WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE: New Book Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Newly Discovered Pix & Much More

http://www.genesis-publications.com/books/woodstock_experience/index.html
Among the highlights of the new book Woodstock Experience are contributions from
Peter Max, Paul Krassner and newly discovered photos from Dan Garson,
who is currently being featured on USA TODAY's website along with 19 wonderful photos:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/l0908_garson_woodstock/flash.htm?gid=1141&aid=5188

Posted via email from thelareport's posterous

RETRO REWIND: 1960-1963: GREATEST ERA EVER FOR POP NOVELTY SONGS

Commentary by Don Rose

Perhaps it was because rock and roll was taking a breather, waning a bit after its ferocious beginnings circa 1951-1954 and before 1964's "Big Bang" of the Beatles (as Little Steven likes to say). Perhaps it was because Elvis, the King of Rock, had gone in the Army - then returned to become a movie star, deviating from his rock roots. Or perhaps everyone felt the way Decca Records did, when they turned down the Beatles after a January 1962 audition because they believed "guitar groups are on their way out." Whatever the reason, there sure were a ton of unusual yet immortal novelty songs that made the pop charts between 1960 and 1963.

Just look at the evidence below.

How do you define a novelty song? We define it loosely as a song with a strong hook and/or concept, featuring at least one unique sound or lyric, something that makes it different than any other tune, often with a heavy dose of humor, and often the biggest (or only) hit for the performer or group who recorded it. And now, some of the top novelty hits of 1960-1963:

Runaway (1961) - the first hit by Del Shannon featured a famous solo by Max Crook, one of the most distinctive in rock history, performed on a heavily-modified clavioline (early synthesizer) that Crook called the "Musitron"

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter From Camp) (1961) - immortal hit by Allan Sherman, using a classical passage as the music under his sweet humorous lyrics based on his son's complaints from camp, peaked at #9; received the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance

Telstar - 1962 hit instrumental by The Tornados featured a Univox Clavioline

Monster Mash - hit by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers (1962) peaked at #1, and is still one of my favorite songs of all time; fun clever lyrics, a dead-on Boris Karloff impression by Pickett, and an irresistable rocking backing track, especially the drums on the opening bars

Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight) - 1961 hit by Lonnie Donegan, who led the Skiffle craze in Britain that inspired the early Beatles, peaked at #5

Mr. Custer (Larry Verne) (1960) peaked at #1

If You Wanna Be Happy (Jimmy Soul) (1963) peaked at #1; featured the immortal line, "If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife..."

Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Rivingtons) (1962) peaked at #48; covered live by the Beach Boys in their early days

Speedy Gonzales (Pat Boone) (1962) peaked at #6

Mr. Bass Man (Johnny Cymbal) (1963) peaked at #16

My Boomerang Won't Come Back (Charlie Drake) (1962) peaked at #21

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport (Rolf Harris) (1963) peaked at #6 - features a unique homemade instrument making the "wakawakawaka" sound that starts the song; YouTube fans can find a rare recording of Rolf with the Beatles, for which he changed the words in honor of the Fab Four and the group provides a bit of backup

Alley-Oop (The Hollywood Argyles) (1960) peaked at #1

Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) (Barry Mann) (1961) peaked at #7

I encourage you to check out all of the above songs. If you feel I left any notable novelty tunes out, feel free to send them and we can add to this list. Send to: info@thelareport.com.