I can’t believe I haven’t played this one here before! My inspiration for thinking of it today was a thought I had upon reading about yet another ‘Christian’ organization vilifying the LGBTQ community … the thought process that led from point A to point X will be explained elsewhere, no doubt, but I was excited to see that I have yet to play this one, so … something different for a change!
Written by Ronald Blackwell and produced by Stan Kesler, this was the second big semi-novelty hit for the Texas band Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. Their debut hit Wooly Bully (my favourite!) also made it to #2. It also made #2 in Canada and a big #46 in the UK!
Sam, whose real name is Domingo Samudio, developed his act in the Dallas area where he played lots of local dances. With the Pharaohs, he became a comedy act, touring in a hearse and wearing turbans and Egyptian garb on stage. Some of their other songs were The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin, I Couldn’t Spell †&%$@?! and Pharoah A-Go Go.
The group’s female backup singers were known as The Sham-Ettes, and when Little Red Riding Hood took off, the group’s record label, MGM, had the Sham-Ettes release an answer song called Hey There Big Bad Wolf.
The Big Bopper released a slightly different version called Little Red Riding Hood in 1958.
Li’l Red Riding Hood
Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs
Awooh!
Who’s that I see walkin’ in these woods?
Why, it’s Little Red Riding Hood
Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood
You sure are lookin’ good
You’re everything a big, bad wolf could want
Listen to me
Little Red Riding Hood
I don’t think little big girls should
Go walkin’ in these spooky ol’ woods alone
Awooh!
What big eyes you have
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad
So just to see that you don’t get chased
I think I ought to walk with you for a ways
What full lips you have
They’re sure to lure someone bad
So until you get to Grandma’s place
I think you ought to walk with me and be safe
I’m gonna’ keep my sheep suit on
Until I’m sure that you’ve been shown
That I can be trusted, walking with you alone
Awooh
Little Red Riding Hood
I’d like to hold you if I could
But you might think I’m a big, bad wolf, so I won’t
Awooh!
What a big heart I have
The better to love you with
Little Red Riding Hood
Even bad wolves can be good
I’ll try to be satisfied
Just to walk close by your side
Maybe you’ll see things my way
Before we get to Grandma’s place
Little Red Riding Hood
You sure are lookin’ good
You’re everything that a big, bad wolf could want
Awooh! I mean baa
Baa? Baa
This is the letter I will be sending to my ‘representative’ in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Warren Davidson, later today …
Dear Mr. Davidson,
I would like to take a few moments to let you know why you do not represent me. Yes, I realize you won the election fair and square, but you still do not represent me. Why? Because your values and mine appear to be 180° apart, because you do not make legislative decisions that are in the best interest of the people of this nation, or even the people of your district.
Here are the things I consider to be most important for this country, that I think should be top priorities in the House of Representatives:
Equality. Women should have the same rights as men to make their own medical decisions, to be treated as equals in the workplace, and not to be dominated by men. LGBTQ people deserve the exact same rights as straight people. Black people, Hispanics, and Asians all deserve the same rights and privileges as white people. And atheists, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews all deserve the exact same civil and human rights as Christians. There should be no differences. These are the rights that need to be codified into law and the law enforced rigidly.
Guns. I do not believe that guns belong in the hands of civilians, period. It is a Pandora’s Box. That said, I realize I’m fighting a losing battle, but I am a student of Constitutional Law and I can tell you that there is nothing in the 2nd Amendment that guarantees the right of every man, woman and child in the U.S. to own an AR-15 assault weapon. A Congress with a conscience would be working diligently to pass a permanent and irrevocable assault weapon ban. Do you realize that in Cincinnati there were 29 shootings in just 10 days?
Voting rights. Every person age 18 or older in this country should have access to the ballot. Gerrymandering and voter restriction laws like the one recently passed in Ohio deprive people, typically poor people, minorities, and young people, of their constitutional right. Last year, Congress had the opportunity to pass two very important voting rights laws that would have overridden any restrictive state laws, and you fell down on the job. Reinstate those bills and this time pass them!
Economic. I do not view money as the most important consideration, but that said, I realize that it is necessary for life. Every working person deserves a livable income, and $7.25 per hour (or less in the cases of tipped employees) does not constitute a living wage! The federal minimum wage has been stagnant since 2009, despite a significant rise in the cost of living during that time. Why? Because Congress is more interested in helping the wealthy 1% than the rest of us. I see no reason whatsoever for anybody to have millions or billions of dollars sitting around in investment accounts while people are struggling, some putting their children to bed hungry at night or living in cardboard boxes on the streets.
Certainly there are other important priorities such as education, healthcare, the environment, the war in Ukraine, etc., but the ones I listed are, in my book, the highest priorities that Congress should be focusing on instead of revenge investigations and petty bickering that will accomplish nothing. I believe that if you sat down, one-to-one, with everyone in your district and asked them to talk about these priorities, you would find that at least 85% of them would be in agreement with me. But are you? Based on your actions, your votes, and your weekly newsletters, I would say that you and I do not share the same set of values and concerns, and therefore I must conclude that you do not represent me or the majority of people, and you seem to have no desire to do so.
Thank you for taking the time to listen. A response will be welcomed.
Sincerely,
Jill Dennison — citizen, voter, taxpayer
I’ll let you all know when/if I receive a response. I usually do get one, but it’s typically a canned response written by an aide, or perhaps even by AI!
I have been meaning to redux this one since sometime in March, and hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Last time I played it a couple of years ago, I included a new version comprised of not only the Beatles, but including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Phil Collins and more. After I posted it, Clive did some research and found that this was part of a larger project, a benefit concert called Music for Montserrat. According to Wikipedia …
Music For Montserrat was a benefit concert held on 15 September 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall. The event was organised by Sir George Martin, former producer for The Beatles and founder of Associated Independent Recording, to raise funds for the Caribbean island of Montserrat after a major volcanic eruption by the Soufrière Hills volcano earlier that year.
The concert was arranged and produced by Martin, and starred many iconic British and American rock musicians such as Phil Collins, Ray Cooper, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Midge Ure, Arrow and many more, all of whom had once recorded or produced on the island. A DVD was released with the most famous songs from the concert, such as “Your Song”, “Layla”, “Brothers in Arms”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Money for Nothing”, “Yesterday”, “Hey Jude”, and “Message in a Bottle”.
Proceeds from ticket sales and DVD copies went towards restoration and support of the island. The concert raised £1.5 million. Proceeds from the show and DVD were used for immediate relief and also helped fund the building of a new cultural centre in Montserrat. On its completion in 2006, George Martin gifted the centre to the local community, which is still in operation today.
Somehow, knowing that makes the video even more meaningful. But about the song …
Released in 1968, Paul McCartney wrote this as “Hey Jules,” a song meant to comfort John Lennon’s 5-year-old son Julian as his parents were getting a divorce. The change to “Jude” was inspired by the character “Jud” in the musical Oklahoma!
Says Paul McCartney …
“John and his wife Cynthia had divorced, and I felt a bit sorry for their son, who was now a child of a divorce. I was driving out to see the son and Cynthia one day and I was thinking about the boy whose name was Julian – Julian Lennon, and I started this idea, ‘Hey Jules, don’t make it bad, it’s gonna be OK.’ It was like a reassurance song.
So that was the idea that I got driving out to see them. I saw them and then I came back and worked on the song some more. But I like that name, Jude.”
And according to the all-grown-up Julian Lennon …
“Paul told me he’d been thinking about my circumstances, about what I was going through and what I’d have to go through. Paul and I used to hang out quite a bit – more than Dad and I did… There seem to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing at that age than me and Dad. I’ve never really wanted to know the truth of how Dad was and how he was with me. There was some very negative stuff – like when he said that I’d come out of a whisky bottle on a Saturday night. That’s tough to deal with. You think, where’s the love in that? It surprises me whenever I hear the song. It’s strange to think someone has written a song about you. It still touches me.”
At the time of its release, it was the longest song ever released as a single. Hey Jude was a number-one hit in many countries around the world and became the top-selling single of 1968 in the UK, the US, Australia and Canada.
Hey Jude The Beatles
Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don’t be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
And anytime you feel the pain
Hey Jude, refrain
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it’s a fool
Who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Na-na-na, na, na
Na-na-na, na
Hey Jude, don’t let me down
You have found her, now go and get her (let it out and let it in)
Remember to let her into your heart (hey Jude)
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in
Hey Jude, begin
You’re waiting for someone to perform with
And don’t you know that it’s just you
Hey Jude, you’ll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Na-na-na, na, na
Na-na-na, na, yeah
Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you’ll begin to make it better
Better better better better better, ah!
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (Jude Jude, Judy Judy Judy Judy, ow wow!)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (my, my, my)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (yeah, you know you can make it, Jude, Jude, you’re not gonna break it)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (don’t make it bad, Jude, take a sad song and make it better)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (oh Jude, Jude, hey Jude, wa!)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (oh Jude)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (hey, hey, hey, hey)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (hey, hey)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (now, Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (Jude, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah, make it, Jude)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah, yeah yeah, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Today’s good people post is not about a man saving 50 people from a burning building, nor about a dog rescuing a family in the Himalayas, nor about a woman stopping a runaway car with her own car. How often do any of us find ourselves in those situations and with the wherewithal to be a hero? When’s the last time you were walking and came across a burning building? Note that I am not putting those acts of heroism down … no, not at all! But I’m just saying that most of us will never, or at best once in our lifetimes, have the opportunity to be that sort of a hero. But … unless you’re a hermit like me … you interact with people on a daily basis, whether it’s a store clerk, librarian, a coworker, someone you pass while out walking the dog, or just the postman delivering a package. And every interaction is an opportunity … an opportunity to maybe brighten someone’s day and to practice your ‘good people’ skills.
Last year, Axios did a three-part series in their Finish Line newsletter about the little things people do to help someone or brighten somebody’s day, and I thought it would be fun to hear what the recipients of those little acts of kindness thought. We tend to undervalue those simple little acts of kindness when we do them, but as you’re about to see, they are much more highly valued by those on the receiving end.
This first one really moved me …
“Some 30 years ago, I was working on recovery from a horrible depression. It was harder than anything I’ve ever done. One morning, it took everything I had to make a grocery run. As I dragged myself toward the store, a man looked at me and smiled, saying, ‘Good morning.’ I felt so much weight lifted off me. I could, for the first time in months, see a way out of my sadness.” —Sherri W., McKinney, Texas
A simple “Good morning” and a smile made so much difference! And how much effort did that take? That’s why on my Jolly Monday posts I’m always reminding you to share those smiles … you just never know what someone else is going through and how much your smile might mean to them.
Here are some of the other comments from recipients of small but important acts of kindness …
“The first time I was traveling alone with my daughter — who was 11 months old at the time — a stranger on a plane offered to hold her after we landed so I was able to gather our things and have a moment to breathe. It meant the most to a young mom with her hands full.” —Abby D., Des Moines, Iowa
“A fellow lawyer, a total stranger, put money in a parking meter for me when he realized that I would get stuck in court beyond the time I had left.” —Avraham M., West Hempstead, New York
“Just the other day I was trying to navigate a stroller through a coffee shop … not a glamorous task. When I went to leave, a man came darting from across the entire coffee shop to open the door for me. … It truly set the tone for my entire day.” —Lily M., Atlanta, Georgia
“My wife and I, both in our 70s, were loading heavy bags of rock for a landscaping project into our car. A woman approached and loaded the rest. As she finished and turned away, I shouted, ‘You have restored my faith in humanity.’ She responded, ‘We all need that.'” —Roger R., Ballwin, Missouri
“I left my backpack, complete with my work laptop and files, on the busy NYC subway one evening. I was certain it was lost forever. I made a claim, panicked, and worried and worried again. … Then came an email and a text: ‘I have your red backpack.’ This amazing and kind medical student brought my backpack to me.” —Jane C., NYC
“Several years ago I was struggling to lace up my very large and cumbersome — but totally awesome — dress in the Maryland Renaissance Faire parking lot. The girl getting dressed at the car next to mine offered to help me do up my laces.” —Caroline M., Walnut Creek, California
“My first day working in a new city, I exited my office building and couldn’t remember how to find the train station. A stranger walked by, noticed I looked lost, and doubled back to see if I needed directions. I fell in love with Chicago that day.” —Spencer W., Chicago, Illinois
“When I got to the checkout, my 3-year-old ran away and my newborn started crying inconsolably. The lady behind me took over packing my shopping so I could find my son and calm my newborn. That act has always stuck with me because I had been feeling so overwhelmed and that helping hand made all the difference.” —Katherine N., Oxford, U.K.
See how easy it is to be a ‘good people’? Let’s all dig up those smiles and kind words this week, hold the door open for someone, smile and say, “Hey, how ya doin’ today?”, and see if you can brighten someone’s day. You never know … OH!!! And just in time, here’s Jolly and Joyful with that basketful of smiles! Take a few and share them, won’t you?
I think we could all use some humour today, so … you know where I head when I need a laugh or two, right? And as always, Debby and Sally have filled the bill and made me laugh! Thank you, ladies! We all appreciate you more than we can say!
Firstly, some funnies foraged from the web from Debby Gies – D.G. Writes is where you will find an archive full of wonderful posts across several subjects including writing tips, social issues and book reviews.
Yesterday, when I played a song by Barry Manilow for my friend Carolyn, a couple of people, including Carolyn herself, mentioned Billy Joel and I started thinking that it’s been a while since I’ve played a Billy Joel song. Turns out, I’ve already played four of his this year, and we’re not even halfway through the year! Still, by that time, I had Billy Joel on my mind, so I decided to play this one that I haven’t played since back in 2019! I like the rhythm, like the video, like most everything about it and I hope you will, too!
Released in 1983, Uptown Girl was conceived on an occasion when he was surrounded by Christie Brinkley, Whitney Houston and his then girlfriend Elle Macpherson.
“The song was originally called ‘Uptown Girls’ not ‘Uptown Girl.’ I know its associated with Christie but when I started to write that song I had recently divorced prior to meeting her, all of the sudden I’m a rock star and divorced. All these women were going to go out with me.”
He married supermodel Christie Brinkley less than two years after this song was released, but he wasn’t even dating her when he started writing the song. Joel also said that the song was inspired by the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. He and Christie divorced after just nine years.
This charted at #1 in Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, and #3 in the U.S.
Uptown Girl Billy Joel
Uptown girl
She’s been living in her uptown world
I bet she’s never had a backstreet guy
I bet her mama never told her why
I’m gonna try for an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am
And when she knows
What she wants from her time
And when she wakes up
And makes up her mind
She’ll see I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love with an uptown girl
You know I’ve seen her in her uptown world
She’s getting tired of her high class toys
And all her presents from her uptown boys
She’s got a choice
Uptown girl
You know I can’t afford to buy her pearls
But maybe someday when my ship comes in
She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been
And then I’ll win
And when she’s walking
She’s looking so fine
And when she’s talking
She’ll say that she’s mine
She’ll say I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love
With an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am
Uptown girl
She’s my uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
Monday afternoon seems like just about as good a time as any for a bit of political humour, don’t you think? I’ve been collecting political cartoons for the past week or so and it’s time to clean out the file and share some of them! Mind you that you have to consider the broader definition of the word “humour” here, for it’s a darker humour than, say, a Pickles cartoon or Charlie Brown & Snoopy, but the political cartoonists have an innate understanding of what is happening in our world, and the talent to reduce a situation into a single image.
Look closely at the images in the letters on this one
Dr. Caitlin Bernard, Indiana law, abortion, 10-year old, rape victim, political cartoon
Putin, Lukashenko, nucleau weapons, Belarus, Russia, Ukrains Warm, political cartoon
Well, it seems my two co-directors cannot agree about Barry Manilow. One of them, Carolyn, suggested Manilow’s I Write the Songs, while the other, Clive, threatened to sick up if he had to listen to Manilow. And then my friend Ryinger ringed in and suggested Copacabana! So much to consider, yes? So, I considered all viewpoints, listened to Copacabana … a song I’ve always liked, but never really bothered to listen and contemplate the lyrics & meaning before. I opted out of that one, and then reviewed Manilow’s record in the UK … not a very impressive set of charts for him, I must admit. And after much pondering and listening to a variety of Manilow’s songs, I settled on the one Carolyn originally suggested! Why? Well, I’m not gonna please Clive, nor likely any of my UK friends, with ANY Manilow song, so I might as well play what I want, and frankly, I Write the Songs is one of my top favourites of Barry Manilow’s music. And so, that’s my reason/excuse for tonight’s song! Now if somebody would get Clive a bag …
According to SongFacts …
This was written by Bruce Johnston, who is a member of The Beach Boys. The song is sometimes erroneously rumored to be about Brian Wilson. Johnston cleared this up when he told us: “The Captain & Tennille were the first artists to record my song ‘I Write The Songs.’ I never wrote ‘I Write The Songs’ about Brian Wilson. I wrote it about ‘where music comes from’ (for me, music comes only from God). My song has nothing to do with Brian! I admire Brian Wilson’s great melodies and, as a member of the Beach Boys, I’m singing these fantastic songs in concert year after year.”
Teen heartthrob David Cassidy released a successful version that was a single in England and hit #11 on the UK charts. Clive Davis, who was in charge of Manilow’s record label, heard Cassidy’s version and had Manilow record it.
This won a Grammy for Song of the Year. The Beach Boys never won a Grammy – after winning this, Johnston became the only member of the group to get one until Brian Wilson’s “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow” was awarded Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 2005.
From the liner notes of The Complete Collection And Then Some…: Manilow was originally reluctant to record this song, saying to Arista Records chief Clive Davis, “This ‘I Write The Songs’ thing Clive, I really don’t want to do it.” Manilow says his worry “was that the listeners would think I was singing about how I write the songs, when it was really about the inspiration of music. Clive understood, but didn’t think it would be a problem. ‘Besides,’ he told me, ‘You DO write songs!'”
Manilow says he was concerned about coming off as a gigantic egomaniac, but that he liked the song so much he decided to record it. He adds, “Whenever I heard the song in public, I felt the need to run to everyone who was listening and say, ‘You know, I’m really not singing about myself!'”
Interestingly, the David Cassidy version did make the UK charts at #11, but Manilow fell short there, not even charting in the UK and charting in the U.S. at #1 and in Canada at #3.
I Write the Songs
Barry Manilow
I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music
And I write the songs
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
My home lies deep within you
And I’ve got my own place in your soul
Now when I look out through your eyes
I’m young again, even tho’ I’m very old
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
Oh, my music makes you dance and gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock ‘n roll so you can move
Music fills your heart, well that’s a real fine place to start
It’s from me, it’s for you
It’s from you, it’s for me
It’s a worldwide symphony
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
Good morning, friends! How was your weekend? It was so hot here that I happily stayed in all weekend .. the temps were in the 90-degree range (F) with humidity of around 85% … not conducive to being able to breathe! In honour of the first Monday in Pride Month, Joyful has cooked up some very colourful goodies for us this morning, so let’s go see what’s on the buffet table, and then Jolly has some things to help us start the week with a smile …
I always think it’s fun to start with a few cute critter pictures, don’t you?
Jolly has been collecting some more of those funny signs you see now and then …
And now for our weekly selection of ‘toons!!!
And just a few funny memes we happened across …
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for … the funny animal video! I hope you like this one … it really made me laugh!
Well, friends … yep, it’s about that time again … time to pick up the briefcases, don the hard hats and head out to earn a living. Unless you’re lucky, like me, and already put in your 50 years or so and lived to tell about it! We’re glad you were able to join us this morning and we hope you have a safe and happy week ahead! And remember to share those smiles this week … there will be a basketful of smiles by the door in case you want to grab a few extras just in case! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa, Jolly and Joyful!!!
I liked the Beach Boys okay when I was in my teen years but was more caught up in the Motown sound and to me the Beach Boys were … I dunno … too light, maybe? I worked full-time from the time I turned 13, so never had time to become a part of the beach crowd … that might have made a difference. That said, they did some songs that I loved, like Good Vibrations, Kokomo, Sloop John B, etc. Until last night, though, I don’t think I had ever heard of this song, Do It Again, although it did chart at #20 in the U.S. But, my team of directors, after a bit of discussion starting with Manilow, then Whitney, finally settled on this one for me to play today! 😊 Thanks, guys … despite my teasing, I do like it … you done good!
According to SongFacts …
Mike Love sang lead vocals and wrote the words for this celebratory track that takes a nostalgic look back at his days of sun and surfing. Love told us that the lyrics were inspired by a surfing safari with some of his old high school buddies, and were autobiographical. He explained: “I went to the beach with my friends and we went to the surfing spot down at a place called San Onofre, down near the Marine Corps base down south. And it was such a beautiful day and the waves were great. And then of course one of the great things about the beach is it attracts good looking girls. [Laughing].”
Love had the concept and most of the lyrics before Brian Wilson added the instrumentation. He recalled to us: “I came back and we sat down at Brian’s piano, and we banged that song out in maybe 15 minutes, something like that. I had the concept and the lyrics in mind, and he just got a good groove going on the piano.”
Love told us that it was the Beach Boys’ engineer at the time, Stephen Desper, who came up with “that really interesting” drum effect heard at the beginning of the track. Desper created it by blending the original sound with that of one drum strike being repeated four times. The engineer recalled: “I had commissioned Phillips, in Holland, to build two tape delay units for use on the road (to double live vocals). I moved four of the Phillips PB heads very close together so that one drum strike was repeated four times about 10 milliseconds apart, and blended it with the original to give the effect you hear. Everyone liked the sound and credited me with adding to the commercial success of the single. Whether or not that was true, I don’t know, but it put me in the engineering seat for many years.”
The song was originally entitled “Rendezvous.”
The song charted at #1 in the UK, #3 in Australia & The Netherlands, #10 in Canada, and #20 in the U.S.
Do It Again
Beach Boys
It’s automatic when I talk with old friends
The conversation turns to girls
We knew when their hair was soft and long
And the beach was the place to go
Suntanned bodies and waves of sunshine
The California girls and a beautiful coastline
Warmed up weather let’s get together
And do it again
With a girl the lonely sea looks good
Makes your nighttimes warm and out of sight
Been so long
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now
Well I’ve been thinking
‘Bout all the places we’ve surfed and danced
And all the faces we’ve missed
So let’s get back together and do it again
Filosofa's Word 