One of the least successful attempts at musical seduction I've encountered. Nonetheless, the Peter Lupus-looking guy (possibly Lupus himself) is certainly smitten.
Jody Miller: "The Race is On"
Her voice is OK, the dancers are a kind of pretty and energetic, but, well...let's note the arrangement, the choreography, and Everything else...
Pop Gear:
Featuring a repugnant host...but even if Jimmy Savile hadn't been so convincingly and widely accused of sexual impropriety with a number of teens, he would be offputting enough as utterly unfunny interlocutor...
The Monks: "Cuckoo"
My default choice for the most inane of this '60s protopunk band's recordings.
The Turtles: "You, Baby"
I've liked the Turtles all my life, but I doubt anyone would every have cited them as the most telegenic band of the '60s. Nonetheless, the staging of this one, with shots through a not overly clean small aquarium and surrounding the band with women awkwardly posing in diving gear (nothing in the song is about the ocean at all, though they had been a surf-rock band originally) is indicative of a more simpleminded time in pop entertainment. This 1968 Mike Douglas Show segment is a bit less weirdly antiprofessional, if also weirdly poorly staged and conceived, but does feature two of their biggest hits, a chat and a proto-video for "She's My Girl"...
Adam West, as Batman, hosting The Hollywood Palace (and singing "Orange Colored Sky" almost well just for starters), 1966
Link opens with color bars and (loud) tone (sorry for that) before a typically bored slate/editor's announcement...the episode begins 47 seconds in. A laugh track on a theater show. Goodness.
- Adam West sings "The Orange Colored Sky" & "The Summer Wind"
- Ray Charles with the Rayettes: "Crying Time", "Tell the World About You" & "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
- Joey Heatherton (singer-dancer): "By Myself"
- George Carlin (comedian): does a monologue about the American Indian
- Fred Roby (ventriloquist)
- Danny Sailor (high-pole performer)
- Landon's Midgets (slapstick comedians)
And, the nearly talent-free Freddie Garraty demonstrates his moves for Annette and Frankie, to the Freddie and the Dreamers track, "I'm Telling You Now"
At least you don't have to look at the Dreamers closely. They make the Turtles or the Monks look like models. Peter Noone interviewing Gerry Marsden and Freddie Garraty, with clips from other "invasion" bands...
The Monks: "Cuckoo"
My default choice for the most inane of this '60s protopunk band's recordings.
The Turtles: "You, Baby"
I've liked the Turtles all my life, but I doubt anyone would every have cited them as the most telegenic band of the '60s. Nonetheless, the staging of this one, with shots through a not overly clean small aquarium and surrounding the band with women awkwardly posing in diving gear (nothing in the song is about the ocean at all, though they had been a surf-rock band originally) is indicative of a more simpleminded time in pop entertainment. This 1968 Mike Douglas Show segment is a bit less weirdly antiprofessional, if also weirdly poorly staged and conceived, but does feature two of their biggest hits, a chat and a proto-video for "She's My Girl"...
Adam West, as Batman, hosting The Hollywood Palace (and singing "Orange Colored Sky" almost well just for starters), 1966
Link opens with color bars and (loud) tone (sorry for that) before a typically bored slate/editor's announcement...the episode begins 47 seconds in. A laugh track on a theater show. Goodness.
- Adam West sings "The Orange Colored Sky" & "The Summer Wind"
- Ray Charles with the Rayettes: "Crying Time", "Tell the World About You" & "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
- Joey Heatherton (singer-dancer): "By Myself"
- George Carlin (comedian): does a monologue about the American Indian
- Fred Roby (ventriloquist)
- Danny Sailor (high-pole performer)
- Landon's Midgets (slapstick comedians)
And, the nearly talent-free Freddie Garraty demonstrates his moves for Annette and Frankie, to the Freddie and the Dreamers track, "I'm Telling You Now"
At least you don't have to look at the Dreamers closely. They make the Turtles or the Monks look like models. Peter Noone interviewing Gerry Marsden and Freddie Garraty, with clips from other "invasion" bands...
 |
| And...the first ladling of musical lard from my default choice for worst popular rock band, so far, Mountain, 1969. (Though the early Bee Gees recorded the worst rock song of the end of the decade...) |
I miss the old days.
ReplyDeleteI can only hope you don't miss much of the above, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteAdam West was an underrated actor...and singer.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's fair, I think I agree. Typecasting probably dogged the balance of his career.
ReplyDeleteScopitones were never known for their good taste. FOr example, Miller's Queen of the House and Bobby Vee's Pretty Girls Everywhere.
ReplyDeleteQuite a lot of jiggle, indeed.
ReplyDeleteNever intentionally.
ReplyDeleteHey, I like Freddie. (And so did my dad.)
ReplyDeleteSo, you two were buying their records!
ReplyDelete(But did you have to encourage them That much?)
ReplyDelete