The Belles- Melvin (1966, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.)
D: A ladyriffic rendition of Gloria, a song that though overplayed is undeniably fun to belt along with, being sung to a Melvin instead. This came to me by way of one of the amazing Girls In The Garage compilations.
Adele Bethel (Sons & Daughters) and The Sophisticated Boom Boom are back to present you with another edition of our monthly night, ‘Boom Boom!’, Nice n Sleazy, Glasgow. We play our favourite tunes (garage, girl groups, psych, new wave, R&B, punk, soul, etc…) and set the example to everyone else, of dancing like no one is watching. Let’s all get a little reckless.
This is the official poster.
More information can be found at…http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sophisticated-Boom-Boom/215240735205539 Go on, like it.
Charted at #13 on UK Singles chart and bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at #127 in 1968. Original Billboard review from January 1968: “Intriguing arrangement of a strong rocker has all the earmarks of a hot seller which could fast re-establish the strong group. Catchy gimmicks and well done vocal workout.” D- My copy of this on 7” needs a proper spin, perhaps it will come out at Sleazys, a week today.Reparata and the Delrons - Captain Of Your Ship (1968)
Found this online quoted as “Joanie Labine, the first female DJ at the Whiskey (circa 1965).”
I found the following from a Los Angeles Times article (2000) Here’s her start and seemingly, her inspiration.
“Elmer Valentine, founder of the Sunset Strip nightclub, had only wanted a female disc jockey to play records between the live acts. That coveted post went to his cigarette girl, Patty Brockhurst.
Valentine suspended her above the audience in a glass-walled cage because there was no room for her on the small floor.
As Valentine, 77, recounted the scene to Vanity Fair magazine’s David Kamp, “She’s up there playing the records. She’s a young girl, so while she’s playing ‘em, all of a sudden she starts dancing to ‘em. It was a dream. It worked.”
Valentine quickly installed two more cages for Go-Go girls to Watusi away, including Joanie Labine, whom Kamp credits with designing “the official go-go-girl costume of fringed dress and white boots.”
