Yes, it's shlocky, but the female voice (Joanie Sommers) goes from syrupy sweet to bad assed babe all in under three minutes. The song is basically about the fact that her boy only talks about his car until she pulls a switcheroo on her sweetness factor. Yes, I said switcheroo,...what of it? It's goofy, but I like it. One for the time capsule to be sure.
08 Apr 03 ·singjohn: Joanie Sommers is the MOST! Even after something like 40+ years of recording she still has that "little girl-gone bad" sound to her voice. Very cute and sexy at the same time! Her stuff with "Kookie" is a snipet of a brief era in American Teen History. Times were simple and naive and kids were inventing their own language based on jazz musicians and beat poets. "Squares" didn't "dig it" and those who did were "cool, Daddy-o" (think Jets from West Side Story). Anybody interested in more about Joanie should look here: http://www.homestead.com/joaniesommers/ 09 Jul 08 ·Rickybop: Hi Everyone! I'm new here, but I noticed a recommendation for this song by JoNZ stating that edd byrnes was accompanied by Jonnie Sommers. This is not true. The female singer's name is in fact Connie Stevens.
I respectfully submit this correction. You are so right-on about her voice, JoNZ, cute aaaand sexy...
also looked that way... one of my favorites. I love old-style hotrods, and related songs, and this one is right up my alley. I've found this song
on CD, Rhapsody, and Imesh. Be aware that iMesh will eventually disable your ability to play some downloaded songs (including this one) if you don't
agree to pay for a "renewal". Please share if you've found it elsewhere! God Bless Everybody!
11 Jul 08 ·Rickybop: This is a humble retraction of my previous
"correction" statement. So sorry JoNZ, you were
apparently correct that Joanie Sommers, not Connie
Stevens sang with Ed Byrnes on the song "Hot Rod
Rock". Both female singers sound much alike. I've
contacted the site owner to delete my posts. Don't
want to mislead anyone...I'll be more careful next
time to triple-check my facts. Fun song, though.
"I can't cut loose without my juice!" Dave, Jon & Annie get their priorities straight.
from The Hottest New Group in Jazz, available on CD (Columbia)
08 Apr 03 ·singjohn: An LA-based acapella group called "Sixth Wave" has an interesting version of this song. A sample of it can be found here: http://www.6thwave.com/merchandise.asp
Love LHR! The Manhattan Transfer borrowed quite a bit from them!
Blossom Dearie is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated jazz vocalists of all time. Dearie's phrasing and piano playing within the small group arrangements on this album of standards are very, very reminiscent of Mose Allison (who just so happens to be another of my all-time favorites). On this track in particular, she delivers a very charming performance, combining the innocent ingenue with the blase urbanite.
from Once Upon a Summertime, available on CD (Verve)
25 Apr 01 ·delicado: I love Blossom's stuff as well. Haven't yet heard a bad record by her. She did an unusual record in 1970 called 'that's just the way I want to be' on Fontana. It's available (coupled with 'give him the ooh la la) on a japanese CD, 'whisper for you'. 18 Jun 01 ·tempted: Oh, and "London in the Rain". What a fabulous singer! 07 Jul 01 ·egbdf: I have been hearing about a Japan CD which would be a reissue of Blossom Dearie's 1976 American double LP entitled 'My New Celebrity Is You'. No one however can locate it. If you can help please E me. Best Regards, egbdf. 29 Jan 03 ·klatu: Definitely a favorite! I also love to 70 album "that's just the way i want to be" and think the version of "both sides now" blows away the Judy Collins. Also a huge fan of the schoolhouse rocks stuff "unpack your adjectives" and especially "figure eight". 23 Apr 03 ·singjohn: A Doodlin' Song (not to be confused with "Doodlin'") apparently had an effect in it's time. Peggy Lee recorded it. It was even featured in an episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show where Mary Tyler Moore and Dick did a little dance number to it in their living room for their party guests! This song is perfect for the Blossom Touch! Cute simple lyrics and melody make the tune perfect for Blossom's child-like voice and bouncy delivery. She was the voice of several of the old Schoolhouse Rock shorts that used to play in Saturday mornings in the '70's. She is also an accomplished pianist and played on many of her own recordings. Another fave Blossom tune: "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" 24 Jun 03 ·tinks: jesus, any version of "both sides now" that isn't by judy collins blows away the judy collins version. give me dick hyman any day! 05 Jan 04 ·norfy: check out-'both sides now'by the veteran golfer tony jacklyn-from his excrutiating late 60's album-swings into...'-a superb psych-crooning version up [or down there]with william shatner and tony bennett's 'eleanor rigby' and richard harris!!
judy collins entire existence is a crime.
31 Mar 04 ·mpanzera: Thank you, Tinks! I *love* Blossom Dearie, but hadn't heard that track yet. I recently bought the eponymous CD (with a great picture of her in glasses at the microphone...), and must have played "Tout Doucement" about a thousand times. 09 Dec 05 ·splurben: can anyone identify the male voice singing behind blossom on this track? 07 Nov 06 ·andy: I believe the male voice is Cy Coleman, the song's composer. I have only another website comment's word for that, but it does sound like him.
