motel de moka

Photo: Neil Krug.

Domenic Priore: We were trying to figure out what separates the British Invasion groups from the ’60s Garage Punk bands in America that followed, and when you said “they warped it with Chili Dogs” that pretty much says it all.

Shelly Kidd: Well, because that was part of the pop food of the time. See, you could make a complete study of the era by tying in so many different factors: food, fashion, style and music. It’s all inter-related. And that’s why even though the British may have been “better” than the American bands, or should we say “more evolved,” maybe they could play better, but there’s something about the American bands that the Brits will never have, and that’s the Corn Dog, Chili Dog, you know, crud culture that we have and they don’t. And that’s why it became uniquely American. And I’m not gonna compare the Kan Dells “Cry Girl” with “Satisfaction.” One is primitive, one is embryonic. “Satisfaction” is primitive, but it’s evolved. “Cry Girl” is just, it’s almost like in the mud. It’s like they’re covered in mud, they’re so backwards they’re in, like, dirt huts. It’s unbelievable. There’s no Brit band ever who could have done that, you know?

- An Appreciation of bubblegum pop by Domenic Priore in conversation with Shelly Kidd.

Tommy Roe - Sweet Pea
Sweet pea (1966)
Jimmy Gilmer - Sugar Shack
Sugar Shack (1963, reissued by Sundazed /1999)
Cyrus Erie feat. Eric Carmen - Get the Message
Get The Message 12″ (1969)
Billy Joe Royal - Cherry Hill Park
Cherry Hill Park (1969)
Strawberry Alarm Clock - Barefoot in baltimore
Incense and Peppermints (1967)
Kim Fowley - Bubblegum
Impossible but true (Ace / 2003)

Daft bubblegum-pop from mid 60’s, probably my favorite period for bin digging, always keep hitting sappy simplistic songs from the era that put a big grin on my face. If you like what you hear, please take some time to read the complete conversation between Priore and Shelly Kid linked above, it makes a fun read if you’re into this sort of music.

Not too many updates around here lately. I sincerely apologize. It’s not so much for the lack of time but for the lack of ideas. I feel my musical taste needs some recalibrating, I’ve spent this week listening to some new stuff because I really feel like I’ve squeezed most of my music collection dry after 3 years making playlists in here with a frequent basis and there hasn’t been many new releases grabbing my attention this year.  Good news is I’m starting to feel like I’ve finally found what I was looking for, an adequate state of mind so to speak. I’m still not quite there yet so it will be a bit of a nostalgia-ride over here in the meanwhile, but I’m close. I swear I feel it coming down to me. Thank you for your patience and hope you’re enjoying your stay with us.

see also: It’s all too beautiful.