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Part 4

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everyone knows it's windy (or wendy)
Let The Four Winds Blow -- Roy Brown [1957] A great vocalist and pianist, Roy was one of the originators of the New Orleans R&B sound. What makes this record even more special is the fabulous drumming by whoever it is! (Anyone know?)
Gone With The Wind -- The Shepherd Sisters [1954] This recording by the "Alone" girls -- Martha, Gayle, Judy and Mary Lou -- who were indeed sisters came three years before that very well-known hit. The instrumental portion of this sounds like some other song and I can't put my finger on it. Anybody?
Windy -- The Association [1967] This catchy tune was a very well-deserved #1 hit by this Los Angeles group, consisting of Terry Kirkman, Gary "Jules" Alexander, Jim Yester, Ted Bluechel Jr., Russ Giguere and the late Brian Cole.
Wendy -- The Beach Boys [1964] This is admittedly a "stream of consciousness" addition to what I planned as simply a "windy" themed set. While adding the Association's record I thought of THIS one and said to myself "Oh, why not. It's such a great song!"
But it was never a single. It was part of the Beach Boys' 1964 album "All Summer Long." Then it was issued as part of an E.P. entitled "4-By The Beach Boys" and, as an E.P. cut, reached #44 on the chart.
The song is now listed as a Brian Wilson-Mike Love composition. But originally only Brian's name was on the credits. Mike's name was added as a result of a lawsuit filed by him against Brian in the 1990s.
The other Beach Boys on this recording are Brian's brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine.

Oh! Moytle -- Guy Lombardo [1945] Guy and his Royal Canadians had an incredible 218 charted records. This is one of the least remembered.
I can't for the life of me figure out why.
Any song with the lyrics "Oh! Moytle, my toytle" HAS to be good. Right?

to honor clay cole's fabulous new book, we proudly present "the three sh-booms"!
Sh-Boom -- The Chords [1954] The Jersey Girls, Denise and Bernadette, and I are absolutely brimming with joy that our friend Clay Cole's long-awaited book,"Sh-Boom! The Explosion of Rock 'N' Roll," is finally available for all the world to enjoy and treasure.
As it says on the back cover: "Clay Cole's SH-BOOM! is the pop culture chronicle of that exciting time, 1953-1968, when teenagers created their own music, from swing bands and pop to rhythm and blues, cover records, a cappella, rockabilly, folk-rock, and girl groups: from the British Invasion to the creation of the American Boy Band. He was first to introduce Chubby Checker performing the "Twist;" the first to present the Rolling Stones, Tony Orlando, Dionne Warwick, Neil Diamond, Bobby Vinton, the Rascals, Ronettes, Four Seasons, Dion and dozens more; the first to introduce music video clips, discotheque, go-go girls and young unknown standup comedians Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Fannie Flagg to a teenage television audience."
The book takes its title from the song that many people consider to be the first #1 rock and roll song ever.
I can think of no better way to celebrate than to honor Clay by presenting here the three best-known versions of that legendary song, leading off with the group who wrote it and released the first version of it.
The Chords were an R&B quintet from the Bronx, New York consisting of lead singer Carl Feaster, Claude Feaster, James Keyes, Floyd F. McRae and James Edwa. This single reached #5 on the pop chart, an amazing accomplishment for an R&B record; it was even more amazing considering the incredible success of the Crew-Cuts' version listed immediately below.
Sh-Boom -- The Crew-Cuts [1954] Note: please check out the Chords' version for my comment about Clay's new book.
The Crew-Cuts, a quartet from Toronto, Canada consisted of Rudi Maugeri, Pat Barrett, Roy Perkins and Johnny Perkins. This version of the song was #1 on the pop chart for nine weeks and was by far their biggest hit ever.
Sh-Boom -- Stan Freberg [1954] Note: please check out the Chords' version for my comment about Clay's new book.
Leave it to Stan to come up with the DEFINITIVE version of "Sh-Boom"! (LOL). It features the Toads backed up by Billy May's Orchestra. This was the least commercially-successful of the three, only reaching #14 on the chart. However it does contain certain elements that the Chords and Crew-Cuts records are lacking!

the "toot"s have it!
Toot -- Chubby Checker [1960] His Chubbiness didn't take it too hard when this cute tune got almost no attention in 1960. That's because it was the "B" side of "The Twist."
My Toot-Toot -- Rockin' Sidney [1985] This is a wonderful Cajun tune that's become a huge hit all over the world.
Rockin' Sidney was a Creole-Zydeco singer-musician who was born Sidney Simien. He made musical history with this original song and won a Grammy Award for it as well.
It was the first Zydeco record to get major airplay on pop, rock and country radio stations and became an international phenomenon.
The song's meteoric popularity hinged on its TRIPLE entendre catch phrase, "don't mess with my toot-toot," which some associated with drugs or with sex but, in reality, it was simply a Cajun term of endearment meaning "sweetheart."
Sadly, Rockin' Sidney passed in 1998. He remains one of the most beloved performers in Zydeco music history.
Toot, Toot, Tootsie -- Tiny Tim [19??] Combining the title and the artist you have the most alliterative record on this Page!
Toot Toot Tootsie Tiny Tim!
Mel Blanc's version of this song (with the elongated title of "Toot, Toot Tootsie Goodbye") is also available for your sampling.
As for this recording, well, I think it was done with a 10-dollar used machine (just slightly more advanced that string and Dixie cup) but still it sound like everyone was having fun.

in memory of mary travers
If I Had A Hammer -- Peter, Paul and Mary [1962] As a Peter, Paul and Mary fan for so many years and knowing so many others who also fall into that category I feel unspeakable sadness as I write these words. How sad it is that the wonderful Mary has passed away.
I recall the first time I ever heard of PP&M. It was when I read an ad in Cash Box Magazine. It talked about this new folk and pop music trio and it said that last names were not important. It struck me as somewhat strange but apparently the folks at Warner Brothers knew exactly what they were doing. Of course it wasn't very long before their full names were revealed: Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers.
Their first hit was "Lemon Tree" and it reached #35 on the chart. This was their second hit and their first of six top ten records, peaking at #10. The song was co-written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays of the Weavers and its original title was "The Hammer Song."
Mary is so animated on this recording and you can feel the joy.
Puff (The Magic Dragon) -- Peter, Paul and Mary [1963] I recently saw Peter perform this at a concert and book signing at a Barnes and Noble store near me. After 46 years, it still sounds as fresh as ever. Mary's voice, of course, adds magic to this smash hit recording which peaked at #2. This song has touched so many people's hearts throughout the world and is wonderful in every respect.
Follow Me -- Mary Travers [1971] This was Mary's only solo hit, peaking at #56 in 1971. It's a wonderful rendering of a beautiful song penned by John Denver, the writer of Peter, Paul and Mary's only #1 hit, "Leaving On A Jet Plane."

She's Like The Wind -- Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser) [1988] Patrick brought us so much joy from his art and he inspired us with his courage and determination when stricken with the terminal illness that would eventually take his life. Forever a fighter, he worked up until close to the very end. His two most popular movies were "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost." This song was from the former movie, which starred him and Jennifer Gray. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A poignant hit record by the beloved film star whom we recently lost.

Copper Clapper Caper -- Jack Webb and Johnny Carson [1968] Sgt. Friday and the all-time king of late night comedy. An absolute treasure!
Note: you can watch the video of the actual TV broadcast at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4RIBhQIkII.
Many consider this to be the funniest "Tonight Show" sketch of all time.

bread and butter
Bread -- Bobby Hebb [1966] This was the flipside of Bobby's #2 hit "Sunny" and so very different!
Butter Boy -- Fanny [1975] I couldn't find a record titled simply "Butter" so I happily settled for this upbeat one from the mid-70s. Fanny was a female rock group from Los Angeles and this was one of their two top-forty hits, making it to #29. ("Charity Ball" from four years earlier had peaked at #40). These girls can rock! They paved the way for the 80's groups the Go-Go's and the Bangles.
Bread And Butter -- The Newbeats [1964] The Newbeats consisted of falsetto lead singer Larry Henley and brothers Dean and Marc Mathis. Chronologically this record preceeded the other two but, as you know, we don't always list them in that way!

Thanks For The Memory -- Bob Hope and Shirley Ross [1938] And thanks to Mike Riccio, the moderator of the renowned Oldies Board (http://www.oldiesboard.com) for suggesting that I add this recording as the 500th one on this Page.
I feel it's a most appropriate choice because, after all, every record no matter what its contents is indeed a memory. And what better way to celebrate number 500 than with possibly the most classic "memory" song of all time!
Ralph Rainger wrote the music and Leo Robin wrote the words. It was introduced in the 1938 movie "The Big Broadcast of 1938" by Shep Fields and His Orchestra with vocals by Bob and Shirley.
In the movie, Bob and Shirley play a couple who were married briefly and then divorced. Then, after other unsuccessful marriages, they meet and reminisce about the good times of their failed relationship.
The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Bob's signature tune.
Over the years he and others performed the song with different lyrics to mark special occasions and there have probably been thousands of different versions of this song performed all over the world.
A memorable classic and the 500th record on this Page. Thanks Bob, thanks Shirley, and thanks to ALL OF YOU!

vocalizing instrumental hits
The Alley Cat Song -- David Thorne [1962] The only information I know about this record is that it appeared on the jazz label Riverside, it got played on New York radio and the guy sounds very hip.
Magic Star (Telstar) -- Kenny Hollywood [1962] This was a running gag in many oldies circles: "Can you sing 'Telstar'"? That instrumental recording, written and produced by Joe Meek and recorded by the Tornadoes, hit #1 on the chart.
Actually, though, the joke was probably on the person who asked the question! Because, unbeknownst to him or her, lyrics were in fact written to the "Telstar" tune and the vocal version here was also produced by Joe Meek. It never took off so it's understandable that most people don't know about this recording.
But now YOU do!
Wipeout -- The Fat Boys and The Beach Boys [1987] The Fat Boys were a rap trio from Brooklyn, New York, consisting of Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales, Damon "Kool Rock" Wimbley and the late Darren "The Human Beat Box" Robinson. The group starred in the 1987 film "Disorderlies."
The Beach Boys were a pop rock group from Hawthorne, California.
Together they made this interesting and surprising recording of the Surfaris' instrumental surf classic "Wipe Out" (though with a slightly altered spelling). You can catch the waves right here.

Put Your Hand In The Hand -- Linda November and Friend [1967] Linda November and "Jingle Lady" are synonymous. At one time she had over 700 jingles playing simultaneously. Her legendary "Meows" were for the Meow Mix Cat Food commercial, reportedly the number one jingle of all time.
She's also a 30 year veteran of the music industry and her voice can be heard on countless albums with some of the greatest artists of all time, including her friend who is featured here. He made a nice living cutting hair before making an even nicer living cutting records. You might recognize his voice!
As a duo they make beautiful music together as evidenced by this wonderful recording of a song best-known in the hit version by the Canadian group Ocean. This duet was from an RCA album. I am sure that additional "piece of the puzzle" is what you need to figure out who Linda's friend is! (Wink!)
Rejoice!
Linda, the voice of the legendary "Meow Meow" cat, is America's Jingle Queen, having sung more than 22 thousand radio and TV commercials. Her friend is one of the most famous barbers ever.

i love you, i love you, i love you
I Love You -- The Volumes [1962] Jim Croce sang "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song." On the pop chart exactly five different recording acts in the rock era made the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart by saying simply "I Love You" in a song TITLE. This themed set includes three of them and this one, a doowop classic, was the first chronologically, peaking at #22. Original copies of the single have the group listed as "Volume's" but most references on the web show them as "Volumes" and I've chosen to list them that way.
I Love You -- People [1968] This recording has a rather long unique opening and I've decided to include all of that in this sample because obviously a lot of people (radio stations and record buyers) liked it! About a minute and seven seconds into it you hear the start of the vocal with the title words. This record made it to #14 on the Hot 100.
I Love You -- Martina McBride [1999] This recording, featured in the movie "Runaway Bride" starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, was #1 on the Billboard country chart for five weeks and peaked at #24 on their Hot 100. It was from Martina's RCA album "Emotion" and surprisingly to me was never released as a single.

Up Above My Head -- Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight [194?] Marie has been represented on this page as half of the duo of Marie and Rex on the 1959 hit "I Can't Sit Down." But she was best known as a legendary gospel star. She became half of a powerful duo in the 1940s with Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Together they had a string of gospel hits which included "Beams Of Heaven," "Didn't It Rain" and this one. Following "I Can't Sit Down," she spent lots of time in the 60s singing R&B with artists including Brook Benton, the Drifters. Then she relaunched her gospel career as a solo singer.
Sadly Marie passed away from complications of pneumonia at a Harlem, NY nursing home on August 30, 2009. She was 84.
The "I Can't Sit Down" lady was much better known as a gospel singer. This is a rousing example of her work.

I Miss You So -- Chris Connor [1956] Chris, who was born Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, MS, first came to prominence as a jazz vocalist working with Claude Thornhill and Stan Kenton. She recorded many successful albums during her illustrious career. This was her one big pop hit. Though it peaked at #34, it spend an amazing 28 weeks on the Billboard chart.
She also recorded a well-known song called "All About Ronnie." Though it's tempting to put it up now, I've decided to use that one in a "Ronnie" themed set some time in the near future.
Sadly Chris passed away from cancer in Toms River, NJ on August 29, 2009. She was 81.

This record by a great jazz stylist spent more than a half a year on the pop chart.

Car Phone -- Mr. Obvious [199?] "Mr. Obvious" is a character created by Chick McGee, a regular on The Bob & Tom Show, which is a comedy radio program established by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold at radio station WFBQ in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1983, and syndicated nationally since 1995. That's all you need to know. Sit back and enjoy the hilarity. But, please, don't do what the "guy on the phone" did!
Obviously outrageous!

in memory of ellie greenwich
What A Guy -- The Raindrops [1963] The music world lost a giant with the passing of Ellie Greenwich. Her wonderful songs left an indelible impression and are a part of the soundtrack of our lives. Though best known as a songwriter and a backup singer, she did actually achieve chart success as a billed vocalist: as the Butterflys ("Good Night Baby"), on her own ("I Want You To Be My Baby") and as a member of the Raindrops, who are featured here. This recording was actually a duet with her husband at the time, Jeff Barry, with whom she co-wrote this song. All the female voices on this record are hers. Eventually the Raindrops added a third member. This record barely missed the national top 40, peaking at #41.
A personal note: this was the very first record that I ever played over the air as a disc jockey. That was in the summer of 1963 at WICY in Malone, NY.
Leader Of The Pack -- The Shangri-Las [1964] This song was co-written by Ellie, Jeff Berry and George "Shadow" Morton. It became a #1 hit for the Shangri-Las and was the title song of the 1985 Broadway show which featured this and many of her other hit songs.
River Deep-Mountain High -- Ike and Tina Turner [1966] This recording, of a song co-written by Ellie, Jeff Barry and Phil Spector, had all the elements of a smash hit, including a quinessential example of the Spector "Wall Of Sound."
And it WAS a smash hit.
In England.
In the United States, for whatever reason, it was a relative failure, peaking at #88.
Ultimately a version of this song by the Supremes and the Four Tops made it to #14 in 1971. But this is truly the DEFINITIVE version. In spite of its lack of commercial success in the US, it's unquestionably become a rock and roll classic.

wake up! wake up!
Waking Up Is Hard To Do -- Neil Sedaka [2009] Neil himself parodies his own 1962 chart-topper "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" in this unreleased recording made in his home earlier this year. Great! But in this themed set he is merely the opening act for a bunch of zany "doctors"!
You can watch Neil recording this on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaTB2Q3v6Zc.
Waking Up Is Hard To Do -- The Laryngospasms [2009] They are a comedy troup whose website is http://www.laryngospasms.com. You can watch their YouTube video of this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOrjcLJ2IE0.


six brenda ballad hits
I'm Sorry -- Brenda Lee [1960] Brenda became known as "Little Miss Dynamite" after recording a song called "Dynamite" in 1957. Most associate that nickname with her uptempo records. Interestingly, though, she achieved most of her biggest success with her ballad hits. I'm pleased to feature six of those in this themed set: all made the national top ten and two, including this one, reached #1.
I Want To Be Wanted -- Brenda Lee [1960] This was Brenda's follow-up to "I'm Sorry" and became her second consecutive #1 hit.
Emotions -- Brenda Lee [1961] Emotional Brenda at her very best! This peaked at #7.
Fool #1 -- Brenda Lee [1961] This is surely a country song and the recording is as country as it is pop. So how can you explain that this recording and all of the other recordings here did NOT make the country chart? My answer to that is "go figure"! On the pop chart this was huge, peaking at #3.
Break It To Me Gently -- Brenda Lee [1962] Juice Newton got to #11 with her 1982 remake of this great song. Brenda original version, presented here, peaked at #4.
Losing You -- Brenda Lee [1963] Moving forward one year, Brenda concludes this themed set with her recording that, in my opinion, is one of her prettiest ballads of all. Also one of her saddest. This peaked at #6.
In the future I'll have another Brenda themed set featuring several of her uptempo recordings. She's a remarkable talent and, may I add, a most deserving Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member.

evolution of another major hit
Do The Bop -- The Juvenairs [1957] Johnny Madara is doing the lead singing on this, backed by the group that would shortly be calling themselves Danny and the Juniors. This is the way THEIR giant hit started out!
At The Hop -- Danny and the Juniors [1957] It was Dick Clark who suggested that possibly "Do The Bop" wasn't really "with it" and that the song should be slightly rewritten and retitled "At The Hop." I guess he was right!
They did the "new" song new name -- Danny and the Juniors -- and the rest is history. This rock and roll classic spent seven weeks at #1.
Sadly, Danny committed suicide in 1983.

evolution of a major hit
Yeah Man -- Sam Cooke [1964] Sam wrote and recorded this song, which was part of his "Shake" album. It was about dances. For the rest of the story, please read the blurb for the record below.
Sweet Soul Music -- Arthur Conley [1967] From the "Arthur Conley Home Page Jotis Records Sweet Soul Music":
In a June 1995 interview on the origins of "Sweet Soul Music," Arthur Conley said, "Sam Cooke was a great inspiration for me. I bought all his albums. And 'Yeah Man' was on his "Shake" album. When I met Otis Redding, I told him I'd like to record 'Yeah Man.' Otis liked it very much as well. So he got on guitar with me and said, Let's change it like so, and we came up with 'spotlight on the artist' and all those kinds of things. But it was originally Sam Cooke. My idea was just to record 'Yeah Man.' But Otis changed it around and retitled it 'Sweet Soul Music.'"
"Sweet Soul Music" paid tribute to Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, James Brown and Lou Rawls. Otis Redding's name was added to the list at Conley's suggestion. In fact, Conley received composer credit on the record for that contribution alone [along with Redding]. But Sam Cooke, the song's true author, was not mentioned in the lyrics or credited as composer, a glaring injustice remedied only after complaints from Kags music chief J.W. Alexander, composer of "Let's Go Steady," the non-LP 'B' side of "Sweet Soul Music."
Footnote: all three writers of "Sweet Soul Music" are deceased. Sam was shot to death in 1965. Otis died in a plane at the end of 1967 (the same year that the record was a hit). Arthur died of cancer in 2003; he never achieved the bright "spotlight" that the other two did but he will always fondly be remember for this wonderful recording.

There Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio -- Aaron Tippin [1992] A serious record? Partly. A silly record? Partly. A delightful record? Completely! This was a #1 hit by one of America's most-respected country singers.
Another delightful "radio" ditty.

The Old Piano Roll Blues -- Hoagy Carmichael and Cass Daley [1950] Legendary songwriter Hoagy and renowned actress-comedienne Cass team up on this delightful rendition. The song was written by Cy Coben, the same man who later wrote "Souvenirs," recorded by Barbara Evans and "That Greasy Kid Stuff," recorded by Janie Grant.
This is my personal favorite version of this rollicking classic.

Summertime Guy -- Eddie Rambeau [1962] Chuck Barris created the "Newlywed Game" and, later, "The Gong Show," which he hosted. This song, instrumentally, was the theme song of the former show. Eddie's rendition has much of the same drive as Freddy Cannon's "Palisades Park," which Chuck also wrote.
A happy lyrical version of the song which became the theme song of "The Newlywed Game."

in memory of the amazing les paul
Vaya Con Dios -- Les Paul and Mary Ford [1953] There are simply not enough superlatives that I could use to describe what this amazing musician and inventor did during the 94 years of his life which, sadly, ended this week. For additional information on Les you can check out the Daily News page. Les developed multi-tracking and used it so effectively on almost all of the records that he did with his wife and musical partner, Mary Ford. This recording, which spent 11 weeks at #1, was their most successful ever.
Hummingbird -- Les Paul and Mary Ford [1955] This recording peaked at #7 and was the final top ten hit for the duo.
Meet Mister Callaghan -- Les Paul [1952] In addition to his multitude of accomplishments as a musician, Les also invented the solid-body electric guitar which was later played by many rock and roll greats. It was in 1952 that Gibson Guitars began producing it, the same year that this solo instrumental hit reached #5 on the chart.

Woodstock Remix -- Jamie Perlow [2009] Jamie is an up and coming performer who is making lots of waves in the Tampa Bay area. This recording is going to be part of her soon-to-be-released album on the SAB label, which recently had a Billboard top ten singles hit with "Waiting" by DeLyn.
This is called "Woodstock Remix" because Jamie's original recording of this did not sound like what I am presenting here. Japanese record producer Shinji Moroi heard her acoustic version of this song and, with her permission, remixed it and turned it into something quite different from the other recordings of this song that you are familiar with and, may I add, quite special.
I think this is a great new rendition of Joni's wonderful song about the event that 40 years ago became an indelible part of rock and roll history.

A powerful new version for the 21st Century of Joni Mitchell's legendary composition.

My Melody Of Love -- Bobby Vinton [1974] This was a major comeback hit for Bobby, peaking at #3. It is sung partly in English and partly in Polish. I added Billy Vaughn's "Melody Of Love" (a different song) shortly after adding a different record by Bobby ("Every Day Of My Life") a few days ago. Possibly because of the close proximity of those recordings, I received two email requests to add this one. Your wish is my command!
By request: this different "melody of love" song.

blue fats
My Blue Heaven -- Fats Domino [1956] This song, written by Walter Donaldson and George Whiting, was a #1 hit in 1928 for crooner Gene Austin. Fats's recording got to #19 on the chart and was the "B" side of his #3 hit "I'm In Love Again." The song was published in 1927 and became a huge 1928 hit for crooner Gene Austin, when its was charted for 26 weeks, stayed at #1 for 13, and sold over five million copies. [1]

Blueberry Hill -- Fats Domino [1956] "Blueberry Hill" is 1940 song written by Vincent Rose, Al Lewis and Larry Stock. It was recorded six times in 1940, with the biggest version being by Glenn Miller. Fats's rendition became his biggest hit, peaking at #2 for three weeks.
Blue Monday -- Fats Domino [1957] Of the five songs here, this is the only one which Fats wrote: he shared the credit with his bandleader and arranger Dave Bartholomew. This peaked at #5 on the chart.
Am I Blue? -- Fats Domino [1961] Fats with strings! Dozens of people over the years have recorded this 1929 song, written by Harry Akst and Grant Clark and from the film "On With The Show."
Blue Christmas -- Fats Domino [1993] Okay, so it's out of season but, so what? I like this a lot!
This is a song that Elvis reportedly thought was "dumb." I guess the millions of fans who bought his recording and the dozens of others artists who recorded it (including Ernest Tubb who hit with it many years before Elvis did it) disagreed.
I think it's enjoyable listening any time of the year and is a perfect finale for this "blue fats" themed set.

Final Record Offer -- Wayne and Shuster [197?] Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster were a Canadian comedy duo who were active professionally from the early 1940s until the late 1980s and made many appearances on the "Ed Sullivan Show." This recording is from an early 1971 Canadian TV show.
You can watch the actual video performance of this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csFEu8q0nZ0.
Arguably the funniest "record offer" infomercial spoof of all time.

mid-50s smash hit instrumentals
Melody Of Love -- Billy Vaughn [1955] Billy was a member of the Hilltoppers before leaving that group to become the musical director of Dot Records. This well-named recording, which peaked at #2, is simply one of the prettiest love meoldies of all time.
Lisbon Antigua -- Nelson Riddle [1955] Nelson was an orchestra leader, arranger and trombonist whose career spanned from the late 1940s through the early 80s. In the 50s he worked closely at Capitol Records with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole and many other major stars. This was his biggest recording, peaking at #1 for four weeks early in 1956. The title means "Old Lisbon."
The Poor People Of Paris -- Les Baxter [1956] Like Nelson Riddle, Les was an orchestra leader and arranger and musician who worked at Capitol Records and often competed with Nelson. Of the four instrumentals in the themed set, this was the biggest of the big, peaking at #1 for six weeks. The song was adapted by Jack Lawrence in 1954 from the French language song "La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean" ("The Ballad of Poor John"). The title arises in part from a misinterpretation of the French title, as "Pauvre Jean" was taken for the same-sounding "Pauvre Gens," which translates as "poor people." As far as I know, nobody complained about it!
Moonglow and Theme From "Picnic" -- Morris Stoloff [1956] Morris became musical director for Columbia Pictures in 1936. Twenty years later he peaked at #1 for three weeks with this recording which combined the standard "Moonglow" with a new song written for the motion picture "Picnic." Morris conducts the Columbia Pictures Orchestra on this recording. It's amazing that it achieved the commercial success that it did, considering the fact that it competed with an almost identical sound-alike version by George Cates, who was Lawrence Welk's musical director: the Cates recording reached #4.

The Football Card -- Glenn Sutton [1979] Glenn was a country music songwriter and producer who wrote or co-wrote hits by Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, David Houston and Lynn Anderson (who he was once married to).
He wrote this whimsical song about gambling on NFL games for himself and it came close to hitting the top 40 on the pop chart. Though the song is now dated because the players he mentions are all retired (and so are the "Baltimore Colts") the sentiments expressed are still very timely. This song still makes me chuckle.
Bet you'll enjoy this silly NFL ditty.

Every Day Of My Life -- Bobby Vinton [1972] This recording failed to make the top ten -- peaking at #24 -- but was every bit as good as Bobby's nine which did.
A gorgeous recording by the "Polish Prince."

froggy
Frogg -- The Brothers Four [1961] This was a hip version of a tune written back in 1580 as "Frog Went A Courtin'."
Rainbow Connection -- Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) [1979] This incredible Muppet man died so tragically at the age of 53. He was the voice of both Kermit the Frog and Ernie. This recording is from the original soundtrack of "The Muppet Movie."
Ballad Of Walter Wart -- The Thorndike Pickledish Choir [1966] This record was released on the MTA label with the incorrect title of "Ballad Of WATER Wart"! Well, close enough for frog 'n' roll! My understanding is that a single guy was resonsible for this masterpiece and he had the professional name of Robert O. Smith.
Thanks to Don Effenberger for suggesting this record.

a trio by songwriter bobby
1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero -- Bobby Russell [1968] Bobby was a gifted Nashville songwriter who wrote two #1 hits, "Honey" recorded by Bobby Goldsboro and "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" recorded by Vicki Lawrence (his wife at the time). Equally well-known is his song "Little Green Apples," won him a Song of the Year Grammy Award in 1968; the most successful recording of that song was by O.C. Smith (it hit #2 on the national chart) but there were many others as well.
Bobby had his own hits with songs that he wrote which took a whimsical look at suburbia. The recordings presented here, which were his biggest as an artist, all had that theme. This one peaked at #36.
Sadly Bobby passed away in 1992 from heart disease at the age of 52.
Better Homes And Gardens -- Bobby Russell [1969] This is kinda "Bobby, the advice columnist."
Saturday Morning Confusion -- Bobby Russell [1971] This was Bobby's most-successful recording as an artist, peaking at #28. Probably the most memorable thing about this record 38 years later is "Harry the Dog," who should've been named Harriet!

A Bushel And A Peck -- Perry Como and Betty Hutton [1950] A fun recording of a song that was from the Frank Loesser Broadway show "Guys And Dolls." Interestingly it was not included in the film version.
I love this a barrel and a heap.

two more by donna
My Boyfriend Got A Beatle Haircut -- Donna Lynn [1964] Relatively little is known about Donna. This recording turned out to be her only Hot 100 hit and it was the title cut (along with the other one listed here) on a Capitol album. Her Epic recording entitled "Donna Loves Jerry" has been very popular with visitors to this Page.
Java Jones -- Donna Lynn [1964] Al Hirt had a top ten instrumental with "Java." Lyrics were written to it and Donna was more than glad to sing about her boyfriend with a rather unusual first name! This record Bubbled Under the Hot 100 and I feel it deserved a much better fate.

The Honey-Earthers -- Stan Freberg [1955] A rare Freberg recording.
A spoof of you-know-what.

in memory of a fabulous rockabilly artist
Flyin' Saucers Rock 'N' Roll -- Billy Lee Riley [1957] Billy Lee was the son of a sharecropper and he learned to play guitar from black farm workers. After four years in the Army, he first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1955 before Sam Phillips signed him to Sun records. "Flyin' Saucers Rock 'N' Roll" was his second Sun release. Though it achieved some regional action, it never became the big hit which it (along with the other record here) deserved to be. Though Billy Lee never achieved much commercial success, he was a very active performer over the years and is now considered a rockabilly legend.
He was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and he passed away on August 2, 2009 at the age of 75.

Red Hot -- Billy Lee Riley [1957] This came out a few months after "Flyin' Saucers" and is probably Billy Lee's most famous recording. The lines "My gal is red hot, your gal ain't doodley-squat" are classic.
Both this song and "Flyin' Saucers" were eventually covered by Link Wray and Robert Gordon.

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