This is my blog where I write about music, jewelry, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, songs about baltimore, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Subscribe via any of the methods in the right-hand column. Please do not link directly to the mp3 files.

I love songs about teenagers. I love movies about teenagers. Magazines, too.
Last night I watched "Mini's First Time." Damn! I think I liked it. Not as much as "Foxes," and "The Craft," but more than "Foxfire." About on par with "Thirteen."
Teens. The word is even fun to say. And fun to sing. That's why I love this Reparata & the Delrons song, "Whenever a Teenager Cries." Blue birds don't fly, the stars don't shine so bright.. it seems the whole world dies. Yeah, ok.
Her voice is so awesomely whiny. The teenage melodrama brings to mind "So Young" by the Ronettes.
You can find other Reparata & The Delrons songs on such compilations as Girl Group Sounds Lost & Found," (doy), or their own best of CD.
As for this second version of "Whenever A Teenager Cries," by The Jeans... I have no idea where I got this mp3. I can't find too much about this song. It just doesn't convey the urgency of the Reparata & The Delrons version. Step it up Jeans! This is TEENAGERS we're talking about. Teens.

Reparata & The Delrons
Whenever A Teenager Cries

The Jeans
Whenever A Teenager Cries

Labels: girl groups, teens

Posted by: Kara Mae 11/20/2006 07:28:00 PM  (3) comments

The best known Caravelles track, "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry," can be found on the Rhino comp Best of the Girl Groups Vol. 2. It has a completely different sound than the other songs on the Rhino girl group collections.
The Caravelles were a duet of London office workers with breathy voices. In the early 60s they had one hit with "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry." Although they never really had any other hits, apparently one of the original members still performs with a new partner as The Caravelles to this day.
They released nine 45rpm singles, but this CD from Belgium has 25 tracks.
Some of their other jams that I've found are pretty good.. some are awful, but "Don't Blow Your Cool" is my favorite. It's probably the Glockenspiel.

The Caravelles Don't Blow Your Cool Story Of...

Labels: girl groups

Posted by: Kara Mae 9/12/2006 01:12:00 AM  (5) comments

Only a few days ago did I discover that Darlene Love, singer of "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" (ask me to sing this wonderful song anytime, though I'm no Darlene), was also the singer in a movie sequence that I adore, the spectacular extravaganza in Don Knotts' "The Love God," Mister Peacock. I used to watch this clip every day after my coworkers left.

Darlene Love basically rules. She was one of the many singers used and tossed aside by Phil Spector, but in my opinion, her vocals are really unparalleled among those ranks.

A google search turned up Darlene's web page. Apparently she is currently appearing in the Broadway production of Baltimore's own Hairspray. I never had any interest in seeing Hiarspray but now I kind of want to.

Labels: girl groups

Posted by: Kara Mae 2/24/2006 11:22:00 AM  (0) comments

For the last two hours I've been really into Bonnie Guitar - Dark Moon. I guess Elvis did this song... and some other people, but I don't know if I've ever heard it before. It's the kind of song where you feel like you've heard it even if you haven't. I feel that way about a lot of songs. Then again, maybe that's because I have in fact heard them before. IN ANOTHER LIFE. WHOA.
What kind of name is Bonnie Guitar anyway? I don't know, but I'll be seeing about her other songs.
In this one she sings how I like to sing, with almost too much vibrato, a style which was basically abandoned by 1957, when this song was recorded.
In my head I can see the notes floating down the staff like feathers when she sings "away up high in the sky, tell me why, tell me why you've lost your splendor?"
I can't explain that but it makes sense in my head.
I want to record this song through a telephone onto a tape far away and then accompany it with harmonium organ, guitar effects and distracting static.
I want to sing it as a duet with Bing Crosby a cappella.
I guess I'll just listen to it one more time.

Labels: girl groups

Posted by: Kara Mae 11/03/2005 10:19:00 PM  (0) comments