BOOTH ANNOUNCER GARY OWENS:
...and the cow was returned to its rightful owner.
And that's the latest from S-P-M-M news...
fast, up-to-the-minute, completely fake
and proud of it. Now stand by for
fast, up-to-the-minute, completely fake
and proud of it. Now stand by for
GEATOR GOLD
on the station that's #1 for music and fun - S-P-M-M!
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
(COLD SHOW OPEN)
"He's Got The Power" - The Exciters
(Mar./Apr. 1963, highest chart pos. #57 Hot 100,
#64 Cash Box, Scopitone film release)
Greetings and salutations! I am The Geator
with The Heater. I am The Boss with the
Big Hot Sauce, welcoming you to another
fantastic, bombastic edition of Geator Gold
here on S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio. I've got
a parade of platters from the past and our
7-in-a-row block party has just begun.
You just saw and heard Brenda Reid,
the little lady with the powerful pipes,
singing lead for her mixed gender group
The Exciters on "He's Got The Power,"
The Exciters on "He's Got The Power,"
a record that climbed halfway up the
pop chart in the spring of 1963 and
oddly failed to register at all on
the R&B chart. Now let's jump
back in time to the early 50s.
Fiction and Fact from the Geator's Almanac: In 1952 a man by the name
of Ronald Cuffey was lead singer of The Five Sharps, the now legendary
doo-wop group from Queens, NY. The Five Sharps recorded the song
"Stormy Weather" on the Jubilee label. That 78 rpm single is so rare
that it is known as the Holy Grail of doo-wop 78's, coveted by
collectors as one of the most valuable records in the world.
In 2003, a used copy of "Stormy Weather" sold for
$19,000. The value of that Five Sharps platter shot
$19,000. The value of that Five Sharps platter shot
to $25,000 a few years later. It is not even known
if an original exists on 45 rpm. If one is ever
found it would be worth many times more.
Fast forward to the summer of 1958 when Ronald Cuffey was
singing lead with a new group called The Videos. Their first
record got plenty of radio exposure in New York but did not
reach the national chart. The Videos now with-- "Trickle, Trickle!
singing lead with a new group called The Videos. Their first
record got plenty of radio exposure in New York but did not
reach the national chart. The Videos now with-- "Trickle, Trickle!
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
"Trickle, Trickle" - The Videos (July 1958)
You're jumpin' and jitterbuggin' with
The Geator With The Heater, charter
member of The Shady Bunch, and
this is Geator Gold on S-P-M-M
Retrosonic Radio, where all the
cool oldies come to play.
You just heard a Geator golden gasser
by The Videos, their 1958 regional hit
"Trickle, Trickle." In January, 1959,
The Videos released a follow-up to
that jump tempo debut single. It's
a lot different, a dreamy ballad
entitled-- "Love Or Infatuation."
by The Videos, their 1958 regional hit
"Trickle, Trickle." In January, 1959,
The Videos released a follow-up to
that jump tempo debut single. It's
a lot different, a dreamy ballad
entitled-- "Love Or Infatuation."
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
THE VIDEO NOW!
"Love Or Infatuation" - The Videos (Jan. 1959)
The Videos of Queens, New York, with their second single, "Love Or Infatuation."
Sadly, before the guys could put out another record, Ronald Cuffey died along
with another member of the group, bass man Ron Woodhall. Their deaths
put an end to this great doo-wop act, The Videos.
with another member of the group, bass man Ron Woodhall. Their deaths
put an end to this great doo-wop act, The Videos.
Don't touch that dial, because The Geator's
spinning another dreamy romantic ballad
for lovers only. This record was waxed in
1958 by one of Philly's Phinest groups,
Lee Andrews & The Hearts. I want you
spinning another dreamy romantic ballad
for lovers only. This record was waxed in
1958 by one of Philly's Phinest groups,
Lee Andrews & The Hearts. I want you
to take your teen queen or teen king by
the hand, lead them to the dance floor
and sway to this snuggle song... a
doo-wop treasure-- "Teardrops."
the hand, lead them to the dance floor
and sway to this snuggle song... a
doo-wop treasure-- "Teardrops."
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
THE VIDEO NOW!
"Teardrops" aka "Tear Drops" - Lee Andrews And The Hearts
(Jan. 1958, highest chart pos. #4 R&B/#20 Hot 100/#25 Cash Box)
A mellow sound from the early weeks of 1958, Lee Andrews
and the Hearts with "Teardrops," a record that reached
the top 5 on the R&B chart and top 20 pop.
and the Hearts with "Teardrops," a record that reached
the top 5 on the R&B chart and top 20 pop.
If you're just tuning in, I'm The Geator,
Jerry Blavat, and we're right smack dab
in the middle of a 7 in a row commercial
free cruise on S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio.
The name of the show is Geator Gold...
and I've got another classic nugget for
you right here and now. A one track
mind is the gist of a song that was
the second biggest hit of Motown
soul legend Marvin Gaye's 60s career.
Released in 1969, the single cracked
the top 5 on the Hot 100 and was
perched at #1 on the R&B chart
for six consecutive weeks. Here's
Marvin joined in the recording studio
by The Andantes, Motown's in-house
group of female session singers, with
one of the greatest Motown sounds--
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby!"
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - Marvin Gaye
(June 1969, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#4 Hot 100/#5 Cash Box)
You got The Geator in your ear, and I'm
spinning Geator Gold on S-P-M-M..,
where we go hunting for the great songs
of the past and bring 'em back alive.
The Geator's on a roll with onespinning Geator Gold on S-P-M-M..,
where we go hunting for the great songs
of the past and bring 'em back alive.
old gold nugget after another.
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
THE VIDEO NOW!
Here now is the very first single
released by the Motown group
best known for their major hit
"Do You Love Me." Dig the
throaty sax and raw vocals
as The Contours sing--
released by the Motown group
best known for their major hit
"Do You Love Me." Dig the
throaty sax and raw vocals
as The Contours sing--
"Whole Lotta Woman!"
"Whole Lotta Woman" - The Contours
(Feb./Mar. 1961, uncharted)
The first version of that catchy tune was
released regionally, and you just heard the
second version which was released nationally.
The Contours there with their first, and some
say their best single, "Whole Lotta Woman,"
an uncharted relic from early 1961 that
reminds me of the late 50s R&B hits
"Short Fat Fannie" and "Itchy
Twitchy Feeling."
And as all good things
must come to an end,
so too must my show.
Thanks for tuning in.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Stay tuned. Coming up on the B side of news, it's Shady Seaweed with another
hip trip to Bandstands in Foreign Lands, and I'll be back soon with another
batch of boss beats and ballads on Geator Gold. Now this is Jerry Blavat,
The Geator with the Heater, reminding you to keep on rockin' 'cause
you only rock once! Hey, gimme a big strong line and let's do it
one last time as I play us off with Martha And The Vandellas
doing their first big hit. Baby, it's cold outside, but inside
we're havin' a "Heatwave." Bye ya-ll!
"Heatwave" - Martha And The Vandellas
(Aug./Sept. 1963, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#4 Hot 100 & Cash Box)
78 rpm - haven't seen one of those in years. Wasn't there also a 16? That was a lot of money for that 78.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for hurrying over to claim the Early Bird title, good buddy!
I read that phonograph records were available in the following rotation speeds: 8 1⁄3, 16 2⁄3, 33 1⁄3, 45 and 78. The first record player I owned had a 16 2/3 speed setting. Occasionally I played my 45s at that speed and at 78 rpm just for the fun of it. I never actually owned records meant to be played at any speeds other than 33 1/3, 45 and 78.
Search your garage and attic for "Stormy Weather" by the 5 Sharps!
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Alex!
Hi Shady,
DeleteWas 78 rpm the fastest the record could play? I remember in a 9th grade science class, the exchange teacher we had from the UK put on a record, played it at its highest setting and it sounded like Alvin and the Chipmunks. IIRC, he said that's how they got Alvin's and the Chipmunks' voices, by playing the songs really fast.
Down day at work, so I enjoyed grooving to these pieces. I'm not familiar with any of them, but I was rockin' in my basement. It's a dreary day today and it blew those dreary clouds away, dear friend.
Have a great day!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for coming to Jerry Blavat's latest platter party, dear friend!
Yessum, unless I am mistaken, 78 rpm is the fastest rotation speed for vinyl records sold commercially. I suspect your teacher did what I used to do, played 45s on 78 speed to make all of my records sound like they were made by Alvin And The Chipmunks. Some of them were surprisingly enjoyable at that speed.
My record player also had 33 1/3 and 16 2/3 settings and I conducted all sorts of vile experiments slowing my 45s down. At 16 speed, The Beatles sounded like a heavy metal band doing cookie monster death growls. :)
I'm glad The Geator's tuneage gave you a lift today. Enjoy the rest of it and have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteNow I really need to see if mom's record player still plays. I can only imagine how the Beatles sound that slow and I might have to play around with it.
It's been a busy weekend and look forward to winding down the the Geator Gold later. :)
AOK, dear friend JM!
DeleteI know that turntables are still being manufactured in the 21st century, but I doubt there are many models that can play records at 16 rpm. It's fun to experiment with different artists at different speeds. YouTube has countless videos with hit recordings that are slowed down or speeded up.
Have a great week, dear friend JM!
I'll have to check out the YouTube videos! Mom's record player is from the mid to late 1980s, so it might be "state of the art". It also has a cassette deck and dubber. I always wanted to learn how to dub a mix on cassette...
DeleteOlder technologies are fun! Someone on Etsy figured out how to dub a cassette mix and one year I ordered a mix, I sent her my playlist and $50 later...
...oh my! The mix is awesome and was a perfect addition to Happiness Box 2018. :)
Have a great week too, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteMost of those YouTube experiments are annoying, but sometimes they entertain. Keep in mind that the category called "popcorn oldies" are records deliberately slowed down just a little by the DJ to make them more user friendly to nightclubbers who prefer ballroom style touch dancing. The Popcorn movement originated in Belgium some 40 years ago.
I'm glad your mix turned out so well. When I was a freelance DJ, I created reel-to-reel theme mix tapes - 50s oldies, surf-rock, British beat, girl group, disco, etc - to play at parties.
Thanks again for coming, dear friend JM!
Due to "circumstances" I was forced to stay in a foster home as a young child. Those peeps had an old record player and a bunch of 45s in the attic. The player worked, but had no needle ... in order to listen to the 45s, I attached a broken sewing needle and weighed it down with a penny ... It was heaven :) Sending love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteHow goes it, dear feline friend? Thanks for coming all the way down from the frozen north country of Canada.
As always I appreciate you sharing stories that allow me to get to know you better. I'm sorry that you needed to stay in foster care as a young child. Clearly you were resourceful and found ways to enjoy yourself, like performing a DIY needle installation on that record player so that you could listen to music. I remember my cousin having a cheap record player with a needle so finicky that he needed to weigh the tone arm down with coins to keep it in the groove.
Thanks again for coming, dear friend cat, and please smooch TT for me!
I had to look up Ronald Cuffey since he died so young and with leukemia, so very sad but I had to laugh at how that version of Stormy Weather was broken. Either under the arm of a DJ who played it or someone's pet racoon and then a fire, of course. I enjoyed listening to all these long ago guys and dolls with great pipes whom know one knows unless one finds your blog:). I enjoyed another week of hit tunes to boogie down to.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteI read both of your comments, dear friend. Thanks for coming over and doing double duty again this time!
It's nice of you to do some research of your own into the life and career of Ronald Cuffey and the tale of how "Stormy Weather" became such a rare and valuable relic, coveted by record collectors around the world.
I am especially proud of this installment of Geator Gold because it gives you an idea of the kind of music mix Jerry loves to play on his radio and TV shows and during his stints hosting record hops. Jerry plays old doo-wop gold, and this post has some great lost treasures of the 50s. I'm glad you had a good time listening to them for the first time.
Thanks again for your visit and two comments, dear friend BB!
For some reason, your blog isn't loading the videos for me like it should. (trouble on my end, I'm certain... first world problems of rural living) Looking at the titles, though, I feel sure I only know Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas.... though if I could listen to the Contours and Marvin Gaye's numbers, I might know them, too. I'm older than you always seem to think I am (well into my 60s), but even so... most 50s songs are unknown to me unless they were blockbuster hits.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for dropping in for a heaping helping of Geator Gold, dear friend! I'm sorry you left hungry. :)
It's a shame you encountered technical problems that prevented you from playing the videos. That's no fun! I just tested all of them and they play AOK on my site. I hope you will try again over the weekend because I'd like to introduce you to these gems of the 50s and 60s.
Only a few years difference in age can make a big difference in the artists and songs you remember. The region of the country where you were raised can also be a determining factor. I had a blog friend in California my exact same age, and yet she knew very few of the recordings that were major hits in my part of the country. If and when you get to hear it, I feel confident you will remember the Marvin Gaye hit from the celebrated Summer of '69 - "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - top 5 pop and number one R&B. The old Contours record is one I recently discovered. I have no memory of it from the early 60s.
The Geator's goal (and mine) is to play great but little known records along with the occasional blockbuster hit such as the vol. 4 showender - The Vandellas "Heat Wave" - another Motown single that went top 5 pop and reached #1 on the R&B side.
Thanks again for dropping in, dear friend Kelly, and have a super weekend!
Good evening Shady! At first I thought I wouldn't know a lot of these tunes and artists. But of course I knew Marvin Gaye and also Martha and the Vandellas. I really liked the Contours, Whole Lotta Woman! Tear Drops was very dreamy. When I hear those slow tunes I just get a vision of the teens at the Dell slow dancing with their favorite date!I have a lot of vinyl records packed away but I'm betting they aren't worth those prices! Have a good weekend. Jack is still doing good, just very tired and trying to get some weight back on. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteHi, Yaya!
DeleteThanks for checking out the selection of vintage tunes in this latest edition of Jerry Blavat's Geator Gold, dear friend!
I'm pleasantly surprised that you like the rough, raw sound of that first release by The Contours. I discovered that one only a few weeks ago. I liked it the first time I heard it and have grown to like it even more after repeat listens.
You have a real feel for what the Dell was all about, Kath. Dreamy slow dance ballads by black, white or mixed race doo-wop groups dominated the dance hall jukebox in the years before I arrived on the scene. I know this from my discussions with Dell Rat Ron, who started going to the Dell a couple of years before me, and especially through Dell Rat Jerre, who first became a Dell rat in 1959 at the height of the doo-wop era.
Yessum, please check those cardboard boxes in the back of your closet, the garage or attic. You might own The Holy Grail of record collecting and could sell it on eBay for a tidy sum of money.
I'm happy to know that Jack continues to improve. I hope he regains his appetite and adds necessary weight back on. Knowing how good a cook you are, that shouldn't be too great a task.
Thanks again for dropping by, dear friend YaYa, and have a safe and restful weekend!
I love this music. I lived in New York in ‘58 so that may be why I know the song Tickle Tickle. We moved to the Philly burbs a couple of years later and it was the home of American Bandstand which played a lot of Philly music, including Lee Andrews and the Hearts. All good music for a teen age girl who loved to dance. When Motown became big, we embraced it and Martha and the Vandellas was one of the best. My feet still move when I hear it played.
ReplyDeleteAnother great post, Shady.
Hi, Arleen!
DeleteI'm thrilled to see you, dear friend! Thanks for tuning in and listening to one of Philly's Phinest, The Geator With The Heater, as he brings you volume 4 of Geator Gold on SPMM Retrosonic Radio.
Wow, it's sensational that you remember "Trickle Trickle," the up tempo classic by The Videos, a hot sound in NYC and across the country in the summer of '58. Thanks for sharing that tidbit. Yessum, if you lived in the Delaware Valley during the early 60s, you had a chance to hear Lee Andrews And The Hearts and other great Philly area groups and artists who were part of the developing Sound of Philadelphia. On television, Dick Clark played the cool music on Bandstand, and on Wibbage and other top radio stations, much loved DJs like Joe Niagara, Georgie Woods - The Guy with the Goods, Hy Lit and, of course, Jerry Blavat, spun what is now referred to as old gold or boss goldens. It makes me smile to know that you loved to dance when you were a teenager. You would have made a terrific Dellette, Arleen, and Helen Ettline would have loved you. :) How about that remixed and remastered Vandellas show closer? I was excited to find that one.
Thank you very much for your kind visit and sweet remarks, dear friend Arleen. Take care and have a wonderful weekend!
Well Shady there were a few on this playlist that I didn't know but "Tear Drops" and Marvin Gaye's "Too Busy" were old favorites. I have danced in the studio to "Heat Wave" a couple of times. All these songs make me think of the '50's and 60's, a simpler time. Hoping we can get some of that warm fuzzy feeling back in this country soon. Thanks for sharing my friend. Have a marvelous weekend.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteThanks for swinging by, dear friend! I'm happy to have you over for a look and a listen as The Geator, Jerry Blavat, hits the airwaves with another installment of his SPMM radio show Geator Gold.
I'm surprised and excited to learn that you remember the rusty relic "Tear Drops," a single that charted light years before you were born. I am also pleased to "get a witness" who remembers Marvin Gaye's biggie from 1969 "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby (and I ain't got time for notin' else)." It's one of my favorites by Marvin. That "Heat Wave" showender gives me goose bumps every time I watch and listen. The YouTube uploader did a superb job of tweaking the sound and then marrying it to that vintage taped performance by Martha and her group.
You wrote:
<< All these songs make me think of the '50's and 60's, a simpler time. Hoping we can get some of that warm fuzzy feeling back in this country soon. >>
To quote Smokey Robinson, "I second that emotion."
I'm so glad The Geator's lineup entertained you, dear friend Janet. Thanks again for coming by and have a safe and happy weekend!
Of the songs I've never heard before, my favorites this time are "He's Got The Power", "Trickle, Trickle", and "Whole Lotta Woman". I see the latter was co-written by Motown founder Barry Gordy.
ReplyDeleteOf the songs I HAVE heard before, well, "Heat Wave" pretty much overshadows everything else.
When I was growing up records were either 45s or 33s (though there were a third and fourth listening option: 8-tracks and tape cassettes.) Back then, I just assumed it had been that way ever since Edison invented the phonograph. Later I found out that both 45s and 33s (or LPs) weren't introduced until the end of the 1940s. For the first half of the 20th century the 78 was the standard. In fact, it was so standard that (and I just found this out now) nobody referred to them as 78s. They were just "records", only becoming 78s when the other two types came along and and each needed to be distinguished from each other.
1960s underground cartoonist Robert Crumb, a fan of pre-World War II jazz and blues, is said to have about 5000 78 records in his collection!
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThe Geator with the Heater welcomes you back in for another fantastic, bombastic volume of Geator Gold!
I believe you are the first to mention and like the show opener, the vintage Scopitone film featuring the mixed gender R&B act The Exciters doing "He's Got The Power." I am also pleased to find out that you enjoyed the vocal group The Videos' signature song "Trickle Trickle" along with the first single released by Motown's Contours, the rough and raw "Whole Lotta Woman" co-written as you mentioned by Berry Gordy. That record was released way back on Feb. 20, 1961, long before Motown became a hit factory cranking out records by black artists that were aimed at attracting white listeners and record buyers along with the black.
Thanks for sharing memories of your experience with record speeds and the fact that before 33s and 45s became available, 78s were merely referred to as "records." As I told others, my record player had 16, 33, 45 and 78 speed settings. I owned a few 78s but never bought, played or even saw a record manufactured to be played at 16. I am told that if you play the 45 "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" at 16 speed you can hear the critters utter "The walrus is Paul." :)
Thanks for adding that pizza trivia about Robert Crumb and his large collection of 78s. I once had a 78 rpm Vogue Picture Record that I inherited from my aunt. Produced in the 40s, Vogue records were novelties that featured artwork embedded in the wax on both sides, As Wiki explains "The discs were manufactured by first sandwiching printed illustrations around a core of aluminum, then coating both sides with clear vinyl upon which the grooves were stamped." I am 99% sure this is the record I once owned:
https://voguethepicturerecord.com/project/r782/
You can see all the other Vogue discs on this terrific website:
https://voguethepicturerecord.com/
Thanks for coming to Jerry's platter party, good buddy Kirk, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Hi Jerry! Good to see you and hear some of your favorite sounds! I love Marvin Gaye and his early soul songs-he really left good stepping stones for future soul artists. "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is one of my favorites. I haven't heard this one in ages, and remember his smooth voice. I also like the Contours "Whole Lotta Woman". I mainly remember them for "Do You Love Me"!
ReplyDeleteMartha Reeves and The Vandellas always gets my A#1 vote! "HeatWave" is a #1 great! These girls rock this song, which remains timeless! And, Martha...what a voice! The video was really enjoyable.
I like The Videos good Doo Wop sound, and preferred "Love or Infatuation's" slow, danceable mood to "Trickle Trickle". The Exciters and Lee Andrew are groups I do not recognize, but enjoyed seeing the Exciters perform and hearing the nice harmonies in "Teardrops" from Lee Andrews and The Hearts.
I apologize for being late. There's not enough time in a day for me right now. Got to get that Scootie moving to get some shopping done. We are having beautiful weather now, and I love it! Thank you Jerry for this fun post.
Take care dear friend Shady!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks for coming over on your Sunday, dear friend!
I'm delighted that you chose to set your dial to SPMM Retro Radio and catch the 4th oldies show presented at Shady's Place by one of Philly's Phinest - Jerry Blavat - The Boss with the Big Hot Sauce.
I read that Marvin Gayle grew increasingly unhappy doing Motown love songs year after year because he yearned to go deeper, However I prefer his early career output to his later period when he turned introspective and recorded social awareness songs. They are great recordings, but the fun was gone. Whenever I hear Marvin's "Too Busy," it reminds me of the 1968 Edwin Starr single "My Weakness Is You." On both records, the drum beats sound like a tomtom, kinda like an Apache war drum. Here's Edwin's "My Weakness Is You":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcN-vjTW-zM
Do you hear the drum's similarity to "Too Busy"? On Marvin's earlier hit "Grapevine," the drum starts out sounding like a beating heart and then goes more with the tomtom rhythm.
I'm also pleased that you mentioned that rarity by The Contours, their first release, different in sound and style from their signature song "Do You Love Me." As I have often stated, I prefer the DC5 cover of that song. "Whole Lotta Woman" reminds me of the Larry Williams song "Short Fat Fannie." On that early recording, The Contours sound like a cross between Don Gardner and Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
I am also excited that you appreciated the showender, that nicely produced video incorporating a vintage taped performance by The Vandellas married to a remastered and extended studio soundtrack. It's a thriller! I love that throaty sax. Turn it up loud and you are right back there in the late summer and fall of 1963, just before the bubble broke the day JFK was assassinated.
Seems you found a lot to like in this volume of The Geator. I know you are up to your ears with holiday preps and I thank you again for making time for a visit. Please take good care of yourself and Scootie and have a wonderful week, dear friend Suzanne!
Shady, I agree with you about Marvin Gaye. I think he, like so many other artists were feeling lost in a "Beatles" world, and with the introduction of psychedelic colors and happenings, they kinda wanted to move in that direction without losing too much of their earlier clout. I listened to Edwin Starr's "My Weakness is You", and I have to say "point taken" to you regarding the similarities to Marvin's "Too Busy".
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Shady!
I always liked DC5 forever, but I do like The Contours "Do You Love Me" better. Guess in some respects I'm an old dog, even though I favor a lot of covers by other artists!
Thanks for taking additional time to listen to that Edwin Starr single, Suzanne. That tomtom sound was probably used on other Motown recordings circa 1968-69 although I can't name any off the top of my head.
DeleteI don't know why, but I like almost every other Contours release more than their biggest hit. The cover of "Do You Love Me" by the DC5 is my favorite record by that Brit band. It is one of first three 45s in my collection. I bought all three the same day in the spring of 1964 when my dad took me to the grand opening of the new E.J. Korvette store in Camp Hill, PA. The other two records I bought that day were The Beach Boys' "I Get Around" b/w "Don't Worry Baby" and "Please Please Me"/"From Me To You," the monster doublesider hit U.S. reissue of "Please Please Me" which, incredibly, had flopped in America when originally released a year earlier.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Suzanne!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say, thanks for dropping by CAAC while I've been away in Blogosphere. As I pointed out in this morning's post I had intended to visit occasionally but time didn't allow it. We had to get somethings done before colder weather settles into our area for good.
All of these songs are new-to-me, except for Stormy Weather. Of course, I don't remember which artists' version I'm most familiar with. Perhaps, it's Etta James. Wiki informs me this song was first sung in 1933 by Ethel Waters in The Cotton Club and later that year recorded by UK singer, Frances Langford. My daddy wasn't even born yet.
Excellent post as always. Have a great day, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks so much for dropping in, dear friend! As I told you a while ago, I am getting a late start on the day because of tech problems - no sound. Can't do much blogging without it. I very much appreciate your visit knowing your days are increasingly hectic with winterizing and holiday preps.
It's funny how the Fiction & Fact from The Geator's Almanac story about the rarity and value of that "Stormy Weather" recording is getting the bulk of the attention, when the song itself isn't even part of Jerry's playlist for this show. Check your attic, basement and garage to see if you own a 78 or 45 of that song by a vocal group called The Five Sharps. If so, you're rich! :) Thanks for giving additional background on the artists who have famously performed and recorded the song.
Thanks again for your cheery visit and comment, dear friend Cathy. Take care, have a tunetastic week, and I hope to see you again when time permits.