Recently you mentioned possibly doing a bubblegum survey.
I think this is a great idea, but I feel you have to establish the years that would be covered. Oftentimes I will see a list and it will include songs like Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers or even newer stuff.
In my opinion, the Bubblegum era should be approximately 1967 thru 1972.
Phil Nee / WRCO
When we first suggested doing such a poll, we got very little response to the idea so I didn’t push it …
But since then, the votes have started coming in ... so now we're asking all of you out there to send us a list of YOUR 20 Bubblegum Favorites ... and Phil and I just might put together a countdown of your Top 40 Bubblegum Favorites!
I agree with you that it has become SO hard to define what really constitutes as Bubblegum Music these days.
It was easy back in 1968 when Buddah Records named and developed the genre by hiring acts like The Ohio Express, The 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Lemon Pipers, etc., to promote this feel-good music primarily aimed at the pre-teen audience. They were bold enough to brand it as “Bubblegum Music” … and the classification stuck.
Now it seems like we’ve back-dated this to include songs released well before 1968 … as well as songs dating into the mid-to-late ‘70’s.
The reason it came up here recently in Forgotten Hits was the release of a new 3-CD Bubblegum Anthology set and, as I said at the time, I don’t fully agree with a good number of these selections. (I’ll also admit to not being familiar with nearly half of them!!! How are these Bubblegum Classics?!?! Did they ever even get any airplay?)
For example, I’ve seen The Beach Boys classified as “surf,” “hot rod” and even “psychedelic” … but I’ve NEVER seen them lumped into the bubblegum category. Yet here’s their track “How She Boogalooed It” on the new “Pour A Little Sugar On It” compilation. (Then again, bubblegum guru Ron Dante went so far as to pick The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” as one of HIS bubblegum favorites. When Paul McCartney wrote that one, he thought he was introducing the rest of the world to a little bit of ska and reggae …but then if we’re going to go with the theory of simply, sing-along songs aimed at a pre-teen audience, I suppose we’d have to include Beatles classics like “Yellow Submarine” and “All Together Now,” too!)
Tommy James and the Shondells’ 1967 hit “I Think We’re Alone Now” has been getting all kinds of votes … but I can guarantee you Tommy didn’t think “bubblegum” when he wrote it … if anything, the exact opposite! It was a pretty grown-up tune for its time … bordering on “I wonder if radio will play it” consideration … certainly not the subject matter for a preteen audience … yet we’ve received all kinds of votes for it so far … and it also appears on the new 3-CD compilation. (In other interviews I’ve seen, Tommy says he inadvertently invented bubblegum music with “I Think We’re Alone Now” … so who knows how he really feels nowadays!!! Lol)
The Electric Prunes? Velvet Underground??? Seriously? These acts are considered bubblegum along side The Monkees, Boyce and Hart and The Archies??? Like I said, I don’t quite get some of these inclusions.
We went right to Ron Dante, who’s probably a shoe-in to take home top honors for his recording of “Sugar, Sugar,” and Tommy Roe, often referred to as “The King Of Bubblegum Music” and asked them what some of THEIR favorite bubblegum tracks are. (When Tommy first started out, he was referred to as a Buddy Holly protégé … and you could certainly hear it in his music … but then as he developed that sound, it grew into monster hits like “Dizzy,” “Jam Up And Jelly Tight” and “Sweet Pea.” But does that mean that in hindsight Buddy Holly is a bubblegum artist, too? Can we really trace this genre back to the late ‘50’s?!?!)
We also had the chance to interview Frank Jeckell, founding member of The 1910 Fruitgum Company, who have several hits nominated as bubblegum favorites. (Scroll back to find that interview from last week if you missed it.)
There seems to be a WIDE range here as to what constitutes bubblegum music and what doesn’t … and much as I’d like to set some boundaries to narrow down the playing field, I would much rather know what YOU GUYS think is bubblegum music … and who excelled at it.
So … get your votes in soon … and we’ll compile a list of your Top 40 Bubblegum Favorites …
And then we’ll count ‘em down right here in Forgotten Hits … AND on the radio so you can enjoy ‘em all again. (kk)
Bubblegum favorites?
First let me say that the term "Bubblegum" is tricky, just like the classification of any musical genre.
After all, what exactly is "Rock?" "Pop"? "Country"?
I always considered "Bubblegum" to be a term for music geared towards a pre-teen audience, without being an out-and-out children's song like "Itsy Bitsy Spider".
CultureSonar defines BG thusly: "songs sprinkled with catchy choruses and lighter than air melodies, backed by exuberant instrumentation and production."
That would account for many of the songs included on the upcoming 3-CD "Bubblegum" set you sent a link for the other day. However, I would classify a good number of those as "Sunshine Pop" or something else. Happy Pop maybe? Fascinating choices, though, many of which I am not at all familiar.
So the following are MY Top Ten faves, selections that adhere to the two definitions listed above AND which also appear on that Bubblegum compilation.
Note: Kind of surprised a quintessential "Bubblegum" track is not included. Maybe a licensing issue? "123 Red Light" by 1910 Fruitgum Co. would have def made my Top Ten!
Sam Tallerico
Lost And Found Oldies Show
Wow!
Sammy picked FOUR songs by The Archies on his Top Ten list!
Here is what Ron Dante (lead singer of The Archies) chose as HIS favorites ...
Hi Kent -
Here are some of my favorites …
1, 2, 3 Red Light
Jam Up and Jelly Tight
Hurray For Hhazel
Simple Simon Says
Snoopy vs. the Red Baron.
Wild Thing
Eleanor
Sugar, Sugar
Bang Shang a Lang
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
I'll send you a few more later.
Ron Dante
Here is the complete track list from the new 3-CD set of Bubblegum Favorites called "POUR A LITTLE SUGAR ON IT - THE CHEWY CHEWY SOUNDS OF AMERICAN BUBBLEGUM, 1966 - 1971"
POUR A LITTLE SUGAR ON IT –
THE CHEWY CHEWY SOUNDS OF AMERICAN BUBBLEGUM 1966-1971 TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
1 SIMON SAYS – 1910 Fruitgum Co.
2 YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY – Ohio Express
3 A LITTLE BIT ME, A LITTLE BIT YOU – The Monkees
4 BANG-SHANG-A-LANG – The Archies
5 MR. SUN, MR. MOON (album version) – Paul Revere & The Raiders
6 GIMME GIMME GOOD LOVIN’ – Crazy Elephant
7 CHERRY, CHERRY – Neil Diamond
8 BABY I LOVE YOU – Andy Kim
9 LOVE IS A WORD – Everyday Hudson
10 GROUPIE – The Four Fuller Brothers
11 I’M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE – Lou Christie
12 IF YOU’RE THINKIN’ WHAT I’M THINKIN’ – Dino Desi & Billy
13 THE JOKER WENT WILD – Brian Hyland
14 BOPPA DO DOWN DOWN – The Third Rail
15 TRACY – The Cuff Links
16 ALICE LONG (YOU’RE STILL MY FAVORITE GIRLFRIEND) – Tommy Boyce & Bobby
Hart
17 EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU’RE NOT IN LOVE – The Electric Prunes
18 FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE (HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT LUCY) – San Francisco
Earthquake
19 LET ME BRING YOU UP – Ron Dante
20 LATIN SHAKE – Lt. Garcia’s Magic Music Box
21 MARATHON MARY – The Globetrotters
22 LOOP DE LOOP – Salt Water Taffy
23 FLY ME TO HAVANA – The Grass Roots
24 ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO – Lobo
25 I’D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU – Mark Eric
26 JENNIFER TOMKINS – Street People
27 LOOKY LOOKY, MY COOKIE’S GONE – The Raspberry Pirates
28 BILLY’S GOT A GOAT – Patty Flabbies’ Coughed Engine
29 FEELIN’ SO GOOD (S.K.O.O.B.Y- D.O.O.) – The Archies
DISC TWO
1 I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW – Tommy James & The Shondells
2 GREEN TAMBOURINE – The Lemon Pipers
3 THE GROOVIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD – The Fun & Games
4 WHO LOVES THE SUN – Velvet Underground
5 JINGLE JANGLE – The Archies
6 DOUBLE GOOD FEELIN’ – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
7 PEPPERMAN – Arnim-Hamilton
8 FA LA FA LEE – Halfnelson (Sparks)
9 WHAT’S YOUR NAME – The Music Explosion
10 INDIAN LAKE – The Cowsills
11 HOW SHE BOOGALOOED IT – The Beach Boys
12 SHE’S THE KIND OF GIRL – The Peppermint Trolley Company
13 CHEWY CHEWY – Ohio Express
14 CRY LIKE A BABY – The Box Tops
15 BOUNCING ALL OVER THE WORLD – The Globetrotters
16 SHE SOLD ME MAGIC – Lou Christie
17 GIRL ON THE SUBWAY – The Cherry People
18 MOVE IN A LITTLE CLOSER, BABY – Mama Cass
19 MONTEGO BAY (album version) – Bobby Bloom
20 CANDY APPLE COTTON CANDY – Ruthann Friedman (Art Podell & Nick Woods)
21 THE MARCH OF THE JINGLE JANGLE PEOPLE – San Francisco Earthquake
22 VALLERI – The Pineapple Heard
23 WOULD YOU BELIEVE – Mortimer
24 SUNSHINE GIRL – The Parade
25 BANANA MAN – The Knack
26 GO LIGHTLY – The Goggles
27 HOW DO YOU KNOW – Ron Dante
28 GINGERSNAP – Jamie
29 MR. PEACOCK – Orange Colored Sky
30 ARCHIE’S PARTY – The Archies
31 JAM UP JELLY TIGHT – Tommy Roe
DISC THREE
1 SHAKE – Shadows Of Knight
2 QUICK JOEY SMALL (RUN JOEY RUN) – Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus
3 JELLY JUNGLE (OF ORANGE MARMALADE) – The Lemon Pipers
4 GOODY GOODY GUMDROPS – 1910 Fruitgum Co.
5 THINGS (GOIN’ ROUND IN MY MIND) – Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty
6 WHO’S YOUR BABY? – The Archies
7 JUDY IN DISGUISE (WITH GLASSES) – John Fred & His Playboy Band
8 EVERYTHING IS MICKEY MOUSE – Cartoon Candy Carnival
9 HOW DO YOU LIKE THOSE APPLES – South Amboy Port Authority
10 KEEP ON – Bruce Channel
11 SOPHIA – San Francisco Earthquake
12 RED ROVER, RED ROVER – The Puddle (aka The Bunch)
13 LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE – The Peppermint Trolley Company
14 MAKE YOUR OWN SWEET MUSIC – The Golden Gate
15 BRAND NEW KEY – Melanie
16 SUNSHINE, RED WINE – Crazy Elephant
17 ALLEY POND PARK – Culver Street Playground
18 LET THE GOOD TIMES IN – The Love Generation
19 SUZANNE ON A SUNDAY MORNING – Rick Nelson
20 BUBBLE GUM AND BRACES – Bobby Sherman
21 MR. BUS DRIVER – Neal Dover
22 WIWWIAN WEVY – Pastrami Malted
23 NINNY BOP BOP – Bonnie & The Clydes
24 LOVING YOU MAKES EVERYTHING ALRIGHT – The Marshmellow Highway
25 DON’T LET LOVE PASS YOU BY – Ron Dante
26 CHEER ME UP – The Globetrotters
27 THANK YOU GIRL – Street People
28 CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GET TO SESAME STREET? – The Free Design
29 THE RAPPER – The Jaggerz
30 JENNIFER RAIN – The Goggles
31 SUGAR, SUGAR – The Archies
Hey Kent,
The track listing includes some pretty good songs. I hadn't heard "She Sold Me Magic" by Lou Christie until I found it on a collection of 60s hits manufactured in Europe. Definitely an underrated song.
I enjoy the compilations that dig deep and don't just recycle the same old hits that are available anywhere. A lot of Cherry Red Records' releases seem to include some good, hard-to-find stuff. I was impressed with one of their releases from earlier in the year called "I See You Live On Love Street."
Colin Donahue
Well, there are plenty of obscure titles on this collection!
That being said, I don’t want to just do an obvious survey either … although it’s an unavoidable conclusion at the end as to at least half a dozen songs that are going to finish near the top of this list no matter how many people vote. They’re just the undisputed kings of bubblegum music.
Still, a countdown may make for an interesting
diversion. (I’ve talked with Phil Nee of WRCO, whose Sunday Night show "Those Were The Days" would make for the perfect forum for such a countdown. A couple of other disc jockeys on our list have also expressed an interest in
hosting such an event, so we may have multiple countdowns to tell you about.)
But FIRST you’ve got to vote. (Forget about that OTHER election coming up and concentrate on that the one makes you FEEL good for a few minutes!!!)
VOTE NOW for your All-Time Bubblegum Favorites! (kk)
Man, EVERYBODY'S getting in on the act!!!
Don't be shy ...
Send us YOUR list of Bubblegum Favorites ...
Guilty Pleasures and all! (kk)
