What are you listening to?

[Atticus Finch]

Yes, but only because I'm a self-taught musicologist.

What makes beach music, and why is it only in your part of the country? (Most beach regions don't have their own music, and if they do, it's not called "beach.") What are the characteristics of the style? How is the music enjoyed, and how are the beaches enjoyed?

As usual, my friend, very insightful questions. Here's what I think...having lived through much of what I'm about to say.

Beach music started as '50s and early '60s R&B and the covers of those songs played by beach pavilion house bands along the Southeast coast. Vietnam War aged white kids, vacationing with their parents in Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach and all the little places in between, basically adopted that style of Black R&B as their own. There was even a dance, called the Shag, that evolved to accompany the music. The Shag is best performed in 100%, pure Myrtle Beach sand while wearing Sabago penny loafers without socks...and it is still the only dance that fat, white boys don't look silly doing.

AF

 

[Jack R.]

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out-The Smiths

 

[Fletch]

As usual, my friend, very insightful questions. Here's what I think...having lived through much of what I'm about to say.

Beach music started as '50s and early '60s R&B and the covers of those songs played by beach pavilion house bands along the Southeast coast. Vietnam War aged white kids, vacationing with their parents in Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach and all the little places in between, basically adopted that style of Black R&B as their own. There was even a dance, called the Shag, that evolved to accompany the music. The Shag is best performed in 100%, pure Myrtle Beach sand while wearing Sabago penny loafers without socks...and it is still the only dance that fat, white boys don't look silly doing.

AF

Thanks Atticus. I know it's not always easy for someone who was there to put a scene into perspective. I get the sense that the pavilion experience was more central to beach life in the SE than in other regions, for whatever reason, so music and dancing had more of a place.

 

[kittypackard]

good ol' fletch...

listening to fletcher henderson's Hocus Pocus from 1934.

Can I just say that this particular track is, in every way imaginable, irresistible --

particularly with a Highball in a dimly lit, late afternoon apartment?

 

[Alex Oviatt]

Listening to Glenn Miller--I love his take on the nursery rhyme the three little pigs, "The Booglie Wooglie Pig" about a hep little piggy that did the Lindy all the way home...... Also listening to the Dead live in Egypt in "78

 

[kittypackard]

mmmmm ... "Just a Memory" as performed by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. Love it. Does anyone perchance have any other versions of this tune to reccommend? It's so lovely, I'm sure there are other renditions out there to revel in ...

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I had to catch the train, to Olde Fremantle Town, to change my Library books and order a Coconut at the green grocer, and happened to drop in at the "Record Finder" and discovered a vinyl copy of "Hinge and Bracket at Abbey Road"

 

[Shangas]

Carlos Gardel - "Por Una Cabeza".

Some folks here may remember this tune from "Schindler's List" and "Scent of a Woman".

 

[Antje]

Trini Lopez, If I had a Hammer

 

[funneman]

Beach music started as '50s and early '60s R&B and the covers of those songs played by beach pavilion house bands along the Southeast coast. Vietnam War aged white kids, vacationing with their parents in Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Long Beach, Atlantic Beach and all the little places in between, basically adopted that style of Black R&B as their own. There was even a dance, called the Shag, that evolved to accompany the music. The Shag is best performed in 100%, pure Myrtle Beach sand while wearing Sabago penny loafers without socks...and it is still the only dance that fat, white boys don't look silly doing.AF

I had the pleasure of meeting, hanging out with and introducing Fat Ammons and Bill Deal when I was living in Virginia Beach. Bill's group the Rhondels had one of the big Beach Music classics "I've Been Hurt". Sadly, Bill passed away in 2003. As I recall the pair were regulars at a shag hut called the Duck Inn in Va. Beach.

 

[Fletch]

My favorite band ever, Joe Haymes and his Orchestra, had quite a following in Virginia Beach among other places. I believe Joe spent a good bit of the summer of 1938 there, with an NBC hookup via WGH, Newport News.

I understand the early beach bands were heavy on the swing. Joe was one of the founding architects of that music in the early 30s. So I suppose Joe Haymes qualifies as beach music...

 

[Atticus Finch]

Here's some classic Beach Music for those who may be interested. Please be forewarned: Listening to these tunes may cause severe longing for thick salt air, warm beach sand and ice cold brew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SowMhjvAYMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgkO7XGUJyA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzK1WwAiV9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M54vhpQy0m8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WXIom2IT1M

AF

 

[Shangas]

Frankie Trumbauer - "S'Wonderful".

 

[kittypackard]

at the moment it's 'Leven Thirty Saturday Night by Ambrose and His Orchestra and, according to my iTunes playlist, George Olsen's rendition of Evening Star is up next ... ahhhhhh, life!

 

[Shangas]

Lew Stone and His Orchestra - "Anything Goes" (1935)

I love the lyrics to this song. They're just so wonderfully funny!

In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, God knows,
Anything Goes.

Good authors too who once knew better words,
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose, Anything Goes.

The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes

When grandmama whose age is eighty
In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo's,
Anything Goes.

When mothers pack and leave poor father
Because they decide they'd rather be tennis pros,
Anything Goes.

If driving fast cars you like,
If low bars you like,
If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like,
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose!
When every night,
The set that's smart
Is intruding in nudist parties in studios,
Anything Goes...

 

[Howard Hughes]

AT WORK......

.....with only Harry Roy to keep me sane !

Toodleoo
HH

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"Command performance from 1943 Ida Lupino is Mistress of ceremonies with guest star Gracie Fields "Hey up, Chuck"

 

[anon`]

Epica - The Divine Conspiracy

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Rock Me Baby-BB KIng/Eric Clapton/Buddy Guy/Jim Vaughn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4OXrmxDp44&feature=related

Have you ever loved a woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUpc0YNkkJ0&feature=related

 

[Lady Day]

While I bake, Elbow 'Seldom Seen Kid'. Good mellow music.

LD