Annette Funicello - California Sun

I always found sixties beach movies pretty dull: though I love Buster Keaton, his appearances in them were pretty much the nadir of his career, I would say. So I would only really watch them in fast-forward mode, looking for the rare appearances of minor surf and garage bands. That's why I guess I entirely missed this song, from Pajama Party. I always associated the song with the Ramones, although I vaguely knew that it was a cover.

Update: I really should do my research before I post: turns out first hit version of California Sun was by The Rivieras, from South Bend, Indiana, and the original recording was by a guy called (showbiz Alliteration Alert) Joe Jones. Here's an article on the history of this song in, of all places, the Jewish World Review.

Listen:

Download: Annette Funicello - California Sun MP3 (rapidshare)

Carole King – Oh, Neil

Reading The NME Encyclopedia of Rock in the mid seventies, I first heard that Neil Sedaka's Oh, Carol referred to Carole King, and that Carole had recorded a reply record, Oh, Neil. More than thirty years later, I've finally tracked it down. Sounding suspiciously like she used a tweaked mix of the same backing track, Oh, Neil has some delicious lyrics, particularly when she rhymes "Mrs. Neil Sedaky" with "Chewing Tobaccy". A fabulous record, and well worth the wait.

Listen:

Download: Carole King - Oh, Neil MP3 (rapidshare)