BILLY J KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS - “Little Children”
(21st March 1964)
It’s fair to say time hasn’t smiled on this record. The first verse sets up the singer as a dirty old man - keep the secret, don’t tell on me, etc. But then comes the twist - he’s a teenager trying to cop off with the children’s sister and just wants them out of the way. Well, okay, less promising material has been spun into gold - but even if the nudge-wink child molester stuff was just a bit of fun in the 60s, it sounds decidedly queasy now the gap between comedy pervert and national bogeyman has been narrowed.
If the Dakotas put in a great performance, of course, you might hardly notice the lyrics. But they don’t. “Little Children” lumbers grotesquely, an electric piano mixed unpleasantly high and telegraphing every poor joke while the seasick band rolls along. The intent, surely, was to make a charming record with all-ages appeal, but the clumsy execution turns this into an embarrassment. 2
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Terri on October 20th, 2006
Tom, you obviously listened to a later recording of “Little Children” WITHOUT the Dakotas, which I have heard and HATE! Your reference to the electric piano would confirm that as in the 1960s version, the piano was, I believe played on an upright piano…not high pitched, at all…very low, deep chords that sounded awesome. Also, the rhythym guitar in the original is absolutely unique and sounds great. Wish you had heard the original before you commented…it really was a great song.
David Watson on November 9th, 2006
I loved this song. It was different and I didn’t really see overtly the dirty old man thing. I loved the chord pattern and production. Harmony, double tracked voice (keynote of the times). What can I say I really enjoy that and still play it from time to time.
FT's andypalm on May 20th, 2007
Tom
I was 7 when the original came out. I can still see Billy J in my mind’s eye on a black and white TV. The song was immensely popular, and, if you listen carefully, in a no-judgemental way, will see that it really is an innocent song.
The chords structure is surprisingly simple yet highly effective.
Terri, yes, it was an upright piano, quite popular at the time. Gerry and the Pacemakers had a similar line up.
Doctor Casino on April 27th, 2008
It’s very clearly an upright piano, so I wonder if Tom did hear a later version. That said, I think most of his complaints apply equally to the hit version - the “seasick” band is still there, and the lyric remains totally unsettling to a present-day listener. I’m surprised this hasn’t been appropriated by Marilyn Manson or someone else whose audience appreciates milking spooky, creepy content out of pop miscellaney.
Billy Smart on July 21st, 2008
TOTP Watch: This is the first number one for which a performance on the show survives. It comes from the edition transmitted on the 26th of February 1964. Also in the studio that week were The Dave Clark 5 (this clip also survived), Cilla Black, Eden Kane, Kathy Kirby, The Bachelors and The Merseybeats. The host was Jimmy Saville.