For Non-Diabetics Only: Sugar X 4

While we're on the subject of children's television, the other day I was rummaging through 45's  and found a copy of the Archies' 1969 mega-smash "Sugar Sugar." There are those serious, self-important Rock journalists who pooh-pooh greasy kids'stuff but I'm telling ya, a more perfect pop production you will not find.

Most people realize that the song was connected to the Archie TV show. Obviously, studio musicians played and sang Evernote on this record. Again, rock critics used to like to dismiss slick and professional contributions from studio musicians as inauthentic, not a genuine expression of the youth culture to whom rock music was the hymnal  (Yes, these people expect us to believe this).  I tend to take a more straightforward view: if music transcends, it's on purpose. It's a happy accident and a testament to the talent of those who created the music to capture the essence of a time and place. The best thing you can expect a piece of music to do is make your day less crappy for 2-3 minutes and move your arse in the process.

It was in the midst of all of this reflection that I realized that I had never seen the cartoon footage to which sugar sugar was written as a musical interlude. So here it is.

After watching that admittedly crude piece of limited animation, I was shocked to see footage of the person who sang the record,

His name is Ron Dante and he's also the lead singer of The Cuff-Links who did "Tracy." Not only did he make TV appearances as the Archies, he even fronted a touring group with one blonde singer and one brunette singer a la Betty and Veronica. Dante sang a ton of jingles for commercials, and went on to produce jingle-writer-turned-performer Barry Manilow.

Nobody even said The Archies were as important as The Beatles. Then again, the Beatles were the main course. The Archies made a sweet dessert.