Schlock, not folderol, from the 50's and 60's. After WWII, America faced a number of unique situations. As both victor, and greater world power, we had the responsibility of fixing the worlds of the loser's and our ally's injuries. Then we had a massive number of men, who returned from life-or-death ordeals, for years, we had a retooling of industry, from its redirection for military production during the war. The baby boomer addition to this post war society brought us feel good television, (Ozzie and Harriett, My three son's Father know's best, the Real McCoy's,, on and on Monday through Sunday.
The music and radio or this era was equally feel good, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and other similar but less enduring singers and bands. Shell shock was the tern given to the most emotionally damaged returning veteran's, their journey's home, were months on ships, and allowed a transitional period before return to civilian life. This changed with the Korean conflict, as veteran's returned overnight by plane, having a new shell shock of having to go from the battlefield to the grocery store, church and home life. With the Korean conflict, music saw the origins of Rock and Role, morphing out of blues gospel, African and Appalachian roots. The rock and roll co-existed with the modern crooner's of Fabian, Deon, Pat Boon Ricky Nelson and other rather schlocky singers.
With trauma comes a need to respond, and act, either in tolerance or in change. It is legend to be a builder of strength and character, but requires energy, intention and can be overwhelming at times and in challenging situations. The use of schlocky music is a counter-balance to the power of talking blues, rock and roll and other music's of the hood.
You can look at this schlocky music as worthless or worth less, but in my memories, these were often the songs my mother most enjoyed, and for that they have significant strength, power and memory.
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