Episode 45: Sunshine Pop | The Happiest Hits of the '60s and '70s, Part 2

Send us Fan MailSunshine Pop is back for Part 2, with 4 more ridiculously catchy records from the late ’60s and early ’70s, and some of the strangest stories behind them.This time, Christopher digs into Edison Lighthouse, The Cyrkle, The Association, and The Grass Roots, and discovers just how much was happening behind some of the happiest-sounding records on AM radio.How do you score a massive number 1 hit when your band doesn’t actually exist? Why did John Lennon end up naming an American college band? How did Paul Simon help launch that same group, only for The Beatles to later keep them out of the number 1 spot? And how did a song originally written as a gentle waltz become one of the defining pop records of the summer of 1967?Along the way, there’s a session singer seemingly everywhere at once, a Paul Simon song somebody probably wishes they hadn’t turned down, an all-night recording session, a surprising Leonard Bernstein connection, and a lyrical coincidence that suddenly takes us from Sunshine Pop to a 1980 country hit.It’s another trip through an era when great melodies, huge harmonies, and unforgettable hooks could make even a breakup song sound like the best day of your life.And after the music, we head to the bar for a bright, refreshing cocktail inspired by one of the songs in the episode: The Red Rubber Ball.Support the showWho Ordered the Pie? a music history podcast with custom cocktail pairings. Show notes, recipes, and extras: WhoOrderedThePie.com Follow: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube • Instagram