AHHHOOOOO!!!
Oh my my, baby,
this here's your old
friend, Wolfman Jack,
friend, Wolfman Jack,
back on the air
at S-P-M-M...
at S-P-M-M...
the greatest little
station in the nation!
I'm filling in as your host while Shady Del Knight
is outta town delivering the keynote address
before the U.N. General Assembly.
(He told me to say that.)
(He told me to say that.)
I got stax-o-wax, a ton of tuneage,
a platter party you won't ever forget.
While the rest are talkin'...
the Wolfman's rockin'...
and every time
I spin... you win!
Yes, yes... everybody's talkin' about
the Wolfman's pompatus of love.
I want you to remember what the
old Wolfman says. It's all according
old Wolfman says. It's all according
to how your boogaloo situation
stands, ya understand.
So take it from me
and my friend Curt.
Grab your honey
child and let the
Wolfman drive
you wild!
Now, you pay close
attention to
these
songs, baby, or
the Wolfman's
gonna GETCHA!
gonna GETCHA!
Mercy me, this little girl breaks down and cries
right in the middle of her song. It's 12 year old
Philly singing sensation Maureen Gray with a
ballad written and produced by the team of
Madara and White. Maureen passed away a
few years ago, ya understand, and "I Don't
Want To Cry" but I do when I hear her voice!
"I Don't Want To Cry" - Maureen Gray
(Nov. 1961, B side of "Come On and Dance")
That was little Maureen Gray with her sob story"I Don't Want To Cry," the flip side of her 1961
single "Come On And Dance." Now put your ear
on this one. It's a biggie from 1963 by one of
the best girl groups there ever was, the Jersey
girls who gave us "Will You Love Me Tomor-
row," "Dedicated To The One I Love,"
"Mama Said" and "Soldier Boy." Here are
The Shirelles with-- "Foolish Little Girl!"
It's a song made popular by the Beatles. You've
Oh my gracious, those were the lovely ladies
from the Motor City, the R&B girl group called
The Donays, with the original of "Devil In His
"Foolish Little Girl" - The Shirelles
(May 1963, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100/#6 Cash Box/#9 R&B)
Mercy sakes alive, the old Wolfman's turning a double play! It's another one by The Shirelles. This song was covered by The Beatles and by former Beatles drummer Pete Best. It was released by The Shirelles at the end of 1960 on the B side of their smash hit "Will You Love Me Tomorrow." Here again are those fabulous girls, The Shirelles, this time talkin' about-- "Boys!"
"Boys" - The Shirelles
(Jan./Feb. 1961, B side of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow")
Awwwww baby, this is The Wofman, your doctor of love,
and that was the original version of "Boys" waxed
in 1960 by the sensational Shirelles.
When Joey Heatherton wasn't acting she was
dancing, and when she wasn't dancing she
was singing. In 1966, this multi-talented
cutie released the Northern Soul doublesider
"When You Call Me Baby" backed with "Live
and Learn," a collectible waxwork wonder
that's today regarded as a gem of the genre!
dancing, and when she wasn't dancing she
was singing. In 1966, this multi-talented
cutie released the Northern Soul doublesider
"When You Call Me Baby" backed with "Live
and Learn," a collectible waxwork wonder
that's today regarded as a gem of the genre!
"When You Call Me Baby" - Joey Heatherton
(May 1966, uncharted)
Awww yes yes, you thought Joey was diggin' you... but she was
diggin' me (hehehe!) This is your pal on the radio, Wolfman Jack,
and I got another groovy tune on my turntable.
diggin' me (hehehe!) This is your pal on the radio, Wolfman Jack,
and I got another groovy tune on my turntable.
It's a song made popular by the Beatles. You'veheard the Fab Four sing "Devil in Your Heart."
Now you're gonna hear the American original,
"Devil in His Heart" by the Donays, a girl
group from Detroit led by Yvonne Symington
aka Yvonne Vernee, who later joined the
Motown group The Elgins. You've got
the Wolfman on your radio and he's
got a devil in his heart!
"Devil in His Heart" - The Donays
(Aug./Sept. 1962, uncharted)
Oh my gracious, those were the lovely ladiesfrom the Motor City, the R&B girl group called
The Donays, with the original of "Devil In His
Heart." Now here are those Mop Tops from
Liverpool who made the song famous with
their cover entitled "Devil in Her Heart."
Mercy sakes alive, they're-- The Beatles!
"Devil In Her Heart" - The Beatles
(from Nov. 1963 album With The Beatles)
Look up. Is that the moon I see? Can't be.
Looks like the sun to me. It's late...
past the Wolfman's bedtime...
and I gotta get on home.
Looks like the sun to me. It's late...
past the Wolfman's bedtime...
and I gotta get on home.
The good Lord willing
and the creek don't
rise, we'll do it
all over again
next time.
and the creek don't
rise, we'll do it
all over again
next time.
Now this is your old pal
Wolfman Jack reminding
you to obey your ma and pa,
and I'll be back soon at the
greatest little station in
the nation, S-P-M-M.
I guarantee we gonna rock 'n' roll ourselves
to death, baby. If I'm lyin'... I'm dyin'.
AHHHOOOOO!!!
The Devil in Her Heart was before the Beatles really established their own style. But that's also likely because they didn't write the song.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming over quickly to nail down the early bird spot, good buddy!
True, Alex. The Beatles and other British bands started out doing covers of American rock & roll and R&B songs. That video produced for the Donays version of "Devil" shows several examples of black artists in the U.S. who had their recordings covered successfully by The Beatles and others. The Beatles did a fine job on this song by the obscure girl group The Donays which was waxed in 1962 and failed to make the chart.
Thanks again for tuning in to the Wolfman's show, good buddy Alex!
I enjoyed the Wolfman's double play from the Shirelles.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteIt's great to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming over to sample the sounds played by your pal on the radio Wolfman Jack.
The Wolfman loves his girl groups, and I'm happy to know you liked his twin spin giving you too genre classics by The Shirelles.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Kelly!
I made it here before midnight and Wolfman Jack was still spinning out the tunes! A few I remember..the Beatles of course...(I have that album in a special bin along with tons of other ones from the 60's and 70's). The other songs not so much. That Joey Heatherton was really talented but I remember her acting more than music and I remember her voice...a little different but sure fit the blonde in her! Since you're at the UN (wink) I hope you're going to shake up this crazy world with some common sense or at least some good music! Have a good weekend and for today and tomorrow we're channeling Florida weather with temps in the 70's and just a tad humid. Fall will return on Saturday and it's getting close to my high, holy, holiday. The broom's warmed up and ready to fly! Take care!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks for wasting no time coming to The Wolfman's H-ween platter party, dear friend! You've been following me long enough to know that Wolfman Jack drops in just about every year at this time to sub for Shady and play old gold, mostly records by obscure female artists and girl groups.
I'm glad you remember this early cover by The Beatles and have it in your collection. Now you know the American girl group that waxed the song originally. I remember blonde sparkplug Joey Heatherton showing up on many music variety TV shows of the 60s to sing and dance. Joey turned age 76 just a few weeks ago, can you believe it?
If more typical fall weather is due to return to Ohio this weekend, then that might mean our temps will drop a few degrees and we can stop sweltering until the next hot spell begins. We had one brief cool down so far, but it didn't last very long. I'm excited knowing how much you enjoy Halloween.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend YaYa!
I pretty much remember all the words to these songs and could sing along. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast, but I know that music from long ago when I danced for hours without running out of breath.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great voice Maureen Grey had!
Hi, Arleen!
DeleteThanks for dropping in to listen to Wolfman Jack's stack-o-wax, dear friend!
Ain't it the truth, Arleen? I can remember the names of 50s/60s songs and the artists who recorded them. I can rattle off the names of actors and actresses who were cast members of 50s/60s TV series and films. Yet I can't remember where I laid my comb five minutes ago (not that I even need one anymore :)
I'm delighted that the tunes in this edition of Wolfman Jack's show triggered fond memories of singing and dancing in your youth. Those carefree times we were lucky to enjoy as teenagers now seem light years away, but personalities like The Wolfman are here on SPMM radio to help us reexperience those happy days by playing great old songs like these. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed 12 year old Philadelphia singing sensation Maureen Gray, a little girl with powerful pipes. Over the years The Wolfman has played around half a dozen of Maureen's recorded sides, all of them terrific.
Thanks again for dropping by, dear friend Arleen. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!
Hi Wolfman! Long time, no see. I can remember as a young teen, getting to hear you broadcast once in a while. My sister had a nice transistor radio with a leather case, and she would tune into a Chicago station from our bedroom in Kansas to listen to their great music! Once in a while we could get your broadcast and that was a real treat! You are the best DJ ever, and I miss you!
ReplyDeleteThat Maureen Gray has a strong voice and belts it out with real meaning. I like all of the Shirelles songs! "Foolish Little Girl" is one we loved to sing to. I especially like the dynamics of their voices...smooth one minute, then choppy the next. Sheer talent. I think my favorite song of the Shirelles is "Dedicated To The One I Love". It is a true classic, and, of course, has been covered a few times. Pretty cool video of "Boys" Wolfman, and it is a real 'rockin' song!
I remember Joey Heatherton singing some. She has a tiny voice, and is so cute and talented. "Devil in His Heart" is a cool song, and even though I know better, the back up vocals were very similar to the beatles, haha! The Beatles' version of "Devil in Her Heart" by the Beatles is a good one, and has the old late 50's pop sound.
Love this post Wolfman, and I'm always glad to see you! Come back soon with some more of your howlin' hits! Tell Shady to get it back on the job!
Take care dear friend, Shady!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks for coming and welcome to Wolfman Jack's Cool Moon Rising show, dear friend!
It's exciting to know that you actually listened to Wolfman's radio show in your early teens. (No such luck with me.) I can picture you and your sister listening to the platter parade on a transistor radio. I had a transistor radio, too, and remember thinking at the time that it was a technological marvel. HQ sound was still light years in the future, but we had lots of fun, didn't we? Speaking of HQ sound, I was elated to find remastered versions of these recordings for Wolfman's show.
I'm glad you like the powerful vocals of Maureen Gray. From about the 1:40 mark of the song she starts sobbing and continues crying off and on the rest of the way. What a great weepy R&B ballad!
As I listened this morning to The Shirelles' hit "Foolish Little Girl," it struck me that the "percolating" sound of the instrumental backing on that 1963 single was similar to that used on several other popular recordings in the early 60s including "Look For A Star," the theme song from the 1960 movie Circus of Horrors. I'm glad you enjoy the classic girl group The Shirelles. This volume of Wolfman's show contains two examples of R&B songs that were famously covered by The Beatles - "Boys" and "Devil." Watch that Donays video all the way through and you will see many other examples of black artists in the U.S. who had their originals covered by The Beatles and other white artists, often with greater success.
After her peak period of fame, zinger/dancer Joey Heatherton had a few run-ins with the law, but she is still with us at age 76. Joey's uncharted single from the spring of 1966, "When You Call Me Baby" b/w "Live and Learn," is coveted by collectors and both songs were hot in Northern Soul dance halls across the UK.
I'm thrilled that you got so much enjoyment from The Wolfman's latest radio show, and it was nice of you to express how much you admired Jack and miss him. I miss him, too, but he will live on through his H-ween DJ stints here at Shady's Place.
Thanks again for tuning in, Suzanne. I hope you and Scootie are well and in good spirits. Stick around for a big change of pace coming in my next post on Tuesday. It's a band I really like, but it is an acquired taste, and one that isn't for the faint of heart. I hope to see you then. In the meantime, have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend!
I'm not familiar with any of these pieces, but I can see why this was the B side of the Shirelle's album. I like that song of theirs.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this really is early Beatles. Way before they established the style I'm familiar with. Thanks for providing the soundtrack for the office today, dear friend.
I'm going to take a break for the next few weeks. A hard anniversary is coming up and I'm going to allow time for self-care. Happy Thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteWelcome back to your home away from home - Shady's Place! I thought you were already on hiatus because you haven't visited me in nearly a week-and-a-half. I was starting to wonder if you are AOK up there.
This volume of Wolfman Jack's annual H-ween radio show included two Shirelles sides for your listening pleasure plus the early Beatles cover you mentioned along with the original. Like Elvis, The Beatles had an early period and a later phase when they looked and sounded much different. My goal for 12+ years has been to find great music to share with friends, much of it new to their ears. Indeed I am discovering tons of new material as I go along.
Thanks for dropping by, dear friend JM. Take all the time you need for self care as another hard anniversary looms. I wish you well.
You know, it's funny, but the first time I ever became aware of Wolfman Jack it had nothing to do with rock music. He was on one of those daytime celebrity game shows of which there were so many in the 1970s, seated alongside the likes of Carol Wayne and Joey Bishop. Obviously, he was not you're usual celebrity. Then I heard his name mentioned on an episode of Happy Days, which surprised me as that show took place in the 1950s, even though, Wolfman, as I knew him with his long hair and beard, looked more like a 1960s hippie. Finally, the high school I went to would treat us all right before Christmas break to a feature film that was less than five years old, and as you probably have guessed, one year the feature film was American Graffiti. Not too long after that, Wolfman became the host of The Midnight Special in its last few years on the air. I'm telling you all this to highlight just how subjective fame is, that a person may become well-known to a particular individual (in this case, me) in ways that are outside the accepted chronology.
ReplyDeleteLoved Maureen Gray's B side. Shoulda been an A side. I can't say The Shirelles "Boys" should have an A side, but I enjoyed watching the video as Brando, Clift, Poitier, McQueen, and even Jack Lemmon made cameo appearances.
I put Joey Heatherton in the same category as Ann-Margaret, more Las Vegas-like show biz than rock, but then I suppose by the mid-1960s, even Las Vegas-like show biz had been heavily influenced by rock.
"Devil in...Heart" may be a famous Beatles song, but I never heard it before, regardless of whether its "his", "hers" or "theirs". As I'm hearing both versions for the first time, I can't really testify that the Fab Four is an improvement over the obscure girl group.
That's all I got. Signing out.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteGreat stuff, good buddy, and thanks for dropping in!
I never heard of Wolfman Jack until he appeared in American Graffiti. The NBC station where I worked in the 70s carried The Midnight Special. At the time I worked the evening to late night shift and read the late late news to sign the station off the air at the end of the broadcast day. Every Friday night I joined the director and sound engineer in the control room and together we watched Wolfman Jack hosting The Midnight Special. I vaguely recall Jack as a celeb guest panelist on Hollywood Squares and other TV game shows of the period.
PETER MARSHALL: You might have gone with Wayland Flowers and Madame for the win.... but this could still work out."
Wow, Kirk, I'm excited to know you liked Maureen Gray's powerful singing performance on that obscure B side. Over the years The Wolfman has played around half a dozen of Maureen's songs on my blogs. I first learned about Maureen when I purchased a various artists CD containing rare 60s recordings made by little known female artists and girl groups. Glad you liked the slideshow of iconic male actors of the mid 20th century on that Shirelles video. Yes, it's true that Joey Heatherton, with her song selection and modern dance style, was more of a Vegas entertainer than a rocker. Yet, that doublesider 45 of hers won over the crowds on the Northern Soul dance club scene in England - a true rarity.
Thanks again for joining the fun, good buddy Kirk. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and BOLO for my next post to be pubbed on Tuesday!
I would have enjoyed some pictures of Joey Heatherton. I remember her mattress add. I guess any male would remember that. Also remember one of my favorites called Dancing the Strand. Don't recall if it was an A or B side. Of course American Graffiti is one of my favorite movies.
ReplyDeleteJerre
Hi, Jerre!
DeleteI'm happy to see you, good buddy! Thanks for checking out Wolfman Jack's latest Halloween radio show.
Seems few people know or remember Joey Heatherton, at least among my younger readers. You and I are just the right age to have memories of seductive Joey slinking around in those commercials for Serta Perfect Sleeper. YouTube has them, and I picked this one in case any other readers would like to follow the link and watch it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7T__NOpOZQ
In those TV spots, Joey kinda reminds me of Edie Adams, pitch-lady of the long running ad campaign for Muriel Cigars. Sex sells, I'm told. :) I doubt that I would have been counting sheep OR getting a good night's sleep if Joey were in my chambers. :)
You and I have discussed "Dancin' The Strand" before. It was one of Maureen's A sides, released April 3, 1962, and it was also the only one of her singles to reach any chart. Oddly "Dancin' The Strand" registered on the pop chart, peaking at a disappointing #91 in June of that year, but failed to make a dent on the R&B chart. A fine version of "Dancin' The Strand" was also recorded by the Philly girl group The Sherrys and released on their 1962 album At The Hop With The Sherrys. You might recall that I pubbed a post on The Sherrys last Halloween:
https://tctgyb.blogspot.com/2019/10/cookin-philly-style-with-sherrys-best.html
I'm glad The Wolfman triggered memories of his central role in American Graffiti. Thanks again for your interest and support, good buddy Jerre. Take care and drop in any old time for music, memories and fun here at Shady's Place!
How did I miss this one?! I love Maureen Gray's voice especially when she showed her operatic prowess which surprised me. I enjoyed all things Wolfman Jack and loved the songs yu showcased here.
ReplyDeleteHi again, Birgit!
DeleteThanks for doing double duty and responding to two posts same day, dear friend. I'm thrilled that you enjoy Maureen Gray's powerful yet refined singing voice. Over the years the little lady has been a frequent flyer on Wolfman Jack's SPMM radio shows. Maureen is missed and so is Wolfman.
Thanks again for commenting on both posts, dear friend BB!
I had a feeling that if I searched your blog I'd find a post or two about Wolfman Jack. Man, I loved him. My grandma and I used to listen to him on the radio, he was a hoot!
ReplyDeleteHi, Mary!
DeleteI'm honored that you are taking so much interest in SPMM, my friend! I am also very happy to know that you remember and loved Wolfman Jack. I have great news for you. The Wolfman is set to become a regular member of the Shady Bunch deejay staff here at Shady's Pace, bringing you the authentic sounds of the 50s, the kind of records he played on his radio show and in American Graffiti. Stay tuned for Wolfman Jack's American Hot Wax coming soon! Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, Mary!