Who's That Boy?

That toddler is 65?! Heavens.

On the day he was born, Elvis was at #1 (and Cliff-bloody-Richard was at #3 - and neither of them are getting an airing here) - but what else was in the charts?

At #2:

The Teddy Bears [featuring Phil Spector] - To Know Him Is To Love Him

At #4:

Shirley Bassey - Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me

At #7:

The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

...and then, there was this:

Lonnie Donegan - Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavour (On The Bedpost Over Night)?

...and this!

Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Tea For Two Cha Cha

Many happy returns, Madam Arcati!

Happy birthday, darling.

Higher, higher, highest

click to embiggen

It's not that long since we bade a fond farewell to "hair-hopper" Wanda LaFaye Young of the Marvelettes, and now not one, but two of her contemporaries (and proud fellow mistresses of the beehive 'do) have departed for the great "Corny Collins Show" in the sky - Veronica Yvette Bennett, better known as Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes:

The Ronettes - Be My Baby/Shout

...and also Rosa Lee Hawkins of the Dixie Cups:

Dixie Cups - Chapel of Love

Perfect "Sunday Music"...

RIP, both.

I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still

One would never think that this is MID-summer Day, judging by the apocalyptic Blade Runner downpours we are experiencing this morning. As if we needed anything to make Mondays more grim and despicable than usual...

Thank heavens for Scopitone, I say!

For on this countdown-to-Pride Tacky Music Monday - which also happens to be the birthday of lead vocalist Dolores "La La" Brooks - we're entering the technicolour rainbow-tinted world of The Crystals, with their classic Da Doo Ron Ron:

The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron

And if that doesn't cheer you up, there is no hope...

Summer Solstice

Is this a lasting treasure, or just a moment's pleasure?

Many happy returns to Shirley Alston, lead singer of 60s girlie band The Shirelles.



At the time The Shirelles began, there was quite a flurry of vocal harmony girl groups around - mainly due to the influence of the magnificent (and now jailed for murder) Phil Spector and his Wall Of Sound.

Somehow these girls managed to carve out a unique place in that pantheon, and were the first to have a Number 1 hit in the US, mainly by being given some of the best songs to sing - and because of their fabulous natural talents, too, of course.

Shirelles - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Shirelles - Dedicated To The One I Love

Shirelles - To Know Him Is To Love Him

Shirelles trivia:

• The young Dionne Warwick got her first break as singer with The Shirelles when members of the group went off to get married.
• The group provided several songs for the riotous comedy film It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
• Shirelles songs have been covered by The Beatles, Manfred Mann, Mamas & The Papas and even Amy Winehouse.