True story. I stood about ten-twelve feet from Fabian while he performed for maybe forty-five minutes. He was on one of those Dick Clark Caravans. The place was packed. They put a bunch of us on the stage for awhile (I can't remember why). He couldn't sing and he didn't move much. He just dragged through his hits and near-hits and snapped his fingers. I remember sort of feeling sorry for him. His band was great and they couldn't help but show him up. It must have been hell to have to pretend to be a singing idol when you couldn't sing. Years later he admitted the whole thing was torture for him. rankie Avallone wasn't a hell of a lot better. Bobby Rydell was the only one of that manufactured Philly group that had any chops. I can't remember one damned thing about Tommy Sands.
I can believe it. I've always thought Rydell had the best voice of any of those guys. He's still around, touring with Frankie Avalon and Fabian. I hope Fabian's more comfortable with being on stage now.
You all are making me feel really old. Oh, wait. I am old. BTW, I think I actually saw and enjoyed that movie when it was released. There is no accounting for taste. In any case, when we disparage contemporary pop culture, we would be wise to recall the 60s. Then we should be less likely to criticize Lady GaGa, Katie Perry, Miley Cyrus, and the rest.
This is the kind of movie I couldn't resist back in '61. I still can't figure out why I missed it. As for Lady GaGa and the rest, I actually kind of enjoy them. Lady G, in particular, is a heck of a good singer. So is Miley Cyrus when she's not posturing.
Always liked Bobby Rydell. I bought a greatest hits cd of Rydell's 2-3 years ago. The songs and Rydell's performances hold up well.
I used to own this paperback years ago. As soon as I saw the cover and title I thought "Beach house on Balboa Island CA, Spring Break probably..." That's all I do remember about it. "Love In A Goldfish Bowl" as a novel certainly was no "Gidget" (or even "Gidget Goes Hawaiian (which itself wasn't near as good as "Gidget").
I'd say the best of the genre was easily Glendon Swarthout's "Where The Boys Are". You posted about that one a while back, Bill...
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Tommy Sands, now that's a name you don't hear very often today. He was married to Nancy Sinatra at one time, I believe.
And Fabian. Now I want to see the movie. Somehow I missed it in the old days.
True story. I stood about ten-twelve feet from Fabian while he performed for maybe forty-five minutes. He was on one of those Dick Clark Caravans. The place was packed. They put a bunch of us on the stage for awhile (I can't remember why). He couldn't sing and he didn't move much. He just dragged through his hits and near-hits and snapped his fingers. I remember sort of feeling sorry for him. His band was great and they couldn't help but show him up. It must have been hell to have to pretend to be a singing idol when you couldn't sing. Years later he admitted the whole thing was torture for him. rankie Avallone wasn't a hell of a lot better. Bobby Rydell was the only one of that manufactured Philly group that had any chops. I can't remember one damned thing about Tommy Sands.
I can believe it. I've always thought Rydell had the best voice of any of those guys. He's still around, touring with Frankie Avalon and Fabian. I hope Fabian's more comfortable with being on stage now.
I hope he is, too. At least that enormous pressure is off him now.
You all are making me feel really old. Oh, wait. I am old. BTW, I think I actually saw and enjoyed that movie when it was released. There is no accounting for taste. In any case, when we disparage contemporary pop culture, we would be wise to recall the 60s. Then we should be less likely to criticize Lady GaGa, Katie Perry, Miley Cyrus, and the rest.
This is the kind of movie I couldn't resist back in '61. I still can't figure out why I missed it. As for Lady GaGa and the rest, I actually kind of enjoy them. Lady G, in particular, is a heck of a good singer. So is Miley Cyrus when she's not posturing.
Always liked Bobby Rydell. I bought a greatest hits cd of Rydell's 2-3 years ago. The songs and Rydell's performances hold up well.
I used to own this paperback years ago. As soon as I saw the cover and title I thought "Beach house on Balboa Island CA, Spring Break probably..." That's all I do remember about it. "Love In A Goldfish Bowl" as a novel certainly was no "Gidget" (or even "Gidget Goes Hawaiian (which itself wasn't near as good as "Gidget").
I'd say the best of the genre was easily Glendon Swarthout's "Where The Boys Are". You posted about that one a while back, Bill...
One of my favorites, Rick. And I have that Bobby Rydell Greatest Hits collection, too.
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