Little River Band--Help is on it's Way (1977)

     The guys who made up the Little River Band had already achieved success with other bands in their native Australia. From the start the band became known for tight harmonies, and a sound that was as mature on the singles as the album cuts. I imagine that because one of their big hits ("Reminiscing" in 1978) was their sappiest, they have been given the tag of lightweight, which is far from the truth.   If you have not spent much time with the band, I suggest that you do so...you'll find a lot of treasures awaiting....

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Gordon Lightfoot--Sundown (1974)

     Love and/or sex are two subjects that have been the main source of songwriters from the beginnings of time. Longing for it, looking for it, what to do if you get it,...any variation of the subject has been explored. Our song for the day deals with love, but perhaps a more seamier side....      Cathy Smith had spent much of the 60's in a relationship with Levon Helm (from the Band), and most of the 60's were spent traveling with The Hawks then later The Band. In the early 70's she began a relationship...

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Mildred Anderson--Hard Times (1960)

     Mildred was a mostly forgotten jazz and blues singer. She began as a singer in Albert Ammons' band in the late 40's and sang in several other bands through the 50's. Anderson recorded a couple of albums in the 59/60 time period that are really good and if you can find them, it's worth a listen...

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O.C. Smith--Little Green Apples (1968)

     O.C. Smith had bounced around in jazz and pop circles for over 13 years when he had his only hit with the Bobby Russell song, "Little Green Apples".      He was born in Louisiana in 1932, but due to his parents divorce spent much of his time in California. After earning a degree in Physiology, he entered the Air Force, where he began to show off his talent by entering talent contests. On his discharge from the military in 1955 O.C. started singing jazz to help pay the bills. This led eventually to a...

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Sunday Morning Vault: Maya Angelou--Run Joe (1957)

     Maya Angelou is a professor, author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, and motion picture director. She has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1971, and has been one of two poets since 1960 to speak at a president's inaugural (Robert Frost being the other one in 1961). However, what many might not know is that she began her career as a dancer and later as a singer. Her one album, "Miss Calypso" was released in 1957 to attempt to cash in on the Calypso craze begun by Harry Belifonte. The Album went nowhere,...

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The Beatles: Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)

Ok....up against a deadline.....have to be out for business this morning....what's a person to do?? Well....thank God for the Beatles.....be sure to catch up tomorrow for the Sunday Morning Vault...

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Johnny Angel & the Halos --(If I Had) One More Tomorrow (1962)

     In this lifelong study of all things rock, I find myself in admiration of many of these northeast groups who realize that music is a great profession even when your time on the charts has long gone away. Johnny Angel & the Halos out of the Pittsburgh area had their moment in regional popularity back in the late 50's/early 60's. I do not have their whole story, and would like to know more about them. But if you were interested you can find their webpage and phone number to book them for your meeting/wedding/reunion etc....

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Sil Austin--Slow Walk (1956)

     Sil Austin was born in Florida in 1929, and picked up the tenor saxophone about the age of 12. Although influenced by jazz, he spend much of his career playing pop and other styles. Although recording 30 albums, his most popular work remained in the late 50's, with "Slow Walk" becoming his signature song in 1956......

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The Raspberries--Overnight Sensation (1974)

     It happens to the majority of artists. The time in one's career when it is obvious that it's time to go into another direction. For some it's leaving the music business totally and go into another vocation. For others, it's giving up a musical dream that you had. For The Raspberries and Eric Carman the frustration had to be compounded by the fact that the public and critics didn't "get" them. The Who/Beatles/Beach Boys sound was immediately catchy, but many labeled them "bubblegum rock", which was as far from the case as...

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Happy Birthday to Brian Wilson....

.    First of all, I know that this blog is a day late, since Brian celebrated his 69th birthday yesterday. However, with the death of Clarence Clemons, and my being behind a blog or two, we end up giving him Omnibus wishes today....       When discussing the best songwriters in the history of modern music (pre-1980), most of us can come up with about 10-15 who are all about the same level. At that point, personal taste and historical significance comes into play. For me, the question of the best depends on what...

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Farewell to Clarence Clemons...

     I was in a hotel room in St. Louis when hearing the news of Clarence's passing. He had suffered a stroke about a week before, and died of complications on Saturday. For almost 40 years his tenor saxophone was as distinctive a sound to the E Street Band as the voice of their leader, Bruce Springsteen.     Clemons had made his claim to fame with Springsteen, but has a long list of credits to his resume recording with artists as diverse as The Four Tops, Twisted Sister, Joe Cocker, and most recently, Lady Gaga....

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Barry Manilow--Could It Be Magic (1975)

     Barry Manilow is 68 today!!     It's amazing how time changes perspective. In the rock community, Barry Manilow was ridiculed and mocked. I personally liked him, but made sure that my friends didn't know that he took up space in my collection. My personal favorites were the first two albums, but at one time owned the first five (right next to John Denver and The Carpenters...but that's another blog...or two!). Thirty-five years later, I realize that he was not attempting to compete with rock artists,...

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Free--All Right Now (1970)

     The group Free was made up of four VERY young musicians. At the time of their first gig together in 1968, Bass player Andy Fraser was 15 (and already been a member of John Mayall & the Bluebreakers!!), lead guitar player Paul Kossoff was 17 and singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke were 18. In today's Disney tainted world of pop music, that might not seem like a big thing, but these guys were playing heavy blues music in pubs and clubs around England. Kossoff was already gaining a reputation as a fine guitar player...

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Kansas--Dust in the Wind (1978)

      Steve Walsh, lead singer/keyboardist for rock group Kansas turns 60 today.....       Growing up playing the organ (and later piano), looking for the same in my rock heroes was paramount. Except for Billy Joel and Elton, this is probably why I gravitated towards progressive rock. Kansas was a favorite because of Steve Walsh's great keyboard, but also Robby Steinhardt's violin and Kerry Livgren's lyrical abilities. "Dust in the Wind" was their biggest seller, and only top 10 in the winter of 1978.       ...

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Earth, Wind & Fire--September (1978)

     Every so often (a lot less than you would believe) I get stumped for a blog subject. Usually it will be something that I've been reading about, or came across in my research for the radio station or the Omnibus Live! program. This morning however, nothing came up of note, so my plan B is to just go to a quiet place and listen to the music that comes up in my head.....and we have our subject for this morning!      Earth, Wind, and Fire were already very well established as one of the best bands of the...

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Peter Allen--I Go To Rio (1976)

      Peter Allen was an Australian singer/songwriter who was discovered by Mark Herron, who was married to Judy Garland at the time. Allen would soon marry her daughter, Liza Minnelli in 1967 until 1974.       Throughout the 70's and 80's, he would earn his reputation as a great songwriter, writing hits for Olivia Newton-John ("I Honestly Love You"), Melissa Manchester (Don't Cry Out Loud) , Rita Coolidge (I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love), among many others. In 1981 he received an Oscar for...

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Sunday Morning Vault: Les Paul/Mary Ford--How High The Moon (1951)

      Usually this spot on Sunday morning is reserved for a song and/or artist that has been forgotten. Today is different as I wanted to put a spotlight on a legend and innovator who's birthday was remembered a few days ago....        Les Paul didn't invent the electric guitar, but his version of it's design, his innovations that brought distinct sounds to popular music, and his actual playing prowess easily gives him the title, "Father of the Electric Guitar". Paul was one who not only had...

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Joey Dee & The Starlighters--Peppermint Twist (1961)

     On today's date in 1940, Joseph DiNicola better known as Joey Dee was born in Passaic, New Jersey. Along with David Brigati, Larry Vernieri, Carlton Lattimore and Willie Davis, Dee and The Starlighters got a standing gig at the Peppermint Lounge in New York in 1960. This song was based on that venue, and also gave them their only number one song in late 1961.      The hits kept coming over the next two years (including three top 40's) then dried up. However, the band never stopped touring and still...

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Judy Garland--Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1939)

    Judy Garland's was born today in 1922...      I have always had a fixation for melancholy songs. Am not sure what makes them so appealing, but since recorded music, songs that tug at the heartstrings have always had a special place in the minds of many. This song, if not my favorite of all time is in the top three....not only did it highlight one of the best movies of all time, but it framed and almost became a precursor to the life of it's singer. The most interesting thing about this song is that almost...

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Meat Loaf--You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (1978)

     Last week I was driving around town running errands when on the radio this song jumped out of my speakers....just like it did in 1978. Like with many artists in almost all genres, Meatloaf's success was a much timing as anything. After all the idea for the project that was to become, "Bat Out Of Hell" was started in 1972, and begun in earnest in 74. Todd Rundgren chose to work on the project, and finally after shopping the music around to just about every record label, it was released by Cleveland International Records...

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Da Doo Ron Ron --The Crystals (1963)

     The interesting thing about this song is that the Crystals didn't actually sing it. He recruited Darlene Love and the backup group "The Blossoms" (which included a VERY young Cher) to record the song.  Supposedly because  of a contract dispute, Love's lead vocals were stripped off of the record and replaced with Crystal's lead Delores Brooks.The entire story of The Crystals is a fascinating one which we'll delve into at a later time.       This song along with others has had a productive life having...

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Dean Martin--Everybody Loves Somebody (1964)

     Dean Martin was born today in 1917....      There were many sounds emanating from our house growing up. My mom liked hymns and religious music along with the pop singers of her day, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, etc.. Dad however was old school country. When you mentioned, "The King" to him, you had to be talking Hank Williams Sr., not Elvis. The singers that mom like didn't do much for him...except one. Dad LOVED Dean Martin. The only show I remember growing up that was must-see TV for him was his variety...

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The Four Tops--I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)--1965

Levi Stubbs was born this day in 1936...he died in 2008 at the age of 72.... The Four Aims having become The Four Tops in 1956 had been bouncing around the supper club circuit for years. They signed a contract with Chess records in 56 (which precipitated the name change), but had gone nowhere, moves to Red Top and Riverside produced similar results. They were playing the best clubs in the country, but couldn't make that major breakthrough. In 64' they signed with Motown and after a bit of time experimenting on Berry Gordy's experimental label...

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Sunday Morning Vault: Iain Matthews--Seven Bridges Road (1973)

     It was a normal afternoon in the basement of my childhood home. Not sure why I was down there, but was, as usual, listening to my favorite FM radio station, KSHE 95, when out of the speakers came the smoothest harmonies I'd ever heard on underground radio. It then launched into a country rock/folk tune that stuck in my ears now for the last 38 years. The fact the Eagles made the hit out of it has slightly annoyed me over the years since in my opinion it is the weaker of the three versions. (More on my Eagles bias later....)      ...

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Tommy Roe--Dizzy (1969)

     Tommy Roe was a singer/songwriter who had a very successful run of hits from 1962-1973. Oldies radio chooses only to play a few of them, although he had 11 of them reach the top 40 during this time. He will always be known as a "bubblegum" singer, but the style was anything but that early in his career (check out his first #1, "Shelia" in 1962). As you will here me opine many times in this blog, bubblegum is not a disparaging term, nor is it synonymous with poor quality. In fact, "Dizzy" has an extremely catchy tune with...

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Ray Charles--I Can't Stop Loving You (1962)

      By 1962, Ray Charles was on top of him game commercially. After basically inventing soul music in the 1950's with Atlantic Records, he moved to ABC-Paramount in 1959 and began a streak of songs that became signature for him. "Georgia on my Mind" began the streak in 1960, then "Hit the Road Jack" in 1961 (The movie "Ray" gives the impression that he wrote that 'Jack', but it was actually written by songwriter Percy Mayfield). He wanted to move in a more country direction and with, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western...

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Vicki Anderson--Message From the Soul Sisters (1970)

     Vicki Anderson was the lead female singer in James Brown's revue from 1965-68 and then again from 1969-72. Brown had labeled her the best female vocalist he ever worked with. She had a string of records out during that time including a couple of duet's with Brown. Although it never charted, her best known work as a solo artist was, "Message From the Soul Sisters". in 1970. She was married Bobby Byrd (who was an original member of Brown's band) up to his death in 2007 and their daughter Carleen Anderson has had some success...

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