Happy Together/Penny Lane

 

It seems we are losing so many of our well-known songwriters/singers these days. Some are more well known than others. Mark Volman just died yesterday in Nashville at the age of 78.  May in rest in peace and love. You might not know the name, but he was one of the founding members of the Turtles.  One of their biggest hits was " Happy Together" from 1967.  I found a very good video of this song, and I hope you can see it above.  (It begins with the band in silhouette at the beginning and ends the same way.) Mark Volman is the one with the glasses and frizzy hair and to me, seems to be "the funny one". He plays around a bit when he is at the microphone with the lead singer, Howard Kaylen).  Reading about him, it seems that I am correct, he had a lot of joy in his work and life. (Also, look up the song "Eleanore". We had that single as kids in 1968 and almost wore it out!)

The Turtles were unusual at the time as they could not only write their own songs and play their own instruments, but they also covered other songs and made them into hit records. "Happy Together" had been rejected by so many that the demo was worn out and very scratchy.  The Turtles could hear the potential and decided to take a chance. Aren't we glad they did! It went to number one and knocked "Penny Lane" by the Beatles off the top of the charts. ("Penny Lane" only reached number two on the charts in the UK.  this is a fact that some Beatles fans still can't get over!)

"If I should call you up, invest a dime" refers to putting a thin dime into a pay phone in the 1960's.  I guess we will have to explain this to several generations now, but no one has to explain it to me, I remember this very well! 

Thinking of "Penny Lane", I must tell you that every time I see a fire truck on the road, I almost always sing, "He likes to keep his fire engine clean, it's a clean machine!" which of course, is from the song "Penny Lane"!   Americans say "fire trucks" but if you look on the side of the vehicle it will inform you that it is in fact ENGINE # 347 (or whatever number it is). So, now you know that we say fire trucks here but in the UK they call them fire engines.

Oh, I found the best video for you! It is Elvis Costello, and he is performing the song at the White House.  (Sir Paul McCartney is seated beside President Obama). You can feel the love and respect in this performance, I promise.

Now. "Happy Together".... listen to it.  You will either be singing along or tapping your foot, same thing for "Penny Lane".  They are both wonderful songs.

September is here!  I always have a spring in my step in September! I mustn't be too sprightly though; I might step on a butterfly! Watch out for butterflies and all living creatures.  Take care everyone.