Helen & John Week: April Love in January

Two important dates on

the Shady Dell calendar
are only one week apart:

Helen Ettline's birthday

(January 9) and the date

of John Ettline's death

(January 16).

Again this year I am combining
the two events into a single post
that honors both of the Ettlines.

Just think of this period in mid
January as "Helen & John Week."

 HELEN TROSTLE ETTLINE 

was born 112 years ago
on January 9, 1911.

 JOHN ETTLINE 

died January 16, 1993...
30 years ago...

John spent the last nine years

of his life without Helen. Imagine

the strength and courage it took

for John, a man in his 80s, to go it 

alone, enduring the hardships of

winter and keeping the Dell in

operation even as the teenage

patrons became increasingly

rough, rowdy and disrespectful.

How many of us could have

stood up to that challenge?

This year as we celebrate Helen's birthday and remember John,
I will play records I think they both would have enjoyed.

Every evening Helen was stationed behind the counter of the
Shady Dell snack bar preparing treats to feed the masses.

As Helen worked, a steady stream of doo-wop songs

played on the jukebox. It was a busy, noisy place,

but the old school sounds cut through the clutter

and delighted Helen and her young customers. 

 GARNET MIMMS 

 & THE ENCHANTERS 

The snack bar was Helen's domain, and that's where you could typically find her.

It was very unusual for her to poke her head into "the barn" dance hall. In fact,

in my six years as a Dell rat, I recall Helen coming down to the barn only once.

She happened to walk through the door as a Garnet Mimms song was playing

on the jukebox.  I remember the big smile on Helen's face as she listened to the

ballad and watched couples slow dance to it.  With that happy memory in mind,

I picked three Garnet Mimms ballads to play for Helen on this special occasion.

Born in West Virginia, raised in Philadelphia and steeped in soul,

Garnet Mimms recorded ballads that were loved by Shady Dell

rat packers. In early 1964, at the start of Beatlemania, Mimms'

gospel roots were showing when he released the churchified

"Anytime You Want Me" on the B side of "Tell Me Baby." 

 "Anytime You Want Me" - Garnet Mimms 

 (Feb./Mar. 1964, B side of "Tell Me Baby")  

My soul serenade for Helen continues now with both songs

found on a single that Garnet Mimms recorded with

Charles Boyer and Zola Pearnell  using the group

name Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters.

Released during Halloween season 1963, this is a "twofer" - two top 30

hits on the same 45 rpm record. The A side, "For Your Precious Love"

is a cover of the 1958 hit by Jerry Butler & The Impressions.  

 "For Your Precious Love" - Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters 

 (Dec. 1963/Jan '64, highest cht. pos. #26 Hot 100 & R&B/#34 Cash Box) 

Finally, you'll swear you're sitting in church listening to the choir

as you experience the B side of the platter, a gospel-drenched

Garnet Mimms ballad entitled "Baby Don't You Weep." 

 "Baby Don't You Weep" - Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters 

 (Dec. 1963/Jan. 1964, highest chart pos. #30 Hot 100 & R&B, 

 #40 Cash Box, B side of "For Your Precious Love") 

Now here are three records I think John would like.

 APRIL STEVENS 

John was known as a sharp dressed man,

a man's man and a ladies' man. With that

in mind, I present the lovely April Stevens,

best known for her recordings as a duo with

brother Nino Tempo. Early in her career,

April appeared in Snader Telescriptions -

film versions of popular and classical

music performances produced for

television from 1950 to 1952. Singers,

dancers, orchestras, and novelty acts

appeared in Snader musical productions.

In this first one, April performs the song

"Tricks Of The Trade," the B side of her

1952 RCA Victor single "Put Me In Your

Pocket." An edited version of this Snader

Telescription was shown on the television

series The Frank Fontaine Show.

 

 "The Tricks Of The Trade" - April Stevens  

 (1952, B side of "Put Me In Your Pocket," 

 1952 perf. in Snader Telescription film) 

Now here's April appearing in another

Snader Telescription and performing

another B side. April sings "Meant

To Tell You," the fab flip of her

1952 single "I Love The Way

You're Breaking My Heart." 

 "Meant To Tell You" 

 - April Stevens 

 (1952, B side of 

 "I Love The Way 

 You're Breaking My 

 Heart," 1952 Snader 

 Telescription film ) 

Finally, here's the popular song

"Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)"

aka "Lover Man," written in 1941 for

Billie Holiday. Billie's version was

inducted into the Grammy Hall

of Fame in 1989. Watch and listen

as adorable April Stevens does her

version of "Lover Man" in a third

made for TV Snader Telescription. 

 "Lover Man" - April Stevens 

 (1952 performance in 

 Snader Telescription film) 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 

 HELEN! 

 WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. 

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, too!

Helen & John Week: I Only Have Eyes For You

 

Two important dates on

the Shady Dell calendar
are only one week apart:

Helen Ettline's birthday

(January 9) and the date

of John Ettline's death

(January 16).

Again this year I am combining
the two events into a single post
that honors both of the Ettlines.

Just think of this period in mid
January as "Helen & John Week."

 HELEN TROSTLE ETTLINE 

was born 111 years ago
on January 9, 1911.

 JOHN ETTLINE 

died January 16, 1993... 
29 years ago...

John spent the last nine years of his life
without Helen. Imagine the strength and
courage it took for John, a man in his 80s,
to go it alone, enduring the hardships of
winter and keeping the Dell in operation
even as the teenage patrons became
increasingly rough, rowdy and dis-
respectful. How many of us could
have stood up to that challenge?

As we celebrate Helen's birthday and remember John, I will play songs

I think they both would have enjoyed. This year's tribute to The Ettlines

is a medley of boomer era songs performed by a gifted young vocalist.

Meet sweet rising star

Ellie Maxwell. 

Ellie was born on Valentines's Day, 2008, in South Africa. Her middle name,

translated from her native Zulu language, means "Love." Ellie currently

lives on Manitoulin Island off the coast of Ontario, Canada. She has

made numerous appearances on Canadian TV and delights a

growing legion of fans on her YouTube channel performing

original songs as well as covers. Surely, Helen and John

 knew the songs Ellie is about to sing in today's set,

and I think they would smile and nod their

approval as they listened to the vocal

styling of this talented young artist.

Ellie's first number is an Academy Award winning song composed by

Henry Mancini and lyricist Johnny Mercer and originally performed by

Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. Over the years,

it has been recorded by many artists including Mancini & his Orchestra,

Jerry Butler and UK singer Danny Williams. Here's Ellie Maxwell with

her version of-- "Moon River." 

"Moon River" - Audrey Hepburn cover by Ellie Maxwell (August 2021) 

In the summer of 1965, the Burt Bacharach - Hal David song

"What The World Needs Now Is Love," sung by Jackie DeShannon,

vaulted to the top of the chart in Canada. Dionne Warwick released

a version of the song on her 1966 album Here Where There Is Love.

Here's Canadian miss Ellie Maxwell with her heartfelt rendition.

"What The World Needs Now" - Dionne Warwick cover by Ellie Maxwell (July 2021) 

From the 1961 Elvis Presley album and movie Blue Hawaii

comes this next tender ballad. Here again is Ellie Maxwell

singing-- "Can't Help Falling In Love." 

"Can't Help Falling In Love" - Elvis Presley cover by Ellie Maxwell (Mar. 2021) 

In the fall of 1959, Canadian-American singer/songwriter Paul Anka

hit big with a love ballad that became one of his signature songs.

Watch and listen as Canada's rising star Ellie Maxwell does

her 2020s cover of-- "Put Your Head On My Shoulder." 

"Put Your Head On My Shoulder" - Paul Anka cover by Ellie Maxwell (May 2021) 

SHADY'S PICK TO CLICK #1

I saved for last the two performances I think are Ellie's best. The "prop"

Ellie uses in Pick to Click #1 would work well on a cover of Paul Anka's

"Puppy Love," and her voice is like butter as she sings The Penguins'

chart-topping 1955 signature song-- "Earth Angel."

"Earth Angel" - The Penguins cover by Ellie Maxwell (Oct. 2021) 

SHADY'S PICK TO CLICK #2

Finally, I present Ellie's wonderful cover of a dreamy romantic ballad

written for the 1934 movie Dames and popularized in 1959 by

another doo-wop "bird group" - The Flamingos. The song,

as sung by The Flamingos, ranks high on Rolling Stone

magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Here now is my second Pick to Click - a singing

performance and video that are pure magic

from start to finish. For Helen and John

and all the young men and women who

fell in love on the Dell dance floor-

"I Only Have Eyes For You." 

"I Only Have Eyes For You" - The Flamingos cover by Ellie Maxwell (June 2021) 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 

 HELEN! 

 WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. 

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, too!

Helen & John Week

Two important dates on

the Shady Dell calendar
are only one week apart.

Helen Ettline's birthday

(January 9) and the date

of John Ettline's death

(January 16).

Starting today and in years to come,

I will post a single tribute combining

the two events. I'll call this period in

mid-January "Helen & John Week."

 HELEN TROSTLE ETTLINE 

was born 110 years ago
on January 9, 1911.

 JOHN ETTLINE 

died January 16, 1993...
28 years ago.

John spent the last nine years of his life
without Helen. Imagine the strength and
courage it took for John, a man in his 80s,
to go it alone, enduring the hardships of
winter and keeping the Dell in operation
even as the teenage patrons became
increasingly rough, rowdy and dis-
respectful. How many of us could
have stood up to that challenge?

This year as we celebrate Helen's birthday and

remember John, I will play records I think

they both would have enjoyed.

 DAKOTA STATON 

I am proud to introduce jazz singer Dakota Staton. Born and raised in Pittsburgh,

Dakota sang in a local club fronting the popular Joe Westray Orchestra. Dakota

traveled the nightclub circuit performing in other major cities. She wound up in

Harlem where she was discovered by a producer for Capitol Records and

given a contract. In 1955 Dakota was named "Most Promising Newcomer"

by Down Beat magazine. I chose what I believe to be Dakota's best

recordings beginning with her first single, "My Heart's Delight."

 "My Heart's Delight" 
 (1954) 

There's even more to delight your heart when you flip that 1954 platter

over and listen to the B side - "What Do You Know About Love."

 "What Do You Know About Love" 

 (1954, B side of "My Heart's Delight") 

Early in 1955, Dakota released the doublesider "For The Rest Of My Life"

backed with "No Mama - No Papa." Both great songs are on this video!

 "No Mama - No Papa"/"For The Rest Of My Life" 

 (February 1955) 

A year later, in February, 1956, Dakota released another opus dedicated

to "losers, boozers and bluesers." This one's called "Weak For The Man."

 "Weak For The Man" 

 (February 1956) 

"I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" was written by

Blood, Sweat & Tears founder Al Kooper and included on

the band's 1968 debut album Child Is Father To The Man.

Dakota Staton did a fine job of covering the song

on her 1973 album I Want A Country Man.

 "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" 

 (from 1973 album I Want A Country Man) 

In 1957 Dakota released her debut album for Capitol. The title track,

"The Late, Late Show," became her signature song, and the album

was cited in the 2004 book 100 Best-Selling Albums of the 50s.

 "The Late, Late Show" 

 (from 1957 album The Late, Late Show) 

The song "Abracadabra" by Dakota Staton, is not the Steve Miller
hit of the 80s. We turn the clock all the way back to the summer
of 1955 when this rock & roll style record hit the street.

 "Abracadabra" 

 (July 1955) 

SHADY'S PICK TO CLICK! 

Finally, listen to this marvelous Dakota Staton cover of "All In My Mind,"

the song penned and originally waxed by R&B singer Maxine Brown.

Maxine's version was released as a single in December 1960.

Dakota's cover hit the street the following month and has

stood the test of time as an outstanding recording

in its own right.   

 "All In My Mind" - Maxine Brown cover 

 (January 1961)  

 HAPPY 

 BIRTHDAY, 

 HELEN! 

 WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. 

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, too!

Remembering John

January 16, 1993...
27 years ago today...

John Ettline died.

John spent the last nine years of his life without his wife Helen.
Imagine the strength and courage it took for John, a man in his 80s,
to go it alone, enduring the hardships of winter and keeping the Dell
in operation even as the teenage patrons became increasingly
rough, rowdy and disrespectful. How many of us
could have stood up to that challenge?

This year as we remember John, I selected three
songs that I believe John would have enjoyed.

 GENE CHANDLER 

John Ettline had style, class and swag. He reminded me
of The Duke of Earl as he walked through his dukedom,
The Shady Dell, a paradise he and his Duchess Helen
shared with thousands of grateful teenagers.

"Duke Of Earl" - Gene Chandler

(perf. on Apr. 3, 1965, ep. of Hollywood A Go-Go)

 NANCY SINATRA
 & FRANK SINATRA 

"Somethin' Stupid" was written by C. Carson Parks, brother of composer

Van Dyke Parks. The song was originally recorded in 1966 by Parks and

his wife Gaile Foote, the duo known as Carson and Gaile. The following

year a cover by “Ol ' Blue Eyes," Frank Sinatra, a duet with his daughter

Nancy, shot to #1 on the chart. I think this is John's kind of song.

"Somethin' Stupid" - Nancy Sinatra And Frank Sinatra

(Apr./May 1967, highest chart pos. #1)

 FRANK SINATRA 

"It Was A Very Good Year" was written in 1961 by Bob Shane, the only surviving
founding member of The Kingston Trio. and introduced on the group's album
Goin' Places. The song was famously recorded by Frank Sinatra and earned
The Chairman of the Board the 1966 Grammy Award for Best Vocal
Performance, Male. 1966 was my first full year at the Dell, my
first year of knowing, loving and respecting John Ettline.
I was 16. It was a very good year.

"It Was A Very Good Year" - Frank Sinatra

(Jan./Feb. 1966, highest chart position

#28 Hot 100/#1 Adult Contemporary)

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, John!

Remembering John

January 16, 1993...
26 years ago today...

John Ettline died. 

John spent the last nine years of his life without his wife Helen.
Imagine the strength and courage it took for John, a man in his 80s,
to go it alone, enduring the hardships of winter and keeping the Dell
in operation even as the teenage patrons became increasingly
rough, rowdy and disrespectful. How many of us
could have stood up to that challenge?

 THE FOUR LADS 

This year as we remember John I selected for your listening pleasure
three songs that I think he would have enjoyed, beginning with a song
that is worth a thousand memories, one that reached its zenith on the
pop chart 63 years ago. The Four Lads sing "Moments To Remember."

 "Moments To Remember" - The Four Lads 

 (Jan. 1956, highest chart pos. #2) 

 FRANKIE LYMON 

 AND THE TEENAGERS 

Here's a great record that failed to reach the chart in the U.S. but made a run
at the top 10 in the UK. Released in December 1956, The Teenagers Featuring
Frankie Lymon is the group's only album. This song from the album peaked
at #12 in the UK. The title reminds us that generations of Dell rats needed
to convince their parents, teachers, clergymen and police that going to
the Dell did not turn them into bad kids. Frankie Lymon and the
Teenagers sing - "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent."

 "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers 

 (Nov. 1956 U.S. ver. uncharted, Feb. 1957 UK version reached #12, 
 from Dec. 1956 album The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon) 

 ROY ORBISON 

Hard to believe it's been more than 30 years since the great Roy Orbison's voice

fell silent. I think John would enjoy hearing Roy's first major hit, a record that

shoulda been, coulda been and woulda been #1 on the chart in 1960 had it

not been blocked by Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry." Here's Roy Orbison aka

"The Big O" aka "The Caruso of Rock" singing "Only The Lonely."

 "Only The Lonely" - Roy Orbison 

 (July 1960, highest chart pos. #2) 

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, John!