29
Jan 04
THE KALIN TWINS – “When”
Hal and Herb Kalin’s only UK hit is a breezy little thing, floor-friendly and with enough quirky touches to suggest that something a bit more demented is trying to break the pop surface. It never quite does – the castanets are mere emphasis, never fiery; the backing vocals nudge at the edges of wackiness but then hold back. Enjoyable but minor – a sound jiving its way towards the generic.
LINK: The Kalins’ story in their own words – a jolly read!
5
Light Entertainment Watch: Just one UK TV appearance is listed. No copy survives;
SIX-FIVE SPECIAL: with The Kalin Twins, Laurie London, Don Rennie, Joan Small, Jimmy Lloyd, Vince Eager, The Lana Sisters, The Six-Five Dates, Craig Douglas, Maurice Burman (1958)
from the photo over at the Youtube link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G55yNWCnXTI) they look like the Golden Age version of Jedward – but despite a discernible sense of personality on this performance this cracks along quite nicely
Kind of surprised this hit so big in the UK. I see it was a decent hit in the US as well (#5), but still one of those oldies you only hear on shows that dig deep into the 1950s.