Randor's Song of the Week: 10.17.10

"She's My Girl" by The Turtles from the album She's My Girl. 1967.
    No, this isn't that Temptations song that you've no doubt heard, though you've got the right era. And while any casual listener may not recognize this particular reptilian tune, they're bound to recall other hits by the Turtles- notably "Happy Together". Nowadays the Turtles only claim a handful of living fossil tunes surviving into the modern times, even though they once performed as the feature presentation. Sadly, this is not so rare, for they fall into this category along with other acts like the Lovin' Spoonful, the Grass Roots, and the Hollies. Makes me wonder what groups of today will find themselves stuck in this club when the future rolls around...
    Anyway, let's make like a herpetologist and talk about Turtles! They first tasted success with their cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe". Following a few smaller chart-climbers, like "You Baby" gracing the 20th spot, they released #1 "Happy Together" and #3 "She'd Rather Be with Me", perhaps the most popular songs of their career. This week's featured song scaled to the 14th slot just before their final big hits "Elenore" and "You Showed Me" came into rotation. Mayhap you notice "Happy Together" and "Elenore" sound startlingly similar. Well, their label White Whale wanted another chart topper from the band, and so in irritation they responded with the offhandedly ironic "Elenore". Intended to be more of a joke, nobody seemed to catch on to the quirky lyrics. "I really think you're groovy; let's go out to a movie!" and "You're my pride and joy, et cetera!" poke fun at the teenage-love scene. Only... people seemed to connect with it, instead of smirk with it. Connection with the band, though, must have dwindled afterward, for the Turtles struggled to even make appearances on the charts in the next few years.
    The album home of "Elenore" and "You Showed Me" has that unique 'concept album' spin. Each track is supposedly performed by a different band, competing in a Battle of the Bands. Fittingly, it's called The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands. They go so far as to dress up in different outfits for each track (seen in the inner gatefold of the album). Each track also varies in style, ranging from the surf rock "Surfer Dan" to the percussion-heavy "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)" chock full of Hawaiian innuendo. A fun album that they must have enjoyed creating. Their label seemed to like a certain sound though, for you can hear that thread stitched into most every single released: choruses lifted loudly and dreamily over more muted verses supported by a grooving bassline.
    "She's My Girl" follows that pitch exactly, but catches my ears more easily. Out of all the Turtles songs, this gets offhandedly hummed most often, causing me to blast it at the next chance. Maybe it's because unlike the other charters, they don't get overplayed on the radio, or even movies in the case of their "Happy Together" gemstone. I'd like to think it's simpler than that: "She's My Girl" is just enjoyable. Shadowy chorus sweeping into the updraft of a chorus that seems to have no ceiling, the lyrics speak true: "Went for a ride off in the sky."