In praise of Chad and Jeremy

How I once loved these two British imports! They weren't the Beatles, of course. No one is that good. But these two were terrific, nevertheless. Not only did I enjoy their folk-tinged music, they were so funny. They memorably appeared on Batman (the dastardly Catwoman stole their voices!), The Patty Duke Show (as Nigel and Patrick, who rehearsed in the bedroom of that lucky Patty Lane!) and the Dick Van Dyke Show (as a fictional group, The Redcoats, who appeared on The Alan Brady Show).

But, like Peter and Gordon, Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Dave Clark Five, Chad and Jeremy hit the charts big in 1964 and disappeared by 1966. I have their greatest hits on vinyl packed away somewhere in a closet, but I haven't listened to, or even thought about, them for years.

Now 71, they have reunited and are doing a handful of concert appearances. Fortunately, I was able to catch them here in Chicago at The Fest for Beatle Fans. They are charming raconteurs, regaling us with their few and very humble encounters with John Lennon and Sir Paul, as well Batman and Robin and Rob and Laura Petrie. Then they sang and I was shocked and pleased by how gorgeous their harmonies still are.

Here they are, half a century ago, singing (or rather, lip synching) my fave rave on American Bandstand. I heard them perform it live Saturday afternoon and was not at all disappointed. Some notes are no longer held as long as when they appeared with Dick Clark, but the sound was pure and lovely and very original.