Bubblegum

For sheer sugar-rush goodness, you can't beat the Bubblegum sounds of the late '60s and early '70s. "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" by Ohio Express (or more precisely, "Super K" producers and Bubblegum masterminds Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz) — the genre's ultimate confection — turned sweet-tooth lyrics, a chewy pop beat, and candy-coated harmonies into a musical treat as addictive as licorice whips. The '68 smash not only spawned legions of tasty soundalikes (including the Kasenetz-Katz production "Simon Says," by the 1910 Fruitgum Company), but it also influenced everybody from glam gods Sweet, with "Little Willy," to Dutch rockers Shocking Blue, with "Venus" (conveniently located a couple lip smacks away over in Next Steps).

So don't stop chewing — this Bubblegum is bursting with flavor. Add a little more to your wad over in Next Steps.

While some artists were getting in tune with the times and adding a dash of groovy psychedelia to their Bubblegum experience — dig the trippy "Crimson and Clover," by Tommy James & The Shondells — the yummy pop sound hit just the right flavor for more wholesome family acts like teen idols the Osmonds ("Yo-Yo"), the Cowsills ("The Rain, the Park and Other Things), and even the Cowsills' TV alter egos, the Partridge Family ("Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted"). Never a brood to be left out of the fun, the Brady Bunch followed suit with the guilty pleasure "It's a Sunshine Day."

We know you don't want to miss out, either — stop by Deep Cuts for more tasty Bubblegum treats.

Sure, there were the groups who took their lyrics seriously — Reunion's tongue-twister roll call "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)," dreamboat Bobby Sherman's philosophical treatise "Easy Come, Easy Go" — but the beauty of Bubblegum is that, with all those shiny, happy sounds, who needs deep thoughts?! Not cartoon combo the Archies ("Bang-Shang-A-Lang"), or glam kings Sweet ("Wig-Wam Bam"), or even next-generation Bubblegum breakouts the Bay City Rollers ("Shang-A-Lang"). Some may call it nonsense — we call it simply brilliant.

Trying to trace all the flavors and textures of Bubblegum pop and its candy-coated legacy could give you a nice little toothache. So, please, allow us. We've chewed through packs of pop to bring you only the tastiest Bubblegum treats. The result is three full playlists of everything from super-sweet smashes — "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies, "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe, "Chewy Chewy" by Ohio Express — to wonderful one-hit wonders (the Clique's "Sugar on Sunday") and the best of fake-yet-fabulous TV bands (the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You," the Monkees' "I'm a Believer"). Fat-free, and approved by the American Dental Association, our Bubblegum Essentials is the best way to get your sonic sugar fix.