Featured Songs for Saturday 19 December 2009

and missed from last week ...
Scaffold
Thank You Very Much, NZ#1(1), 29 February 1968, UK#4, 8 weeks in Top 20 from 9 December 1967. Monster Hit in N.Z.

Emile Ford with the Checkmates
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR? UK#1(6) from 18 December 1959 and Au#1(2) from 12 March 1960 MONSTER HIT in N.Z. Emile Ford (born Emile Sweetman, 16 October 1937, Castries, Saint Lucia, West Indies) is a musician and singer, who was popular in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Ford was the son of a government official and an opera-singing mother, and he moved to Britain with his family at an early age.

He was educated at the Paddington Technical College in London.[2] It was during this time that Ford taught himself to play a number of musical instruments. These included the guitar, piano, violin, bass guitar and drums. His innate interest in music was fostered by his mother, and perhaps derived in part — according to annotator Roger Dopson and journalist Norman Jopling — in his synesthesia: he perceived sound as colours and patterns.

He teamed up with George Ford, Ken Street and John Cuffley as Emile Ford and the Checkmates, and their first self-produced recording "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" went to number one in the UK Singles Chart at the end of 1959 and stayed there for six weeks. The track remains as having the longest question ever asked by a chart topping disc in the UK.[3] Ford was also the first black British artist to sell one million copies of a 7" single.

Brenda Lee
*SWEET NOTHIN'S (Monster Hit) 2nd million-seller for Brenda Lee Tarpley or 'Little Miss Dynamite'. Lithonia, Georgia born in December 1944, Brenda won a talent contest at age 6. In 1956 at age 11 she was heard by Red Foley, who arranged for her to make her TV debut on the country-and-western 'Ozark Jubilee' show. This led to further TV appearances and a recording contract in May 1956. Her first record release being 'Jambalaya', then a year later her first chart at #43, 'One Step At A Time'. 'Sweet Nothin's' was her 3rd chart (and 1st Top 10), 24 weeks on from 21 December 1959

Harry Simeone Chorale
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY Initially released on the 1958 album "Sing We Now Of Christmas" which was renamed "The Little Drummer Boy" in 1963. The song made the US Pop charts every December (except 1962) from 1958 (posn. 22) through to 1963, when the single made US#1. Co-written by Harry Simeone in 1958 who took the tune from the Spanish song 'Tabolilleros' and tells the story of a poor boy who has no great gift to offer the Nativity but his playing the drum. Big Hit in N.Z.
Music buff Alex, tells me the song was originally called Carol Of The Drum by the Trapp Family Singers from 1952. The Originals Project says; ""Carol Of The Drum" was written, arranged from a Czech carol, in 1941 by Katherine Davis (aka C.R.W. Robinson). No one seems to have recorded it until some eleven years later.

The Trapp Family Singers' recording was done in Germany for Deutsche Grammophon. In the US, Decca issued it in various forms, including an album, the six-45 record set shown and a single 45 (Decca 30997, 1959)."

*The Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song, US#1(4) from 22 December 1958 and NZ#1 almost a year later in November 1959

Billy Vaughn and his orchestra
*SAIL ALONG SILV'RY MOON Dot [USA]. Billy Vaughn's second million-seller for this most consistent hit-producing studio orchestra leader in the disc business. This disc sold a reputed four and a half million globally, for which he received a special platinum disc award. Apart from selling over a million in the USA, it also sold over a million in Germany where his discs have a big following and consistent sales (see 1955). The song is an oldie of 1937 by Harry Tobias (words) and Percy Wenrich (music) and had been a hit for Bing Crosby that year. US#5 in 1958, 26 weeks in Top 100 from 23 December 1957 and a HUGE HIT in N.Z. PROBABLY THE BIGGEST SELLING SINGLE OF THE LATE 50’S.

Bobby Helms
*JINGLE BELL ROCK a perennial seasonal favourite; Pop #6 first up from 23 December 1957, then on pop charts in December 1958, 1960 to 1963 and top of the special US Christmas chart in 1963 and appearing each year through to 1970, again 1972 and 1973, and 1983 to 1985, a million-seller after 5 years (his 2nd) J.S.Pierpont's 1857 'Jingle Bells' updated by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe exactly a century later and Big Hit in NZ.

Conway Twitty
LONELY BLUE BOY (Moderate Hit) his 2nd million-seller charted from 28 December 1959 and had originally been recorded (unreleased) by Elvis Presley as "Danny" for the movie 'King Creole'

Andy Williams
*HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG backed with HOUSE OF BAMBOO Andy's 2nd million-seller, 'Hawaiian Wedding Song' ('Ke Kali nei ou') was written in 1926 (by Charles King) with English lyrics being provided in 1958 (by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning). Recorded 3 November and charting for Andy from 29 December 1958 with a US#11 peak in 1959. BIG HIT


Cliff Richard
I Love You, UK#1(2) from 29 December 1960. For the first time Cliff took over from Elvis at #1 (It's Now Or Never) - a feat repeated exactly 3 years later when "The Next Time/Bachelor Boy" displaced "Return To Sender"

LaVern Baker
JIM DANDY Her 2nd million-seller, a US#17, 19 weeks in from 29 December 1956 and written by Lincoln Chase. Born Delores Williams in Chicago 11 November 1928. Recorded as 'Little Miss Sharecropper' and 'Bea Baker'. After working with the Todd Rhodes Orchestra 1952-53 then toured Europe solo. Returned to work for Atlantic Records and became one of the most popular female R&B singers in the early rock era. Her first million-seller, “Tweedle Dee” was a R&B#4 in 1955 was not released in N.Z. RELEASED HERE BUT NOT A HIT.

Ray Price Not a big seller and quite hard to get. Possibly a little too country for the mainstream at the time.
CRAZY ARMS - N/A Rated the top Country-and-Western record for the year and the 1st million-seller for Ray Price. Made the Honor Roll Of Hits, at #27, 1 week - 29 December 1956

Ricky Nelson
STOOD UP MODERATE HIT in N.Z. backed with
WAITIN' IN SCHOOL Imperial. This third million-seller for Ricky Nelson enjoyed popularity on both sides. 'Stood Up' was written by Dub Dickerson and Erma Herrold; 'Waitin' in School' by Johnny and Dorsey Burnette. 'Stood Up' was US#2(3) in early 1958, 18 weeks in Top 100 from 30 December 1957. Ricky changed his name to Rick after “Travellin’ Man”/”Hello Mary Lou” from April / May 1961

Featured Songs for Saturday 12 December 2009

*Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West). UK#1(4) from 11 December 1971

Bill Haley
Joey's Song Au#1(4) from 12 December 1959, an instrumental that peaked at US#46 as Haley's moment of fame was waning (12 wks in Top 100 from 5 October 1959). But not in Australia, with a tune named for it's composer, arranger/conductor, Joe Reisman. (Not to be confused with Lou Reisman!) MONSTER HIT in N.Z. – in Bits

Pat Boone
APRIL LOVE Dot [USA] US#1(6) from 16 December 1957, 26 weeks in Top 100 from 28 October, NZ#1, January 1958 and UK#7in 1957, 18 weeks in Top 20 from 20 December (23 wks in Top 30) HUGE HIT in N.Z. – By 1958 April Love became Pat’s 9th million seller, a reworked title song from the movie starring Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. Written by Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) and Sammy Fain (music) from Pat’s first musical film.
backed with WHEN THE SWALLOWS COME BACK TO CAPISTRANO

Eddie Fisher
DUNGAREE DOLL, US#7, 19 weeks in Top 100 from 17 December 1955. Initially the flip-side, a Rodgers and Hammerstein ballad, "Everybody's Got A Home But Me" attracted the interest before the focus shifted to this number which had more appeal as Rock 'n' Roll started to take off. Monster Hit. – in Bits

Barry Gordon with Art Mooney & Orchestra
NUTTIN' FOR CHRISTMAS, Another youngster in the Jimmy Boyd tradition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa", Barry Gordon was Massachusetts born 21 December 1948, so this song came out just before Barry's 7th birthay. 4 weeks in Top 100 from 17 December 1955 with a peak of US#6.
Barry also made many TV appearances and had one other chart, in 1958, with "Rock Around Mother Goose" - again with the Art Mooney Orchestra. Art Mooney features again later with "Honey-Babe" Not Released In NZ.

Teresa Brewer
LET ME GO, LOVER!, (with The Lancers) US#6 in 1955, 12 weeks in Top 100 from 18 December 1954, UK#9 from February 1955 and her 5th million-seller. Also a million-seller for Joan Weber in 1954, written by Jenny Lou Carson in 1953 with revised lyrics by Al Hill in 1954. Big Hit in N.Z.

Featured Songs for Saturday 5 December 2009

The Teddy Bears
TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM
Los Angeles trio comprising Phil Spector, Carol Connors & Marshall Leib. US#1(3) from 1 December 1958 and a MONSTER HIT in N.Z.


Frankie Laine
MOONLIGHT GAMBLER Columbia [USA]
The 9th million-seller for Frankie Laine was written in 1956 by Bob Hilliard (words) and Philip Springer (music). It was No 3 in the US Top 100 with 22 weeks in from 1 December 1956 and No. 13 with 12 weeks in the UK Top 30 from December 1956, plus NZ#1 in March 1957 and 7 weeks in the Top 20. HUGE HIT in N. Z. With Ray Conniff & Orchestra - see following song ...


Don Cherry
BAND OF GOLD, US#4, 22 weeks in Top 100 from 3 December 1955, UK#6 from February 1956. Said to have been the first arrangement by Ray Conniff for the Columbia label. Dallas, Texas born in January 1924, Don Cherry studied voice after military service in the mid forties. Vocalist with the Jan Barber band in the late forties before becoming a professional golfer for a while before getting back into singing in the early fifties.
Big Hit in N.Z.



Adam Faith
WHAT DO YOU WANT UK#1(3) from 4 December 1959 Blond moody Adam Faith, from BBC TV's 'Drumbeat' was born Terence Nelhams in June 1940. Taken into the Parlophone studios and (despite an uninspiring track record to date) produced one of the pop classics of the pre-Beatles era. The last line of this song also gave him the catch phrase "Wish you wanted my love, bay-bee" MONSTER HIT in N.Z.



LaVern Baker
I CRIED A TEAR Her biggest hit in N.Z., but only sold moderately. US#6 in early 1959, 21 weeks in US Top 100 from 8 December 1958.

Featured Songs Saturday 21 November 2009

Eddie Arnold
THE CATTLE CALL US#69, 1 week on Top 100, 19 November 1955, a Country #1 in 1955 and originally released in 1947. Written in 1934 by Tex Owens Moderate Hit in N.Z. With 146 songs on the country charts -- including 28 number one hits -- Arnold ranks among the most popular country singers in U.S. history. Only George Jones had more individual hits on the country charts but, according to a formula derived by Joel Whitburn, Arnold is the all-time leader in an overall rankings for hits and their time on the charts. He became popular on Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry as a singer with Pee Wee King (1940-43) and died 8 May 2008

*The Supremes - YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON, US#1(2) from 19 November 1966 and a Monster Hit in N.Z.
*The Supremes - I HEAR A SYMPHONY, US#1(2) from 20 November 1965 Big Hit in N.Z.

Isaac Hayes
Theme From Shaft US#1(2) from 20 November a UK#4 (In Top 20 from 4 December) 1971 and NZ#7 from early 1972.
Written and produced by Isaac Hayes it was released in the US 29 September and in the UK November 1971 and peaking there at #2* (12 weeks in the Top 50). The ‘Shaft’ theme from the film soundtrack passed the million and half in the US and in Britain sold over 250,000. It won the Oscar for Best Film Song of 1971 and Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement and for Best Engineered Recording in 1971. Along with Isaac Hayes (vocal/organ) there were Lester Snell (electric piano), James Alexander (bass guitar), Michael Toles (lead/rhythm guitar), Charles Pitts (lead/rhythm guitar), Willie Hall (drums/tambourine), Gary Jones (bongos/congos), The Memphis Strings & Horns (arranged by Isaac Hayes & Johnny Allen). *according to the Encyclopedia of Million Sellers. However both everyHit.com and Rock File 4 say the peak was #4.


Del Shannon
KEEP SEARCHIN' His own composition and 3rd million-seller (globally) - US#9, 14 weeks in Top 100 from 21 November 1964 and UK#3, 8 weeks in Top 20 from 21 January 1965. MONSTER HIT

The Partridge Family
I Think I Love You US#1(3) from 21 November 1970 and UK#18 and NZ#3 in 1970
The Partridge Family was created for a popular TV show in the US, as were the Monkees. The show describes the humorous adventures of a widow and her five children and proved to be a top-rating TV series, networked weekly by ABC-TV.
The Partridge Family were David Cassidy, lead singer, (son of Jack Cassidy) with his real life step-mother, Shirley Jones. Shirley Jones, was an actress and former star of films (Oklahoma and Carousel) and stage (Call Me Madam, South Pacific). Other members were Susan Dey, Jeremy Gelbwaks, Danny Bonaduce and Suzane Crough.
Bell Records mounted a huge promotion campaign around the TV series, single, album and music from the show. “I Think I Love You”, written by Tony Romeo was the first single release and achieved the R.I.A.A. Gold Disc award by December. In Britain the song was released in November with 9 weeks in the Top 50

Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Chile. UK#1, 21 November 1970

Long John Baldry
Let The Heartaches Begin. UK#(2) from 22 November 1967 and US#88, and NZ#20 in early 1968. The song was #1 when the first heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in South Africa on 3 December 1967.
The song also had a claim to fame in being one of the few occasions when song writers have ousted another of their songs from the top. Tony McAuley and John McLeod had written the charts previous #1 by The Foundations - Baby Now That I've Found You.
Long John Baldry himself, was born 12 January 1941 and is/was probably the tallest act to make UK#1. He sang with various blues groups in the sixties, including the Hoochie Coochie Men, Steampacket and Bluesology, whose pianist, Elton John, took his second name from Baldry’s first. None of Baldry’s blues recordings made the charts and it was a switch to tear-jerking ballads such as this one, that brought him to national attention. He eventually went back to his musical roots but no more chart records followed.

Billy Connolly – D.I.V.O.R.C.E. UK#1, 22 November 1975

KC & The Sunshine Band – That’s The Way (I Like It) US#1(2) from 22 November 1975

Dale & Grace
I'm Leaving It Up To You US#1(2) from *23 November 1963 (15 weeks in US Top 100) *the day after JFK assassination
Two 19 years olds, Dale Houston and Grace Broussard updated a 1957 song which sold a million for them globally. Dale and Grace had sung in local Baton Rouge Louisiana bistros for several years before teaming up. Grace first sung with her brother Van, while Dale worked as a soloist. It was at producer Sam Montel's studio where they met and did an impromptu session -Montel was greatly impressed with their version of "I'm Leaving It Up To You" and it became a local success in the southern states before becoming a national then international hit. Not a million seller

Featured Songs Saturday 14 November 2009

missed from before
The Monkees
LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE, US#1(1), 5 November 1966, a UK#23 in early 1967 and a Monster Hit in N.Z.
The group's first million seller written by Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart (as was a lot of their material). Their TV show was partly inspired by The Beatles 'Hard Day's Night film and this track was considered a knock-off of the Beatles' "Paperback Writer"

*Hugo Montenegro & Orch. – The Good The Bad And The Ugly. UK#1(4) from 13 November 1968
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet US#1, 9 November 1974
Eagles – Heartache Tonight. US#1, 10 November 1979

Gilbert O’Sullivan
Clair. UK#1(2) from 11 November 1972. ‘Clair’ was not an obvious love story but was inspired by the young daughter of O’Sullivan’s manager, Gordon Mills, for whom Gilbert babysat. The angle gave the song a wider audience than it would have received had it been a traditional romance. Irish man O’Sullivan’s first No 1, almost two years after his record debut with his UK Top 10, “Nothing Rhymed”.


Donna Summer
MacArthur Park. US#1(3) from 11 November 1978. Donna Summer is an American singer and songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of music, earning the title "The Queen of Disco". Summer trained as a gospel singer before her introduction to the music industry and has always been known for her "powerhouse" vocal delivery. A cover of the Jimmy Webb-penned "MacArthur Park", originally made famous by the late actor-singer Richard Harris. Summer's recording, which was included as part of the "MacArthur Park Suite" on her double album Live and More, ran to 8:40 in its full-length version. The shorter single edit of the song was Summer's first single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The 17:47 long medley "MacArthur Park Suite", which incorporates the songs "One of a Kind" and "Heaven Knows", was also issued as a 12" (30 cm) promo, which stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for five weeks in 1978.

*Johnny Rivers - Poor Side Of Town, US#1(1), 12 November 1966 didn't sell a million.
*Hugo Montenegro & Orch. – The Good The Bad And The Ugly. UK#1(4) from 13 November 1968
Slade – Coz I Love You. UK#1(4) from 13 November 1971
(not really suitable for Coast)
*Chicago – If You Leave Me Now. UK#1(3) from 13 November 1976

Rod Stewart
Tonight’s The Night. US#1(8) from 13 November 1976
The song features whispers from Britt Ekland who was Stewart's girlfriend at the time. From his 1976 album 'A Night On The Town'

*Nino Tempo & April Stevens - Deep Purple US#1, 16 November 1963, (15 weeks in Top 100) A famous oldie from 1939 originally composed by Peter de Rose for piano solo, then with words added by Mitchell Parish, became a great favourite for over 30 years with orchestras. A million-seller for this brother and sister from Niagara Falls, New York.
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – Whatever Gets You Thru The Night US#1, 16 November 1974
David Essex – Gonna Make You A Star. UK#1(3) from 16 November 1974 (didn’t make the US Top 100 – “Rock On” and “Lamplight” did in 1973/74) N/A
*The 4 Seasons - Big Girls Don't Cry, US#1(5) from 17 November 1962 (16 weeks in Top 100), Au#1(1) 5 Jan 1963 and a MONSTER HIT in N.Z.
*Beach Boys – Good Vibrations. UK#1(2) from 17 November, US#1, 10 December 1966 and NZ#1(2) from 12 January 1967 and from the Pet Sounds album.
Gary Glitter – I Love You Love Me Love. UK#1(4) from 17 November 1973. His second UK No 1 and a million seller. N/A

Commodores
Still. US#1, 17 November 1979. The group is best known for their ballads, such as "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady", but, for the most part, the group mainly recorded funky, driven dance-floor hits which include "Slippery When Wet" and "Brick House". This song came from their hit album Midnight Magic and reached the top of both the pop and R&B charts. It is one of the group's most popular singles and is also notable for being their last big hit before Lionel Richie went solo.

Featured Songs Saturday 7 November 2009

* - songs played in regular Coast playlist
*Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds US#1, 1 November 1969

Stevie Wonder – You Haven’t Done Nothin US#1, 2 November 1974


Abba
The Name Of The Game. UK#1(4) from 5 November 1974 and Aust #13 from 2 November 1977
Polydor 847 365 Abba The Songbook, Australian Chart Hits

The Rolling Stones * more a 'Hauraki' song
GET OFF OF MY CLOUD, UK#1(3) from 4 November and US#1(2) from 6 November 1965 Big Hit in N.Z.
The 2nd successive #1 recorded by the boys in Hollywood a number one on both sides of the Atlantic.

*Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now US#1(4) from 4 November 1972
*Anne Murray – You Needed Me. US#1, 4 November 1978

Jimmy Dean
Big Bad John US#1(5) from 6 November 1961 (16 weeks in Top 100), 2nd Top No 1 of 1961 and a HUGE HIT in N.Z.
The 1st million-seller for country and western artist, Jimmy Dean, with his own composition. Signed to Columbia Records in 1957, this was his first pop success and became the winner of the N.A.R.A.S Award for Best Country-and-Western Recording for 1961.



Joe Cocker (Not sure this suits the 'Coast sound')
*With A Little Help From My Friends. UK#1, 6 November 1968, US#68 (6 wks in Top 100 from 16 November) 1968 and NZ#12 in early 1969. Ex gas fitter John Cocker (b. Sheffield 20 May 1944) had formed his first band, an R&B outfit called Vance Arnold & The Avengers, 1963. The following year he cut his first single, a Beatles song, “I’ll Cry Instead” using the name Joe Cocker. Working with numerous musicians he became well known on the London club circuit, gaining the attention of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Having a mildly successful single with “Marjorine”, Cocker decided to record the stage favourite “With a Little Help From My Friends”. As the Guiness book of UK No 1 Hits said, “Few could have turned this singalong track from the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper LP into a souful ballad.”

The 5th Dimension
WEDDING BELL BLUES Soul City [USA] US#1(3) from 6 November 1969 Monster Hit in N.Z. at NZ#3 and UK#16 in 1969
Released in September 1969 and taken from the group’s enormously successful album ‘Age of Aquarius’, this lovely soft song by Laura Nyro not only made US#1 (with 15 weeks in the Top 100) but sold a million by 5 December 1969 with Gold Disc award from R.I.A.A.

Cher
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves US#1(2) from 6 November 1971 * in NexGen
Written by Bob Stone (or Wikipedia suggests it was, Shel Silverstein) and released in the US September and in Britain in November 1971, where it peaked at #3 and spent 12 weeks in the UK Top 50. It was the first big hit as a solo artist for Cher, with a million sale in the US, earning the R.I.A.A. Gold Disc award, 19 November 1971. It sold 250,000 in the UK.
After Sonny & Cher initial success in the mid sixties, the duo became somewhat quiet in the acid rock period, making an anti dope film for children in 1968. From 1969 to 1970 there was a lull in their fortunes, but in 1970 they went into nightclubs and cabaret circuit. In 1971, they got a CBS TV show and were back in popularity, with the success of the one-hour TV series. Cher subsequently divorced Sonny in 1974 and started a solo career with Kapp Records, and became a fashion queen working for Vogue etc. In 1975 Cher embarked on a stormy, on-off marriage to Greg Allman (of the Allman Brothers) and recorded with him (Allman and Woman, 1977).
The video for "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves" was Cher's first music video and was a recorded performance of the song on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour in 1971. Throughout the video Cher is singing in front of a house wagon and in front of a fire. A second video was made, but it was very similar to the original. In the second video, clips of dancing female gypsies were shown.

Steve Miller – Rock’n Me. US#1, 6 November 1976

*The Foundations - Baby Now That I’ve Found You. UK#1(2) from 8 November 1967 and US#11 early 1968 (13 weeks in Top 100 from 23 December 1967)

David Bowie – Space Oddity. UK#1(2) from 8 November 1975


Conway Twitty
IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE
US#1(2) from 10 November 1958 and a MONSTER HIT in N.Z.
Superstar Country singer who charted 40 #1 Country hits. Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins 1 September 1933 in Friars Point, Mississippi and raised in Helena, Arkansas. Died of an abdominal aneurysm on 5 June 1993.

Featured Songs for Saturday 30 October 2009

Temptations
I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU, US#1(2) from 18 October 1969 - Moderate Hit in N.Z. A Detroit soul group formed in 1960 with Eddie Kendricks (d. October 1992 of lung cancer at age 52) Paul Williams (d. August 1973) Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams (not to be confused with the same-named member of The Charms) and Elbridge Bryant, who was replaced by David Ruffin in 1964. A number of other personnel changes followed. Recognised as American's all-time favourite soul group. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. This song charted between a number of tracks the group did with Diana Ross & The Supremes, I.e. the US#2 “I'm Gonna Make You Love Me” from late 1968 and “The Weight” which followed this song on the charts (September 1969). Another big hit for writers Norman Whitfield and Barret Strong, released 16 August 1969, this sold a million after spending two weeks at No 1 in the U.S. A UK#13 from January 1970.



Bobbie Gentry
I'll Never Fall In Love Again, UK#1(1), 18 October and Au#1(2) from 11 November 1969 Monster Hit in N.Z. With this song, from their musical ‘Promises Promises’ Bacharach and David achieved their sixth No. 1 composition, maintaining their third position in the league of most successful Number One songwriting partnerships.
Bobbie Gentry, born Roberta Lee Streeter, 27 July 1944, began playing piano at the age of seven, going on to study music at the Los Angeles Conservatory Of Music. After seeing the film ‘Ruby Gentry’ she decided to adopt that surname for her stage name and by 1966 she was singing and writing songs for her own song and dance group.
Bobbie had approached Capitol Records with any eye to selling songs to other artists. Instead they asked to sing them herself. Her first hit was her lament against indifference to suicide, with the “Ode To Billy Joe”, a UK Top 20 and US#1 in 1967. This song was her next British chart, then her cover, with Glen Campbell, of the Everly’s “All I Have To Do Is Dream” made UK#3 in December 1969 and then a minor (UK#40) with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” from February 1970 was her lot on the UK charts.


The Jackson 5
I’LL BE THERE. US#1(5) from 17 October 1970 A quintet of brothers formed and managed by their father beginning in 1966 in Gary, Indiana. Consisted of Sigmund ‘Jackie’, Toriano ‘Tito’, Jermaine, Marlon and lead singer Michael (the youngest b. 1958). First recorded for Steeltown in 1968. Known as the Jackson 5 from 1968-75. The group was backed by their sisters Rebbie, La Toya and Janet. Each had solo hits and Michael and Janet went on to have superstar solo careers.
This song was taken from the Jackson 5’s third album and was an even bigger success than their previous 1970 releases, selling over 350,000 copies in the US by November, after being at No 1 for 5 weeks. Released in the US 28 August and in the UK 13 November 1970, where it got to No 4 for a week and sold over 250,000 copies by early 1971. This fourth million for the group (all US#1 hits) was written by Berry Gordy Jr., B. West, W. Hutch and H. Davies. The quintet sold over 10 million singles in a nine month period since their first million seller of “I Want You Back” and was claimed to be in excess of sales figures by The Beatles within any given nine-month period.



Matthews’ Southern Comfort
WOODSTOCK. UK#1(3) from 31 October 1970. Ian Matthews, (born Ian MacDonald in Lincolnshire, England in June 1946) left the folk-rock band he helped found, Fairport Convention in 1969, and his first solo album, released at the beginning of 1970, was called ‘Matthews Southern Comfort’. His band took the name of the album and on this single the line-up was Matthews on vocals, Gordon Huntley, Ramon Duffy, Andy Leigh, Carl Barnwell and Mark Griffiths. It was their only hit, making them at the time, the 15th member of that exclusive one-hit wonder group and the fourth act to qualify during 1970.
In 1971, Ian Matthew had dissolved his band to go solo and without setting the world on fire with his music, has remained a respected performer on both sides of the Atlantic.


Chuck Berry
My Ding-A-Ling, US#1(2) from 21 October and UK#1(4) from 25 November 1972. Originally recorded by the artist as “My Tambourine” in 1966. Recorded live at the Lanchester Arts Festival, Coventry, England. Chuck Berry wrote “My Ding-a-Ling” in the early 1950s but Mercury Records turned it down. It was however recorded by Dave Bartholomew in 1954 and by Chuck under the new title of ‘My Tambourine’ in 1958. The song was issued under its original title on Berry’s 1972 album ‘London Chuck Berry Session’ and the single issue rocketed to No 1 with R.I.A.A. Gold Disc Award by September 1972. It took Britain by storm and was their Christmas hit of 1972. The risqué novelty number was a surprise Anglo-American hit and in Britain aroused attack by Mrs. Mary Whitehouse, the ‘clean-up TV’ campaigner of the time.
The publicity certainly helped revive Chuck Berry’s career and this song was his first certified million seller.

Featured Songs for Saturday 24 October 2009

Cliff Richard And The Shadows
TRAVELLIN’ LIGHT. UK#1(5) from 30 October 1959. Written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett and produced by Norrie Paramour. Cliff’s previous No 1 with this backing group was “Living Doll” when they were called the Drifters. Their name was changed was to avoid confusion with the American Drifters. Cliff’s first four singles had all been uptempo, all in the fashionable rock ‘n’ roll vein and sung with a hint of surliness in the voice but it was not until the success of the easy paced “Living Doll”, his 5th single, that Cliff topped the charts and the same winning format was used for “Travellin’ Light”.



Brenda Lee
I WANT TO BE WANTED US#1, 24 October 1960 and Monster Hit in N.Z. An adaption of an Italian song 'Per Tutta La Vita', that came after two million sellers for the singer, from late 1959 and mid 1960.A professional singer since age six and after she appeared on TV in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, she was described in France as ‘the most dynamic American artist since Judy Garland. Backing musicians included Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob More (bass), and Homer 'Boots' Randolph (sax)
Playd Tuesday 7 October 2008



Bobby 'Boris' Pickett * in NexGen but not regulary scheduled
MONSTER MASH. US#1(2) from 20 October 1962 (14 weeks in Top 100) and a Monster Hit in N.Z.
Bobby Pickett began his recording career in Hollywood while aspiring to be an actor. Co-written with Leonard Capizzi, his song charted twice more, #91 in 1970 and #10 in 1973.


Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs
*SUGAR SHACK US#1(5) from 12 October 1963 (15 weeks in Top 100)
The 1st million-seller for Jimmy who began singing as a youngster in La Grange, Illinois. He studied piano for four years and in 1957 organised his own rock 'n' roll band before meeting up with the Fireballs at a recording studio. The Fireballs had already had some success on record and Jimmy teamed up with them as singer and rhythm guitarist. Au#1(2) from 12 December 1963 and Monster Hit in NZ

Peggy Lee * also by Ruby Murray
MR. WONDERFUL, NZ#1 in October 1957 HUGE HIT in N.Z.
Ruby's version didn't show in the UK Top 20 whereas Peggy Lee made UK#5, 13 weeks in from 24 May 1957 (her first UK chart success) and US#14, 20 weeks in Top 100 from 3 March 1956 – from the year before! From the Broadway musical starring Sammy Davis Jr.






Question Mark & The Mysterians
96 TEARS, US#1(1), 29 October 1966 and a Big Hit in N.Z. A Mexican / American quintet out of Detroit via Acapulco. The lead singer Question Mark joined the group one night while they were playing at Michigan's Mount Holly Ski Lodge. At the time, not even other members of group knew Question Mark's real name (Rudy Martinez) or anything about his past. Part of his image was to wear dark glasses all the time and to live alone.

Featured Songs for Saturday 17 October 2009

Robyn Bowskill sent me an email to Coast saying;
the songs are good that you play, the third after the top of the hour. why can't we have them on the playlist as well?

I suggested Robyn request those that she likes, for Jacqui to play during her 10am to 3pm show. Then maybe over time, some of these 'Featured Songs' of mine might end up on the playlist. An example was The French Song by Lucille Starr, that I introduced a year or so back and got requested so often that the Programme Director eventually got around to adding to the playlist.


Larry Verne
Mr. CUSTER. US#1, 10 October 1960 (Poor seller. Monster hit here by the UK's Charlie Drake.)

Neil Diamond
*CRACKLIN’ ROSIE. US#1, 10 October 1970.
The Bee Gees
*MASSACHUSETTS (The Lights Went Out In), UK#1(4) from 11 October and NZ#1(3) from 23 November 1967 - Monster Hit in N.Z.
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg
*JE T'AIME ... MOI NON PLUS, Fontana [Britain] UK#1(1), 11 October 1969 Not Released In NZ –


Neil Sedaka
Bad Blood, US#1(3) from 11 October 1975 and NZ#18, 2 weeks in Top 20 6 March 1975. I asked music collector Scott Hughes if he remembered the song being played much here in NZ and he responded ... Yes, I remember hearing Bad Blood a lot. I thought it might have even charted a bit higher here. Elton John sang back up on it, 1975 sparked Sedaka revival with Love Will Keep Us Together which he wrote being one of biggest hits that year.


Lieutenant Pigeon
*Mouldy Old Dough, UK#1(4) from 14 October 1972

Jimmy Young
THE MAN FROM LARAMIE, UK#1(4) from 14 October 1955. Only two of the ten different versions recorded made the British charts with Al Martino's version peaking out at #19. Not A Big Seller in N.Z.


Frankie Laine
A WOMAN IN LOVE. UK#1(4) from 19 October 1956. Written by Frank Loesser and produced by Mitch Miller. From the movie ‘Guys And Dolls’ and Not the same song as Barbra Streisand’s US#1 in 1980. This was Laine’s fourth and final UK No. 1. His total of 4 chart toppers established a record which was equaled, just over 6 months later, on 17 May 1957, by Guy Mitchell. Laine and Mitchell shared the lead until they were joined by Elvis Presly on 15 May 1959 and finally overtaken by him the following year with “It’s Now Or Never” making the top 3 November 1960.


Elvis Presley.
*JAILHOUSE ROCK backed with HUGE HIT
TREAT ME NICE Victor [USA]. Both songs came from Presley's film Jailhouse Rock to provide his 14th and 15th million-sellers. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote both songs. This disc sold well over two million and 'Jailhouse Rock' was US#1(7) from 21 October with 27 weeks in the bestsellers, and UK#1(3) from 24 January 1958. 'Treat Me Nice" US#18, with 10 weeks in from 14 October 1957 HUGE HIT in N.Z. and as Mark said Was actually the A side, not Jailhouse Rock


Johnny Mathis
CHANCES ARE, Written by Robert Allen (music) and lyrics by Al Stillman. US#1, 21 October 1957 (28 weeks in Top 100 from 16 September) and NZ#1 in February 1958 - HUGE HIT in N.Z. Born in San Francisco 30 September 1930, Johnny Mathis became an all-round athlete at George Washington High School. His father, a vaudeville artist began teaching him songs from the age of 10, then a local music teacher took him on for seven years without a fee. Heard singing with a group at this club in San Francisco he got referred to Columbia Records and his recording debut involved producing a whole album. This ended his plans of being a physical education teacher and he was sent on a nationwide tour, which included night clubs, concert halls and appearances on TV. The Johnny Mathis style was not of the teen beat variety and he became a big seller of albums (LPs). His LP ‘Johnny’s Greatest Hits’ was in the sellers charts consistently from 1958.

Featured Songs for Saturday10 October 2009

Had an email from Roberto Neves who listens to Coast online (he has a daughter and grandchildren living in Christchurch) making me aware of the passing of ..."the great Argentina singer and Latin-America, Mecedes Sosa, that died Sunday (04/10/2009). As much in its program of the Coast, how much in the Blog Unforgettable Music. Please, it has touched the great success of she, Gracias a la vida."
Regards, José Roberto Beserra Neves.

I didn't find any songs of hers that I could readily access and play on Coast, however she does have a page on Wikipedia

Featured Songs for Saturday 10 October 2009


The McCoys
HANG ON SLOOPY, US#1, 2 October 1965. One of two versions that sold a million in 1965 (the other by Ramsey Lewis Trio) and the first release for the McCoys. A rock band formed in Union City, Indiana. Rick Derringer (real name Zehringer, vocals & guitar), brother Randy Zehringer (drums), Randy Hobbs (bass) and Ronnie Brandon (keyboards). Rick went solo in 1974. Monster Hit in N.Z.

David Essex
Hold Me Close, UK#1(3) from 4 October 1975 - Not available at this stage


The Shadows
Kon Tiki
UK#1, 5 October 1961. The Shadows fifth hit was their second to make the top of the charts. Written by Michael Carr, who also provided their follow-up to Apache in the UK#5 ‘Man Of Mystery’. By the time this tune was at No.l drummer Tony Meehan had left the group and had been replaced by Brian Bennett, who been with Marty Wilde’s Wildcats.

Cher
Half-Breed, US#1(2) from 6 October 1973




Four Aces
*LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDOURED THING, US#1(6) from 8 October 1955, their 5th million-seller and winner of the Academy Award for the Best Film Song of 1955, written by Paul Francis Webster & Sammy Fain. Monster Hit.
When this song is played on Coast I occasionally get comments about my not saying splen doured. If you listen to the Four Aces they sing "Love is a many splendoured thing" three times, the first two times as splendid and then finally splendoured!
Love is a many splendored thing
It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing

Once on a high and windy hill
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing



David Soul
Silver Lady
UK#1(3) from 8 October 1977. Position 270R in Whitburn's Billboard Top 100 of 1977. The most successful (in the UK) of the 'Singing Detectives' (Starsky and Hutch) against Don Johnson - Miami Vice, Dennis Waterman - The Sweeney, Telly Savalas - Kojak and Lee Marvin (one time star of The Streets Of San Francisco)


Brian Poole & The Tremeloes
DO YOU LOVE ME. UK#1(3) from 10 October, Au#1(3) from 20 December 1963. Brian Poole's group and The Beatles auditioned for Decca in January 1962 but Dick Rower would only sign one band and after listening to both tapes chose the band that resided 8 miles from his London office. Initially doing session work, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes had some success with their cover of the Isley Brothers "Twist And Shout" (in competition with The Beatles) then struck it big with their cover of The Contours 1962 hit. This gave Brian & The Tremeloes a #1 in 16 countries ( including the UK and Australia) and a Monster Hit in N.Z.

Featured Songs for Saturday 3 October 2009

I'm not sure I'll be able to come up with a list of 'October' songs in time today. I've been trying to put together some songs to celebrate the years of friends Annett and Louise, both born in July 1959.
I'm looking at songs from '59, what their mothers were hearing that birth year, then at the 10 year mark, (1969) as sweet 16 years olds (1975) and so through other highlights of their years.

One I did find from 1959 was
Paul Anka
Put Your Head On My Shoulder. US#2(3) 18 in Top 100 from 31 August 1959
and Paul Anka made US#1 with Lonely Boy.

I think I allowed myself to waste time by going through each 1959 million seller, song by song, from my Million Seller file.

With so many million sellers, I should just stick to the No 1 hits of '59, '69, '75.

1959
The year of; experimental television transmission tests in Auckland, the opening, 24 May, of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and no Maoris were included in the All Black team sent to South Africa

peak wks
20 2(2) 9/2 21 16 Candles
The Crests
Formed as a black quartet in 1955, with white singer Johnny Maestro joining as lead in 1956. All in their teens at the time of this, their 2nd chart and, their biggest hit (1 of only 3 Top 20's) Big Hit in NZ.

19 2(2) 23/2 23 Donna
Richie Valens
#20 (2) UKt20 28 March
Written by Richie Valens (real name Richard Valenzuela), this, his 2nd hit ("Come On, Let's Go" sold 750,000), was his only million-seller, backed with "La Bamba". Known from being with The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly when they were all killed in the 3 February 1959 plane crash Big Hit in NZ.

18 2(3) 9/3 15 Charlie Brown
The Coasters
The songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller proved to be very good for The Coasters in 1959, providing the group with this, their 3rd million-seller.

17 2(3) 15/6 19 Personality
Lloyd Price
NZ#1 in July and UK#9 from June 1959, another written by Lloyd in conjunction with Harold Logan to become his 4th million-seller Monster Hit in NZ.

16 2(3) 5/10 18 Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Paul Anka
#7 (12) UKt30 30 October, the 4th million-seller for Paul was another of his own compositions, written in 1958. Monster Hit and NZ#1 in July 1959.

15 1, 11/5 17 The Happy Organ
Dave 'Baby' Cortez
David Cortez Clowney's only #1 hit, with "Rinky Dink" his only other Top 20. The keyboardist/composer worked mainly as a session musician around New York. NZ#1 in June 1959

14 1, 28/12 16 Why
Frankie Avalon
His 4th million-seller, written by Bob Marcucci (words) and Peter de Angelis. The tune was later subject to much litigation on both sides of the Atlantic, it being claimed to be similiar to the 1926 song, "In A Little Spanish Town". The English High Court ruled that while there was a definite degree of similarity, there was no infringement of copyright. (The plaintiffs had to prove there was a concious or subconcious act of copying). In England the song was covered by Anthony Newley reaching #20. Monster Hit in NZ.

13 1, 16/11 20 Mr Blue
Fleetwoods
The 2nd million-seller for the trio, Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel all from the State of Washington (written by Dewayne Blackwell) Big Hit in NZ.

12 1(2) 10/8 14 A Big Hunk O' Love
Elvis Presley
Backed with "My Wish Came True" became Elvis' 24th million-seller and sold 2 million. 1 of only 4 new recordings during his Army hitch (along with "A Fool Such As I" also #1) Moderate Hit in NZ.

11 1(2) 18/5 16 Kansas City
Wilbert Harrison
Also NZ#1 in September 1959. The sole million-seller for Wilbert Harrison had been written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952, originally called "K.C. Lovin'" Moderate Hit in NZ.

10 1(2) 21/9 18 Sleep Walk
Santo & Johnny
Their sole million-seller. The Million Sellers Encyclopedia says "it owes its appeal to the pulsating slow background beat of Johnny's rhythm guitar and a melancholy, somewhat exotic melody of Santo's steel guitar. The Brooklyn born Farina brothers were aged 21 and 18 at the time.

9 1(2) 14/12 20 Heartaches By The Number
Guy Mitchell
6th million-seller for Guy Mitchell, and his last. There were only two more charts - making #51 and #45 before Guy disappeared off the American charts after July 1960

8 1(3) 19/1 19 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Platters
UK#1, 20 March and NZ#1 January 1959 and their 5th million-seller. Previously a #1 for Paul Whiteman's Orchestra in 1934 and from the 1933 musical 'Roberta'

7 1(4) 13/4 16 Come Softly To Me
Fleetwoods
All aged 19 when the trio achieved their 1st million-seller with their own composition. Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel - all from the State of Washington

6 1(4) 13/7 15 Lonely Boy
Paul Anka
The 3rd million-seller for Paul Anka was written by him in 1958. It spent 17 weeks in the UK charts and peaked at #3

5 1(4) 24/8 17 The Three Bells
The Browns
The 1st million-seller for this trio of Jim, Maxine and Bonnie Brown, then aged 25, 27 and 22 respectively, in 1959. The siblings had sung together since childhood. A French song written in 1945, was also big for Edith Piaf and Les Compagnons de la Chanson. English lyrics were written in 1948 and Les Compagnons visited Britain in 1951 with their English version but the Browns record proved to be the biggest hit of all, spending 17 weeks in the US charts and was #6 with 13 weeks in the British charts

4 1(4) 9/2 21 Stagger Lee
Lloyd Price
Lloyd Price heard an old American folk song called the 'Ballad of Stack-O-Lee' while in the services in the Far East, and rewrote it in modern style. Reaction with servicemen was so great he decided to record it on discharge from the Forces. The song is a story of two gamblers who meet a tragic end became a Top rhythm & blues record and a million-seller for Price

3 1(5) 9/3 17 Venus
Frankie Avalon
Frankie's 1st of three million-sellers for 1959, two of which made #1, the odd one out was "Just Ask Your Heart", US#7 and UK#16

2 1(6) 1/6 21 The Battle Of New Orleans
Johnny Horton
The original melody was said to be an 1815 fiddle tune, entitled 'The Eighteenth of January' composed in celebration of the decisive victory over the British the year before. The top country-and-western record of 1959 (#1 for 10 weeks) and Johnny Horton's first million-seller, it reached 7 figures within seven weeks of its release. Moderate hit in NZ, outsold by Lonnie Donnegan's version

1 1(9) 5/10 26 Mack The Knife
Bobby Darin
UK#1(2) from 16 October 1959, the 4th million seller for Bobby, sold over 2 million. Bobby first recorded this Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill - "The Threepenny Opera" song for an album entitled "That's All" and it was released as a single later in the year to become a million-seller in 1960. It became Bobby Darin's trademark and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year (1959) and a Monster Hit in NZ.

Forgotten Singles for Saturday 26 September 2009

Sir Howard Morrison dies, Thursday 25 September 2009, aged 74. See NZ Music of the 60s and 70s
And if you're struggling to remember which member of the Quartet died earlier this year, click here and/or here
and for tributes from Stuff.co.nz
Some options for Saturday 26 September

Jeannie C. Riley
HARPER VALLEY P.T.A., US#1(1) 21 September 1968, 13 weeks in Top 100 and a Monster Hit in N.Z.
A message song about a widowed wife criticised by the Harper Valley Parent Association for her high skirts and low life in a note brought home by her teenage daughter and how the mother confronts her accusers at a meeting of the P.T.A. The song was written by Tom T. Hall, friend of Jeannie C. Riley, a country singer born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson. A real lucky break for the 22 year old singer who had only been in Nashville for a few months and whose experience had been limited to routine song-demo-sessions. Her superb performance of the song lead to a nation-wide round of TV appearances and $15,000 per night personal appearances.
4 million copies were sold in the States, a further million in Canada and big sales elsewhere making an estimated total of 5 and half million world wide and gained Jeannie a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance (female) of 1968.

The tease
A US#1(1) 21 September 1968 and a Monster Hit in N.Z. A message song about a widowed wife and a real lucky break for this 22 year old singer who had only been in Nashville for a few months and whose experience had been limited to routine song-demo-sessions. Her superb performance of the song lead to a nation-wide round of TV appearances and $15,000 per night personal appearances.

Jim Reeves
DISTANT DRUMS, UK#1(5) from 22 September 1966 - Big Hit in N.Z.
James Travis Reeves (b. 20 Aug 1923) lost his life in the crash of the single engined plane he was flying encountered a storm 31 July 1964. The country music world lost one of their greatest performers, but a legend was born as a result of his death.
After an accident prevented Reeves continuing as a baseball player, he turned to announcing and then singing. In 1955 he signed to RCA, where he managed nine UK hits before his death, including his 1964 successes, “I Love You Because” and “I Won’t Forget You”. A further 17 hits, including “Distant Drums” were amassed posthumously between 1964 and 1972. Written for Jim by Cindy Walker, perhaps that explains the line "Mary marry me, let's not wait." Mary was Jim’s wife.

Wizzard*
ANGEL FINGERS. UK#1, 22 September 1972. The group’s second consecutive No. 1. * Not really suited to Coast

Buddy Holly / The Crickets
* That'll Be The Day, US#1(1) 23 September and UK#1(3) from 1 November 1957.

Jimmie Rodgers with the Hugo Peretti Orchestra
HONEYCOMB This first million-seller for Jimmy was remarkably his first recording. US#1(4) from 23 September 1957, 28 weeks in Top 100, US R&B#1(2 wks) and NZ#1 in November 1957 HUGE HIT in N.Z.

The Box Tops
THE LETTER, US#1(4) from 23 September 1967, 16 weeks in Top 100. Five young men from Memphis got together at college through an interest in 'soul music' and formed their group in 1966. This, their 1st recording, had a global sale of 4 million with almost 3 million in the States alone.

Mac Davis
*BABY DON’T GET HOOKED ON ME US#1(3) from 23 September 1972

Connie Francis
CAROLINA MOON an American 20s standard that didn't make the US charts but was a double sided UK#1(6) from 26 September 1958, with
STUPID CUPID a new composition by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield Stupid Cupid was the big one.

Connie Francis
MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. US#1(2) from 26 September 1960, 17 weeks in Top 100. The 8th million-seller for Connie was written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller. Her two other 1960 Gold Discs were - 'Mama w/Teddy', and 'Many Tears Ago'. Monster Hit in N.Z.

Forgotten Singles for Saturday 19 September 2009

Mary Travers, the singer with Peter, Paul and Mary, died Wednesday 16 September 2009, after a battle with leukemia aged 72. I love the quote from the obituary Mark M sent me ...
"Singing protest songs with a strident glamour, a shock of blonde hair shaking to the sounds of righteousness as two bearded folkie types played guitar on either side of her, Travers was the ideal public face for New York's beatnik scene. Prettier than Bob Dylan, less hectoring than Joan Baez, she made the idea of sipping overpriced coffee in a downtown dive, while a guitar player sang songs of freedom seem like the greatest thing in the world."

I remember seeing PP&M at the Auckland Town Hall in 1967? the same year I saw The Seekers. Then, Peter, Paul & Mary were the better act for me but on the respective 25th Anniversary tours I saw both groups again and that time the Seekers had the edge.

An 18th September 2009 update from Judith Durham's website said

"With Mary Travers’ passing, the world has lost the musical gifts of one of the most caring souls on the planet. The Seekers are proud to have shared the folk music …"

One thing with Mary's bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, the three were 'hair equal'.


Some options for Saturday 19 September


Freda Payne
BAND OF GOLD*. UK#1(6) from 19 September 1970. US#3 in 1970, 20 weeks in Top 100 from 25 April. Detroit born 19 September 1945 and sister of The Supremes’ Scherrie Payne. Attended the Institute of Musical Arts. To New York in 1963. Performed with Pearl Bailey, Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones. First recorded for Impulse in 1965 and hosted the syndicated TV talk show ‘For You Black Woman’ in the early 1970s. Produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, Payne later made it to #33 with “Deeper And Deeper”, then came “Cherish What Is Dear To You” in 1971 her last UK chart entry. In the US she had one of the major protest songs about the Vietnam War, with “Bring The Boys Home”. * Might be a Coast track but not played on a regular basis that I recall.

Diana Ross
*AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Motown [USA]. US#1(3) from 19 September 1970, 14 weeks in Top 100. A tremendous success for Diana Ross, who in 1970 became a star solo attraction. The song was written in 1968 by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson (both of who produced the recording) Release was on 8 August 1970 in the US and the song sold over 2 million. British release was on 2 October 1970 and it made UK#6, with 12 weeks in the Top 50.


The Tams
HEY GIRL DON’T BOTHER ME. UK#1(3) from 19 September 1971. US#41 in 1964.
An Atlanta R&B quintet of brothers Charles and Joseph (lead singer) Pope, with Robert Smith, Floyd Ashton and Horace Key. The Tams chart career in their home country of America was a healthy 6 years but was over before their trio of British Hits began. Only sold moderately in New Zealand says music history maestro Mark, who said, "Neither issue was overly popular and The Tams never sold in great numbers in New Zealand."

The Archies
*SUGAR, SUGAR Calendar [USA], US#1(4) from 20 September and UK#1(8) from 25 October 1969 - Monster Hit in N.Z.
Written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim and sung by studio singers who remained anonymous with the exception of Ron Dante, who was later named as the lead singer.

Creedence Clearwater Revival
BAD MOON RISING*, UK#1(3) from 20 September and NZ#1(2), 7 & 21 August 1969 - with Tommy Roe's Heather Honey #1 in between. US#2, 14 weeks in Top 100 from 3 May 1969. CCR never made #1 in the US with the #2 hits being; Proud Mary #2(3) from 8 March, Bad Moon Rising #2(2) from 28 June and Green River #2 on 27 September in 1969 and Looking Out My Back Door #2 on 3 October in 1970. Monster Hit in N.Z.
* more a Hauraki track for TRN

Pat Boone
* Love Letters In The Sand, Au#1(5) from 21 September and NZ#1 in August 1957

Bobby Vinton
*BLUE VELVET
US#1(3) from 21 September 1963, 15 weeks in the Top 100
The 2nd million-seller for Bobby with a song written in 1951 - and orchestra conducted by Burt Bacharach. Bobby released another song in late 1963 that also went onto sell a million and become a #1 in 1964 - There! I Said It Again and had been a #1 previously for Vaughn Monroe in 1945. Monster Hit


Anne Shelton
LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS, UK#1(4) from 21 September 1956 and NZ#1 in January 1957





Santo & Johnny
SLEEP WALK, US#1(2) from 21 September (18 weeks in Top 100) and NZ#1 in November 1959 BIG HIT in N.Z. Their sole million-seller. The Million Sellers Encyclopedia says "it owes its appeal to the pulsating slow background beat of Johnny's rhythm guitar and a melancholy, somewhat exotic melody of Santo's steel guitar. The Brooklyn born Farina brothers were aged 21 and 18 at the time.


Shirley Bassey
REACH FOR THE STARS/CLIMB EV’RY MOUNTAIN.
UK#1, 21 September 1961 (1 week), 10 weeks in the Top 20 from 29 July 1961. Shirley Bassey, the most successful solo female artiste in British chart history took three titles to Number One with two hits. “As I Love You” was the first and with her second, it featured on one side , a song written by the man who won the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest for Austria, with English lyrics by Bassey’s producer Norman Newell under the pseudonym David West. The other side was from The Sound Of Music. Despite its fabulous success in album sales and on stage and as a film, ‘The Sound Of Music’ has not supplied as many hits to the singles charts as some other, less successful shows. The only other hit from the show was Vince Hill’s “Edelweiss” which peaked at #2 in 1967. (The Guiness Book of Number One Hits)
From 14 September to 19 October 1961, the British charts had a new No. 1 each week. There were only 5 records in those six weeks on the charts as John Leyton’s “Johnny Remember Me” made #1 twice.

Forgotten Singles for Saturday 12 September 2009

Some options for Saturday 12 September
The Beatles The pop music world's most successful group had their first million-sellers in 1963 but they didn't break into the American market until the following year.
SHE LOVES YOU, UK#1(4) from 12 September and again for 2 weeks from 28 November 1963. In chart terms, this was the Beatles’ biggest hit, staying in the Top 50 for 33 weeks (36, if you add its brief re-entry in 1983). It sold over a million copies in Britain alone, and until the follow-up, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, sold even more, it was the biggest-selling record ever in Britain.
Past Masters 1 The big fourth single, the song which epitomized the rush of Beatlemania and gave birth to the fervent (but quickly overused) catchphrase "yeah yeah yeah" US#1(2) from 21 March 1964, 15 weeks in Top 100 – from 25 January)
Playd Wednesday 17 September 2008

Elvis Presley
SHE'S NOT YOU The 40th million-seller for the King of Rock 'n' Roll was written by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Doc Pomus and was not linked to any movie. MONSTER HIT in N.Z. and UK#1(3) from 13 September 1962 and US#5, 10 weeks in Top 100 from August 1962. Elvis completed a round dozen of UK No. Ones with his 4th chart-topper in as many releases, equaling his own record set 15 months earlier. This was one of a dozen or so titles recorded at the RCA Nashville Studios on 19 March 1962. The majority of those recordings made their way onto the ‘Pot Luck’ album which was a healthy album seller for Presley in the last half of 1962. (Tracks included ‘Suspicion’, which like ‘Wooden Heart’, was lost by RCA as a possible single)
Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller had been asked by Elvis’ publisher, Freddy Bienstock, to come up with some new country flavoured material for this session, and they produced “She’s Not You” together with Doc Pomus.
Playd Tuesday 16 September 2008

The Small Faces
ALL OR NOTHING, UK#1(1), 15 September 1966 Moderate Hit in N.Z.
The nattily dressed Small Faces were led by former child star Steve Marriott (b. 30 Jan 1947). Marriott was later to admit he could barely play guitar in the early days of the group, but despite that he and fellow Small Faces, Ronnie Lane (b. 1 Apr 1946), Ian MacLagan (b. 12 May 1946) and Kenny Jones (b. 16 Sep 1948), provided the only real competition to the Who in the mid-60s.
Playd Monday 29 September 2008

The tease
A UK#1(1), 15 September 1966 Moderate Hit in N.Z. The nattily dressed group were led by a former child star who was later to admit he could barely play guitar in the early days of the group, but despite that he and fellow members provided the only real competition to the Who in the mid-60s.

4 Seasons
*SHERRY. US#1(5) from 15 September 1962, 14 weeks in Top 100 and MONSTER HIT in N.Z.

Helen Reddy
*DELTA DAWN US#1, 15 September 1973

Three Dog Night
BLACK AND WHITE US#1, 16 September 1972, also US Adult Contemporary #1 for 1 week. Los Angeles Pop-rock group formed in 1968 featuring lead singers Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron. Disbanded in the mid-1970s. Re-formed in the mid-1980s.
An influential American Folk singer named Earl Robinson wrote this in 1954 with lyricist David Arkin (who is the father of actor Alan Arkin). The song is about racism, and was inspired by a US Supreme Court ruling that segregation in public schools is illegal. The original Folk song (but not Three Dog Night's version) includes the line, "Their robes were black, their heads were white" which refers to the judges.
When Three Dog Night recorded this, it came at a time when civil rights was a big issue in America. The message of racial equality was emphasized by their use of a children's choir in the repeated chorus during the closing moments of the song.
The two paragraphs above from
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4268

Frank Sinatra
THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN. UK#1(3) from 17 September 1954 This Academy Award winning song, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, became the first major hit for Frank Sinatra in England. It entered the British charts one week after his 'Young At Heart' but that only lasted one week.
Playd Monday 1 September

Pat Boone
*Ain't That A Shame, #1(2) from 17 September 1955 The composer's version was also a million-seller, the 10th for Fats Domino but, it only made #10 on the Pop charts. Monster Hit in N.Z.

Chubby Checker
*THE TWIST US#1(2) from 13 January 1962, 21 weeks in Top 100. The Twist first entered #1 position for 1 week 19 September 1960. MONSTER HIT in N.Z.
Spent a total of 39 weeks in the US charts from 1960 and 1962.

Bobby Vee
*Take Good Care Of My Baby Liberty [USA] MONSTER HIT
US#1(3) from 18 September 1961, 15 weeks in Top 100 (8th Top No 1 of 1961)

Freda Payne
BAND OF GOLD*. UK#1(6) from 19 September 1970. US#3 in 1970, 20 weeks in Top 100 from 25 April. Detroit born 19 September 1945 and sister of The Supremes’ Scherrie Payne. Attended the Institute of Musical Arts. To New York in 1963. Performed with Pearl Bailey, Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones. First recorded for Impulse in 1965 and hosted the syndicated TV talk show ‘For You Black Woman’ in the early 1970s. Produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, Payne later made it to #33 with “Deeper And Deeper”, then came “Cherish What Is Dear To You” in 1971 her last UK chart entry. In the US she had one of the major protest songs about the Vietnam War, with “Bring The Boys Home”. * Might be a Coast track but not played on a regular basis that I recall.