INSPIRED BY THE SHADY DELL, YORK, PA, AND DEDICATED TO ITS OWNERS JOHN & HELEN ETTLINE
AND TO MARGARET ELIZABETH BROWN SCHNEIDER, NICKNAMED "THE OLDEST LIVING DELL RAT"


Sunday, November 4, 2018

Cruisin' the Golden Age of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-wop with Porky Chedwick - Pittsburgh's Daddio of the Raddio!


 It's time for another volume of 

 the Cruisin' record album series, 

 those simulated top 40 radio 

 broadcasts of the 50s and 60s. 




As I always do in this
series, I picked a few
favorite songs from
the original album,
added a few more
great recordings of
the genre and set the
mood for the platter
party by decorating
with vintage soda ads.





 Hop in and let's cruise 
 to Pittsburgh, PA. 


 Radio station WAMO is where we find 

 "Porky" Chedwick 
 "The Daddio of the Raddio" 
 aka "The Platter Pushin' Papa"  
  aka "The Bossman" 
 aka "Pork the Tork." 

For 50 years Porky was one of the great voices
of Pittsburgh radio and he lived to age 96!


 THE DEL VIKINGS aka 
 THE DELL-VIKINGS 


For years many listeners had no idea that
Porky Chedwick was a white man. That's
because he primarily played records by
black artists. In so doing, Porky helped
break down racial barriers. It is only
fitting that the first song on Porky's
volume of Cruisin' was recorded by
a mixed-race group from Pittsburgh,
The Del Vikings aka Dell-Vikings.
 Here is one of the three singles
by the group to reach the top 10
in 1957-- "Whispering Bells!"

"Whispering Bells" - The Dell-Vikings
(Aug. 1957, highest chart pos.
#5 R&B/#9 Hot 100)




 THE COSMIC RAYS 
 WITH SUN RA 
 AND ARKESTRA 


One of the most prolific recording artists
of the 20th century, avant-garde jazz com-
poser and musician Sun Ra waxed more
than 100 albums. Here's a super cool
doo-wop/R&B single by Sun Ra that
made Porky's playlist. Credited to
The Cosmic Rays with Sun Ra and
his "Arkestra" (orchestra) and re-
leased on Saturn Records, it's a
sound that's out of this world--
"Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie!"

"Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie!"
The Cosmic Rays with Sun Ra/Arkestra
(June 1960, B side of "Dreaming")




 THE PENGUINS 


Based in LA, The Penguins were a doo-
wop group that took their name from the
Kool cigarettes mascot. The Penguins'
biggest hit is "Earth Angel (Will You Be
Mine).
" Released in the fall of 1954,
"Earth Angel" slowly caught fire
across the country and was red hot
in the winter of 1954-55, topping the
R & B chart for 3 weeks. "Earth Angel"
eventually sold more than 10 million
copies. There's another great ballad on
the flip side and Porky played it. Listen
to the Penguins performing doo-wop
with a Latin twist on-- "Hey Senorita!"

"Hey Senorita" - The Penguins
(Jan./Feb. 1955, B side of "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)"



 THE SKYLINERS 


Here's another Pittsburgh
recording act and another
mixed lineup. They're
The Skyliners, a mixed
gender doo-wop group
led by Jimmy Beaumont.
In the spring of 1959
The Skyliners scored
their biggest hit with
"Since I Don't Have You."
On his volume of Cruisin',
Porky spun the group's
follow-up single
"This I Swear" which
penetrated the top 30
that summer.


"This I Swear" - The Skyliners
(July 1959, highest chart pos. #26)




 TEDDY & THE 
 CONTINENTALS 


Teddy (Henry) And The Continentals were a doo-wop group from
Wilmington, Delaware. In September of 1961 the guys reached
the Bubbling Under chart with their most successful single,
the dance themed "Ev'rybody Pony." Giddy-up!

"Ev'rybody Pony" - Teddy And The Continentals
(Sept. 1961, highest chart pos. #101)



 RONNIE HAIG 



Ron Hege was an exciting rockabilly
singer and songwriter. Using the stage
name Ronnie Haig, Hege made some
noise with his first self-penned single.
It missed the national chart but had a
strong regional following and drew
an invitation to appear on Dick
Clark's American Bandstand.
Ronnie's career was derailed
after a Boston radio listener
phoned in and informed the
DJ that he played this 45 at
33 1/3 rpm speed at home
and determined that the end
of the record (from the 2:35
mark on) is obscene. Ronnie's
record was "Banned in Boston."
 


Decide for yourself. Is it live? Is it Memorex... or is it dirty?
Here's Ronnie Haig with a killer that Porky wasn't afraid
to play-- "Don't You Hear Me Calling, Baby!"

"Don't You Hear Me Calling, Baby" - Ronnie Haig
(Mar./Apr. 1958, uncharted)




 THE LAMPLIGHTERS 


Finally here's another relic found on
lists of "Pittsburgh's Favorite Oldies,"
another gold nugget mined from
Porky Chedwick's radio show.
The Lamplighters were an LA-
based R&B group that included
Thurston Harris. They evolved
into The Sharps, the backup
group on Harris's 1957/'58
solo hit "Little Bitty Pretty
One." Members of The Sharps
later formed The Rivingtons,
the group that had hits with
"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and 
"The Bird's The Word." 

This 1955 single by The Lamplighters reminds me of
 "Annie Had A Baby," a record released in 1954
by The Midnighters. To close the show, here's
one last rockin' Porky platter-- "Roll On!"

"Roll On" - The Lamplighters
(Feb. 1955, uncharted)




 DON'T MISS THE NEXT 
 THRILL-PACKED EPISODE OF 
 Cruisin'... 
 COMING SOON! 


Have a Shady day!

41 comments:

  1. A lot out of Pittsburgh.
    A hundred albums? That is just incredible.

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    1. Hi, Alex!

      Thanks for coming over, good buddy! I am pleased to welcome you as the early bird again this week.

      That's right, Alex. Sun Ra was one of the most prolific recording artists of the century, yet few people ever heard of him. A college buddy of mine was always talking about Sun Ra, telling me he was one of his favorites, but I never bothered to investigate the artist until now. Sun Ra recordings are otherworldly!

      Thanks again for coming over early, good buddy Alex, and have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  2. Hi, Shady,

    Ah, such a good day to cruise to Pittsburgh via Amtrak! Sure I hope I get there before 8 PM. :) I would like to see more of Pittsburgh; some day and your soundtrack helped get me excited!

    The Dell-Vikings are one of my favourites and I never knew they were from Pittsburgh! I really love the song you posted and I love the others too. I might have to check out more from these groups and later I might have to play these for dad to see if he knows any of these songs!

    Have a great day, dear friend. Keep rockin' and cruisin'!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Jessica Marie!

      Thanks for coming over on your Sunday, dear friend!

      Have you ever been to Pittsburgh? I was there one time when I was in scouting, but I can't remember what my troop saw and did. What you are hearing in this post is what I believe to be an authentic Pittsburgh oldies play list harking back to the golden years of R&B and doo-wop. I'm glad you enjoyed the tune by the Dell-Vikings and the sounds of the other featured artists. Please run these by your dad. I'm sure he will enjoy Porky's playlist.

      Thanks again for coming and have a great week, dear friend JM!

      Delete
    2. Hi Shady,

      In 2014 when I thought about moving to Detroit, mom urged me to check out the city before I actually moved there. While mom and I don't get along most of the time, I am glad I took her advice. Since I was saving for a move, I decided to take Amtrak. From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh to Toledo, OH, then a bus from Toledo to Detroit. I have a pen pal that lives in Pittsburgh and she told me most places close at 8 PM; I arrived in Pittsburgh at 8:15 and stayed in the station. It was a 7 hour train ride from Philly to Pittsburgh; the layover was supposed to be 2 hours, but there was a major storm in the Midwest (May 2014) and we were delayed for 5 hours. My only experience of Pittsburgh is in the train station. Same with Ohio.

      I'll run them by him a little later. :) It'll most likely be fond memories for him because I am sure he has listened to many of these groups growing up. I'm thinking of making him a mix for the holidays of all of these oldie/doo-wop favourites.

      I hope you enjoy your Sunday evening, dear friend!

      Delete
    3. Hi, Jessica Marie!

      It sounds like your first impressions of Pittsburgh and Detroit were not the best. I suppose you can be thankful you live so close to Philly, take advantage of its vibrant arts scene and experience its cultural diversity.

      If your dad doesn't remember the specific recordings posted here (I myself do not remember most of them) he will surely remember the sound and have fond memories associated with the time.

      Thanks again for coming to chat, dear friend JM!

      Delete
    4. Hi Shady,

      I'm not a big fan of Philly sports and while I am not a fan of it in general, I am glad I didn't move to Detroit. I would visit again, but I wouldn't move there. I do want to see Pittsburgh, though, and maybe next year I will take a vacation there. ;)

      Ironically, I feel that way about some countries. While it's my goal to move abroad, there are many places I wouldn't move to to teach English. China and Thailand are a few. I'm being grateful for what I have until I get to where I want to go.

      I didn't get a chance to show him this week, but tomorrow! Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend.

      Delete
  3. I don't think I've heard of any of these, other than the Dell-Vikings (or is that Del-Vikings!).

    Love seeing all the old advertisements. I don't remember Crush ever coming in a brown bottle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Kelly!

      Thanks so much for coming by on your Sunday, dear friend! I am happy to welcome you here for what might be your fist exposure to my long running Cruisin' series. I bought this series of vinyl albums in the early 70s. The original volumes did a fantastic job of simulating the actual radio shows of some of the greatest DJs of the era. (I say "original volumes" because, when the series was later released on CD, many of the songs originally embedded on the vinyl albums had been dropped due to licensing hassles, and the edits that resulted were jarring, ruining the illusion that you were listening to an actual radio broadcast.) I believe this Porky Chedwick volume was the last to be released and, unlike the other volumes, no year is assigned to it. Perhaps that is because Porky was on Pittsburgh radio 50 years, from 1948 to 1998!

      Many vocal groups used the prefix Del or Dell in their names. For ten years I have been trying to determine exactly why and have not yet found a satisfactory answer. Care to speculate?

      Yessum, I love to nail a few soda pop ads to the wall to add to the nostalgia of the post and help transport us back to this wonderful period in the 50s and early 60s.

      Thanks again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Kelly, and enjoy your week!

      Delete
  4. Good Doo Wop. The Skyliners also had a good cover of "Close Your Eyes". Almost as good as the original?
    Jerre

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Jerre!

      Thanks for dropping in for some Pittsburgh style doo-wop, good buddy! I just listened to the Skyliners' version of "Close Your Eyes." I never heard it before and enjoyed it. It is fairly close to the version by the Five Keys, but I will stick with the Keys' recording as definitive.

      I found a couple other recordings of the Chuck Willis song. The 3 Degrees released it on a single in 1965:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPMCDHHIKfA

      ...and Peaches & Herb came out with a version that was a top 10 crossover hit in 1967:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTXqeOutgiA

      Thanks for coming over to examine Porky Chedwick's play list, good buddy Jerre, and enjoy the week ahead!

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the info. I will give a listen. Another good listen is the Rivingtons killer B side of Papa Ooh Mow Mow. I think it is called Deep Water. Jerre

      Delete
    3. Hi again, Jerre!

      I dub thee "King of the B's" b-cause you just named another fab flip in the doo-wop genre. "Deep Water" features lead vocalist Carl White singing what sounds like a combination of doo-wop, blues and deep soul. I can't "fathom" why the decision makers didn't save "Deep Water" for release as an A side. It's a shame The Rivingtons are remembered mainly for their novelty numbers when there was so much more to the group "beneath the surface."

      Thanks again for expanding the thread, good buddy Jerre!

      PROGRAM NOTES: A post featuring YOU is coming Dec. 3, and Dell Rat Tom hosts "Christmas at the Dell" on Dec. 20!

      Delete
  5. Hi Shady! My drink of choice in the late 1950's and early 60's was 7UP. We weren't allowed much soda pop, but 7UP was my favorite. I don't remember if we had "Crush" drinks, but we had Nehi and the Orange and Root Beer was good. Ah, those were the days. I do see Orange Crush and Strawberry in the old looking bottles at our grocery store. But they are no long $.10, LOL!

    So, Porky Chedwick was a pretty good DJ, wasn't he! I have a couple of the Cruisin CD's, 1963, and I believe 1967. They are so fun to listen to and the commercials are really cool!

    I remember you giving us a tune with the Dell Vikings before, and, how impressive that they were a mixed-race group! I think there was so much that each race could teach one another by sharing our talents and skills.

    The Penguins "Earth Angel" is one of my favorites, but it's funny that I was only 6 years old when it was released! My sister and I started our Doo Wop and Rock and Roll at an early age! It was still being played in the early 1960's when we were going to teen dances on Friday nights. "Hey Senorita" is a pretty good song done by them.

    You know, Shady, The Skyliners' "This I Swear" sounds so similar to "Since I Don't Have You". I really like both songs, the rhythm moves along so smoothly...good slow dance.

    And Ronnie Haig! Well, Shady, I couldn't swear to it, but it does appear that the ending of "Don't You Hear Me Calling, Baby", could be a bit dirty, lol! It kind of goes along with "Louie, Louie" doesn't it!

    And, hey! I can't believe that "Ev'rybody Pony" only charted at #101! How sad! There were so many 'twist' songs, it was almost sickening, but not many 'pony' songs. We loved the 'pony', and I believe this song would have been a regular at our teen dances. It's my favorite of your offers today, Shady!

    This was great, and challenging, Shady! I don't know many of these songs, but I am glad to have been introduced. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the art!

    I hope you and your family are doing well. We got more rain last night, but thank goodness for cooler weather! Have a great week, dear friend Shady! ♫

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    1. Hi, Suzanne!

      Thank you very much for hustling over to Shady's Place for some Pittsburgh style R&B and doo-wop, dear friend!

      When I was a kid I drank The Un-cola, Dad's Root Beer, fruit flavored sodas like Nehi orange and Grapette, and cream soda. Remember cream soda? I can't remember drinking Crush. Back then, soda and candy were good for you! :)

      As I told Kelly (above) those Cruisin CDs were not as good as the original vinyl albums because a good number of the original songs were deleted due to licensing issues and replaced by other songs, causing abrupt edits on the soundtrack.

      I'll never forget how jarring it was for me to leave York, PA, a doo-wop and soul music mecca, and go off to college where most of the students were into hard psychedelic rock. I remember a guy in one of my freshman classes saying "Thank God we don't have to listen to garbage like "Earth Angel" any more!" I felt badly that he said that because he obviously had not grown to love and appreciate doo-wop as I and my friends had. As you know, I also got started listening to music at an early age, 3 or 4, but most of the cool sounds in this post are brand new to my ears. I discovered them recently while working on this post.

      Regarding The Skyliners, it was and still is common practice for an artist, group or band to follow a major hit single with one that has a similar sound and sometimes even a derivative title. "Milk a hit for all it's worth" seems to be the policy, and it makes sense because it often yields another hit.

      Yessum, I didn't need to listen to Ronnie's record at a slower speed to hear what sounds like the "F" word repeated over and over again there at the end. I wonder how the decision makers thought they could get away with that. (By the way, if you play the record backward, you can plainly hear "The walrus is Paul." :)

      I'm thrilled that your Pick To Click is the "Pony" single by Teddy & The Continentals. I agree it should have at least made the Hot 100 and probably the top 40!

      We are finally getting some delightfully cooler air blowing through Florida on a brisk breeze. It's invigorating! Thank you again for being here for the fun on day one, dear friend Suzanne. Take care, say hello to Scootie for me, have a wonderful week and I will be connecting with you again soon!

      Delete
  6. Well, I've heard of Sun Ra, but never knew he put out a do-wop record! Kind of nice that he did. Whenever the anti-rock and roll sentiments of the 1950s are discussed, it's thought that the music's opponents were blue-noses and racists. Well, those were the people that tried to drive it off the airways, but the whole modern jazz crowd didn't much like rock, either, mainly because of its simplistic and decidedly non-improvisational melodies. But Sun Ra seemed to have a more open mind than most.

    Did not hear the obscenity at the end of the Ronnie Haig song, but then I don't hear it on "Duke of Earl" either.

    And finally, whatever happened to Paul Le Mat?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Kirk!

      Thanks for coming over to go Cruisin' with Porky, good buddy!

      I hear ya, but let us not forget all those concerned parents of the 50s and 60s that were not exactly puritanical or racist but nevertheless rejected rock 'n' roll believing it would corrupt the minds and morals of youth. My mom frowned on any kind of music this side of Perry Como. She repeatedly tried to get me enthused about "good music," the big band sounds of the swing era, the style that was popular when she was young. Her evil plot failed. I kept on rockin'.

      Regarding Ronnie Haig's alleged dirty ditty, I can hear the late great George Carlin quipping "If you play the record backward... you screw up your needle."

      You can look up Paul Le Mat on IMDB as easily as I can, good buddy. Clearly he didn't break through to become a major star like Ron Howard or Richard Dreyfuss. I like the fact that Terry "The Toad" (Charles Martin Smith) has done well for himself as an actor, writer and director.

      Thanks for joining the fun, Kirk, and enjoy the rest of your week!

      Delete
  7. I'm not familiar with these tunes and I had to listen to the end of Ronnie Haig's song a few times and I think it might be a bit naughty...hmmm. In this day and age it probably doesn't compare! I loved all the old ads and laughed when I saw the penguin cig ad..my how we've changed..you could be arrested posting a cigarette ad! I do remember "Earth Angel" though. It's played alot on the oldies stations we play in surgery every now and then. Hope you've had a good weekend! Take care!

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    1. Hi, YaYa!

      Thank you very much for coming by, dear friend!

      I figured these obscure Pittsburgh oldies might be new to your ears even though I think you live closer to Pittsburgh than I did. Years ago there was a CD series called "Pittsburgh's Favorite Oldies." I am sure several of these cuts from the Porky Chedwick show were included. Kids who grew up in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities in the 50s were treated to sounds that few people in other parts of the country knew about. Some of these golden greats were picked up in York, Philly and other East Coast doo-wop meccas. Porky Chedwick was one of the greatest of all DJs because he did not play the predictable top 40 hits. He played rare, obscure records by little known groups, mostly black, and turned them into local or regional hits. Kids did the same thing at the Dell. They didn't stick to playing major hits by major artists. They played what they decided was cool, including uncharted B sides.

      I agree that Ronnie's rowdy record isn't exactly scandalous by today's standards, but I don't understand why he and those who helped him wax it would take the risk of having their single banned in major markets by including that questionable ending. Perhaps it's merely our dirty minds hearing something that isn't really there.

      I'm glad you enjoyed flashing back with the old soft drink and cig ads. Although it is not one of the songs embedded here, "Earth Angel" would be the most recognizable hit associated with this post along with "Come Go With Me" by The Dell-Vikings.

      Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend YaYa, and enjoy the rest of your week!

      Delete
  8. Hey Shady, You mention Porky Chedwick. He was responsible for making
    "EVERYBODY'S GOTTA LOSE SOMEDAY" By The Del-Chords, a Pittsburgh
    Home Run For Us. It's a highly sought after record in the Burgh!
    Great post this week! Later Shady.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Davy!

      It's great to see you, good buddy! I'm happy to know this volume of my Cruisin' series earned your "zeal of approval." Thanks for letting us know that DJ Porky Chedwick was instrumental in launching your legendary single "Everybody's Gotta Lose" into the stratosphere. I remember seeing the song on a volume of the CD set "Pittsburgh's Favorite Oldies."

      Thanks again for contributing to the discussion, good buddy Dave, and stay tuned for much more doo-wop, R&B and soul coming up here at Shady's Place!

      Delete
  9. Enjoyed your selections of music, friend Shady, as always … and as always, hardly recognised any of it as me was a bit young back then … My husband is 12 years older than I am, and I went and weeded through his record collection many times … Got to like very much Theresa Brewer, Ink Spots and Fats Domino … Very cool also the different kinds of pop in your country, or soda as it's called in the States, I guess, eh? On an even more personal note: I just finished my first 3 night shifts after being off for 3 months due to my July knee injury thing … Very happy to be back in the groove … Much love, cat.

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    1. Hi, cat!

      How are you, dear kitty friend? Thank you for coming down!

      As I think I told you before, some of my earliest childhood memories revolve around 45s by Teresa Brewer and Fats Domino revolving around on my tiny tinny turntable. My parents (mainly my mom) loved Teresa and my big brother loved Fats. I spent hours in the basement listening to the platters they collected.

      Yessum, people in my region called soft drinks "soda" while people in other parts of the U.S. and Canada called it "pop" or "soda pop." The dentist called it "great for business." :)

      I am elated to learn that you have recovered from your knee injury and have returned to working the night shift. I hope you stay in the groove, dear friend!

      Thanks again for being here, cat, and enjoy the rest of your week!

      Delete
  10. Fun post!! I was only familiar with Earth Angel but I enjoyed Roll on.

    Honestly, I think its crazy that the song got banned for Ronnie's song. It wasn't all that bad to me.
    Loved the crush signs. I grew up on peach Nehi and I was so excited a few weeks ago, there was a peach Nehi at the Cracker Barrel. So good!! I had not seen peach in a long time by them. When my mom was pregnant with my little brother, she craved strawberry crush floats. My grandma worked at safeway and every other night, my grandpa would pick up a 12 pack for mom.
    Have a great day!

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Holli-berry!

      Thank you very much for dropping in, dear friend!

      I'm happy to know you remember the hit A side of that Penguins platter. With a great song like "Hey Senorita" as the fab flip, that single easily qualities as a "doublesider" or a "two-fer."

      I'm delighted to have readers like you responding so favorably to the vintage soda print ads that I tacked up on the wall. I don't think I ever tasted peach Nehi, and I am surprised to learn it is offered at Cracker Barrel. Now that you mentioned it, I remember drinking strawberry flavored Nehi, too, and I always looked for bottles of Grapette and cream soda in the grocery store cooler. I remember my arm turning numb from the cold water as I fished around for my favorite sodas in those old coolers.

      Thank you very much for coming by and for sharing post-related memories with me, dear friend Holli. Enjoy the rest of your week!

      Delete
  11. Tom,

    I stoppped by yesterday while out and left a comment twice. I suspected it didn't take since I never saw either post and I'm just now getting back by to check out with my suspensions confirmed. Anywho, I haven't had a change to listen to your all new-to-me song features but hope to do so tomorrow. I have an unplanned schedule change which will keep me away from Blogosphere again today but at the very least I wanted to pop by to let you know why it appeared I wasn't around. Thanks for stopping by the dance floor yesterday. Have a furtastic day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Cathy!

      Thanks for letting me know what's happening on your side of the screen, dear friend. I haven't found any comments in my "awaiting moderation" or "spam" folders, and therefore what happened to your comments remains an unsolved mystery. It seems like Blogger, Google and Wordpress have compatibility issues that do not make them user friendly. Thank you for persevering. I hope you will return when time permits to listen to Porky's playlist of Pittsburgh's Favorite Oldies - the great sounds of 50s/early 60s R&B and doo-wop.

      Thank you again for dropping by, dear friend Cathy, and have a wonderful day!

      Delete
  12. Hi Shady!
    This was fun - feels like I should know them all but only recognized one by the Skyliners - a year before I was born!
    Funny, we've got Orange Crush in the beer cooler, and the bottles are not brown. This might help identify a couple of brown bottles I've unearthed in my travels ;-)

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    1. Hi, diedre!

      How are you, dear friend? I am very happy see to you back here at Shady's Place!

      Yessum, The Skyliners are one of the proven hit makers in this batch of Porky platters along with The Penguins and The Dell-Vikings. The other acts are less well known. Jimmy Beaumont's Skyliners brushed the top 10 with "Since I Don't Have You," made the top 30 with "This I Swear" and had one more significant chart single with a version of "Pennies From Heaven," a #1 hit for Bing Crosby in 1936.

      There seems to be a mystery surrounding Orange Crush "flavor sealed in the brown bottle." I don't remember that either.

      Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend diedre!

      Delete
  13. Another blast from the past post, Shady. I love the old ads (I never had an Orange Crush and now I wonder if I missed out. And those flat tops from the 50s--those were a wonder. Oh yes, and Cruising and Dragging Main. Hard to believe there was ever that much time.

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    1. Hi, Cheryl-Lee!

      Welcome back to Shady's Place, dear friend! I am very happy to log on and find a comment from you.

      I'm glad you appreciate the soda pop ads I hung on the wall. Advertising illustration has always interested me. I studied the art and subliminal persuasion of ads like these in college. Thanks for listening to Porky's platters as you turned back the clock and went Cruisin' up and down your favorite strip.

      Happy November, and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cheryl!

      Delete
  14. Hi Shady, I love the new look of your blog! Really great pics and colors. Great songs here, but two of them I especially like, Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie, and This I Swear. The first is a wonderful dance song and the second is a lovely romantic song. I love how it opens with strings. Beautiful voice on that one too.

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    1. Hi, Belle!

      I am very happy to see you, dear friend! Thank you very much for paying a visit to my new space called Shady's Place. I'm delighted to know you like the layout and look of the new site.

      I am also excited to know that you enjoyed these authentic Pittsburgh oldies that were played by the much loved Daddio of the Raddio, Porky Chedwick. "Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie" is one of my favorites on Porky's play list, too. I discovered the record for the first time only a few weeks ago. I first learned about Sun Ra in 1970 through a college friend who used to rave about the avante-garde jazz fusion artist, but I never bothered to check out his music until this year. "This I Swear" brings back the pre-Beatles era when sweet, innocent doo-wop love ballads were so popular. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

      Thank you again for your kind visit and compliments, dear friend Belle. Take care and feel free to visit Shady's Place again soon!

      Delete
  15. As per norm i am here a couple days late but always enjoy your the music, whom you showcase and your writings. it's always informative. I don't know most of these but leave it to music to break the colour barrier. I can't help but picture my mom listening to this and starting to dance in my kitchen. She loved the 1950's since it was her time to shine. She didn't get into this music at that time but years later she enjoyed it and would dance up a storm. She was actually an excellent dancer and won a dance contest once in Germany. Love the old advertisements especially the cigarette one with the kooky penguin. have a beautiful day:)

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 11, 2018 at 11:02 AM

      Hi Birgit!

      I'm filling in for Tom, who got called out of town for an urgent family crisis.

      That's neat that this post brought back memories, especially of your mother dancing in your kitchen. Music definitely connected first her, then you to past times!

      Thanks for stopping by and for writing your thoughtful comment!

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  16. I remember hearing Whispering Bells. It was one of the ones my dad used to play. I like the sound of Doo-wop music. It has a good feel.

    Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 13, 2018 at 2:30 PM

      I can't speak for Tom (who, as I wrote to Birgit, was called out of town the end of the week), but I wonder how many doo-wop fans are out there and, like you, get a good feeling while hearing it.

      It's also interesting to learn that this post's music reminded you of your dad. I don't think my dad ever heard of doo-wop music. He possessed a deep, rich voice and sang bass in a local barbershop chorus. It reminded him of original spontaneous quartet singing years before. He enjoyed singing harmony with three other friends in an actual barbershop owned by his brother! Music, it seems, triggers the memory part of our brains, doesn't it?

      Thank you for your comment, Sherry!

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  17. I am always so late... Do not know how I would know these songs living in Tucson but I know Little Bitty Pretty One, Papa Oom Mow Mow and Roll on.
    You and Kirk find/know all the old music and facts that I have forgotten.
    I have signed up again and maybe I will get your posts.

    cheers, parsnip and badger

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 14, 2018 at 7:59 AM

      Well, Gayle, not to worry! I'm even later replying to your comment for Tom, who wasn't available to do so at the end of the week because of a family crisis that called him out of town.

      Like you, I also am amazed at the sheer amount of musical and cultural knowledge that Tom possesses, and continues to acquire. Most of the music is new to me, and I enjoy reading about, seeing and hearing so much that I missed when I was younger.

      Thank you for visiting Shady's Place and commenting on this post. I know Tom will be pleased to see that you found your way over, and surely will hope you find it easier to return.

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    2. Hi - My name is Ronnie Haig age 84
      let me tell you for sure - what I said at the end of "Don't you hear me calling baby" was "wella wella wella wella Ba-a-bee, Ba-a-bee"
      I would not say that 4 letter word on any record of mine. THAT is the truth - - - -Ronnie Haig -email the1Haig@AOL.COM

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    3. Thanks a lot for setting the record straight and for your interest in SPMM, Ronnie. It's an honor to meet you!

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