The Critters - Mr. Diengly Sad (Appreciation)

Written by Don Ciccone and released by The Critters in the summer of 1966, 'Mr. Diengly Sad' would climb to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and #14 on Cashbox.

From the subtle lead vocal to it's beautiful harmonies this song is another lovely slice of 60's pop music.



Any love for this tune SHF?

 

Loved the Critters. Don and Jimmy Ryan were both playing with my old friend Lee Shapiro with his band the HitMen. Sadly Don passed away a year or so ago, but Jimmy is still doing well and still playing with Lee.

 

Fantastic song ! It always made me sad that the original lineup of this group was here and gone so quickly.
I have all their original 45s including this one and the original Kapp album.
Their later albums were good with some interesting material ( have ' em on CD ) but that original lineup had the magic dust sprinkled on 'em.

 

Just found out that he passed when I looked the song up on Wiki and clicked his name. He also worked with The Four Seasons and Tommy James & The Shondells. R.I.P.

 

"Don't let the rain fall down on me" was a great song too...

 

Was just playing my copy of the YOUNGER GIRL reissue CD in the car this weekend. I have a deep appetite for light dim-sunshiney 60s soft pop-rock, and The Critters are, well, they do that! They aren't my faves in that vein by any means but worth a deep dive for anyone into the softer side of the 60s NUGGETSish mode.

 

One of my all-time favorite songs. Lovely spare instrumental arrangement and, of course, great harmony vocals. I was 13 in '66, and recall riding with my older brother and his girlfriend (later his wife) in my parents' Pontiac convertible listening to the Critters singing about a girl who could "smile away each little care." It took me a long time to find one for myself, but she loved the song, too. Thanks for the thread.

 

There's a lovely bit of video on YouTube of the band lipsyncing this in an outdoor setting on one of the 60s pop shows.

 

Yes, Lee's band, The Hitmen, had three of the 70s Four Seasons if you consider Gerry Polci though he retired last year. Lee also played with Tommy, I think as a result of Don being there.

 

I've seen it. I believe they're at the beach and there are some dancers that make their way over to them and begin to groove.

 

Great stuff. I still keep an eye out for a mono vinyl version of the Younger Girl album. Certainly, I'd like to find the Project 3 album in the wild. "Mr. Dieingly Sad" is the one that first ever caught my ear.

 

Also, I'm pretty sure there was a good article on them in either Shindig or Ugly Things a few years back.

 

I knew Don...he was a great guy. MDS was one of my all time favorite songs from 1966...love the band since I was a youngster.

 

In fact he sang lead on "Oh What a Night".

 

I always thought it was influenced by this, which had been a hit a few months earlier:

 

GREAT Call! Thanx for reminding me of another long-lost gem...

 

geez, yea and I also hear a little Beach Boys in there...wow.

 

Thank you for posting this gem

 

My old Orange Label Kapp Winners Circle Series 45 (ex-radio station, well used, but not abused) I have played many, many times. Flip side is "Younger Girl" and my copy is vinyl. Two of my favorite Critters tracks, I love both as much or even more so today.

 

Jes' like Ellie Mae Clampett I loves me some Critters! I like the Project 3 label stuff too! Also New Colony Six, Buckinghams, Rationals etc. etc.

 

Wonderful and pure 1966. Thanks for the reminder!

 

Count me in. Whenever I make my mix CDs of 60s music, this is always on it. I still have my original Kapp 45.
A month later, another one of my favorite 60s tracks debuted on the Hot 100 - "Walk Away Renee" by the Left Banke.
Two amazing memories from the summer/fall of 1966...

 

Here is Don Ciccone's 1991 cover of his song, that he recorded exclusively for the Japanese market and was released on CD via Polydor. It is not nearly as good as the original, but still interesting to hear!

 

cool thanks...

 

And while I'm at it, I might as well add this great later cover of "Younger Girl", with Don Ciccone once again on lead vocals. Again not as great as the original, but I still find this a really GOOD updated cover of an already great song ...