The Cyrkle - Walter's Riff (1967)

This band, previously featured on our site, is primarily remembered for their hit song, “Red Rubber Ball,” released in 1966 and heard previously on A Bit Like You And Me. Being the band’s first single, the song appeared to be what the group needed to start off on a successful career. Their next single release, “Turn Down Day,” although not as popular as their first hit, was still a success. Their next three singles along with their second album, Neon, were unfortunately overlooked by listeners and had the band on the brink of collapse. Wanting to give it one last shot, the band agreed to perform the soundtrack for an upcoming movie, The Minx.

Trying to pass as a “Rated X” movie when the fad to do so was occurring, The Minx movie completely bombed. Although I’ve never seen it, there isn’t a single positive review to be found in my searching. It appears that the biggest highlight of the film was indeed the soundtrack provided by this band. This particular song was recorded, with all the others for the film, in 1967. It sounds as if it could have been recorded for a Spaghetti Western and appeared as the eleventh song on the movie’s soundtrack. Entirely instrumental, the song is only one minute and twelve seconds long. The film, The Minx was released in 1969.



The Cyrkle - Walter's Riff (1967)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball (1966)

After hearing them on Labor Day in 1965, Nathan Weiss told his friend, Brian Epstein, about this great band he had heard in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The band was quickly signed and switched their name from The Rhondells to their new name, a unique spelling given to them by John Lennon. They went on to become the opening act for The Beatles at Dodger Stadium and at The Beatles’ last concert performance at Candlestick Park. The band even did a soundtrack for an "x-rated" film, of which you can hear a track. After disbanding in 1967, the founding members, Don Dannemann and Tom Dawes, went their separate ways writing jingles. Dawes wrote the popular “plop, plop, fizz fizz, ahh what a relief it is” for Alka-Seltzer. Dannemann wrote the Uncola Song for 7Up.

This song boosted them to popularity in 1966. It was co-written by Paul Simon, from Simon & Garfunkel, and Bruce Woodley, from The Seekers.



The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball (1966)

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Lyrics:

I should have known you'd bid me farewell
There's a lesson to be learned from this and I learned it very well
Now I know you're not the only starfish in the sea
If I never hear your name again, it's all the same to me

And I think it's gonna be alright
Yea, the worst is over now
The morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball

You never care for secrets I confide
For you, I'm just an ornament- something for your pride
Always running, never caring; that's the life you live
Stolen minutes of your time were all you had to give

And I think it's gonna be alright
Yea, the worst is over now
The morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball

The story's in the past with nothing to recall
I've got my life to live and I don't need you at all
The roller coaster ride we took is nearly at an end
I bought my ticket with my tears; that's all I'm gonna spend

And I think it's gonna be alright
Yea, the worst is over now
The morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball

And I think it's gonna be alright
Yea, the worst is over now
The morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball