“Too Young to Marry” by Summer’s Children [1966]

Belle and Sebastian self-consciously look back to the Sixties with both their name and their sound. But the resemblance of their sound to this 60s flop is uncanny.

Curt Boetcher, producer for The Association, had a knack for glittery sunshine pop. In late 1965, The Association had yet to hit it big (‘66 would be their year), so Boetcher continued experimenting. Among other things, he recorded a pair of duets with Victoria Winston under the name Summer’s Children. “Too Young to Marry” and “Milk and Honey” had to be some of the most innocent, saccharine music to come out in 1966. Recall that songs like “Eve of Destruction,” “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Satisfaction” had revolutionized the sound of pop music in the second half of ‘65. Neither song charted as they were probably just too sweet for pop radio at the time. Nevertheless, we can admire them, if only because they created a musical formula for later groups like Belle and Sebastian. 

These songs can be found on the album 2001 3-CD compilation Magic Time, which focuses mostly on Boetcher’s later work with The Millennium. It’s a must-have album for anyone interested in the sounds of the late ’60s.

“Kije’s Ouija” by The Free Design [1970]

Random Music History Song of the Day

The Free Design released some of the best album titles ever. Their 1967 debut album was called Kites Are Fun. Of course they are! “Kije’s Ouija” comes from their other album with a classic hippy title, 1970’s Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love.

The lyrics are a bit hard to follow (it’s a song about a Ouija board…), but I’m pretty sure it was meant as an anti-war song. Either way, check out these lyrics:

It told us that some wise old angel had prepared for us a special treat…
..that everyone who kicked a little dog would surely lose his feet.
And everyone who shook his fist in anger soon would be shaking in bed,
And every single time a curse was said
someone’s tongue would surely drop from his head.

Now many more like this the angel will send, but you could do yourself much worse.
Just push a couple buttons, let your favorite bombs completely cover over the earth.
Now the angel’s curse has come and gone, but everyone knew that.”

‘Anyone who kicked a little dog would surely lose his feet… so let your favorite bombs completely cover the earth and then see what the Ouija board angel has in store for you! Bitches.’ I guess Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love/The Ouija Board Angel will Fucking Kill You just didn’t sound as good as an album title. Too bad.

That’s pretty much how I read this song. Even if it doesn’t match the overbearingly peppy family-fun sound they have going with their harmonies. Man, I love The Free Design.