It's time to do some Cruisin'!
Cruisin' is the vinyl album series first released in 1970 through 1973.
Cruisin' did a great job of simulating top 40 radio broadcasts of the
1950s and 60s, each volume hosted by one of the great radio
personalities of the period. Like other posts in the series,
this one contains songs found on the original Cruisin'
album along with a few other cool sounds from the
same year. It's 1959. Hop in and we'll cruise out
to the West Coast, hit the Sunset Strip and go
Huntin' with Hunter!
1950s and 60s, each volume hosted by one of the great radio
personalities of the period. Like other posts in the series,
this one contains songs found on the original Cruisin'
album along with a few other cool sounds from the
same year. It's 1959. Hop in and we'll cruise out
to the West Coast, hit the Sunset Strip and go
Huntin' with Hunter!
HUNTER HANCOCK
KGFJ, Los Angeles
RAY CHARLES
In 1966, the Strangeloves sang "Night Time (that's the right time)."
In writing their hit, the Strangeloves trio of Feldman, Goldstein
and Gottehrer borrowed lyrics from another song entitled
"The Right Time," first recorded in the fall of 1957
In writing their hit, the Strangeloves trio of Feldman, Goldstein
and Gottehrer borrowed lyrics from another song entitled
"The Right Time," first recorded in the fall of 1957
by R&B singer Nappy Brown.
A year later "The Genius," Ray Charles,
covered the song backed by his famous
girl group The Raelettes, and released it
with the title "(Night Time Is) The Right
Time." Brother Ray's single barely
registered on the pop chart but
went top 5 on the R&B side.
covered the song backed by his famous
girl group The Raelettes, and released it
with the title "(Night Time Is) The Right
Time." Brother Ray's single barely
registered on the pop chart but
went top 5 on the R&B side.
"(Night Time Is) The Right Time" - Ray Charles
(Feb. 1959, highest chart pos. #95 Pop/#5 R&B)
PAUL ANKA
Hunter Hancock's radio show focused on "Negro music," as he
called it, but I'm adding a couple scoops of vanilla to the mix,
songs by white artists that were popular in 1959.
called it, but I'm adding a couple scoops of vanilla to the mix,
songs by white artists that were popular in 1959.
A few months from now Paul Anka,
the teen heartthrob of the Fifties, will
turn age 79. Best known for his string
of pop ballads aimed at teenagers, Anka
was also a prolific songwriter, responsible
for writing the theme of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson along with one of
Frank Sinatra's signature songs "My Way."
the teen heartthrob of the Fifties, will
turn age 79. Best known for his string
of pop ballads aimed at teenagers, Anka
was also a prolific songwriter, responsible
for writing the theme of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson along with one of
Frank Sinatra's signature songs "My Way."
Paul Anka also has a list of acting credits.
Here he is in the role of Jimmy Parlow in
the 1959 movie Girls Town singing his
top 5 charting hit "It's Time To Cry."
Here he is in the role of Jimmy Parlow in
the 1959 movie Girls Town singing his
top 5 charting hit "It's Time To Cry."
"It's Time To Cry" - Paul Anka
(Dec. 1959, highest chart pos. #4
scene from Oct. 1959 movie Girls Town)
BIG JAY MCNEELY &
LITTLE SONNY WARNER
In 1964 soul man Garnet Mimms recorded an excellent rendition of the song
"There is Something on Your Mind." In the fall of 2008, York's hometown heroes,
The Del-Chords, performed the song live at the White Oaks Reunion.
"There is Something on Your Mind." In the fall of 2008, York's hometown heroes,
The Del-Chords, performed the song live at the White Oaks Reunion.
The definitive version of "There is
Something on Your Mind" is the one
Hunter Hancock introduced in this
1959 edition of Cruisin' . Tenor sax
showstopper Big Jay McNeely and
his band teamed up with satin smooth
vocalist Little Sonny Warner to record
this bluesy ballad, one of the best
sounds on the radio in 1959.
Something on Your Mind" is the one
Hunter Hancock introduced in this
1959 edition of Cruisin' . Tenor sax
showstopper Big Jay McNeely and
his band teamed up with satin smooth
vocalist Little Sonny Warner to record
this bluesy ballad, one of the best
sounds on the radio in 1959.
"There is Something on Your Mind"
Big Jay McNeeley with vocal by Little Sonny Warner
(July 1959, highest chart pos. #44 Pop/#5 R&B)
DINAH WASHINGTON
Pianist and jazz singer Dinah Washington called herself Queen of the Blues
and was arguably the most popular black female recording artist of the 50s.
and was arguably the most popular black female recording artist of the 50s.
Dinah's first top ten pop chart hit came
in the summer of 1959 when she released
"What a Diff'rence a Day Makes," a cover
of a top 5 pop hit achieved in 1934 by
the Dorsey Brothers. Sadly Dinah died
of a drug overdose at the age of 39
three weeks after the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy.
in the summer of 1959 when she released
"What a Diff'rence a Day Makes," a cover
of a top 5 pop hit achieved in 1934 by
the Dorsey Brothers. Sadly Dinah died
of a drug overdose at the age of 39
three weeks after the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy.
What a difference a dark
day in history makes.
day in history makes.
"What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" - Dinah Washington
(Aug. 1959, highest chart pos. #8 Pop/#4 R&B)
(Aug. 1959, highest chart pos. #8 Pop/#4 R&B)
BROOK BENTON
When Dinah Washington recorded the top 5 hit "Baby (You've Got
What It Takes)" as a duet with Brook Benton, there came a point
in the song when Benton accidentally began singing Dinah's part.
Dinah corrected him and reportedly stormed out of the studio
at the end of the session, leaving producers no choice but to
release the recording in its imperfectly perfect form.
What It Takes)" as a duet with Brook Benton, there came a point
in the song when Benton accidentally began singing Dinah's part.
Dinah corrected him and reportedly stormed out of the studio
at the end of the session, leaving producers no choice but to
release the recording in its imperfectly perfect form.
A younger generation might remember
Brook Benton for his 1970 hit single
"Rainy Night in Georgia" but, in '59,
Brook Benton for his 1970 hit single
"Rainy Night in Georgia" but, in '59,
Brook had a huge Pop/R&B hit with
a ballad he co-wrote with Clyde Otis
entitled "It's Just a Matter of Time."
a ballad he co-wrote with Clyde Otis
entitled "It's Just a Matter of Time."
"It's Just a Matter of Time" - Brook Benton
(Apr. 1959, highest chart pos. #3 Pop/#1 R&B)
(Apr. 1959, highest chart pos. #3 Pop/#1 R&B)
EDD BYRNES
AND CONNIE STEVENS
He played "Kookie" Kookson the 3rd,
the street wise, hair combing, jive-
talking hipster on the hit television
detective series 77 Sunset Strip.
the street wise, hair combing, jive-
talking hipster on the hit television
detective series 77 Sunset Strip.
She was Cricket Blake, the perky photog, lounge singer, and part time sleuth
on the hit TV detective series Hawaiian Eye. Cricket Blake was most likely the
inspiration for Cricket Blair, the blonde tressed model turned lawyer on Y&R.
on the hit TV detective series Hawaiian Eye. Cricket Blake was most likely the
inspiration for Cricket Blair, the blonde tressed model turned lawyer on Y&R.
Together, Kookie and Cricket made sweet music, if you want to call it that.
"Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)," a novelty single performed by
Edd Byrnes and Connie Stevens, was released at a time when the buzz-
worthy young stars were seeing a meteoric rise in the value of their stock.
Byrnes was already riding high as the breakout scene stealer on 77 Sunset
Strip and Connie was in production on Hawaiian Eye, a series that would
send her popularity skyrocketing in the months and years that followed.
"Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)," a novelty single performed by
Edd Byrnes and Connie Stevens, was released at a time when the buzz-
worthy young stars were seeing a meteoric rise in the value of their stock.
Byrnes was already riding high as the breakout scene stealer on 77 Sunset
Strip and Connie was in production on Hawaiian Eye, a series that would
send her popularity skyrocketing in the months and years that followed.
Connie Stevens and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes were hip and trendy and so was
their record. Radio stations played it and fans bought it. While serious
artists bristled, "Lend Me Your Comb" brushed past other records
on the chart and reached the top 5 by a hair. Like, lay it on me!
"Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)"
Edward Byrnes and Connie Stevens
(June 1959, highest chart pos. #4)
Rad, dad! Now let's kick our jets
and like blow this scene, baby!
Don't miss the next thrill packed
episode of Cruisin' coming soon!
Have a Shady day!
