I mentioned Junior’s Choice last week, a BBC radio show for kids which I listened to when I was one, and which reminded me of two songs which often got played on the show.
First up, from 1961, a tale of a quiet hero:
The second was originally recorded by Dick Van Dyke, but I’ve plumped for the version I remember, from 1962, and which features Barry “Eve of Destruction” McGuire on lead vocals. It should probably reside in my folder entitled “You Couldn’t Get Away With This Nowadays”. You’ve been warned:
The New Christy Minstrels – Three Wheels on My Wagon
Looking at them, I think it’s fairly clear where the inspiration for The New Main Street Singers, from the wonderful A Mighty Wind movie came from:
The New Main Street Singers – Potato’s In The Paddy Wagon
A Mighty Wind does for the 60s & 70s US folk scene what Best In Show did for competitive dog showing and what This is Spinal Tap did for washed-up British rock bands, which is unsurprising given it’s the same bunch of funny people (principally, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean) behind all three movies.
And, like This is Spinal Tap, it’s filled with really great songs, like the title track, for example:
The Folksmen, Mitch & Mickey, The New Main Street Singers – Mighty Wind
Seriously, if you’ve never seen it, track it down and give it a watch. You won’t be disappointed.
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 