The Mamas & The Papas' hymn to the West Coast state California Dreamin' was actually written in chilly New York City by John and Michelle Phillips before they even formed the band that made them famous. Simon & Garfunkel were New York through and through and Simon's jaunty song about the Queensboro Bridge - aka Feelin' Groovy - uses its local colloquial name. Skeeter Davis, born Mary Frances Penick, was the survivor of a car crash that killed her singing partner Betty Jack Davis. They had enjoyed some success as The Davis Sisters but The End Of The World was the biggest hit of Skeeter's subsequent solo career. In My Room saw The Beach Boys moving indoors from all that sun and sand and recording one of their most reflective and lovely songs. Meanwhile the British invasion was threatening the pop status quo in America and Can't Buy Me Love, from the film Hard Day's Night, gave The Beatles yet another number one in the US charts. |
