Winning Hand - Vol. 5: Fuller House!

Welcome to Winning Hand:

FULLER HOUSE!

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.

 "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac cover 

 by The Classic Rock Show (Feb. 2020) 

I think these musical
kings and queens are aces!

Do you agree? 

Have a Shady day!

Austin Powers Swings Again - Yeah, Baby, Yeah!

 Allow myself to introduce.....myself. 

 I'm Austin Powers, super secret spy, 

 international man of mystery, 

 bon vivant, swinging playboy 

 and irresistible babe magnet. 

 London is my home, shag is my bag, 

 planet earth is my playground and 

 danger is my middle name, baby. 

Your regular emcee, Shady, couldn't be here today to host the annual
Valentine's dance. On Saturday night, the poor chap got himself
cuffed and carted off to the clink. Seems our boy dipped into
his mum's cooking sherry earlier in the day, got himself
daft bonkers sloshed and crashed a wedding reception
completely starkers. Mr. Knight was charged with
indecent exposure but... when the magistrate
caught a glimpse of the Shadster's Mini-Me,
the case was dismissed forthwith due to
"insufficient evidence."

 Gotcha, mate - that was a gag! 

 You should have seen your face 

 just then, luv... your expression 

 was priceless! 

Whilst Shady is rotting in a jail cell, I will fill in for him and
play a stack of groovy Brit girl records. These thrushes are
Tops of the Pops so Ready Steady Go!

 LULU 

Joining the English sparrows performing at this year's

V-day dance is Scottish singer, songwriter, actress and

fashion model Lulu, best known for singing the theme

and appearing in the movie To Sir With Love. In 1965

Lulu released her debut UK album entitled Something

to Shout About. In the fall of the year, Lulu streeted a

single with one of the songs from the album, "Tell Me

Like It Is," on the A side and "Stop Fooling Around"

as the killer bee. Lulu wowed the crowd singing

that fab flip along with "Call Me" on English

comedian Arthur Haynes' popular TV show.

 "Stop Fooling Around"/"Call Me" - Lulu 

 (Oct. 1965, B side of "Tell Me Like It Is", 

 live perf. on 1966 ep. of The Arthur Haynes Show) 

 JACKIE TRENT 

Lyricist and singer Yvonne Burgess derived her
stage name, Jackie Trent, from her birthplace
Stoke-on-Trent. With her boyfriend and later
husband Tony Hatch, Jackie formed a very
successful composing team that wrote hits
for Petula Clark and other UK artists.

In 1964, at the height of Spectormania,

Hatch amd Trent collaborated on a

castanet clacking stormer with an

arrangement similar to recordings

made by Phil Spector girl groups

The Crystals and The Ronettes.

Prepare to bask in Spectorian

Splendor as Jackie Trent

sings "If You Love Me."

 "If You Love Me" - Jackie Trent 

 (March 1964) 

 DUSTY SPRINGFIELD 

Now here's smoky voiced Dusty Springfield. In September, 1964,

Dusty released in the UK a self-titled four song EP that contained

her hit "Wishin' And Hopin'" along with the number you are about

to hear. Stateside "All Cried Out" brushed the top 30 on Cash Box

and just missed the top 40 on Billboard. The following year Dusty

appeared live on The Ed Sullivan Show and demonstrated her

greatness with this stunning live performance.

 "All Cried Out" - Dusty Springfield 

 (Oct. 1964, highest chart pos. #41 Hot 100/#31 Cash Box, 

 live perf. on May 2, 1965, ep. of The Ed Sullivan Show) 

 LOUISE   CORDET 

The song "Around And Around"

was penned and first waxed in

1958 by Chuck Berry. in 1964

three British boy bands covered

Chuck's recording - The Rolling

Stones, The Swinging Blue Jeans

and The Animals. English one hit

wonder Louise Cordet beat them

all to it, releasing her version of

the song in May 1963. Here again

the B side is the focus as Louise

performs "Which Way The Wind

Blows" in the British musical

comedy film Just For Fun!

 "Which Way The Wind Blows" - Louise Cordet 

 (May 1963, B side of "Around And Around," 

 scene from June 1963 film Just For Fun) 

 PETULA CLARK 

Petula Clark racked up a string of U.S. hits

thanks to her own talent, beauty and poise

and, as previously mentioned, the quality

songs supplied to her by the composing

team of Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent.

In 1966 Pet Clark was 33 years of age,

but had no problem clicking with the

teenage dancers on The Lloyd Thaxton

Show as she performed a lip sync to her

international hit from the previous year.

Here's Pet doing "I Know A Place."

 "I Know A Place" - Petula Clark 

 (Apr. 1965, highest chart pos. #3 Hot 100/#2 Cash Box, 
 perf. on April 1, 1966 ep. of The Lloyd Thaxton Show) 

 HELEN SHAPIRO 

Here's more proof that Brit girls love to cover

American hits. In the spring of 1964, Motown

songbird Mary Wells achieved the biggest hit

of her career with "My Guy." That year, Brit-

popper Helen Shapiro covered the song on

her album Helen Hits Out! Helen did a

spiffy job of it, too. In this magnificent

live performance, Helen channels Mary

and comes across as an English version

of the sultry soul siren!

 "My Guy" - Helen Shapiro 

 (from 1964 album Helen Hits Out!) 

 I hope these super sounds put you in 

 a shagadelic mood, baby. Oh behave! 

 This is your old chum Austin Powers 

 international man of mystery 

 (and music history)... 

 saying ciao for now. 

 Let's do it again real soon, baby... 

 You know you want to... YEAH!