Rewind: Toni Basil – Breakaway (1966)

Within the new retrospective exhibit on Bruce Conner currently at the Museum of Modern Art, one can view a number of short films by the late experimental artist. One of these films is Breakaway from 1966, depicting a very young Toni Basil dancing happily around in her birthday suit to her own song as Conner’s camera moves quickly between zooms and viewpoints.

Though Basil is widely considered a one-hit-wonder for her 1982 song “Mickey,” for which she is most famous, she recorded “Breakaway” almost two full decades earlier for A&M Records. It’s a catchy, feel-good pop gem that deserves just as much attention as the former.

The song is pure ’60s pop goodness: upbeat piano and rolling drums serve as a perfect backdrop for Basil’s soulful vocals, which deliver freedom-yearning lines like “I got to break these chains before I go insane.”

Unfortunately, Basil did not release any other singles between “Breakaway” and “Mickey,” only performing live during the late ’60s and ’70s. (Though a B-side to “Breakaway,” called “I’m 28,” is also worth a listen.)

-KH

Rewind: Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues (1958)

It’s July now and that means fireworks and sand and lemonade and sunshine and all that and yeah summer rocks, but what about when it sucks?

Eddie Cochran’s 1958 “Summertime Blues” turns the sad side of summer into a catchy rockabilly tune. Taken from the point of view of a low-luck American teenager, the song airs this kid’s grievances about being broke, working late, not being allowed to use his dad’s car, and just generally having a shitty summer.

After Cochran’s very early death in 1960, several musicians covered the track–from The Beach Boys on their first record, to The Who in 1970, to a charming version by T. Rex used as a B-side.

The relatability and staying power of “Summertime Blues” is obvious, but sadly, there ain’t no cure.

-KH

Rewind: The Fingers – I’m In Love (1968)

The Fingers are a band that definitely existed, because they made this song around 1968, but I can’t find anything about them on the Internet. The Internet has failed me. Me, a millennial!! But not really, because if it weren’t for the Internet I wouldn’t have known about this song at all.

Maybe we can make up our own story about this band, like they were abducted by aliens who erased all trace of their existence and only left behind a couple of songs to be turned into YouTube videos for you and me to listen to now.

Anyway, I wish I could find out more about these guys, but at least we have the music to enjoy.

UPDATE! After some deep Googling I actually managed to find a website that tells the real story about The Fingers. No aliens involved, but still interesting:

“We made up stories for the press such as the fact that we allegedly stabbed a poor teddy bear to death on stage every night and that this wretched stuffed creature was full of lovely spurting tomato ketchup.”

Check it out here.

– KH