Week Eighty-Seven: More Girl Groups - The Toys - "A Lover's Concerto" - The Best of the Girl Groups, Vol. 2

As we welcome in a New Year on Wednesday, I am more convinced than ever that I was born in the wrong era!!! I'm not at all excited about the scientific advances that 2014 will bring, nor am I impressed by our super-technologically obsessed society. My heart absolutely longs for what I view as a simpler and easier time! So I am going to use this week to cover more Girl Groups from roughly the 1960s or so because that genre of music is about as close as I'll ever get to where I would prefer to be!!!

`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

And here's Wikipedia's take on The Toys, since this was all way before my time, as I mentioned yesterday:

"The Toys were an American pop girl group from Jamaica, New York, which was formed in 1961 and disbanded in 1968."

"The Toys were discovered at a talent show by manager Vince Marc, who introduced them to songwriters Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell. Linzer and Randell wrote most of the songs recorded by them, including their U.S. #2 hit single 'A Lover's Concerto', and also produced the group's 1965-66 recordings on Bob Crewe's DynoVoice record label. Global sales of this disc exceeded two million copies, with a gold record awarded by the R.I.A.A. in 1965. Their first U.S. tour was with Gene Pitney. In 1967 the group changed labels and producers, but charted only one more minor single (a cover of Brian Hyland's 'Sealed with a Kiss') before breaking up."

"The Toys appeared on most of the major TV rock programs, including Shindig!, Hullabaloo, and American Bandstand. They also had a cameo role in the 1967 beach movie It's a Bikini World."

I seriously had no idea that there were television shows called Shindig! and Hullabaloo --- those words rank right up there with ballyhoo and shenanigans in my silly, little world!

I'll also include another one by The Toys, which shows up on the One Kiss Can Lead to Another compilations, called "May My Heart Be Cast Into Stone"...

Oh, and Happy New Year's Eve! I'm not exactly the kind of girl who believes in allowing the success or failure of one evening to determine the outcome of my next 365 days; therefore, I choose not to participate in most of the festivities. However, for those of you who do participate, I hope you enjoy your shindigs, hullabaloo, ballyhoo and shenanigans this evening!!! :-D

How gentle is the rain
That falls softly on the meadow?
Birds, high up in the trees,
Serenade the clouds with their melodies.

Oh, see, there beyond the hill,
The bright colors of the rainbow.
Some magic from above
Made this day for us just to fall in love.

Now, I belong to you
From this day until forever.
Just love me tenderly
And I'll give to you every part of me.

Oh, don't ever make me cry
Through long, lonely nights without us.
Be always true to me.
Keep this day in your heart eternally.

Someday we shall return
To this place upon the meadow.
We'll walk out in the rain,
Hear the birds above singing once again.

You'll hold me in your arms 
And say once again you love me
And, if your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.

You'll hold me in your arms 
And say once again you love me
And, if your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.

You'll hold me in your arms 
And say once again you love me
And, if your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.

Week Eighty-Seven: More Girl Groups - The Essex - "Easier Said Than Done" - The Best of the Girl Groups, Vol. 2

As we welcome in a New Year on Wednesday, I am more convinced than ever that I was born in the wrong era!!! I'm not at all excited about the scientific advances that 2014 will bring, nor am I impressed by our super-technologically obsessed society. My heart absolutely longs for what I view as a simpler and easier time! So I am going to use this week to cover more Girl Groups from roughly the 1960s or so because that genre of music is about as close as I'll ever get to where I would prefer to be!!!

`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Although The Essex actually had male members, they are often placed in the Girl Group genre because of their sound. Since this was obviously long before my time, I'm not even going to pretend like I know a ton of information about them, and I will instead give you some highlights from Wikipedia:

"The Essex was an American R&B vocal group formed in 1962. They are best known for their 1963 chart-topper and million selling track, 'Easier Said Than Done'."

"Founding members Walter Vickers (guitar) and Rodney Taylor (drums) were U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After being transferred to Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, they enlisted fellow Marines Billy Hill and Rudolph Johnson as group members. Next they added a female lead singer, Anita Humes, another Marine."

"In 1963, a demo earned them a recording contract with Roulette Records. They recorded 'Easier Said Than Done' in 20 minutes. The song was written by Larry Huff and William Linton, who said that the beat was inspired by the sound of multiple teletype machines, noisy mechanical beasts pounding out copy in the base's communications room. Released as their first single, the song reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track sold over one million records and received a gold disc award from the R.I.A.A. 'Easier Said Than Done' reached #41 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1963."

The Essex have another really awesome song called "A Walkin' Miracle", but I cannot find it on YouTube; however, there is a pretty decent cover of it by the performance group, called It's My Party!, that I will include so that you can at least hear it!  (Finally found it and am including it below!!)

My friends all tell me
Go to him, run to him,
Say sweet lovely things to him,
And tell him, he's the one.

Deep in my heart I know it,
But it's so hard to show it
Cause it's easier, easier said than done.

My buddies tell me
Fly to him, sigh to him,
Tell him I would die for him,
And tell him, he's the one.

Although he gives me a feeling
That sets my heart a-reeling,
Yet it's easier, easier said than done.

Well, I know that I love him so.
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye.

They all tell me 
Sing to him, swing with him,
And just do anything for him,
And tell him, he's the one.

I got a love so true
And yet I'm sad and blue
Cause it's easier, easier said than done.

Well, I know that I love him so.
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye.

They all tell me 
Sing to him, swing with him,
And just do anything for him,
And tell him, he's the one.

I got a love so true
And yet I'm sad and blue
Cause it's easier, easier said than done.
Easier-er-er-er, said than done.

Week Eighty-Six: YouTube Suggestions - The Jesus and Mary Chain - "Just Like Honey" - Psychocandy

So, as you may or may not already know, I have created playlists on YouTube of all of the videos that I post to my blog, and sometimes, as I'm adding these videos to the playlists, I'll jot down some of the suggestions to post about at a later time. And, well, I guess that "later time" has now arrived because I am going to use this week to post about one suggested video from each of my four playlists.

/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\

The Jesus and Mary Chain was a suggestion from Playlist IV's "Confetti" by The Lemonheads. I absolutely, completely, and totally adore The Jesus and Mary Chain!!! You may recall that they were my Week Two artist many, many moons ago.

I went back and added my ticket stub and a newspaper clipping to the "Head On" post; however, since it was so early on in my blog, I hadn't really started sharing any of my music memorabilia with you just yet. So today, I am going to include a scan of my copy of The Jesus and Mary Chain: Videos 1985 to 1989:

Additionally, I am going to include scans of the front and back cover of a book by an Italian publisher that I picked up along the way... as well as some quotes by those unruly, yet lovable, Reid brothers:

I'm also including three other suggested videos from "Confetti": "Never Understand", "Almost Gold", and "Come On"

Listen to the girl

As she takes on half the world

Moving up and so alive

In her honey dripping beehive

Beehive

It's good, so good, it's so good

So good

Walking back to you

Is the hardest thing that

I can do

That I can do for you

For you

I'll be your plastic toy

I'll be your plastic toy

For you

Eating up the scum

Is the hardest thing for

Me to do

Just like honey (x 17)

Week Eighty-Six: YouTube Suggestions - General Public - "Tenderness" - All the Rage

So, as you may or may not already know, I have created playlists on YouTube of all of the videos that I post to my blog, and sometimes, as I'm adding these videos to the playlists, I'll jot down some of the suggestions to post about at a later time. And, well, I guess that "later time" has now arrived because I am going to use this week to post about one suggested video from each of my four playlists.

/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\

Merry Christmas!!

Since my blog is named after the song, "Heartbreak Beat", by The Psychedelic Furs, I figured that it would be apropos to select that track from Playlist I for today's suggested tune. Plus, the song, "Tenderness", by General Public is such a great Christmas-y track! Who couldn't use a bit more tenderness in his or her life?

Here's a fantastic tenderness-inspired tale for Christmas Day. I have mentored a little girl in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for five years now. Every year, I have figured out a way to make sure that she and her brother and her Granny have had a Christmas celebration. This year, my family and I pooled our money together to get them each a gift card in the amount of $120.00, plus a few presents to unwrap on the side. I was set to take everything over to their house on Monday evening, but before I left work that day, my attorney called me in to the conference room. Not only did I receive both a Christmas bonus and a raise that made my jaw drop to the table, but he also whipped out his checkbook and wrote a check in the amount of $500.00 for me to give to my Little Sister's family. I seriously almost started crying right then and there!

So next time you want to talk smack about the greediness of the legal profession and of attorneys, I want you to remember my story and know that there are tender-hearted and kind people working in that field. Sadly, they are few and far-between, but they do exist!!

I don't know when to start or when to stop
My luck's like a button
I can't stop pushing it
My head feels light
But I'm still in the dark
Seems like without tenderness there's something missing
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is it?

I don't know where I am but I know I don't like it
I open my mouth and out pops something spiteful
Words are so cheap, but they can turn out expensive
Words like conviction can turn into a sentence

I held your hands
Rings but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you're here,
But next night you're not
It always leaves me searching for a little

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?

Whistling in the graveyard
Calling up your girlfriend
Just trying to make her understand
You're squeezing the telephone like it was her hand
No question (so many questions)
She's going to catch you out boy
It all seems so underhand
Now she's the only thing that ever made you feel like a man, man
Madman, madman

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Tenderness
Tenderness
Where is it?

I held your hands
Rings but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you're here,
But next night you're not
It always leaves me searching for a little

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?

I'm just sick to death of second best, pet
Why should the morning always find you unimpressed?
Is your love like a button?
You can't stop pushing it?
Oh this all night longing can be such a long time

Week Eighty-Six: YouTube Suggestions - Josie Cotton - "Johnny Are You Queer?" - Valley Girl: Music from the Soundtrack

So, as you may or may not already know, I have created playlists on YouTube of all of the videos that I post to my blog, and sometimes, as I'm adding these videos to the playlists, I'll jot down some of the suggestions to post about at a later time. And, well, I guess that "later time" has now arrived because I am going to use this week to post about one suggested video from each of my four playlists.

/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\

This was a suggested video from a Playlist III selection by The Monroes called "What Do All the People Know?" I absolutely love the film, Valley Girl... yummy Nicholas Cage!!! It also has a killer soundtrack to boot, which included two Josie Cotton tracks!

Josie Cotton's songs are sooooooo much fun, and something very cool that I learned quite some time ago is that Josie Cotton hails from my hometown of Dallas, TX!!!

I'll also share a funny little tale with you about this song... so I had an ex-boyfriend named Jon, and my dad did not like Jon one stinkin' bit ---- and rightfully so!!! So on more than one occasion, he said to me: "Honey, I think that boy is a queer!" I swear that every time he would say that, this exact song would pop into my head!!!

I'm going to include another favorite by Josie Cotton that appears on the soundtrack called "He Could Be the One", and I'll also tack on "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)" by The Flirts, which you can find on the soundtrack too!

Johnny, what's the deal, boy? 

Is your love for real, boy? 

When the lights are low, 

you never hold me close.

Now I saw you today, boy, 

walking with them gay boys. 

Now you hurt me so, now I gotta know,

 Johnny are you queer? 

'Cause when I see you dancing with your friends, 

I can't help wondering where I stand. 

I'm so afraid I'll lose you 

if I can't seduce you. 

Is there something wrong? 

Johnny, come on strong. 

Why are you so weird, boy?

Johnny, are you queer, boy? 

When I make a play, 

you're pushing me away.

'Cause when I see you dancing with your friends, 

I can't help wondering where I stand. 

Johnny, you've forsaken 

a love you could be takin'. 

I want to give it to you, 

but you never come through. 

Oh, why are you so weird, boy?

 Johnny, are you queer, boy?

 When you asked for a date, 

I thought that you were straight. 

But Johnny, are you queer? 

Johnny, are you queer, boy? 

Johnny, are you queer, boy? 

Johnny, are you queer, boy? 

Hey Johnny.. Johnny are you.. you know...

Week Eighty-Six: YouTube Suggestions - The Levellers - "One Way" - Levelling the Land

So, as you may or may not already know, I have created playlists on YouTube of all of the videos that I post to my blog, and sometimes, as I'm adding these videos to the playlists, I'll jot down some of the suggestions to post about at a later time. And, well, I guess that "later time" has now arrived because I am going to use this week to post about one suggested video from each of my four playlists.

/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*\

I'm super-excited that I get to see my nephew, Carter, in a few days, and you may remember that in January of this year, I posted about the band, Carter USM, during my OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) Week, which is part of Playlist II.

One of the suggested videos for Carter USM's song, "The Only Living Boy in New Cross", just so happened to be "One Way" by The Levellers. I can honestly say that I had not heard this song since the days that Alex Luke was still co-hosting The Adventure Club on 94.5 The EDGE because this does not seem like a Josh song at all; it's more of an Alex song, but I could be wrong --- it wouldn't be the first time!!!

Regardless, this is a fantastic little tune, and the video is really fun to watch too...so enjoy!!!

There's only one way of life

And that's your own your own your own

My father when I was younger

Took me up on to the hill

That looks down on the city smog

And above the factory spill

He said now this is where I come

When I wanted to be free

but he never was in his lifetime

But these words stuck with me hey

And so I ran from all of this

And I climbed that highest hill

I looked down on to my life

Above the factory spill

I looked down onto my life

As the family disgrace

Then all my friends on the starting line

Their wages off to chase

Yes and all my friends and all their jobs

All the bloody waste

CHORUS

Well well when I grew up,

learned to love and laugh

Circled A's on the underpass

The noise we thought would never stop

Died a death when the punks grew up

And we choked on all our dreams

We wrestled with our fears

Running through the heartless concrete streets

Chasing our ideas Run

And all the problems of the world

Won't be solved by this guitar

And they won't stop coming either

By the life I've had so far

And the bright lights of my home town

Won't be getting any dimmer

Though their calling has receded

Like some old distant singer

And they don't look so appealing

To the eyes of this poor sinner

CHORUS

Week Eighty-Five: Erasure - "Blue Savannah" - Pop! The First 20 Hits

The weather in Dallas has been so awful the past few weeks, and it has been making me feel a bit glum. Fortunately, when I get into these moods, there are a handful of bands that can lift my spirits in no time --- one of those bands being none other than Erasure.  You might recall that I have already covered two of my favorite Erasure hits - "Love to Hate You" and "Chorus" - during Week Fifteen, when I talked about a local teen club called Xenon. This week, however, I am going to cover a few more of my favorites off of Pop! The First 20 Hits, and I will also share with you a scan of my VHS tape for the accompanying videos:

eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe

Score! So I finally found one that even Wikipedia calls: "An uplifting love song, the instrumentation is crisp and heavily synthesized, accented with sweeping, programmed piano."

That being said, however, the video for "Blue Savannah" really, really sux!!! Therefore, I am going to close out the week with another one of my favorites (which is not part of Pop! The First 20 Hits) called "Always", which has an... ummmmmm.... interesting video... yes, I'll stick with interesting as my adjective and let you formulate your own opinion!!!

Blue Savannah song

Oh blue Savannah song

Somewhere 'cross the desert

Sometime in the early hour

In a restless world

On the open highways

My home is where the heart is

Sweet to surrender to you only

I send my love to you

Blue Savannah song

Oh blue Savannah song

Racing 'cross the desert

At a hundred miles an hour

To the orange side

Through the clouds and thunder

My home is where the heart is

Sweet to surrender to you only

I send my love to you

I'm on my way back

And your love will bring me home

I'm traveling fast

And your love will bring me home

Will I discover

That your love will bring me home?

Will I discover

That your love will bring me home? Yeah

Somewhere 'cross the desert

Sometime in the early hours

To the orange side

Through the clouds and thunder

My home is where the heart is

Sweet to surrender to you only

I send my love to you

My home is where the heart is

Sweet to surrender to you only

I send my love to you

Oh Savannah song

To you only

I send my love to you

Oh Savannah song

To you only

To you only

Week Eighty-Five: Erasure - "A Little Respect" - Pop! The First 20 Hits

The weather in Dallas has been so awful the past few weeks, and it has been making me feel a bit glum. Fortunately, when I get into these moods, there are a handful of bands that can lift my spirits in no time --- one of those bands being none other than Erasure.  You might recall that I have already covered two of my favorite Erasure hits - "Love to Hate You" and "Chorus" - during Week Fifteen, when I talked about a local teen club called Xenon. This week, however, I am going to cover a few more of my favorites off of Pop! The First 20 Hits, and I will also share with you a scan of my VHS tape for the accompanying videos:

eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe

So today's lovely tune, "A Little Respect", deals with what Wikipedia calls: "an empowering plea to a lover to show compassion and respect"... 

I can guarantee you that any "empowering plea" that I have ever made for "a lover to show compassion and respect" never sounded quite as pop-inspired and upbeat as Erasure's plea. Vince Clarke and Andy Bell seriously know how to sugar coat life's misery to a level of perfection!!!

It's kind of funny because even though I have been singing along with these Erasure tunes for decades now, I can honestly say that it was not until this very week, when I actually took the time to ponder the lyrics, that I realized how sad some of these songs really are... and I'm still having a difficult time buying into it because of the peppy nature of the synths and guitars... it's just not quite registering with me... but I've been putting in some seriously long hours at work lately, so not a lot is registering with me... Hmmmmmm??? I wonder if Erasure could make some of the language in our standard Last Will and Testament sound fun... I bet they could!!! :-D

I try to discover

A little something to make me sweeter

Oh baby refrain from breaking my heart

I'm so in love with you

I'll be forever blue

That you give me no reason

Why you're making me work so hard

That you give me no

That you give me no

That you give me no

That you give me no

Soul, I hear you calling

Oh baby please give a little respect to me

And if I should falter

Would you open your arms out to me

We can make love not war

And live at peace in our hearts

I'm so in love with you

I'll be forever blue

What religion or reason

Could drive a man to forsake his lover

Don't you tell me no

Don't you tell me no

Don't you tell me no

Don't you tell me no

Soul, I hear you calling

Oh baby please give a little respect to me

I'm so in love with you

I'll be forever blue

That you give me no reason

You know you're making me work so hard

That you give me no

That you give me no

That you give me no

That you give me no

Soul, I hear you calling

Oh baby please give a little respect to me

Soul, I hear you calling

Oh baby please give a little respect to me

Week Eighty-Five: Erasure - "Oh L'amour" - Pop! The First 20 Hits

The weather in Dallas has been so awful the past few weeks, and it has been making me feel a bit glum. Fortunately, when I get into these moods, there are a handful of bands that can lift my spirits in no time --- one of those bands being none other than Erasure.  You might recall that I have already covered two of my favorite Erasure hits - "Love to Hate You" and "Chorus" - during Week Fifteen, when I talked about a local teen club called Xenon. This week, however, I am going to cover a few more of my favorites off of Pop! The First 20 Hits, and I will also share with you a scan of my VHS tape for the accompanying videos:

eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe+eRaSuRe

"Oh L'amour" is a true retro club classic! Again, even though it focuses on the topic of unrequited love, I am somehow able to overlook such and still feel uplifted when listening to this tune!!!

I learned something very interesting in regards to the cover for the single when I was reading up about it on Wikipedia:

"The original artwork of the 'Oh L'amour' single featured characters from Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. As permission had not been given, this cover was withdrawn and replaced with a plain black cover with only the title and band name."

Since it's a bit tough to imagine how Thomas the Tank Engine might fit in with this song, I figured I would save you the trouble of looking it up, and include the image below:

Ha! So I was just thinking to myself that maybe if all bad news in life was delivered in the form of an Erasure-type tune, it might just be a little easier to stomach, right?!?!?! Okay, then again, maybe not...

Oh l'amour

Broke my heart

Now I'm aching for you

Mon amour

What's a boy in love

Supposed to do

Looking for you

You were looking for me

Always reaching for you

You were too blind to see

Oh love of my heart

Why leave me alone

I'm falling apart

No good on my own

Oh l'amour

Broke my heart

Now I'm aching for you

Mon amour

What's a boy in love

Supposed to do

Why throw it away

Why walk out on me

I just live for the day

For the way it should be

There once was a time

Had you here by my side

You said I wasn't your kind

Only here for the ride

Oh l'amour

Broke my heart

Now I'm aching for you

Mon amour

What's a boy in love

Supposed to do

No emotional ties

You don't remember my name

I lay down and die

I'm only to blame

Oh love of my heart

It's up to you now

You tore me apart

I HURT (heard) inside-out

Oh l'amour

Broke my heart

Now I'm aching for you

Mon amour

What's a boy in love

Supposed to do

Oh l'amour

Broke my heart

Now I'm aching for you

Mon amour

What's a boy in love

Supposed to do