Chew on this

Today we're talking about bubblegum.

Not the chewy pink stuff, but the musical genre.

In my ongoing exploration of Australian gems, I came across this:



Isn't that the most perfect bubblegum song? Touches of the Arches, the Mixtures, a dash of Marmalade, throw in some Edison Lighthouse and you get this.

There's nothing much not to like about bubblegum. It's the happiest music around. If you're feeling upbeat - and gosh, today I am - then nothing goes better than this. Right from when I was given Sugar Sugar when it reached the end of its shelf life from my grandma's pub jukebox, I've been a fan of throwaway pop. I've got two volumes of a superb series that includes everything from Bobby Sherman to the Partridge Family to The Five Americans (the super-catchy Wester Union), Edison Lighthouse, the 1910 Fruitgum Company, Boyce & Harts peerles I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight, The Cowsills with the very much of the time Hair:



as well as their superb Indian Lake, and many, many more. Some of it's even quite soulful and relaxing, crossing over massively with sunshine pop. Volume three which is as the sunshine pop crossover one is now going for over £100 pounds on eBay. It's things like this:



But really, bubblegum music polarises people because of things like this:



But think of it as bright, shiny, sunny optimistic and of course very, very late Sixties/early Seventies. It can include things like the Small Faces, Strawberry Alarm Clock, all big hits (especially Stateside) and all designed to make your life better.

Like this. Love those girls.