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)
"The 81" - Candy And The Kisses
(Dec, 1964/Jan. 1965, highest chart pos.
#39 Cash Box/#51 Hot 100 & R&B)
Kicking-off the show with a sizzling sound that was big up and down the East Coast
at Christmas, 1964... a record that reached it's peak in the top 40 on Cash Box the
first week of '65. It was a song about a new dance going around called "The 81,"
and it was recorded by Candy & The Kisses, a girl trio from Staten Island.
Greetings and sal-u-ta-tions! I am the Geator with the Heater.
I am the Boss with the Big Hot Sauce, welcoming you in for
a special all-girl edition of Geator Gold! Every record I'll
be playing was made by a female artist or girl group.
If you're ready, let's spin more Geator Gold!
"The 81" by Candy And The Kisses is
an example of the "cool" brand of soul
that came out of Philadelphia in the mid
to late 1960s. When fans of the genre
talk about cool Philly soul, this next
song and this next artist are most
certainly mentioned in the conver-
sation.You would be hard pressed
to find a cooler sound that this
one by Dee Dee Sharp.
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
Dee Dee is best known for her up tempo dance ditties, but some say this mature
and mellow song is her greatest recording. Geator Gold proudly presents
one of Philly's Phinest, Miss Dee Dee Sharp and-- "I Really Love You!"
"I Really Love You" - Dee Dee Sharp
(Jan. 1966, highest chart pos. #37 R&B/#78 Hot 100)
That was Philadelphia's own sultry soul siren Dee Dee Sharp singing
"I Really Love You," a sophisticated soul classic and a far cry from
"Mashed Potato Time," "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" and
other dance-pop songs she recorded at the start of her career.
Up next, a girl group everybody
knows, Martha And The Vandellas.
In the spring of 1965, the Motown
trio appeared on the British TV
special Ready, Steady, Go!
The Sound of Motown.
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
The Vandellas were fantastic and
bombastic as they performed their
latest hit-- "Nowhere To Run!"
"Nowhere To Run - Martha And The Vandellas
(Mar./Apr. 1965, highest chart pos. #5 R&B, #8 Hot 100,
#9 Cash Box, live perf. on Apr. 28, 1965, on British TV
special Ready, Steady, Go! The Sound of Motown)
One of the hottest sounds ever to come out of Motown, that was
Martha Reeves and her group The Vandellas on TV in the UK
doing "Nowhere To Run" a single that went top 5 on the U.S.
R&B chart and top 10 pop. Believe it or not, the record was
produced using the clinking sound of snow chains as
percussion along with the tambourine and drums.
If you're just tuning in, I'm Jerry Blavat -
The Geator with the Heater - and this
is Geator Gold on S-P-M-M...
the station with personality.
My parade of female artists continues now
with Sheila Ross and her Royalettes, a family
R&B group from Baltimore. The Royalettes
are best known for the song "It's Gonna Take
A Miracle," a hit single penned and produced
by Teddy Randazzo, the man responsible for
a string of hits by Little Anthony And The
Imperials. I'd like to play two other great
records by The Royalettes, starting with
a single from the fall of 1963.
START THE VIDEO NOW!
Here's "Blue Summer," a song similar to "Our Day Will Come"
and "My Summer Love," back-to-back hits for Ruby And
The Romantics earlier that year.
"Blue Summer" - The Royalettes
(Sept. 1963, highest chart pos. #121 Bubbling Under)
On Geator Gold we program from the heart, not from the chart, and you just heard
one of the reasons why - "Blue Summer" by The Royalettes - a record that shoulda
been, coulda been and woulda been a hit, but instead, it merely Bubbled Under.
Many of my teen kings and teen queens
are familiar with Philadelphia pop-soul
songstress Barbara Mason's 1965 hit
"Yes, I'm Ready." But you might not
know that The Royalettes covered
the song on their 1965 album
It's Gonna Take A Miracle.
START THE VIDEO NOW!
Had it been released as a single, this cover
might have been a hit for The Royalettes
because it rivals and, in the ears of
some, surpasses the original.
What do your ears say?
"Yes, I'm Ready" - Barbara Mason cover by The Royalettes
(from 1965 album It's Gonna Take A Miracle)
You just heard two smooth grooves in a
row by The Royalettes, a girl group from
Baltimore. Now here's yet another fine but
underrated female group... this one a trio
from down the road in Washington, D.C.
START THE VIDEO NOW!
They're The Fuzz... and in the spring of '71, this
became their biggest hit, a record that made the
top 10 on the R&B chart and crossed over to
crack the top 20 on the pop survey. This cool
sound knocks me out cold... The Fuzz and
"I Love You For All Seasons."
"I Love You For All Seasons" - The Fuzz (Apr./May 1971,
highest chart pos. #10 R&B/#20 Cash Box/#21 Hot 100)
You just experienced the ice cool sound of The Fuzz doing their biggie,
"I Love You For All Seasons," a slow jam that has truly stood the test of time.
Shady says I have time for one last record,
And, speaking of time, as all good things
must come to an end... so too must this
special all-girl edition of my show.
Don't touch that dial. Keep it here on
S-P-M-M... the station with personality.
Coming up on the B side of Gary Owens'
news, it's the debut of the long awaited,
much anticipated Shady's Place series
Joyce Martin's a Gold Digger.
I hope she digs the Geator's Gold.
so here it is, a song waxed by the reinvented
Supremes with Jean Terrell as the Motown
super-group's new lead singer. This platter
started up the chart in the spring of '71 as
the one by The Fuzz was reaching its peak.
It's the lead single from the Supremes' 23rd studio album Touch. The Geator
wants you to put your ear close to the radio and listen carefully, because this
is an unusual and innovative recording for The Supremes. All three members,
Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong, sing the song's lead vocal
in unison, and they are joined by veteran session singer Clydie King.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
In addition, as you will hear, the sound is sculpted with a phase shifting effect
applied to The Funk Brothers' backing track. "Winter's past, spring, and fall,"
and "Nathan Jones," the former lover who ghosted our heroine, is still in
the wind. Now this is The Geator with the Heater saying so long and
reminding you to keep on rockin'... 'cause you only rock once!
"Nathan Jones" - The Supremes (May/June 1971,
highest chart pos. #8 R&B/#10 Cash Box, #16 Hot 100)
Good morning Shady!
ReplyDeleteI'm only familiar with Martha and the Vandellas and the Supremes. You chose two of my favourite songs by these groups. I always loved their songs; Martha Reeves and Diana Ross were so talented. I love their voices.
The other songs I wasn't familiar with, but I loved "The 81" and the Royalettes. The Royalettes remind me a little of the Supremes, especially with what the songs were about. The voice and instrumentals also sound similar. I might have to YouTube more of the Royalettes, I'm digging their style.
I might have to also Google "The 81." I would love to see this dance; I've never heard of it. I might have to ask dad if he remembers. He might have been too young. He would have been 9 at the time. Mom was just a few months old when that was released.
I'm off today because of Hurricane Ida. We are flooded and some areas had tornadoes. We are safe. This was such a sweet distraction and it felt like I was going to the sock hop. :)
Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for scooting over to become this week's Early Bird, dear friend. The gold medallion is yours!
I'm alarmed to learn that you guys were hit hard by Ida. So far, we have been very lucky here in Florida, but the tropical storm season has a long way to go.
I'm happy that you dug The Geator's Gold. "The 81" was written by two giants of East Coast music - Kenny Gamble and Jerry Ross - and based on a popular Philly dance, but I never saw a video showing how it is done until just now. I just discovered this video shot ten years ago at a Geator sock hop (filled with senior citizens). The dance looks pretty awkward to me, assuming they are doing it correctly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZzKJqlNZzc
I'm sure the young people of the 60s were better at doing "The 81." I'd be surprised if your dad remembers the record or the dance, but you can ask him.
Down the road a piece in Baltimore, you found The Royalettes. I'm pleased that you like their sound. So do I. I'm excited that you enjoyed The Vandellas, the reinvented Supremes and the others you mentioned.
Enjoy your day off work and have a safe and Thankful Thursday, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI think I've done "The 81"! I can't dance to save my life and this is how I look when I try! Thanks for the giggle. I'm glad whatever I do has a name! LOL!
I'm really surprised too. Climate change, dear friend. We have a prediction that this weather will probably start becoming common in the Northeast, sadly. I'm just glad we were okay and my cousin in NYC was okay too. New York and New Jersey all declared states of emergency. I think Montco, PA and Philly might have as well.
I'll ask dad. He might not, but it'll be fun to ask him. I might have to show him this entry. :)
Have a great rest of your Thankful Thursday.
Hi again, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for returning to discuss "The 81" dance. If you watch those senior citizens (most of them probably younger than I am now) dancing "The 81" at Jerry's record hop, it seems like they are all doing different hand and arm movements. No matter what you do when you dance, I'm sure you matched some of their moves, so yes, it's safe to say that you already know how to do "The 81." :)
I watched the live news coverage late in the morning and was astonished how bad the flooding is up in your neck of the woods. They said it was worse than hurricane Agnes in 1972 in some areas. They call it a 500 year event, but like you mentioned, when you take climate change into account, we might be seeing these extremes occurring much more often than before. You have a lot to be thankful for this Thursday if you are safe and dry and have electricity.
Thanks again for reporting in, dear friend JM, and enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI'm going to bring back "The 81"! :D I think we probably all still dance "The 81." Make dancing fun again! That's a slogan I can get behind. :)
Indeed. I returned to Shabbat (Zoom) service on Saturday and we all felt blessed. We all had homes, food, electricity. We were safe and alive. Rosh Hashanah starts tonight at sundown; it's the beginning of a new Jewish year. We tend to count our blessings at the new year.
I didn't get a chance to show dad these videos. I've been busy prepping for Rosh Hashanah. Happy Labor Day, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for returning for another shot of Geator Gold, dear friend! At least we know that your dad remembers Jerry Blavat, so there's that.
If that goofy "Chicken Dance" managed to become a popular fad throughout the Western world, and Peter Griffin's "The Bird Is The Word" spread like wildfire, then there's a good chance "The 81" will make a comeback and become a thing again in the 2020s.
Yessum, you have many blessings to count as you observe Rosh Hashanah this eve at sundown.
I've got a new post starting tamale that's hosted by one of my favorite actresses. I hope you can stop by during its run. Have a wonderful week, dear friend JM!
I knew the Supremes song! Most of the others were before my time.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteNice of you to stop in, good buddy. You take second place in the Early Bird race!
Reaching its zenith on the chart in the spring of 1971, "Nathan Jones" is the most "recent" recording in this volume 5 all-girl special edition of Geator Gold. It was also a top 10 crossover hit. For those reasons, it makes sense that you best remember that single by Jean and her SUpremes.
Thanks for dropping by, good buddy Alex, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Other than The Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas.... these were new-to-me names. Good music all around, though.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteWelcome in, dear friend! How's my good buddy Pat? You're 3rd in the Early Bird scramble, and I thank you for dropping by!
Yessum, The Motown girl groups, The Vandellas and The Supremes, are the two most successful acts on the bill in this edition of Jerry Blavat's show Geator Gold. The other artists were based on the East Coast - Philly, New York, Baltimore and Washington. They and their songs were popular in our neck of the woods, but most were not as well known or successfully nationally, even though they had ample talent, great material and recordings and looked and dressed like the Motown ladies. So it goes in the fickle record business.
I'm glad you enjoyed the songs in this all-female edition of Geator Gold. Thanks again for coming and enjoy the rest of your week and weekend, dear friend Kelly!
Good-morning, Tom!
ReplyDeleteFriday is once again and it's a long weekend at that. These Motown classics are some good old oldies, many of them I recall from yesterday and have gotten their share of play time throughout the years since their release. As I've mentioned before, much of the time when I was younger I never caught who did what and only knew the artists I was mostly in tuned with in the day. I don't remember the girl band Candy and the Kisses but I just the name! That was a time when girls didn't mind being girls which goes without saying boys liked being boys and no one got offended. It makes me giggle when I stumble on these cutesy girl bands. Anywho, I don't remember their song, "The 81". I was only three when it came out and although it was on the Hot 100 R&B chart it never crossed my ears before now. I couldn't remember or just didn't know The Royalettes did "Yes I'm Ready" but it was nice to hear this song again. It's been awhile since I've heard it. I remember when Diana Ross was with The Supremes but after they broke up, I don't recall hearing much by them. They certainly had beautiful voices and in my opinion didn't necessarily need Diana Ross as the front vocalist. These lovelies pulled me back, wayback to yesterday, a time when girls liked being girls...ahhh, I loved those days. Thanks for sharing these great soul hits from the past, my friend. Have a funtastic Friday!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for coming to Jerry Blavat's "81 Smooches" platter party, dear friend!
Yessum, The Geator's vol. 5 lineup consists of two well known Motown girl groups, a female solo artist from Jerry's home turf in Philadelphia, and girl groups from New York, Baltimore and Washington. As years go by, I am increasingly aware of how lucky I was to have grown up in South Central PA, a hub of soul and R&B. Motown was a big influence on the youth in my area, but the sounds coming out of NY, Philly, Baltimore and D.C. were also wildly popular. Jerry Blavat's SPMM show, along with those of Hy Lit, Joe Niagara and Arnie Ginsburg, will bring you these great local and regional hits. Many of them will be new to your ears.
The group name "Candy And The Kisses" probably referred to Hershey's Kisses, not smooches. In my neck of the woods, we called that candy treat "Hershey Buds." I never even heard them referred to as "Kisses" until I went off to college!
Philadelphia songbird Barbara Mason had the big hit with "Yes, I'm Ready," but this cover by The Royalettes is a fine one, IMO. I just discovered it a couple of weeks ago. Another huge and very recent discovery for me is The Fuzz and their song "I Love You For All Seasons (And For So Many Reasons)." The single was very big in my vicinity, but I hadn't heard it since the year it rode the charts, 1971. It's one of the greatest examples of the "ice cool" R&B/soul sound that kids along the East Coast loved. (I'm lumping Central PA in with "East Coast," and Pittsburgh would also be included, because that city was another mecca for soulful sounds.)
Many people preferred the new lineup of Supremes that formed in the wake of the departure of Diana Ross, because the new lead singer, Jean Terrell, transformed the group's sound from vanilla pop soul to genuine R&B soul. Yessum, the talented ladies in this all-female special looked chic and elegant and were proud of their femininity. I miss those years as much as you do.
Thanks again for checking out volume 5 of Geator Gold, dear friend Cathy. I wish you and DH a peaceful, restful and happy weekend!
Tom,
DeleteAnd, I thought "The Kisses" was a reference to smooches. I grew up calling the Hershey Buds "Kisses". It wasn't until recent years while doing Internet research that I learned that these little chocolate nuggets were originally named "Buds". They certainly don't look like a kiss but it does sound cuter so I'm sure it was marketing strategy to boost sells. Jean Terrell was right to transform the groups to Detroit grassroots' R&B sound. The woman from yesterday were proud indeed of their femininity and like you, I miss the days when women were proud of their God given beauty in every way. Thanks for joining me on the 4M dance floor yesterday, my friend. Have a boogietastic week!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteIt's a pleasant surprise to see you in my space again today, dear friend! I grew up in an area where the King's English was mixed with a heapin' helpin' of Pennsylvania Dutch. On a daily basis, we used words and expressions that people outside our region never heard before. I learned that the hard way when I encountered difficulties when meeting and conversing with other students on the campus of Penn State my freshman year. If they came from other parts of the Keystone or other states, they didn't understand some of the things I said. It was awkward, and basically I needed to learn a whole new language, the "correct" words and phrases to express myself.
I'm glad you appreciate the extra dash of soul that went into the new Supremes formula led by Jean Terrell. You and I are in total agreement about women and men alike celebrating the beauty and femininity of women. If a woman is beautiful and feminine, it does not mean she can't also be strong and highly accomplished.
Thanks again for coming to chat. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cathy. I know I'll be connecting with you again soon!
Good beautiful chilly morning Shady! (It's in the 40's this AM!) Good tunes this day but I really only remember the Supremes and the Vandellas. I do remember the song the Royalettes sang here today..Yes, I'm Ready...and they did a good cover! Of course you know we have a special love of the Vandellas here as Annette Beard Simmmons lives here with her husband Dan. He's a nurse I worked with at the hospital years ago. She does guest appearances now and then at the nursing home where he has worked. Plus I got to have a lovely conversation with her when Dan had surgery a few years ago. So I'm heading off to my walking time this morning. Trying to get back into the walk routine after having stopped because of my surgery. Have a lovely Labor Day weekend. My brother Phil just moved back to Florida from Panama. He's in Fort Myers now. I might have to take a winter break down there! Take care Shady! P.S..thank you for all your sweet comments after losing our pet. I know you have a soft spot for all the furry friends that go with your blog friends and I appreciate all your thoughts for us over the years. Big hugs from Ohio!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks a lot for swinging by and tuning in to Jerry Blavat's radio show Geator Gold.
Oh, my goodness! It's hard for me to believe the temp plunged to 40 degrees this morning in your part of Ohio. I'll bet that cold air is refreshing and invigorating. How I would love to escape this relentless buggy heat and humidity and stroll through your Creepy Woods in search of the elusive Abominable Snowman! :) (Actually, I'd settle for visiting that family of alpacas at the end of the trail.)
I'm thrilled that you enjoyed these soulful treats rendered by female artists. Yessum, I remember you mentioning Annette of The Vandellas living in your vicinity. I wish I could have attended some of her shows at the nursing home. The clip I found for this show, The Vandellas appearing on the English TV music show Ready, Steady, GO!... is probably the most exciting performance I've ever seen by Martha Reeves and her group. They were really cooking on that 1965 special devoted to "The Sound of Motown." Isn't it interesting how we only see the legs of the dancers on those cutaway shots? You never see their faces! I think that camera placement decision enhanced the power, excitement and credibility of The Vandellas' performance.
I hope you enjoy your walk today and regain your full strength. It pains me that you will be walking alone without your wonderful Arnie by your side. You know me well, Kath. When I was a boy, I wasn't allowed to have a dog, even though I begged my folks year after year. In my adult life, I have been making up for it by giving love to every dog I meet, to my Toto, and to the dogs of great friends like you in the blog world. I take it hard when a friend loses a pet, because I remember how I felt after losing Toto. I still miss her. The loss of your Arnie came only a week after another friend, Kelly, lost her dog Jed. I hope Addy Rae Rae and your other grandkiddos who visited and loved Arnie are adjusting to life without him. He will always be remembered, as will Eddy, your screechy kitty, and all the other animals that have come and gone from The Pines and from your life.
Thanks again for coming to Jerry's sock hop. Have a fine day, dear friend YaYa, and a restful and peaceful weekend. See you soon.
Good morning my friend. "Nowhere to Run" is my favorite of this collection. I have heard (or let's say I remember hearing) "I Really Love You" and "Yes, I'm Ready," but the other ones I can't say I've heard before. Somehow the Supremes don't sound quite the same without Diana Ross. She is one performer that I would like to see if she comes around my area. Tonight we are going to our favorite winery to see Tower of Power and Sunday we return to see Chicago. Wednesday is Pat Benatar and John Waite and then we have a couple of weeks break before our last (so far) show, Chris Isaak at the end of the month. We "had" to pick at least three shows in order to keep our loyalty status for next season at the Mountain Winery. Thank goodness I got the tickets before the plumbing issues hit or I may not have wanted to spend the money. You have to make your choices, right? Have a terrific weekend my friend. I've been pretty quiet on my blog but hopefully I'll get a post in soon.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet!
DeleteI'm excited to see you, dear friend! Thank you for coming so early (Pacific time) to listen to Geator Gold on SPMM. I hope Jerry's tuneage put you in a good mood to start your Friday.
As a longtime resident of the West Coast, it isn't surprising that most of these East Coast nuggets are new to your ears, especially the more obscure ones that didn't catch on in other parts of the country. "Nowhere To Run" is the best known of all the tunes in this edition of Jerry's show. I'm pleasantly surprised that you remember Philly diva Dee Dee Sharp's mature single "I Really Love You," a song treasured by Northern Soul enthusiasts much more than the dance-oriented ditties that are her claim to fame and biggest hits. Many fans think the new Supremes sounded better without Diana Ross because the group gained legitimacy as R&B soul artists.
Wow, you and your hubby will be attending some exciting live shows at The Winery! Stay safe and healthy. I hope all of the artists' shows live up to expectations. My picks would be Chicago and Pat Benatar. Clips you posted on your blog last year of Pat's performances at your local venues revealed that she still has a strong voice and puts on an A+ show. I hope your plumbing problem has been resolved so you can forget about those pesky pipes and focus on work and fun, including walks with my buddy Benny.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Janet. Have a safe and happy weekend and I hope to see you again soon!
I only recognized Nowhere To Run by Martha And The Vandellas. I've heard other songs by The Supremes but not this one.
ReplyDeleteHope your having a good week.
Hi, Mary!
DeleteHow are you and my buddy Falcor today? Thanks for tuning in to Jerry Blavat's Geator Gold!
Yessum, I know you are quite young and don't recognize many of the Boomer tunes The Shady Bunch deejays play. Add to that the fact that you live in the Western states, and many of the songs played by The Geator, Hy Lit and Joe Niagara were East Coast regional hits. To sum it up, you can't be expected to know many of the oldies you hear at Shady's Place, but I do hope you enjoy some of them. "Nathan Jones" is one of the hit singles released by the new lineup of Supremes that came about after Diana Ross left the group to start a solo career.
Thanks again for swinging by, dear friend Mary. I'll see you tamale when you give us an update on Apartment Life on your block in Vegas! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Well, I certainly know Martha and the Vandellas and "Nowhere to Run". I knew "Yes I'm Ready" but couldn't remember who sang it. If you had fibbed and told me the Royalettes had done the original I probably would have believed you, even AFTER I listened to it.
DeleteI remember "I Love You for All Seasons" but, again, couldn't remember who did it. The Fuzz? Well, there was a band called The Police...
The rest of the songs (though not necessarily the artists themselves) are new to me. Of those, my favorite is your (or Jerry Blavat's) first selection, "81" by Candy and the Kisses (What a name--I feel like it's time for trick or treat.)
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for staying up x-tra late to read, listen and comment, good buddy!
In every volume of Jerry's Geator Gold, Hyski's Natural Hy and Joe Niagara's Knocked Out Nifties, I (reluctantly) try to include one familiar hit song by a big name artist, but I certainly don't want to waste "air time" playing worn out million sellers that everybody's heard ad nauseam throughout the years. In order for these tributes to Philadelphia-based radio shows of the 50s and 60s to be authentic, they need to consist mostly of minor hits, non-hits, complete misses, obscure B sides and album tracks by local and regional artists. Going out of your way to avoid playing predictable hits is the essence of the "Northern Soul" movement that swept across Northern England in the late 60s and remains a vibrant club scene to this day. You might find it interesting to read how Wiki describes the phenomenon, which also reminds me of what was happening with the Rodentia Intelligentsia at The Shady Dell during the 60s: << Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged in Northern England and the English Midlands in the late 1960s from the British mod scene, based on a particular style of black American soul music, especially from the mid-1960s, with a heavy beat and fast tempo (100 bpm and above) or American soul music from northern cities such as Detroit, Chicago and others.
The northern soul movement generally eschews Motown or Motown-influenced music that has had significant mainstream commercial success. The recordings most prized by enthusiasts of the genre are usually by lesser-known artists, released only in limited numbers, often by American labels such as Vee-Jay Records, Chess Records, Brunswick Records, Ric-Tic, Gordy Records, Golden World Records (Detroit), Mirwood Records (Los Angeles), Shout Records and Okeh.
Northern soul is associated with particular dance styles and fashions that grew out of the underground rhythm and soul scene of the late 1960s at venues such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. This scene and the associated dances and fashions quickly spread to other UK dancehalls and nightclubs like the Wigan Casino, Blackpool Mecca (the Highland Room), and Golden Torch (Stoke-on-Trent). >> Jerry, Hy and Joe are also lovers of black and white doo-wop groups and their recordings. You will hear many gems of that genre on their respective programs.
I'm truly thrilled to know that you remember The Fuzz and their lone hit "For All Seasons." It was like a bolt from the blue when I discovered that song recently on YouTube, loving but not having heard it since the early 70s. I don't know why I didn't add that record to my vinyl collection way back when. I am also excited that you singled out the dance song "The 81" by Staten Islanders Candy And The Kisses. It was definitely a biggie in Phillyland and in York, PA, and yes I did have that record in my collection.
Thanks again for dropping by, Kirk. I have a new post starting tamale that covers the hit parade sounds of top 40 radio stations across Pennsylvania and also pays tribute to one of my favorite movies and actresses. I hope you can check it out. Have a great week, good buddy!
Hi Shady! I read and sang along with this post several days ago, but just couldn't stay for comment. I have to say it was a great one.
ReplyDeleteI had a portable, reel to reel Panasonic tape recorder in the later 60's and it was fun...later stolen from my car! One of my classmates and her younger sister would sing with me, and we recorded "Yes I'm Ready" in their bedroom. Of course, I remember the Barbara Mason version, but the Royalettes do the song great justice. My clasmate's younger sister would sing lead on this one, she was so good for a 6th grader!
Martha and The Vandellas always struck my fancy for entertaining maybe a bit more than the Supremes! They just couldn't stand still while performing...loaded with soul! I really enjoyed their video "Nowhere to Run".
Love the young picture of "The Geator". He did a fantastic job on this post. I also adore Dee Dee Sharp.
I apologize for the tardiness, and I will try to slide by your new post, Shady! Take care, dear friend!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! As much as I miss your interesting stories and observations when you are absent from the platter party, just knowing that you and Scootie are AOK is all that matters to me. That said, I am relieved to hear from you.
Thanks for sharing that neat story about you and your friends tape recording your version of "Yes, I'm Ready." I wish you could lay hands on that tape and post it on one of your blogs. It would be a thrill to hear it. Just think, if you girls had somehow gotten that homemade tape in front of a record producer, the three of you might have been "discovered' and went on to become the next Supremes or Vandellas! I'm happy that you think Baltimore's Royalettes do justice to Philly thrush Barbara Mason's hit song. "Loaded with soul" is a great way to describe The Vandellas. If you watch that video closely, the one of their appearance on that Motown special edition of the UK show Ready, Steady Go!, the gals really have their Motor City motors revved up and running on all cylinders. Glad you also gave a nod to Dee Dee Sharp, another diva who is loaded with soul, especially on "I Really Love You."
Thanks again for coming, dear friend Suzanne. I'm delighted that you got some enjoyment out of this edition of Geator Gold and that the all-girl lineup triggered fond memories. God bless!
I am so behind! To say I am exhausted is an understatement....lol. Hubby got out of the hospital last Wednesday and all they did was put a stint in his ureter. His hernia operation is Sept. 28th, His kidney stone removal is for Oct 5th and my full hysterectomy is for Oct. 12th. If I don't get this done, I will get cancer so out it comes. You know about my niece which hurt. The fun time was my friend from Vancouver came last Saturday with his boy toy...er...boyfriend who has never seen Niagara Falls or Niagara On The Lake so we did tons of walking. My joint pain has gone through the roof even though I love walking. They left yesterday and I was comatose for most of the day. I need to heal now from the walking. OK enough about moi....I listened to all of these ladies and they are great! I am always surprised at how some gals and gal groups never made it big because they are just as good as the famous ones. Candy Kisses was really good but I really like Dee Dee and the harp at the beginning sold me on the song. I always love Martha and the Vandellas who are such sexy vixens. The Royalettes are so professional sounding and are just as good as the Supremes in my humble opinion. I had a black pussy cat named Fuzz back in the 70s. and I loved that cat. These gals are cool. Wishing you are wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteI can tell that you are run ragged, dear friend. I am so sorry for all you've been going through. It was nice of you to break away and pull double duty to catch up on my posts here at Shady's Place.
Good lord! Between you and your hubby, you've got a lot of medical procedures slated in the weeks ahead! That makes me sad. Avoiding cancer is a top priority, however, and you should try to frame this upcoming hospital stay as a blessing that will spare you that outcome. Time passes quickly, and before you know it, these surgeries will be in the past, and hopefully you and your hubby will be in better shape and in better spirits. If you are experiencing that much pain walking, and if I am not overstepping, perhaps you should look into a total hip replacement. I know from personal experience what it feels like to have bone grinding on bone in a weight bearing joint. I had a total hip replacement in 1983 and have always been thankful for it.
I hope Shady's Place was your oasis today, a chance to forget you troubles for a while. Seems you enjoyed listening to the records played by Joyce Martin (Yvonne Lime) and by The Geator With The Heater (Jerry Blavat). Yessum, I would agree that all of these female artists deserved a greater measure of success. Many times, the smaller independent labels didn't have the resources and clout to adequately promote and distribute records made by the artists on their roster, two essential functions to grooming a successful recording act. MGM was a major label, but it didn't have a very good track record when it came to packaging and promoting black artists.
Yessum, good ear on that harp sound, an unusual and effective hook to capture the listener's attention at the start of Dee Dee's record. So glad you gave props to Candy And The Kisses, The Vandellas, Royalettes and Fuzz.
Thanks for telling me about Fuzz. We have a black cat named Boots aka Tuxedo.
Thank you again for devoting so much time to commenting on my two posts, dear friend BB. Please rest now and have a good weekend. I will keep you and your hubby in my thoughts.