Friday, July 4, 2008

Ray's Song Pick of the Day from 30 June

Mike Sarne with Wendy Richard
COME OUTSIDE
UK#1(2) from 28 June 1962. This was the only second comedy record (after Lonnie Donegan’s My Old Man’s A Dustman) to make UK#1. Mike Sarne was born Michael Scheur in 1939 of German extraction. Wendy Richard was just beginning as an actress specializing in the not-so-dumb blonde roles that were still coming her way 20 years later - she played Miss Brahms in the TV series 'Are You Being Served' and later appeared in 'Eastenders' as Pauline Fowler. Wendy Richard even re-recorded ‘Come Outside’ with a replacement for Mike Sarne, but it went nowhere. Mike Sarne followed this hit with "Will I What?" (with Billie Davis) and "other less original variations on the theme." HUGE HIT in N.Z.
Featured – Mon 30 June, 2008

David Whitfield with Mantovani & Orchestra
CARA MIA
UK#1(10) from 2 July and US#10, charting from 14 August 1954. The first British male singer to have a million sale in the US, it achieved its magic figure by 1956. This was Whitfield’s second UK#1 and was one of the biggest-selling records of the pre-rock era. It sold well over a million copies and Whitfield joined Vera Lynn in the ranks of British stars who made the US Top 10. In Britain, the 10 week run at the top was then the longest ever run of consecutive weeks at No. 1 and, nearly 700 hits later, Whitfield still takes equal third place, after Slim Whitman (Rose Marie) and Bryan Adams (Everything I Do, I Do For You)
The writers of ‘Cara Mia’, Lee Lange and Tulio Trapani, were actually David Whitfield’s producer, Bunny Lewis, and his arranger, Mantovani. On this record Mantovani’s orchestra is given full label credit and as the Guiness Book Of British No Ones said, “There is no doubt that the lush strings of the Mantovani sound were a major contribution to the phenomenal success of this record.
Featured – Tue 1 July, 2008

Pat Boone, Mark Matheson said, “Extremely popular artist in the late fifties here. All three (I’ll Be Home, Friendly Persuasion and Remember You’re Mine) were huge hits and Pat would have sold in similar quantity in this country to Presley.”
I ALMOST LOST MY MIND US#1(4) from 28 July 1956. Pat had four million-sellers in 1956 and this was his 3rd such gold disc. The song was also a second time million-seller for the writer Ivory Joe Hunter who wrote and recorded his song in 1950. An example of a black artist's rhythm & blues track getting greater chart action from white audiences through having its rough edges being smoothed somewhat.
Featured – Wed 2 July, 2008

The Essex
EASIER SAID THAN DONE
US#1(2) from 6 July 1963, 13 wks in Top 100
Deciding to do the rounds of the record companies while on short leave from Camp Lejeune, their first and only stop was Roulette Records and their first release was an immediate hit. The quintet started with four Marines who worked at perfecting their sound, but not until they had heard Anita Humes singing at an NCO club and asked her to join them, were they satisfied with their group.
Featured – Thu 3 July, 2008

Everly Brothers
CLAUDETTE
written by Roy Orbison for his wife. Flip side to #1 hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream", their 3rd million-seller and in the UK considered a double sided hit UK#1(7) from 4 July 1958. Monster Hit in N.Z.
Featured – Fri 4 July, 2008

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