"Beep, beep" - the little Nash Rambler song

[CJ Swartz]

In 1958, a singing group called The Playmates hit the Top 40 in the USA with their song, "Beep, Beep", that told the story of a guy driving a Cadillac trying to get rid of a pesky little Nash Rambler that was trying to pass him. Car songs were very big in the late 50's (and 60's) and the song stayed popular for months. Actually, it is still popular with many folks who remember it from their youth, and are prone to hear it playing in their head from time to time - if you want to hear it again, or for the first time, here are several versions (never know when a video might disappear from Youtube, so I'd like a link that lasts to always be here).

version with photos of Nash Ramblers ... and a cat

version from 2008 Trinity Film Fest
(They didn't have a Nash Rambler to use, I guess, so they used a VW - here's a link to a Nash Rambler page with photos for you folks too young (or too far away from the U.S.) to have seen one.)

version with a little animation

[lurch]

Hilarious! Brings back memories. Now if I can just keep that tune from replaying over and over in my head . . .

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by lurch

Hilarious! Brings back memories. Now if I can just keep that tune from replaying over and over in my head . . .

You'll have to do what I just did -- transfer it via the internet into someone else's mind !

Now I can hear the Unicorn Song "... green alligators and long-necked geese, some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees, .... "

[mistermonday]

CJ, ok, I need to admit that I have the original Unicorn song on its 1st release by the Rovers on 12" vinyl. Many of these old songs are still timeless.
Regards, Murray

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

CJ, ok, I need to admit that I have the original Unicorn song on its 1st release by the Rovers on 12" vinyl. Many of these old songs are still timeless.
Regards, Murray

Murray - I have it on 12" vinyl also, but I would have to setup the player and speakers. It's easier to carry the tune in my head and watch on Youtube. I am happily surprised, Murray, that you are a lover of unicorns.

I guess 50 years from now, someone will remind their friends of Justin Bieber or whoever else is popular, but hopefully someone will be listening to "Beep, Beep", "The Unicorn Song" and "The Purple People Eater" also.

Of course, for truly timeless music, see this thread.

[mistermonday]

CJ, I watched the video and all I can say is that music is verdi verdi nice!
Regards, Murray

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

CJ, I watched the video and all I can say is that music is verdi verdi nice!
Regards, Murray

LOL

I like that answer; I really like that!

[Kraellin]

lol. havent heard that one in a while. thanks, CJ

to reciprocate, here's one i havent heard in many a year... and it even sort of keeps within the car theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVpMvtCayt0

ok, now ya got me goin nostalgic on music, so here's this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVbGnspgy_8

and one more i havent heard in quite a while: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OecQhpGkpp4

not sure what prompted this nostalgia, CJ, but i'll play you shld see one of my playlists on youtube

[CJ Swartz]

Craig - "Purple People Eater" and "Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" are definitely on my playlists at YouTube also. I love being able to see old performances on some of the videos, and some of the animations created for the videos that are only recordings can be fun too.

I don't remember hearing the "Road Hog" song (love the ending), but I liked W.C. Fields (perhaps with Mae West) buying old beat up cars so he could ram "road hogs" who got in his way without worrying about damage to his car.

For me, music recorded in the past is not nostalgia (although I have gone thru a nostalgia phase). Musical tastes are formed while we are young, I believe, and although I have added some new sounds to my tastes, I will always be comfortable with Bing, the Andrews Sisters, Judy Garland, Perry Como, Della Reese, the folk music legends - Peter, Paul & Mary, Ian & Sylvia, Chad Mitchell Trio, Kingston Trio, etc. , the sweet rock sounds of the 60's and 70's, and the fun songs like "Beep, Beep". Just for the record, "The Flying Saucer -Parts 1 & 2" were my first favorite "fun" songs because they included bits of so many popular songs of the day.

[lurch]

Oooh! The Kingston trio - my favorite group of all time. And my children grew up to Peter, Paul, and Mommy.

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by lurch

Oooh! The Kingston trio - my favorite group of all time. And my children grew up to Peter, Paul, and Mommy.

My PBS station ran a PP&M show the other night, and played the part where Mary had her granddaughter on her lap while singing (and snuggling) to her -- all the mommas were crying, and the kids were smiling and it was great. Thank goodness for recordings and video - I love PP&M, and though Mary has passed on, we can still enjoy her voice and her style.

[Kraellin]

you forgot andy williams, dean martin, and several others and yes, peter, paul and mary were one of my favorites, growing up and still

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by Kraellin

you forgot andy williams, dean martin, and several others and yes, peter, paul and mary were one of my favorites, growing up and still

I first heard and enjoyed Andy Wiliams when "Are You Sincere" was a top 40 hit in '57, followed by Hawaiian Love Song, Lonely Street, and "Village of St. Bernadette" - simple arrangements with the focus on his pure, sweet, strong vocal. Even in the 70's with "Where do I Begin (Love Story)", his vocals were strong, sweet and soaring. I love hearing the lyrics of a song...

Dean Martin was one of the few men that my mom and I both admired/adored -- handsome, masculine, wonderful smile, and such a beautiful voice -- when he chose to truly use it. He seemed to be more comfortable with humor than simply singing and I never knew whether he was going to grace us with a lovely song or end up leaning on a piano only to have it fall to the floor. One of his earliest hits that I remember was "Memories are made of this" followed of course by "Volare" and many others. Probably my first memory of his singing was his version of "Baby, it's cold outside", although it might have been the Johnny Mercer/Margaret Whiting version -- it's too old a memory for me to know for sure.

[Kraellin]

i dont think i want to play trivia with you, CJ

[CJ Swartz]

My memory works better with Google and Wikipedia to fill in the pieces between mind images and sound memories - I don't think Trivia allows Google.

[Kraellin]

i had a friend who was into movies and before search engines our conversations would go something like 'you know, the one that played with marisa tomeii in that courtroom piece, a comedy and he's italian.... you know, what's-his-name!'

[CJ Swartz]

Been in a lot of those conversations in the past. Now, I head for IMDB.com, and if I can give it one name of an actor in a movie or tv episode, I can look thru the list of everything they've done (acting, directing, writing, etc.) and usually find the other people who were with them. Can find out if they're still alive and working too. Love it.

[Kraellin]

joe pesci, pecsi... whatever his last name is. that was the guy with marissa tomei

i looked at that site, CJ. very nice and quite extensive. it even shows their appearances on talk shows and such.