#791: Static by Dana And Dexter

Peak Month: December 1961
9 weeks on Vancouver’s CFUN chart
Peak Position #5
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “Static”

Dana and Dexter Smith were brothers who grew up Brentwood, California. Then they attended University High School, often called “Uni.” The school was opened in 1924 as Warren G. Harding High School, after the 29th President of the United States Warren G. Harding. But the name was changed in 1929 as a consequence of the Teapot Dome bribery scandal which unfolded from 1924 into 1930, tarnishing Harding’s name. The school was renamed University High School. Dana was the oldest and Dexter the youngest. They were signed up with Imperial Records who also had Ricky Nelson and Fats Domino among their lineup or recording artists. Imperial seems to have given little promotion to the brothers when they released their one single on the label, “Static”.

Almost nothing is known about the pair some 57 years after their only single release that made the Vancouver pop charts.

Static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
bom, bom, bom, bom, bom.

Pick you up for a date,
you are just a little late.
Where will we go tonight?
Or will we end up in a fight?

Static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
bom, bom, bom, bom, bom.

Will we stay at a high school dance,
or shall we go and make romance?
You’ve always got to think a lot,
and by that time our evenings’ shot.

Static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
bom, bom, bom, bom, bom.

I remember the night that we met,
that was a night I’ll never forget.
I kissed you, I squeezed you, I held you tight,
now all we ever do is fight all night!

Static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
bom, bom, bom, bom, bom.

Call you on the telephone,
sorry Janie isn’t home.
Your mother says you’ll be out late,
I guess I’ll get another date.

Static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
all I get from you is static, static,
bom, bom, bom, bom, bom.

“Static” was a song co-written by Dana Smith. It was a B-side all about communication problems and with someone you’re dating. The couple have issues regarding punctuality: he’s on time and she’s late. He makes decisions quickly and she needs to weigh all the options. When they try to decide what they want to do on a date they usually end up getting into an argument. It appears that Janie, the love interest of the guy singing the song, is makes her own plans to stay out late without letting him know what she’s doing: “When I call you for a date you’re mother says you’ll be out late…I guess I’ll get another date.” As a couple, they aren’t checking in with each other about their respective upcoming plans in the days ahead. The frustrated guy decides to end the drama and get another date.

“Static” received almost no airplay in America. But the song made the Top 40 in Melbourne and #14 in Sydney, Australia. In Canada “Static” peaked at #5 in Vancouver. However, most record listeners at the time opted not to purchase a 45 about a couple in distress: “all we ever do is fight…”

The term, static, can mean several things. It can be used as an adjective to refer to a circumstance that is lacking in movement, often in a stuck way. It is also a noun that refers to crackling or hissing noises on a telephone, radio, or other telecommunications system. While the couple is bogged down in a static state of constant bickering, it is the use of the word static as a noun that is intended in the title. The hissing noises are apart of the arguing. Being in this dating relationship is like having the radio dial always out-of-synch with the radio station you want to tune into. The result is a lot of static on the radio dial making it hard to hear and be in tune with the radio frequency.

In her article, “5 Signs You’re in a Dead-end Relationship,” Anita Naik writes that one of these signs is bickering. Arguing all the time is not necessarily a sign that your relationship has hit rock bottom. It depends what the argument is about. However, constant petty bickering often is a sign that consideration and respect for the other person has evaporated. When your partner is just being rude, bitchy, derogatory, it might be time to call for a time out on the off-putting remarks. If you can’t call a truce for a week, time to cut ties or seek therapy.

“Static” made it’s way onto a CD 50 years later called Rare Rock n’ Roll Tracks of the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Vol. 6. The A-side of “Static” was a song titled “Here Comes My Baby”. The A-side and B-side charted in the same position the first two weeks on the CFUN chart. Then, “Here Comes My Baby” charted independently on the CFUN chart, peaking at #23,  for a briefer chart run than “Static.” The A-side was not the Cat Stevens penned song that was a hit for The Tremeloes in 1967. “Static” was a hit only in Vancouver, BC. It didn’t chart anywhere else in North America.

Dana And Dexter’s single was published with Daywin Music Inc., a publisher affiliated with BMI. Daywin published nine singles for Doris Day. They published several of Paul Revere and the Raiders biggest hits, including “Kicks”, “Hungry” and “Good Thing”. Daywin also published “Hey Little Cobra” for The Rip Chords in 1964.

Dexter Smith went on to work for Boeing in Seattle. Dana moved to Newport Beach, California.

June 6, 2018
Ray McGinnis

References:
YouTube.com comments section February 1, 2009 (see link above)
“University High School (Los Angeles),” Wikipedia.org.
Anita Naik, “5 Signs You’re in a Dead-end Relationship,” Net Doctor.co.uk, London, UK, February 19, 2018.
“C-FUNTASTIC FIFTY,” CFUN 1410 AM, Vancouver, BC, December 9, 1961.

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