Sunday Morning Vault: The Turtles---It Ain't Me Babe (1965)

     The Turtles have long been under appreciated as sort of light weight. Of course, just listening to oldies radio would give you the impression that they only had one hit, maybe two (Happy Together and I Know She'd Rather Be With Me"). However, from 1965 to 1970, they had a string of top flight singles that showed strong songwriting ability and a wonderfully quirky sense of humor.       The success of the group revolved around the talents of Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, but the songwriting also...

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The Troggs--Wild Thing (1966)

     One of the things that make for a classic song is the opening riff. Rock classics are many times defined by something that simple. The chord structure of "Wild Thing" is about as easy as it gets, but has endeared itself to millions of garage band guitar heroes......        The song itself was written by Chip Taylor, who's real name is James Wesley Voight, Jon Voight's brother. It was recorded first by The Wild Ones in 1965. Then The Troggs recorded made it a #1 hit in the US in 1966. They...

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Rush--Fly By NIght (1975)

    Today Geddy Lee turns 58....      When any of us talk about the music that we gravitated to in younger days, it usually revolves around a time period and genre. It's a natural occurrence. For me it was Progressive Rock and British Folk of the early 70's....        Most of the groups from that era never fully got out of the 70's. Oh yeah, there have been countless re-formations and reunions, but after about 1976-78 the bloom was mostly off the rose. But counter to what many music...

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Pink Floyd--Us and Them (1973)

    We celebrate Rick Wright's birthday today....he would have been 68.      Wright's keyboard's were an integral part of the classic sound of Pink Floyd, but what was sometimes under appreciated was his skills as a songwriter (as you hear below).  There are not many albums (non-Beatles division) that I can regularly go to and listen from beginning to end and still have a fantastic listening experience. The combo of "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here" still do for me after all of these years....

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Bobby Gentry: Ode to Billy Joe (1967)

      Bobby Gentry was born Roberta Lee Streeter and most notable in music history as the one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own song, much of which was written based on her Mississippi roots. She was raised by her grandparents after her parent's divorce until the age of 13 when she went to live with her mother who had moved to California. After graduation she started at UCLA, then transferred to the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music to develop her songwriting skills. During her time in college...

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Happy Birthday to Mick Jagger....

     Today Mick Jagger is 68 today....       Just by sheer numbers, one has to admit that The Rolling Stones are the greatest band in rock history. This doesn't mean the best, although one cannot argue the long ranging influence they have had on millions of up and coming artists throughout the decades. The quality level of the group's music over the years is quite astounding.       Over the 40 years I've been keeping up with the Stones, it always seemed to me that Mick had...

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The Ardells--Eefananny (1963)

      One of the strangest things I've come across in studying popular music has been "eefing". It's direct roots seems to be from Tennessee, where in an earlier generation it was called, "hooodling". There is an audio clip of Jimmie Riddle, who was considered a master of the form breaking the sounds down. Unfortunately I can't up load it, but if you go to You Tube you can hear it there.  He doesn't really explain it...but it's very funny to listen to. He was probably best known for doing his thing on the old CBS show,...

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Sunday Morning Vault: Steely Dan--My Old School (1973)

     I know, I know...this isn't a "hidden" classic, but it's a classic nonetheless. We went out to see a Steely Dan tribute band last night (and if you think that's easy...you don't know your Dan very well), and was blown away. The name of the band is "Twelve Against Nature" and are made up of some of Nashville's best musicians. From the beginning of the show until the encore, the musicianship was outstanding. The arraignments were many times spot on to the originals, but with just enough improvisation  to keep you on...

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The Penguins--Earth Angel (1954)

    Tenor Cleveland Duncan turns 76 today....     The Penguins only had one hit on the pop charts, but what a song it was. Written by Jessie Belvin and Curtis Williams (who was a bass/baritone with the group), the group reached No. 8 on the charts (#1 on R&B). As was a common practice because of segregated radio, The Crew Cuts did their version and reached #1 in 1955. They signed a contract with Mercury (who wanted The Penguins)  as a 2 for 1 deal where the company received The Penguins and The Platters which...

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John Ashley--Little Lou (1961)

     As you view this clip...notice the voice narration and the last credit before the clip goes off.       That voice belongs to John Ashley, who also produced the show, which was by far his biggest claim to fame.        That doesn't mean however that he wasn't a busy man. While on a vacation in California in 1956,  a friend from Oklahoma State University got him onto the set of the John Wayne  movie The Conquerer, and Wayne steered him toward a job in television in...

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P.P. Arnold--The First Cut is the Deepest (1967)

      P.P. Arnold toured with Ike and Tina Turner as an Ikette for a few years in the mid-60's. During a gig in London, Mick Jagger was impressed enough with her singing that he suggested to their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham to sign her to his new record label Immediate Records. She quit her gig with the Turners and stayed in London to concentrate on her solo career. Arnold had her major success in Britain during the late 60's and has had what could be considered an on again/off again career, although has always kept busy...

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Santana--Black Magic Woman (1970)

     Carlos Santana turns 64 today...      Carlos Santana's break into music occurred in a very 60's styled manner. One Sunday afternoon at the Filmore West, Bill Graham was having to put together an impromptu band, since Paul Butterfield was too drunk to show. He was looking for a guitarist when someone suggested that Carlos could do it. He did the gig and it went well enough that he soon started the Santana Blues Band with fellow street musicians David Brown, and Greg Rolie.      The song,...

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Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen--Hot Rod Lincoln (1972)

     George Frayne (Commander Cody) celebrates his 67th birthday today....      There are two things that distinguish Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. One was George Frayne's distinctive boogie woogie piano, and the other was their brand of straightforward rock and roll, rockabilly, jazz, country and western swing. Many rock groups were forming around country. The Eagles, Poco among others, but Cody and the band has a harder edge to them, which gave them the look and feel of a really hot bar band....

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The Raspberries--Tonight (1973)

    Ok....I'm in a hurry this morning...AND today is guitarist Wally Bryson's birthday (he's 62). But really it just gives me a chance to play a song from a group that just now is beginning to get it's due as a deeply influential band. Along with Big Star, and Badfinger, The Raspberries literally began what we know now as power pop music. The blend of Beach Boys style harmonies, rockers that sounded a bit like The Who, and a Beatles style sensibility as a blend that...at least for this young teenager (at the time) was intoxicating....

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Sunday Morning Vault: Desi Arnez--I Love Lucy (1953)

   Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball are one of the most iconic couples in the history of television. There was a chemistry between them that was obvious on screen, and along with Vivian Vance and William Frawley created a show that has endeared itself to millions of fans now for 60 years. What many do not know is that Arenz and Ball both were shrewd business people who were pioneers in television production as well.        In the early 50's television shows were done live from New York, then sent to...

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Linda Ronstadt--You're No Good (1974)

     Linda Ronstadt turns 65 today....      She had a top 30 song in 1970 with 'Long, Long Time', and a country hit in 74' with, 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles'. However the woman with the gorgeous voice couldn't make a connection. on vinyl. She had a cult following due to her previous four albums partially because of her voice, partially because of her killer good looks (and as a young teenager...I did extensive research on this subject). No one doubted her talents, but finding a way to harness it was...

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Bobby Vinton--Roses Are Red (My Love) (1962)

     Bobby Vinton feared the end of his singing career was done before it had even got started. After getting his college degree from Duquesne University in music composition, he did a two year stint in the military serving as a Chaplain's assistant. Upon his discharge, Vinton got a contract from Epic records as a band leader. However after a couple of albums and several flopped singles, the record company was ready to let him go.       "Roses Are Red (My Love)" was written by Al Byron and Paul Evans....

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The Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)

      The Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn is 69 today....       Much of what we know as rock music today can be traced back eventually to just a handful of artists. The Byrds, led by Roger McGuinn became a touchstone for what would be folk rock, country rock, psychedelic rock, raga rock, and jangle pop. McGuinn's jangly Rickenbacker guitar became as distinctive a sound as any in rock history.        His sound derived itself from folk music, but with the coming of the...

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Fleetwood Mac: You Make Lovin Fun (1977)

     Today is Christine McVie's 68th birthday.....       I became aware of Fleetwood Mac during their "lost" period when Bob Welch was with them (72-74), and of course like many, followed their meteoric rise to the top of the pop world with the additions of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in 1975. The voice however that always caught my attention and was such a warm counterpoint to the Buckingham/Nicks axis belonged to Christine McVie...       McVie was born Christine...

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band--Mr. Bojangles (1970)

      Today Jeff Hanna, one of the founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band turns 62.       The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had been together since 1966, with some success (their original incarnation included Jackson Browne), but were spinning their wheels by 69'.  A trip to Aspen Colorado to reform after several lineup changes and a new producer helped them gain focus. This resulted in the album, "Uncle Charles and His Dog Teddy" which contained the single, "Mr. Bojangles" and became their breakthrough....

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Sunday Morning Vault: The Applejacks--Baby Jane & You're The One (1964)

      With the tidal wave of British music that reached our shores in 1964, it's easy to assume that all it took was an accent and a record contract to make it to the US charts. However, there were more than a few UK bands who seemingly had the goods, but couldn't make the connection with record buyers. The Applejacks were made up of Al Jackson on lead vocals, Martin Baggott on lead guitar, Don Gould on organ, Phil Cash on rhythm guitar, Gerry Freeman on drums, and Megan Davies on bass (quite unusual for that day with a...

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Automatic Man--My Pearl (1977)

     Automatic Man was a progressive/funk/rock/ band from San Fransisco led by former Santana drummer Michael Shrieve beginning in 1975. They came out with two albums, both gaining a bit of notice and one single that scrapped the bottom of the top 100 in 1977. The first album was fairly progressive in sound with some real jazz overtones. Shrieve left after that first album and their second album, "Visitors" went into a more straightforward funk direction. The band folded shortly afterward, but left us with this tasty single...

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Donny Osmond--Puppy Love (1972)

     Teen idols normally have a short shelf life. Almost since the beginnings of rock and roll, PR people have figured out that marketing an artist to young teens can boost record sales. However, young teens grow up, and along with it their tastes in music mature as well. The artists that CAN make it beyond those first few years, are the ones who find a way to mature with the audience.       In the early 70's, there were four teen idols (male department) that vied for the covers of teen magazines. David...

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Happy Birthday to Ringo Starr.....

      Ringo Starr turns 71 today....      I almost began writing this as a "In Praise Of" blog. Why? Because with all of the fame, and the fortune that comes with it, Ringo always seems to have been on the short end of the stick when it comes to respect.        Part of this comes from the era immediately after the break up of the Beatles. The 70's (especially the first few years) was full of musical indulgence and drummers were no different. Looking back now, one has to wonder...

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Bill Haley: Rock Aournd the Clock (1955)

     Bill Haley was born today in 1925....died in 1981.      For years, this song was labeled, "The First Rock and Roll Song". The whole, "first" thing is quite murky just like most things historically. There are many songs we can point to, from post World War II on, that could grab that title. The fact of the matter is that it was a process that took several years as R&B began to influence white audiences AND performers, this blending continued long later the release of this song.      ...

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Smiley Lewis--I Hear You Knoking (1955)

      Smiley Lewis was born on this day in 1920 and died in 1966 of stomach cancer at the age of 45....      Music...and how people respond to it can always be a tricky thing to prognosticate. Take Smiley Lewis and Fats Domino for instance. Although their musical styles are much the same, and Lewis had some success on the R&B charts in the early/mid 50's, it was but nothing like Domino's career trajectory. "I Hear You Knocking" was by far Lewis' biggest hit, and was also covered by Gale Storm and...

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Bill Withers--Lean On Me (1972)

      Remember readers.....The Rock and Roll Omnibus is broadcasting live this evening from 9pm--11pm US Central Time. Just go to www.radiofreenashville.org and check us out. I'd love to hear from you!!!      Today is Bill's 73rd Birthday....       Bill Withers took a winding path to success in music. On turning 18, he went into the military for nine years. During that period, he became interested in creating music as a songwriter, and upon his release in 1967 he moved to LA.  He...

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Sunday Morning Vault: Leapy Lee---Little Arrows (1968)

     Leapy Lee's real name is Graham Pulleyblank and later changed it to Lee Graham. He began his recording career in 1962, and hit the charts with, "Little Arrows" in 1968 (#1 UK, #11 US) which began a number of top 100 hits in the UK (a couple of them reaching the charts in the US). Over the years he has turned into one of Britian's most versatile entertainers branching out into acting on stage and screen, producing, writing, and over the last few years a cabaret act...

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Frank Sinatra--Strangers in the Night (1966)

     "Strangers in the Night" is proof that an artist isn't always the best judge of their work......        The song was written by Bert Kampfert with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder for the 1966 movie, "A Man Could Get Killed" starring James Garner.       To my knowledge, the movie didn't do much at the box office, although Kampfert won a Golden Globe...

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Bobby Day--Rockin Robin (1958)

     I remember hearing Michael Jackson's version of  'Rockin Robin' for the first time in 1972. It occurred to me at that time that the argument on who's the best teen singer was moot.  (yes, there were arguments on who was the best. Donny Osmond, David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman??) Although not realizing it at the time it also introduced me to Bobby Day, at least as a songwriter. Day only reached the top 40 once with this song, but several have covered his R&B influenced music. The Dave Clark Five had a hit with,...

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