Of candy girls and Sopwith Camels.
Friends came over for dinner not long ago and they brought along a CD the wife made for their youngest daughter's birthday. We recognized a few songs, naturally there was something from High School Musical, but a few significantly predated her daughter. And those led to a dinner discussion about songs that we loved growing up--not necessarily great music, mind you, but fun songs.
First up on a lot of people's list has to be..."Sugar Sugar" by the Archies. The first time I heard it was on Saturday morning watching the Archies cartoon. Archie was the all American kid with freckles and fair hair. Jughead was his pal--and a jughead. Of course there were Betty, the bubbly and cheerful blonde--a candy girl--along with Veronica who was the scheming, naughty brunette--the bad girl.
Before you hurl in Technicolor, that song hit the top 100 in July 1969 and reached the top 5 by September, hanging in there for 4 weeks, topping the Rolling Stones, Three Dog Night and the Temptations. Apparently Veronica's groove thang with that Tamborine was a sensation because Sugar Sugar was also the number 1 single of that year.
Not far behind was another favorite, "In the year 2525" by Zager and Evans, which was also a Top 100 in 1969 right when Neil Armstrong took a giant leap for mankind. Fortunately man is still alive and we can look back on the song with fondness. The lyrics were bleak but the quick beat was right on.
For the suave and debonair 10-year old, his theme was "Secret Agent Man" by Johnny Rivers. That song played as I donned dark pants and a black turtleneck shirt as well as a black ski mask. With spy kit in hand, consisting of my Dad's precision Phillips screwdriver, paperclip, multi-blade penknife, and miniature flashlight--all neatly zipped up in Dad's grooming case--I was off. Secret Agent Man was a 45 and I would put the record player on repeat so I could listen from across the house as I snuck to my brothers' rooms, hugging the walls and peeking around corners. Once at their doors I pretended to skillfully pick the locks.
Whether 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more, everyone loved "Snoopy versus the Red Baron" by the Royal Guardsmen, first recorded in 1966. More than just a funny lookin' dog with the big black nose, Snoopy was an ace in a Sopwith Camel. Some thought it a lowly doghouse, but I know better because I built the model. It was a tan biplane and Snoopy fit snug in the cockpit. Playing over and over, the song chronicled the epic battle as Snoopy and I put the Baron in a fix during an aerial chase through the house. Snoopy fired once and he fired twice, then the bloody Red Baron went spinning out of sight.
Speaking of planes, I have an early flight. All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go...
Copyright 2008 by David Falloure
