In this edition of the series I have four of a kind plus
an extra pair up my sleeve - a mix of originals and covers.
I am curious to know which version or versions you prefer.
I might be a wild card and
a joker... but I'm no poker.
Therefore, without further delay, I will introduce
the kings and queens of song in today's post.
Remember, ladies and gentlemen...
This is only an exhibition... This is not a competition... Please... no wagering.
BRENDA LEE
Nicknamed "Little Miss Dynamite,"
country, pop, rock & roll and rock-
abilly artist Brenda Lee was one of
the most successful female singers
of the 60s. In April, 1960, Brenda's
single "Sweet Nothin's," written by
Ronnie Self, reached the top 3 on
Cash Box and #4 on Billboard.
"Sweet Nothin's" - Brenda Lee
(Mar./Apr. 1960, highest chart pos.
#3 Cash Box/#4 Hot 100, perf. on
Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show)
CASI JOY
Now here's a delightful cover of "Sweet Nothin's" performed
by a country artist from Kanas City who appeared on season 12
of The Voice. Meet zesty zinger Casi Joy (and her dog)!
"Sweet Nothin's" - Brenda Lee cover by Casi Joy
(Mar. 2018)
WANDA JACKSON
The next "Sweet Nothin's" cover is by rock & roll pioneer Wanda Jackson,
nicknamed The Queen of Rockabilly and The First Lady of Rockabilly.
Wanda released her version on the 1982 album Let's Have A Party.
"Sweet Nothin's" - Wanda Jackson
(from 1982 album Let's Have A Party)
HELEN SHAPIRO
In 1962 English sparrow Helen Shapiro released her debut album
containing covers of hits made famous by other artists. One of
the songs is a more than capable cover of "Sweet Nothin's."
"Sweet Nothin's" - Helen Shapiro
(from 1962 album 'Tops' With Me)
FLEETWOOD MAC
Released as the second single from Fleetwood Mac's best-selling,
chart-topping 1977 album Rumours, the song "Dreams" also
reached the #1 spot on the U.S. chart, the only single
by the band to reach the top spot.
"Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac (May/June 1977, highest chart pos.
#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box, from Feb. 1977 album Rumours)
THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW
Now enjoy this fine cover of "Dreams" by Jess Harwood
fronting the UK based tribute band The Classic Rock Show.
HEADPHONES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR SPMM RADIO BLOGCASTS.
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
Ernest P. Worrell's
Rock-A-Billygoat
on the station that's #1 for music and fun - S-P-M-M!
PIGGYBACK COLD OPEN:
CLICK TO PLAY FIRST VIDEO. AT 10 SECOND MARK, CLICK TO START SECOND VIDEO!
"Rock The Bop" - Brenda Lee
(Dec. 1957, uncharted B side of "Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues")
From Christmas 1957 and the early weeks of 1958, that was Little Miss Dynamite, Brenda Lee, rockin' the bop and kickin' off
another heartland hoedown hootnanny here on S-P-M-M.
Howdy, Vern! This here's your old buddy
Ernest P. Worrell back with my second
set of sizzlers to Rock-A-Billygoat. On
my show you hear the greatest sounds
of early rock 'n' roll, rock 'n roll revival,
rockabilly and all that good stuff. I just
popped open an ice cold Meller Yeller
and I'm ready to spin stacks of wax, so
let's boogie, know what I mean, Vern?
Taint none of my beeswax, Vern, but
you look a little green around the gills
this morning. Fess up, Vern. What
happened? What'd ya do? Out all
night and runnin' wild, your
woman sittin' home with
a month old child?
Hey, got somethin' for you, Vern.
This cool cat is from Devonshire,
England, but to hear him sing
you'd swear he was born and
raised in Tupelo. He's an Elvis
the Pelvis impersonator by
the name of Johnny Earl.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
This fella bills himself as "the closest sounding Elvis sound alike on the planet."
Listen and you'll understand why. Heeeeeeeere's Johnny... along with Elvis's
famous backing singers, The Jordanaires, doing one of Presley's most
pleasing platters-- "Fame And Fortune!"
"Fame And Fortune" - Johnny Earle And The Jordanaires
(from 1997 album With Elvis In Mind and Dec. 2010 CD
Shades of Elvis: Memphis Music)
Is it Elvis... or is it Memorex? Taint neither. Don't let your ears fool ya, Vern.
That was Brit boy Johnny Earle with The Jordanaires doing his best Presley
on "Fame And Fortune," a song from his 1997 album With Elvis In Mind.
This boy, Bobby Vee, hails from Fargo.
Bobby's career was born The Day the
Music Died. When Bobby's idol Buddy
Holly was killed in a plane crash on the
way to a gig in Minnesota, Bobby and
his band filled in at the show and the
crowd loved them. Bobby went on to
become a pop idol, but his rockabilly
roots were showing in 1962 the day
he went into the studio with Buddy's
band The Crickets and cut an album.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Here they are, Vern, Bobby Vee along with The Crickets
covering one of Buddy Holly's best known hits-- "Peggy Sue"
"Peggy Sue" - Bobby Vee And The Crickets
(from July 1962 album Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets)
BOOTH ANNOUNCER:
It's another
Ernest P. Worrell
(ECHO CHAMBER)
DOUBLE PLAY-ay-ay-ay!
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
That's right, Vern, you can't play The Crickets with a sticky wicket,
and that why I sprayed Teflon on my turntable. Bobby's back
with Buddy's band, and this is-- "Someday!"
"Someday (When I'm Gone From You)" - Bobby Vee And The Crickets
(Aug. 1962, B side of "Punish Her," from July 1962 album
Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets)
You just heard a double dose of Bobby Vee fronting Buddy Holly's band
The Crickets on "Someday (When I'm Gone From You)," and before
that "Peggy Sue," a ditty that made Rolling Stone magazine's
list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Together they're gonna do a nifty cover of a hit by Phil and Don -
The Everly Brothers. Amy and her daddy sing-- "Walk Right Back!"
"Walk Right Back" - Amy Slattery & Her Dad (Everly Bros. cover)
(Feb. 2018, orig. single Mar./Apr. 1961, highest chart pos. #7)
That was purty little Amy Slattery, the British gal who sings, plays a hundred
instruments and covers The Beatles like nobody's beeswax, this time paying
tribute to Phil & Don with a little help from her musical daddy, as they
performed The Everlys' 1961 hit "Walk Right Back."
Hello there. In case you just crawled
out from under a rock, you're tuned to
Ernest P. Worrell's Rock-A-Billygoat
here on S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio,
home of The Shady Bunch, where
we always plow through a six pack
and toss in another cool one for the
road. Now this fella's a country
pop artist who sings, plays and
records in a style now known
as progressive country.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
In 1973 he lit up the charts with the song you're listening to right now.
B.W. Stevenson's his name, and this is-- "My Maria!"
"My Maria" - B.W. Stevenson
(Aug. to Oct. '73, highest chart pos. #7 Cash Box/#9 Hot 100)
That was B.W. Stevenson with "My Maria," a top 10 crossover hit from the fall of '73.
Dad-birnit, I'm fresh outta tunes,
plumb outta time, and I gotta run.
(My bladder's about to burst from
drinkin' too much Meller Yeller.)
Hey Vern... if you like what you
heard today on Rock-A-Billygoat,
then stick around, 'cause I'll be back
with another batch of Texas two-step
toe-tappers before you can say "Reba."
In the meantime, in between time, stay put for another exciting edition of the
series That Was Then - This Is Now
coming up on the flip side of news.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
So, until we meet again, this is your old buddy Errnest P. Worrell sayin' so long
and wishin' you green skies and blue lights, uh, I mean blue skies and green lights.
That means keep the bugs off your glass and smokey off your tail, don't take any
wooden nickels, and don't do anything I wouldn't do...know what I mean Vern?
"Susie-Q" - Dale Hawkins
(July/Aug. 1957, highest chart pos. #27 Hot 100/#47 Cash Box)
