The Cuff Links--Tracy (1969)

     Am not sure what it was about 1969/70 and studio musicians, but some of pop's more enduring hits came as studio "creations" rather than from artists who made it by what would be considered normal means. I wrote a blog last year about Tony Burrows and his contributions to a host of singles during this period. Another musician who had success under other names was Ron Dante.
     Ron had success as a writer of jingles for television and radio as well as a session singer. He was approached with two singles which would change his career. The first was "Sugar Sugar" written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim for Don Kirshner's fictional group, "The Archies", the other was "Tracey" written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. "Sugar" came out first and was a huge hit, as it started down the charts, "Tracy" began it's ascent, reaching number 9 in the fall of 69. As a group was assembled to take The Cuff Links on the road, Dante chose not to be a part of the group. They had two more songs on the charts, "When Julie Comes Around", and "Run Sally Run" which did not feature Dante, but his replacement on the road version of The Cuff Links, Joe Cord.
     Dante actually made his name in music circles during the 70's, as he produced all of Barry Manilow's albums from 1973 to 1981. He continues to record and tour today. You can find him now at:http://www.rondante.com/.

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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, but was carrying on a tradition blazed by artist like Paul Anka, Liberace, and Tony Bennett.

    Before the 80's and the splitting up of sub genres, anything from Manilow to Melissa Manchester (who supposedly was the 'Melissa' in our  song subject today) to Aerosmith to Earth, Wind, and Fire, was all lumped together on the charts. As prone in Classical, Jazz and Folk, this led to a rock music "snobbery" and a constant ridicule of Barry's music. Even today a residual still remains from those who grew up in the era of total “let’s worship at the altar of FM rock.” However a look (and listen) to the Adult Contemporary charts today would suggest that artists like Michael Buble and Clay Aiken carry on the tradition that was kept a flame during the 70's by Manilow.

     

     As I mentioned before, my favorite albums were the first two before his propensity to modulate keys into swelling choruses got a bit out of hand. "Could It Be Magic" began and ended with an excerpt from  Fredric Chopin's Prelude in C Minor. In fact, the entire song revolved around the piece. Listen to the two albums and then listen to any of the Adult Contemporary artist today and you will see that stylistically it holds up well.

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