The Johnny Mann Singers channel their inner child to optimal effect in “Hello Yellow Bug” from 1968’s Love is Blue album on the Liberty label. Somewhat surprisingly, this song did not enjoy single release:
[Pssst: Click the triangle above to play “Hello Yellow Bug” by The Johnny Mann Singers]
Is it possible that The Johnny Mann Singers were taking a page from young upstarts, The Free Design, whose debut album had been released the previous year?
As it turns out, The Challengers and their B-side of the previous year “Color Me In” (parenthetically titled “Hello Yellow Bug“) provided the melodic heft for the Johnny Mann Singers, who brilliantly realized the “sunshine pop” potential within Bill Dorsey‘s original composition. 45Cat contributor Jim Southern deems The Challengers’ 45 a “great disc” by a “respected surf band from the Los Angeles area” that “shoulda been a hit!”
A Question for The Ethicist –
Q = Did Discogs cross a line of decorum by categorizing this US release as Schlager?
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LINK to Sunshine Pop on Zero to 180
LINK to Schlager on Zero to 180
