Bubblegum Pop in Acid Rock Drag

So I subscribe to a mailing list that's linked with this pop music site:

The Forever Family

...which today posted a link to this college radio station, out of the University of Southern Florida at Tampa:

WBUL 1620 AM Radio

...cuz, see, The Forever Family is a '70s retro site (basically a Partridge Family homage, but featuring Shirley Jones on occasion, so I guess it's more than just an homage). And WBUL  hosts two pop oldies shows (looks like they're both on Fri. eves.):

Oldies Shows Info

So, on tonight's show, the DJ ("Dr. Johnny P. Lovetrain") played "Money Honey" by the Bay City Rollers. (Is it just me, or is this the only really great song this group ever did? I'm probably just showing my hard rock roots.)

So then I wanted to post a link to a YouTube of this tune, since I like it so, but no dice. However, my digging did unearth this somewhat related '70s bit of acid flashback:

Do that Funky Chicken, Whiteboy!

Surprise — although I could grow tired of this rather quickly, I actually like something by these d00ds. Yes, it's truly weird (true to bubblegum pop and showbiz conventions, they smile relentlessly throughout this apocalyptic vision, although they would prove to be no strangers to apocalypse-influenced entertainment — how about that Mormon concept album from 1973?). Still, it's fun to see the Osmonds scream; go figure. Plus, they're pretty good at it.

In that regard:

(a) The unconfirmed story I heard regarding  this album (from an LDS — not LSD, ha ha — friend at the time): The Plan album is was what the Osmonds (or perhaps just Donny?) did in place of the usual Mormon mission that is expected of the Church's young men — you know, the tie-wearing guys on bikes who go door to door in pairs.)

(b) Weird bit of song trivia, perhaps of interest to no one but me: Donny is making that "horse" sound on the portamento strip of an old Yamaha combo organ. You can still buy these in good shape on craigslist or eBay — Yamaha manufactured lots of them, and they are among the most sturdy of the combo organs, built like little tanks.)

See, for instance:    Combo Organ Heaven

- Want to join the Forever Family? (No, really, it's not a religious cult!) Check out the website, or email them at:

  theforeverfamily@earthlink.net 

- And you can email Johnny Flashback at WBUL with comments on his program, song suggestions, etc. at:

  Flashback1620@wabcmail.com

(Readers, feel free to fling further pop oddities my way ... the topic certainly could become a semi-regular feature of this blog.)

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Happy weekend, all!

--Bill Brent

Comments

[Les]

Hey Bill! Thanks for the mention, I wandered over here after we got 15 hits from your cool weblog here! Great pics and posts!!

Thought I'd keep you "Up To Date", it looks like we will begin shooting Season One of our documentary TV show starting April here in Vegas, and then move it up to Vancouver in BC! So yeah, I'd say we're a real band, and working on the live TV performances first and a tour to follow the 1st season.

Oh, "The Plan" is an awesome album, it was the Osmond's LDS answer to Mike Curb's MGM/GOP "Christian Rock" of the time. "Let Me In" is one of my favorite all time Osmond ballads. But my favorite Osmonds "Led Zep" hit is "Hold Her Tight". See if you can track it down on the net. There's nothing as subversive as Merrill Osmond doing Robert Plant doing Janis Joplin, probably ever before or since!!

Quite probably the Osmonds and the Partridge Family would have kept going in a more hard rock vein had the top 40 of the time not been taken over by the Carpenters, James Taylor, Carole King, and all the other soft rock singer-songwriters of the time.

Still, I'm glad we got as much as we got!

Thanks again!

Les
The FF

[Bill Brent]

Hi, Les – FWIW, that song on your homepage is VERY catchy — in true bubblegum style, it got stuck in my brain for THREE DAYS! I'm glad I like it so much, LOL.

Here is a bit of info I found on soft rock – apparently it's all Carole King's fault!

"Perhaps the most significant recording to Sedaka's career in 1971 was one he himself was not involved with, Carole King's breakthrough album Tapestry, which topped the charts. The LP demonstrated the new appeal of soft rock singer/songwriters and made veteran writers from the Brill Building era hip again."

[from http://www.answers.com/topic/neil-sedaka ]

--Bill

[Bill Brent]

Here's a link to a live performance of "Hold Her Tight":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOWSlMrbe2o

Worth the trip just for the '70s jumpsuits. And congas. Viva Las Vegas!

I don't know how long the video link will last at YouTube (could be a copyright violation), but there's also a version from their 2006 tour that might stick around longer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjk2vOtgSt0

—Bill