The Murmaids - Popsicles and Icicles

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The Murmaids can safely be classed as one-hit wonders -- but that one hit, "Popsicles and Icicles," not only characterizes an entire innocent era of pop music and the early phase of '60s girl-group music, but was a key early career jump for several of the participants. The Murmaids were Carol Fischer, Terry Fischer, and Sally Gordon of Los Angeles. They'd grown up together and had begun singing, and when the singing began to show promise in their mid- to late teens, the Fischer sisters' mother brought them into Chattahoochie Records, a tiny Los Angeles-based label, for an audition. The label's recording manager was Kim Fowley, who provided them with a song called "Popsicles and Icicles," composed by David Gates, an Oklahoman with musical aspirations who'd been knocking around Los Angeles for the last few years, writing songs and playing the odd session. The mix of dreamy melody and ethereal girl group voices was a quick chart success, "Popsicles and Icicles" scaling into the Top Ten in late 1963. It was, alas, to be the first and last time that the Murmaids were to occupy the attention of chart compilers. And, ironically, by the time the song was a hit, Carol and Terry Fischer had started college, and this was of much greater concern to them -- the trio did cut a few more songs in an effort to follow up on "Popsicles and Icicles'" success, but only "Heartbreak Ahead" in early 1964 managed to get any airplay. Without a full-time professional commitment to touring or personal appearance, the Murmaids proved a one-off success, "Popsicles and Icicles" disappearing, but not without leaving a lot of fond memories for radio listeners. Fowley kept working to get another chart hit, without success, and later Murmaids singles were very likely the work of other singers. The last Murmaids single appeared in 1968, by which time Fowley had begun working with the Clinger Sisters, a girl group (and former regulars on television variety shows, including Danny Kaye's program) who had turned toward a more rocking sound on Columbia Records. David Gates, whose song had given the Murmaids their one claim to fame, was taking his big steps to stardom around that time, forming the group Bread in 1969, which would bring him massive success both as a songwriter ("Make It With You," etc.) and as a pop/rock star during the early '70s. The Murmaids themselves remain a fixture of early- to mid-'60s girl group collections. Their records -- and they left behind the equivalent of about an album of surprisingly good material -- recall the Paris Sisters, the Fleetwoods, the Teddy Bears, and the rest of the innocent side of girl group music.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murmaids-p143816/biography

Category:

Education

Tags:

• pop
• rock
• girl
• group
• r&b

[tunesmith09]

Hello again, Mr. John...please tell me that it was the Florida or other JAHN'S and not the Jersey JAHN'S...just kidding...hope it WAS the Jersey Jahn's...went there often..."Kitchen Sink"!...an ice cream sundae that fed at least six...great 'burgers'...carpeting on the ceiling!!...beautiful "Jersey Girls"...forget the "real houswives" of here, there, or everywhere...but let's never forget the music...Tunesmith

[John1948NineC]

@tunesmith09 Hi back. I really don't know what Jahns it was. I just found the clip online and think it ads to a lot of the songs I use.

[sixtiesforever1966]

John1948NineC

This is Sir David from NY. I see a song posted named BULL TALK and it says by the Murmaids, and has the original Murmaids album cover. I know after Sally Gordon, and the Fisher Sisters sang Popsickles & Icicles there were other singers on Chattahoochie Records Label that were using the Murmaids name, and was wondering if this was Sally Gordon singing? Doesn't sound like her? maybe you can tell me? Thank You. Sir David

[John1948NineC]

@sixtiesforever1966 Sir David, I think after Popsicles, Sally and the older Fischer went away to college (different colleges). I'm pretty sure Sally never recorded with them again. They did recruit two new girls so it was maybe only the younger Fischer plus two. I hope that helps.

[John1948NineC]

@sixtiesforever1966 Good to hear from you Sir David. I love sharing my music and the rewards can be substantial. Sharing this one resulted in corresponding with Sally Gordon. I've also become friends with Carl Dobkins, Joanie Sommers and so many others.

[sixtiesforever1966]

John1948NineC John Nice to see you uploading the Great Murmaids.

Loved this song since it came out in November 1963.

John It is nice to see your story about the Murmaids and David Gates, and love the few changes that YouTube has made. Thanks Again, Sir David

[ruandted]

This beaut song reminds me that there were great time in my first marriage .

[jsteelman1000]

Hello great song a girl group in France done a cover this song please check out their channel SistersGoldenHair and leave a comment they are great !!

[lovegermanshepherds]

Thumbs up and five stars my friend

Thank you for sharing

Cheyenne

[jsteelman1000]

Hello great vid Sally wrote to me from France sent autographed photo of her and the Murmaids she's piano teacher That guy in back ground is Jim Fowely producer if I am not mistaken

[jsteelman1000]

Hello great vid Sally wrote to me from France sent autographed photo of her and the Murmaids she's piano teacher

[LordOfLonsdale]

A wonderful, wonderful song from a time of innocence.

Say, were some of the shots in the video taken at Jahn's on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn?