There are many Bubblegum groups, but the history would not be complete without Buddah Records.
The Lemon Pipers
Now Buddah, for me was basically, Jerry Kasenetz and Jerry Katz. There first hit was with a group called the “Lemon Pipers”, the group very reluctantly agreed to record “Green Tambourine” late in 1967.
Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine
As is always the way, in February 1968 it was #1 and huge hit. Yes, I owned that recording, but the two groups I remember best where, Ohio Express and 1910 Fruitgum Company…
The 1910 Fruitgum Company - Pat Karwin and Mark Gutkowski standing; Steve Mortkowitz, Floyd Marcus and Frank Jeckell (sunglasses) kneeling/sitting
Jeckell & the Hydes became the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Under the total control of Kasenetz/Katz their first release was huge, “Simon Says“, patterned after Wooly Booly.
1910 Fruitgum Company – Simon Says
It reached # 4, but I just read somewhere that it has sold 5 million copies to date, yes Bubblegum.
Note that they where NOT a one hit wonder; “123 Red Light” went to #4 and “Indian Giver” went to #5.
1910 Fruitgum Company – 123 Red Light
1910 Fruitgum Company – Indian Giver
But as with all of these groups, they were totally company controlled and different band members for the last two albums; that’s the way Buddah operated.
Musically, Buddah would not win any awards, but for successful productions they where great. I think the greatest producer might have been Phil Spector, but these guys where good.
- Gary
The photo you have shown of the 1910 Fruitgum Company is no one that I know in that band. My husband, Floyd Marcus, is the original drummer and founding member and if you’d like to display the original members instead of whoever is in that photo, I can email you one. There are also some on the web. I put one on wikipedia that my husband calls “cymbalism” – I could send you that one.
That is a picture of Floyd in the hat. You are his wife? Doubt that.