Vanity - trying to think of an oldie, with almost nothing to go on

12/23/14 | NewJerseyJoe

[NewJerseyJoe]

Hi folks. I consider myself a "student" of oldies (1950s-early 1960s), but I'm having a terrible brain freeze on this one.

There is a song I've heard over the years, but I cannot recall the name or the artist. I have almost no clues for you to go on, but I know that some music-history fans consider that a challenge! Here goes:

1. Song had a slow tempo -- a ballad or very much like one. Very soaring vocals by the solo singer.
2. Male singer with great range. The comparisons that spring to mind are Perry Como and Bobby Hatfield.
3. Unsure of this one -- but I seem to remember that the song was one of those where the title bore little or no relation to the lyric contents. (Note: it's NOT "Unchained Melody")

That's all I got. :-( Any suggestions? I will look up your suggestions on YouTube, to see if I can track it down. Thank you!

[NewJerseyJoe]

“deride” in lyrics —

“Friends (Side 2, Cut 6)” by Bette Midler

[NewJerseyJoe]

Just want to say, folks -- even though my original query has been answered, this has turned into a GREAT thread! Lots of good music and good memories being mentioned.

[Flycatcher]

OK, but I think you googled.

As is well known, googling is cheating.

You can quote me.

[captmar-vell]

I may be imagining recalling it, but i had thought Billy Mumy of Lost in Space fame was in that band?

[MomwithHope]

No, just check out youtube Color my world by Chicago

[Fiji Hill]

I actually didn't think there were any songs with "deride" in them.

The only other song that I know of with "deride" in the lyrics is Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, which has been mentioned in this thread. It also includes the line, "So I chaffed at them and gaily laughed..." and I had to look up the meaning of the verb "to chaff," which I have never encountered in the myriad of publications I have read or songs that I have heard.

[Flycatcher]

Chaffing and deriding, all in one song.

They don't make bands like the Platters anymore!

[Fiji Hill]

Willie G and Thee Midniters put Whittier Blvd. on the map. Although they were probably singing about the section that runs through East LA, the songs could just as well describe the Friday and Saturday night cruising scene in the sixties and seventies on the section that runs through my home town of Whittier .

My home in north Orange County is three quarters of a mile from the thoroughfare.

Whittier Boulevard (1965)

Down Whittier Boulevard (1967)

[morphing libertarian]

Yeah it was east la. I think most towns had a cruise. Garvey avenue Pomona. Holt avenue to Henry’s drive in on foothill. 63-64

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“They asked me how I knew, her brassier was blue...”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2di83WAOhU

*SMIRK*

[Shadowstrike]

Faron Young?

[Kackikat]

Ok.

[Fiji Hill]

Bob’s Big Boy was the mecca of cruisers in Whittier. The cops tried to stop them by prohibiting left or even right turns for a mile and a half along the Boulevard, but that didn’t faze the cruisers. Only after Bob’s closed in the early 1980’s did they go elsewhere.

[Fiji Hill]

my original query has been answered

What was the song?

[dfwgator]

I really like the song, but...this is all I ever think of when I hear "Flock of Seagulls"!

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I break your concentration."

[morphing libertarian]

I worked for cya at nellis school on Whittier blvd 70-71

There was a chi-chi burger across the street. The special had a hot dog on the burger. One of those and you couldn’t move for hours.

[Fiji Hill]

Faron Young was featured in this hymn to the alcoholic elixir Hadacol, from the closing months of 1951:

Hot Rod Shotgun Boogie No. 2--Tilman Franks & His Rainbow Boys

[Mad Dawgg]

Yep in fact I believe he is responsible for the whole film (there is a longer version posted right in this thread0

[rlmorel]

My wife and I went to see that movie in the theater to kill some time before we went to a family get together one Easter.

We had no idea what it was about.

When we left the theater, I said “I think we are going to Hell or something for that...” (going to see that movie on Easter)

[Fiji Hill]

There was a chi-chi burger across the street.

Oh, yes, Chi Chi's, owned by "Chi Chi" Chitjian, who ran for city council in Whittier in the mid-1970's.