AHHHOOOOO!!!
Mercy mercy me! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it,
baby. This here's your old pal Wolfman Jack sittin' in
for my good friend Shady Del Knight right here at
the greatest little station in the nation - Shady's
Place Music & Memories. I'm your doctor of
love, and I got the cure you're looking for -
the best oldies you ever heard... plus the
best oldies you never heard!
Darkness falls across the land.
The midnight hour is close at hand.
Cuddle your cutie while I strike up the band.
You're tuned to SPMM and the Wolfman!
You're tuned to SPMM and the Wolfman!
Now, you pay close
attention to these songs,
baby, or the Wolfman's
gonna GETCHA!
attention to these songs,
baby, or the Wolfman's
gonna GETCHA!
This is your cat on the radio, Wolfman Jack,
with a sweet trick or treat. I want you to
get real close to the speaker and touch
the whiskers on the old Wolfman's chin
while I tell you about this first record.
In February of 1966, Motown soul man Edwin Starr
issued his top 10 R&B 45 "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S)."
That same month, Philly Pheeline Christine Cooper
sent out her own "S.O.S. -- (Heart In Distress)."
"S.O.S. (Heart in Distress)" - Christine Cooper
(Feb. 1966, highest chart pos. #101 Bubbling Under)
(Feb. 1966, highest chart pos. #101 Bubbling Under)
Goodness gracious, the Wolfman's gonna retirethe side and send the blues to the dugout with
a fantastic double play! Christine Cooper's
back with another killer dance floor filler,
and this one channels The Supremes.
Baby, I want you to stop in the name
of love and think it over as you listen
to Christine's Northern Soul gem--
"Heartaches Away My Boy!
"Heartaches Away My Boy" - Christine Cooper
(Apr./May 1966, uncharted)
(Apr./May 1966, uncharted)
Awwwww land sakes alive, the Wolfman'stakin' you back to old school and teachin'
you a lesson. This Los Angeles group was
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
With cuddle classics like this one to their
credit, it's easy to understand why. The
Wolfman's sending this one out to you
and your sweetie, one of the biggest
hits of the 50s, a #1 best seller by
The Platters, "The Great Pretender!"
"The Great Pretender" - The Platters
(Jan./Feb. 1956, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box & R&B)
Oh my my. The Wolfman's got another greatsnuggle song for you and your baby, and if
I'm lyin' I'm dyin'. It's the dynamic duo of
ohnnie Richardson and Joe Rivers singing
a ballad that made the top 3 on the R&B
chart and cracked the top 10 on the pop
side. From the summer of 1957, here are
Johnnie And Joe singing-- "Over The
Mountain, Cross The Sea!"
r
Now you listen to the Wolfman because
"Over The Mountain, Cross The Sea"
aka "Over The Mountain, Across The Sea" - Johnnie And Joe
(July/Aug. 1957, highest chart pos. #3 R&B/#8 Hot 100/#22 Cash Box)
aka "Over The Mountain, Across The Sea" - Johnnie And Joe
(July/Aug. 1957, highest chart pos. #3 R&B/#8 Hot 100/#22 Cash Box)
r
Now you listen to the Wolfman becauseI'm gonna tell you about another rare
relic. There's strong evidence that the
platter I'm about to play was waxed by
Tresia Cleveland & Ann Gissendanner,
an R&B duo better known as The Soul
Sisters, an act that had a hit in 1964
with "I Can't Stand It."
On this 45, released later that same year, they call
themselves The Kolettes and ask the musical question
"Just How Much (Can One Heart Take)?"
"Just How Much (Can One Heart Take)" - The Kolettes
(Oct. 1964, B side of "Who's That Guy")
Yes, gracious, it's all according to how your boogaloo situation stands,
ya understand. From the fall of '64, those were The Kolettes, also
known as The Soul Sisters, with "Just How Much (Can One
Heart Take)," issued as the B side of "Who's That Guy."
ya understand. From the fall of '64, those were The Kolettes, also
known as The Soul Sisters, with "Just How Much (Can One
Heart Take)," issued as the B side of "Who's That Guy."
You're listening to Wolfman Jack, and that's a fact.Now I got a question: What two things go together
like a horse & carriage? Answer: love & marriage!
In the early weeks of 1957, Chi-town R&B thrush
LaVern Baker topped the chart with "Jim Dandy
(to the rescue)." A few months later, LaVern was
back in business and continuing the saga with
the follow-up-- "Jim Dandy Got Married!"
"Jim Dandy Got Married" - LaVern Baker
(May/June 1957, highest chart pos. #7 R&B/#76 Hot 100,
perf. on The Milt Grant Record Hop, WTTG Washington, D.C.)
perf. on The Milt Grant Record Hop, WTTG Washington, D.C.)
Mercy me, we done rocked around the clock,
baby, but now it's time for the old
baby, but now it's time for the old
Wolfman to say goodbye.
Before I go I wanna give a special shout out
to all you rat packers up there on the hill
at the Shady Dell.
to all you rat packers up there on the hill
at the Shady Dell.
Now you listen to the Wolfman. Be kind
to your fine feathered friends. Obey your
ma and pa. Love thy neighbor and see how
good it feels to help a stranger in need.
to your fine feathered friends. Obey your
ma and pa. Love thy neighbor and see how
good it feels to help a stranger in need.
This is your good buddy Wolfman Jack
signing off and wishing you health, but
much more than wealth, I wish you
signing off and wishing you health, but
much more than wealth, I wish you
love... and a happy Halloween.
AHHHOOOOO!!!
Sad he died so young. Maybe too much whiskey?
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for being the early bird again this week, good buddy!
Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack at age 57 - much younger than I am now. He's been gone nearly a quarter of a century and I miss him. For years I watched him host The Midnight Special when I worked the late shift at an NBC television station.
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Alex!
I really enjoyed each one of these songs. It is good to reminisce and sing along.
ReplyDeleteHi, Arleen!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? It's great to have you over!
As most will agree, the three spotlight songs in The Wolfman's pack are the vintage video clips with the doo-wop group The Platters, the R&B duo Johnnie & Joe, and blues and R&B veteran LaVern Baker appearing on The Milt Grant Record Hop on WTTG Washington, D.C. I used to be able to get a weak signal from that station all the way up in York. Milt Grant is credited as a pioneer of early rock-and-roll in the D.C. market and his TV dance show for teenagers was wildly popular.
Thanks again for coming by and sampling guest host Wolfman Jack's music and memories. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Arleen!
I'm glad you mentioned "The Midnight Special" in your reply to Alex. I imagine at this point American Graffiti is the Wolfman's best shot at pop culture immortality, but I remember him mostly from that Friday night music show that followed Carson. It's ironic. Grafitti presents Wolfman as a 1950s or early '60s radio legend, which in turn got his name referenced on Happy Days quite a bit, but I think in reality he was just a regional legend, wasn't he? The success of Graffiti made him a nationally-known celebrity, so he just as much belongs to the 1970s as to the 1950s (of course, I have an ulterior motive in making that statement--I grew up in the '70s, so can kind of claim Wolfman Jack as my decade's own.)
ReplyDeleteSome great selections, known and unknown. I particularly liked Christine Cooper's "SOS" and Laverne Baker's "Jim Dandy Got Married", but I have to say, The Platters "The Great Pretender" just blows everything else out of the water. I think it's just the greatest do-wop song ever.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for coming to Wolfman Jack's Halloween platter party, good buddy!
I'm glad you have so many fond memories of The Wolfman, as do I. I unearthed some interesting tidbits about the colorful, gravel-voiced deejay. Seems The Wolfman was once a Fuller Brush Man, a door-to-door salesman who also peddled encyclopedias. Imagine trying to earn a living selling sets of hardbound encyclopedias today. The books would be obsolete by tomorrow. I read that Fuller Brushes are now widely marketed on social media.
Imagine if Wolfman Jack had kept using his real name - Bob Smith. Not quite as exciting, huh? Smith's stage name Wolfman Jack was inspired by legendary deejay Alan Freed's "Moon Dog" radio show. Jack was a fan of horror movies, bluesman Howlin' Wolf and black R&B and rock 'n' roll... and the rest is history. I honestly never heard of Wolfman Jack until I saw American Graffiti, but apparently he was fairly well known across the U.S. as far back as the early to mid 60s when he worked at stations in Mexico equipped with high-powered "border blaster" signals that transmitted his show across America from coast to coast.
I'm delighted that you enjoyed the musical lineup of vintage R&B and doo-wop in this post, the styles of music The Wolfman loved to play. Christine Cooper is one of those artists who remained obscure in the U.S. but caught fire on the Northern Soul circuit across England. The Platter's "The Great Pretender" was released in early November, 1955, a couple of weeks before I turned six years old. My parents bought the single and played it heavily and the song ruled the radio airwaves through much of 1956. I'm thrilled that you like it.
Thanks again for your kind visit and terrific comment, good buddy Kirk!
I'm afraid my internet is creeping today (bad weather), so without being able to listen to these, I don't think I know but one. But what a great one it is! Love the Platters and The Great Pretender.
ReplyDeleteLet's clap for the Wolfman, Shady!
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteIt's great to see you again, dear friend. Thanks for tuning in to Wolfman Jack's Halloween platter party!
I'm sorry bad weather is putting a damper on your blogging experience. I hope you will return when the weather clears and sample the songs the Wolfman paw-picked for your listening pleasure. I'm overjoyed to know that you remember and love the old old oldie from 1955/56 "The Great Pretender." The word "classic" seems to have been invented with recordings like that one in mind.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Kelly. Please give Pat a pat and enjoy the rest of your week. (I am still thinking about Mama Dog.)
Clap for the Wolfman
He gonna rate your record high
Clap for the Wolfman
You gonna dig him 'til the day you die
Saw the Platters at a club in Virginia Beach in the mid 70s. Still good and with many more hits. As I recall they were missing the female. Guess who made your quote about the Wolfman famous?or! While I am sitting at a cozy fire to keep me warm, it seems to me that I also recognize the Wolfmans signing off comment.
ReplyDeleteLater, Jerre
Hi, Jerre!
DeleteThanks for coming by, good buddy! I figured you'd enjoy this batch of vintage doo-wop and R&B songs played by Wolfman Jack.
Thanks for sharing that you saw The Platters in Virginia Beach in the mid 70s as an all male act. I had a brush with greatness a few years later, around 1980, when I caught a show by Fred Parris and The Five Satins in a Lancaster nightclub.
You have a good eye and a Dell rat's knowledge of music, Jerre. In his sign off paragraph, I decided to have The Wolfman quote lyrics from the Mag Men cover of "I Wish You Love." The part about "fine feathered friends" was inspired by the phrase having been used in the old Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny cartoons. The "be kind" part was inspired by Sing Along With Mitch. As you might recall, Mitch the gang closed every TV show with the song, "Be Kind to Your Webfooted Friends (For that duck may be somebody's mother)". Of course, the song lyrics at the very end of my comment for Kelly were intended to expand upon her reference to the hit single by The Guess Who.
As you might recall, Wolfman Jack served as my guest host last year at Halloween, and he also showed up a couple of times on the old SDMM blog. If you like the kind of tunes he plays, and I know you do, then stay tuned, because Wolfman will be back in future posts with more cuddle classics of the 50s and 60s.
Thanks again for coming over and contributing to the discussion, good buddy Jerre!
This old old oldie from 1955 really liked that old old oldie from 1955 by The Platters :) Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteWelcome over to Shady's Place, dear friend. I'm excited to see you!
Are you saying that you are a 1955 kitty? "It was a very good year." :) Hey, before I go any further, I want to repeat that you are knocking me out with your combination of outspoken and introspective poetry on your blog. Surely "The Great Pretender" is one of the first songs that comes to mind when people are asked to name a popular 50s song. I'm glad you know it and like it.
Thanks again for swinging by on day one, dear friend cat, and enjoy the rest of your week!
I remember Wolfman Jack! My dad had him on the radio all the time. I enjoyed the music selections today! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry!
DeleteWelcome back to Shady's Place, your home away from home, dear friend. I'm very happy to see you!
Thanks for telling us that your dad was a fan of Wolfman Jack and that you also remember him. I didn't even know about him until the summer of 1973, the first time I watched American Graffiti. From that day on, I too was a fan... (or is it fang? :)
I'm glad you liked The Wolfman's dusty discs. Thanks again for dropping by and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Sherry!
I could hear his voice as I read the words. What a classic. Happy Halloween
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks for coming by and listening to Wolfman Jack's moldy oldies!
Like you I will always remember The Wolfman's raspy voice and his giggle. He was mischievous, but his heart was in the right place and he encouraged young people to be good citizens. I try to convey that in the scripts I write for him. I am proud to help immortalize Jack in this ongoing series of posts.
Thanks again for coming to the The Wolfman's party and happy Halloween to you and your family, dear Janet!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteSha-zam! That's good ole rock n' roll mewsic. Of course nearly all the songs the Wolfman had spinning on the turntable today are new to me with the exception of #1 hit, 'The Great Pretender' by The Platters. Christina Cooper has the kind of vocals that I would've liked at the time your features songs released of the artist ole Wolfman introduced. Thanks for these mewsic gems for the ears, my friend. Have a safe, fun Halloween - my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for popping in for a visit as Wolfman Jack makes another Halloween appearance on the blog and plays a stack of rusty relics from the distant past!
I suspected that the huge crossover hit "The Great Pretender" would be the only oldie you knew at the outset. I was delighted when that pristine video showed up on YouTube in time for me to plug it into Wolfman's lineup. If you noticed, solo artist Christine Cooper's singles have that "girl group" sound with tunetastic backing singer harmonies laced throughout. To me Christine and her backing gals sound a lot like Motown's Velvelettes.
Thanks again for sampling Wolfman Jack's mewsic picks, dear friend Cathy. I hope you and your family have a safe and fun Halloween. I'll see you in November! :)
Hello Wolman Jack! It's always great to see and hear from you! Brrr! It's only 28 degrees this morning in Fort Worth on this Halloween morning!
ReplyDeleteYou really put out some good ones for us this time! That Christine Cooper has a great voice, and it's true..."Heartaches Away My Boy" is a song that resembles the Supreme's sound. I like "S.O.S. Heart in Distress", probably better. This song has a more modern take, almost an 80's-90's attitude about it. A 'before-its-time' song. I don't recall hearing of Christine, Wolfman...thank you for bringing her to the forefront!
Another Kudos goes out for The Kolettes! I hadn't heard of them either, but "Just How Much" (can one heart take) is one cool song. This one made me think of Tina Turner and Barbara George.
"Jim Dandy" is an icon! What a cool song, and he got married, huh? LaVern Baker was so great. Her voice is one that stands out for sure. Actually, this lady "throws her voice out" and it works!
Thank you Wolfman for bringing this fun post our way! The entire lineup was full of great entertainers and music. I love The Platters. "The Great Pretender" is truly a classic, and there's no pretending their voices are fabulous!
Thank you Shady, for having the best "howlin" host! I apologize for my tardiness. Have a safe Halloween, and easy transition into daylight savings time, ugh! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks a lot for coming over dear friend! WHAT??? 28 degrees in Texas this morning? That's a shock. It's still sizzling hot here in Florida. Please steer that north wind our way.
I'm thrilled that you like Christine Cooper. In addition to what I wrote in my reply to Cathy (above) I would like to add the following tidbits and observations. Christine Cooper's real name was Delores Cooper and she was also known as Tari Stevens. At one time Christine dated another Philly-based recording artist, Eddie ("Hey There Lonely Girl") Holman. Christine and her group of unknown background vocalists, most likely studio session singers, put down a great sound that should have placed her high on the chart, but as you can see if you check the captions beneath her two videos, the highest chart position she reached was #101 on the Bubbling Under chart. Those two singles were released in the first few months of 1966. In December of that year, Christine released her third and final single "I Must Have You (Or No One) b/w "Good Looks (They Don't Count)" and it too failed to chart. Why did all three of her records flop? The blame, I think, rests with her record label Cameo-Parkway which was in a sharp decline at the time and struggling financially. Problems with promotion and distribution allowed some of the artists on the C-K talent roster to slip through the cracks.
I am also pleased that you like The Kolettes which many music experts believe were The Soul Sisters recording under a different name, for whatever reason. They surely do sound like Ike & Tina Turner, The Ikettes, Barbara George and other gritty R&B artists. I am also delighted that you singled out R&B diva LaVern Baker. She certainly did have powerful pipes. Milt Grant, like other pioneering rock 'n' roll deejays and music show hosts, helped integrate the airwaves by introducing white teenagers in his city (D.C.) to the music of black artists like LaVern.
I hope Scootie's party was a success and I hope he has a fun and safe Halloween tonight. Thanks for reminding me that we "fall back" early Sunday morning.
I have eye surgery coming up on Monday morning and then a follow-up exam at the doctor's office on Tuesday. I am going to try not to delay my next post which is set to be published that same day, Tuesday. I hope to see you then.
Thanks again for being a wonderful friend, Suzanne, and happy Halloween 2019 to you!
Happy Halloween Mr. Shady! It is raining cats and dogs here which means they should get off those roofs..nyuck, nyuck. I really like Jim Dandy...She has a great voice, a real powerhouse. Christine's version of the Supreme's song I like better than the Supremes. I saw the Platters once..well, kind of saw. I was a bit inebriated at University and walked right into the theatre where they were performing and sat down to watch them...I think it was the Platters. The one video with Johnnie and Joe was nice but I had to laugh at the bad lip synching. Oh well, another great tune filled blog post.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThanks for coming, dear friend!
If it's raining cats and dogs then be careful going out to the movie tonight. Maybe the rain will hold down the number of trick-or-treat kids coming to your door. I'm glad you enjoyed LaVern Baker, the lady with the powerful pipes, belting "Jim Dandy Got Married" in that rare clip of her appearance on a D.C. based dance program for teenagers.
Christine Cooper didn't actually cover a Supremes song, but her recording "Heartaches Away My Boy" certainly borrows the familiar riff from "Stop! In The Name Of Love." At the beginning it also sounds like The Isley Brothers hit "This Old Heart Of Mine." My goodness, dearie. You must have been inebriated if you bypassed the ticket window, took a seat in a theater and watched a group perform not knowing for sure if they were The Platters. If they sang "Only You," "Harbor Lights" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" in addition to "The Great Pretender," then they surely were The Platters. In fairness to Johnnie & Joe, there are two reasons for the video and sound being out of sync at times. First, the YouTube uploader was responsible for syncing the original studio recording to that existing vintage video which looks like a kinescope. It is not surprising if it does not sync up exactly. Second, the duet is very intricate, with male and female vocals woven together. It would have been especially hard for the female, Johnnie, to lip sync her part perfectly to match her original studio vocal track.
Thanks again for dropping in, dear friend BB, and happy H-ween!
I agree with Alex; it's a shame that he died so young.
ReplyDeleteI am taking a Halloween break and this playlist was great for the break. I'm not familiar with that acts, but I dig their sounds.
Happy Halloween, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteYessum, seems the good die young, at least it was true in many cases in rock 'n' roll history. I miss The Wolfman and believe he would be a healing and unifying influence in today's world. I predict that your dad would be familiar with most of these acts and songs. You should ask him or, better yet, play the Wolfman's set for him.
I hope you enjoy your Halloween break and play these tunes to get a natural high. Thanks for joining the fun, dear friend JM, and happy Halloween to you and your family!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI'll have to show dad this blog and see if he's familiar with any of these songs. You're right, I think Wolfman would be a healing and unifying voice in today's climate.
I had a wonderful Halloween! I'm about to take a few days off, as the hard anniversary approaches, to reflect and get ready for my new tattoo. I'm feeling good otherwise, but I am being mindful of emotions.
Have a great Saturday, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteSounds like a plan, dear friend. Step back for a while, gather your thoughts and do some reframing. Acknowledge yourself for all the gains you have made since that terrible point in time. It is in the past and drifting farther away from you every day.
I hope your dad recognizes some of these artists and songs played by The Wolfman. Happy November, dear friend JM!
I only know 2 of the songs and Wolfman was the best.
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween.
parsnip
Hi, Gayle!
DeleteI'm happy to see you, dear friend! Thanks for joining the party as Wolfman Jack salivates Howl-aween at Shady's Place. :)
Seems you learned a tune or two from The Wolfman. I'm glad you remember him and like him. He was one of a kind and is missed.
Thanks again for dropping by and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Gayle!
I'm soooo late to this post filled with treats and no tricks! My week was like a Halloween nightmare movie. Work, I'm so over it! Anyway, I just hope you had a great Halloween and I'm so far behind on visiting all my blog buddies but I'm stopping here first to say not only Happy Halloween but hello November...take care Shady and don't forget to turn your clock back unless Florida doesn't do that crazy thing!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks for stopping in, dear friend! Yessum, Mrs. Shady and I just finished turning the clocks back, but thanks for the reminder.
I'm glad you caught the Wolfman's post while Halloween is still fresh in your mind. I hope you enjoyed his tuneage. I'm sorry to learn that you had a tough work week. I hope your situation improves as we proceed through the month of November, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend YaYa, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteI was looking forward to seeing the “Monster Mash” going on here, since I somehow hadn’t heard it a single time in the days leading up to this year’s haunting holiday. But then I saw the Wolfman, and any disappointment I may have felt evaporated ;-) I actually got to see him at (only) one of the Halloween haunts he hosted at “Knott’s Scary Farm” sometime in the mid-seventies. Even the food was rather ghostly!
I hadn’t heard the first couple of songs you presented, but I definitely knew the Platters! I honestly don’t remember LaVern Baker, but now that I’ve heard her voice (Wow!), who could forget?
I hope you enjoyed the holiday, my friend. Did you have many trick-or-treaters? As usual, the purchase of 2 lbs. of candy for one adorable witch (Bellatrix, maybe?) was over-kill, sigh. However, I hear a local dentist is promoting a buy-back event tomorrow ; - )
P.S. Found it! I had to take a call and forgot to post this. Then, I had to search for where I saved it.
Happy times to you and yours!