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  • Larry Larkin

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July 5, 2011

Here’s to the Girls

Larry Larkin Staff Writer

CLAREMORE — I have a question for someone who knows.  It is not an earth-shaking question, but I would like to know the answer for no particular reason.

In what passes as today’s music for the teenage set, are the names of today’s girls used in the titles? 

If memory holds true, it seems like there was a special song for just about very girlfriend out there back in the early rock period in the 1950s and 60s.  Today’s most popular choices for the girls are usually pretty or unique or both.  It does appear to be a challenge to the current music styles.

According to a national survey the 10 most popular female names during 2010 were, in order, Isabella, Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Ava, Emily, Abigail, Madison, Chloe, and Mia.

If you have a little spare time with nothing worthwhile to do, take a few of these following numbers from yesterday and try to replace some of the earlier sweethearts of rock n’ rock.

On car radios everywhere had Ricky Nelson saying “Hello Mary Lou.”  The Everly Brothers were trying to “Wake Up, Little Susie” while hoping to become something more that “Kathy’s Clown.”

The uncommitted Chuck Berry was chasing “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “Maybellene.”

The Beatles fell for “Eleanor Rigby” while Jack Scott was after “Geraldine” and “Lucille” was being chased by Little Richard.

Ray Peterson needed a friend to “Tell Laura I Love Her.” 

Bobby Freeman was telling everyone “Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes.”  At the same time, according to Lesley Gore, it was “Judy’s Turn to Cry.”

Buddy Holly had “Peggy Sue,” but CCR was trying to choose between “Susie Q” and “Proud Mary.”

Ray Stevens was enjoying his stay with “Bridget the Midget” the same time Freddie Cannon was courting “Abigail Beecher (His History Teacher).”

The Beach Boys were tongue-tied over “Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann” and Dion couldn’t slow down his “Runaround Sue.”

“Marie’s the Name of his Latest Flame” according to Elvis Presley and “Minnie the Moocher” belonged to Cab Calloway several years earlier.

We had Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin” while Neil Diamond boasted about his “Cracklin’ Rosie.”

“Mustang Sally” was being chased by Wilson Pickett and Kenny Rogers was pleading for “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Guns to Town.”

Fats Domino was singing about “My Girl Josephine” and his friend Ray Charles had “Georgia on My Mind.”

Dickey Lee was boasting “I Saw Linda Yesterday”, Ray Peterson was calling for “Corinna, Corinna”, and Mitch Ryder wanted for “Jenny Take a Ride.”

Donovan was pleased with “Jennifer Jumper” and Neil Sedaka couldn’t believe he had his “Oh! Carol.”

It seemed like almost every singer at one time or another had to say “Good Night, Irene.”

To end the girl titles we need to turn to the little known (at least around here) duo of Billy Murray and Gladys Rice.  They had the perfect serious courting titled song of “Marion (Soon You’ll Be Marryin’ Me).”

In case anyone is wondering, not many songs were about the boyfriends.  Male rock n’ rollers by far outnumbered the ladies when it came time to release the platters.

However, we did have “Johnny Angel” “Eddie My Love” “Danny Boy” “Hats Off to Larry” “Norman, Ooh, Ooh, Ooh” and “Mr. Lee.”

Recorded in 1957 by the all-girls group, The Bobbettes, “Mr. Lee was meant to be a putdown against a high school teacher they disliked.  Atlanta Records, before agreeing to release it, forced several changes in the wording.  It then climbed the No. 1 slot for a time.     

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