Here is the Continental (many more dances to follow)
The Continental
There was a very early – very popular dance called the Continental – but in the 1960s – the Continental took on a whole new persona! Here we have a gaggle of boomers reliving the Continental!
1960 – The Mobil-ric’s – The Continental
February, 1961 – Little Iva and Her Band – Continental Strut
March, 1961 – The Rollers – The Continental Walk – #80 Hot 100
March, 1961 – Larry Birdsong with the Larryettes – Continental Time
March, 1961 – Hank Ballard and the Midnighters – The Continental Walk
April, 1961 – Bill Doggett – Let’s Do the Continental
April, 1961 – Sil Austin – The Continental Stroll Part 1 and Part 2
April, 1961 – The Vibrations – Continental With Me Baby
October, 1961 – The Applejacks – Let’s Continental
January, 1962 – The Dovells – Do the New Continental – #37 Hot 100
February, 1962 – Danny and the Juniors – Doin’ The Continental Walk – #93 Hot 100
February, 1962 – The Viscounts – Continental Walk
June, 1962 – Cal Tjader Sextet – The Continental
December, 1962 – Telstars – Continental Mash
June, 1963 – The Impellas – The Continental Whip
June, 1964 – The Original Continentals – The Continental Shake
July, 1964 – The Freewheelers – Susa (Instrumental Continental)
1964 – The New Continentals – The Continental Jerk
If you were like me you probably could only attempt your best imitation of the latest dance craze – But it didn’t matter – the important thing was just getting out there with the gang!
The Bird came to us via the Rivingtons who started off as the Sharps – their dance – the Bird – got a new lease on life when Minnesota’s Trashmen hit the scene with their wild renditions.
Here is the Bird (many more dances to follow)
The Bird
October, 1962 – The Dells – The (Bossa Nova Bird)
December, 1962 – The Dutones – The Bird – #101 Bubbling Under
Songwriter and singer Richard Parker was a member
January, 1963 – The Rivingtons – Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Bird)
January, 1963 – The Dial-Tones – Chicago Bird
February, 1963 – Dee Dee Sharp – Do The Bird – #10 Hot 100
March, 1963 – The Rivingtons – The Bird’s the Word – #52 Hot 100
March, 1963 – Jimmy Norman & the O’Jays – What’s The Word? Do the Bird
Norman was a one-time member of the Coasters – He penned the lyrics for “Time Is On My Side” by Irma Thomas and then the Rolling Stones
May, 1963 – Chubby Checker – Birdland – #12 Hot 100
November, 1963 – The Trashmen – Surfin Bird – #4 Hot 100
January, 1964 – The Trashmen – Bird Dance Beat – #30 Hot 100
November, 1964 – The Flames – The Bird
The Flames were from Janesville, Wisconsin
1964 – Jay Jay Caillier with the Untouchables – She Can’t Do the Monkey, Dog or the Bird
October, 1965 – The Trashmen – Bird “65”
1965 – Al Catraz and the Bird Men – Do the Big Bird
If you were like me you probably could only attempt your best imitation of the latest dance craze – But it didn’t matter – the important thing was just getting out there with the gang!
The Mashed Potato is attributed to James Brown who performed the steps in 1959 in his live performances. The Contours from Motown gave the dance a salute in their raucous hit “Do You Love Me” in 1962!
Here is the Mashed Potatoes (many more dances to follow)
The Mashed Potatoes
October, 1959 – Noble “Thin Man” Watts and His Rhythm Sparks – Mashed Potatoes
December, 1959 – Nat Kendrick and the Swans – Do The Mashed Potatoes (parts 1 and 2)
The song was inspired by James Brown who would perform the dance on stage during his concerts. Brown participated on this recording as well – Kendrick was the drummer for the Swans
July, 1960 – Tony Young and the Hippies – The Mash
April, 1961 – Jewel Aikens – (Dancing) The Mashed Potatoes
1961 – Johnnie Dont – I’m Hungry For Mashed Potatoes
February, 1962 – Dee Dee Sharp – Mashed Potato Time – #1 R&B for 4 Weeks – #2 Hot 100
February, 1962 – Steve Alaimo – Mashed Potatoes (parts 1 and 2) – XX#
February, 1962 – Danny and the Juniors – Do the Mashed Potatoes
March, 1962 – Carl Holmes and the Commanders – Mashed Potatoes (Parts 1 and 2)
Brothers Carl and John Holmes along with Marco King, Don Lewis, Tommy Howard and Calvin Irons
June, 1962 – Dee Dee Sharp – Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) – #9 Hot 100 – #11 R&B
June, 1962 – The Mementos – Do the Mashed Potatoes
June, 1962 – B. Bumble and the Stingers – Mashed #5
August, 1962 – James Brown and the Famous Flames – Mashed Potatoes U.S.A. – #21 R&B – #82 Hot 100
August, 1962 – Little Alfred with The Berry Cups – The Mashed Potatoes Back Again
Alfred Babino from Lake Charles, Louisiana – the group was more than likely “Cookie and His Cupcakes”
Berry Cups?
September, 1962 – The Marathons – Mashed Potatoes One More Time
The group also recorded as the Vibrations
February, 1963 – The Buttons – Popeye Does the Mashed Potatoes
October, 1962 – Diablito – Merengue Potatoes
April, 1963 – Joey Dee and the Starliters – Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes – #36 Hot 100
Three Starliters went on to form the Young Rascals – Dee was Joseph DiNicola from Passaic, New Jersey
July, 1963 – The Teem-Sters – The Teem Mashed Potatoes
July, 1963 – Larry Bright – When I Did the Mashed Potatoes With You
A Carole King and Jerry Goffin composition
1964 – Little Sammy Swinger – Hot Pastrami with Mashed Potatoes
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