Category: 1965-1969

“Ain’t Nothin’ But a House Party” (1967) – The Showstoppers * Written by Del Sharah and Joseph Thomas * 45: “Ain’t Nothin’ But a House Party” / “What Can a Man Do” * Produced by Bruce Charles * Label: Showtime

Soul single from Philadelphia featuring “what’s happenin’ Brother?” party patter in the intro. Became a #11 hit in Britain in 1968 and a “Northern soul” classic, but only made it to #118 in the US. As a rule, cover versions of the song (such as one by the J. Geils Band) treat the chord progression strictly as I – VIIb – IV – I all the way through, leaving out the more emotionally nuanced I – III/I – IV – I sequences one hears in the original. Although it first appeared on the Showtime label with production credited to Bruce Charles, a 1968 reissue on Jerry Ross’s Heritage label lists it as “D. Sharah in assoc. with Jerry Ross Prod.”

“Celebrate the News” (1969) – The Beach Boys * Written by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobsen * 45: “Break Away” / “Celebrate the News” * Produced by Dennis Wilson * Label: Capitol

The Beach Boys’ “Break Away” 45 might have been subtitled “the uneasy relationships single.” Side A features a track written by Brian Wilson and abusive father Murry Wilson, while side B contains a co-write between Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobsen, who had earlier funded Charles Manson’s recording sessions and later testified at the Manson murder trial. So both sides get knowledgable Beach Boy listeners thinking about darker aspects of the band’s history. Jakobsen, though, would be a frequent co-writer with Dennis Wilson on most of his best work. With its moody veneer and odd flutes, “Celebrate the News” counters the peppier sound of the flipside, giving the 45 the ying-yang tension Beach Boys observers have grown accustomed to.

“Theme from Blow Up” (1969) – Bobby Hutcherson * Written by Herbie Hancock * Japan LP: Oblique (1979) * Produced by Alfred Lion (session) and Michael Cuscuna (release) * Label: Blue Note

The 1966 film soundtrack version of Herbie Hancock’s theme for Blow Up runs to 1:35. Jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, though, recorded a sublime version in 1967 that ought to be considered the definitive one. Featuring Hancock on piano, Albert Stinson on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums, it runs to 8:15 but doesn’t feel like it. Strangely enough, it never appeared on record until 1979—and only in Japan.

In With Six You Get Egg Roll, Doris Day’s final film, the Grass Roots show up as the band for the psychedelic teen club sequence. Their song choice is a good teen-friendly one, because they usually sounded adult-friendly enough to encroach on Gary Puckett’s turf.  With its marimba lines, “Feelings” channels the Rolling Stones’ “Under My Thumb,” and the band sounds more weirdly alluring than they ever would again. Curiously, Arthur Lee’s Love, who used to be called the Grass Roots before having to change the name thanks to these LA rivals, toyed with the melody line from the verses of “Feelings” for the verses in his band’s “A House Is Not a Motel.”

“Cinnamint Shuffle (Mexican Shuffle)” (1966) – The Johnny Mann Singers * Written by Sol Lake * Produced by Joe Saraceno * 45: “Cinnamint Shuffle (Mexican Shuffle)” / “Rovin’ Gambler” * Label: Liberty * Charts: Billboard Bubbling Under #126

There’s a whole category of records that found airplay and chart listings because of their involvement in TV ads. The Johnny Mann Singers’ “Cinnamint Shuffle” was a notable one from 1966. “Cinnamint,” along with “Teaberry,” were Clark’s chewing gum flavors and commercials for both of these featured consumers popping a stick of it into their mouths and dancing a two-second shuffle before carrying on with their business. The ad campaign’s song was a familiar one: “Mexican Shuffle,” written by Sol Lake, which was a keynote track on Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’s South of the Border, a Billboard top ten album in 1964 (the “Mexican Shuffle” single hit #88). The Johnny Mann Singers’ 1966 version of the song, sporting the new title of “Cinnamint Shuffle (Mexican Shuffle),” managed to squeak into Billboard‘s “bubbling under” chart, peaking at #126. (Johnny Mann had worked as the musical director for the Joey Bishop Show from 1961-1964, incidentally.)

“Lower Level” (1967) – The Beau Brummels * Written by Ron Elliott * Produced by Lenny Waronker * 45: “Magic Hollow” / “Lower Level” * Label: Warner Bros.

Chronically out of print Beau Brummels song—the B-side to their atmospheric and idyllic “Magic Hollow” A-side. This has an airiness to it that suggests sweet oblivion and mind satisfaction within an enormous, bustling public building where open windows send your thoughts drifting out over the traffic. The group was a trio at this point, just Sal Valentino, Ron Elliott, and Ron Meagher.