The False Ducks Blahg

You’re probably saying to yourself: “Not another blog!”

That’s what I’d be saying to myself if it was just another blog. But it’s not. It’s a blahg!

Why blahg? Well, blah blah blah and add a “g”.

Recently, as recently as last Friday, September 23rd, I turned 49. Yikes 49! What have I got to show for almost a half century of living? Lots of records, scores of DVDs, some books, and a spread around the middle. By now I thought I would be successful and would have written that great novel that everyone pulls out once a year to re-read. Well, I have written one novel, “False Ducks”, which is yet to be published, and have self-published a collection of Christmas entertainments consisting of short stories, poems, perspectives, and a novella that shares the title of the published collection: “Proof For Believing.” I published 100 copies and probably have sold 20. Excerpts of both “False Ducks” and “Proof For Believing” came be found on the home site www.falseducks.com.

So, next year is the big 50 and I haven’t said half enough of what I have wanted to say to everyone that would care to listen. I’ve got some great stories, insights, and perspectives and I want to get some out there in this next year. That’s the main purpose of this blahg. I do, after all, have a University degree in English studies. Mostly, this degree qualifies me to speak it and sometimes write it. Many of my stories have a great deal of humor to them and I’ve been known to light up a room. I’ve also been known to empty a room but we won’t go there. Let me just say, stay tuned. If I’ve sent you an email or post promising I’ll discuss a certain topic then believe me I will get to it. Just be patient.

This blahg will contain a little bit of everything and usually there will be at least two topics. I’ve already told you about The False Ducks Blahg and below you will read about The Most Happy Sound. I also want to try and publish two blahgs a week. I’m aiming for Wednesday and Sunday. The Sunday blahg will contain my own brand of the Sunday Funnies and will include more humorous pieces. The look of this blahg will also change as I start to figure out how to use this darn software. Keep coming back is all I can say for now.

Say, did I ever tell you about my limited radio career as a sketch comedy artist…well, that’s for another time.

THE MOST HAPPY SOUND

One of the things that can be said about me, or at least one of the things that can be said about me when ladies are present, is that I love music. I’ve got a great collection of CDs, tapes, and records. Did he just say records? Yes I did. Thanks for asking.

In my record collection you will find anything from Sinatra to Billy Joel, from Hoagy Carmichael to Harry Chapin, from Blossom Dearie to Billy Holiday, from Jazz to Rock, and everything in between. Sometimes I’ll pick up a record at a second hand shop, yard sale, or flea market, which appeals to me but to others would be a great a mystery. “The Most Happy Sound” is one of those great mysteries to most people.

What is “The Most Happy Sound?” I contend that there are many happy sounds and if you ask different people you will get different answers. For me, the most happy sound is my own voice. I can’t sing but I think when I speak, I’ve got something people will want to hear. Thus this blahg!

Take a look at the front cover:

What does that conjure up for you? Yes, I know, what’s with the leering Soda-jerk behind the counter!?

This little gem of a record was found in a Good Will thrift shop bin for $1. I took one look at the cover and knew I had to buy it. I didn’t know anything about the group but the description on the back hinted of some type of jazz and I’m a sucker for good jazz. Watch for an upcoming blahg about Bob Scobey and Clancy Hayes and the Frisco Jazz Band.

Taking a look at the back not only gives us the song list but some more information about this mystery group of the Ja-Da Quartet lead by Margaret Ann.

The group consists of Margaret Ann Peterson, her brother Jim on tenor Banjo, Gordon Ellinger on drums, and Don Royer on piano. Margaret was the youngest at 19 and the oldest was Gordon at 23. They all hailed from Greeley, Colorado, did some shows in Florida and New York and eventually appeared on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scout program. They also appeared on the Pat Boone Chevy Showroom (April 16, 1959), the Perry Como TV Show (February 21, 1959 & March 9, 1960) and the Garry Moore Show (April 7, 1959). I have yet to find any video of them when they were still the Ja-Da Quartet but…ah I’m getting ahead of myself. To read more about the group, click on the picture of the back cover and a new window will pop up revealing the full details.

When I played the record for the first time, I was thrilled. It’s a fun album and it’s more Roaring 20s type music than jazz and it bounces along. I like Margaret Ann’s voice and two of my favorites on this album (although I contend they’re all great) are “CRAZY WORDS” & “MY CUTEY’S DUE AT TWO TO TWO TODAY”.

Here’s the revelation. As I listened closely I immediately recognized the voice of Margaret Ann! If you’re a fan of the Andy Griffith Show then you will recognize Margaret Ann playing the character of Charlene Darling, the golden voice of that mountain clan The Darlings. Only then, she was being billed as Maggie Peterson.

Here’s a clip of Maggie Peterson as Charlene Darling with The Dillards and Denver Pyle as they perform “Salty Dog“:

Or check out this older black and white version of “There Is A Time“:

So what happened to the Ja-Da Quartet? Well, there wasn’t another album but I have discovered that there were two 45 singles. The first, also on the Warner Bros label, like the LP, is #5064 with two songs: “DUDLEY, DIGBY DARLING” & “THE GIRL THAT JOHNNY WALKED HOME”

The single also received a couple reviews in the “Reviews of New Pop Records” in Billboard Magazine, May 18, 1959.

The second single is Warner Bros #5124. It contained SECRET (Everybody’s Talking)” & “BILL BAILEY, WON’T YOU PLEASE COME HOME”.

This time they were billed as “Margaret Ann & The Ja-Das” You will notice that I could only find an audio file of “Secret (Everybody’s Talking)” but I’ve purchased the 45 and when I receive it, I will post “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home”

The singles reflect the group going off in a different direction and trying to sound like late 50s/early 60s vocal groups but they don’t have “The Most Happy Sound” that you find on the LP. I don’t know why the group eventually split up but Margaret Ann was a regular face in television guest spots in the 1960s billed as Maggie Peterson and showed up in other Andy Griffith Show spinoffs like “Gomer Pyle, USMC” and “Mayberry RFD” but not as the Charlene Darling character. She was the sweetheart of Don Knotts in the movie “The Love God”(1969) and was a semi-regular as ‘Susie’ on “The Bill Dana Show” in 1964. She would play Charlene Darling one last time in the TV Movie “Return to Mayberry” in 1986. She still shows up at Mayberry reunions and you can find videos on Youtube of her performing with “The Dillards” (her Mayberry siblings) in more recent days.

Oh, what could have been. I wish there had been another LP but I’ll be glad with what we have. It truly is a Most Happy Sound.

That’s it from my record library this week.

AS ALWAYS, ENJOY!

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UPDATE:  FEBRUARY 4th, 2012:

 I finally received the 45 of “Secret” backed with “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home.”  It’s taken this long for me to actually record it to my computer and post it here.  Although “Secret”, which I reviewed here before, sounds like a late 50s/early 60s vocal group, the flip side is completely different.  “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” harkens back to The Most Happy Sound.  Here we have that roaring 20s jazz and swing coming through. 

My only fault with it is that I wanted it to be longer.  Like Oliver Twist, I want to ask: “Please sir, can I have some more?”

 

 

 

 

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