Sunday Morning Vault: Dave "Baby" Cortez--The Happy Organ (1959)

    David Cortez Clowney was born in 1938 at Detroit. His dad who was a pianist steered David to the piano which he played for 10 years before switching to the organ. He started out for a few years as a singer in the group, The Pearls, then in 1958 went off on his own.      His first charting single was his only #1. "The Happy Organ", released on the Clock label made Cortez the first African-American to have an instrumental reach that status in the rock and roll era. A few years later, he hit the top 10 again...

Read More

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose--Too Late To Turn Back Now (1972)

     A family group that doesn't receive it's just due are the Cornelius family. Brothers Carter and Eddie, sister Rose formed the original group which was signed to United Artists in 1970. As opposed to the gritty, down-home  sound of Southeast soul (they were from Florida), they had a smooth, orchestrated sound.      This sound paid off quickly as the song, "Treat Her Like a Lady" shot up to number 3 in the spring of 1971. That song and it's follow up, "Too Late To Turn Back Now" were written by Eddie,...

Read More

Alice Cooper--School's Out (1972)

     For those who read this blog who are under the age of 40, it's probably humorous to read some of these stories based on what we see of an artist now. Of course, from a historical standpoint, it shows that if we show growth at all, we change over the years. In all media, there is the added perspective of how a person is portrayed now as opposed to 20, 30, 40 years ago.      For a few years, Alice Cooper was the scourge of my parents generation. Just about every ill that had befallen on teenagers was being...

Read More

Rita Coolidge--(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher (1977)

     Rita Coolidge was attempting to break through as a solo artist in 1977. She had made her mark as a backup singer with Delaney & Bonnie, then a succession of top name artists through the early to mid-70's. Her natural beauty was also the focus of more than a few musicians (Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Kris Kristofferson, to whom she was married most of that decade).      She charted with a couple of songs in the 72-73, but had been out of the public eye since early 1974. It was this song however, that...

Read More

Bill Conti--Gonna Fly Now (1977)

     Just like many men who's teenaged years spanned the 70's, I have a thing for Rocky. The story is probably as old as professional sports, the guy who had a rough life, who strove for greatness and achieved it (and got the girl too..). However, the only two of the movies that really stuck out for me was Rocky III which had one of the great villains of the 1980's in Mr. T, and the first one.       Some of the scenes in the first movie were inspiring and downright moving. Most of not all of that was...

Read More

The Contours--Do You Love Me (1962)

     The Contours started their life out as The Blenders in 1958. After a couple of years, a couple of new singers, and a change to The Contours, they were able to get a audition with Berry Gordy who was just forming Motown records. Gordy wasn't much impressed with them, and told them to come back and try again in a year. Luckily, one of new members, bass singer Hubert Johnson, was a cousin of Jackie Wilson's who secured them a second audition.  One never knows if Wilson had an influence on them getting signed, but considering...

Read More

Sunday Morning Vault: Sam Cooke--You Send Me (1957)

     Because of his long life and continued presence in the spotlight, Ray Charles is considered by many the father of soul music. While this technically may be true, it was another giant who gave it legitimacy beyond the clubs. Because of his early death, there are several generations who have missed the influence and legacy that was Sam Cooke.       Soul music by definition is a blending of rhythm & blues, and gospel. Whereas Ray Charles' background wasn't necessarily in the church, what was seen as a blending...

Read More

Arthur Conley--Sweet Soul Music (1967)

     Conley had bounced around a bit, being the lead singer in the group, Arthur & the Comets in from 1959 to 1964 before going off on his own. He recorded, "I'm A Lonely Stranger" which caught the attention of Otis Redding. Redding re-recorded the song on his new label, Jotis Records, and did a lot in teaching Conley the finer points of performing and recording. Together they took the Sam Cooke song, "Yeah Man", and rewrote it into, "Sweet Soul Music'.       It went to number 2 and became Conley's...

Read More

Remembering Dick Clark

     When you have been on television for 60 years, you have the opportunity to see and do a lot. Dick Clark had done a lot and influenced several generations. Those under the age of 30 can't remotely understand what he has done. Honestly, I'm 51 and although "American Bandstand" brought a lot of groups that I had never seen or heard into my living room, people of my age can't fully appreciate how deep and wide his influence was not just on entertainment, but on culture as a whole. I would contend that Clark, through "American...

Read More

Perry Como--And I Love You So (1973)

     A lot of people my age who read this blog (age 45 and up) might have forgotten that several of the pop singers of the early50's would still have the occasional hit even through the early/mid 70's. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Perry Como would all have hits well into a time thought exclusive to rock bands and teen idols.      I have always thought Perry Como to have one of the smoothest sounding voices in music. My problem with him has been his choice (or someone's choice) of material. He spent...

Read More

Commodores--Night Shift (1985)

    By 1985, The Commodores were limping along. The move towards a more middle of the road R&B sound had alienated their fans who were used to the straight up funk of Machine Gun, Brick House, and Too Hot Ta Trot. Those who were a fans of Lionel Richie's ballads had already abandoned ship for the most part as well. as he crafted a very successful solo career throughout the 80's. They had not had a top 40 hit in 4 years, since 1981's, "Oh No".      Having been moved to write a song in honor of Marvin Gaye and Jackie...

Read More

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

     Commander Cody is the brainchild of George Frayne who put the group together in 1967. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, the group moved to San Francisco over the course of a couple of years. This path was similar to the group Asleep at the Wheel, (who moved from West Virginia to San Fran) and who's sound is similar. Whereas however, "the Wheel" has cultivated a more purist approach to western swing, both groups have more than a passing link to the music of Bob Wills and Earnest Tubb.       After signing with...

Read More

Chi Coltrane--Thunder and Lightning (1972)

     Just like the lack of information in her biography, Chi Coltrane has been somewhat of an enigma throughout her career. Born from a Canadian mom, and German dad, (who was a violinist) in Wisconsin, Chi (pronounced Shy) was signed to a contract on the strength of a demo of self written songs in 1971.      "Thunder and Lightning" was the best of that demo, but the entire first album is a gem, and shows her as Laura Nyro type with top notch piano skills. The song reached the top 20 as did the debut album.  ...

Read More

Sunday Morning Vault: Eddie Cochran--Summertime Blues (1958)

     When we think of the pillars of rock and roll, Eddie Cochran doesn't immediately come to mind, but the timing of his career, his rebel attitude, and his tragic, early death, had a profound influence on the early days of what was to become rock music.      Cochran had been charting hits since 1957, but it was his appearance in the 1956 movie, "The Girl Can't Help It" with and the song "Twenty Flight Rock" that got his career off the ground. He didn't write that song, but many a young guitar player picked it...

Read More

Phil Collins--In The Air Tonight (1981)

     By the time Phil Collins began releasing solo projects, he already had a varied and full career. He was a child actor who had his first major role as The Artful Dodger in the London production of Oliver! He was an extra in The Beatles first film, "A Hard Day's Night" (he's in the film, during a scene with an audience....but you have to look close...a blink and he's gone).      He answered an ad in Melody Maker for a drummer, and found himself in the group "Genesis", which for a period was Britian's predominant...

Read More

The Chiffons--He's So Fine (1963)

     The Chiffons was a girl group in the early/mid 60's and consisting of Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, Barbara Lee, and Sylvia Peterson. "He's So Fine" was written by Ronald Mack, who was responsible for helping the group get their start. The song went all the way to number 1, and it's follow-up, the Goffen-King song, "One Fine Day" reached the top ten as well. They continued for another few years stacking up hits. However, the story of  "He's So Fine" was far from over.      In early 1971, Bright...

Read More

Judy Collins--Both Sides Now (1968)

     By the time she recorded, "Both Sides Now", Collins had already established herself as one of the most popular of the female folk/art singers. Like her contemporary Joan Baez, Collins started out singing traditional folk songs and through the 60's began to shift to covering the material of newer songwriters and mixing some of her own compositions as well.      "Wildflowers", her 7th album included a brand new song from an unknown from Canada named Joni Mitchell. Judy was the first to cover "Both Sides Now",...

Read More

Natalie Cole--This Will Be (1975)

     Most know that Natalie Cole was the daughter of pop/jazz singer Nat King Cole, what many might not know is that her mother Maria had been a singer for the Duke Ellington Orchestra, so the musical talent ran deep from both sides of the family.       Her initial attempts in the music business was met with some resistance because of her style. Being Nat's daughter, it was thought that her style would be smooth and poppish like his. However, she was raised to appreciate all styles of music and found...

Read More

Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band--Scorpio (1971)

     Dennis Coffey was a part of the "Funk Brothers" who helped changed Motown's image in the late 60's/early 70's by adding a more muscular sound. They could be heard on many of Norman Whitfield produced songs including, The Temptations', "Ball of Confusion", and Freda Payne's, "Band of Gold".      Coffey had been doing session work from the age of 15, and joined The Royaltones in the late 50's who had a top 20 hit with, "Poor Boy" in 1958. He joined Motown just as Whitfield became the leading producer at the...

Read More

Gary Lewis & The Playboys: This Diamond Ring (1965)

     The son of actor Jerry Lewis, Gary & The Playboys (he chose not to add 'Lewis' so as not not be an influence in getting a gig) got a spot at Disneyland in 1960 and were there for several years when they were discovered by record producer Snuff Garrett. It was Garrett who added the "Lewis" back into the band's name thinking that it would be a way to sell records. "This Diamond Ring" was the first song out of the box and went to No. 1 in 1965. They had solid success through 1967 when Lewis was drafted into the military....

Read More

Joe Cocker--The Letter (1970)

     Joe Cocker brings a good example of what I think is a problem with oldies radio today. The two songs that you hear mostly from him is "Up Where We Belong" (1982), and "You Are So Beautiful" (1975). Both songs have their charms I suppose, but they also are the definition of "lite rock", and miss the songs that truly defined him as one of rock's distinctive voices.      Cocker had been singing in bands from 1961 to 1968, when going solo, he covered, "With a Little Help From My Friends", which easily became...

Read More

Patsy Cline--Crazy (1961)

    Looking back over 50 years now it seemed like a natural pairing, the great Patsy Cline and the great Willie Nelson....two giants of country music right?     Well at the time it wasn't seen as such. Cline had a hit in 1957 with, "Walkin After Midnight" which had gained exposure through her appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. She didn't have a crossover hit for another 4 years. Much of this was due to her contract with Four Star Records, who clearly didn't know what to do with her, and some of it to Cline...

Read More

Climax Blues Band--Couldn't Get it Right (1977)

     Have you ever heard a song on the radio and said, "I remember that song", but could never think of the band's name? Of course, most of us have. Sometimes it's because our memories are fading, but other times, it's just the group never stood out enough to be remembered. You would think this would happen to one hit wonders, and it does many times. For me however, the fact that they only hit the charts once makes it easier to remember....since the name is so identified with the song.      The Climax Blues Band...

Read More

Climax--Precious and Few (1972)

     Every so often we run into a song that takes the long road to popularity...this is one of them.     The group itself had it's beginnings from the 60's garage band, "The Outsiders" which had four top 40 hits in 1966, most notably, "Time Won't Let Me" which reached #5. When the band broke up several years later, several of the band members started new bands, all with the name, "The Outsiders" including lead singer Sonny Geraci. However, guitarist Tom King took the others to court and barred them from using...

Read More

The Clash--Rock the Casbah (1981)

     By the time, "Rock the Casbah" had been released in 1981, The Clash had established themselves as the cream of the crop of the punk movement. So much so that they had pretty much transcended the genre by this time anyway. First off, one of the tenets of punk was the music and lyrics were to be raw to the point of being amateurish. Groups like The Sex Pistols made it clear they couldn't play very well, but from it's outset, The Clash was different. It takes talent to be good musicians and to sound as raw and unpolished as...

Read More

Sunday Morning Vault: Dee Clark--Raindrops (1961)

Delectus Clark was born in Arkansas in 1938, with the family moving to Chicago in 1941. He spent his teen years singing in various groups, and began a solo career in 1957. His first big break occurred when Little Richard retired (for the first time) and Clark stepped in to fill the dates that Richard abandoned. Over the next several years, he had success on the charts with 5 top 40 hits, but his only top 10 came in the spring in 1961 when "Raindrops" reached #2 for a week. Ironically, it was also his last hit as the next two songs could not replicate...

Read More