Done In By the Beatles: Ginny Arnell-- Part 4

Ginny Arnell has been called "the quintessential example of the girl group sound." And, listening to her music on You Tube (and there is quite a bit on it), I'd have to agree. Sadly, she was buried by the British Invasion. //// Some of her songs: "I WISH I KNEW WHAT DRESS TO WEAR" was the flipside of "HE'S MY LITTLE DEVIL" and peaked at #130. 'HE'S MY LITTLE DEVIL"-- someone wrote that this song has Gene Pitney written all over it and that he was singing harmony on it. //// "I'M CRYING TOO" from 1963, was Arnell's first release with MGM and had a really neat Japanese style chorus. //// "TROUBLE'S BACK IN TOWN" was written by Dick Flood and was a big country hit in 1962 for the Wilburn Brothers and almost got on the Pop Charts Top 100. //// "MARRIED TO YOU" and "A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE" were ballads. SNUGGLE UP BABY/ STROLLIN' THROUGH THE PARK" was by Jamie and Jane (Gene Pitney and Ginny Arnell). //// Someone wrote that they see Ginny Arnell occasionally and that she lives in Connecticut and retired from music in 1966. //// About Time for a Comeback, Ginny!! --RoadDog

Done In By the Beatles: Ginny Arnell-- Part 3

I couldn't find out much about Ginny Arnell. I'm not even sure if she is still alive. On the national charts (Billboard) "Dumbhead" peaked at #50 on November 1953. That was her only Top 100 song, though "I Wish I Knew What Dress to Wear" did get to Bubbling Under (the Top 100) in 1964. She recorded for MGM Records. //// Earlier in her career, she was a member of the duo called Jamie and Jane. Jamie was Gene Pitney, who recorded for Decca in 1959. Their biggest song was "Snuggle Up Baby." //// Her songs can be summed up pretty well with "two minutes of teen girl angst." //// Her song "I Wish I Knew What Dress to Wear" was written by Gloria Shayne who wrote the Christmas classic "Do You Hear What I Hear." She also wrote Bobby Darrin's "Goodbye Cruel World" and Mike Douglas' "The Men in My Little Girl's Life." //// --RoadDog

Done In By the Beatles-- Part 2: Ginny Arnell and "Dumbhead"

Looking at the Chicago WLS charts back then, Ginny Arnell's "Dumbhead" was jumped from #12 to #4 on Dec. 13, 1963; #5 on Dec. 20th; #4 on Dec. 27th; reached a high of #3 on Jan. 3, 1964; #6 Jan. 10th; #8 on Jan. 17th and was at #12 on Jan. 24th.

Not a bad run on Chicago radio.

Next, I went to You Tube and listened to "Dumbhead." I still had never heard it before, but it was a classic "Girl Song" from the era. One that Lesley Gore could have sung.

I asked Liz if she had ever heard the song (as her ear was glued to her transistor radio back then), and she said "No." But once she heard it, she immediately remembered it.

I Did Some More Research On Ginny Arnell. --RoadDog

Done In By the Beatles-- Part 1: Ginny Arnell and "Dumbhead"

On the WLS Silver Dollar Survey from January 17, 1964, the week that the Beatles debuted with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at #40, I was familiar with all the songs except numbers 8 and 9. (A quick recap: #1. THERE I'VE SAID IT AGAIN-- Bobby Vinton // #2. DRAG CITY-- Jan and Dean // #3. SURFIN' BIRD-- Trashmen // #4. CALIFORNIA SUN-- Rivieras // #5. YOU DON'T OWN ME-- Lesley Gore //// #6. POPSICLES & ICICLES-- Murmaids // #7. HEY LITTLE COBRA-- Rip Chords #8. DUMBHEAD-- Ginny Arnell // #9. DAISY PETAL PICKIN'-- Jimmy Gilmer // #10. JAVA-- Al Hirt. //// #10 I had heard before, but didn't know the title. #9 I hadn't heard, but knew the singer, Jimmy Gilmer of "Sugar Shack" fame. But #8 was another story, I had never heard of the song or the artist. Who was this Ginny Arnell? And what sort of song would be titled "Dumbhead?" //// Some Research Needed. --RoadDog