We jump ahead to the mid-1950s and 1960s with "The Things We Did Last Summer" for some vocal group renditions!
First up is The Four Lads with this cut from their 1956 album "On the Sunny Side" which was also released on a single in 1957 on Columbia Records:
I think that's an outstanding version, with The Four Lads sounding great and wonderful backing from veteran bandleader/pianist Claude Thornhill of "Snowfall" fame!
(Obligatory mention that The Four Lads were featured as the carolers in the original 1956 production of "The Stingiest Man in Town," but you knew that too!)
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| Dig the 1958 beachwear! |
There were so many "Four" groups in the 1950s and if we go to 1958, we encounter The Four Preps who released an album titled after "The Things We Did Last Summer" on Capitol Records.
Here's that title track:
We had previously encountered The Four Preps in a clip from "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" TV show with Ricky Nelson singing "Jingle Bells."
We next jump to 1965 with a version by the popular trio The Lettermen, who included "The Things We Did Last Summer" on a single from Capitol Records:
This version is interesting in that it has subtle and not-so-subtle lyric changes throughout. I wonder why?
I also think it's fascinating that The Lettermen were cutting such square records at the height of Beatlemania on the same U.S. label as The Beatles!
We have one more vocal group version on Capitol Records, this one recorded by The Beach Boys in 1963, but not commercially released until its appearance on the "Good Vibrations" box set in 1993 and on a tie-in promo 45rpm record:
It's no secret that Brian Wilson is a huge fan of The Four Freshmen and this arrangement is obviously inspired by them, but I don't think The Four Freshmen ever recorded the tune.
The Beach Boys had recorded the song for an appearance on Red Skelton's TV show. Here's a clip:
That's David Marks at the bottom left, filling in for Al Jardine.
Some solid renditions!
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