The Cinnamon Cinder was a chain of nightclubs started by KRLA DJ Bob Eubanks, which soon
spawned a TV show, "The Cinnamon Cinder Show". Acts performed live and were usually
backed by a resident band from one of the clubs. North Hollywood's 'Pastel Six' were one
of the most popular, and they got their chance to record "The Cinnamon Cinder (It's A Very
Nice Dance)", written by Russ Regan.Despite the rapid growth of music on the West Coast, the novelty dance craze of the early 60s was dominated by the East Coast labels. Most of the Californian dance records only achieved regional success. A major exception was this release by The Pastel Six, a strong male lead and a good-time R'n'B feel, it reached number 25 on the charts in early '63.
Copycat records were released, amongst them Johnny Rivers' "CC Cinnamon Cinder", a slight re-write cheekily credited to Jimmy Bowen and Nick Venet as well as this version by "The Cinders", which may well be the original.
Both records were recorded in late '62, the Nitzsche-arranged version by The Cinders has the good-time feel but lacks that R'n'B edge. The better record won the chart battle.