Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Sunshine pop records

"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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"Dimension 5ive"
Zeroto180

“Dimension 5ive”: Sunshine Pop’s Progressive Peak?

There’s something special about the song, “Dimension 5ive” by The 5th Dimension.   Lush vocals from start to finish — and yet it’s technically not a “vocal” tune, as there are no lyrics.  Yet, neither is it an instrumental. This song is the closing track on the 5th Dimension’s 1970 album,

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