CLASSIC ROCK
But It's Alright--J.J. Jackson-1966-#22
M&L--Jerome Jackson and Pierre Tubbs
Holy Cow-Lee Dorsey-1966-#23
M&L---Allen Toussaint
Lee Dorsey had come from New orleans in 1961 with classic Crescent City doggerel such as Ya Ya and Do-Re-Mi,and then saw his career go into eclipse.In 1965,he teamed up with songwriter-producer Allen Toussaint,who liked the country twang in the voice of the auto mechanic and former boxer.Toussaint tailored material to Dorsey's voice,such as Holy Cow,a sad song that sounded happy .
M&L--Jerome Jackson and Pierre Tubbs
Holy Cow-Lee Dorsey-1966-#23
M&L---Allen Toussaint
Lee Dorsey had come from New orleans in 1961 with classic Crescent City doggerel such as Ya Ya and Do-Re-Mi,and then saw his career go into eclipse.In 1965,he teamed up with songwriter-producer Allen Toussaint,who liked the country twang in the voice of the auto mechanic and former boxer.Toussaint tailored material to Dorsey's voice,such as Holy Cow,a sad song that sounded happy .
As Beatles Albums like "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver " transformed rock from teen-age entertainment to an adventurous electronic art form,a rift occurred in the popular audience.Some welcomed the innovative sounds while others stuck to pop or good ol Rock-n-roll.In the same year that the Rolling Stones dressed in drag,desecrated the American flag onstage and scored four hits,Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler dressed in uniform,saluted the flag and topped the charts with "The Ballad of the Green Berets.Apparently,both decadence and patriotism were Top 40 material.
Early in 1966,the Beach Boys struck with a frivolous remake of the Regents' 1961 doo-wop nugget.Barbara Ann.The single ,featuring Brian Wilson and Dean Torrence (of Jan and Dean) on lead vocals,was pulled from the "Beach Boys Party" album,which captured the spontaneous revelry of a live bash in progress.
The ambitious record making of the Beatles posed an artistic challenge for other rock groups,and Brian Wilson responded by abandoning the Beach Boys fun-in-the-sun esthetic.Later that year,the Beach Boys released " Good Vibrations",an extraordinary complex recording that took Wilson six months to create.--(1966)
Inspired by George Gershwin's "An American in Paris,"the Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian made graphic use of a Volkswagon horn,a pneumatic drill and other cacophonous traffic sounds in "Summer in The City."More typical of the Spoonful's gentle romanticism was " Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?,"a song Sebastian wrote about his affection for two sisters he saw regularly at summer camp.The delightful dilemma posed by the song was more fantasy than fact,though,as Sebastian later admitted,"I never made any amorous progress with either of them.
ANGEL OF THE MORNING...Merilee Rush & the Turnabouts, 1968
Written by James Voight(AKA Chip Taylor), Jon Voight's younger brother, uncle of Angelina Jolie. He also wrote "Wild Thing".
Although she was a "one-hit-Wonder", Merilee still performs some with various acts. She is a wife and mother in Seattle.
Written by James Voight(AKA Chip Taylor), Jon Voight's younger brother, uncle of Angelina Jolie. He also wrote "Wild Thing".
Although she was a "one-hit-Wonder", Merilee still performs some with various acts. She is a wife and mother in Seattle.
BOBBY'S GIRL...Marcie Blane, 1962
Written by Gary Klein & Henry Hoffman
Born Marcia Blank, she was a popular student at Jamaica HS in Queens, NY. She had always liked to sing, and her friends Hoffman & Klein thought she was great. Shortly after her graduation, they wrote "Bobby's Girl" and asked her to perform it under the name Marcie Blane.
While enjoying singing, she didn't like the record business. She had enrolled in Queens College, from which she graduated, going on to a career in education, becoming a wife & mother along the way.
She does not grant interviews, preferring to be just plain ole Marcia, wife, mom, grandmom.
Written by Gary Klein & Henry Hoffman
Born Marcia Blank, she was a popular student at Jamaica HS in Queens, NY. She had always liked to sing, and her friends Hoffman & Klein thought she was great. Shortly after her graduation, they wrote "Bobby's Girl" and asked her to perform it under the name Marcie Blane.
While enjoying singing, she didn't like the record business. She had enrolled in Queens College, from which she graduated, going on to a career in education, becoming a wife & mother along the way.
She does not grant interviews, preferring to be just plain ole Marcia, wife, mom, grandmom.
DO YOU LOVE ME...The Contours, 1962
Written by Berry Gordy Jr.
The Contours underwent many personnel changes, from their founding as "The Blenders" in 1959, at Detroit. Their "main man" throughout has been Joe Billingslea. When they did "Do You Love Me", the group included Billingslea, Leroy Fair, Hubert Johnson(Jackie Wilson's cousin) and Huey Davis. They were unable to make any hits, but Gordy had them do "Do You Love Me", which Gordy wrote & arranged. It was an instant hit, but it turned out to be the Contours' only major hit. They also did "Shake Shake Sherry" and "Just A Little Misunderstanding", which charted, but didn't hit the big time.
Today, Billingslea still leads a group with the Contours' name, but with different members.
Written by Berry Gordy Jr.
The Contours underwent many personnel changes, from their founding as "The Blenders" in 1959, at Detroit. Their "main man" throughout has been Joe Billingslea. When they did "Do You Love Me", the group included Billingslea, Leroy Fair, Hubert Johnson(Jackie Wilson's cousin) and Huey Davis. They were unable to make any hits, but Gordy had them do "Do You Love Me", which Gordy wrote & arranged. It was an instant hit, but it turned out to be the Contours' only major hit. They also did "Shake Shake Sherry" and "Just A Little Misunderstanding", which charted, but didn't hit the big time.
Today, Billingslea still leads a group with the Contours' name, but with different members.
DOMINIQUE...The Singing Nun, 1963
An old French song, arranged/performed by Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, AKA Jeanine Deckers, & Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile), who was The Singing Nun.
As time went on, she became disillusioned with the Catholic Church & left the convent, but she continued to perform in Belgium & France, giving most of her earnings to her old convent.
She later opened a school for autistic children in Belgium, with her companion Annie Pecher. In march 1985, she and Pecher committed suicide & were buried together, fueling suspicions they were lesbians, but no evidence for that rumor was ever found.
An old French song, arranged/performed by Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, AKA Jeanine Deckers, & Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile), who was The Singing Nun.
As time went on, she became disillusioned with the Catholic Church & left the convent, but she continued to perform in Belgium & France, giving most of her earnings to her old convent.
She later opened a school for autistic children in Belgium, with her companion Annie Pecher. In march 1985, she and Pecher committed suicide & were buried together, fueling suspicions they were lesbians, but no evidence for that rumor was ever found.
IN THE YEAR 2525...Zager & Evans, 1969
Written by Rick Evans
The song had been written in 1964, released in 1967, but had failed to catch on until a radio station in Odessa. TX promoted it, catching RCA'a attention. It was the #1 song on the pop chart when Armstrong landed on the moon.
The band consisted of Denny Zager, Rick Evans, Dave Trupp, & Mark Dalton. Their only other hit of note was "Mr. Turnkey" early in 1970.
Written by Rick Evans
The song had been written in 1964, released in 1967, but had failed to catch on until a radio station in Odessa. TX promoted it, catching RCA'a attention. It was the #1 song on the pop chart when Armstrong landed on the moon.
The band consisted of Denny Zager, Rick Evans, Dave Trupp, & Mark Dalton. Their only other hit of note was "Mr. Turnkey" early in 1970.
At the heart of the new rock renaissance was the electric guitar,an instrument whose vocabulary rapidly expanded in the hands of fleet-finger virtuosos like Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds.Beck used electronic effects to create an exotic panoply of otherworldly sounds,including his ferocious feedback-drenched solo in "Shapes of Things." In San Jose,California,the Count five pulled off a near-perfect imitation of the frenzied rave-up style of the Yardbirds'"I'm a Man" with the aptly titled "Paychatic Reaction.
While the Beatles turned serious,artistic and weird, there remained plenty of younger fans still longing for the cute,fun-loving Fab Four of yesteryear.Two television producers,Burt Schneider and Bob Rafelson,responded by placing an ad in "Daily Variety" Folk and rock musicians-singers for acting in a new TV series.Running parts for four insane boys,age 17-24."More than 400 hopefuls answered the casting call and the winners--Mickey Dolenz,Peter Tork,Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones--were an instantly sucessful TV show and group called the Monkees.Perhapes the most crassly calculated event in rock history,the Monkees nevertheless turned out some superb singles,assisted by top songwriter (Neil Diamond contributed " I'm a Believer) and sessions.