The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #80312 Message #1468009
Posted By: PoppaGator
22-Apr-05 - 11:23 AM
Thread Name: Beach Music
Subject: RE: Beach Music
How 'bout Jan & Dean's Surf City: "Two girls for every boy"?
Any pop song that was a summmertime hit during one's teenage years might well be associated with the beach for that person. I remember that Del Shannon's "Runaway" and Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law" were 1-2 at the top of the charts for one entire summer when I spent a memorable couple of weeks at the Jersey Shore at age 13 or 14. (Little did I know that I would meet and befriend the amazing Mr. K-Doe many years in the future and many miles away...)
I've learned a few things about Carolina "Beach Music" in the intervening years. Within the seashore culture of Myrtle Beach SC and environs, this term refers to R&B music made by (mostly) black musicians to which (mostly) white teenagers could dance the Stroll. The single quintessential Beach Music song, supposedly, is "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. Some of you younger folks who don't know the original recording might be more familiar with Jackson Browne's cover version, which features additional lyrics about loading out after the rock 'n' roll show.