Ray's Song Pick of the Day from 16 June

Elvis Presley
SURRENDER Victor [USA]
US#1(2) from 20 March & UK#1(4) from 1 June 1961 and 15th Top No 1 of 1961 in the US. The 32nd million-seller for Elvis had a reputed global sale of 5 million. Similiar to "It's Now Or Never" of the year before, this was another successful adaption of an old Italian song "Torna A Sorrento" - 'Return To Sorrento' from 1911. The new English words were by Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman in 1960. "Surrender" was #1 in its first week in Britain. MONSTER HIT in N.Z.
Featured – Mon 16 June, 2008

Further to the above and using "Torna A Sorrento" - 'Return To Sorrento' as the basis of a question to give away a copy of Mario Lanza - The Definitive Collection, I wondered if Mario Lanza's song, track 20, Torna A Surriento was the same as that 1911 song. Then I asked what Elvis hit was adapted from this Italian song. After getting a few "It's Now Or Never" answers, I hinted it rhymed with the suggested Love Me Tender and Return To Sender. It wasn't until I played the Elvis "Surrender" that I got a winner in Delia, who coming from the Swiss/Italian border assured me the two spellings were the same song, one was just a little more poetic.
Thank you Delia.

Roy Orbison
RUNNING SCARED Monument [USA]
US#1(1) from 5 June 1961, 17wks in the Top 100 and 21st Top No 1 of 1961
His first US#1, but his 3rd million seller and one of 3 million-sellers for Roy in 1961, co-written by Roy with his regular song writing partner, Joe Melson back in 1952 (according to Encyclopedia of Million Sellers) MONSTER HIT in N.Z.
Featured – Tue 17 June, 2008

The Beatles
PAPERBACK WRITER UK#1(2) from 23 June 1966 and US#1(2) from 25 June
This sold over million in the States and over 500,000 in Britain and was No 1 simultaneously for two weeks in The US from 25 June and in England from 23 June and the 10th consecutive No 1 for the Beatles in the UK. It was also a No 1 hit in Holland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Ireland in the Northern hemisphere, and on the other side of the world, in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. A Paul McCartney song featuring Paul double-tracked singing lead and the first Beatle A-side that wasn’t considered a love song.
Featured – Wed 18 June, 2008

Bonds, Gary (U.S.) - Quarter To Three
US#1(2) from 26 June 1961, 15 weeks in the Top 100 (13th Top No1 of 1961)
The 1st million-seller for Gary Anderson, (the artist's real name and co-written by him. Florida born in 1939 he began singing in his church group at age 9. In 1952 he formed his own group, The Turks and became a solo artist after the group disbanded. His first record was "New Orleans" which was a top 10 hit, then came "Quarter To Three" followed by three more Top 10's. MODERATE HIT in N.Z.
Featured – Thu 19 June, 2008

The Hollies
I'M ALIVE, Graham Nash (b Feb 1942) and Allan Clarke (b Apr 1942) first sang together at their Salford Primary school. Later, as the Two Teens, they performed hits by Lonnie Donegan, Cliff Richard and the Everly Brothers for the Manchester Cabaret circuit. A number of name changes and increase in group size, they became The Hollies in tribute to Buddy Holly. The Hollies recorded a string of reworked American Rhythm & Blues until their EMI producer Ron Richards in 1965 began to find good original numbers for them, including their first million seller from 1966 by Graham Gouldman (later with 10cc) with “Bus Stop”. “I’m Alive” though was by Clint Ballard, who also wrote the hits; “Good Timin’” for Jimmy Jones and “The Game Of Love” by Wayne Fontana. (p 123 Guiness Book of No 1 Hits). A UK#1(1) 24 June and again #1(2) from 8 July 1965. Big Hit in N.Z.
Featured – Fri 20 June, 2008

Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin

After the death of Cyd Charisse 17 June 2008, aged 86, and realising Charisse was married to singer Tony Martin for almost 60 years, a notable length among Hollywood marriages. (Singers Eydie Gormé and Steve Lawrence tied the know 29 December 1957) I decided to check out an earlier ‘Tonight At Seven’ feature on Tony Martin I did on Today FM, Thursday 20 June 1996.
I also had email correspondence with Maurice who said “Heard Tony Martin. Didn't know his style. Guess that has something to do with the fact that I've never heard him before. Have you ever seen Fred actually dancing to 'Puttin On The Ritz'. It's another knockout. But I still prefer Kelly. Had a fair bit to do with dancing myself.”
Born Alvin Morris, Christmas Day 1912 in Oakland, California. Tony played saxaphone in Tom Gerun’s band before launching his long and successful singing career. He sang in a hotel bandin San Francisco and after a radio broadcast he joined a band at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. Finally he went to Hollywood where he acted and sang in many musical films, to become internationally known. He was featured in many films from 1936 to 1957, and frequently performed on stage with his wife, movie star Cyd Charisse.
He first made the charts when he was a vocalist for a time with Ray Noble and His Orchestra in 1938.
Tonight we start with Tony Martin from late 1949 with There’s No Tomorrow, which was a song from one of his movies Two Tickets To Broadway.
I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Pray’rs) a duet with Fran Warren from early 1950.
Voice Break 1
There was a sense of nostalgia with memories of postwar France with the song La Vie En Rose doing well in the States with seven versions making the US Top 30. The original by Edith Piaf was about the middle but the top charting version belonged to Tony Martin...
Voice Break 2
I Get Ideas was a #3 effort from Tony Martin that charted from June 1951 and was adapted from the Argentine Tango “Adios Muchachos”
Domino #9, 12 weeks in US Top 30 from November 1951

Wrap-up We also have available from Tony Martin, his duet with Dinah Shore, “A Penny A Kiss”and a 1956 chart “Walk Hand In Hand”

The 'Oldie Stations' Are Out There

Recently I received a link about another Today FM, this one a low power FM station on 106.7 FM in Dargaville. The Today FM I worked on closed down in October 1997 – see first Blog.

The station in Dargaville is run by Brent and Alison Robertson who wanted to provide music for people aged 50 plus - music from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, country and gospel - so Today FM was born.

At the moment they run from 6.30am until 10.30pm, but plan eventually to run 24 hours a day.

Also recently in the ‘local news’ of Stuff.co.nz was an article about Eric Allen and his Reef Radio run out of his place in Point Chevalier, also on 106.7 FM.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4564819a22398.html

This Auckland City Harbour News | Friday, 30 May 2008 link may not be valid for too long, as Stuff.co.nz don’t usually keep those links up for any great length of time.

Eric told the paper, "It’s good fun and it doesn’t involve much time."

The 25,000 titles on the station’s playlist are largely from his own record collection, which he started "a fair few years ago".

It includes everything from the 1930s to the early 1970s.

"There’s a bit of everything in there," he says, including his first love, jazz.

Late last year I received a call from a Dave Sergent up from Taranaki, listening to my 107.1 and he mentioned he operated a similar style of programme on 107.1 and 88.4 and wondered where I got some of my songs from.

Plus heading back through Tirau from the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge I found Corrugated Radio - with their bye line of ‘music for people with long memories’.

So the oldie stations are out there, including those associated with the Unforgettable Music Society Incorporated.

Helensville 106.8 FM “Holiday FM”

Ngatea 107.0 FM “3NZ Ngatea”

Taumaranui 107.0 FM “Radio Hikurangi” Uptown

Taumaranui 107.5 FM “Radio Hikurangi” Downtown

Taupo 107.3 FM “Radio Evergreen”

Te Aroha 106.8 FM “Unforgettable Music”

Wairoa 107.0 FM “Unforgettable Music”

It was the third of June

Sometime during May, I received an email at work that said ....
I wonder if on the 3rd of June you might want to look at playing - Back-to-Back
the 'Ode to Billy-Joe', the Bobby Gentry number and Neil Daimonds' tune 'Desiree'. 
This is Not a Request as Such but Both of these Songs have same Opening Line .....
'It Was the Third of June ....' I thought you might want to make a point of it in
some Subtle way.

No - I don't need a Hobby - I just Notice things. Cheers Fred  

So I looked up Lyrics World (which doesn't have annoying pop-ups)

Ode To Billie Joe -Artist: Bobbie Gentry

-peak Billboard position # 1 for 4 weeks in 1967

-Words and Music by Bobbie Gentry

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day

I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay

And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat

And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"

And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"

"Today Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

DESIREE Neil Diamond

Written by Neil Diamond

It was the third of June

On that younger day

Well I became a man

At the hands of a girl

Almost twice my age

And she came to me

Just like a morning sun

Found It!

The answer to Warren's query about the song that had the lyric line ...
one thousand two hundred and thirty two holes are drilled into this piece of metal today

The song is called 'The Words of Bartholomew' and it was done by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. Released in 1968 and well aired on NZ radio.
I have done my best to record and attach the sample I was sent, so I hope it gets to you ok.
Obviously, now I have the mission of finding the complete song, but gee, what a forgotton blast from the past this song is.

Cheers, Warren

In response to an earlier posting Daphne wrote that she was a bit puzzled about it though.

2^nd story “Your First Musical Memories Feb 23 2008

Paragraph 5

“We never heard of radio, tape decks. CDs etc -------. We listened to Big Band ----- on radio?????? Doesn’t quite make sense.

Took me awhile to realise that if you never heard of radios - how can you be listening to Big Bands on - the - radio?

Got me thinking that you can get transcriptions of some of the broadcast programs of the Big Bands on CD. You have to watch if you're a collector and wanting the original recorded version of something. Alex found that out and gave me the CD that disappointed him; Bob Crosby And His Orchestra "The Radio Years" 1940

How many people share your 'Favourites'?

Dear Ray,

Thank you for taking the time to get back to me again. I guess we got off to a bad start as I thought you were fobbing me off. The Theatre Organ especially the Mighty Wurlitzer was for some time the main music in theatres for many years. In the Silent Movie days the Theatre Organ was the instrument that accompanied the movie adding the music and sound effects. In later years it was used to supply the dance music in some of the large Ball Rooms. The Black Pool Tower Ball Room come to mind. Many Auckland people will remember the Civic Theatre's Theatre Organ in the 1950's.

So said Stan of Christchurch. So I asked Music Maestro Mark who had done a lot of research of music available on record in New Zealand stores in the fifties and sixties. Plus he was familiar, through where he works, with the Wurlitzer Organ – and Mark said;

“The Wurlitzer Organ is probably best remembered in this country as played by Reginald Dixon (in the Blackpool style) who was extremely popular from the 1930's to the 1960's. Saying this, it is also rather niche today. I know where this chap is coming from and he should be commended for trying to spread the word. I love early Rockabilly music, but it's not for everyone.

The reality is that it would be welcomed by only a small number of your listeners and probably alienate just as many. Most of the recordings that were popular by say, Reginald Dixon are instrumental versions of popular show tunes or medleys of hits of the day.

You could try it, but you won't please everybody. Just as say, I abhor listening to James Taylor or Joe Cocker as I don't think they fit the format.

If you were to go down that track you would be better off including the likes of Winifred Atwell, Russ Conway or Ron Goodwin as they had a huge "pop" following at that time and are very rarely played today.”

Which reinforced my thoughts.

And in similar vein – a desire for a favourite artist to get played, was Darryl pushing JAMES LAST

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS MAESTRO AND GENTLEMAN OF MUSIC ON YOUR REGULAR PLAYLIST AS YOU DO WITH MOST OTHER ARTISTS FROM THE SAME ERA THIS GUY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST RECOGNISED HOUSEHOLD NAMES AROUND THE WORLD PLEASE RECOGNISE AND ACKNOLEDGE THIS MAN AND HIS MUSIC IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD AS REGULAR AS IS POSSIBLE HE IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED BANDLEADERS OF ALL TIME

Message: HEAPS OF JAMES LAST GENTLEMAN OF MUSIC NON STOP DANCING ALL NIGHT LONG LAST FOREVER TRUMPET A GO GO LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON THE LIST GOES ON ENDLESS HAYLEY WESTENRA HAS OF RECENT TIMES SUNG WITH THE JAMES LAST ORCHESTRA I THINK IN EUROPE FIRST CLASS PROMO FOR NZ AND FAIRLY SURE IT WAS RECORDED OVER THERE AS WELL

KIND REGARDS DARRYL CHCH TAKE CARE GUYS BRILLIANT STATION COMING FROM A MUSO OF THESE YEARS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

There are some artists who were big in album sales, and so were familiar to a lot of people. For example, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams and Bert Kaempfert.

I guess my question for those that want their favourites played. Who else enjoys the music as much as yourself. Is it just limited to a small number? Perhaps the answer is to be inspired by the music on the radio to go get out the album and drop a needle on the vinyl to savour those memories for yourself.

Any comments or thoughts

Your first musical memories

What do you remember of the music from your early years?

Prompted by one of those wistful, nostalgia trips circulated by email.

Stay with this -- the answer is at the end -- it will blow you away. One evening an American grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.

The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born, before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon.

Your Grandfather and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir'- and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir.' We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.

And so it went on and wrapped up by saying …

We were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap.....and how old do you think I am???....

I bet you have this old lady in mind...you are in for a shock! Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.

This Woman would be only 58 years old!

I thought, have they got this nostalgia kick right?

Hmmm, this 60 year old doesn't remember Tommy Dorsey as a kid, rather it was the likes of Jim Reeves - Bimbo and Hank Thompson - Blackboard Of My Heart, then later in my teens; Dinah Lee, Gene Pitney and the Beatles and Rolling Stones. I did pick up on some Bing Crosby and Glenn Miller on vinyl in the La Gloria Gramaphone at home.

And I'm not even a Grandfather.

Diana came back to me saying ....

Aha ..... I picked up on them, cos that's what my Mum & Dad listened to, so I heard them all the time. The wonderful music of the 50s.

The Gene Pitney & Beatles were my listening choices of the 60s. I still have the very first vinyl LP that I bought as a teenager..... Gene Pitney.