Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Groovy World Of Marcia Strassman

The recent news about the passing of actress Marcia Strassman payed little heed to her short, strange music career. She recorded a few singles in the late '60s, including one of my all-time fave examples of...what's a word for something that you know is awful, but love it just the same? Maybe there isn't one. (Let's invent one!) Whatever it is, that's what Strassman's "The Flower Children" is. This 1967 Uni records 45, one of those only-in-the-'60s odes to the counter-culture, was one of the last gasps of the big-hair, lushly produced girl-group sounds. Soon the flat-haired, acoustic guitar strumming singer-songwriters would take over. But not before Mrs. Kotter sang the hell out of this ridiculous number, redeeming it thru her passion and sincerity (and a great arrangement). It was a hit in California, if nowhere else.

The equally ludicrous follow-up, "The Groovy World of Jack and Jill," similarly has a swell pseudo-Phil Spector sound. And, really, I like all of her records (tho surprisingly, a  Kim Fowley production ["Stargazer"] is a bit of a dud.) How can you not like such choice lines as: "My toys are all dead, but my friend is here/nothing is wrong with me" (from the song "Self-Analysis").

Even more tragic than her early death from cancer - the fact that her frog-voiced "Welcome Back Kotter" co-star John Travolta was the one with the far more successful musical career. A great record like "The Flower Children" languishes in obscurity, while that execrable "Grease" soundtrack lives on. Won't someone please think of the children?!
Marcia Strassman - Singles (1967-68)

1. The Flower Children
2. Out Of The Picture
3. The Groovy World of Jack and Jill
3. The Flower Shop
4. Self-Analysis
5. Stargazer

This isn't a complete discography. I am missing one of her songs: "Flower Shop." Anyone, anyone..?  Mega-thanks to super-reader Holly for supplying not only the missing song, but higher-bitrate copies of the other songs AND the artwork!



15 comments:

Holly said...

Thank you, Mr. Fab! "Flower Shop" is available in high quality on slsk... if you have any trouble let me know & I will send to you :-)

Mr Fab said...

Holly, you are the best. Could you send it to me (mrfab3@hotmail.com)? I've stopped using slsk - it was letting some real bad gunk into my computer, causing expensive problems.

Holly said...

will do - in fact will send higher bit rate of all - look for mail from We Transfer shortly! Files are scanned & clean, promise ;-)

Anonymous said...

The term is Guilty Pleasure

Gary said...

DLing now -- super-huge thanks, Mr. Fab ... and Holly!

Le Vert Galant said...

Thanks to you and Holly.

Holly said...

Ah, NO thanks to me - thanks to whoever initially uploaded to soulseek. I am just a wee cog in the conveyor belt of sharing (?? please make up your own scrambled metaphor, I just did!)

Would never have been aware of these songs if not for Mr. Fab, that is the takeaway here :-)

Anonymous said...

thanks to all of you — this blog and followers are the best

Anonymous said...

Thanks to all. Groovy!

Doug S. said...

Holly is the best!

Natchie said...

How about Fantragical
Fantragic?

awfulsome?

Mr Fab said...

Ha, those are good, Natchie. TOTALLY awfulsome.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to all. Groovy!

Strange Fruit said...

I am, apparently a month or so too late. Looks completely kooky. Thanks for so many other shares!

Mr Fab said...

Strange Fruit- the grooviness has returned, try it again