Geator Gold - Vol. 4: Trickle Trickle Tear Drops!

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

 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,"

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

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!

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."

CLICK TO START
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.

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

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."

CLICK TO START
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.

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 one

old gold nugget after another. 

CLICK TO START
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--

"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)

2020 - Year of the Dell Rat, Part 1: Ernest P. Worrell and Family Guy's Brian Griffin Join The Shady Bunch!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

 KNOW WHAT I MEAN, VERN? 

 CAN SHADY DEL KNIGHT 

 KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED 

 IN THE COMING YEAR? 

 IS PETER GRIFFIN 

 QUAGMIRE'S NEW  
 WAZE APP? 

WELCOME BACK,

DEAR FRIEND!

I'm delighted to have you along for the ride as I begin another year of blogging
here at Shady's Place Music & Memories. I am excited to announce that two
familiar faces, Brian Griffin and Errnest P. Worrell, have been elevated to the
status of full time DJs on SPMM radio. Brian, Ernest and other members of
The Shady Bunch put together a special two-part show to kick-off 2020.
S-P-M-M means more music with less talk, so let's get right to it.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

(COLD SHOW OPEN)

"Can You Do It" - The Contours

(Apr. /May 1964, highest chart pos. #16 R&B/#41 Hot 100,
#59 Cash Box) dancers on 1964 ep. of American Bandstand)

Greetings and salutations...

and happy new year, ya'll!

I am the Geator with the

Heater. I am the Boss

with the Big Hot Sauce!

As you can tell, the New Year's Eve Bandstand
bash that Shady Seaweed started last night is still
going strong. If you are watching our simulcast
on YouTube, you just heard the great Motown
group The Contours singing their 1964 hit
"Can You Do It," and you saw the style of
dancing that was popular in the 60s with
the teen kings and queens on South Street
in Philadelphia, on Dick Clark's TV show
 American Bandstand, and also on my
bombastic show Discophonic Scene.

S-P-M-M is the station that's #1 for music and fun, and our New Year's day party
is just getting started, and so, without further ado I'd like to welcome back for
another year of service down here at the mill, that silver tongued devil,

my new best bud... The Dean of Keen-- Mr. Shady Green!

Thank you very much, Jerry Blavat, and hi

to you out there! My time traveling Wayback

Machine just landed here on the first day of

2020, but now, with all you listeners aboard,

we're ready to blast off again to explore the

greatest years of our youth and listen to the

groovy tunes that formed the soundtrack of

our lives. This super sound by the brothers
Gibb should conjure up some memories.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Flashing back to the part of their career favored by many fans,

their early recordings of the 60s, here are The Bee Gees
in 1968-- "I've Gotta Get A Message To You!"

"I've Gotta Get A Message To You" - The Bee Gees

(Sept./Oct. 1968, highest chart pos. #3 Cash Box/ #8 Hot 100/#1 UK)

The Bee Gees there with "I've Gotta Get A Message To You," their first top 10 hit

in the states and their second #1 on the UK chart. You're tuned to Part 1 of our

 New Year's Spectacular here on S-P-M-M, where all the cool oldies come to play.

Now it gives me great pleasure to introduce one
of the new members of our Shady Bunch DJ staff.
You know him as America's Coolest Canine -
Peter's pup on the TV series Family Guy.
I'm sure you also recognize him from his
appearances in previous years as guest
host on the old blog Shady Dell Music
& Memories. He's the one and only
Brian Griffin. Brian, so glad to

have you with us, my friend!

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Green.
Golly, I never sat in a control room at a
microphone before. I guess I'm a little
nervous. A few martoonies oughta take
the edge off. (clears throat) Uh... hello,
everybody! I'm Brian Griffin, but you
already knew that, didn't you? (Damn,
I'm dying already.) Anyway, my show
here on S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio is
called Eclectic Avenue. As the name
implies I'll be playing a wide variety of
music, a mixed bag, something to suit
just about every taste. Okay, for my
first song as a Shady Bunch DJ, I've
got one I hope you like, "Cars," the 80s
new wave synthpop hit by Gary Numan!

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

"Brian Had Sex" - Stewie Griffin

sung to the tune of "Cars" by Gary Numan,

(orig. recording Apr. to June 1980, highest chart pos.

#9 Hot 100, #4 Cash Box, scenes from Family Guy)

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Okay, obviously somebody pulled the old
switcheroo on me there. That, of course,
was my baby brother Stewie doing what
he does best... running his little mouth
when he should be sucking on his binky.
Stewie's been acting out ever since Lois
ran off with Ace Frehley. Anyhow, while
I sit here dying of embarrassment...
listen to "(I Just) Died In Your Arms,"
a cover of the Cutting Crew hit done
by Fil Henley aka Wings Of Pegasus.

"(I Just) Died In Your Arms" - Cutting Crew (Wings of Pegasus cover)

orig. recording Apr./May 1987, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box) 

Introduced by my human brother Chris last year, that was Brit rocker Fil Henley
and his band Wings of Pegasus covering "(I Just) Died In Your Arms,"
the original version a #1 smash in 1987 recorded by another
English group, Cutting Crew.

That does it for me. Now I'd like to introduce a guy
I'm sure you've seen over the years in television
commercials and movies. I met him for the first
time a few minutes ago in the green room.
Ladies and gents, meet another new member
of the Shady Bunch deejay team, and this
dog's new best friend - Ernest P. Worrell!

Hey Brian! How's it goin', dawg? Is it just my imagination, good buddy,
or do you have some kind of nasty rash on your groin?

Anyhoo... thank's a bunch and howdy to all you

folks out there in radio land! This here's your old

pal Ernest P. Worrell, back to sip eggnog and super-

vise while you shovel snow off your driveway and

scrape the windshield of your F-150. My new show

here on S-P-M-M is called Rock-a-Billygoat. I'll be

servin' up a slew of down home tunes from the

heartland including early rock & roll, R&R revival,

rockabilly and crossover country. Today I'll give

you a taste startin' with a couple of boys I'm

sure you know - Phil and Don - The Everlys.

They're gonna do a song written by Sonny

Curtis, a fella who was with Buddy Holly's

band as a teenager. This one started out

as the B side of "Ebony Eyes," but when

it took off like wildfire and shot to

number one in the UK, it was

switched to the A side.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Both sides of the platter cracked the top 10 here in the states.

From 1961 here they are, The Everly Brothers-- "Walk Right Back."

"Walk Right Back" - The Everly Brothers

(Mar./Apr. 1961, highest chart pos. #7 Hot 100/#11 Cash Box)

Walkin' right back to the early 60s with The Everly Brothers
right here on S-P-M-M radio, home of The Shady Bunch.

Now this boy, Jack Scott, was the first white rock &

roll star to come out of Detroit. He was born across

the river in Windsor, Ontario, and has been called

the greatest Canadian rock & roller of all time.

In the summer of 1958, Jack had a double-

sided hit of his own. The B side, an up-

tempo number called "Leroy," based 

on "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis the

Pelvis, just missed the top 10.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

I want you to hear the A side, a rock & roll

ballad that made the top 3 on the national

chart, Jack Scott-- "My True Love."

"My True Love" - Jack Scott

(Aug./Sept. 1958, highest chart pos. #3 Hot 100/#7 Cash Box)

Ernest P. Worrell on the radio here at S-P-M-M,

and that was Mr. Jack Scott right there with

the biggest hit of his career, a dang pretty

little ditty called "My True Love."

Well I'll be ding if they ain't wavin' me off

already... so I'll be takin' my bow and sayin'

so long for now. This is your old pal Ernest

P. Worrell leaving you with two pieces of

advice. Don't take any wooden nickels,

and don't do anything I wouldn't do,

know what I mean, Vern? Now here's

a fella you all know from his show

Stuck Like Glue. Say howdy-do

to my good buddy Shady Blue!

Thank you, Ernest, and welcome aboard!
Hey, wouldn't you know it, just as Ernest tossed to me, we ran
out of time for this edition, but stay tuned on the flip side
of news for part 2 of our New Year's spectacular.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Coming up a few days from now, you'll meet
six more new members of The Shady Bunch
 DJ crew. You won't want to miss it, so keep
your dial set right here on S-P-M-M, the #1
station for a rock & roll nation. Now for
Jerry Blavat, The Geator with the Heater,
Shady Green, Brian Griffin, Errnest P.
Worrell and the entire Shady Bunch
gang, this is yours truly Shady Blue
hoping by now you're stuck like glue
and wishing you a safe, healthy
and happy 2020. See you soon!

"Last Night" - Mar-Keys

(July/Aug. 1961, highest chart pos.
#3 Hot 100 & Cash Box/#2 R&B)

 STAY TUNED FOR PT. 2 

 THIS SUNDAY! 

Dell Rat Tom's Jukebox Giants - Vol. 3: Pizza My Heart

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

 DELL RAT TOM'S 

 JUKEBOX GIANTS 

on the station that's #1 for music and fun - S-P-M-M!

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

(COLD SHOW OPEN)

"It's Summertime U.S.A." - The Pixies Three

(July 1964, highest chart pos. #116, scenes

from Nov. 1964 film Pajama Party)

Those were the girls next door to York, The Pixies Three of Hanover, PA,
kicking-off this edition of Jukebox Giants with "It's Summertime U.S.A."
 ...a warm weather anthem that ruled the airwaves across Pennsylvania
in the summer of '64. "Summertime U.S.A." was originally released
as the B side of the single with the dance song "The Hootch" as the
plug side, but "The Hootch" was banned by some radio stations
because it was suspected of being an endorsement of underage
drinking. (Gangsta rap was still light years away.) By the way,
if you're watching my simulcast on YouTube you saw scenes
from the 1964 beach party movie Pajama Party starring
Disney players Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello.

Hello again, I'm Dell Rat Tom of The Shady Bunch,
back on the air to spin the greatest sounds of the
Shady Dell here on S-P-M-M, where all the cool
oldies go to play. Today's lineup includes four

Michigan-based recording acts, so stay tuned.

You just heard from our hometown heroines,
The Pixies Three. Now let's bring back our
hometown heroes... our blue-eyed soul
brothers, The Magnificent Men, a York-
Harrisburg based band that drew much
of its soul and inspiration from Motown.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

The platter spinning on my turntable right now is one of my favorites by
this fine group. It's the B side of their 1968 single "Almost Persuaded,"
a song from their album The World Of Soul. This powerful ballad
is guaranteed to give you peace of mind in every way. Here they
are, The Mag Men, with-- "I Found What I Wanted In You!"

"I Found What I Wanted In You" - The Magnificent Men
(May/June 1968, B side of "Almost Persuaded)

That was the soaring sound of The Magnificent Men doing
one of their killer bees, "I Found What I Wanted In You,"
a song I like every bit as much as "Peace Of Mind."

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

"Don't forget the Motor City," sang The Mamas

& The Papas, and I don't intend to. The Contours

of Motown are best known for their million selling

1962 chart-topper "Do You Love Me." At the Dell

in the mid 60s this was their biggie, a bona fide

dance floor filler- "Just A Little Misunderstanding!"

"Just A Little Misunderstanding" - The Contours
(June 1966, highest chart pos. #85 Hot 100/#18 R&B/#31 UK)

"Just A Little Misunderstanding" by The Contours, a dance hall sizzler during

that endless summer of 1966, and #33 on my exclusive Shady Dell survey.

It's no secret that Dell rats of the mid 60s loved sweet

soul music, but they also dug the sound of British bands.

CLICK TO START VIDEO NOW!

At the Dell, the Animals enjoyed greater popularity than
the Beatles and Stones. Stateside the R&B rockers scored
a top 10 hit with a cover of a blues song first recorded in
1924 by Ma Rainey. It's the band's first U.S. single issued
as Eric Burdon and The Animals-- "See See Rider!"

"See See Rider" - Eric Burdon & The Animals

(Sept./Oct. 1966, highest chart pos. #10)

Eric Burdon And The Animals there with a cool cover and a top 10 hit
for the band here in the U.S. -- "See See Rider." If you're just tuning in,
 I'm Dell Rat Tom and you're listening to Jukebox Giants, the greatest
hits of the Shady Dell, on S-P-M-M Retrosonic Radio. 

Earlier we heard from the Motown R&B group The Contours.
Now here's another great Michigan act, this one based in
Flint, a garage band that called themselves Terry Knight
And The Pack. "TKP," as they are also called, were

responsible for one of the hottest records at the Dell
in the mid 60s. Like the Animals' "See See Rider,"
this one covers an earlier recording, the Italian
language single "Uno dei tanti," an international
hit for Joe Sentieri in 1961. In '63 the song was
translated to English and famously recorded
by former Drifters lead singer Ben E. King.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Listen now to the spoken word masterpiece by TKP--

“I (Who Have Nothing).”

“I (Who Have Nothing)” - Terry Knight & the Pack

(Nov./Dec. 1966, highest chart pos. #46)

Way up there at #31 on my list of the Dell's 200 Greatest Songs of the
mid 60s, one hit wonders Terry Night And The Pack from Flint, Michigan,
with their 1966 version of "I (Who have Nothing), a record that was only
a minor national hit for the group, but hot in the Shady. Welsh crooner
Tom Jones also gained a hit with a recording of the song in 1970.
It's interesting to note that when the Pack broke-up, members
Don Brewer and Mark Farner went on to form Grand Funk
Railroad with Terry Knight serving as the famous
band's first manager and producer.

CLICK TO START

THE VIDEO NOW!

Now here's another dramatic slow dance song that brought

Dell rat couples to the floor for two-and-a-half minutes of

sweaty snuggling. It's Erma Franklin, Aretha's older sister,

with her best known record-- "Piece Of My Heart."

"Piece Of My Heart" - Erma Franklin

(Nov./Dec. 1967, highest chart pos. # #10 R&B,
re-released in the UK in 1992 and peaked at #9)

Erma Franklin with the original recording of "Piece Of My Heart,"
the only version Dell rats really cared about. Erma, by the way,
was born in Mississippi and raised in Detroit, making her
the third Michigan based recording artist on today's show.

Time's up and I gotta leave for home to beat the curfew. I've had fun today
and I hope you did, too. Stay tuned for my good friend Shady Green
coming up on the other side of news to take you on a psychedelic
mind trip aboard his Wayback Machine, and I'll be back soon
with another stack of Jukebox Giants - the greatest hits of
the Shady Dell - here on S-P-M-M, the station that's #1
for music and fun. To wrap up the show, here's our 4th
act from Michigan, the temptin' Temptations of Motown.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

The Temps sing "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep," #67 on my Shady Dell
survey. Now this is Dell Rat Tom reminding you to make every
day a holiday... and every night a Shady Dell night!

"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - The Temptations

(Sept./Oct. 1966, highest chart pos. #3)

Geator Gold - Vol. 2: The Duck Across the Pond!

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

 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)

"Can You Do It" - The Contours

(Apr. 1964, highest chart pos. #41 Hot 100 & R&B)

A fantastic sound coming out of Detroit, those were the mighty Contours

with "Can You Do It," a record that brushed the top 40 on both charts -
R&B and pop, in the spring of 1964. If you're watching my simulcast
on YouTube you saw the def dancing of the teen kings and queens
on my good friend Dick Clark's TV show American Bandstand.

Greetings and salutations! I am The Geator
with the Heater. I am The Boss with the
Big Hot Sauce, welcoming all my yon
teenagers to another bombastic edition
of Geator Gold here on S-P-M-M...
the station that's #1 for music and fun.

We're plowing through 7-in-a-row on
the Jerry Blavat show, doin' the bop
at the Geator's sock hop... and lawd
have mercy, we won't stop til we drop.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

Ready for a quack attack? Here's my man

Jackie Lee with his swan song-- "The Duck!"

"The Duck - Part 2" - Jackie Lee
(released Mar. 1973 in the UK)

That was Mr. Jackie Lee keeping us out

on the floor and beggin' for more. If you're
livin' in the U.S.A., I'm willing to bet that
was the first time you heard that particular
version of "The Duck." Quick story: Back
in the fall of 1963 the duo of Bob & Earl
wrote and recorded "Harlem Shuffle."

"Bob" was Bob Relf who made solo
singles using his own name and two
others - Bobby Valentino and Bobby
Garrett. "Earl" was Earl Nelson who
took the name Jackie Lee and had a
solo hit with the dance ditty "The Duck."

What you just listened to was Part 2 of "The Duck" which was not released
on a single in the U.S. It was issued in the UK in 1973 on the B side of
Part 1. If you are familiar with Part 1 you noticed that Part 2 contains
different lyrics and the female backing singers are featured more
prominently, making it even more of a groove than side one.

Back to Detroit we go now for a nifty number by one of Motown's top
girl groups and another version of a popular song that I'm betting is
new to your ears. It's the Marvelettes and their hit "When You're
Young And In Love," only this is an alternate version with
a spoken intro. This one's too cool for school!

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

"When You're Young And In Love" (alternate mix) - The Marvelettes
(May/June 1967, highest chart pos. #9 R&B/#23 Hot 100)

From the vaults of Motown, those were the marvelous Marvelettes
with the seldom heard spoken intro version of their top 10 hit
from the spring of 1967, "When You're Young And In Love."

Up next on Geator Gold, more of the girl group

sound, this one by a group from New York. In

1957 the duo Johnnie & Joe had a top 10 hit

with "Over The Mountain Across The Sea."

"Johnnie" was Johnnie Louise Richardson,

daughter of "Zell" Sanders, founder of the

New York based R&B label J&S, one of

the few record companies ever owned by

a woman. Johnnie was also a member of

The Jaynettes, the Bronx girl group that

hit with "Sally, Go 'Round the Roses."

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

In 1958 Zell signed a girl group called The Bouquets and changed their
name to The Click-Ettes. Featuring lead singer Barbara Jean English
here is one of their great ballads-- "Lover's Prayer."

"Lover's Prayer" - The Click-Ettes
(June 1959, uncharted)

On Geator Gold we play 'em from the heart... not the chart, and you just heard
the fabulous girl group The Click-ettes proving that old school is cool with
a great late 50s snuggle song for my yon teens, "Lover's Prayer."

If you're just tuning in, we're in the middle of

a 7-in-a-row block party on Geator Gold with

yours truly Jerry Blavat, The Geator with the
Heater, The Boss with the Sauce, right here
on S-P-M-M... home of The Shady Bunch.

Speaking of school, here are The Students,
a doo-wop group from Ohio that recorded
two classics of the genre, "I'm So Young"
and "Every Day Of The Week," both
songs penned by William H. "Prez"
Tyus, Jr., a high school pupil.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

The two monumental songs were released back-to-back on the same 45.

Here now are The Students with the B side, "Every Day Of The Week,"

a dance number that inspired The Dovells' "Bristol Stomp!"

"Every Day of the Week" - The Students

(B side of "I'm So Young" single orig. released in

July & Aug. 1958 and charted #26 in June 1961)

Waxed in the summer of 1958 and popular three years later in the summer of '61
as the fab flip of the top 30 hit "I'm So Young," that was the up tempo side
"Every Day Of The Week" by The Students of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Fiction and Fact From the Geator's Almanac:
He is known as the singing barber of Pine Hill,
New Jersey, a town not far from Philadelphia.
I'm talking about Mr. Billy Harner. In the 60s
Billy's high voltage performances of R&B
material invited comparisons to Mitch
Ryder and earned Billy the nickname
“The Human Perk-u-lator.”

START THE VIDEO NOW!

In the 70s, Billy's records were hot in
Northern Soul clubs of the UK. Here's
Billy's biggest-- "Sally Sayin' Somethin'!"

"Sally Sayin' Somethin'" - Billy Harner

(Aug. 1967, highest chart pos. #118 Bubbling Under)

That was Billy Harner - “The Human Perk-u-lator” - and his signature song
"Sally Sayin' Something," a big hit on the East Coast in the summer of 1967.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

And as all good things must come to an end,
so too must this edition of Geator Gold.

Thanks for listening. Don't touch that dial,
because my puppy pal Toto Moto is coming
up on the other side of news with a special
show called Toto's Tutorial. You don't wanna
miss it. After that, my good buddy Dell Rat
Tom drops in to play stacks o' wax on Juke-
box Giants, and I'll be back soon with more
Geator Gold... so keep it here on S-P-M-M
where the cool oldies live on and on.

To play us off, gospel-tinged disco done right, just inches across the border
into secular territory. The song is "Mighty Cloud of Joy," and the group
is called the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Now this is Jerry Blavat, The Geator
With the Heator... The Boss With the Big Hot Sauce, reminding you to
keep on rockin', baby, 'cause you only (woo-HOO!) rock once! Bye y'all!

"Mighty Cloud of Joy" – Mighty Clouds of Joy
(Feb./Mar. 1975, highest chart pos. #47 R&B)

2019 - Year of the Dell Rat

 CAN SHADY DEL KNIGHT KEEP YOU 
 ENTERTAINED IN THE COMING YEAR? 

 IS 

 PETER 

  GRIFFIN 

 "THAT GUY"? 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's exciting to be starting my first full year of blogcasting from

my new facility here at SPMM - Shady's Place Music & Memories.

S-P-M-M means more music with less talk, so let's get to it.

The gang's all here! I am pleased to welcome back the six members of

The Shady Bunch, the staff of cool DJs who will keep the great sounds

coming at you throughout 2019. The honor of spinning the first

record of the new year goes to my good friend Shady Green

who invites you to climb aboard his Wayback Machine!

Hey, thank you, Shady Del Knight, and happy new year

to one and all! My first nugget of the year is a real mind-

blower, and if you're following our simulcast on YouTube,

you will enjoy seeing as well as hearing this performance.

It's the singing Singer Family of San Diego, California,

along with a group of go-go dancers from the local

Young Actors' Theatre.

CLICK TO START VIDEO!

Together they flash us back to 1971 with a cool cover of Tommy James'

biggest solo hit, the million seller "Draggin' The Line." Look out,
world... here comes-- The Singer Family!

 "Draggin' the Line" - Tommy James 

 (cover by The Singer Family, San Diego, 

 ft. go-go dancers from Young Actors' Theatre) 

The Zinger (Singer) Family of Southern

California there with a treat for the eyes

as well as the ears, bringing back the era

 of psychedelic sunshine pop, performing

the song "Draggin' The Line"... a top 5

hit for Tommy James of Shondells fame.

Hard to believe, but Tommy's groovy

tune almost got buried on the B side

of the single. Fortunately the decision

makers recognized the hit potential of

"Draggin' The Line," changed their

minds at the last minute and

released it as the A side.  

That's it for me today. I'll be back soon to give you a good

long ride in my Wayback Machine. Now it's time for me

to turn over the mic to everybody's favorite pooch,

S-P-M-M's very own Hound of Sound-- Toto Moto!

Thanks, Shady Green! You're a RUFF RUFF RUFF

act to follow! (BA-DUM-BUMP) My first record of

the year is a big beat ditty that's guaranteed

to blow out your woofers. Woofers... get it?

(BA-DUM-BUMP) It comes to us from across

 the great pond, and I don't mean the

one I made on the living room floor.

(BA-DUM-BUMP)

CLICK TO START VIDEO!

Remember when The Dave Clark Five were just as popular in
America as the Fab Four? Here's the English pop rock quintet
with one of their earliest and biggest hits-- "Bits And Pieces!"

 "Bits And Pieces" - The Dave Clark Five 

 (Apr./May 1964, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100/#2 UK) 

The DC-5 with one of their biggies from 1964, "Bits And

Pieces." I need to go huntin' for a hydrant, but I'll be back

later in the year with more nifty numbers like that one

in Toto's Top Tunes Time Tunnel. Up next, my good

buddy The Geator, Jerry Blavat, who just now dug

up a nugget from his show Geator Gold. I think

you're gonna dig it, too. Take it away, Jerry!

Alright, faaantastic!!! How 'bout a big round of applause
for my canine compadre, Mr. Toto Moto? Greetings and
salutations! I am the Geator with the Heater... I am
the Boss with the big Hot Sauce... and you're tuned
to the greatest little station in the nation, S-P-M-M!

CLICK TO START VIDEO!

My first spin of the year is a bombastic dance record dedicated to
all my yon teenagers on the Discophonic TV Scene. My good friends
The Contours from the Motor City are here to ask the musical question,
"What does every man look at first?" and it ain't what you think, y'all!

 "First I Look At The Purse" - The Contours 

 (Sept. 1965, highest chart pos. #57 Hot 100/#12 R&B) 

The great Motown Sound of The Contours and "First I
Look At The Purse." I gotta split, but I'll be back soon
with more great sounds of yesteryear on Geator Gold.

Now here to play the next song is a stupendous
record spinner, a real winner, my main man...
Mr. Shady Blue!

Thank you, Jerry Blavat, and happy new year, everyone!
By now it's no secret that I'm crazy about Elvis the Pelvis,
hence the name of my radio show Stuck Like Glue On
Shady Blue. My first song of the year is a sweet
ballad that Elvis sang to his lovely co-star
in the 1965 movie Girl Happy.

CLICK TO START VIDEO!

It's Shelley Fabares (Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show) forgetting

all about Johnny Angel as Elvis serenades her with "Puppet On A String!"

 "Puppet On A String" - Elvis Presley 

 (from Apr. 1965 film Girl Happy) 

Elvis "The King" crooning the tune "Puppet On A String"
to pretty Shelley Fabares in the movie Girl Happy.
Keep it here on S-P-M-M Radio for lots more
pelvic platters and great oldies of the 50s
and early 60s made by other artists on
my show Stuck Like Glue on Shady Blue.
Now here's my good buddy Dell Rat Tom
to play one of his favorite Jukebox Giants!

Thank you, Shady Blue, and happy new year! I'm beginning 2019 with a
flashback to a day in May of 1965. I was sick and spent that entire day in bed.
Yet, that evening, I begged my dad to drive me to a discount department store
so that I could buy a certain record, one of the most exciting sounds I ever heard.

It was "Wooly Bully" by rock 'n' roller Sam The Sham

and his band The Pharaohs. Named after his pet cat,

"Wooly Bully" was Sam's first and biggest hit. The

record shot to #2 on the chart only to be denied

the #1 spot by the Four Tops smash hit "I Can't

Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)." It was

quite an accomplishment for Motown's Tops and

Sam, a Tex-Mex artist from Dallas, to hold the top

two spots on the Hot 100 at a time when British

Invasion acts were dominating the chart.

Here now are Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs with that

rockin' little record I just had to have - the one that

got me up out of my sick bed-- "Wooly Bully."

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

 "Wooly Bully" - Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs 

 (May/June 1965, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100) 

Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs with their signature song

"Wooly Bully." Don't touch that dial. I'll be back throughout

the year to spin more of the greatest hits of the Shady Dell

on my regularly scheduled show Jukebox Giants. Now,

here's one of the coolest guys you're ever gonna meet.

For him cool comes naturally, and so it is apropos

that he hosts a program here on  S-P-M-M called

Natural Hy. He's my Shady Bunch buddy Hy Lit!

Thanks, Tommy boy! I appreciate the kind intro, my friend.
Hey, this is your pal on the radio, your man with the plan,
on the scene with the record machine here at station
S-P-M-M, where the cool oldies go to live forever.
Callin' uptown, downtown, crosstown - here, there,
everywhere, yours truly Hy Lit, and I'm starting the
year off right with a story song inspired by one of
Aesop's fables - The Farmer and the Viper.

CLICK TO START VIDEO!

It's without a doubt one of the grooviest sounds around, a Northern Soul killer,

a guaranteed dance floor filler, from the man who gave us the #1 smash

"Show And Tell," Al Wilson-- "The Sssssnake!"

 "The Snake" - Al Wilson 

 (Sept./Oct. 1968, highest chart pos. 
 #27 Hot 100/#32 R&B) 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR 

 FROM YOUR PALS 

 "THE SHADY BUNCH" 

 AT S-P-M-M... 

 THE STATION THAT'S #1 

 FOR MUSIC AND FUN!