So, what have you been listening to lately?

[TBird1958]

 Did you work on them to get the Space Needle in that vid? 

[uwe]

Well, they're from the West Coast, just a bit more south than you ...

[uwe]

I had forgotten how good they were when they came out in 1973, really fresh and different ...

[uwe]

A classic ...

[4stringer77]

Coincidentally, I was thinking that Sparks song about the missionary position would have sounded better with a Brian May solo and the next thing Uwe posted was Queen.

[Dave W]

What's the definition of Bubblegum, catchy simplistic pop with a chugging rhythms, danceable, naive lyrics, aimed at a teenage audience? Or is it "I know it when I hear it!"? 

That's pretty accurate. Teenagers loved it, especially stuff like all the Kasenetz and Katz bands. Some real, like 1910 Fruitgum Company. others just studio musicians like Ohio Express.

Occasionally one would appeal to a wider audience, like Quick Joey Small.

This wouldn't go over well today.

Not Kasenetz and Katz, but there were The Archies.

[uwe]

Fruitgum and Archies are classic examples, it's like the term was invented for them.

[Ken]

A classic ...

They are soooooo good live, too.

[Highlander]

Only just listened to "Fear" for the first time yesterday... presently awaiting delivery of a multiple disc set... missed his newest tour... maybe next time... 

[Highlander]

Big Steven Wilson fan here. Porcupine Tree's In Absentia, Fear of a Blank Planet, and Deadwing are some of the best prog albums since 80s Crimson IMO. And his earlier solo stuff is right on par with those. The first time my wife and I saw him live, he brought me to tears with the song "Routine". We're going to see him on 9/17.

Enjoy...!
Made a mistake with the above reply... only just listened to "Fear" for the first time yesterday... weird... exceptional material, imho...

[Pilgrim]

Fruitgum and Archies are classic examples, it's like the term was invented for them.

At the risk of raising purposefully repressed memories, "Rubber Ducky" falls into the Bubblegum category too.

I was a radio DJ when it came out - we got so many requests that we were about to go postal. We threw the .45 in a drawer and told callers we couldn't find it.

It was the "Baby Shark" of its day.

[uwe]

Coincidentally, I was thinking that Sparks song about the missionary position would have sounded better with a Brian May solo and the next thing Uwe posted was Queen.

When Queen opened for Sparks in 1974 on their UK tour, Ron Mael made Brian May an offer to join Sparks - he was tempted, but refused.

[Dave W]

At the risk of raising purposefully repressed memories, "Rubber Ducky" falls into the Bubblegum category too.

I was a radio DJ when it came out - we got so many requests that we were about to go postal. We threw the .45 in a drawer and told callers we couldn't find it.

It was the "Baby Shark" of its day.

No, it wasn't. It was strictly a children's song for the tykes who watched Sesame Street, and it came after the mercifully short-lived bubblegun era was over.

Bubblegum was aimed at teen love and romance.

This one was a Rupert Holmes production. 

[uwe]

That is Herr Westheimer's restricted and compartmentalized cis male view of things speaking. He never realized that Ernie and Bert were a romantic couple.



One that engaged in water sports to boot.



If you tolerate this, your children will be next.

[Pilgrim]

No, it wasn't. It was strictly a children's song for the tykes who watched Sesame Street, and it came after the mercifully short-lived bubblegun era was over.

Bubblegum was aimed at teen love and romance.

OK, fair enough. But Rubber Ducky got an amazing amount of radio airplay when it came out.