Beach Blanket Bingo
Donna Loren
Capitol T2323
1965
This is the sole 1960s album by actress-singer Donna Loren. The album features songs from the soundtrack of the movie "Beach Blanket Bingo" which Loren appeared in although she only sings one of the songs in the film. I occasionally see copies of this in record bins and often ones in collectible condition have a hefty price tag, which is hardly merited by the quality of the record. I'm assuming cultists who dig the AIP beach party movies have driven up the price. I liked the movies as a kid but even then I knew they were stupid and nowadays I find them practically unwatchable even as kitsch. Nonetheless I was curious about the record and I have a thing for 1960s woman singers, so when I finally found a reasonably priced copy I bought one although frankly I still think I overpaid for it. Most of the album was written by the songwriting team of Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner who cranked out a bunch of songs for movie soundtracks in the 1960s. The exceptions are "Freeway" by Mike Curb and "Cycle Set" by hot rod song specialists Gary Usher and Roger Christian. Loren doesn't sing on "Freeway" which is a rocked up surf/hot rod style instrumental. "Cycle Set" is my favorite song on the record although it has a rock arrangement that is not really Loren's style. It sounds a lot like the songs the duo wrote for the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. Loren sounds more comfortable warbling "I Think, You Think" which was done by Frankie and Annette in the movie. It is an inane song with a childish melody that irritates me enormously. "It Only Hurts When I Cry" was Loren's song in the film and it is my other favorite track. It is a romantic ballad with a dramatic arrangement that lets her show off her pipes. It reminds me of Dusty Springfield and Timi Yuro. "These Are the Good Times" is a sappy song that Avalon did in the film. Loren sings it better than him, but the song is too weak to be worthy of her emotional vocal. "I'll Never Change Him" is pop fluff but it is enjoyable thanks to Loren's enthusiastic vocal. "Fly Boy" is more pop fluff that Loren enlivens with a robust vocal. "New Love" sounds like a Supremes song with the rhythm section replaced by Hollywood hacks. It is pleasant enough but forgettable and the fussy arrangement distracts from Loren's vocal. "I Am My Ideal" is basically a musical comedy song sung by Harvey Lembeck in the film. It is hopeless but Loren gives it a game try that suggests had she been born a generation earlier she might have had a career in Hollywood musicals. "Beach Blanket Bingo" is the theme song from the film and it is both catchy and dumb. Loren can't do much with it but it will probably appeal to fans of the film. I make no claims about the worthiness of this album although considering the source material it is miraculous that it is actually listenable. Maybe famed producer David Axelrod deserves some of the credit but I think it is mostly Loren's skill as a singer. Even singing dreck, she is still compelling. I wish she could have made a record worthy of her talent with quality songs in the vein of Jackie DeShannon or Sandie Shaw's material. I think she could have done pop-soul stuff or even Bacharach-David and I think it is our loss that the Capitol bean-counters didn't give her better opportunities. I don't actually recommend this record but if you find a cheap one and you like 1960s girl singers it is worth investigating, although there are a couple of CD comps of her 1960s music that would probably be a better investment. I'm happy to have this though because Loren's voice was made for vinyl, and I play this more often than it deserves although I inevitably find myself wishing it was better. Recommended to Lesley Gore fans.
