Song of the Day: Lesley Gore, “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows”

Song of the Day 1 Minute

Happy heavenly birthday to singer, songwriter, actress, and activist Lesley Gore, born Lesley Sue Goldstein in New York on this day in 1946. "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows" was written by Marvin Hamlisch and released on Lesley’s 1963 album Lesley Gore Sings od Mixed-Up Hearts, but it wasn’t released as a single until 1965, when she sang the song in the movie Ski Party, which starred Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Deborah Walley, Yvonne Craig, and Robert Q. Lewis. The song reached #13 on the Hot 100, making it Hamlisch’s first hit song.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

13 thoughts on “Song of the Day: Lesley Gore, “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows””

  1. Pingback: The Bouncy Castle Week That Was – The Sound of One Hand Typing

  2. I loved her songs and feel she left us too soon. Back in the day, I was told I looked like her. I think it was mostly my hair color and hairstyle, though we had similar features.

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    1. She was at Fox 97’s first Ultimate Oldies concert in ’93, and put on a very good show, though she seemed to have a hard time with the backup band. She still had plenty of music in her when she died, and I’m sorry to see that we won’t hear it.

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  3. My sister used to have a Lesley Gore album so I heard her music often. I liked her singing as well as the songs she sang. In more recent decades I have added a LG greatest hits CD to my collection.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. I think she was underrated as a singer. I saw her live at an Ultimate Oldies concert one of the local radio stations held about 30 (!) years ago, and she put on a great set.

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  4. Wish it was all sunshine and lollipops! I don’t remember this movie but I do recognize lots of faces on that bus. Nice way to start the Monday, John!

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    1. Almost make you want to see the movie, doesn’t it? This is one of those movies you used to see on TV, either as the afternoon movie or on “Saturday Night At The Movies.” I miss the days when TV was like that.

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    1. I was kind of shocked to find out that Hamlisch had written it, but then a lot of songwriters got their start writing songs that don’t seem to fit. I saw her live once, and she sounded great despite the fact she and the band seemed to have differences. And yeah, I think only Brenda Lee was smaller.

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  6. This is just a fun sweet song to put a smile on one’s face. She passed away young…I will look her up when I get a chance. I looked her up before but can’t recall much in my clouded brain.

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    1. You’re at the stage I am, where you have to write things down to remember them. I can’t listen to the song and not be happy.

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