line-up 1 (1967-68)

- Don Agrati (aka Don Grady) (RIP 2012) -- drums, percussion,

  vocals

- Don Braucht -- bass, rhythm guitar, percussion 

- Paul Cannella -- lead guitar

- Forrest 'Frosty' Green -- vocals, keyboards 

- Alex Valdez -- vocals, drums, percussion

- Luke R. Yoo (aka Don Grady) -- vocals, drums, keyboards 

- Don Agrati (solo efforts)

- The Breakaways (Don Braucht)

- The Five of Us (Paul Canella and Alex Valdez)

- Frosty (Forrest Green) (solo efforts)

- Don Grady and the Windupwatch Band (solo efforts)

- The Group (Gary Zekley)

- The Palace Guard (Don Grady)

- The Popcorn Explosion (Don Braucht, Paul Cannella,  

  Forrest Green and Alex Valdez)

- The Raggamuffins (Gary Zekley)

- The Rising Sons (Forrest Green) 

- Alex Valdez (solo efforts)

- Gary Zekley (solo efforts)

Genre: sunshine-pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Yellow Balloon

Company: Canterbury

Catalog: CLPS-1502

Year: 1967

Country/State: California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: stereo pressing

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4484

Price: $40.00

Cost: $66.00

Quick word of warnin - 1967's "The Yellow Balloon" is another mid-1960s album some dealers have labeled as psych.  It isn't.  Think sunshine-pop and you'll be in the right musical niche. That isn't to imply the albumt doesn't have it's virtues. 

The Yellow Balloon started as a studio entity - the brain child of producer/songwriter Gary Zekley.  Zekley had made his name working with and writing material for Jan and Dean.  In the wake of Jan's near fatal 1966 car accident, Zekley continued working with Dean Torrence on a planned solo album (to be credited as a Jan and Dean product).  Zekley provided Torrence with several tunes, but was disappointed with the studio recordings, eventually deciding to shop the songs around himself.  

Finding an interested party in the form of Ken Handler's LA-based Canterbury Records (Handler's parent owned Mattel Toys), Zekley convinced Canterbury to rush release one of the songs as a single.  Credited to 'The Yellow Balloon', 1967's 'Yellow Balloon' b/w 'Noollab Wolley' (Canterbury catalog number C-508) provided Zekley with an unexpected top-40 hit.  The resulting publicity and demand for touring support forced Zekley to start looking for a touring band.  At the same time Canterbury had signed child star Don Agrati aka Don Grady (aka Robbie of My Three Sons) to a solo recording contract.  In addition to his television work, Agrati/Grady had been a member of the folk-rock outfit The Palace Guard and while touring with the band and as a solo act he'd accumulated a list of musicians he'd seen and worked with whom had impressed him.  Put in touch with Zekley the two agreed on a collaboration with Grady subsequently calling up some of those musicians.  The final Yellow Balloon line up consisted of ex-The Five of Us lead guitarist Paul Canella and singer Alex Valdez, former Rising Sons keyboardist Forrest Green and ex-The Breakaways bassist Don Braucht.   

Produced by Zekley (credited as Yodar Critch), the album's surprisingly good considering it reflected a mixture of Jan and Dean castoffs, Zekley demos and new material recorded with a mix of studio musicians and the recently hired band. Offering up a mix of Beach Boys-styled rock and more conventional pop, the set benefited from strong melodies and the fact that Zekley and three others (Valdez, Grady (under the pseudonym Luke R. You) and Green) handled lead vocals.  While every one of the eleven tracks had commercial potential, highlights included 'Stained Glass Window', 'Good Feelin' Time' and 'Springtime Girl'.   Elsewhere Canterbury tapped the LP for two more singles:

"The Yellow Balloon" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) How Can I Be Down   (Don Altfeld - Gibson - Gary Zekley) - 2:14

2.) Stained Glass Window   (Don Agrati - Gary Zekley) - 2:03

- 1967's 'Stained Glass Window' b/w 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love' (Canterbury catalog number C-516)

3.) Baby Baby It's You   (Dick St. John - Gary Zekley) - 1:57

4.) Panama Red   (Lee - Gary Zekley) - 1:39

5.) I've Got a Feeling for Love   (Don Altfeld - Jill Gibson - Lee - Gary Zekley) - 2:18

6.) Yellow Balloon   (Lee - Dick St. John - Gary Zekley) - 2:16

(side 2)

1.) Good Feelin' Time   (Don Agrati - Gary Zekley) - 2:12

- 1967's 'Good Feelin' Time' b/w 'I've Gotta Feeling for Love' (Canterbury catalog number C-513)

2.) Follow the Sunshine   (Byrne - Ferrell) - 2:35

3.) Springtime Girl   (Byrne - Ferrell) - 2:06

4.) Can't Get Enough of Your Love   (Anthony - Dick St. John - Gary Zekley) - 2:16

5.) Junk Maker Shoppe   (Don Agrati) - 2:37

https://web.archive.org/web/20071119231310/http://www.freewebs.com/theyellowballoon/

Yellow Balloon's major claim to fame was that the band's membership boasted a celebrity, actor Don Grady from the television series My Three Sons, which starred Fred MacMurray. The band at one time also included Daryl Dragon, who wasn't as famous at the time as he would be a few years down the road as the male half of the popular duo Captain & Tennille. In 1967 Yellow Balloon scored its first and only hit single, which was named after the group. The band released an eponymous album that same year through Canterbury Records. In addition to Grady and Dragon, who both played drums, its membership included lead singer Alex Valdez, keyboardist Frosty Green, bassist Don Braught, and guitarist Paul Canella.

Grady, who was born Don Agrati, played previously with the Palace Guard, a folk-rock band. Yellow Balloon formed during the '60s when he joined forces in Los Angeles with Gary Zekley, a songwriter and producer who had initially written the single "Yellow Balloon" for surf duo Jan & Dean. Zekley also released a version of the song, and when it skipped into the Top 30, he and Grady pulled together a band for live performances and put out an album.

Grady culled Braught and Green from a band called Rising Sons in Oregon, and drew Canella and Valdez from Five of Us, an Arizona group. Grady had previously recorded their names in a list he kept of musicians whose skill impressed him when he saw them play while he toured on other business, sometimes with a band called Windupwatchband. When the time came to pull together the band that would be Yellow Balloon, he gave them a call.

After failing to score on the charts again, the group disbanded. Grady went solo for a while and recorded as Don Agrati. Braught, Canella, Green, and Valdez re-formed under the name the Popcorn Explosion. Zekley continued to write hits, among them "Sooner or Later" and "I'd Wait a Million Years" for the Grass Roots. Sundazed reissued Yellow Balloon's lone album as a CD in 1998. The release includes all 11 songs from the original album, plus a few numbers Grady had released as singles, a demo, and a recorded interview with Zekley.

Discography

The Yellow Balloon The Yellow Balloon Sundazed Records SC 11069 In today's radio world of brooding males and angst ridden females, there doesn't seem to be a place for music that's, well...happy. For this reason we often need a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, and there may be no better place to get it than with The Yellow Balloon. Their saga is an interesting one: it started in late 1966 when Dean Torrence (of Jan & Dean) needed some songs for a new album, so he enlisted the help of Gary Zekley, a very talented Los Angeles singer/songwriter/producer. One of the songs he gave Torrence was called "Yellow Balloon". Zekley was proud of the song, but didn't like the way Torrence had recorded it, so he went around to different labels to shop it. Among those who Zekley visited was Ken Handler of Canterbury Records, who was very excited about the song and immediately set about having it recorded. He had Zekley do the vocals, and then he brought in noteworthy studio musicians to add the embroidery. The results were magnificent, full of circular keyboard lines, a slight tremelo effect on the guitar, and more ba ba bas and ooohs and aahhs than the sun has rays. The record was released under the group name Yellow Balloon, in direct competition to Torrence's version (which was under the name Jan & Dean, even though Jan Berry was not on the recording, having been in a near fatal accident not long before), and it won the battle, placing at #25 in the spring of 1967 (Jan & Dean's failed to make the top 100). A lot of excitement was brewing, and there was the desire to have the band do an album and perform at various shows. There was only one problem: there was no actual Yellow Balloon! In a whirlwind move Handler elicited the help of Canterbury recording artist Don Grady, who was better known at the time as Robbie Douglas of the TV series My Three Sons. Grady knew several other musicians, vocalist Alex Valdez, guitarist Paul Kanella, bass player Don Braucht, and keyboardist Forrest "Frosty"Green, and they were quickly brought in to record an album, with Zekley at the producer's helm (he also co-wrote 8 of the 11 tracks). The results of this union were fantastic, and The Yellow Balloon has long been considered a classic album in the "sunshine pop" sub-genre. It's also been considered quite rare, its original run being very limited, and over the past few years has been virtually impossible to find. Thankfully, Sundazed Records, in its usual display of good sense and taste, has reissued this album along with several bonus tracks, and it's a work that fans of late 60s pop music cannot be without!

Although many nay sayers have tried to dismiss The Yellow Balloon as being lightweight and disposable, it's absolutely false. Although it's certainly true that most of the songs on the album are sunny and bright, and childlike in sentiment, the arrangements are superb, offering strongly Beach Boys influenced bass figures, sophisticated keyboard flourishes, and some very odd time signatures. You'll feel the magic from the opening cut "How Can I Be Down," sung by Zekley (billed on the album as Yodar Critch, because a colleague thought the name would inspire him!), which is simple in its essence but also awash in carousel like keyboards and dizzying vocal arrangments. Perhaps the attitude of the song, as well as the album, is summed up by the couplet "Life was just a downer till now, but you came along in a wow!" Other quintessential tracks are "Stained Glass Window," which is sung by Grady (who also used a nom de plume, Luke R. Yoo, because he didn't want people to buy the album simply because "an actor" was on it-he even appears on the cover in sunglasses so that he's not recognized!) and is filled with strings which gives it a pastoral feel, the Green sung "Baby Baby It's You," with a circular keyboard that makes it sort of a Beach Boys "California Girls" and "Let Him Run Wild" rolled into one, the bright and breezy "I've Got A Feeling For Love," sung by Valdez (dig his wailing near the end of the track!), the aforementioned title track, the Grady sung "Good Feelin Time", which makes the King Family seem like Hell's Angels (this is meant to be a compliment!), and the shuffling "Follow The Sunshine" . As a change of pace, Grady's "Junk Maker Shoppe" throws a mild dose of jazzy funk (!) into the mix.

Among the bonus tracks are "Noolab Wooley," which was "Yellow Balloon" recorded backwards and was used as its b-side because Canterbury didn't have anything else to put there at the time, and the a and b sides of Don Grady's pre-Yellow Balloon singles. "The Children Of St. Monica" had been a big hit in the Pacific Northwest where Grady was from, and foreshadowed his work with The Yellow Balloon. Speaking of the Pacific Northwest, "Impressions With Syvonne" was a straight cop of that region's own Paul Revere and the Raiders, and its b-side "Leaving It Up To You" was a straight ahead, engaging pop song. Other bonus tracks include alternate and demo versions of songs that appeared on Yellow Balloon, and an interview with Zekley (who passed away in 1996) by liner note writer Domenic Priore, in which he recalls the sessions for the recording of "Yellow Balloon".

It is unfortunate that the original master tapes of The Yellow Balloon cannot be found. Nevertheless, the sound of the vinyl remastering by Sundazed is impeccable, and the liner notes by Priore are among the most detailed and faithful you'll ever see. Just follow the sunshine down to your local record store, buy this disc, and prepare yourself for a good feelin' time!

David Bash

Gary Zekley

...A list of songs written or co-written by Gary Zekley, along with the relevant artist information. Archived here at Spectropop, the list is undoubtedly incomplete and any assistance in filling in any missing pieces will be most appreciated by sending an email to spectropop@yahoo.com with any comments or additional information. Contributors will be credited. >>> presented by Spectropop

Yellow Balloonnoollab wolley

"The Yellow Balloon was Don Grady's (Robbie on TV's My Three Sons) rock & roll group, but even more important, the brainchild of California producer Gary Zekley. Not unlike a Gary Usher, Zekley could grab a bunch of musicians and -- filling in the needed holes with his own talent -- produce sessions that rivaled Phil Spector or Brian Wilson for big sound and teen spirit..." >>>presented by All Music Guide

noollab wolleyYellow Balloon

Listen to Real Audio and LiquidAudio samples of all the great songs by Yellow Balloon here:. Tracks include: 1 How Can I Be Down; 2 Stained Glass Window; 3 Baby Baby It's You; 4 Panama Red; 5 I've Got A Feeling For Love; 6 Yellow Balloon; 7 Good Feelin' Time; 8 Follow The Sunshine; 9 Springtime Girl; 10 Can't Get Enough Of Your Love; 11 Junk Maker Shoppe; 12 noollaB wolleY; 13 Children Of St. Monica, The; 14 Good Man To Have Around The House, A; 15 Impressions With Syvonne; 16 Leaving It Up To You; 17 Can't Get Enough Of Your Love - (Single version); 18 Follow The Sunshine - (Alternate Mono mix); 1

The Yellow Balloon was an American sunshine pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1967 by songwriter and producer Gary Zekley.[1][2] The group is notable for featuring Don Grady (sometimes billed as "Luke R. Yoo")[3] of The Mickey Mouse Club and My Three Sons fame. Other band members hailed from Oregon and Arizona. They were led by Alex Valdez (lead singer), and included Frosty Green (keyboards), Don Braucht (bass guitar), and Paul Canella (lead guitar).[4] The band at one time also included Daryl Dragon, later the male half of Captain & Tennille.[5]

The Yellow Balloon released multiple singles, including their hit "Yellow Balloon" which peaked at #25 on the Billboard 100 Chart and "Good Feelin' Time,"[6] which peaked at #1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 extension chart. Both are taken from the group's debut album.

The band's 1967 self-titled LP was released through Canterbury Records and besides featuring the hit single "Yellow Balloon", also included two songs co-written by former The Mamas & the Papas singer Jill Gibson. The album was re-released in 1998 as a CD by Sundazed Music, including all eleven songs from the original album, a few songs Grady released as singles, a demo, and a Zekley recorded interview[5] conducted by the music historian Domenic Priore.

The group disbanded soon after their first release, when further success eluded them. Band members felt they had nothing new to produce, so the breakup was amicable.

Discography 1967: The Yellow Balloon No. Title Length 1. "How Can I Be Down" 2:14 2. "Stained Glass Window" 2:03 3. "Baby Baby It's You" 1:57 4. "Panama Red" 1:39 5. "I've Got a Feeling for Love" 2:18 6. "Yellow Balloon" 2:16 7. "Good Feelin' Time" 2:12 8. "Follow the Sunshine" 2:35 9. "Springtime Girl" 2:06 10. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" 2:16 11. "Junk Maker Shoppe" 2:37

This sunshiny day-glo gem is reminiscent of the lush, yet trippy studio wizardry of Sagittarius and the mind bending delights of Smile-era recordings. This new reissue of Yellow Balloon contains 16 tracks, including the complete stereo album & singles from ‘60s TV superstar Don Grady!

A songwriting assignment from Dean Torrence led to a rich musical career for Los Angeles pop genius Gary Zekley. Zekley – a man whose body of work stands up to any of the precocious Brill Building bunch from five years earlier – originally penned the song “Yellow Balloon” for Jan and Dean, but also recorded the tune himself. When Zekley’s version went into the Top Thirty in April of 1967, he assembled a band, called the Yellow Balloon (natch), with the likes of lead singer Alex Valdez and the multi-talented drummer/vocalist Don Grady, already a TV superstar as Robbie Macmurray’s oldest kid on My Three Sons.

This reissue of Yellow Balloon contains 16 tracks, including the complete original stereo album.

• First-ever US LP reissue, out of print anywhere for 30 years! • total sunshine pop bliss! • Cut by Kevin Gray and pressed on Yellow vinyl at Citizen vinyl for optimal fidelity!

Yesterday’s classic song of the day was about 99 red balloons; today’s is about a single yellow balloon. The song, which few of you will remember (but might recall when you listen to it), is called “Yellow Balloon” and it’s performed by a group called The Yellow Balloon. Released in February of 1967, this little piece of sunshine pop rose to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The group The Yellow Balloon was truly a one-hit wonder—actually, a one tune wonder. The flip side of the “Yellow Balloon” single was titled “Noollab Wolley,” which is “Yellow Balloon” backwards—which is literally what the track was, the song played backwards. The A-side rose to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. Nobody played the B-side.

“Yellow Balloon” was written by songwriter/producer Gary Zekley (along with Dick St. John and Jay Lee), who also wrote “Sooner or Later” for the Grass Roots. He first gave the song to Dean Torrence (the “Dean” of Jan and Dean) for a solo release, but Zekley didn’t like that recording and shopped it around a little. It landed with Ken Handler of Canterbury Records, who brought in a bunch of LA studio musicians (including Jim Gordon on drums) to record it. They attached the name The Yellow Balloon to the studio recording and made it into a hit. For “live” performances, Zekley employed some long-haired teenaged ringers to do the lip synching.

(Dean Torrence’s slightly more Beach Boys-like version of “Yellow Balloon” was released as a single attributed to Jan and Dean; it didn’t break into the Hot 100.)

Whomever was singing and playing, “Yellow Balloon” is a classic slice of ’60s sunshine pop, complete with lots of “ba ba bas” and fairly meaningless lyrics about “It’s like a yellow balloon, on a rainy afternoon, and love’s a yellow balloon.” Whatever that means. Sounds nice, though.

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This CD is so very "feel good" or "bubblegum" in a way, a soundtrack of '67 music. I have the original vinyl for this which is still in primo condition and this CD is true to that with the addition of other tracks. The sound is superb and very enjoyable all around. The story that I heard about Yellow Balloon gos farther than this album and not sure if true, but at that time, a local radio station, KMEN in San Bernardino, had a yellow ballon flying overhead during the National Orange Show or some other event early in 1967. Jimmy Webb observed the balloon and wrot "Up Up and Away" because of it. but somehow this incantation of "Yellow Ballon" may have been somehow connected to that bit of folklore. it was a splendid time for competitive radio and for all types of music all played in one place instead of the segregated and watered down categories we now suffer with. As for the CD, ENJOY it, it's golden! 7 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Blind man Wayne 5.0 out of 5 stars Trippy light-hearted sunshine pop - Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2004 Verified Purchase Those of you who enjoy The Association or Harpers Bizarre and dig the west-coast sound of the late 60s, will enjoy The Yellow Balloon. The song Yellow Balloon was a mild hit in 1967 and I remember hearing it on KFRC in San Francisco. I recently re-discovered the song when it appeared on a various artists compilation entitled Sunshine Days (which I highly recommend), released by Varese Sarabande. I liked the song so much that I took a chance and bought the The Yellow Balloon CD. It is beautiful and upbeat with complex harmonies, light-hearted lyrics and wonderful musicianship. One particular song on the album entitled Follow The Sunshine teases your brain and beckons you to follow the melodic and rhythmic shifts occurring throughout it. Follow The Sunshine sounded odd and awkward during the first couple listens, but since has become my favorite track. The album is especially entertaining when listened to with stereo headphones. I am giving this CD five stars because I enjoy it immensely and to commend Sundazed Music for packaging it so nicely with wonderful liner notes and bonus tracks. Speaking of bonus tracks, it features nine of them including the B side of the Yellow Balloon single, which is the song played backwards! 21 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Spaceman 426 4.0 out of 5 stars An underrated 60s pop classic Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2020 Verified Purchase The Yellow Balloon was one of the most underrated bands of the 1960's, and this was their only album. It has one medium hit, Yellow Balloon.--That song should have been a bigger hit than it was, and you hardly hear it anyplace now. The rest of it is filled with more light harmonic pop. The first 11 tracks are from the original album, but some of the bonus tracks are not quite as good.

If you are looking for more of the same kind of music, try The Clique, by the band of the same name. It also has one medium hit, and more of the light harmonic pop. And both of these two groups were started by the same person. 4 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Dan D. 5.0 out of 5 stars Great yellow vinyl Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024 Verified Purchase Good sounds of the 1960s. The best era of music …. Helpful Report

Brian J. Mcmahon 3.0 out of 5 stars Yellow Balloon Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2001 Verified Purchase I would give it 5 stars on a personal level, but for the masses it realistically would be less. Tracks #1 How Can I Be Down, #9 Springtime Girl and #6 Yellow Balloon are great. These songs have a Brian Wilson sensibility minus the deep lyrical content. You have to get past the fact this is a "manufactured" group(save for Don Grady from "My Three Sons", I don't think the other members did much singing on the final product, chores handled by session musicians). My favorites of Don's(his solo career was thrown onto this complilation as well) are #2 Stained Glass Window, #14 Good Man To Have Around the House(a hoot performed on a "My Three Sons" episode) and #16 Leaving it Up To you. I REALLY liked this better than Pet Sounds, though the two should not be compared really, this is very well executed bubblegum, representive of direction I WISH the Beach Boys had taken. 5 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Scott M. 5.0 out of 5 stars The Don Grady? Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2013 Verified Purchase Well yes and no. He was part of this group wearing disguises. He does sing lead on some of the songs. Gary Zekley was the man behind this group. I don't know much else about them other than they remind me of the '66-67 Brian Wilson period. One person found this helpful Helpful Report

William G. Taylor 5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2017 Verified Purchase Good product would buy from them again. One person found this helpful Helpful Report

TommyTunes 4.0 out of 5 stars TOO BAD GOT TO 25 Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2014 Verified Purchase WHEN JAN BERRY WOULD NOT ALLOW COLUMBIA TO RELEASE JAN AND DEAN YELLOW BALLON CAUSE HE DID NOT SING ON IT, HIS WASNT ABLE TO SING, TOO BAD GOT TO 25, WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER ON CHARTS IF NAME GROUP AS JAN AND DEAN AND MAY HAVE KEPT THEIR CAR ALIVE, THE GUY FROM MY THREE SONGS DON GRADY SANG THE LEAD ON THIS POP GUM, THE SINGLE YELLOW BALLON 5 STAR FOR SURE AS THE FOLLOW UP GOOD FEELING TIME, MOST ALBUM CUTS GOOD TO GREAT CALIFORNIA STYLE POP One person found this helpful Helpful Report

Paul E. Scholte 1.0 out of 5 stars Just Awful Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2003 Verified Purchase The song, "Yellow Balloon" is one of my most pleasant musical memories from my teen years, and I am definitely a beach music fan, so I hate to have to write this kind of review. The only reason I am doing so is so you won't waste your money. This has got to be one of the worst CDs I have ever heard. Musically... artistically...it is awful. I can't remember too many CDs I have bought that I felt this way about, but there is no doubt in my mind that I am accurately judging this one. As I played it for the first time, accompanied by my wife, I was embarassed that she knew I had bought it, especially when we got to the backward version of "Yellow Balloon." Please...find some way to preview it before your make the purchase...it's THAT bad. 7 people found this helpful Helpful Report

susan grant 5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2016 Verified Purchase

s a huge fan of mid to late 60s california pop, I heard this album was something of a missing link between the sunshine pop of '65 era Beach Boys and the psychedelic explosion of the Summer of Love. And essentially, thats exactly what this album is. A poor man's Pet Sounds per-se. Most of these songs are derived from the structure and feel of the early beach boys more experimental singles, (Little Girl I Once Knew, Calfornia Girls, maybe even Wouldn't It Be Nice, mostly the style of light breezy verses that explode into a huge, shimmering chorus with more Ba-Ba-Ba's than you can shake a stick at), drizzled with faux-Wilsonian harmonies, most lifted directly from the more upbeat Pet Sounds songs. Unlike the amazon review suggests, there really is no hint whatsoever at psychedelia. The only reasonable claim to psych this band has is the way the lead singers sing such child-like lyrics with a twisted, almost perverse wide eyed innocence ('you turned me on and oh WOW!' - How Can I Be Down?) that leads one to think he may have been incidentally slipped a tab of LSD. The songs themselves are competently written, especially the Don Grady tracks (to my surprise). 'Baby its You' is a perfectly exucasable rip off of the aforementioned 'Little Girl I Once Knew', with an (almost) equally euphoric, catchy chorus. 'Stained Glass Window' benefits from nice strings and some lush backing vocals that casacade in to a shouty chorus of Ba-Ba's propelled by the most 60s of handclaps. 'Good Feelin Time' is a Grady penned tune, a nice little lilting pop tune, with an utterly unique rotating organ sound, that carries the song nicely. The lead off single and the enire basis for this album, 'Yellow Balloon, is just as lighthearted and silly a romp as the rest of the album. Obviously, there are some subpar tracks. 'Follow the Sunshine' is guilty of some of the plain dumbest sounding backing harmonies I've ever heard, (Yodel-ee-eye?). 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love' sounds hastily written and performed with a very mediocre melody and lazy vocals. Bottom line, this album works like a lo-fi, bubblegum Pet Sounds. Take that anyway you'd like. Although on first listen you might be taken aback by the cheeriness, simple lyrics and sparse production, but more spins will reveal the record to be a carefully constructed slice of sunshine pop with maybe, just maybe, the faintest wisp of studio experimentation and 60s psychedelia.

By the way, I'm sorry for all the Beach Boys comparisons, but Christ! Just listen to the album and they're inevitable... 7 people found this helpful Helpful Report

hyperbolium 4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous sunshine pop Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2004 Originally released in 1967, The Yellow Balloon's sole LP fell into the Sunshine Pop category that bridged more substantial rock sounds to the lighter bubblegum that would follow. The melodies and harmonies shimmer with the sort of gloss that would later power the Kanetz-Katz and Don Kirshner stables, but at the budding of the psychedelic revolution, were still owned by The Turtles, Left Banke, Association and others. The band's principals were drummer Don Grady (TV's Robbie Douglas from "My Three Sons") and producer/songwriter Gary Zekley. Grady had musical bona fides, having played with his own group for a number of years, and Zekley had been observing sessions by Spector and Brian Wilson, and penning songs for Jan & Dean, among others. Zekley's "Yellow Balloon" was a self-produced hit in need of a touring band, hence the formation of The Yellow Balloon. Together with Grady they picked players the latter had spotted in his touring and promotional travels. For the most part, the assembled "band" provided vocals - many of the album's tracks were recorded by the West Coast A-team (Carole Kaye, Don Randi, Al Casey, Jim Gordon, et al.) in the famed studios of Los Angeles (Sound Recorders, Western Recorders, etc.). The productions are certainly more Brian Wilson (or even Gary Usher, really) than Phil Spector: light instrumentals that underline and reflect complex vocal arrangements and harmonies. The songs are at once light-and-airy in their atmosphere, and masterfully complex in their construction. Zekley wrote most of the album's eleven tracks, with one credited to Agrati (Don Grady's real last name), and a pair to Byrne/Ferrell. While not as purposefully simple (that is, not as pointedly directed at 8-year-old girls) as the follow-on bubblegum sound, there is a lot of semi-stoned gazing at shiny, colorful objects. The real story is to be heard in the interplay of voices, rather than the lyrics. The multilayered vocals of "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" is a perfect example - strong enough to have the instrumental backing drop out mid-track, leaving the choral-like arrangement to carry the middle. Sundazed's CD reissue adds a generous nine tracks to the original eleven, including the hit single's original B-side, a backward version of the A-side! Also included are a quartet of tracks from Don Grady (including his pre-Yellow Balloon regional hit, "The Children of St. Monica"), different mixes (single, alternate mix, demo) of album tracks, and an interview with Gary Zekley. Domenic Priore's liner notes are incredibly detailed, providing an introduction to Gary Zekley's career and a blow-by-blow creation, success and fizzle arc of the band that's illuminated by numerous first-person quotes. This is a superb document of the West Coast sunshine sound - the rich vein of music that bubbled just under the well-known successes of The Beach Boys and others. 16 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Johnny Heering 4.0 out of 5 stars I've got a reason to like it Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2004 Gary Zekley recorded a demo for a song called "Yellow Balloon" that he was sure would be a smash hit. The demo found it's way to Dean Torrence (of Jan & Dean) who decided to record it as Jan & Dean's next single. Zekley showed up at Dean's recording session for the song and he was dismayed by what he heard. In his mind, they were performing the song the wrong way and there was no way it would be a hit. So, Zekley recorded his own version of "Yellow Balloon" the "right" way. Zekley's version was released under the group name "The Yellow Balloon" and became a #25 hit. Jan & Dean's version flopped. So, The Yellow Balloon had a hit song, but there was no actual group. A group was quickly assembled to tour in support of the song. It should be noted that none of the members of the Yellow Balloon band actually performed on "Yellow Balloon" the song. However, all the subsequent songs released under the Yellow Balloon group name did feature the band members (one of whom was Don Grady of My Three Sons fame). There was actually a Yellow Balloon album released, which is what we have here. It is fun, California style "sunshine pop" which is quite enjoyable if you like this sort of thing. There are several bonus tracks. "noollaB wolleY" is the original b-side of "Yellow Balloon", which is "Yellow Balloon" played backwards. Then we have the a-sides and b-sides of two Don Grady solo singles. The single version of "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" is included, and it's 45 seconds shorter than the album version. There is an alternate mono mix of "Follow the Sunshine". The demo version of "How Can I Be Down" features Gary Zekley singing alone (double tracked at times) and accompanied only by acoustic guitar. The CD winds up with a seven minute interview with Zekley about the making of "Yellow Balloon". It's fairly interesting, but I don't think too many people will want to listen to the interview more than once. Recommended to fans of the 1960s California scene. 15 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Jericho Taetz 5.0 out of 5 stars When it comes to happy, feel-good music, no one can touch these guys! Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2014 In 1966 the Beach introduced to the pop music scene a new kind of genre later to be called 'sunshine pop.' Less than a year later they had almost completely abandoned it. What ended up occurring was a brief period in the complex 1960's music that has almost been forgotten. One such group that jumped onto the band wagon was 'Yellow Ballon" (which, in truth wasn't really a real group at all but you can read about that the other reviews...).

What they managed to come up with is a masterpiece in it's own right. Of course it's not on the same level as 'Pet Sounds' or 'Smile,' but nevertheless when it comes to happy, feel-good music, no one can touch these guys! If you ever need something to cheer you up - just throw this down on the turnable.

My favorite tracks have to be 'Sunshine Girl' and 'How Can I Be Down' which practically explodes into harmony. (A side note: You can even hear "We're recording" at 1:50 - just another reason I love this album much!) 3 people found this helpful Helpful Report

smiley face 5.0 out of 5 stars Happy, gentle, beachy sound. Happy Yellow Balloon. Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2016 The late and talented Don Grady "Robbie Douglas' from My Three Sons fame is the blond wigged sunglass wearing guy on the cover. He was so talented and adorable. This album captures that brief sweet times during the radical 60s. So glad to find it on CD. Helpful Report

Mike Reed 3.0 out of 5 stars Yellow Balloon - self-titled (Sundazed) 3 1/2 stars Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2007 Originally hit the shops in 1967, as this was the 'sunshine pop' band's only ever album they did. I thought they played this genre a bit better than others from that same era did. Tunes here that sort of grabbed my attention were "Baby Baby It's You", "I've Got A Feeling For You", the band's namesake "Yellow Balloon", "Can't Get Enough" and maybe "Follow The Sunshine". Line-up: Alex Valdez - vocals, Paul Canella - guitar, Don Brought - bass, Frosty Green - keyboards and Don Grady (My Three Son's Robbie Douglas) - drums. Should, without a doubt draw in fans of the Monkees, Lovin' Spoonful, Jan & Dean, Mamas & The Papas and Sagittarius. 7 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Byron McCarty 4.0 out of 5 stars Great 60's Sound. Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 1998 A great mellow 60's album. Notice Don Grady on the album cover in sun glasses. It is very hard to find this album. It sounds great on CD. 4 people found this helpful Helpful Report

Keith Alcorn 5.0 out of 5 stars I Love this Album, Yes I Do! Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2000 The Yellow Balloon is one of those great forgotten one hit wonder bands of the 60's and the song "Yellow Balloon" is one of the all time great pop songs period! Their harmonies and hooks are something todays artists should take note of (no pun intended). 3 people found this helpful Helpful Report

GR 1.0 out of 5 stars 16 lumps of sugar in my coffee. Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2003 Not the Beachboys and definitely not Phychedelic. Sorry, but if I could have given this zero stars I would have. The Partridge Family are by far a more credible band. 8 people found this helpful

Fairly comm male vocal harmony pop fluff. In order for an album such as this to stand out for me, the song writing really needs to be outstanding. A few of the tracks qualify, though not all. Pop lovers should get a kick out of it, but underground fans probably aught to look elsewhere. Grades - 2 B's, 2 B-'s, 4 C+'s, and 2 C's. Unpublished by mod [Rating47313241] CLPM-1502 Vinyl LP (1967) HotOpinions Dec 01 20173.00 stars 5.9

I've heard a LOT of 60's baroque pop highly influenced by The Beach Boys, but this such an ashamed ripoff that it's actually really hard to enjoy this album for a lot of it. The general sunny atmosphere and hokey lyricism can be quite enjoyable at the album's heights, such as the beautiful harmony of "Good Feelin' Time", "How Can I Be Down", and the psychedelic "Yellow Balloon", and the banjo solo on "Follow the Sunshine" was a welcome surprise, but I just can't get over what a cover band these guys are for the Kinks and the Boys. If you are just a big fan of this sound you'll like what's on display here, and there are some really undeniably happiness-inducing moments, but overall it's forgettable and not too interesting. Published [Rating93532123] geldofpunk Dec 01 20173.00 stars Sunshine pop that is fairly reminiscent of The Beach Boys and maybe The Cowsills; very upbeat and happy sounding stuff. It's solid pop stuff but I can see this being a little bit too lightweight for some. If you like 60s pop, this record was tailor made for you but if not then come in with your guard up. Published [Rating93518686] psilosophy Oct 29 2017?4.00 stars Fin Octobre, le ciel est gris, les jours raccourcissent méchamment et on commence à se les cailler! Il n ' y avait pas de meilleur prétexte pour s' octroyer un petit extra de 25 minutes d' été!

Ce seul et unique album du ballon jaune est en effet un pur disque d' été. D 'écoute très facile, il y a quand même un titre qui culmine à 2'37! C 'est dire qu' on est dans la pop de poche... Voire dans une poche de la pop ou on trouverait des groupes californiens comme The Beach Boys ou The Lovin' Spoonful. Sans pour autant pasticher, on reconnaît aisément l' influences de ces groupes, que ce soit dans le songwriting ou les arrangements, de voix notamment. On pourra aussi plus sporadiquement penser à The Zombies : "Stained Glass Window" ou encore l' excellente "Good Feelin' Time", en précisant toutefois que cet album est quand même sorti un an avant le fameux Odessey and Oracle. Le reste dépendra de vous et de votre affinité avec les groupes sus-cités et si, en outre, vous êtes client de "good time music", vous pouvez vous jeter dessus les yeux fermés. Soyons francs : on atteint pas le génie qu' on trouve sur les meilleurs Beach Boys, ni l' extrême qualité vocale. Pour leur défense, l 'album a du être enregistré à la va-vite, j' en veux pour preuve le titre d' ouverture : à 1'48 exactement, un choriste fait un "Bah" en trop et le mec à la console rétorque "Keep recording"!!! Fallais pas te viander mec, on a pas le temps pour une deuxième prise... Il manque vraiment pas grand chose, juste un ou deux titres pour mettre tout le monde d' accord, leur propre "Good Vibrations" pour ainsi dire. Pour ma part, au fil des ans, j' ai vraiment fini par l' apprécier et pour tout dire, je ne m' attendais pas à lui attribuer une note si élevée. J' ai bien sûr mes petites préférences, mais en le retournant dans tous les sens, je trouve finalement l' ensemble très convaincant. La version Sundazed de 1998 propose en outre une poignée de titres bonus intéressants.

C 'est pas un disque qui va changer la vie, c 'est sûr mais il peut déjà sublimer un après midi estival avec sa fraîcheur et sa légèreté. Çà me convient très bien, je ne lui en demande pas d' avantage. 3,9 Published [Rating10623539] recorddigger Jun 03 20172.50 stars Sugary High-Flying Beach Boys Inspired Sunshine Pop Set Agree with a variety of reviewers – there’s a Beach Boys sound all over this set of 11 sunshine poppers. That’s not a bad thing – however they don’t peel off into any other stylistic directions, which would have been nice. The closing ‘Junk Maker Shoppe’ is the only song that changes things up a bit and for me – it’s a catchy standout. There’s a few of fillers and a few other excellent choices on board. Published [Rating88028172] harveylovejoy39 Apr 01 20174.50 stars usually albums that have such a niche sound like the sunshine pop presented on this LP don't usually end up working out for the better, and yet the album carries such an air of variety that it stays interesting all the way through. The harmonies manage to act as a wonderful Beach Boys tribute without ripping off their style, and the instrumentation reminds you of where and when exactly this band operated. If you're not up for digging too far into the record or underneath the surface; check out "How Can I Be Down," "Stained Glass Window," "Yellow Balloon," "Follow The Sunshine," and Don Grady-led "Junk Maker Shoppe."

In essence; picture the Beach Boys if they stayed the course and never went on to make Pet Sounds and you've got The Yellow Balloon and a wonderful record Published [Rating86207362] CLPM-1502 Vinyl LP (1967) CooperBolan May 16 20162.00 stars What a lame record this one is. I must admit that I didn't expect much from this lone studio album by The Yellow Balloon but I still consider it as a letdown. The album is filled with commercial pop and even if there are some psychedelic elements that can't save much. Some of the songs have potential but they still feel kinda empty. The songwriting is extremely mediocre here.

The A-side is the better side but it's nothing good either. It's hard to recommend this weak album for anybody. Unless you're a big fan of commercial 60's pop I advice you to skip this album. There are plenty of solid psych/sunshine pop albums out there but this isn't one of those I'm afraid. Published [Rating78101584] foxtrot_stowaway Jun 27 20132.50 stars+1 Do you like the Beach Boys but wish they had less substance and talent?

Do you dig the Zombies but always wondered why they felt the need to write those awful 'narrative' lyrics that actually said something?

Then try The Yellow Balloon! Bright and huggable on the outside and completely empty on the inside!

A few excellent Sunshine Pop tracks with period filler. "Stained Glass Window" "Good Feeling Time" "Junk Maker Shoppe" & "Yellow Balloon". (.. also done almost identically by Jan & Dean on their "Save For A Rainy Day" Lp) are the best tracks ("Stained Glass Window" is the standout). Published [Rating29083282] vandaleyes Aug 15 20084.00 stars Get your sweet tooth on! I don't think it gets any more "sunshine pop" than this. The Yellow Balloon is summery, cute, and cuddly. It fits comfortably in between The Zombies and early Beach Boys. Published [Rating17204830] Brandting Oct 22 20073.50 stars Surprisingly not a Curt Boettcher production, this echoes the Beach Boys at times, but more follows The Millenium and at times The Free Design. Some of it does sound like what the Beach Boys would have had they kept a bit more of the surf sound in their later music. Other than the choice tracks though, there isn't much here as the band fails to deviate from the same sunshine pop sound. The sound isn't bad and the vocals are top notch, there is little change in sound of the songs. "Junk Maker Shoppe" seems like an attempt at a more rock oriented sound, but it still comes off as rather soft. "How Can I Be Down" is as good as harmonious pop could sound. "Stained Glass Window" has nice orchestral touches. The title track is rightly placed as a landmark pop song. "Follow the Sunshine" is probably the third best track, especially the heavy bass parts. Published [Rating9079575] apricot18 Aug 30 20071.50 stars Beach Boys pastiche with candy floss male vocals and lyrics that make the Monkees seem like the Doors ! Where did the US get these testosterone-free male singers from ? Very homogenous only Junk Maker Shoppe and the Lovin Spoonfulish Majiuana tribute Panama Red show any variation in the formula, but like many of the songs here it's too short to get much of a grip. Published [Rating10979086] Tiia Dec 30 20063.00 stars A poor man's Beach Boys. Well, that's put it a little harsh, but I can't help feeling a disappointment. When folks are raving about some artist/band, whose style seem just the right for you, it's easy to expect quite a lot.

It seems that Gary Zekely was to Yellow Balloon what Gary Usher was to Sagittarius. Both "groups" were studio projects, but when Usher had a fine singer/songwriter Curt Boettcher with him, Zekely wasn't that lucky. The singer here, Alex Valdez is very mediocre, and though the harmonies are good, they are not the same caliber like those of the Beach Boys. Songs are pleasant but pretty lightweight. They don't grab your attention and shout: "Hey! listen to this and listen carefully!!". The opening "How Can I Be Down" and the hit single "Yellow Balloon" are hands down the true highlights, and also the ones where you can hear Beach Boys influence most clearly. In the late 1965/early 1966 they could have been very nice BB -singles indeed.

I think this is album every Brian Wilson fan would be interested to hear, but if not, it's not the end of the world. Wilson, after all, made things much better than what you can find from _The Yellow Balloon_. Published [Rating7505234] Deckard__ Jul 14 20064.00 stars When I became interested in sunshine pop and surroundings I had a magnificent streak of successes and in a few days I discovered the albums of Sagittarius, Billy Nicholls and this one of The Yellow Balloon, among others. Not only are all three of them great, but you also get attached to them very quickly, although I don't recommend listening to this type of album very often because they end up loading.

The Yellow Balloon sound like The Beach Boys on all four sides, the production, the type of songs, even the lyrics. If you like Brian Wilson's group don't hesitate and download it, it's a great album and you're going to love it. If, on the other hand, you never put up with the boys on the beach, I doubt very much that you like this album in the least. No, The Yellow Balloon don't have personality but they know a thing or two about making perfect songs.

"How can I be down" begins quietly with a beautiful voice and austere instrumentation. But this is short-lived, it immediately explodes, choruses and the adorable chorus appear. The lyrics are corny as can be, but since it's in English, we'll try not to understand it.

"Stained glass window" is another gem that is distinguished by a delicate melody that grows as the choruses appear and reaches its climax with the 'Pa Pa Pa Pa'. You can tell that this people are to the point: in two minutes they put together a pretty good song, they put in some heavenly choruses and something else. I celebrate this way of doing things.

We continue with "Baby, baby it's you", which is simply delicious, high-flying pop, perhaps the most immediate of the album. The choruses in this song are priceless, the melody is impeccable, the verse is very good, the chorus perfect, I love the instrumental part too, it is also very very optimistic, it is definitely a marvel that lasts just 2.00 minutes, a perfect song to play twice in a row.

"Panama Red" begins and ends with applause and people talking, wanting to give the impression of being a live show, something that with the mega-production it carries is completely impossible but the detail is appreciated. The tone is a little more collected, it is really good and the prominence is shared by the great instrumental introduction that takes us to some Californian terrace of the time and the solo voice that carries all the weight of the song. Of course it's one of my favorites on the album and I love that it appears right behind the hit of "Baby, baby it's you", making it clear that it's not a one-song album and we've already had four impeccable ones and things are not going to decline.

"I've got a feeling for love" is a very beachy song, which seems to be normal in the part of the verses but then has a couple of details: the way of building the chorus with the lead singer setting the rhythm over an explosion of 'aaaahhh's' from the rest of the group. Then the instrumental part in which a guy is talking I like because of how innocent and inevitably 60's everything sounds. The finale is another ecstasy of choruses in crescendo accompanied by the solo voice that sings "I can't wait to make you mine..."

"The Yellow Balloon" gives its name to the group, the album and this magnificent song and paradoxically it was first a cover of the fantastic duo Jan & Dean, Brian Wilson's friends. What happened is that its original author, composer and producer Gary Zekley recorded it and it was quite successful so he was quite quick to recruit a competent band to be able to present it live as well, the Yellow Balloon. Personally I prefer this version because they eliminate the rain part that Jan & Dean's started with and the chorus [the voices are dubbed much better, choruses...] has much more strength. The final part is also somewhat different, with the Y.B. being better again. Needless to say, the production earns a lot of points to this version. I hope there aren't any Jan & Dean fans around here. The song is another beach anthem with an irresistible chorus, very optimistic but with its melancholic touch.

"Good Feelin' Time" was together with the previous and "Stained glass window" single of the album and it is another sunny composition with a simple and playful, almost childish melody. A beautiful song, without a doubt, but quite inferior to "Baby, baby it's you", I don't understand why they didn't see the potential of that song and took it out as a single.

"Follow the sunshine" starts quickly and slows down depending on the moment so it seems that the Yellow Balloon have gotten acidic, but no, with those beautiful voices they are sure to be good guys. Pay attention to the choruses around the half-minute, impressive again. Then they improvise a little bit of western saloon-style music and go about their business. What was a normal song has been improved a lot with a couple of tricks and we already have another great song.

The sugary "Springtime girl" is very happy, for a change. The chorus is again captivating and again the omnipresent vocal harmonies enhance the song.

The declaration of love "Can't get enough of your love" shows that they still have cartridges left. The verses are good and the choruses are taking center stage, but the bridge-chorus is already unbeatable, with the part of the 'uuuuhhh baaaby uuuuhhh baaaby' the song goes up to the sky while the choristers go about their business. It's a fantastic gem and makes you want to listen to it again as soon as it's over.

"Junk maler shoppe" is the farewell of the album and an interesting harmonica is included, it is really the least Californian song of The Yellow Balloon and it is not one of the best, but in a work like this this does not necessarily mean that it is weak.

The album was not commercially successful and consequently the band disbanded in a short time but it is a great work that deserves to be vindicated. Published [Rating5486202] jasonbear Feb 25 20064.50 stars+1 Fantastic "sunshine pop" lp, recorded 1966 in L.A. with producer Gary Zekley at the helm. The band also included ex-Palace Guard member Don Grady, who would later go on to achieve fame in the roll of Chip Douglas in My Three Sons. The album plays like a mini-Pet Sounds, also possessing an Association bent at times, as on the song "Threshold of Love". This ranks close to the level of such heralded genre landmarks as Mark Eric's A Midsummer's Daydream or the Association's Birthday.

The knock on Yellow Balloon has always been the lyrics, which are terribly corny at times ("Baby It's You", which nevertheless sports a killer Wilson-esque hook). The title song "Yellow Balloon" was a certified Top 30 hit early in '67, while a competing version by Jan and Dean failed to chart. The latter was actually a Dean Torrance recording, tracked as Jan Barry was recovering from injuries sustained from his car crash. Zekely had originally given the song to Jan and Dean to record.

The Yellow Balloon falls short of Pet Sounds lyrically, and it is somewhat hampered by singer Alex Valdez's limited range. The melodies by Zekley, Jan & Dean collaborator Jill Gibson and disc jockey Don Altfeld are of the typical period pop music variety, but enlivened with surprising chord changes, tempo shifts and walls of Beach Boy styled harmonies. The Yellow Balloon rocks out convincingly on the song "Junkmaker Shoppe" which is ripe for a cover by one of today's bands. "Panama Red" is a great hidden meaning drug song in the vein of the Peanut Butter Conspiracy's "Why Did I Get So High?".

You gotta love an album that closes with their hit single played in reverse. "Noolab Wolley" is just such a closer. Fortunately, the Sundazed reissue graciously includes two 1966 singles from Don Grady and the Windupwatchband. Very imaginative productions and great tunes that rank with the best pop rock of the era. Grady, aka Don Agrati, would later go on to record a lost classic in 1970's pop titled Homegrown, based off of demos he recorded with producers Curt Boettcher and Keith Olsen. Published [Rating927546] SC 11069 CD (1998) ADVERTISEMENT

Faltain Oct 22 20054.50 stars What the Beach Boys would have sounded like had they continued on with their Surf-styled pop.

Awesomely infectious jangly hooks and wonderfully stereotypical sunshiney pop abound on this record which was masterfully produced by Gary Zekley. The vocals alone warrant the 5 star rating, they're that good.

Fans of Beach Boy styled sing-along pop would be best served to buy a copy of this album a.s.a.p. to see what they've been missing.

Yellow Balloon was formed by Gary Zekley. To Begin the Balloon story you have to first begin the Gary Zekley story. Zekley first break came when Jan Berry recorded one of Gary's songs "Ace of hearts" in the early 60's, Later working with Dean Torrence, he landed a solo single "Other towns, other girls", which would later be re-recorded by "Jan and Dean" for their "Ride the wild surf" Album, it however was changed to "The Restless Surfer". Zekley kept working on writing and recording, none of the songs ever charted. In "63" he was present when Jan and Dean recorded "Surf City". Zekley was now busy learning to produce. teaming up with Dick St. John, he was able to create some more songs two of which Yellow Balloon would record "Baby baby it's you" and Can't get enough of your loving". During the years Zekley and Jan and Dean still kept in touch musically, When Jan was involved in his major accident in "66", Dean turned to Zekley for Material. Which was given "Here comes the rain" was recorded as "Like A summer rain". Released by Jan and Dean. It was released the same week as the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" came out. Work began on a Dean Torrence Solo album that would be released as a Jan and Dean album. "Save for a rainy day" The opening track would be "Yellow Balloon". Zekley who was present when Dean began recording "Yellow Balloon" was not happy with what he heard, That's when he decided to record it himself, Leaving the studio, he went out knocking on Doors. In His own words " I went into office after office until somebody saw me.. And it was "Canterbury Records President "Ken Handler who let me into his office, and I just sat down at the piano and played him the song and said "Man, this is a hit song", He said "You're Right, it's a great song. So I said 'Here's what's going on. Jan & Dean are putting this song out, we gotta beat them out with the song, He said ‘Ok’. and he just stopped the presses, and we like, put it together very fast."

Soon after, Dean released his version of "Yellow Balloon" the same time as "Zekley's version. Zekley turned out to be a Huge hit (He released it under the name "Yellow Balloon") but, there was just one problem there was no band!! The search was on to Put together a real "Yellow Balloon", Canterbury had a young solo artist who was in search for a band His name "Don Grady" and in Grady's on words "I was doing my My Three Sons, and I was going around doing these telethons during the weekends. In the evening, when I'd go out to eat, take a break or something, I'd just go to the best club that people said was in town, and I would go and check out the bands, cause I've always been into music. Whenever I would come across a remarkable player, I'd get his name and number, just because I admired him, and I thought 'Well, gosh maybe we could work together sometime". Then my manager, Mike Casey, and I were coming back from one of these trips, and one of us said "Wouldn't it be cool to put together a band of all these great players from all over the country?" Well, about that time I had signed a record deal with Canterbury, which was Ken Handler's record label. Ken's parents were the founders of Mattel Toys they had created the Barbie and Ken Dolls." During which time "Yellow Balloon had been playing on the Radio " I said 'Let's put together this band of these guys that I've been meeting.' So everybody was like. 'Yeah, sounds great!"

Before joining "Yellow Balloon" Don Grady had recorded a song for Canterbury "The children of St. Monica" which was given some air time. (He recorded this song with his band "The Windupwatchband.) He also was a star in the hit TV Show "My Three Sons" he played Robbie Douglas. Gary Zekley noted "Don Grady is a very, very talented guy", Grady could play piano, guitar, bass, trumpet, drums, he was a good dancer, and Great actor.

(Paul and Alex before "American Bandstand)

Lead vocalist Alex Valdez and guitarist Paul Canella had been performing with a cool Tucson, AZ garage band with a couple of singles called "The five of us". They were to meet Don Grady through a disc jockey, which Don called to ask if he knew any players for his band "The windupwatchband". Alex and Paul went to audition for the band, they would later come back home to Arizona, but return for "Yellow Balloon".

The next two members were Bassman Don Braucht and Forrest Green. Don B. was in a local band called "The Breakaways" he would leave them to Join "Yellow Balloon", Forrest was with "The Rising Sons'' who toured with Don Grady.

Next up for the band, was now getting ready to tour together. Grady became the drummer while at shows (Disguised with a blonde wig). Alex took lead as the singer. The band would appear on "American Bandstand," "Upbeat," and more. The Yellow Balloon had taken off!!!

The album was very good with some rather well written songs. Highlights would be "Follow the Sunshine" and "How can I be Down" written by Zekley and Jill Gibson who had briefly replaced Michelle Phillips with the "Mamas and the Papas". Other songs were also good like "Stained glass Window" and "Good feelin Time".

Soon, the public would find out who the Balloon drummer was. A contest that was ran called "Guess who the mystery Drummer Is" would identify Don Grady. Grady also became busy with "My Three Sons" which would cause Dennis Dragon to fill in on weekday gigs with the band. Canterbury records also began to shut down. Green decided to return to school, while Valdez recorded some solo stuff before the closing of Canterbury. Yellow Balloon still made appearances for a year, but never went back to make another record.

Zekley would go on to pen two songs for the "Grassroots" "I'd wait a million Years" and "Sooner or Later". Don Grady continued with "My Three Sons" but leaving before it's final season. Today, Grady scores films and documentaries for different projects. (Grady was also a Mouseketeer when he was young.)

Gary Zekley passed away in 1996.

Yellow Balloon, was a fascinating Musical Journey Through the coolest time of the century. The "60's". *