Something about sitting in seat 18C, high above the Atlantic and coping with vague screaming boredom makes me want to listen to lightweight mid ‘60s pop songs, especially those that lean on catchy harmonies.
But after doing this for five or ten I tell myself “no, stop this, enough.”
And that turn in the road leads to one of my all-time favorite mid ‘60s ditties — Tony Powers and George Fischoff’s “98.6”, an unpretentious shuffle tune with arguably one of the catchiest melodies ever crafted. Lead vocal by Keith (still with us) and backing harmonies by The Tokens (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”).
You need to try and imagine listening to “98.6” in a car driven by a friend, and you’re both ripped.