The Archies ~ Sugar Sugar 1969 Bubblegum Purrfection Version

The popularity of bubblegum pop started with pre-teens and teenagers who were buying records like crazy in the late 60's. The cardinal rule for pop songs was the shorter, the better, since you could play more songs that were 2:30 than 3:00 long in an hour. How did bubblegum get started? Music was being created by artists and producers on an assembly line process that Motown defined and refined. The music tracks were done to perfection and just about anybody could have put their vocals down and had a hit with that song. The catchphrase for Motown was "The Sound Of Young America" and it was then that production took a lead role and artists seemed to take a back seat. Motown properly promoted their artists by creating indelible personas in The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Four Tops and The Temptations. The singers could replace each other and often did in the house of Motown. For every #1 hit single, there were probably a dozen other versions by other Motown artists that never saw the light of day and put away in the library. The idea was to pit artist against artist to see who could come up with the best version, elevating the song to stratospheric heights. Bubblegum as a genre is described as " pop music contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, is produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers and has an upbeat sound." It gots its name from producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz who distilled the target audience of teenyboppers down to a common trait, chewing bubblegum. Neil Bogart, an executive at Buddah Records grabbed that idea and ran with it turning it into a viable genre and a record label's dream. When I was a kid, these singles were often imprinted on cereal boxes on a thin layer of acetate you could cut out and play on your record player. The Lemon Pipers 1968 "Green Tambourine" is acknowledged as being the first bubblegum hit, and then 1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express and The Archies. TV was broadcasting an animated version of the Archie comic books, with the idea of the characters forming a band and having a new song debut with every episode. Writers Jeff Barry and Andy Kim were recruited to make words and music for The Archies and session vocalist Ron Dante became the voice of Archie, with Toni Wine vocalizing as Veronica and Betty. The song was put down on tape and released July 26, 1969 and eight weeks later it was the most played song in the nation and stayed there for four weeks. Dante did not want to stay faceless and while working a session with Melissa Manchester and Valerie Simpson, met Barry Manilow who wrote the jingle for the product they were extolling called Tomboy. Dante ended up producing Manilow's first #1 single, "Mandy". The sound of bubblegum pop continued on with The Partridge Family, "I Think I Love You", Dawn "Knock Three Times", The Cowsills "Indian Lake", The Jackson Five "ABC", The Osmonds "One Bad Apple" are prime examples. Disco became a producers realm, in the same way that bubblegum was and there were just as many if not more throwaway songs with faceless singers who put their efforts into one memorable song and then disappeared without a trace.

[hahamorehaha]

Born in 63 and caught myself blasting this in my car cruising down the road. Told a buddy from school days and he said thats just not right. Have not talked to him since.

[kgm]

I am 62 years old and suddenly I am 12 years old again. Thanks for sharing this fabulous memory!!!

[ovslwfr]

Real music here < .If your listening to this in februari 2021 your Legendary

[yeswecannabis]

Yep! I remember the Archies Fantastic Filmation. Saturday morning cartoons. Afterwards the Dick Clark show then Soul Train.

[jameslararance]

50 yrs old the original version, wow seems like yesterday to me.

[tonyrobinson]

At 68 still love this song good times.❤❤

[tonyrobinson]

This was and still is BRILLIANT! Those were the days my friend❤❤❤❤

[richardmcdonald]

Forgot all about Bubblegum Rock. Its back on my playlist!!!

[rhondaboncutter]

I had this 45 record growing up! Loved to dance to it, and also roller skate to! Life was fun back in 60's! Kids didn't feel afraid to be outside then! No drive by shootings! We all got along!

[joannerousseau]

I love the Archie's i am 59 years old and i still read them i have been reading them since i was very young

[cjcj]

I used to watch the Archie's on T.V. Saturday music....

[dragunovbushcraft]

This song does a special thing to the heart, every time it plays, and someone hears it

[nancy]

I freaken love this song!! Use to read the Archies comic books all the time..

[andresrivera]

Inolvidable año 1969 cuando salió esa canción, muy pegajosa por cierto, nos gustó hasta a los que no hablamos Inglés, en días pasados se la mandé a unos de mis hijos y quedó tan encantado, que la hizo parte de su repertorio . Yo la escuché en discos de pasta de 45 revoluciones y él en memorias ; pero la ESCUCHAMOS. GRACIAS A DIOS

[cynthiareeves]

GREW UP With this Song and the Cartoon in the Sixties

[kitsnow]

16 and go goin to this song back in 69 such fun days!

[sinbadandsalty]

The sweetest song! My nephew used to think this song was about him 'cause grandma always called him honey😁. Every time I hear it, I think of him and smile. Love him so much 😘

[sturmundblitz]

Excellent remix, not loosing at all the originality of the song.

[sandradeelawson.]

I used to watch The Archies along with Bugs Bunniie the Loonie Toon every saturday morning.

[freespiritnewyork]

LOVE 💛💚💜💞💜💛💝💛💖 this OMG and I was 4 yrs old in 1969 but I recall this as clear as day! The album cover with the cartoon characters WOW! Sweet memories 💗💛💖💛 when life was so much more Innocent