When I was a little girl it seemed my parents lived at the church. I’m not complaining. I think it’s important for kids to be trained in the ways of the Lord. I didn’t appreciate it because it was boring to sit still for hours. There was always a bright spot, though. An elderly woman attending service always had a butterscotch candy in her pocket just waiting to pass to a squirmy child or two. How is it a piece of candy helps to settle a kid baffles me to this day. This week’s Monday’s Mewsic Moves Me theme is in honor of National Baked Alaska Day. It is also Candy-making Day, Candy Decorating Day and Dark Chocolate Day. So let’s have songs about “sweet” things.
Reminiscing about butterscotch brought to mind of how much I loved penny candy. For some it’s hard to fathom buying anything with a penny but imagine with a dime this little girl could buy 10 pieces of candy. That’s a lot! The wheels are turning in my head. Yes, I know they are squeaky and need a little oiling. I’ll get to that later but now I want to share with you a playlist of 5 Penny Candy song titles. Surprising, right?
Artists featured on playlist
- June Carroll was an actress/singer/songwriter. She wrote “Penny Candy” and sung it in the Broadway musical New Faces 1952.
- Jim Reeves sings about a little girl who’s sweet and pretty who eats candy. Here are the lyrics that are surely innocent of such sweetness.
- Porterdavis At first I though this was a misspelling. My brain kept seeing Porter Davis. Dan Barrett and Mike Meadows got their music start busking in Boston’s subway stations Porter Square and Davis Square hence the band’s name. In 2004 Dan and Mike moved to Austin Texas where they added a third harmony to the group. A guy named Simon and that’s all I know.
I can’t find the lyrics online so I’m sure the song has nothing to do with candy but I loved the sound so much that I knew I had to share it. - Richard J. Freitas arrangement is purely instrumental with a delightful tickle of the ivory that sound sweet to the ears. The swing song is from the 20s and 30s era where the music seemed to jump with excitement.
- Heartwood I can’t find anything on other than what’s posted on YouTube. It’s clear that vocalist Laura Munzer is singing about wanting candy but it’s the opening electric guitar, I suppose played by Brian Kruithof, that got my interest and desire to share it with you today.
This month’s honorary co-hostess is Robin from Songbird’s Crazy World
This is a mewsic linky party. Every other week we have a suggested mewsic theme (see side menu) to build your song set around and all participants share YouTube or Vimeo videos for our mewsic enthusiasts. Failure to meet this basic guideline puts your URL in danger of being removed or labeled – NO MUSIC.
I shared my BoTB 2021 Round 3 earlier this morning and I hope you’ll jump over to cast your vote in this showdown. I’m struggling lately to find motivation to keep up with daily blogging, so if nothing publishes tomorrow don’t worry I’m okay. I’m just taking a wee break but don’t worry I will keep the tunes flowing on Mondays. One more thing, all honorary co-host spots for the year are now filled. Thanks to everyone who signed up. Have a boogietastic week! X
X, Cathy
Discover more from Curious as a Cathy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
We had a lady at our church who always gave us butterscotch candies, too! To this day I still love them – I should see if it’ll ‘calm me down’ now as an adult…heh!! Loved your song choices, Cathy!
A couple of these songs intrigued me. The first of your playlist, coming from a Broadway play New Faces that opened the year I was born, apparently launched the careers of several performers, including Paul Lynde and Carol Lawrence. Eartha Kitt and Mel Brooks were in the production, too. I just learned all this! Richard Freitas did a great job giving his song a player piano vibe (at least, in my humble opinion.) And yes, I remember penny candy. And penny bubble gum out of the gum machine.
Alana,
That’s interesting to know about New Faces. I always wanted a bubble gum machine and still haven’t gotten one. I’m gonna have to do something about that!
Candy wasn’t a penny when i was young, but once i was able to ride my bike to the Time Saver store, i could get some things for a nickel. Hope you had a Sweet Monday!
Mimi,
When I was little there was penny candy, which is similar to bite-sized candies today and something like a Reese’s Cup cost a nickle or a dime. I can’t remember now but candy bars did cost more. What’s amazing is candy bars and everything really was bigger back in the day and now it costs a whole lot more plus you get smaller portions which seems ridiculous to me. How can that be? I know it has to do with inflation but just think about that. It blows the mind.
I remember penny candy and used to ride my bike to the candy store and buy as much candy as I could with my quarter. Times were simpler then – sigh! Love the smart cookie meme. Have a great day!
Eugenia,
I agree those days were simpler and we didn’t have the same worries.
These were a real kick. Loved hearing Freddy King, and the song by Jim Reeves was cute. Nicely done!
John,
I’m glad you appreciated hearing Freddy King and Jim Reeves. Those old singers were awesome!
Love the Cookie Crumble Sparks and the photo of the chocolate eating little girl is priceless! Cheers!
Kathe,
Thanks for dropping by, my dear!
These are all new to me.
XO
Ellen,
Hey, they were new to me, too.
Oh I remember buying penny candy, usually they were the sweet raspberry jubes that would get caught in my teeth but it was still a bargain. I would stay in the store for quite a while figuring out what to buy for 25 cents and always saved 5 or 10 cents because that’s what I did….it’s the budgeter in me. I think, when we get the candy we savour it and want to experience the taste so we don’t move as much. I wish I got candy because all I was told was to smarten up and sit up straight. I couldn’t play the top 5 because the first one will not allow me…bummer.
Birgit,
You saved your money after buying candy as a kid? This is a first for me to hear! lol That’s a great habit and mindset. I wish I had been more like that. It would’ve helped me later in life, instead I had to learn the hard way. Thankfully, I’m better at budgeting and saving. I loved the raspberry jubes, too. I haven’t those in forever!
Haven’t heard that before. Great theme x
Thanks for popping by, Athena & Marie! I’m happy you enjoyed my music picks.
Such great songs. A wonderful playlist on this Monday. Great facts also. Thanks for sharing all.
Patrick,
I appreciate you stopping by to join me on the dance floor, my friend. Boogie on!
You have a very interesting playlist, Cathy. Penny Candy? Great song. And I can’t help but laugh at the meme…
Robin,
I’m happy to entertain you with the funny meme.
Thanks for dancing with me, ole pal!
Awww, that little one with all that chocolate all over her face and hands reminds me of the little ones. Can’t eat without getting everything all over the place. Adorable.
Penny candy. I remember penny candy. What a fond memory.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Sandee,
A chocolate covered child’s face is the sweetest thing ever.
I so remember penny candy. There was a little corner mom and pop store near our house and I would go in there with my mother. She would give me a quarter to spend on candy. I would look through the glass at all that candy and make very careful choices.
Love that quote at the end.
Ann,
When I was in grade school, I remember my mom giving me a quarter to spend at the small store near our home. But, what I really loved was going to the Benjamin Franklin 5 and Dime store in the town next to ours. Like you, I loved peering at all that sweet goodness stashed behind glass.
What fond memories, huh?
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Awww-some 4M Monday to you, dear friend!
I nearly missed this second post of the day because, in the past, you have rolled the 4M and the BOTB together into a single post. Anyway, I’m happy I found this one because I appreciate the old old oldies you posted referencing candy and especially penny candy. I was familiar with Freddie King’s instrumental hit “Hide Away” (the title is displayed on the record album in the video), but not “Butterscotch.” I enjoyed his guitar playing. The candy songs are all new to my ears. I was wondering if you can still buy anything at all for a penny. If not, I wonder how many years it has been since you could. I imagine it was candy or gum from one of those dispensing machines. Like you, I was pleasantly surprised by the sound of the band Porterdavis. Country crossover artist Jim Reeves was a big name when I was little. My parents were fond of country music and bought records by Reeves and other country artists. I looked up Reeves’ discography just now and remember his first major hit, the 1953 single “Mexican Joe.” That immediately triggered memories of an answer song my parents bought later that same year, 1953, the Hank Snow 45 “When Mexican Joe met Jole Blon.”
When Mexican Joe met Jole Blon
Si, Si, Si, oui, oui, how they carried on
He held her tight and danced all night
And crossed the border at daylight
When Mexican Joe met Jole Blon
I swear to you this is the first time in more than 65 years that I have thought about that Hank Snow record my parents owned. Thanks for stimulating my memory bank this morning, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
You’re right, I normally roll BoTB and 4M together in a single post. I experimenting this time to see if I get the same attention as when I keep under one post. It’ll be interesting to see. Country, bluegrass, and gospel music is what my parents usually had on the radio or TV. Thanks for stopping back by and I’m glad my song choices jiggled your memory, dear friend.