Malt Shop Memories Cruise “Beach Party”

Before setting sail all Malt Shop Memories cruisers received a logo shirt to wear to the Tee-shirt deck party, which this year was pretty special with a performance by Jan & Dean’s Beach Party, featuring Dean Torrence. With complimentary drinks and canapés being served by Eurodam crewmembers we got into the west coast beach music vibe, starting with The Little Old Lady From Pasadena, then Dean moved on to some Jamaican tunes to get us set to arrive there tomorrow. He followed that up with Sea Cruise and introduced his band members who were formerly with the Eagles—we rocked to a bit of Take It Easy and Hotel California.

Later, Lloyd Price hosted a Cajun cooking demonstration, Peter Noone was available for a question-and-answer session, and Dean Torrence hosted a “Surf Craze” presentation.

Each day’s highlight is of course the evening concert and tonight our show was Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Lloyd Price.

Martha’s Vandellas are her sisters and they got things off to a hot start with Heat Wave. After fifty-five years in the business Martha really knows how to put on a show and got the audience on their feet to do the “Temptation Walk” during Jimmy Mack. We stayed on our feet for their number one hit Dancing in the Street.

Lloyd Price cooks & rocks

Lloyd Price, who created the sound of rock ‘n Roll from New Orleans, followed Martha and the Vandellas on stage with a rousing Stagger Lee and Lawdy, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, which he recorded in 1952 and has been covered by many artists since then. His sound is a blend of rock ‘n roll, blues, and R&B and influenced by the great Fats Domino. After Price’s version of Blueberry Hill, he wrapped up the show with Personality, his smash hit that sold over ten million copies.

With the night still young, we headed to the Lido Pool where Al “Little Fats” Jackson provided more New Orleans rock ‘n roll sounds for dancing at the Sock Hop. As his name implies, Jackson is from the west bank of New Orleans and also a devotee of Fats Domino’s sound.

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