The Murmaids - Popsicles and Icicles - In HD Stereo

The Murmaids were made famous in January 1964 when Popsicles and Icicles hit #3 on the pop charts. What can you say about a one-hit wonder group with the song Popsicles and Icicles that can't even spell mermaids? Well just about everybody growing up in 1964 heard their first hit and loved it, even though they probably don't remember the name of the group today.

The trio consisted of sisters Carol and Terry Fischer; and Sally Gordon from Los Angeles, California, who are still performing today. David Gates of Bread fame wrote Popsicles and Icicles and a few others, which were used as B-sides of the 45 RPM pressings of this hit song. I'm not sure what involvement David Gates had with The Murmaids, but Skip Battin is attributed as the vocal arrangements creator.

When you consider Popsicles and Icicles became a chart topper at the same time The Beatles were taking off in the US, this is quite an accomplishment. For us Baby Boomers growing up in 1964 the music carried a lot of emotion and power, and Popsicles and Icicles was no exception. Listening to it today—as adolescent as the lyrics and title may be—sends chills down my spine and rekindles memories of my first experiences with falling in love.

There are no stereo copies of Popsicles and Icicles that I can find, so I created one from the original monophonic track. For those with technical interest I used Sound Forge 10 Pro's Acoustic Mirror plugin with Kang's Busy End impulse file, which adds a spacy ambience and stereo effect to the recording. I hope you enjoy it.

Visit their website to see where they are today:

[brianherrington]

I messaged Sally Gordon to thank her performance on this song and got a return message of good wishes. I was only a child but these songs were the age of innocence and good feeling in America and 63 was a year full of them. I miss these days terribly and feel blessed to have been a kid in them and feel it's so sad other generations missed out on these days especially amid this terrible pandemic were living thru.

[cpkphil]

NO autotune, a great song, three voices, a guitar, organ and drums make an amazing record that still stands up today!!

[JOSEPH-oxk]

how lucky, to meet the boy you always dreamed about!

[blujazz]

This song was written by Oklahoma native David Gates, founder and lead singer of the 1970s pop supergroup Bread.

[davidnavratil]

Great Recording, I remember this in high school!!!

[JamesJohnson-yrkf]

For some reason I always think of this song, the beautiful melody. It was these quality songs that shaped a whole generation. Today's youth are raised with hate, violence and shootings and you wonder why the world is in the worst shape its ever been.

[vbbvuso]

Fantastic audio quality- thanks what an enjoyable track!

[dereklajeunesse]

Really, really great...I had goosebumps! Best I've ever heard this song.

[professordumbledorf]

This song came out when I was a kid. I remember it well and it sounds even better now

[thala]

That David Gates that you see on the record label at the beginning is the same David Gates of the group Bread. This was one of the early songs he wrote before he formed Bread. David, an Oklahoma native, had moved out to California with his family and was working as a songwriter and session musician in his early days.

[BrooklynJoe]

Such a great song from such a great time!

[gaian]

I remember when this was on the radio. Great memories and very true in my life...bright stars and guitars...

[steveandrews]

listening to these gals/ I'm melting down

[kevincushman]

I love this song but it was released on Novemeber 23rd and by the time it dropped out of the Top 10, it was February 1st. So, it skirted the Beatles just in time not to be swept up by the British group.

[toddshaner]

What makes this song so unique is the organ and guitar arrangement. It pulls you in at the intro and then those magnificent young Murmaids start their sexy siren song. I believe that's the main reason they were a one-hit-wonder. They just didn't have the same instrumental backup and arrangements to hook you in on most of their other songs. Of course it didn't help that The British Invasion was crowding out the charts....and the rest is history.

[eaglemaniacal]

In a weird way, this song is totally badass.

[jsteelman]

The girls were only 15 years old when they recorded   this   song,    picked   from glee  club in     high  school   by   David.   Except for Sally  Gorden   she was 17.   I wrote to her, she said  they got paid nothing  for singing the song.     She  lives in France,    outside  of Paris.

[toddshaner]

It's the first song David Gates' wrote that became a hit. Needless to say he went on to write many more hits for others before forming his own group Bread in 1970. As I mentioned in one of my replies Popsicles and Icicles was a clever combination of organ and guitar played off the harmonization of The Murmaids. Had they used different instrumentation the song probably would failed miserably. I'm not sure David Gates selected the instrumentation for this song, but it is similar to many of Breads hits that followed in the 1970s.

[ronaldherrera]

Popsicles, icicles and fancy clothes
These are a few of the things he loves ...
He loves Levis ... and brown eyes
And wind blowin' through his hair,
These are a part of the boy I love.
If you put them all together
Much to your surprise (oh tell me what)
You'll find a bit of heaven -
Right before your eyes.
Bright stars and .... guitars and
Drive-ins on Friday night
These are a few of the things we love ....
(May be) silly but .... still he is
Just what I dream about,
Yes, he's the boy that I love.
If you put them all together
Much to your surprise (oh tell me what)
You'll find a bit of heaven ....
Right before your eyes.
Bright stars and ... guitars and ....
Drive-ins on Friday night
These are a few of the things we love ....
(May be) silly but .... still he is
Just what I dreamed about
Yes, he's the boy that I love -
Popsicles, icicles
Popsicles, icicles, hmmm

[nextaxprorescuefromirsrock]

My first woman was in this year. Her name was "Murl" and I believe that is the spelling. She was "all lady", even though only 15 and her parents were normal, good, red-blooded, patriotic Americans. We were getting pretty close but she danced with another guy and I, being very jealous and immature, broke off contact. We she each other one more time after that. It was not very long that I began missing her and missing her a lot. Was never able to get another date with her, even though I did not give up for at least a year and a half. Murl, where are you? Can't find you. Please look me up. I want to see you again now even though we will she each other forever in the most beautiful, real, physical Place.