R*A*N*D*Y**S*P*A*R*K*S, Alice. Copyright, 1964, by MGM. It was featured in the Western comedy "Advance to the Rear," starring Glenn Ford. The song was nominated for an Oscar and was the the title song of the New Christy Minstrels' "Today" LP, which went Top 10 and was the group's best-selling album.

Here are some excerpts from album notes from a New christy Minstrels CD from Collectables records:
The New Christy Minstrels were founded in 1961 by Randy Sparks, born July 29, 1933 in Leavenworth, Kansas, also known as the hometown of melissa Etheridge.
The history of the Christy Minstrels goes back to the 1840's. Edwin "Pops" Christy was one of the many traveling minstrels of his day, itinerant singers who wandered the country, offering new and old songs for an entertainment-starved populace. But Christy soon came up with what he thought was a better idea in 1842, declaring that the harmony of a group of singers could better deliver the folk songs they trafficked in than a solitary traveler.
The Christy Minstrels would continue for 80 years, helping popularize the music of a young Stephen Foster and including members like Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor. Despite their success, the group disbanded in 1921 after a long stint on Broadway. Sparks revived the group in 1961, and they debuted at the Troubadour, a popular Las Angeles folk club. Sparks, a California singer and songwriter, had written the first two Ricky Nelson singles. I think I saw somewhere that he also wrote "Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio," which was recorded by John Denver.
After Sparks left the group, he formed the Back Porch Majority, which recorded forgettable but cheerful folk music. Kenny Rogers and Gene Clark (of the Byrds - Clark died in 1991) were in the Christy Minstrels at one time, and another member was Barry McGuire ("Eve of Destruction," and the born-again "Bullfrogs and Butterflies"). The group disbanded in the early 1970's, but came back in the early 1980's. Sparks became a rancher in Calaveras, California, where he opened a Museum of Western Americana (never heard of the museum, and it's not far from me - must have failed, I guess). He formed a new singing group, Randy Sparks and the Patch Family.
Now when you consider other bouncy groups like "Up with People" and the Mike Curb Congregation, the New Christy Minstrels weren't half bad.
Still and all, I really want to know how "Today" ends.....
Hey, Shula, wanna know any more?????
-Joe Offer-