Winning Hand - Vol 3: The Deck Is Stacked. Card Shark Shady's Got Three of a Kind + Two Pairs Up His Sleeve!

Welcome to Winning Hand:

THREE OF A KIND + TWO PAIRS!

In this edition of the series, I have posted a combination
of original recordings, covers and sound-alikes. Please
tell me 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.

 ANI DiFRANCO 

Let's begin with "Wishin' And Hopin," a song composed by Hal David and Burt Bacharach
and most famously waxed by Dusty Springfield, a top 5 U.S. hit for the English songbird
in 1964. A version of the song was recorded in 1995 by Buffalo born singer/songwriter
Ani DiFranco and used for the opening credits of the 1997 Julia Roberts romantic
comedy film My Best Friend's Wedding. Along with the Austin Powers series,
My Best Friend's Wedding is responsible for renewing the popularity of the
Bacharach-David catalog in the 21st century. Watch the groovy opening
sequence to what has been called the quintessential ’90s flick--
My Best Friend's Wedding.

"Wishin' And Hopin'" - Ani DiFranco

(OST of June 1997 film My Best Friend's Wedding)

Instead of posting Dusty Springfield's original recording of "Wishin' And Hopin',"
which I am sure you have heard many times, I want to entertain you with
cover videos - not one, but two amazing "homemade" custom remakes
of the opening credits from My Best Friend's Wedding. First here's a
video produced in 2013 for an actual wedding as a surprise for
the groom. I wish I'd been there to see the look on his face!

"Wishin' And Hopin'" - Ani DiFranco

(OST of June 1997 film My Best Friend's Wedding,
Sept. 2013 homemade remake video)

Now here are fine performances by a group of younger ladies, members
of the Wollan family, doing their interpretation of the song in a video
produced in 2010 for a big brother's wedding. Imagine his surprise!

"Wishin' And Hopin'" - Ani DiFranco

(OST of June 1997 film My Best Friend's Wedding,
June 2010 homemade remake video)

 MILLIE FOSTER 

In the early 60s, before she became a jazz and gospel vocalist, Wichita, Kansas,
zinger Millie Foster recorded excellent deep soul ballads and up tempo R&B sides
in New York. On some of her recordings Millie Foster reminds me of Tina Turner.

Check out the Tina Turner style on Millie's first single, "Love Wheel" released
in the fall of 1962, a record that was way ahead of its time. This gal smokes!

"Love Wheel" - Millie Foster

(Nov. 1962, uncharted)

 JOSIE AND 

 THE PUSSYCATS 

Millie Foster's "Love Wheel" missed the chart, but it reminds me of three other
hits - James Brown's "Night Train," Roy Head's "Treat her Right" and "Money
(That's What I Want)," the 1959 Barrett Strong single that became Motown's
first hit. I found this cool cover of "Money" by Josie and the Pussycats,
the fictional all-girl pop band that was featured in a comic book and
and starred in their own Saturday morning animated TV series.
Three singers were cast to record songs as Josie and the Pussycats:
Kathleen Dougherty as Josie, Cherie Moor (future Charlie's Angels
main cast member Cheryl Ladd) as Melody and Patrice Holloway,
younger sister of Motown vocalist Brenda Holloway, as Valerie.
In 2001 Josie and the Pussycats were recast for a feature film
that starred Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson and Tara
Reid. Kay Hanley of the band Letters to Cleo did the vocals

for Rachael Leigh Cook's Josie on the movie soundtrack and
the CD. Here is a hybrid video with the song "Money" from
the 2001 film edited to footage from the early 70s TV series.

"Money (That's What I Want)" Josie and the Pussycats

(from OST of Apr. 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats,

video from orig. 1970-71 animated TV series)

 KISS 

In 1979 Kiss proved that even a hard rock band could write a disco song

and achieve a hit with it. They recorded "I Was Made For Lovin' You"

and the rest is Kisstory. "I Was Made..." brushed the top 10,

making it their third most successful single. Two Kiss

ballads, "Beth" and "Forever," the latter co-written

by Michael Bolton, cracked the top 10.

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" - Kiss

(June/July '79, highest cht pos. #9 Cash Box/#11 Hot 100)

 SILENZIUM 

If you can believe your eyes and ears, check out Silenzium, an all female classical

string quartet based in Russia. Their cover of the Kiss klassic is one of the most

fascinating videos on YouTube. The song starts at the 1:15 mark but I urge

you to watch from the beginning before the ladies start Breaking Bad.

"I Was Made For Lovin' You"

Kiss cover by Silenzium (Oct. 2017)

SONG BEGINS AT 1:15 MARK!

I think these musical
kings and queens are aces!

Do you agree? 

Have a Shady day!