I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead. If you celebrate it: may your Easter dinner be memorable.
ART NOTES— an exhibition entitled Alexander Calder: In Motion— forty-five works never on display before, including mobiles, paper works and oil paintings — are at the Seattle, Washington Art Museum through August 4th.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 is this rather lengthy yet compelling New Yorker essay by Sam Knight with the self-explanatory title, What Have Fourteen Years of Conservative Rule Done to Britain? (They must call an election by year’s end).
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Hazi the Cat— the "Helper Cat" mentioned here two weeks ago, trying to “assist” with a haz-mat accident in Colorado. Turns out, one of the first responders on the scene formed a bond with the kitteh ... and adopted him.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is this essay in Salon by Amanda Marcotte who believes the new Trump Bibles not only won’t bother most traditional pious evangelicals: it offers the rest of the MAGA flock the gift of Christian identity and political power, without responsibilities (church attendance, Bible study, compassion, et al) — echoing what former Baptist leader Russell Moore said happened when he quoted Jesus Christ, only to be asked why he was citing ... “liberal talking points?"
FRIDAY's CHILD is namedMax the Cat— a Pennsylvania stray kitteh (needing pricey veterinary care), befriended by a man named Brad who is stretched thin by vet care (for his own two cats) and gave Max away to be a barn cat ... only to have Max walk 5 miles to return to Brad's house (now, Max has been fostered out).
BRAIN TEASER— try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
SEPARATED at BIRTH— Billy Bob Thornton (as Karl Childers in the 1996 film Sling Blade) … and Gym Jordan.
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… several weeks ago (while driving in a rainstorm) I heard a segment on the public radio music show World Café— about a late 1960’s rock band I was unaware of before. Second only to interesting back-stories, there’s something about learning something new that is so appealing. According to a manager they had later in their (short) career, the Clinger Sisters were purportedly the first group consisting of (1) girls at or under age 18, who (2) played their own instruments in a rock band and (3) had a major label recording contract. And that they transitioned from a Mormon family barbershop quartet (appearing on variety shows hosted by Danny Kaye and Andy Williams) to hanging with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys (and yet did not have an album release until 2018) … this is a story that needs telling.
In time, the Clinger sisters consisted of Melody (guitar), Peggy (keys and lead vocals), Debra (bass) and Patsy (drums). They grew up in Orem, Utah and had voice and music theory training at a young age. As noted, they began singing in a barbershop quartet in 1956, singing at country music and state fairs. They appeared on the aforementioned variety shows and recorded a few singles (on indie labels) from 1964-1965.
At the beginning of 1966, they made the decision to abandon a capella singing to playing the burgeoning post-Beatles rock music. Their parents sold their home, moved to California and used some of the proceeds to pay for instruments and music lessons. Their prior music training (and relentless rehearsals) helped them achieve proficiency in a relatively short time. Enough to gain appearances as concert openers and later appearances on the Smothers Brothers show (yet many shows insisted they lip-synch, unsure of young women being able to play live).
During their time in Los Angeles, guitarist Melody ran into Beach Boy drummer Dennis Wilson, a friendship that led to them being signed to a minor label by the band’s manager Terry Melcher (the son of Doris Day, who was later to get entangled with Charles Manson). In a series of misfortunes, Terry Melcher’s stepfather Marty had embezzled from Doris Day, with the family’s depleted accounts leading to dropping the album the Clingers recorded at Melcher’s home.
Then they were signed by producer Kim Fowley, who had made the claim about the uniqueness of the Clingers that opened this profile (and Fowley later managed The Runaways, another all-female band that elevated Joan Jett to stardom). They were able to release several singles in this time, among them the Beatles’ Blackbird, Harry Nilsson’s Without You and The Association’s Come to Me.
In 1969, there were reports that the Clingers would be the summertime replacement show for the Smothers Brothers (as Glen Campbell had been the previous year) — yet this, too, fell apart when the Smothers Brothers were cancelled. Their drummer Debra referred to the glass ceiling being their main hindrance, despite their other streaks of bad luck.
Then, matters of the heart led to the dissolution of the Clingers over a period of time (beginning in 1969). Melody had fallen in love with a fellow named Jim Bell, and had moved to Colorado. Keyboardist Peggy began a relationship with the Scottish-born singer John Blair — known professionally as Johnny Cymbal, with his 1963 novelty song Mr. Bass Man (that reached #16 on the charts). Peggy and Johnny had a troubled relationship (due in part to his alcoholism), yet managed to write several songs that were covered by the Partridge Family as well as Cher’s I Hate to Sleep Alone. Peggy Clinger died of a drug overdose in August, 1975.
The other sisters recorded as guests on other albums (by Don Everly, Helen Reddy, Barbra Streisand and others) and released a 1990 album of Christian songs.
Finally, with the help of a Kickstarter campaign the sisters released a compilation album Soft Bodies, Hard Rock in 2018 — nearly fifty years after it could have been released. Melody Clinger on that World Café show (worth listening to at this link) had some wonderful anecdotes.
Although this is a lip-synched version (on the Smothers Brothers show), their best-known single is a re-configured version of Good Times— by the Australian band The Easybeats — co-written by band member George Young (the older brother of Malcolm and Angus Young of AC/DC).