VA - Bubblegum Music Is The Naked Truth

Ah, bubblegum music. You'd think that in this day and age, this chewy, sticky genre would get the respect it deserves, right? I mean, sure, lots of folks who groove to '60s soul and garage may give lip service to the pleasures found in aurally masticating a wad of sugary cud, but do they actually take this stuff SERIOUSLY? This reviewer does...

Not too solemnly, though, as befits a style of music that was the missing link between mid-'60s teenpunk and early-'70s glam. Bubblegum pop/rock, specifically whipped up to appeal to kids too young to wrap their heads around—and blow their minds to—hard psych, is celebrated here in all its gooey glory: a tasty re-ish of a compilation first released in 1969 by Buddah Records, one of the prime purveyors of pop (bubblegum division). The British label Rev-ola has lovingly included a buzzin' dozen of the fourteen tunes on the original album, along with an additional seven sweet ditties.

Most of the big bubblicious names are here: The 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express, and The Lemon Pipers keep cool company with the likes of The Shadows Of Knight and Salt Water Taffy. From "Yummy Yummy" and "Chewy Chewy" to "1, 2, 3 Red Light" (covered by the early Talking Heads) and "Indian Giver" (nicely redone by The Ramones years later—those New York punks knew a tasty piece of gum when they chewed one), these studio concoctions go beyond their creators' intentions of appealing/pandering to susceptible youth. With bright melodies, double-entendre nursery rhyme lyrics, and occasional garage grit, a type of pop once dismissed as disposable fluff has ultimately never lost its flavour one bit. Chew on!