THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,266) The Mother Love — “The Flim-Flam Man”
The verb “flim-flam” means to trick, deceive, swindle, or cheat”. (https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the-day/flimflam-2019-04-10/)
The ’67 movie The Flim-Flam Man starred George C. Scott as Mordecai Jones. “[He] is a rural con artist . . . who takes on a young army deserter; Curley as his protege, and teaches him the tricks of the trade. Sheriff Slade is in hot pursuit of the pair, and rich girl Bonnie Lee Packard becomes romantically involved with Curley, and helps the fleeing duo stay one step ahead of the sheriff.” (alfiehitchie, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061678/)
The ’67 song “The Flim-Flam Man” is wonderful and langourous sunshine pop, and that ain’t no flim-flam. It was supposedly arranged by the great Curt Boettcher [see #397, 506, 586, 662, 810, 1,002]. (deaconline, https://www.45cat.com/record/456687us) I can find no evidence that the song was on the soundtrack, but there was a tie-in of some sort as the film was a 20th Century-Fox production and the poster had a blurb at the bottom stating “Hear the Mother Love sing ‘The Flim-Flam Man’ on 20th Century-Fox Records.” OK, I gotta watch the movie!
Who was the Mother Love? —
In the early 60’s Wally Keske, Myrna Janssen and Danny Janssen formed the group The We Three (Trio) when they were in college. They performed in the San Diego, CA area. After graduation they went to Hollywood where they recorded one album . . . in 1965 an a whole lot of singles for various labels. WIth the addition of Gene Prophut they renamed themselves The Mother Love and issued “The Flim-Flam Man” in 1967. The B-s “Where Do We Go From Here” was arranged by Curt Boettcher . . . . One more 45 and an album Carousel of Daydreams were released . . . in 1970.
liner notes to the CD comp Fading Yellow: Vol. 20: Even More Magic US 60’s 45’s Popsike and other Delights
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