A few months back, I wrote “Confessions of a Precocious Rock ‘n’ Roll Schoolboy” to reminisce about my pre-teen discovery of Rock. I alluded to growing up in a home full of music lovers. As I think back, my interest in popular music predated discovering The Beatles at age eight. This is an opportunity to share my earliest musical memories.
1. Monkees Theme – The Monkees (1966): The Monkees’ television show debuted when I wasn’t even two years old. My Beatles-loving brother John wanted to watch, but our old-school father objected. There was no way Dad would even consider watching a program about long-haired rock & roll musicians. John invited me to join him in our parents’ bedroom to watch on their tiny black & white portable. I quickly came to love the goofy slapstick humor and upbeat songs.
The one song that caught my attention was “Monkees Theme,” you know, “Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees!” Even as a toddler, I loved to sing along.
2. Flowers on the Wall – The Statler Brothers (1966): As a tyke, I loved watching “Captain Kangaroo” every morning. When I heard a Pop song namechecking him, I couldn’t resist.
“Flowers on the Wall” told the tale of a man cracking after a breakup. He counted off the daft things he did after losing his girl. “Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo” was one of them. I loved the way the bass singer came in a beat early, singing “Kanga” before “Kangaroo.”
Even as a small child, my mental image was the captain himself lying on a daybed and chain-smoking. He peered at a portable TV set on the side, watching his own image. Rather precocious for a preschooler, one would think.
I would rediscover the country classic many years later as part of the “Pulp Fiction” soundtrack.
3. I Love Onions – Susan Christie (1966): Not sure how I first heard this novelty number. It was popular on my parent’s middle-of-the-road radio station, WTVN. It also received play on children's shows like “Captain Kangaroo” and “Luci’s Toyshop.”
In a breathy Marilyn Monroe voice, Ms. Christie sang her ode to a certain stinky vegetable. The music was upbeat, with a 1920’s music hall vibe. At the end, the voice of Elmer Fudd declared, “Vewwy, vewwy, gwoovy!”
4. The Unicorn Song - The Irish Rovers (1968): Another novelty song. This one was by a folk group from Ireland. It had “kid-friendly” written all over it. The lyric told of Noah gathering animals for his ark before the great flood. The procrastinating unicorn gets left behind, guaranteeing: “You’re never gonna see a unicorn.”
5. Master Jack – Four Jacks and a Jill (1968): This song is a rather bizarre choice. For reasons unknown, this folk-rock protest number received much airplay on the otherwise conservative 610 WTVN. Four Jacks and a Jill were from South Africa. In trying to get around that nation’s sedition law, the group wrote an oblique lyric protesting Apartheid. “Master Jack” was their coded name for the British Empire.
Hearing the pretty young singer croon in her South African accent, my juvenile mind heard it as “Monster Jack.” No wonder I liked it.
I would love to hear from other Pencil Storm readers about their earliest musical memories. Please comment below or write your own piece. It would surely be a great read.
Jim Hutter is a veteran Columbus musician, journalist, and ASCAP songwriter who has been active in these parts since the 1980's.