Mouth And MacNeal - "How Do You Do."

[stevie nice]

Without stepping on anybody's toes, or definition of nostalgia, this, to me, is the perfect example of what this section of the message board should be. Bad, (well, many will consider this one of the worst top 10 hits ever) one hit wonders from the 70s, 80s, & 90s, who had their one shining moment of fame with a catchy hook laden single.

I absolutely adore this song; it came out in 1972, when I was about 8 1/2 years old and was a major smash in the NY area on 77WABC. No reference books handy, but I believe this peaked at #8 or so on the pop charts. Dave Herman, a very respected DJ in the NY area on 102.7 WNEW-FM, used to do a Dreaded Midnight Oldies segment of his show in the early-mid 80s. when he was there doing the 10PM-2AM shift. This was one of the songs he played as a DMO. 15 minutes after playing it, he claimed he had never had so many callers defending the song and asking how he could call it a DMO.

I loved this song as an 8 year old in 1972, had not heard it since Dave Herman's show, and the following day, found a used copy of it at a record store called Downstairs Records on 43rd St. and 6th avenue in NYC, (It has since moved, I think to NJ) I am in fact, playing an MP3 of it as I type. WOW!!! This song is really awesome!!!

It's a duet between a guy and girl, alternates between a country styled song for the verses, then breaks into a marching band beat for the choruses. Certainly a ground breaking song for 1972. And the novelty of it is not so dated that I would not be surprised if someone would put out an updated version of it and have some AC success, a/.la "Drift Away" by Uncle Kracker.

You got this gruff voiced guy singing about how he and the girl are gonna start anew (in their relationship). Then, some violins or strings enter the picture, and in the sweetest of voices, you have some girl singing "how do you do, umm ummm, i thought mana mana mana, just me and you, and you can say mana mana." she finishes her piece, to be joined by the gruff voiced guy, as they sing over the marching band beat in unison (How Do You Do, Uh Huh, I thought mana mana mana just me and you.) Yeah I know this doesn't sound like much, but believe me, if you know this song, you will either defend it til the day you die, or have a good laugh at it.

Which side are you on?

[craig]

i like this song to i was 11 when it came out. it is one of my fav's from 1972. some others are I'll take you there, brandy you're a fine girl and brand new key.

[mst3k]

I guess I'm down the middle... I don't hate it, but it is good for a laugh. The first time I ever heard it was in 1993 or so when I bought the Rhino CD set "Have A Nice Day... Super Hits of the '70s" (which features lots of one-hit-wonder pop hits that rarely get oldies airplay... highly recommended). I think the liner notes weren't too kind to this particular song... :)

[reception]

Here's a clip.

[mst3k]

mst3k said:

I think the liner notes weren't too kind to this particular song... 

"Mouth & MacNeal's innocuous 'How Do You Do?' reached #8 in July, and is so resolutely empty-headed it makes the Jimmy Castor Bunch's "Troglodyte (Caveman)" sound almost literate. The song was the first and last hit for the Dutch duo of Willem Duyn and Maggie MacNeal. You could say it was a simultaneous 'How do you do?' and 'Here's your hat, what's your hurry?'"

[irock]

Now you've gone and done it; I'll be digging for hours through old records trying to find my copy of this. I know I have it somewhere, probably on some complilation album. But since you mention it I want to hear it. I haven't even thought of this in many, many years, I might have gone through with the rest of my life in ignorant bliss had you not brought it up.

Oh, well, might as well get to it.