I
know, it was mindless bubble gum but I was 26, still innocent, foolish and dazzled by
the promise of a life of endless opportunities that lay ahead of me. I
was still a kid (
mentally and emotionally), life was good and the living was easy.
Anything was possible
and I was in a joyous and frivolous state of mind. In other words, I was
temporarily insane. I remember 1966 well as it would mark the end of the easy life. Events
would
jettison me into reality the following year and I would never
regain that innocent frame of mind; I would finally grow up. But that's
another story.
Anyway, I loved the song and
Sweet Pea was the prime reason I bought the
Greatest Hits album when it was released in 1972 but there are other good songs on it as well.
Tommy Roe ~
12 In a Roe (Greatest Hits)
Sheila is a throw-back to the 50's,
Peggy Sue by
Buddy Holly, style and I liked it. I like to think it was done as a tribute to Holly.
Everybody is a song with an infectious, train-beat, shuffle that was made to get everybody on their feet and movin' on the dance floor.
The song,
Party Girl, was a good moderate speed tune in the
Madison dance style. The Madison is a
line dance that features a regular back-and-forth pattern.
Ricki Lake danced to it (
with the whole cast) in the 1988 version of the film,
Hairspray.
The basic steps for the Madison are:
- Step left forward
- Place right beside left (no weight) and clap
- Step back on right
- Move left foot back and across the right
- Move left foot to the left
- Move left foot back and across the right
The Folk Singer actually sounds like a folk song of the period. It is a gentle, mellow song with a chorus backup.
In 1986, Roe was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the
Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Tommy Roe website
Tracklist:
Side A:
1 - Sheila - 2:00
2 - Everybody - 1:50
3 - The Folk Singer - 2:54
4 - Party Girl - 2:33
5 - Carol - 2:34
6 - Sweet Pea - 2:10
Side B:
1 - Hooray For Hazel - 2:29
2 - It's Now Winter's Day - 3:04
3 - Dizzy - 2:58
4 - Heather Honey - 2:52
5 - Jack And Jill - 2:42
6 -
Jam Up and Jelly Tight - 2:23
Credits:
Producer –
Felton Jarvis (tracks: A1 to A5,), Steve Barri (tracks: B3 to B6), Steve Clark (8) (tracks: A6 to B2)
Music on YouTube: