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!

Hepcat Black and His Pink Cadillac - Vol. 1: Baby Blue on a Hepcat Saturday Night!

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

 HEPCAT BLACK 

 AND HIS 

 PINK CADILLAC 

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

PIGGYBACK COLD OPEN:

CLICK TO PLAY FIRST VIDEO.
AT 8 SEC. MARK, CLICK TO

START SECOND VIDEO!

"Rave On" - Buddy Holly

(June/July 1958, highest chart pos. #37 Hot 100,

#54 Cash Box/#79 Music Vendor)

That was rock 'n' roll legend Buddy Holly opening the show with "Rave On,"

a song first recorded by one of his Lubbock neighbors, songwriter & musician

Sonny West. Bruce Springsteen loves "Rave On," calling it "one of the

greatest rock and roll songs of all time," and it's way up there on

Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

 HOWDY! 

 Hepcat Black's my name. 

 Hep music's my game. 

I'm a cool cool kitty, but let's get one thing straight
between us, Gus. I ain't from New York City!
I just pulled up in my Pink Cadillac to
spin some cool tunes for ya. Old school
rock 'n' roll, R&R revival, rockabilly,
psychobilly, country, outlaw -
it's all good, understood?

You're tuned to Helpcat Black & His Pink
Cadillac here on S-P-M-M, my first full

show as a member of The Shady Bunch.
The next platter I'm takin' for a spin on
my turntable is a song by Canadian
country singer Hal Willis who lived
in Nashville. In 1956 Hal and his gal,
wife Ginger, toured with a rising star
by the name of Elvis Presley. As it
turned out, Hal was no slouch in the
 rock 'n' roll department either, and
 Hepcat's got proof. This cat thinks
Hal has great taste in automobiles.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Listen now as Hal Willis sings about-- "My Pink Cadillac!"

"My Pink Cadillac" - Hal Willis

(November 1956)

Hal Willis right there, taking us for
a joy ride, not in his pink cadillac,
mind you, but in My Pink Cadillac!

Hey, if you're just tuning in, I'm cool
kitty Hepcat Black playing the best of
rockabilly and rock 'n' roll here on
S-P-M-M, the number one station
for a rock 'n' roll nation. Now
here's a rockabilly band from
Dallas - Gene Summers
And His Rebels.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Gene has a thing for his gal and her-- "Straight Skirt!"

"Straight Skirt" - Gene Summers And His Rebels

(February 1958)

You heard right, friends and neighbors. Gene Summers can't get his mind
off his baby and her straight, tight skirts. Isn't it exciting enough that
she works as a mathematician at NASA? (BA-DUM-BUMP)

Hepcat Black on the radiator... uh, I mean... on the radio
here on S-P-M-M... the station with personality.

Now here's Kieron McDonald, a feller
from the land down under, Australia.
Hepcat says he sounds just like
a natural born long tall Texan.

START VIDEO NOW!

Kieron was influenced by rockers

of the 50s, and right now, he and

his billy band are gonna play a

ditty named after this kitty--

"Hepcat Saturday Night!"

"Hepcat Saturday Nite - Kieron McDonald
(from 2009 album It's A Gas! Vol. 2)

Killer rockabilly from the outback - Kieron McDonald there with a song

for cruisin' or boozin' downunder-- "Hepcat Saturday Nite." Kieron and

his combo, which includes some of the best musicians in Melbourne,

are keepin' traditional Rockabilly, Rock’n’Roll and Hillbilly Bop

alive and kickin' with great tunes like that one.

Next we have Wanda Jackson, the
purty little lady with powerful pipes.

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!

In the mid 50s, Wanda became a

pioneer of rock 'n' roll and earned the
title Queen of Rockabilly. Let's take
the plunge into Wanda's whirlpool
and listen to her flex her vocal
vortex doin'-- "Funnel of Love!"

"Funnel Of Love" - Wanda Jackson

(June/July 1961, B side of "Right Or Wrong")

Circlin' the drain there with "Funnel Of Love," a song written
and originally waxed by the lady you just heard - rockabilly queen
Wanda Jackson. Shucks, I'd like to meet Wanda in the tunnel of love.
FYI, "Funnel Of Love" is the killer B side of Wanda's 1961 single
"Right Or Wrong," the latter covered by Ronnie Dove in 1964.

Our next rock 'n' roll & rockabilly pioneer,
Mr. Gene Vincent, is the cat's meow.

START VIDEO NOW!

In the spring of '58 Gene and his group
The Blue Caps released "Baby Blue."
If you're following the simulcast of my
show on YouTube, you're in for a treat.
Here are Gene and the guys performing
the song in a flick that was screened at
drive-ins that summer-- Hot Rod Gang!

"Baby Blue" - Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps

(Apr. 1958, uncharted, scene from Aug. 1958 film Hot Rod Gang)

One of the greats of early rock 'n' roll there - Gene Vincent - along with

his group The Blue Caps, doing "Baby Blue" in the 1958 drag racing

movie Hot Rod Gang, originally released on a double-bill with the

juvie delinquency flick High School Hellcats starring Yvonne Lime.

Good golly, miss Molly, I'm all outta time!

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Speaking of hellcats, you've heard of Cat Stevens, Bobcat Goldthwait,

Tiger Woods and "Deaf Leopard." (See what I did there?) Well, to play

us off, here is another cool kitty, John Cougar, with a little ditty about

Jack and Diane. Stay tuned. Coming up next on the flip side of news,

it's my buddy Jerry Blavat and Geator Gold. Now don't have a hissy...

because, before you know it, I'll be back, and that's a fact, Jack,

or my name ain't Hepcat Black. So long, everybody!

"Jack & Diane" - John Cougar

(Sept./Oct. 1982, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)