "Rome Adventure". The Ray Charles Singers took it to #29 in '64.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ8f8bIxx-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI-HX2jtvzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz5J0XmWe2U

Yesterday's answer: "April Love" by Pat Boone. Now, don't be dissin' ol' Pat! After all, he starred in one of my favorite movies from childhood, "Journey To the Center Of The Earth", as Alec McKuen. Gotta love his full-leather regalia in '97 as prompted by Dick Clark. Black leather boots instead of his trademark patent-leather white loafers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLaKFpMoRt0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eQuRvXGinM&feature=fvst

"April Love" by Pat Boone.

OK, back to the 50's: This multi-talented artist co-starred with Shirley Jones in his 1st movie (1957). The theme song by the same title, which he also sang, was a Sammy Fein/Paul Francis Weber collaboration. It topped the charts in '57 and was Oscar-nominated for Best Original Song. A devout Christian, he refused to kiss Jones onscreen as she was married in real life. Second biggest-charting artist of the late 50's, 2nd only to Elvis. #9 on Billboard's Top 100 Top 40 Artists 1955-95. Artist? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLaKFpMoRt0

Yesterday's answer: "Love (Can Make You Happy)" by Mercy. Great memories from the most fun summer ever '69 - between Jr. and Sr. years in H.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSepq9-JFhs