The Doodletown Pipers were one of the primary purveyors of sanitary choral pop singing and dancing for television during my childhood. They specialized in the familiar, already-sanitary hits of the day, dressed up in perky matching outfits provided by Mister Marty Of California. They were very flexible: professional, but in a loose, green kind of way. Their stock in trade was enthusiasm, not precision. And you can bet that if a tight deadline was looming, they’d get their parts learned and be ready to hit their marks when the cameras were set to roll.
They served a vital function to producers of light broadcast variety entertainment back then. There is no need in the world to burden them with critical assessment that takes their work out of the context it was created to inhabit. “Functional” sums them up well. In fact, if you were to say that the Doodletown Pipers put the “fun” back in “functional,” you might reasonably expect to emerge with only a mild rebuke.
But back then in the sixties when I was a kid, I seriously didn’t get it. To see these automatons on television performing the hits of other artists with such seemingly empty-headed giddiness, I just assumed they were doing the originals a great disservice. Now I know better: having one’s material performed before any national audience would make even Bob Dylan giddy, or at least his accountant. I also know now that a cheerfully choreographed and costumed lip-sync is a mode of promotion far more forgiving of the audience than, say, herding them like cattle into vast mud-filled stadiums, or crowding them into fire traps devoid of breathable air in order to overcharge them for the pleasure of sustaining measurable hearing damage.
But hey, I was young then. I could be forgiven for my underappreciation of such great renditions of “The Rhythm Of Life” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” or for missing the pleasure found in their medley of Roger Miller hits, or their proprietary reading of such songs as “Hard Days Night” or “A Lover’s Concerto.” Also hidden in their repertoire are some terrific nuggets of sunshine pop. For me, one song stands out high above all the rest, one where dreams of of world where “cares are behind me” and “nothing reminds me of you” give way to scenes of Neptune’s kingdom and indigo blue. “Under The Sea” (not the “Little Mermaid” version) is as satisfying an anthem to suicide as you’ll find in any genre.
The DTP are no strangers to the blogosphere either. Their version of “Spanish Flea,” replete with lyrics, is a popular kitsch standout. They’ve also infested YouTube, if only peripherally, supplying dayglow human wallpaper to a clip from the Carpenters summer replacement series from 1971, “Make Your Own Kind Of Music.” Happily, I was able to find one additional clip of them, from an ASCAP broadcast in support of the March Of Dimes. But if that’s not enough for you, there’s always their recorded works:
Great choice, as usual! Thanks!
Damn, I’m late to the party!
Was a big Puppets fan back in the day & am a long-time strange/kitsch-music fan so I’m delighted to find this site. I’ve linked to it from my blog. Thanks, I see I have some serious downloading ahead for me tonight!
Welcome Mister Fab, and happy downloading!
Excellent! I have two vinyl copies of Sing Along ’67, it’s one of my favorites, but this is the first time I’ve seen these posted anywhere. The Doodletown Pipers are vastly underappreciated. Thanks for sharing!
And of course, in my rush to meet my self-imposed deadline, I entirely forgot to mention how two of these albums are produced by Stu Phillips himself, he of Hollyridge Strings and “Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls.”
“Spanish Flea” was written with lyrics by that arch-Spanish team of Julius and Cissy Wechter. (Having a Herb Alpert song book means realizing that about three percent of the “Tijuana Brass” material was written by people with Spanish-sounding names.)
“Wechter” (of Baja Marimba fame) sounds about as Spanish to me as “Alpert!”
Their appearance in “Frank Sinatra Jr. With Family And Friends” (1969) performing “Cool Cool Water” in and out of the Caesar’s Palace fountain was sensational. And was there ever a more appropriately-named group? I just wonder how much personnel turnover there was. I have a complete set of the albums–found them all together in a thrift store, in shrinkwrap in mint condition–someone’s fastidious grandmother had obviously died. Even the dreaded Melachrino Strings records look good still in shrinkwrap when they’ve got vintage Zody’s 99 cent price tags on them.
You know I love that video clip!
I have a 4th Doodletown Pipers lp, a promotional compilation, on the DTP label. It has the same front cover as “Here Come…” but the tracks are compiled from all three of their Epic releases.
thanks for this wonderful music
My dad was in the Doodletown Pipers. Now he’s a real estate agent. I should show him all these websites that mention the group. Thanks!
I had two friends in the group, and they stayed at this as long as the group lasted. The DTP did serve as a bridge for the parents of the Boomer’s, they took music that the older generation would say no to under regular conditions and made it available and listenable to them. There was a lot of talent in the group that was wasted in some ways, and yet they did serve a purpose as that bridge to modern music for our parents. I wish we could have seen them do more than back up the stars.
Cynthia and Michael:
What are the names of the persons you know who were in the Doodletown Pipers? I probably know them (I was in the group from 1970 until 1976). Several of us have gotten together recently and discussed a possible reunion.
Tom McKenzie Orange County, California
Cynthia and Michael:
I was in the Doodletown Pipers for about 7 years. Several of us have gotten together recently and discussed a possible reunion of members. Tell your ex-Doodletown friends and let me know if they would like to participate.
Tom McKenzie Orange County, California
I was working in the newsroom at KTLA Channel-5 in Los Angeles when one of our directors said, during the Friday news broadcast, that he was directing a shoot of The Doodletown Pipers out at the Claremont Colleges for a TV special on Saturday and Sunday, and asked if I would like to help out. I said: “Sure. They have some cute girls in that group”. (I met Lorna Wright and we dated briefly. I believe Lorna later married Ward Ellis.) So I was stage manager for that two day shoot and later traveled with the group to Las Vegas, where they were appearing with The Harry James Band and Barbara Eden. I belive we were all at The New Frontier. We shot the western theme scenes out in the desert for another TV special. I remember the wind howled down off snow clad peaks and it was COLD. Pam Feener left the group when they finished the Vegas stint and remained in Vegas. I lost track of the group after Vegas and I have always wondered what became of Wendy Lynn (Klor), around whom they had built one of the songs on the stage shows.
You must have worked on the “Cool Cool Water” segment from “Frank Sinatra Jr. With Family And Friends.” Very nice!
One Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band members was in the Doodletown Pipers. Tina who sings and plays the gutair.
What a wonderful time I had working with the Doodletown Pipers from the beginning to about 1969. We were like a traveling family. We had too much fun!! It was my first big showbusiness gig. I send my love to all the members.
Andy: Lorna did marry Ward Ellis, the choreographer and one of the founders of the group. They later split, and she married Adrian Lee, the keyboard player from Mike and the Mechanics. It appears that I got in the Doodletown Pipers shortly after your experience with them ended. Several of the old members and I are in contact at this time, and we’ve even thrown around the idea of having some sort of reunion. And, Mindy, I just saw Tina about a year ago at the Jimmy Buffet concert in Irvine, California. She was kind enough to get my wife and I backstage passes. Tina is still just as nice as she always was, and just as pretty
Hey Tommy, Where are you? You are right, those days were way to much fun. I stay in touch with Mike Campbell. Hope to connect. How do we do that? Joy PS I am still singing, and even thinking of picking up my violin!! Ha Ha! My youngest daughter wants me to teach her?? Lots of time gone by, Much love to you, Joy
This is to Tom, Well the two friends that I have that were in the group are Elias Aaron Mandel, and Joy Jolley. We had all gone to High School together, and even though Joy had made an effort to get me serrious about singing, in 1966 I enlisted in the Army and lost a bit of who I was in the process. Joy is in Colorado, and so is Elias, each with a new spouse and getting along well in most everything they both do. It was good to see all the comments made, I kind of resent the negative write ups I have seen, I thought the group was fun, and they were all very talented maybe more than lots of folks knew! Michael
i love the doodletown pipers my grandma paulete carthen was on there!
I am looking for Doodletown Pipers version of “It’s Summertime Summertime” (originally by The Jamies – 1958).
Does anyone know where I can get it? Preferable in MP3 It brings back some youth memories
Thanks!
Hey Joy,
Just read your post. I would love to be included in any future reunion. Would love to see everyone again. Those were such great times back in the 60s.
I was one of the original DTPs, in from the beginning ’til about 1967. The George Burns, Lainie Kazan show at the Nugget in Sparks, Nevada was my last show. Married George Burns’ musical director Robert Hunter and had three daughters.
Studied with Jack Metz (opera) in the late 70′s and early 80′s and studied all else with Seth Riggs at the same time. Became a photographer and did professional Hollywood headshots in the 80′s and had my own nightclub act performing at the Rose Cafe in Hollywood in 1982. Met my current husband, Graham Bloxham, at that time. We own a Jaguar repair shop in Sherman Oaks called Just Jaguar. We’ve been together for 27 years and raised 4 kids, my three daughters and his son. Have 6 granddaughters and one grandson to date.
Please, please include me in all things DTP.
Thanks!
I have a passion for roses. My rose photography can be viewed on http://www.helpmefind.com.
My aunt was in this group in the 70s. Her name was Edith Vincent. She died in her 30s and she was very distant from our family while she was in it, so we dont know much about her involvement in the group. We do have some pictures of of the group with her in it. Is there any website that has video of the group other than Youtube? Or is there a website with the listing of all the group members throughout the 60s and 70s?
if so, PLEASE email me! e.brodzinski@gmail.com
Thanks!
To All Ex-Doodles:
It’s great to read these posts. I have contacted two exes so far: Dean Chapman and Tony Sands. If any others are interested in staying in touch, or maybe even having a reunion of sorts, I can be reached at theplanner@ca.rr.com
Tom McKenzie
Trin:
I knew Paulette pretty well. If you see her, please tell her that Tom McKenzie and Dean Chapman (another DP member) would love to touch bases with her.
Thanks
Tom McKenzie theplanner@ca.rr.com
Hi to all the original Pipers. If you know how to e-mail drop a line as I would love to here from any of my old family.
Love, Ellie
I’m singing with Loose Ends and Tour De 4Force. Tour De 4Force has an album coming out in december. Since leaving the Pipers, I’ve worked with singers like Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Stella Parton, Whitney Houston, Henry Mancini, etc. I appeared in Wag the Dog andNaked Gun 2&1/2. After going thru Vietnam in 67 and 68, I’m just glad to still be alive. Anything else is pure gravy. My best to all the Doodletown Pipers and hope to one day see you all once more. I’m still in touch with Mike and Elaine Campbell, Patryce Banks, Tommie Webb and Sherry Doree from time to time.
I’m looking for Pam Feener who was in the Pipers in probably the 70′s possibly through the 80′s. She was also a Miss California contestant in the later 60′s. I’m looking for her because there is a possibility of a band that she and I both sang with (the Jim Burgett Band) will be having a reunion. I would love to find her. Cindi Hathaway
Thanks for posting these records! Some great stuff here. This really brings back memories of watching variety shows as a kid growing up in the sixties/seventies. I would love to know who wrote that song “Under the Sea,” which is really a standout. I also really dig those Golddiggers albums, and your Reports from the Country. Thanks again!
And thank YOU for the kind words!
Whata treat to find this site!I’ve beena DPF (Devoted Piper fan) since day one and my friendships with Cathy Cahill,Lynn Dolan,Mike Campbell and Elaine..worked as a group singer and on to performing in Ice Capades for 6 and half years.TO this very day I can still sing the Rhythm of Life, Take my hand,Day dreamer,The Mozartian arrangmnent of Yesterday,MacArthur Park.Can anyone ever forget the girls intro to Hard Day’s Night of ” la la lalala(clap)la la lalala(clap) that would later be incorporated into the “Hang on Sloopy” closing Medley with California dreamin’ and Barefootin?.Or the CBS sumer series of ” Our Place”..is like no place you’ve ever known…. let me tell you our place.. has a character all it’s own?And our place.. has no lock on the door…come an join us at our place tonight our place is yours..come on in…”I for one can NEVER forget the magic of the DTP!!!Though I am computerless, I am blessed with an aeditic memory and STILL recall the arrangements and steps that play in my head of my happiest memories of some of the MOST TALENTED singers and dancers on the block..like Mike Campbell’s velvet singing in Feelin’ Good”,Theresa Graves in Happy Together,they had the Look , the Feel.the Sound that was timeless CLASS that I firmly believe could STILL bring’em back into a showroom.AS it was virtually IMPOSSIBLE not to find yourself with a smile on your face that lasted for hours as soon as they hit the stage!!! With my gratitude to ALL of you DTP’s who have given me years of JOY!!! from your “DPF”, CRAIG CARR/west hills, california. . .
Hi!
Does anyone know how the Doodletown Pipers got their name? Did they pick the Doodletown part after a now-abandoned town by the same name in southeastern NY state?
Thanks for any and all replies!