Simon Says (album)
Encyclopedia
Simon Says is the first album by American bubblegum pop
group the 1910 Fruitgum Company
on the Buddah Records
label. Released in 1968, it included two songs that appeared on the Billboard Top 100—the most from any of the group's albums—although it was not their highest-charting album. It's been debated whether or not the members of the band actually played on the album since the Ohio Express, another band put together by Super K Productions
(headed by Jerry Kasenetz
and Jeff Katz
), actually consisted of two groups: one that produced the records and another that toured and promoted the name. This is countered by original drummer Floyd Marcus, who has stated that all five men listed really were behind the instruments.
The album cover featured film strips from a photo shoot of the band members, a design that presumably inspired the cover of Swedish pop group Secret Service
's 1979 single "Oh Susie"/"Give Me Your Love."
Singles
12" Album
CD
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
group the 1910 Fruitgum Company
1910 Fruitgum Company
The 1910 Fruitgum Company is an American bubblegum pop band of the 1960s. The group's biggest hits included "Simon Says," "1, 2, 3, Red Light," "May I Take A Giant Step," "Special Delivery," "Goody Goody Gumdrops," and "Indian Giver." Guitarist Frank Jeckell claimed to have adopted the name from a...
on the Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
label. Released in 1968, it included two songs that appeared on the Billboard Top 100—the most from any of the group's albums—although it was not their highest-charting album. It's been debated whether or not the members of the band actually played on the album since the Ohio Express, another band put together by Super K Productions
Super K Productions
Super K Productions was a 1960s American recording production company under Buddah Records, headed by producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffrey Katz, whose groups specialized in bubblegum pop. Their biggest successes were The Ohio Express, The 1910 Fruitgum Company, Crazy Elephant and The Music Explosion...
(headed by Jerry Kasenetz
Jerry Kasenetz
Jerry Kasenetz is an American bubblegum pop producer who worked with Jeff Katz, the two working together as the Super K production company, to manufacture and produce bands like The Music Explosion, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Crazy Elephant, and The Ohio Express....
and Jeff Katz
Jeff Katz
Jeffrey Katz is an American music producer, one of the first exponents of bubblegum pop.-Music career:He is one half of a hitmaking duo with Jerry Kasenetz, the two working together as the Super K production company...
), actually consisted of two groups: one that produced the records and another that toured and promoted the name. This is countered by original drummer Floyd Marcus, who has stated that all five men listed really were behind the instruments.
The album cover featured film strips from a photo shoot of the band members, a design that presumably inspired the cover of Swedish pop group Secret Service
Secret Service (band)
Secret Service is a Swedish pop/New Wave band, popular in the early 1980s. In 1979, Ola Håkansson, a former vocalist of Ola & the Janglers and then a publishing manager at Sonet Records, teamed up with Tim Norell and Ulf Wahlberg to write a few songs that they submitted to the Melodifestivalen, a...
's 1979 single "Oh Susie"/"Give Me Your Love."
Track listing
- "Pop Goes the Weasel" (Elliot Chiprut) – 1:58
- "Keep Your Thoughts On The Bright Side" (Floyd Marcus) – 2:20
- "Magic Windmill" (Frank Jeckell) – 2:19
- "The Year 2001" (Floyd Marcus) – 1:51
- "Soul Struttin'" (Tony Orlando/Marty Thau) – 2:38
- "Simon SaysSimon Says (1910 Fruitgum Company song)"Simon Says" is a bubblegum pop song, written by Elliot Chiprut and originally recorded by the 1910 Fruitgum Company in 1967.The song was based on the children's game "Simon says." Produced by Jerry Kasenetz, Steve Katz, and Chiprut, the single was issued by Buddah Records and entered the U.S. Hot...
" (Elliot Chiprut) – 2:14 - "May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart)" (Elliot Chiprut) – 2:24
- "Bubblegum World" (Floyd Marcus) – 2:19
- "Happy Little Teardrops" (Elliot Chiprut) – 2:15
- "The Story Of Flipper" (Pat Karwan) – 4:30
- "(Poor Old) Mr. Jensen" (Jerry Kasenetz/Jeff Katz/David Taxin) – 2:15
Personnel
- Mark Gutkowski – organ, vocals
- Pat Karwan – lead guitar, vocals
- Frank Jeckell – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Steve Mortkowitz – bass guitar, vocals
- Floyd Marcus – drums, vocals
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Billboard Top 200 | 162 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak Position | No. of Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | "Simon Says" | Billboard Hot 100 | 4 | 14 |
| 1968 | "May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart)" | Billboard Hot 100 | 63 | 8 |
Releases
7" Singles- 1968/01/27 – BDA 24
- "Simon Says" (Elliot Chiprut) – 2:19
- "Reflections From The Looking Glass" (Frank Jeckell, Mark Gutkowski, Ted Gutkowski) – 3:04
- 1968/04/20 – BDA 39
- "May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart)" (Elliot Chiprut) – 2:24
- "(Poor Old) Mr. Jensen" (Jerry Kasenetz/Jeff Katz/David Taxin) – 2:15
12" Album
- 1968/04 – BDM-1010 (Mono)
- 1968/04 – BDS-5010 (Stereo)
CD
- 1989 – RepertoireRepertoire RecordsRepertoire Records is a German record label from Hamburg, Germany, specialising in reissues of classic pop and rock albums originally issued in the 60s and 70s. The chairman is Thomas Neelsen....
RR 4019-C - 1992 – Unidisc BDK-5010