POP
VA - The Other Side Of Dreamland Sunshine, Soft & Studio Pop 1966-1970 [2023]
Released in 2023 by Teensville Records, The Other Side of Dreamland (Sunshine, Soft & Studio Pop 1966–1970) is the eleventh installment in the label’s long-running excavation of harmony-rich pop obscurities. This volume zeroes in on the twilight years of the sunshine sound, where the genre’s optimism began to fray into wistful introspection and studio sophistication took center stage.
The 32-track CD compilation features a mix of ultra-rare singles and unreleased masters, many of which are making their debut on digital formats. Artists like Ritchie Adams, Young Stuff, and Allan Shatkin may not be household names, but their contributions here are steeped in the melodic ambition and emotional nuance that defined the era’s soft pop underground. Gary Zekley’s fingerprints appear on several tracks, including Young Stuff’s Poor Boy, adding pedigree to the set’s production lineage.
Teensville’s remastering is crisp without being clinical, preserving the warmth of analog tape while lifting buried harmonies and orchestral flourishes. The accompanying 24-page booklet is a standout, offering detailed liner notes, artist bios, and label histories that contextualize each track without veering into nostalgia. It’s a research-forward approach that respects the collector’s ear.
What sets this volume apart is its focus on the “studio pop” aesthetic, songs crafted by arrangers and producers more than touring bands. These are polished, often melancholic vignettes built for radio rotation that never came. Tracks like Imaginary World and Tears Won’t Run carry a quiet emotional weight, wrapped in strings, brushed drums, and layered vocals that reward close listening.
The Other Side of Dreamland continues Teensville’s commitment to archival precision and melodic discovery. It’s a cleanly curated set that balances rarity with resonance, ideal for deep listening and serious documentation. (B)
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Track list
01 Ritchie Adams - Imaginary World 3:01
02 Young Stuff - Poor Boy 2:22
03 Allan Shatkin - Tears Won't Run 2:44
04 Gary Kane - Too Good to Miss 2:45
05 Wayne Carson - I'll Make it Easy for You 2:37
06 Gullivers People - Somehow, Somewhere 2:52
07 Danny Price - Come to Me 2:17
08 Kinetics - Gone to Work it Out 1:45
09 Jon Gunn - If You Wish It 2:50
10 Mike Clifford - This Time, Time May Be Wrong 1:52
11 Joey Cannon - A Good Thing 2:19
12 Badd Boys - Folks in A Hurry 2:12
13 Tokens - Almost Make Believe 2:18
14 Mary Lou Collins - Information L.A. 2:57
15 Jerry Palmer - The Heart You Break May Be Your Own 2:24
16 Cardboard Zeppelin - City Lights 1:59
17 Joy - So Lovely 2:44
18 Ricky Shaw - Gotta Keep Movin' 2:10
19 Visions - Keepin' Your Eyes on the Sun 2:15
20 Larry Henley - In The Hush of Night 2:58
21 Marshall Scott, ETC. - Goin' Where The Lovin' Is 2:33
22 Blackwell Manner - Watermelon Summer 2:57
23 Establishment - Don't Cry, Sing Along With The Music 2:29
24 Christopher Robbins - The Street of Forgotten Lovers 2:08
25 Book - It's Gotta Be Love 2:11
26 King Brothers - Everytime I See You 2:39
27 Me and Dem Guys - Simple Thoughts of Love 2:57
28 Sean Mcleod - Kathy 2:53
29 T-Bones - The Proper Thing to Do 2:04
30 Allan Shatkin - Better Do it Now 2:35
31 Jesse Lopez - My Sorrow 1:53
32 Kenny Lynch - The Other Side of Dreamland 2:54
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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Thank you Butterboy.
ReplyDeleteHi Done4it.
DeleteYou're welcome, on all of today's 4 items.
Cheers.
These last few posts have put in the mood for the coming summer - thanks BB
ReplyDeleteDr Robert "Why you wanna make me blue?" It's 3 degrees Celsius in Chicago!
ReplyDeleteHi BB nice music.
Thank you for these more or less tangy candies that contributed to the glory of sunshine pop. As always, there are many artists I don’t even know… Always an opportunity to make wonderful discoveries. In this delightful and quaint pop world, the album cover of "Heaven Knows You're Here" has invariably reminded me of the life of Claudine Longet.
ReplyDeleteLonget was a French singer and actress who became popular in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. She owed part of her fame to her marriage to American singer Andy Williams, whom she met when he pulled over on the side of a Las Vegas road to offer her help. At the time, she was a dancer at the Folies Bergère in that city.
She appeared on Andy Williams’ variety shows and landed roles in several American TV series of the 1960s before appearing alongside Peter Sellers in the film "The Party" (1968 – Blake Edwards). She later recorded five albums of covers for A&M Records between 1967 and 1970, then two albums for Barnaby, Andy Williams’ label, in this bubblegum pop style.
After their divorce, Claudine Longet began a relationship with alpine ski champion Vladimir “Spider” Sabich. This relationship ended tragically with the death of Spider Sabich from a peritoneal hemorrhage on March 21, 1976, in Aspen, Colorado. According to Claudine Longet, Spider had been showing her how to use his revolver when the shot went off. She was sentenced to one month in jail and two years of probation for involuntary manslaughter. An examination of the weapon showed that the safety catch was defective.
After this highly publicized trial, Longet and her close circle fell completely silent. She later married Ron Austin… her lawyer. She is 83 years old and still lives in Aspen...
Beautifully said, Hervé.
DeleteClaudine Longet’s story adds a haunting elegance to the sunshine pop world, her voice, like the genre itself, was delicate and bittersweet. Your reflections always bring such depth to the listening experience. Thank you.
Cheers.
Happy days music.
ReplyDeleteHi Aitor.
DeleteSunshine pop like this feels like bottled joy. It’s music that turns any day golden, even if just for a few minutes.
Cheers.
This stuff puts you in a time and place, doesn't' it?
ReplyDeleteIt really does, BillyMac.
DeleteSunshine pop has that uncanny ability to transport you. Everything tinged with innocence and possibility. It’s a memory machine.
Cheers.
Thanks for this one... greetings
ReplyDeleteHi guszamora.
DeleteI hope you will enjoy the Sunshine pop.
Cheers.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteThanx for the 3 Sunshine Pop comps. Need a little happiness & "fluff" in today's world of "doom & gloom". Lots of "new" artists = "new hears" here. Much appreciated.
Cheers! Ciao! For now.
rntcj
Hi rntcj,
DeleteI agree. Sometimes a little sunshine pop is the perfect antidote to the heaviness around us. Those bright harmonies and gentle melodies carry a kind of lightness that feels restorative. I’m glad the comps brought you that lift and a few fresh “new hears.” Enjoy the glow they bring.
Cheers.
Thanks for the Tensville comps, great sounds.
ReplyDeleteHi zipper.
DeleteI’m glad you enjoyed them. Teensville has a knack for unearthing gems that feel both timeless and freshly discovered. Enjoy!
Cheers.