Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Sunshine pop 45

"Hands Christianderson"
Zeroto180

Toussaint’s Danish-Flavoured Pop

Do not understand why so very little has been written about Allen Toussaint‘s 1968 composition “Hands Christianderson,” an instrumental B-side released 47 years ago this very month: “Hands Christianderson“ Allen Toussaint (1968) I hear a bit of Burt Bacharach-style melodicism in the trumpets and backing vocals, though the final product

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"Major to Minor"
Zeroto180

“Major to Minor”: Disharmony in Love

“Major to Minor” by The Settlers is a tuneful slice of sunshine pop with a clever lyric that uses musical terminology as a metaphor for romantic discord: Once I thought, “Life is going my way!” – it was just like a beautiful song.When you came, well I thought you would

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"Hello Yellow Bug"
Zeroto180

“Hello Yellow Bug”: First-Rate Tot Pop

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: Hello Yellow Bug – Johnny Mann Singers [Pssst:  Click the triangle above to play “Hello Yellow

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"Baroque-a-Nova"
Zeroto180

Mason Williams: Music + Comedy + Art

From David Bianculli‘s history of the Smothers Brothers’ groundbreaking television variety show, I discovered that Mason Williams was much more than the guy who wrote the million-selling instrumental, “Classical Gas.”   Williams not only recorded albums for Warner Brothers (and Mercury & Vee Jay) but also wrote incisive and edgy sketches for

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"Louie Louie"
Zeroto180

“Louie Louie”: Languid, Listless

One year after Stu Phillips recorded a spectacularly soporific reading of “Tired of Waiting for You,” The Sandpipers released a similarly sluggish take on the garage rock classic, “Louie Louie” — it, too, makes me laugh: “Louie Louie“ The Sandpipers (1966) 45Cat’s BeatleJohn likewise warns listeners that this recording is

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"South American Getaway"
Zeroto180

“South American Getaway”: Sunshine Pop’s Case of the Blahs

This track sounds like a collaboration between Burt Bacharach and Brian Wilson – only it isn’t.  Although it wants to be: “South American Getaway“ Burt Bacharach Just like The 5th Dimension‘s “Dimension 5ive,” this is technically a vocal tune yet one without lyrics.  It also has that sunny Southern California

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"Good Vibrations"
Zeroto180

Paul Tanner: Musician-of-All-Trades & Oddball Instrumentalist

Paul Tanner, who just recently passed, lived to the ripe old age of 95.  I was delighted to learn that this one-time trombonist for The Glenn Miller Orchestra went on to play the pivotal theremin part on the Beach Boys’ worldwide 1966 hit, “Good Vibrations” – as well as on

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