BOOTH ANNOUNCER GARY OWENS:
...and the cow was returned to its rightful owner.
And that's the latest from S-P-M-M news...
fast, up-to-the-minute, completely fake
and proud of it. Now stand by for
fast, up-to-the-minute, completely fake
and proud of it. Now stand by for
DELL RAT TOM'S
JUKEBOX GIANTS
JUKEBOX GIANTS
on the station that's #1 for music and fun - S-P-M-M!
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
(COLD SHOW OPEN)
"This Old Heart Of Mine" - The Isley Brothers
(Mar. 1966, highest chart pos. #12 Hot 100/#6 R&B)
The Isleys starting us off with a monster hit from my
Shady Dell years, "This Old Heart Of Mine," ranked #20 on
my exclusive survey of The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell.
my exclusive survey of The 200 Greatest Hits of the Shady Dell.
Hello and welcome to Jukebox Giants!
I'm your host Dell Rat Tom...
an alumnus of the famous and infamous Shady Dell hangout for teenagers
located on the south side of York, Pennsylvania. I am thrilled to be here
and proud to be a member of "The Shady Bunch," the DJ staff on the
all new S-P-M-M radio. On Jukebox Giants I will play the greatest
hits of the Shady Dell, the songs I came to know and love in the
mid and late 60s, the span of years during which I regularly
attended the Dell. Some of these records will be familiar
because they were national hits. Others will be new to
you because they are "Dell songs" - forgotten B sides
and records made by little known artists. Many of
these obscure recordings were elevated to mega-hit
status by the Rodentia Intelligentsia - the Dell rat gang -
the fastidious young men and women who knew the latest
dances and "voted" for danceworthy records by dropping
their dimes and quarters into the slot and playing them
on the jukebox. As you will hear on today's show
and future blogcasts, those kids were savvy.
They had radar for cool.
I'm your host Dell Rat Tom...
an alumnus of the famous and infamous Shady Dell hangout for teenagers
located on the south side of York, Pennsylvania. I am thrilled to be here
and proud to be a member of "The Shady Bunch," the DJ staff on the
all new S-P-M-M radio. On Jukebox Giants I will play the greatest
hits of the Shady Dell, the songs I came to know and love in the
mid and late 60s, the span of years during which I regularly
attended the Dell. Some of these records will be familiar
because they were national hits. Others will be new to
you because they are "Dell songs" - forgotten B sides
and records made by little known artists. Many of
these obscure recordings were elevated to mega-hit
status by the Rodentia Intelligentsia - the Dell rat gang -
the fastidious young men and women who knew the latest
dances and "voted" for danceworthy records by dropping
their dimes and quarters into the slot and playing them
on the jukebox. As you will hear on today's show
and future blogcasts, those kids were savvy.
They had radar for cool.
Without a doubt, the Central Pennsylvania blue-eyed
soul band The Magnificent Men were the #1 act at the
Shady Dell, and you are about to hear one of their best
recordings, a version of a popular French song written
by Charles Trenet. Translated into English, the title asks
"What Remains of Our Love?" For American listeners
the words were rewritten by composer and lyricist
Albert Beach and the the title of the song became
"I Wish You Love."
The song was introduced in the U.S. in 1957 by Keely Smith,
the Grammy Award winning singer who died at the end of last
year at age 89. Early in 1964 jazz singer Gloria Lynne reached
the top 30 on the R&B chart with a version of the song. Now
let's listen to a cover that's an absolute killer. In my opinion
this is Buddy King's finest vocal performance among many.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Here they are - Buddy, Dave Bupp and the Mag Men-- "I Wish You Love."
"I Wish You Love" - The Magnificent Men
(from 1967 album The Magnificent Men)
The Magnificent Men there with a great version of "I Wish You Love."
In the Dell popularity sweepstakes, this next act wasn't
far behind the Mag Men. They're The Emperors, another
hot band from the Susquehanna Valley, Harrisburg to
be exact. These cool cats laid down a wailin' pound
of sound, a mix of garage funk, R&B and Soul. Their
first single, "Karate," released in December 1966,
was their biggest hit. "Karate" reached the top 30
on the national R&B chart, chopped through
almost half the rungs on the pop ladder
and was a regional smash.
"Karate" played on the Dell jukebox several times every night
through the Christmas season of '66 and the early months of '67.
In 1971 Carlos Santana waxed a cover of "Karate" using the
same melody with different lyrics. Santana's single,
"Everybody's Everything," brushed the top 10.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Dell rats know that the Emperors original is still the greatest.
Here they are, The Emperors of Harrisburg, with a record
that ruled at the Shady Dell-- "Karate!"
Here they are, The Emperors of Harrisburg, with a record
that ruled at the Shady Dell-- "Karate!"
"Karate" - The Emperor's (Dec. 1966, Jan. 1967,
highest chart pos. #55 Hot 100/#30 R&B)
The Emperors with "Karate," #25 on my survey of
The Shady Dell's Greatest Hits of the mid 60s.
Hey, if you're just tuning in, I'm Dell Rat Tom and you're
listening to Jukebox Giants on S-P-M-M radio. Speaking
of giants of the jukebox, The Temptations were another
group of towering titans at the Dell, and I've got one of
their best. Written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore
of the Miracles and produced by Smokey, this mid-tempo
Motown sound has it all - strong lyrics that resonate,
sweet soul harmony and tasteful orchestration.
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
This one was hot on the jukebox when I first arrived at the Dell as a
15 year old newbie. Here they are, The Temptations, with one of the
smoothest soul songs ever recorded. At #71 on the Shady Dell
hit parade-- "Since I Lost My Baby."
hit parade-- "Since I Lost My Baby."
"Since I Lost My Baby" - The Temptations
(Aug./Sept. 1965, highest chart pos. #17 Hot 100)
Motown's top male group, The Temptations, with another
Jukebox Giant - the mellow favorite "Since I Lost My Baby."
Up next is a top 40 hit by The Strangeloves...
the fake Australian band created by New York
record producers Feldman, Goldstein and
Gottehrer, the guys best known for their hit
"I Want Candy." Although it wasn't as big as
"Candy" nationally, my next featured single
was a regional hit, one that I like more for
two reasons, first because I played drums
and dug the big beat sound, and second
because of the song's theme and lyrics.
My buddies and I made up our own set of naughty words and sang
them whenever the record played at the Dell or across the hill at
Bud's Drive-In, another popular hangout for teens.
CLICK TO START VIDEO!
Here now is one of the coolest and sassiest sounds of the Sixties--
F-G-G aka The Strangeloves and-- "Cara-Lin."
"Cara-Lin" - The Strangeloves
(Sept. 1965, highest chart pos. #39 Hot 100)
That was "Cara Lin" - #84 on my list of The 200 Greatest Hits of The Shady Dell,
and this is Dell Rat Tom with Jukebox Giants here on S-P-M-M Radio,
where all the cool oldies go to play.
Now here's a memory maker from Shady Dell The College
Years, the four year period when I was out of town atten-
ding an institute of high and yearning. It's Detroit soul
man Edwin Starr with what I call a killer bee (killer B)
- the fab flip side of his 1968 single "I Am The Man
For You Baby." This 45 is an example of a "double-
sider" or a "two-fer" because you get two great
songs for the price of one. Dell rats always
checked out the B sides of records for
hidden gold and many Dell hits
were born that way.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
This side features the dramatic pounding of "war" drums.
From the spring of '68, Edwin Starr-- "My Weakness Is You."
"My Weakness Is You" - Edwin Starr
(May 1968, uncharted B side of
"I Am The Man For You Baby"
which Bubbled Under at #112)
Edwin Starr and "My Weakness Is You," a fab flip side
popular at the Dell during my freshman year at college.
Gosh, time's up for this edition of Jukebox Giants. Thanks for tuning in.
I invite you to join me next time for more of the Shady Dell's greatest hits
on S-P-M-M - the station that's number one for music and fun.
I invite you to join me next time for more of the Shady Dell's greatest hits
on S-P-M-M - the station that's number one for music and fun.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Now this is Dell Rat Tom reminding you to make
every day a holiday and every night a Shady Dell night.
every day a holiday and every night a Shady Dell night.
Hold on, it's Sam & Dave with Dell song #15. Bye bye!
"Hold On! I'm A Comin'" - Sam And Dave
(May, June, July 1966, highest chart pos.
#21 Hot 100, #1 R&B)
#21 Hot 100, #1 R&B)
I think I've heard the Strangeloves song before.
ReplyDeleteWhat's amazing when you look at these older songs is the length. Almost all of them are under three minutes. Songs gradually got longer.
Hi, Alex!
DeleteThank you for showing up as the early bird again this week, good buddy! I'm glad you made it over to catch Dell Rat Tom's first radio show here on SPMM.
The Strangeloves saga fascinates me, how a trio of New York songwriters and producers could get away with masquerading as musically inclined sheep farming brothers from Australia to cash in on America's obsession with bands from foreign lands.
You make a good point. In the early years of the rock 'n' roll era before rock bands came along and altered the landscape, most singles had a running time of 2.5 minutes or less. Some major hits ran less than 2 minutes. They include "Stay" by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs (1:50) and "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" by Lesley Gore, an incredibly short record with a TRT of only 1:37!
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Alex, and enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!
Some great songs I never heard before. Then there's that greater-than-great song by The Isley Brothers I HAVE heard before.
ReplyDeleteThat Gordy logo on the Edwin Starr record is also new to me. Was the Motown founder thinking of changing the name of his label?
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for dropping by, good buddy! I have a close personal relationship with Dell Rat Tom. He wanted me to remind you that many of the records he will be spinning on his Jukebox Giants radio program were little known B sides and uncharted or low charting A sides, records that were smash hits at the Dell but little known in other parts of the country. Checking the stats, 4 of the 7 songs in this post made the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 3 out of those 4 made the top 20 or came very close to it. That being the case, most of these songs could be considered well known national hits. I'm glad you know and like "This Old Heart Of Mine," #20 on my list of Dell's Top Hits of the mid 60s.
Like many other successful record companies, Berry Gordy's Motown, which began as Tamla Records in 1959, sprouted subsidiaries. As wiki explains: << In order to avoid accusations of payola should DJs play too many records from the original Tamla label, Gordy formed Motown Records as a second label in 1960. >> << Many more subsidiary labels were established later under the umbrella of the Motown parent company. >>
These included Gordy, Tamla-Motown (for non-U.S. releases), Soul, MoWest, V.I.P., Rare Earth, Motown Yesteryear (for reissued back-to-back hit singles) and more than a dozen other labels covering various music genres including jazz, rock and even country.
Thanks again for coming to the platter party, good buddy Kirk!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteWe had a lot of great music and a lot of talented people coming out of our Pennsylvania area, including more recent times, The Underwater, my son's band from a couple years ago! The members, as you know, lived and played at the Dell!
I enjoyed all the music on today’s post but, even though they’re not from the Susquehanna valley, my favorite was Sam and Dave’s “Hold on I’m coming”!
Thanks for your jukebox Giants, Tom!
Hi, Toni!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks a lot for coming by to sample the sounds as Dell Rat Tom (no relation) makes his debut behind the mic as the newest member of The Shady Bunch deejay staff on SPMM radio.
Yessum, we were lucky to be at the right place at the right time - growing up in Central PA during those great years of classic soul and R&B. I remember you telling me that your son and his band The Underwater lived and practiced at the Dell in the 2000s.
I am thrilled that Sam and Dave's gritty southern fried R&B record "Hold On! I'm A Comin'" is your Pick To Click for this post. You're a soul woman!
I'm pleased that you enjoyed vol. 1 of Jukebox Giants. Thanks again for making time for a visit, dear friend Toni, and have a great Thursday, a fab Friday and safe and happy weekend!
Gotta love that Gary Owens, and his 'up to the minute' fake news! Lol! I remember him from years ago.
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love Sam and Dave! They are definitely a couple of characters, and deliver the best performances! I have watched a couple of their videos several times...thank you whoever saved that footage! "Hold On I'm A Comin" is my favorite of theirs. They have their own style, which is so cool, just as Wilson Pickett, Smokey Robinson, and others, and it entices audience participation without much coaxing.
Honestly, Shady!!! To think you would take part in re-arranging lyrics with your cohorts...wish I could have been there, lol! I think that's a 'guy' thing. I remember my brother and his friends doing the same, also Karo would change lyrics, and sing to our cat, haha! I do remember the "Cara-Lin" song and the Strangeloves! They would probably be proud you guys thought enough to make up your own 'naughty' lyrics!
I always liked "War" by Edwin Starr, even though it is a pretty forceful song. I think it's his voice that is so captivating. His "Twenty-Five Miles" song is my favorite. Again, it is very bold, makes you believe it!
The Temptations are a favorite of all of us, aren't they! There has to be at least one song of theirs that each of us can relate to! I like them all! "Since I Lost My Baby" is one of the greats! You're right, Shady, it's one of the smoothest soul songs recorded! They glide right through this one...I don't think they ever missed a beat on any of their numbers!
Well, Dell Rat Tom, you've done it again. Oh, I must also say that those Mag Men owned their cover "I Wish You Love"! They get it going on strong from the very beginning of the song...it's chilling, and they are great!
Have a great weekend. Stay under cover, looks like you've got a fierce storm heading your way. We only have 40% chance of anything! Take care, dear friend Shady-great post!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThank you very much for coming over early on day one, dear friend. I am happy to see you! Welcome to the debut of Dell Rat Tom's Jukebox Giants featuring the greatest hits of the Shady Dell.
I don't know about you, but I breathed a huge sigh of relief when newsman Gary Owens announced that the cow was returned to its rightful owner. :)
I'm thrilled to know you like (or maybe even love) Sam & Dave. The Double Dynamite soul men were heavy hitters at the Dell. The B sides of their singles played just as often and in some cases more often than the A sides. Whenever "Hold On!" started playing on the jukebox, Dell rats scurried to the floor, some of them forming a dance line, some of them pairing off as couples, and sometimes the coolest cats among us were bold enough to dance alone. In fact the phenomena of people dancing alone or two or more girls dancing together were characteristic of the Dell in the mid 60s.
Yessum, my buddies and I made up dirty words to several different songs starting with "Louie Louie" and continuing with "Cara-Lin" and a few others. I think it was indeed a guy thing back then. Question: did your cat seem to appreciate Karo's serenade, or did your feline friend remain aloof?
Wanna see the coolest thing ever? Paste the following link and click over to YouTube where you will see Edwin Starr lip-syncing to "25 Miles" on the teen music TV show Upbeat. Turn the volume way up and watch the girl in the back on the left side of the screen. She is just about the greatest dancer I have ever seen. See what you think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndw9u0_nBSk
And Shady is still learning how to wave bye-bye!
I am also delighted that you appreciated this smooth, mid tempo number by the Temptin' Temptations. Their records played many times a night for most of the six years I went to the Dell. During my final year as a rat, 1970, Motown's switch from sweet soul to psychedelic sounds and rock was apparent with the presence in the dance hall jukebox of Rare Earth's cover of the Temptations' hit "Get Ready."
Thank you for mentioning "I Wish You Love," a recording that gives me chills and fever every time I listen, a truly great cover by Dave Bupp, Buddy King and the Magnificent Men.
There are no weather warnings for us so far, but I see that we are due for t-storms and 100% chance of rain every day for the next 5 days. What's it like in the DFW area? I hope the mercury has fallen below triple digits by now.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the show, dear friend Suzanne. Did you play DJ and voice over the records like Dell Rat Tom (the skilled professional)? :) Take care of Scootie and enjoy the rest of your week and weekend. Coming up next Wednesday, another installment of my long-running series Echoes of the Spectorian Era!
I did click over to watch the Edwin Starr video, Shady, and you're right! The girl in the back was a great dancer! All of them were...just always loved that song!
DeleteScootie is still trying to get with the school schedule, lol! The poor kid just can't seem to fall off to sleep quickly, even though he is tired. And, even with temps just in the 90's, the long, hot, sultry summer days aren't much help.
See you again next week, Shady! Have a great "fake fall" weekend!
Hi again, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed those female dancers on Upbeat. I never saw a girl dance as well as that one in the left rear of the formation.
I know the feeling of not being able to sleep at night even when exhausted. It happens to me often because my brain won't turn off. I'm sorry to know Scootie has that problem, too. I'll bet it is hard for him to arise in the morning and prepare for school. Maybe his body is still on summer vacation and he needs some time to adjust.
Thanks again for coming over, dear friend Suzanne. See you next week in the echo chamber! :)
Several new names to me here. Of course the others are always welcome sounds: The Temptations, Isley Bros., and Sam & Dave. All good sixties sounds! :D
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThank you very much for coming over, dear friend! I am glad you arrived here eager to listen and learn as SPMM's newest deejay sensation, Dell Rat Tom, played stacks-o-wax on his new radio show Jukebox Giants.
I'm happy to know you recognized three of the featured acts in the post and appreciated the introduction to some new ones. All of these artists had a tremendous impact at the Dell and were major contributors to the soundtrack of my youth.
Thank you again for joining the fun today, dear friend Kelly. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday. I hope to join you over at your blog spot tomorrow for your annual Peaches & Herb Marathon! :) Take care!
Well, I know the first song and last song very well and love them both but the last one makes me want to dance even more. Your second pick, with the French title etc.. actually sounds like it could have come from a movie. I always love The Temptations and Cara-Lin is great! I never heard it before but I love the drums and the piano..it sounds like some blues number. Edwin Starr is also great and one can hear mo-town and blues etc.. all in that song. Love these memories
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteWe need to stop meeting like this, dear friend! :) Seriously, I very much appreciate your punctuality and attentiveness lately. You are being a great friend and I love to entertain you. Looks like I hit the jackpot this time around because you know a couple of the songs on Dell Rat Tom's play list and seem to like them all.
That French popular song "I Wish You Love" has been recorded by dozens of other artists including The Artistics, Shirley Bassey, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Sam Cooke (on his 1963 album Mr. Soul), The Drifters, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Esther Phillips, Dionne Warwick, Andy Williams and Nancy Wilson.
I'm thrilled to know you enjoyed The Temps' tune, the Edwin Starr number and "Cara-Lin" by the Strangeloves, the fake Aussie band created in a Brill Building studio by F-G-G.
Once again thank you very much for your kind day-one visit and comment, dear friend BB. Enjoy your Friday and weekend!
Shady,
ReplyDeleteYou know the way to this girl's heart! I LOVE the Temptations and this is one of my favourite songs. :) I also love that you opened with the Isley Brothers; another favourite of mine growing up.
I hadn't listened to Edwin Starr before, but I like his style. I will have to check out more of his songs.
Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThank you for coming over on this Thankful Thursday, dear friend. I am happy to see you!
Seems like you found some tuneage to your liking in volume 1 of Dell Rat Tom's radio series Jukebox Giants. I'm glad to know it. I guess I have your dad to thank for introducing you to soulful sounds like these many years ago. Glad you like the Temps and the Isleys. Edwin Starr had a good string of hits on Detroit labels Ric Tic, Gordy, Soul and Granite, and mounted a comeback in the late 70s with disco hits on the 20th Century label.
Thanks again for being here to meet and greet Dell Rat Tom, dear friend JM. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Hi Shady!
DeleteI might have to see if our library system has any of Edwin Starr's records. I guess tomorrow when I go to work, I can find out... depending on who is working.
I remember one summer, probably around 2002 because that is when I was given a burner for my birthday, my friend at the time and I had a Motown summer. I burned so many Motown mixes it wasn't funny. I also burnt hip-hop and metal mixes. I have some of them still, I should see if they still play!
Enjoy your weekend, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for returning to the scene of the grime. :) I used to be a freelance deejay and provided musical entertainment at private parties. I owned a tape deck that played 10.5 inch reels. I put together theme reels for different types of parties including a disco reel, a British Invasion reel, a surf-sand-hot rod reel and a Motown reel. Edwin Starr waxed some excellent sides in the 60s and I hope you will check out his catalog. If you don't have time to do that - no worries - because Shady (and Dell Rat Tom) will be presenting all his best as time goes by.
Thanks again for coming to chat, dear friend JM, and have a super weekend!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI didn't get a chance to look today, but maybe tomorrow! If not, I look forward to your future posts! :)
Have a great weekend yourself, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteDell Rat Tom recommends that you start with what he considers to be Edwin Starr's best recordings of the 60s: "Agent Double-O-Soul," "Back Street," "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)," "Twenty-Five Miles," "I Am The Man For You Baby" and the song featured in this post, "My Weakness Is You." If you like the dance club sound of the late 70s, listen to Starr's hit "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" which, as I recall, was used as the opening theme music of NBC-TV's The World's Toughest Bouncer, the show that first made Mr. T a star.
Thanks again for coming to chat, dear friend JM, and have a wonderful week ahead!
Thank you for the suggestions! Since the next few days are supposed to rain, I'll check them out.
DeleteHave a great week!
:)
DeleteI remember your first presentation, friend Shady, prolly from my "I have a crush on you" days … All that's left from those days, is my everlasting crush on this song … smiles … Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteWelcome welcome welcome welcome welcome, dear friend! :)
Are you saying that song #1 in this post, "This Old Heart Of Mine," brings back some fond memories? If that's what you are telling me, then I am happy to know it. You aren't the only reader to express a special fondness for that one. It was huge at the Dell and The Isleys' follow-up single "Take Some Time Out" was an even bigger jukebox giant.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend cat. Please follow doctor's orders so that your knee can mend completely. Enjoy your Friday and weekend!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteYour first (The Isley Brothers) and last song (Sam & Dave)features are the only records playing in the jukebox that's familiar to my ear. All the in-between tunes are introductions and a joy to hear for the first time. The 60s sound transport back to the day when these were popular but to this gal I was much too young to recall or those older than me in my immediate circle did not expose me to them. Which ever it is, I'm delighted to have found them here on SPMM!
It's gonna be a wild one for us. We have a huge project THAT has to be done and one that we're not looking forward to at all. Come Sunday, we are both going to be wiped out! Have a tunetastic weekend, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThank you so much for coming by, dear friend! I am happy to see your face at Shady's Place for the premiere of Dell Rat Tom's Jukebox Giants featuring the greatest Shady Dell songs of the mid 60s.
It stands to reason that two of the bigger chart hits in this batch are the ones you know and remember. However that Temptations single charted higher on the pop chart than the Sam & Dave number, and therefore I am a bit surprised you aren't familiar with it. The rest were big Dell songs but were not as popular nationwide.
Hey, guess what? Mrs. Shady and I finally finished watching the Haven series last night! It took that long for us to work our way through it. I must say we were a little disappointed in the series finale and wished it had been handled differently. Do you feel the same?
I can't imagine what that huge weekend project might be, but I wish you well in tackling it and hope you get some rest on Sunday.
Thank you again for joining the fun this morning, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
DeleteIt was a full weekend for us. We made a trip to southern WV to get some of our personal belongings left in DH's boyhood home. It was a strain on many levels to be there but we got that job done and chances are slim that we'll go back again. :(
I was a bit surprised that The Temptations song didn't ring a bell because I remember my auntie listening to their mewsic when I was little. I'm not sure but after playing Sam & Dave's song again this morning it might sound familiar but I'm not sure if I'm thinking of another song that sounds similar or perhaps someone in Blogosphere shared it. It's because of friends like you I'm exposed to a lot of oldies for the first time which always broadens my mewsic education and appreciation. The 60s produced some top knotch talent. Have a good week, dear friend.
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteI am delighted to see you this morning and to know you made it through your hectic weekend. Thanks for letting me know about project you and DH needed to accomplish. I'm glad you made it over to WV and back safely.
I don't find very many bloggers sharing music of the 60s anymore, not like they were when I started blogging ten years ago. After running a lot of modern dance-pop for a couple of years to mixed reviews, I have decided to return to my roots and focus more of my posts on the great sounds of the 50s and 60s. Stay tuned in the months and years ahead as I present what I think are the best songs by the Temptin' Temps and soul men Sam & Dave.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Cathy, and have a tunetastic week!
Fun songs! I was pretty familiar with the Isley Brothers, Temptations and the song by Sam&Dave. I love videos- anything that also includes dancing. I could watch dancing for hours.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Shady
Hi, Holli!
DeleteHow are you today, dear friend? Thank you very much for swinging over to catch the debut of Dell Rat Tom's new SPMM radio show Jukebox Giants.
I am not surprised you recognize the three singles that charted highest on the Billboard Hot 100, and I hope you enjoyed being introduced to the four less well known Dell songs. Hey, if you like dancing, why don't you click on this link that I shared with Suzanne (above) which shows the fabulous dance troupe on the Cleveland based music TV series Upbeat. It's a clip of Edwin Starr doing a lip sync to his hit "25 Miles" surrounded by the house dancing girls. Pay particular attention to the girl in the rear on the left of the screen. I never saw such a great dancer! See if you agree:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndw9u0_nBSk
Thank you again for joining the fun, dear friend Holli. I wish you and Todd and your bowwows a safe and restful weekend!
That youtube video was AWESOME!!!! Loved their dancing and their outfits- everything!
DeleteHi, Holliwood N. Vine!
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed that rare clip from the Upbeat teen music TV show. When it comes to dancing you know your stuff, and I figured you would enjoy that one girl's moves in particular. She seems to float on air! I am keeping my fingers crossed that somebody will upload a remastered video of that segment with cleaner, sharper video and HQ audio. That would make the clip even more of a joy to watch.
Thanks for returning to watch the vid and chat, dear friend Holli, and enjoy your week!
Dell Rat Tom has a killer show too here at SPMM! I love Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm A Comin'" I'm already on a third spin!
ReplyDeleteGreat kickoff with the Isley Brothers. "This Old Heart of Mine" been broke a thousand times too~
Hey, did you make up the term "Rodentia Intelligentsia"??
I wasn't familiar with "I Wish You Love", any of the versions (I went and listened to Keely Smith and Gloria Lynne's versions too: Gloria Lynne's sounds like what I'd be listening to when tuning in the Smooth Jazz show and reading the Washington Post on Sunday mornings). The Magnificent Men's version was nice.
I was listening to the Emperors' "Karate" and I knew I recognized it but couldn't place it exactly. Until I went and listened to Santana's "Everybody's Everything" and yep, that's what I was hearing...
I have to say that I do like Santana's version better but that could be because it's what I'm most familiar with. Are both versions completely different? I know the lyrics are different but is the general theme the same or is it just a totally different song all the way around?
Your next selection, the Temptations "Since I Lost My Baby" is a wonderful song. I love the Temptations. Smokey Robinson wrote a lot of songs for a lot of the Motown groups. As you recall, Smokey wrote "I'll Be Doggone" for Marvin Gaye.
I liked "Cara-Lin" better than "I Want Candy" so I'm with you on that one. That's odd how these record industry people thought and did back then. They made up a pretend band from Australia to try to counter the British invasion?? The Strangeloves, very strange indeed... :)
Dell rats were a smart lot, checking out the B sides and some gold they sure did find with Edwin Starr's "My Weakness is You"! I like it better than the A side! The "war drums" is a great ear hook...
My favorite Edwin Starr hit though is still "War"... Very powerful song.
This was a great Jukebox Giants show Tom! I really enjoyed.
My favs from today's show are Sam & Dave's "Hold On...", Isley Bros "This Old Heart of Mine", Edwin Starr's "My Weakness..." and the Strangeloves' "Cara-Lin".
Thanks for turning me on to some new-to-me songs and bringing back to life those classics that I have loved and not heard in quite some time!
Hope you have a fun weekend planned.
I'm hoping to get some more sleep. My birthday was yesterday and someone asked what I wanted for my BD: I said "Sleep!"... haha. That's old age talkin' right there. I did get some sleep but I'm callin' it a Wrap for today and heading to my mattress right now. It's not even 8:00. Just in time to turn on Rachel Maddow...and get all worked up! haha...
talk soon.
Great show!
XOXO
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi, Michele!
DeleteWelcome back, dear friend! You've been missed. Thanks for checking out Dell Rat Tom's first stint as a DJ on SPMM radio and his show Jukebox Giants - platters that were hot in the Shady during the mid and late 60s.
Yessum, I made up the term Rodentia Intelligentsia a few years ago. Back in the day we referred to ourselves as Dell rats.
I'm happy to know that The Isleys, Sam & Dave aka "Double Dynamite" aka "The Sultans of Sweat" aka "The Dynamic Duo" rang your bell and especially thrilled to learn that you dug the less well known songs - Edwin Starr's killer bee with its pounding war drums, and the rollicking "Cara-Lin," a Dell hit that my buddies and I turned into a dirty ditty by changing the lyrics and singing them aloud in the dance hall.
Edwin Starr went from soul to disco in the late 70s and his hits "Contact" and "H.A.P.P.Y Radio" played in the dance clubs I frequented, but my favorites by Starr are his 60s recordings "Agent Double-O-Soul," "Back Street," "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)," "Twenty-Five Miles" and the single featured in this post - "I Am The Man" b/w "My Weakness." I didn't particularly like "War" because I don't particularly like war and don't like to be reminded of it when I am trying to relax and have fun. In my opinion "My Weakness Is You" should have been released as the A side of that single because it is more danceworthy. I'm pretty sure it was the side favored by dancers in the Northern Soul clubs of the UK. Evidence of that can be found on the website 45cat.com where the UK release of the single is posted. The site gives "Weakness" a 9.8 rating whilst the A side earned an 8.0 rating. Those are both very high numbers considering the fact that The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" gets a 9.0!
The Emperors' record "Karate" is a tutorial on how to move your arms and legs martial arts style in order to perform that newly invented dance. The cover by Santana, "Everybody's Everything," is quite different, a song that encourages people to free their minds, dance their troubles away and share:
If you're sad just spin around
And round and round
You can understand everything's to share
Let your spirits dance brother everywhere
Let your head be free
Turn the wisdom key
I'm glad you enjoyed that smooth number by the Temptin' Temptations.
Happy 21st birthday to you, dear Michele! :) Now you are finally old enough to have a glass of wine with dinner. :) (...and be sure to VOTE!)
I hope you got some sleep. if you have time, I encourage you to click back to the previous post and check out my Winning Hand featuring Dion and Fleetwood Mac. I appreciate it!
I'm delighted you enjoyed Jukebox Giants, a sampling of the greatest hits of the Shady Dell. Thanks again for your visit and comment. I wish you a safe and happy weekend, dear friend Michele!
Okay, I forgot to ask and now I'm dying to know: what are the dirty lyrics??? Do share!
DeleteAnd I didn't realize I had missed a post! I don't believe I got an email alert. I'll have to go back and check. But regardless, I'll definitely flip back and check it out. Right now I have a client picking up dogs...
Ha! I cannot print the dirty lyrics here. If I did I would get kicked off Blogger. :) If you really want to know the words we sang (and keep in mind we were a bunch of teenage boys and the words are crude and graphic) then email me.
DeleteIf you don't get regular email alerts about my new posts, then just come over and take a peek every few days. I publish a new post an average of every six days. My next post is next Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Thanks, Michele!
This post left me both sad and happy! When I listen to these songs, I look back to my teen years and realize what I missed. As a classical music nerd, I most certainly didn't fit in with my peers, some of whom were Dell regulars in the 60s. "Cool" totally eluded me! At the same time, I'm happy I can experience this music now, albeit a lot later than when the Dell was at its heyday.
ReplyDeleteTo jog my memory, I did some research and listened to Gary Owens reading the "news" on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. What a classic voice! His deadpan delivery of total silliness was comedy perfection!
"This Old Heart of Mine" was a great upbeat beginning to the post, and I was glad that I recognized it immediately. When I looked up the Isley Bros., I was surprised to learn that then unknown Jimi Hendrix played backup for them and that they gave him a boost to his career.
The Magnificent Men's "I Wish You Love" has it all - great instrumentals, blended harmonies, and I agree - Dave Bupp's voice is the best!
"Karate's" truly infectious beat helped loosen up a slow morning! Imagining songs like this, as well as the Temptations' smooth sounding "Since I Lost My Baby" playing on the Dell's juke box helped animate a profoundly moving recollection of mine - standing in the deserted dance hall on my last visits there with my daughter and husband. Even with the crowds of dancers from the past long gone, it held a definite mystique. We all sensed it, still lingering in the silence and dust. Now, thanks to Dell Rat Tom's playlist, those memories come alive with sights and sounds to complete the scenario and bring it to life in my mind.
So you were a drummer. No wonder then, with that addictive percussion, that "Cara-Lin" is a favorite, (naughty alternative lyrics notwithstanding)! Edwin Star is also new to me, but "Weakness" and Sam & Dave's "Hold on.." help fill out the portrait of the classic Dell Rat personality and expertise in mining hidden gold, as you call it. I see why the Rodentia were so unique, and why you carried your Shady Dell education within you to college and beyond. You still find gems of songs and artists that were dissed and tossed aside by many, to the delight of readers like me.
I can now at last say all these years later, without feeling the least bit a "square" imposter - this music is COOL!!
Hi, Kathleen!
DeleteThanks for coming to the platter party, dear friend! I am delighted to see you and to know that you enjoyed "turning cool" listening to Dell Rat Tom and his Jukebox Giants on the all new SPMM radio.
It is indeed sad to realize how much great mainstream music you missed in your youth, immersed as you were in the classical genre, but Shady sez its never too late to become a card carrying Dellette. You certainly qualify for membership because of your family's importance to Shady Dell history and by virtue of the fact that you are eager to learn about my Dell experiences, the music played and the memories made.
It pleases me to know that you took some time to do your homework as you wrote your comment. You first listened to announcer/news reader Gary Owens doing his weekly shtick on R & M's Laugh-In. I can't tell you how relieved I was to learn that the cow was returned to its rightful owner. That, by the way, was the lead story of the hour on SPMM radio - no mention of Russiagate! :)
I see you also took time to do some extra research on the music acts in the post. I appreciate that, Kathleen! Thanks for pointing out that Jimi Hendrix backed up 60s soul and R&B acts before emerging as an iconic psychedelic rock superstar. I'm glad you appreciated Buddy's vocal performance on "I Wish You Love." I get goose bumps listening to the Mag Men do their rendition of that oft recorded old standard.
I wish you could have been there at the Dell when "Karate" was popular on the jukebox. It was a hoot to see the dance hall filled with rats performing karate chops and martial arts kicks as they followed the instructions in the lyrics. Whenever I hear "Since I Lost My Baby" I remember how the Dellions formed a line and performed in unison a graceful, shuffle style dance. I wish I was better informed about the precise names of the dances I witnessed at the Dell. Unless and until someone comes forward to enlighten me, I can only try to describe the dances, not identify them.
One of my favorite experiences at the Dell was being "the last man standing" - the very last person to leave the joint at the end of the night. It happened a few times. Based on your own experience in the deserted dance hall with Bob and Lis, I am sure you can imagine what it was like for me to stand alone in the middle of the floor with the jukebox still blasting away, knowing that I had the whole place to myself. It was exhilarating. I felt like a king!
Yessum, the rats had radar for cool. When it came to auditioning new records found in the jukebox, they left no stone unturned - no side unplayed, and that is how many Dell mega-hits were discovered.
You are not an ugly ducking, Kathleen. You are a beautiful swan. You are not, and never were, a square impostor. You are the real deal. You belong.
Thank you again for your time and your marvelous comment, dear friend Kathleen, and have a safe and restful weekend!
Yo Shady, I wanted to correct an error on I Wish You Love. Buddy King
ReplyDeletesang lead on that tune. And you are right my friend, Buddy sang his ass off on that recording. My favorite King lead!! Try Alfie, Buddy is great on that recording as well! Thanks for the shout out Shady! Great blog this week! Dave
Hi, Dave!
DeleteThank you very much for coming, my old friend! I also appreciate you for correcting my error regarding the lead vocal on "I Wish You Love." I could have sworn that was your voice, Dave! I say that because I am used to hearing Buddy's voice in the high range on songs like "Misty." Please send my apologies to Buddy for getting that wrong. "I Wish You Love" is one of my favorites by the Mag Men and I am thankful you guys recorded it, possibly inspired by Sam Cooke's 1963 version - Yes? No? I also did not realize that Buddy sang lead on "Alfie." Again it sounded just like you. Now you have me wondering how many other Mag Men songs had Buddy on lead w/o me realizing it. I'm never too old to learn something new and I appreciate you setting the "record" straight about those two recordings.
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Dave, and have a great weekend!
Hey Shady, Buddy King sang lead on Misty, I Wish You Love, Alfie
DeleteSeptember Song, It's Got To Be Love & So Much love Waiting. I sang
lead on everything else. We played a lot of Supper Clubs. The audience was usually older, non- rock & rollers. We did a lot of
old standards at those gigs. Buddy sang most of those tunes, mainly because he had a crooner's voice. I hope I cleared that up for you Shady. Later On, Dave
Thanks for returning to add to our thread, Davy. "So Much Love Waiting" is another of my top Mag Men favorites and, once again, it did not occur to me that Buddy was on lead. It's good to know. In recent years I have developed a greater appreciation of the old standards you guys covered and sang in supper clubs. "It's all good." Correction: It's all great!
DeleteThanks again for adding valuable info to the discussion, Dave. Take care, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and stay tuned for more volumes of Dell Rat Tom's Jukebox Giants!
I Wish You Love has a very dramatic opening! Sounds like it should be a symphony. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all of your support on my book's birthday!
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Hi, Sherry!
DeleteThanks for coming by, dear friend!
I agree that the rendition of "I Wish You Love" recorded by "Our Blue-Eyed Soul Brothers," The Magnificent Men, has a dramatic intro. I tend to favor songs with that type of arrangement, another being Lenny Welch singing "Since I Fell For You" and yet another the unedited version of "Tossin' And Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis (...and a 4th being the long version of "Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown :)
I am more than happy to support your book launch, dear friend Sherry. Thanks again for joining the fun and have a wonderful week!
I feel like the last song is my theme.."Hold on, I'm coming over to Shady's place!" Late but glad I got to hear the selections tonight. I remember the Isley Brothers, Sam and Dave, and the Temptations, but the others were new to me. I enjoyed them but I'll put my vote for the Temptations tonight as my fav. I hope all is going good down south and glad you're not in the hurricane path. Thanks for a good post, as always!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteI'm glad I clicked back here and found your comment. Thanks for coming, dear friend!
You and several other readers have stated that you best remember the three most famous acts in the post, The Isleys, the Temps and Sam & Dave. You can't go wrong with Temptations. Last evening I watched one of their videos in which they performed their choreographed dance moves while singing. It gave me chills and fever to witness their polished professionalism and dynamic interpretation of the song.
Yessum, we are sweating out the hurricane season and thankful that monster Florence is not headed our way, but our prayers go out to those in its path.
Thank you again for your visit and comment, dear friend YaYa!