QUESTION:
Where do people go in February
to escape old man winter?
to escape old man winter?
ANSWER: Buffalo, NY!
It's time once again to go Cruisin'.
The year is 1960 and we're
shuffling off to Buffalo
to join radio personality
Dick Biondi at WKBW!
Listen to this 2 minute aircheck to get familiar with Dick's voice and style.
BUSTER
BROWN
The wailing blues harmonica intro
allows oldies fans to name that tune,
"Fannie Mae," in two seconds flat.
In his intro on the 1960 Cruisin'
album, top 40 DJ Dick Biondi,
the self-described Wild I-tralian
of Buffalo, shouts "Buster Brown!"
allows oldies fans to name that tune,
"Fannie Mae," in two seconds flat.
In his intro on the 1960 Cruisin'
album, top 40 DJ Dick Biondi,
the self-described Wild I-tralian
of Buffalo, shouts "Buster Brown!"
at the perfect moment, just before
the melody kicks in. "Fannie Mae"
was Buster Brown's biggest hit.
the melody kicks in. "Fannie Mae"
was Buster Brown's biggest hit.
The blues rocker topped the
R&B chart and reached the
top 40 on the pop survey.
R&B chart and reached the
top 40 on the pop survey.
"Fannie Mae" - Buster Brown
(Mar./Apr. 1960, highest chart pos.
#1 R&B/#34 Cash Box/#38 Hot 100)
THE ROLLING STONES
I'm breaking the Cruisin' rules by jumping ahead to 1965. (You'll just
have to sue me.) I'm doing so because this is the perfect time to play
one of my favorite B sides, the fab flip of The Rolling Stones'
Jaggernaut "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."
Listen to "The Under Assistant
West Coast Promotion Man,"
a song the Stones based on
Buster Brown's "Fannie Mae,"
written as a poke in the ribs
aimed at their promo man at
London Records, the fellow
who accompanied Mick and
his mates on their first
American tour. Note the
familiar riff which sounds
a lot like "Fannie Mae."
"The Under Assistant West Coast
Promotion Man" - The Rolling Stones
{July 1965, B side of "(I Can't Get
No) Satisfaction"}
No) Satisfaction"}
LITTLE ANTHONY
AND THE IMPERIALS
When lead singer "Little Anthony" Gourdine joined the New York doo-wop
group in 1957, they were called The Chesters. A label change and a new
name, The Imperials, led to the top 5 hit record "Tears On My Pillow"
in the fall of '58. In the early weeks of 1960 the group, now called
Little Anthony And The Imperials, were climbing the charts
with their latest hit "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop."
"Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop"
- Little Anthony & the Imperials
(Jan./Feb. 1960, highest chart pos.
(Jan./Feb. 1960, highest chart pos.
#14 R&B/#21 Cash Box/#24 Hot 100)
CHUBBY CHECKER
Written in 1949, the dance ditty "The Hucklebuck" was a top 5
hit for Tommy Dorsey and a top 10 hit for Frank Sinatra.
In the fall of 1960, Carolina born, Philadelphia raised
singer Ernest "Chubby Checker" Evans released
a rollicking version of the song as the follow-up
to his monster hit "The Twist." By year's end,
Chubby's "Hucklebuck" record was another
crossover hit, reaching the top 15 on the
pop and R&B charts.
"The Hucklebuck" - Chubby Checker
(Nov./Dec. 1960, highest chart pos.
#13 Cash Box/#14 Hot 100/#15 R&B)
MARV
JOHNSON
Detroit soul man Marv Johnson sang
on the first record released by the
company that became Motown.
Marv racked up million sellers
in the U.S. and was also quite
popular in Australia and the UK.
In 1960, Marv hit the top 10
Pop and came close to the #1
spot on the R&B chart with the
infectious up tempo dance 45
infectious up tempo dance 45
"I Love the Way You Love."
"I Love the Way You Love" - Marv Johnson
(Apr. 1960, highest chart pos. #2 R&B,
#8 Cash Box/#9 Hot 100)
THE EVERLY BROTHERS
"Wake Up Little Susie," the smash
hit by The Everly Brothers, was
one of my favorite songs as a boy.
With a style that was a pleasing
blend of country, rockabilly and
rock 'n' roll, Phil & Don proved
that old school is cool. I'll never
rock 'n' roll, Phil & Don proved
that old school is cool. I'll never
forget that night in the late 60s
when I was listening to an
oldies radio show and was
blown away when, for the
blown away when, for the
first time, I heard the
Everlys' cool cover
of Little Richard's
R&B hit "Lucille."
"Lucille" - The Everly Brothers
(Oct. 1960, highest chart pos.
#21 Hot 100/#41 Cash Box)
Don't miss the next
thrill packed episode
of Cruisin' coming soon!
Have a Shady day!
Good morning Shady! It's a snowy Monday and Jack is back at work part-time. I plowed through the snow to drop him at the office and came home to check in with you! When I saw Dick Biondi I was excited because I remember him from Chicago Radio! I loved my little transistor radio and he was one of the DJ's I remember..along with my fav Barney Pip! I used to hop a bus with my BFF and go to the stations and see them. I never would let a kiddo do that in this day and age. I do remember some of these tunes but more than anything I remember the artists. Chubby Checker will always bring up a vision of my oldest brother, Phil, who could twist with the best of them! He's checked in here at Shady Dell so if you read this Phil, you were the best dancer back then! I hope you have a wonderful first day of February down south Shady. I'm sure it's perfect weather and if you see the sun tell it I said hi and come on up and visit Ohio soon! Take care!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks for scurrying over to claim the Early Bird title, dear friend!
Welcome to 1960! Looks like my cold and snowy Buffalo post was well timed considering the wintry conditions up there in the north today. Overnight here in Central Florida we experienced a cold front passage with possibly a squall line and embedded tornadoes. The winds were fierce and the rain came down hard and was blowing sideways. The storm's fury lasted several hours! By the dawn's early light we discovered large puddles all across our property but no apparent damage.
Thanks for updating me on Jack. What a blessing that he is getting back to his normal routine and even going back into the office part-time!
Yessum, Dick Biondi, who is still with us and turns age 89 later this year, began his radio career in New York state. Sometime in 1960 he moved to Chicago super station WLS. Due to that station's enormous reach, covering 48 states, Dick Biondi became America's #1 disc jockey. I'm excited that you remember Dick. Thanks for again sharing memories of your younger years as they relate to the post. That's what I love. I wish I could have seen your brother Phil doing the twist. I am delighted to know that he tunes in to SPMM Retrosonic Radio here at Shady's Place. Hi, Phil!
Happy first of February to you as well, YaYa. Just now I glanced out the window and saw the sun peeking through the clouds which are still racing across the sky from last night's storm. The winds are swinging around today and will be coming from the northwest. (Why not sail a paper airplane down to me?) As a result of the cold air influx, our temps are expected to drop to 38 tonight and to the lower 30s in the two nights that follow, giving us a good taste of winter here in Florida. Still no frost or freezing temps yet this season however.
Thank you again for being such a great friend Kathy. Have a wonderful week!
Familiar names with not-so-familiar tunes - except for Lucille, which I'm not sure compares very favorably to Little Richard's version. (in my opinion)
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteHow are you and Pat, dear friend? Thanks for coming by!
I'm happy that you recognize the artists if not all of the specific songs. I just realized an odd fact. That single by Marv Johnson, one of the more obscure artists presented here in this salute to 1960, was the biggest overall hit in the post, peaking at #2 on the Black Singles chart and within the top 10 on the two pop charts. That surprises even me, since the other songs seem much better known and remembered today. Of course that Stones song is the flip side of the band's #1 charting megahit "Satisfaction." I owned the 45 and played that "killer B" often.
The Everlys version of "Lucille" is my favorite recording by the duo. Clearly it doesn't grab you as much. I also love the original by Little Richard and it's my favorite song by him. I guess I just love the song - period.
Thanks again for coming over, dear friend Kelly, and enjoy the week ahead!
I saw Tommy Dorsey and thought it said Jerry Dorsey. We all know who that was!
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for dropping in on day one to claim your share of the Early Bird honors, good buddy!
I'm drawing a blank, Alex. Jerry Dorsey was a baseball outfielder way back when, and Jerry Dorsey aka Gerry Dorsey is the real name of singer Engelbert Humperdinck. I probably missed the one you meant. Sorry, but I'm getting old. :)
Thanks for stopping in and time traveling back to the year 1960 with Buffalo DJ Dick Biondi, Have a great week, good buddy Alex!
Good day, Tom! Here in the east Tennessee it's a snowy, cold day. I'm so ready for spring. I hope Phil doesn't see his shadow tomorrow. :) I enjoyed your music line up. The chair boogieing helped to warm me a bit. I know the artists mostly but the song titles are introductions for which I thank you for the music education. Have a groovy afternoon, my friend!
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy!
DeleteI'm pleased to see you, dear friend. Thanks for coming by!
It is windy and getting very cold down here, too, the coldest air we have had so far this season. That's AOK with me. Anything beats the Florida heat, humidity and skeeters! :)
Like friend Kelly (above) who is also younger than Shady, you recognize the names of the artists but not some of the songs. I started paying close attention to the top 40 record charts around 1960 and I can tell you that most of these songs from that year were big in my region. I'm glad you appreciated the opportunity to learn a new tune or two.
Thanks again for coming over and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cathy!
Hi dear friend,
ReplyDeleteYou had me grooving this morning! I absolutely loved hearing the Rolling Stones, Chubby Checkers, and the Everly Brothers. I even grooved while scrapbooking. Thanks for setting the mood, especially since today felt like a day in Buffalo. Three days of snow and ice! Happy February, indeed!
Have a great evening, dear friend Shady!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for coming to Dick Biondi's 1960 platter party, dear friend!
I'm glad Dick's playlist got you movin' and groovin' on a winter day. I'll tell you, I was just outdoors a few minutes ago and it is really getting cold here in Florida tonight. A stiff breeze is still blowing, the remnants of a ferocious storm we had overnight, and that makes the temp feel like freezing.`
I'm glad you enjoyed that fab flip by The Stones, the hit dance record by Philly twist king Chubby Checker and my fave song by the Everlys, a cover of the hit by Little Richard.
Happy February to you as well, dear friend JM. Thanks again for joining the fun and enjoy the rest of your week!
Hi Shady,
DeleteThe snow has stopped, so maybe I'll listen to these gems tomorrow on a walk. I look forward to clear sidewalks, even if I have to wear boots while walking.
Oh no! I'm sorry that there has been a chill in Florida. I hope you can light a bon-fire. :) Or at least have some blankets. Hopefully it warms up for you soon. If not, these tunes should help!
Have a great evening, dear friend.
Hi again, Jessica Marie!
DeleteIt's even colder here tonight than it was last night, but the wind has subsided, making it slightly more bearable to be outdoors. I just came back in from taking the recycling dumpster out to the curb.
Yessum, listen to these old old oldies and see if your dad remembers any of them - maybe the Stones B side from 1965.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteHopefully today was warmer for you. Today was full sun and 40s. Odd weather.
Its been a hectic day. These will be my Friday groove tunes.
Have a great Thankful Thursday!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteGood to see you, dear friend!
Yessum, after another very cold start, the temps rebounded today. It feels more like Florida again. Seems your temps are seesawing, too. Not good for ice skating today.
Happy TT to you as well, dear friend JM!
Dear Shady, you sure packed this post with a lot of fun tunes. Buster Brown was a great start and although I don’t remember him or the song, I enjoyed it today. Yes, I can hear the resemblance between that and The Rolling Stones song. Today, Buster could sue.
ReplyDeleteI saw Little Richard and the Imperials at my first concert in Brooklyn at the Paramount Theater. It was a R&R tour with many artists, including The Isley Brothers and, I think, The Everly Brothers.
Hi, Arleen!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming by and zooming back to the year 1960 for a sampling of songs from the WKBW Buffalo "living radio" top 40 survey.
I'm thrilled that you enoyed hearing that Buster Brown biggie for the first time and that your ears hear the similarity in the melody and harmonica used in that tongue-in-cheek Stones B side song. Truth be told, I played "Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man" more often than the hit A side of the platter "Satisfaction."
Wow, another great anecdote from you, Arleen. Keep 'em comin'! It must have been very exciting to be there at the famed Brooklyn Paramount for a live rock & roll show that included Little Richard, The Imperials, The Isleys and The Everlys. In 1984 I had the pleasure of working as stage manager for a Rock & Roll revival show here in St. Pete. Appearing in the show were Freddy Cannon, The Chiffons, The Coasters and The Earls with special guests in the audience (and called up on stage) members of The Flamingos, members of The Tokens and Jewel ("The Birds & The Bees") Akens. I had dinner with Freddy Cannon after the concert! Another live show I stage managed shortly thereafter featured Jay And The Americans. I met and had lunch with lead singer Jay Black. After the show I drove his backing band The Americans back to their hotel. (The funny smoke inside the van was so thick I could hardly see the road! :) That show also featured Senor Wences, the old ventriloquist who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and other music variety TV shows of the 50s. I picked up Senor Wences and his wife at their hotel and rode with them to the concert venue in a stretch limo. He even let me carry his legendary dummy to the car! Needless to say I was starstruck by all of those encounters with entertainment icons.
Thanks again for stopping in, dear friend Arleen. I wish you a safe and happy week ahead!
A nice hark back to ...simpler time?? I'm not too sure about that given the Cold War, The Berlin Wall going up etc.. but the music was great. I am a stone's throw from Buffalo really so I know WKBW even though I don't know that DJ. I actually prefer the original version of the song as opposed to the Rolling Stones but it proves how much the Stones just love the Blues over and over. again. Shimmy Shimmy is a great tune that I think I danced to more than once(it was during my fun years in University). Chubby is still with us, I think, and I actually did hear this song way back and truly thought he was singing something with a dirty word..one of my favourite words. Marv has a really nice voice that, I am certain, many gals swooned over and love The Everly Bros who did try more than one song that you didn't think they would do. If you ask me which ones, I wouldn't remember but I do recall watching a documentary where they were featured. Hoping you have a wonderful day. It is snowing here and it looks so pretty. I think they said it is -6C without the windchill which is fine by me.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteWelcome welcome welcome to Buffalo, NY, in 1960, dear friend!
Yessum, I know you live only a hop, skip & a jump from Buffalo. All you need do to get there is walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls. :)
Good observation about the Buster Brown - Rolling Stones connection. Early in their respective careers, The Stones, Animals, Beatles and other British bands often covered the material of American blues, R&B and rock & roll artists, many times outperforming the originals on the chart.
I wish I would have seen you at university dancing (shimmying) to "Shimmy Shimmy." Please search your closets, attic and garage for that rare footage and post it on BB Creations a.s.a.p. :) Yessum, Chubby Checker is still with us and will turn age 80 a few months from now. Chubby appeared as himself and performed his signature song and dance "The Twist" on an episode of Ally McBeal. Yessum- hucklebuck rhymes with luck and...
Yessum, Marv Johnson was a black recording artist of the late 50s and early 60s with a smooth yet soulful vocal style that made him more popular with young listeners than bland crooners like Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis. Yessum, The Everlys weren't afraid to dabble in different genres. Their rock & roll cover of "Lucille" is my favorite recording by the duo.
My goodness, you are getting socked with snow and cold, Birgit. It is blustery and very chilly down here, too. A brisk breeze has been blowing for a day and a half now, making it uncomfortable to go outdoors. As a Canadian snowbird/polar bear, you would probably consider our conditions suitable for a day at the beach and have no problem going for a dip in the Gulf. :)
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend BB!
Enjoyed this selection of music! So interesting that the Rolling Stones used the Fanny Mae lick. I wonder if they got in trouble for copyright infringement. If they did that today, they probably wood.
ReplyDeleteHave a great rest of the week!
"would."
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry!
DeleteIt's great to see you, dear friend! Thanks for Cruisin' back to the year 1960 with Buffalo radio's popular top 40 DJ Dick Biondi.
Others have asked that question about the Stones facing legal problems for "West Coast Promo Man." I'm thinking it was just different enough to avoid a legal case. The Stones also recorded an actual cover of Buster's "Fannie Mae" with the original lyrics intact, reflecting the band's blues/R&B roots and their respect for the original artists of those genres.
Thank you again for dropping by, dear friend Sherry. Take care of yourself and have a good February!
Hi Shady and Dick Biondi! What a way to start the day...Little Anthony and The Imperials were a special group, and "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Pop is one great example! The vocals and music give it a sort of mysterian edge and I love it! Don't the Everly's take it all with their hit of "Lucille"! This song brings out the great dynamics in these two brothers' voices-another 'thumbs up'!
ReplyDeleteI believe you've got it, Shady, in regards to the harmonica riff in Rolling Stones "The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" (Sheesh, what a title!) It is almost identical to the riff in Buster Brown's "Fannie Mae". The only difference I note is the tempo-Rolling Stones version is faster! Or maybe is was Buster sitting in on their song! WoW!
I love Chubby Checker, and I have a fun CD of his where "The Hucklebuck" is played. We always loved this song, it is too much fun! I don't know how to do the hucklebuck, but, who cares! Karo and I had fun singing and dancing to this one. Chubby is so cool...he doesn't miss a beat or hardly take a breath on this one!
What a fun post you guys! That Dick Biondi is so cool. He got fired? Well, you never know, do you!
Have a great week Shady. Sorry for being late, but Monday's are tiresome and busy for me, and Tuesday I had errands, plus my belated flu shot. Hope you are doing well, dear friend!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteWelcome to the musical year 1960 and the Dick Biondi radio show out of Buffalo, New York, dear friend. I'm excited to see you!
Yessum, The Imperials' record "Shimmy Shimmy" has an unusual, exotic sound. I'm surprised it didn't perform better on the pop chart, but keep in mind this was 1960, and the popular music scene was in the doldrums. Relatively few producers and artists were willing to experiment, and those who did were not always rewarded. I might mention one notable exception to the rule, a record that did become a major hit - Miss Toni Fisher's "The Big Hurt," a single that ushered in the year 1960 and is included on the original Cruisin' 1960 vinyl album hosted by Dick Biondi. "The Big Hurt" came about by accident and is notable for the prominent phasing effects which at that time were rare in popular music. The technique, which produces a sound like a jet plane, came to be known as "flanging." On his original WKBW radio show, Dick Biondi routinely introduced the record as "Toni Fisher's weird one."
I'm also pleased that your ears match mine on the Everly Bros' rockin' cover of "Lucille." I think it's their grooviest recording ever. Yessum, "The Under Asst. W. Coast Promotion Man" is one of the longer titles in rock & roll history. Given that fact, The Stones and/or Decca Records probably realized it wouldn't work as an A side. They made it the B side of "Satisfaction," one of their biggest hits, and also included it on Out Of Our Heads, the 1965 album that draws heavily upon the material of American rhythm and blues artists, a long-play set described by The Austin Chronicle as "the culmination of the Stones' early soul/R&B sound."
I'm happy to learn that you and Karo sang and danced to "The Hucklebuck." Yessum, early in his career you could always count on Chubby Checker to put the fun in rock & roll and get you dancin', but I also like his later folk recordings including "Loddy Lo," "Hooka Tooka," "Hey, Bobba Needle" and "Lazy Elsie Molly."
Shady's ears say there's another soundalike song in this batch. As I listen to that 1960 Marv Johnson number "I Love the Way You Love," it occurs to me that Jan And Dean borrowed the sound for their recording "She's My Summer Girl," the B side of "Surf City," the duo's hit single in the summer of 1963, and both songs released on their 1964 album Ride the Wild Surf. Motown founder Berry Gordy co-wrote Marv's hit "I Love The Way You Love," and I wanted to call your attention to the soulful background singers on the platter - The Rayber Voices - an early Motown backing vocal group. Their vocal track helped ensure that Marv's record was the real deal. Compare it to some of the bland recordings released by Jackie Wilson, Lloyd Price and other black artists that were "whitewashed." In the late 50s and early 60s, record companies made a practice of using large white choruses as backing singers on the recordings of black artists thinking it would help make the sound more acceptable to white audiences. All it did was water down the R&B/soul sound and draw criticism from genre purists.
I'm happy to know you got your flu shot. For weeks I've been on the waiting list to get the COVID vaccine and I'm still waiting. We woke up this morning to the coldest air of the season, but it's a nice, refreshing change.
I do appreciate you breaking away from your chores and responsibilities and spending some quality time with me in the Shady. Please take good care of yourself and Scootie and join me if you can for my next post which begins Sunday. Family Guy's Meg Griffin will be here to get us in the mood for Valentine's Day with a salute to her new boyfriend. You don't want to miss it. Bless you and have a good week, dear friend Suzanne!
I remember Dick Biondi from his days at WLS and WCFL in Chicago. Did you know he was the first US DJ to play a Beatles record on the air? Their first US album was on Vee Jay records, which was based in Gary, Indiana. Someone from Vee Jay drove up to WLS with a copy of "Please Please Me" a year before their first appearance on Ed Sullivan.
ReplyDeleteHi, John!
DeleteHow are you doing, good buddy? Thanks for dropping in!
I'm glad you remember ultra slick DJ Dick Biondi - "The Wild I-tralian." Thanks for providing the interesting piece of trivia that Dick was the first deejay in the U.S. to roll the dice and play a record by The Beatles, a band that a good number of others dismissed at the time. The Beatles' Vee Jay single "Please, Please Me" was the first record I ever bought, John! I vividly recall that I bought it the same day I bought "Do You Love Me" by the DC5 and "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys. That day my dad and I were shopping at the new E. J. Korvette store in Camp Hill, PA, which was celebrating its grand opening.
Thanks again for that valuable piece of trivia and also for joining the fun this week at Shady's Place. Take care and come back soon for more music and fun, good buddy John!
Nobody bests Chubby Checkers and the Twist! I've always thought that if he and that dance were still in vogue there would be more fit people out there and gyms would have to reduce prices to pull people in. And Shimmy Shimmy...had to listen to that one twice. Did a little dance, too. Thanks, Shady.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl-Lee!
DeleteThanks for swinging over from the West Coast to spend some time at Shady's Place, dear friend! It's always a pleasure to have you.
I'm happy to know you like Philly's twist king Chubby Checker. Yessum, those were the days (years) when Americans were more active and fitness conscious. The dances of the period burned calories like crazy. The year long COVID lockdown certainly isn't helping us fight the battle of the bulge, is it? Seems like it is producing more couch potatoes than ever before. I'm thrilled that you also enjoyed the dance ditty by Little Anthony.
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Cheryl-Lee. Have a safe and happy February!
Sending love, friend Shady. https://youtu.be/X93BwCxCj98
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi, cat!
DeleteYou brought a tear to my eye with your sweet and special winter greeting from your house in Alberta, dear friend. Thank you so much! Looks like you've got a few inches of snow on the ground up there. The video of TT also warmed my heart. Looks like your kitty was busy hibernating and didn't wish to be disturbed. :)
Thank you again for your kindness, dear friend cat, and enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!
LUBBINS LUBBINS LUBBINS!
It was truly odd to hear Dick Biondi use the type of patter we've come to associate with rock and roll deejaying only to have the artists be Al Martino and Nat King Cole. Then again, if Top 40 radio in 1959 was anything like it was 20 years later when I was growing up, then it would have been a mixture of rock and nonrock. For instance, I remember Engelbart Humperdinck (who you mention in a comment--did you know that name originally belonged to a 19th century German conductor?) had a hit song in in 1976 or '77 that was played on the radio alongside the likes of Boston and Peter Frampton.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming Jagger also wrote the lyrics to "The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man". Since that's not the kind of thing 1950s blues artists usually sang about, it makes the song a loving parody of the genre. Also, listening to Jagger's voice again reminds me that what separates him from other white blues singers like Eric Burdon or Joe Cocker is a certain nonchalance. He loved the blues but that love didn't mean he was about to give you a slavish imitation of B.B. King or Muddy Waters. He forged his own highly-recognizable style that didn't hurt his blues singing one bit. At least not in my opinion.
Not too long ago Chubby Checkers complained about not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He should send whoever decides those thing a CD of "The Hucklebuck". One listen and Chubby's a shoo-in.
Though it doesn't replace my fondness for the original, I very much like the innovativeness of the Everly's version of "Lucille".
Great hearing the Imperials "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop" again, and great hearing Buster Brown and Marv Johnson for the very first time.
That's all I got.
That's Chubby Checker, singular.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for dropping in, good buddy! I appreciate your late night visit and double comment. A typo followed by a correction in a second comment form is good as gold. Multiple comments are always welcome here at Shady's Place - The Little Blog That Could (but maybe shouldn't have).*
I thought the very same thing as I listened to that aircheck from a 1959 Dick Biondi broadcast on WKBW. It's possible that the station still had an adult-oriented, easy listening format in June, 1959, and switched to top 40 rock & roll later that year or in 1960 before Dick left Buffalo for WLS Chicago. If not, if what we heard was indeed top 40, then the aircheck reminds us that in 1959 the pop chart was littered with the softer sounds of instrumental tunes, songs and by mild-mannered pop crooners and patriotic novelty records. 1960 wasn't much better.
Writing credit for the Rolling Stones song "The Under Asst. West Coast Promotion Man" goes to Nanker Phelge aka Nanker/Phelge. Wiki sez it was: << a collective pseudonym used between 1963 and 1965 for several Rolling Stones group compositions. >>
As the story goes, Stones member Brian Jones suggested that the entire band share writing royalties on certain songs. Wiki sez: << Phelge came from Edith Grove flatmate Jimmy Phelge, while a Nanker was a revolting face that band members, Brian in particular, would pull. >> I agree that Egg McJagger had an irreverent, carefree style that updated old blues and R&B songs with a refreshing rock sound in the 60s. I tend to favor artists that don't take themselves or their material too seriously, yet I very much like Eric Burdon. If you watch Burdon's performances, there is often the hint of a grin as he sings those sad and painful songs.
The Rock & Roil Hall of Fame is a joke. They heavily favor rock bands and turn their backs on great pop/rock & roll solo artists like Chubby Checker and Neil Sedaka. Wiki sez: << In 2002, Chubby Checker protested outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, over the lack of radio airplay of his hit "The Twist" and his perception that the Hall of Fame had snubbed him. >>
I'm glad you like the Everly's cover of Richard's "Lucille." It rocked me the first time I heard it many years ago and I still consider it their coolest tune. I'm pleased to introduce you to the sounds of Buster and Marv.
Thanks again for your visit and excellent comments, good buddy Kirk!