The Dodge Polara was an automobile introduced in the United States for the 1960 model year as Dodge’s top-of-the-line full-size car; after the introduction of the Dodge Custom 880 in 1962, the Polara nameplate designated a step below the full sized, best trimmed Dodge model. In its various forms, the Polara name was used by Dodge until 1973, when its position in Dodge’s line-up was replaced by the Dodge Monaco.

The name Polara is a reference to the Polaris star, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race during the early 1960s. The Polara was a competitor to the Ford Galaxie 500 and the Chevrolet Impala.

I Dig Chicks (Capitol Records ST/T 1193, 1959) is more properly billed to the Jonah Jones Quartet, but I’m not about to quibble. This cover is at once way too on the nose and supremely clever. I don’t have a photography or graphic design credit for the front cover, so if you know who is responsible for this beauty let me know.

As far as the personnel on the record, Jonah Jones gets vocal and trumpet credits but I haven’t been able to ID the other musicians.

Here is the album description from the back cover:

“For those who appreciate the finer things in life, gentleman Jonah Jones supplies words and music for an album filled with songs about man’s favorite hobby: Chicks!

The now famous Jonah Jones style is thoroughly in evidence throughout this album. As he sails through these tunes about the little ladies — bless ’em — he’s playing trumpet as if he invented the instrument. Replete with more vocals than any other set he’s created, this album proves that Jonah’s personality-filled singing makes him one of the world’s foremost authorities on songs of love. A whole brood of chicks shows up here, and they’re all held spellbound by the master’s muted trumpet and happy voice.

One of the best impressions of Jonah’s technique can be found in I Dig Chicks, the title song, created especially for this album. In it, Jonah looks forward with irresistible glee to a rosy future filled with Linda, Rosetta, Cecilia, Mandy, Louise and the likes. He sounds as if he could sing on forever, because he’s singing about chicks, the proper object of every man’s attentions. They’re especially nice, though, when they’re the object of the Jonah Jones Quartet.”

Track Listing:

A1 I Dig Chicks
A2 Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
A3 Marchetta
A4 Tangerine
A5 Cecilia
A6 Blue Lou
B1 Chlo-E
B2 Lillette
B3 Judy
B4 Louise
B5 Linda
B6 Rosetta

In Club 99, I look at songs that peaked at position #99 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and help to put them into context. Together we can decide if the song deserved more success or got too much.

The Song: “I’ll Get By (As Long As I Have You)”
The Artist: Billy Williams
#99 Chart Date: August 4, 1958

Today’s entry is the first #99 in the Billboard Hot 100 era, “I’ll Get By (As Long As I Have You)” by Billy Williams. Williams charted several times going back to the mid-1940s, but by far his biggest hit was “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” which hit #3 in the summer of 1957. Just over one year later he released “I’ll Get By (As Long As I Have You)” as the b-side of “It’s Prayin’ Time.”

In just about every important way, “I’ll Get By” is a carbon copy of his earlier hit. The arrangement, melodies, and vocal gimmicks are purposely meant to evoke and duplicate Williams’ earlier hit.

The record-listening public wasn’t having any of it, however, and the new song peaked at #99 on August 4, 1958, the same week the new Hot 100 debuted.

It’s a decent song compared to others of the era, but loses points for being a total knockoff.

To hear other songs in Club 99,  check out my Spotify playlist.

Ricardo Montalbán (Mr. Roarke) and Hervé Villechaize (Tattoo) from Fantasy Island, airing on ABC from 1977-1984.