Extended Playtime

Rolling Stones - Not Fade Away

2012-02-13T02:27:00.000-08:00

It's All Over Now/Now I've Got A Witness/Tell Me/Not Fade Away

In 1964, The Rolling Stones' cover of "Not Fade Away", with its strong emphasis on the Bo Diddley beat, became a major hit in Britain and served as the A-side of the band's first US single.

The Rolling Stones version of "Not Fade Away" was one of their first classic hits. Recorded in late January 1964 and released by Decca on February 21, 1964, with "Little by Little" as the B-side, it was their first Top 5 hit in Great Britain, reaching #3. In March 1964 it was also the Rolling Stones' first single release in the United States, on the London Records label, with "I Wanna Be Your Man" as the B-side (briefly preceded by "Stoned", which had immediately been withdrawn). The single reached #48 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Not Fade Away" was not on the UK version of their debut album, The Rolling Stones, but was the opening track of the US version released a month later as England's Newest Hitmakers. It was a mainstay at Rolling Stones concerts in their early years, usually opening the shows. It was revived in that capacity for their 1994-95 Voodoo Lounge Tour.

The Rolling Stones' version of "It's All Over Now" is the most famous version ever cut of the song. It was first released as a single in Great Britain, where it peaked at number 1 on the Disc Weekly charts, giving the Rolling Stones their first number one hit ever.It was the band's third single released in America, and stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks, peaking at number 26. Months later it appeared on their second American album 12 X 5. The song was a big hit in Europe and was part of the bands live set in the 1960s.

"Tell Me" is a song by English rock and roll band The Rolling Stones, featured on their 1964 self-titled album (US title: England's Newest Hit Makers). It was later released as single A-side in the US only, becoming the first Jagger/Richards song that the band released as a single A-side, and their first record to enter the US Top 40. The single reached #24 in the US and #1 in Sweden. It was not released as a single in the UK.

The Rolling Stones Now I've Got A Witness this song is performed by The Rolling Stones and appears on the album England's Newest Hit Makers (1964) and on the album The Rolling Stones (1964).

The Nashville Teens

2012-02-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Mona (I Need You Baby)/Parchment Farm/Bread And Butter Man/How Deep Is The Ocean

The Nashville Teens are a British pop band formed in Weybridge, Surrey in 1962.

Little is known of the founding musicians, except that Arthur Sharp began his career in music as the manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey, but the ‘Mark II’ line-up comprised original singers Arthur Sharp and Ray Phillips, with former Cruisers Rock Combo members John Hawken (piano), Mick Dunford (guitar), Pete Harris (bass) and Dave Maine (drums). Additional guitarist Pete Shannon completed the band. Roger Groome replaced Maine shortly afterwards.

In 1963, third vocalist Terry Crowe joined briefly; but later that same year Dunford and Groome left, and were replaced by John Allen and Barry Jenkins respectively. (Crowe and Dunford later formed The Plebs with Danny McCulloch, and were re-united with Hawken in Renaissance in 1970.)

While playing in Hamburg (as most British bands of the era did), the Teens backed Jerry Lee Lewis for his Jerry Lee Lewis Live at the Star Club album; they later backed Carl Perkins on his hit “Big Bad Blues”, and also played with Bo Diddley. At one such gig, they were spotted by Mickie Most who subsequently produced their June 1964 debut single, a bold interpretation of John D. Loudermilk’s classic “Tobacco Road”, which reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and made it to number 14 in the U.S. The follow-up, another Loudermilk song, “Google Eye”, reached number 10 in the UK in October 1964.

A further three top fifty singles, “Find My Way Back Home” and “This Little Bird”, followed in February and May 1965; with “The Hard Way” making a brief appearance the following year; but three subsequent records (“I Know How It Feels To Be Loved”, “Forbidden Fruit” and “That’s My Woman”) all then failed to chart.

Jenkins left in 1966 to join the Animals, and was replaced by his predecessor Roger Groome.

The Nashville Teens record producers included Andrew Loog Oldham and Shel Talmy. Plus, The Teens appeared in the 1965 film Be My Guest.

Although they were musically as competent as any of their contemporaries, the Teens had no distinctive personality as a band, and this contributed to their lack of long-term success, as did Decca’s typical lack of promotion. (By 1970, Decca’s only remaining rock acts were the Rolling Stones and the Moody Blues, both of whom handled their own promotion). In 1971 they released a single, “Ella James” (a Roy Wood song) on Parlophone, but again without success.

Arthur Sharp left in 1972 to join their one-time manager Don Arden, and despite Phillips’ best efforts, the Nashville Teens split in 1973.

They reformed in 1980, however, with Phillips as the only recognisable member joined by Peter Agate (guitar), Len Surtes (bass) and Adrian Metcalf (drums), and are still playing. The current line-up is Ray Phillips, Adrian Metcalfe, Colin Pattenden (bass and vocals), Simon Spratley (keyboards and vocals), and Ken Osborn (guitar).

Joan Baez - A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall

2012-02-05T18:50:00.000-08:00

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall/Daddy, You Been On My Mind/It Ain't Me Babe

Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer-songwriter of mixed Mexican and Scottish descent. Baez rose to prominence in the early ’60s with her stunning renditions of traditional balladry.

In the late ’60s and early ’70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably “Diamonds & Rust,” a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and “Sweet Sir Galahad,” a song about sister Mimi Fariña’s ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.

She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of “We Shall Overcome” at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream…” speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.

In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country’s “Christmas Campaign,” in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the “Queen of Folk” for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Nearly fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.

Jackie De Shannon - Laurel Canyon

2012-02-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

Laurel Canyon/Bitter Honey/The Weight/Splendor In The Grass

Laurel Canyon wonderfully captures the natural, idyllic vibe of its titular setting, the creative nexus of the late-'60s Los Angeles music scene. Swapping the polished pop approach of Jackie DeShannon's past hits for an appealingly rough-edged country-soul sensibility, the EP celebrates a place and time that transcended the physical world to signify a virtual Garden of Eden for the flower-power generation. Featuring extensive contributions from pianist Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack and guitarist Russ Titleman, Laurel Canyon boasts a swampy, lived-in charm that perfectly complements DeShannon's sexily gritty vocals. Her soulful reading of the Band's "The Weight" anticipates Aretha Franklin's like-minded cover, but most impressive are originals like "Splendour In The Grass" and the title cut, which eloquently articulate the rustic beauty of their creator's environs.

Otis Redding - Early Otis Redding

2012-02-01T03:38:00.000-08:00

Shout Bamalama/Fat Girl/She's All Right/Gettin' Hip

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul music and rhythm and blues (R&B). His open-throated singing was an influence on other soul singers of the 1960s, and he helped to craft the lean and powerful style of R&B that formed the basis of the Stax Sound. After appearing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, he wrote and recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", which went on to become a number-one record on both the pop and R&B charts after his death in a plane crash.

The Kingsmen - Mojo Workout

2012-01-31T14:33:00.000-08:00

Mojo Workout/You Can't Sit Down/Long Tall Texan/Night Train

The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks. The single has become an enduring classic. This EP has four tracks from the debut "Live" album "The Kingsmen In Person" which itself made #20 on the charts back in 1963.

Joe Cocker - Delta Lady

2012-01-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

Delta Lady/She's Good To Me/She Came in Through the Bathroom Window/Change In Louise

John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE (born 20 May 1944) is an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles. He is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his #1 hit "Up Where We Belong", a duet he performed with Jennifer Warnes. He was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list

Millie And Blue Beat

2012-01-26T19:56:00.000-08:00

Over & Over/Sit And Cry/I 'll Go/Do You Know

Millie's singing career began at around the time she entered her teens. She rapidly became a popular artist in the West Indies and was one of the few female performers to be involved in the branch of R & B music that grew in those islands 'Ska'. In fact her early local successes were made as half of a duet called 'Roy And Millie'- the other half was Roy Panton. She also recorded as half of 'Owen & Millie' (Owen Gray) and 'Jackie Millie' (Jackie Edwards). These record releases were on labels like 'Studio One', 'Island' and the legendary 'Blue Beat'. In fact she was to become known in the West Indies as the 'Blue Beat Girl' and 'Ska' is still known by many people as 'blue beat'. There were so many parallel releases on these labels in the West Indies and the UK that it is difficult to unravel a true UK discography for many West Indian artists, Millie is no exception.

Millie Small was brought to Britain during 1963 by Chris Blackwell, who later did much to promote Reggae in the UK. Her first UK release 'Don't You Know' owed rather less to her Ska background, being accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Lord Rockingham's Harry Robinson. It didn't sell too badly but Millie's unique high pitched style wasn't enough to get it into the chart.

Ska became popular on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching its peak in the UK during the late 1960s. Its popularity was more enduring in the UK than in the US, probably because of West Indian emigrees that went to Britain taking their musical enthusiasm with them. Ska gradually evolved into reggae, but was revived during the 1970s and 1980s by UK groups like the 'Specials'.

Everly Brothers No.6

2012-01-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

('Til) I Kiss You/Oh What A Feeling/Let It Be Me/ Since You Broke My Heart

"('Til) I Kissed You" is a song written by Don Everly of The Everly Brothers. It was released as a single in 1959 and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 it also made #2 on the UK and Australian charts. "Oh What A Feeling" was the B-Side.

"Let It Be Me" is a popular song originally published in 1955 as "Je t'appartiens". The score was written and first recorded by Gilbert Bécaud. The lyrics were penned in French by Pierre Delanoë. The English language version used lyrics by Mann Curtis and was performed in 1957 by Jill Corey in the television series Climax!. Corey's version, with orchestration by Jimmy Carroll, was released as a single and was moderately successful. The most popular version of "Let It Be Me" was released in 1960 by The Everly Brothers. It reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 #13 on the UK charts and #24 on the Australian charts. The harmony arrangement of this version was often emulated in subsequent remakes. "Since You Broke My Heart" was the B-Side and made #4 in the UK.

Everly Brothers No.5

2012-01-26T06:32:00.000-08:00

Problems/Love Of My Life/Take A Message To Mary/Poor Jenny

"Problems" was a 1958 single that made #2 on the US charts #6 on the UK charts and #12 on the Australian charts while the B-Side "Love Of My Life" made #40 in the US.

"Take A Message To Mary" was another reasonable hit for the boys making #15 in the US #20 in the UK and #2 in Australia the B-Side " Poor Jenny" also did quite well #22 in the US #14 in the UK and #22 in Australia.

Everly Brothers No.4

2012-01-26T05:45:00.000-08:00

All I Have To Do Is Dream/Claudette/Bird Dog/Devoted To You

"All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a popular song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and published in 1958. The song is ranked No. 141 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"All I Have to Do Is Dream" was recorded by The Everly Brothers and released as a single in April 1958. It is the only single to be at #1 on all of Billboard's singles charts simultaneously, on June 2, 1958. It first reached #1 on the "Most played by Jockeys" and "Top 100" charts on May 19, 1958, and remained there for five and three weeks, respectively; with the August 1958 introduction of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song ended the year at #2. It entered the UK singles chart on May 23rd, 1958, reaching the number one position on July 11th and remaining there for six weeks and spending 21 weeks on the singles chart. It Also made #3 on the Austalian charts

The B-side, "Claudette", was the first major songwriting success for Roy Orbison, and was named for his wife. As a result of this song he terminated his contract with Sun Records and affiliated himself with the Everly's publisher, Acuff-Rose.

"Bird Dog" is a song written by Boudleaux Bryant and recorded by The Everly Brothers released in 1958 and was a #1 hit on the Billboard Country Chart . The song also hit number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 as well as peaking at number two for three weeks on the R&B charts. "Bird Dog" also made #2 on the Uk Charts and was a #1 here in Australia.

The B-Side "Devoted To You" was also a hit in it's own right making #10 in the US and #25 in Australia.

Everly Brothers No.3

2012-01-25T22:47:00.000-08:00

Rip It Up/Leave My Woman Alone/Should We Tell Him/Hey Doll Baby

The 1958 Single "Rip It Up" only charted in Australia making it to #57 while "Should We Tell Him" was the B-Side of 1957's double sided hit "This Little Girl Of Mine" hitting #26 on the US charts and #14 here in Australia. "Leave My Woman Alone" and "Hey Doll Baby" were both album tracks off the first album. If you were to add the contents of these first 3 UK EP's together they make up the contents of the first album as it was discerned at the time that the UK teenager did not have the financial resources to buy an album hence the EP's.

Everly Brothers No.2

2012-01-25T21:43:00.000-08:00

This Little Girl Of Mine/Brand New Heartache/ Keep A Knockin'/Be-Bop-A-Lula

EP No.2 has the fourth single "This Little Girl Of Mine" which made it to #26 in the US and #4 on their country charts. The other three songs are taken from their 1958 eponymous debut album The Everly Brothers. The album peaked at #16 on Billboard's "pop albums" chart. One of the things I like about this set of EP's was the care taken in choosing the artwork for the sleeves it seems no expense was spared LOL.

Everly Brothers No.1

2012-01-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

Bye Bye Love/I Wonder If I Care As Much/Wake Up Little Susie/Maybe Tomorrow

The Everly Brothers (Don and Phil, born Isaac Donald Everly, February 1, 1937, and Phillip Everly, January 19, 1939) are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing. The brothers are the most successful US rock and roll duo on the Hot 100.[citation needed] This group was elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Don and Phil Everly are both guitarists and use vocal harmony mostly based on parallel thirds. With this, each line can often stand on its own as a melody line. This is in contrast to classic harmony lines which, while working well alongside the melody, are not as melodic by themselves.

For most of their recordings, Don sings the lower harmony part, while Phil takes the higher. One exception is on "Devoted To You". Although Don is still low and Phil is high, they switch lead and harmony back and forth. Don almost always sings any lines that are sung solo (for example, the verses of "Bye Bye Love".) Among the exceptions to this rule is the Everlys' 1965 single "It's All Over", where Phil sings the song's solo lines.

In the late 1950s, the Everly Brothers were the rock 'n' roll youth movement's addition to close harmony vocal groups of which many were family bands. Among the Everlys' famous counterparts in country music were The Delmore Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Jim & Jesse (McReynolds) and The Osborne Brothers.

The duo's harmony singing had a strong influence on rock and roll groups of the 1960s. The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel developed their early singing styles by performing Everly covers.

"Bye Bye Love/I Wonder If I Care As Much" was the Everly Brothers 2nd single it charted at #2 in the US #6 in the UK and # 14 in Australia, "Wake Up Little Susie" was their 3rd single and made #1 in the US, #2 in the UK and #3 here in Australia. As I've mentioned before the Poms were mad about EP's just the same as we Aussie's so there were quite a lot of Everly Brothers EP's released, this one is the first in a set of six the other five should be my next posts.

Gerry And The Pacemakers - It's Gonna Be All Right

2012-01-21T03:54:00.000-08:00

It's Gonna Be All Right/It's Just Because/Maybellene/You´re The Reason

The first band ever to have their first three singles top the British charts, Gerry & The Pacemakers rivaled the Beatles in the early years of the British Invasion.

Gerry Marsden - guitar/vocals (born September 24th 1942, Liverpool)

Leslie Maguire - keyboards (born December 27th 1941, Wallasey)

Les Chadwick - bass guitar (born May 11th 1943, Liverpool)

Freddie Marsden - drums (born November 23rd 1940, Liverpool)

Gerry Marsden first began playing guitar in a skiffle group during the Fifties. He progressed through several rock groups, often including his brother Freddie on drums. Eventually he formed a group of his own, The Mars-Bars. With addition of bassist Chadwick in 1959 they became The Pacemakers. They turned professional in 1960 and McGuire was drafted in from the Undertakers to replace original pianist Arthur Mack.

Like many of the Liverpool groups they were offered work in Hamburg, and enjoyed a successful two-month residency at the Top Ten Club. Returning to England, they signed a management deal with Brian Epstein in June 1962. They were quickly offered a contract with Columbia and placed under the wing of producer George Martin.

Unprecedented at the time (and for many years afterwards), Gerry & The Pacemakers' first three singles all went to the No. 1 spot in the UK charts. "How Do You Do It", which had been rejected by the Beatles, - "I Like It", especially written for them by Mitch Murray, and "You'll Never Walk Alone", from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel". "You'll Never Walk Alone" entered the realms of British folklore when it was adopted as an anthem by soccer supporters the length and breadth of the nation.

The next release was "I'm The One". Written by Gerry himself, it broke the run of chart toppers, but still made the No. 2 spot.

During the early part of 1964 the group toured extensively, taking in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the United States where they made an appearance on the prestigious "Ed Sullivan Show".

They were also featured in a film titled after one of their songs "Ferry Cross The Mersey" (1965). But by then their star was waning. Although they continued to sell records in ever decreasing numbers, it became apparent that their future lay in family entertainment, a process which culminated in Gerry abandoning rock 'n' roll to become a children's television and cabaret performer.

Duanne Eddy & The Rebels - Detour

2012-01-20T15:35:00.000-08:00

Lonesome Road/I Almost Lost My Mind/Detour/Loving You

Duane picked up a guitar at the age of five, inspired by "singing cowboy" Gene Autry, and by the age of 16 had dropped out of high school to concentrate on performing; it was here in his new home of Phoenix that Eddy met local DJ Lee Hazelwood, who saw promise in the young guitarist. While gigging locally with rockabilly mainstay Al Casey, Duane had developed the idea of playing the bass strings of his guitar to create a deep, "twangy" sound; together, he and Hazelwood developed it, recording the guitarist's Chet Atkins signature Gretsch guitar in a giant, empty water tower to give him tons of echo.

Contributions to music:

Rock's first "guitar god"
The world's most popular rock instrumentalist
Introduced several modifications and innovations which helped shape the birth of the modern
electric guitar
A major influence on Surf/Hot Rod music as well as the British Invasion
Has sold more than 100 million records worldwide
The first rock guitarist to have his own signature guitar produced (1960 Guild Duane Eddy
DE-400 and DE-500)

Donovan - Four Play

2012-01-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

Sunshine Superman/Mellow Yellow/Hurdy Gurdy Man/Catch The Wind

Four great tracks here a mini Greatest Hits from Donovan. There was a whole series of these issued here in Australia featuring Overseas and Australian artists by CBS.

Ted Nugent - Shock Waves

2012-01-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

I Want To Tell You/Paralyzed/Cat Scratch Fever

Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career. He is also noted for his conservative political views and his ardent defense of hunting and gun ownership rights.This Special Collectors' EP features Ted's outstanding version of George Harrison's "I want to tell you" taken from Ted's album "State of shock", plus "Paralyzed" also from "State of shock" and his classic "Cat Scratch Fever"

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

2012-01-15T22:55:00.000-08:00

Folsom Prison Blues/A Boy Named Sue/Jackson [with June Carter]/San Quentin

John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003), A.K.A. "The Man In Black", was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music artist, his songs and sound spanned many other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—as well as blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal led to Cash being inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Late in his career, Cash covered songs by several rock artists.

Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice for the "boom-chicka-boom" sound of his Tennessee Three backing band; for his rebelliousness, coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor for providing free concerts inside prison walls and for his dark performance clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black".He traditionally started his concerts by saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." and usually following it up with his standard "Folsom Prison Blues."

Much of Cash's music, especially that of his later career, echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption. His signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm" and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers, including "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue"; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called "Jackson"; as well as railroad songs including "Hey, Porter" and "Rock Island Line".

"Folsom Prison Blues" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Cash. The song combines elements from two popular folk genres, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash would continue to use for the rest of his career. It became one of Cash's signature songs.

Roger Miller - King Of The Road

2012-01-15T05:01:00.000-08:00

King of the Road/Chug-a-Lug/Dang Me/Got 2 Again

Roger Dean Miller (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs. His most recognized tunes included the chart-topping country/pop hits "King of the Road", "Dang Me" and "England Swings", all from the mid-1960s Nashville sound era.

After growing up in Oklahoma and serving in the United States Army, Miller began his musical career as a songwriter in the late 1950s, penning such hits as "Billy Bayou" and "Home" for Jim Reeves and "Invitation to the Blues" for Ray Price. He later started a recording career and reached the peak of his fame in the late-1960s, but continued to record and tour into the 1990s, charting his final top 20 country hit "Old Friends" with Willie Nelson in 1982. Later in his life, he wrote the music and lyrics for the 1985 Tony-award winning Broadway musical Big River, in which he also acted.

Miller died from lung cancer in 1992, and was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame three years later. His songs continued to be recorded by younger artists, with covers of "Tall, Tall Trees" by Alan Jackson and "Husbands and Wives" by Brooks & Dunn, each reaching the number one spot on country charts in the 1990s. The Roger Miller Museum in his home town serves as a tribute to Miller.

Adam Faith - Top Of The Pops

2012-01-14T06:03:00.000-08:00

The First Time/So Long Baby/Made For Me/We Are In Love

Adam Faith grew up in Acton Vale, West London. Like many of his generation he began playing skiffle with some friends and managed to get a regular booking at the Two I's coffee bar where Tommy Steele had started his singing career. From there Adam managed to secure an appearance on Jack Good's 'Oh Boy!' rock and roll TV show. However, despite this and two singles released on the HMV label there was insufficient reaction to start a show business career and Adam found work as a film editor for a movie company in west London. His ambition at that time was to become a movie star- a 'British James Dean'.

However John Barry, who knew Adam through their association on TV (The John Barry Seven were a resident band on 'Oh Boy!') was looking for a suitable singer for a song that he'd acquired from Johnny Worth entitled 'What Do You Want?'. John Barry's superb backing and Adam's original vocalisation of the piece proved a winning combination and the record went to the UK number 1 spot at the end of 1959. A long string of hit records ensued and by changing his style to suit the new 'group' sound in 1963 he maintained his chart career until 1967.

Despite previous film appearances Adam was no thespian and it was with astonishment in some quarters that Adam switched his career to acting. Adam learned his trade the hard way, on the road with a repertory company. The roles that he played were usually minor ones until in 1971 he landed the lead in the television series 'Budgie'. The series was highly successful and re-established Adam in the public eye again.

During the 1970s Adam became increasingly involved with the management of other performers, particularly his association with singer Leo Sayer. However, although his career gradually moved away from acting Adam's focus moved towards the world of finance, not entertainment. Despite occasional setbacks- some very serious- Adam had been an intelligent investor and he became a popular source of financial advice in newspaper and television.

Ronnie Hawkins - Rockin' With Ronnie

2012-01-04T23:57:00.000-08:00

Odessa/My Girl Is Red Hot/Wild Little Willie/Ruby Baby

Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins (born January 10, 1935) is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life. He is considered highly influential in the establishment and evolution of rock music in Canada.

Also known as Rompin' Ronnie, Mr. Dynamo or simply The Hawk, Hawkins was one of the key players in the 1960s rock scene in Toronto, Canada. Throughout his career, Hawkins has performed all across North America and recorded more than twenty-five albums. His hit songs included covers of Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days" (entitled "Forty Days" by Hawkins) and Young Jessie's "Mary Lou", a song about a "gold digging woman". His other well-known recordings are "Who Do You Love?", "Hey Bo Diddley", and "Suzie Q", which was written by his cousin, the late rockabilly artist Dale Hawkins.

Hawkins is also notable for his role as something of a talent scout and mentor. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of premiere backing musicians via his band, The Hawks. The most successful of those eventually forming The Band.

Rolling Stones - Time Is On My Side

2012-01-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Time Is On My Side/Congratulations/Off The Hook/Little Red Rooster

The Rolling Stones recorded two versions of the song in 1964. The first version (a looser arrangement featuring a briefer, organ-only intro) was released in the U.S. in 1964, as a single from their album 12 X 5. The second version (recorded November 8, 1964, more tightly arranged and featuring guitar in the intro) was released in the UK on January 15, 1965 on The Rolling Stones No. 2. This is the version that receives airplay and appears on most "best of" compilations. Both versions incorporate elements of Irma Thomas's recording, including spoken-word interjections in the chorus, a monologue in the middle of the song, and distinctive lead guitar.

The U.S. version was released on September 26, 1964 as a single (a month after Thomas' cover) and peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart to become the Rolling Stones' first top ten hit in the U.S. (their previous single, "It's All Over Now", had only peaked at number 26). When they performed "Time Is on My Side" during their first guest spot on The Ed Sullivan Show, Sullivan was shocked by their appearance and declared that they would never be invited onto the show again, but he subsequently invited them back several times.

Kinks - Percy

2012-01-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Gods Children/The Way Love Used To Be/Moments/Dreams

Percy is a 1971 film soundtrack for the British comedy film Percy performed by English rock group the Kinks with additional orchestral arrangements conducted by Stanley Myers. The songs were written by Ray Davies and include both standard pop songs and instrumental numbers.
This was the band's final album for Pye Records, concluding a seven-year contract. It was not released in the US and was available there for years only as an import
Percy was not a notable critical or popular success but the album is nonetheless worthy to be considered as a Kinks studio album, comprised as it was of almost entirely new material, much of which has never been released on any subsequent compilation albums.
"God's Children" was issued as a single (b/w either "Moments" or "The Way Love Used to Be", depending on the country) in April 1971. In the UK a 4-track EP was also released featuring "God's Children", "The Way Love Used To Be", "Moments" and "Dreams". This was the Kinks' last release with Pye while they were still under contract. Unlike the album, the single was released in the US (in July) but failed to chart there or in the UK. It was a minor hit in Australia (reaching #53) and New Zealand (#21).

Kim Weston - Kim Weston

2012-01-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

A Little More Love/ Another Train Coming/ Looking For The Right Guy/Go Ahead And Laugh

Best known as a duet partner of Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston also charted with some of her own solo sides during the '60s, although she never had the breakout success of a Martha Reeves or Diana Ross. She enjoyed her biggest solo hit in 1965 with ‘Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)’ and followed it up in 1966 with the equally soulful ‘Helpless,’ both of which helped make her reputation among soul collectors. Also in 1966, she cut an entire album of duets with Gaye, Take Two, which produced the Top Five R&B classic ‘It Takes Two.’ By the time it was peaking on the charts in early 1967, however, Weston had already left Motown and moved to MGM, but a pair of albums there proved to be commercial failures. Weston subsequently recorded for Volt (Kim Kim Kim), People (Big Brass Four Poster, an album of jazz standards with the Hastings Street Jazz Experience), and Johnny Nash's Banyan Tree, all without much success. She did, however, chart with her version of the anthem ‘Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing’ in 1970. Weston largely disappeared from the music industry during the ‘70s and reappeared in the late-‘80s, releasing two albums for Motorcity in the early-‘90s.

Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String

2012-01-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Puppet On A String/Long Live Love/Something There To Remind Me/I'd Be Far Better Off Without You

Sandie Shaw (born Sandra Ann Goodrich, 26 February 1947) is an English pop singer, who was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. In 1967 she was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest. She has been described as "the barefoot pop princess of the 1960s"

"Puppet on a String" is the name of the Eurovision Song Contest-winning song in 1967 by British singer Sandie Shaw. It was her thirteenth UK single release. The song was a UK Singles Chart number one hit on 27 April 1967, staying at the top for a total of three weeks.

Shaw had originally performed the song as one of five prospective numbers to represent the United Kingdom in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest on The Rolf Harris Show. She had never been taken with the idea of taking part in the contest but her discoverer, Adam Faith, had talked her into it, saying it would keep her manager Eve Taylor happy. Taylor wanted to give Shaw a more cabaret appeal and felt that this was the right move - and also felt that it would get Shaw back in the public's good books as she had recently been involved in a divorce scandal.

Of the five songs performed, "Puppet on a String" was Shaw's least favourite. In her own words "I hated it from the very first oompah to the final bang on the big bass drum. I was instinctively repelled by its sexist drivel and cuckoo-clock tune." She was disappointed when it was selected as the song she would use to represent the country, but it won the contest hands down, though it has always been felt that this was partly due to her existing popularity on the continent (she had recorded most of her hit singles in French, Italian, German and Spanish). As a result "Puppet on a String" became her third Number One hit in the UK (a record for a female at the time) and was a big worldwide smash (the biggest selling single of the year in Germany). Shaw also recorded "Puppet on a String" in French ("Un tout petit pantin"), Italian ("La danza delle note"), Spanish ("Marionetas en la cuerda"), and German ("Wiedehopf im Mai").

Eddie Cochran - Eddie's Hits

2012-01-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

Three Steps To Heaven/Pocketful Of Hearts/Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie/Pocketful Of Hearts

Eddie Cochran (October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960), was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the words of Lester Bangs, writing in Rolling Stone in 1972, "Eddie may have imitated Elvis vocally even more than a dozen or so other stalwarts of the day such as Conway Twitty, but his influence on pop consciousness of the magnitude of The Beatles and The Who was deep and profound". He experimented with multitracking and overdubbing even on his earliest singles, and was also able to play piano, bass and drums. His image as a sharply dressed, rugged but good looking young man with a rebellious attitude epitomized the stance of the Fifties rocker, and in death he achieved iconic status.

Cochran was born in Minnesota and moved with his family to California in the early 1950s. He was involved with music from an early age, playing in the school band and teaching himself to play blues guitar. In 1955, he formed a duet with the unrelated guitarist Hank Cochran, and when they split the following year, Cochran began a song-writing career with Jerry Capehart. His first success came when he performed the song "Twenty Flight Rock" in the movie The Girl Can't Help It, starring Jayne Mansfield. Soon after, Liberty Records signed him to a recording contract.

Cochran was 21 when he died in April 1960 in a road accident during his British tour. Though his best known songs were released during his lifetime, more of his songs were released posthumously. In 1987, Cochran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Ventures - Another Smash

2012-01-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

Bulldog/Meet Mr. Callaghan/Trambone/Josie

The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Their instrumental virtuosity, experimentation with guitar effects, and unique sound laid the groundwork for innumerable groups, earning them the moniker "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands". While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains revered in Japan, where they still tour regularly to this day

Dusty Springfield - Star Dusty

2011-12-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

In the Middle of Nowhere/Twenty-Four Hours from Tulsa/ I Only Want to Be With You/ I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself

Dusty Springfield began her singing career in a 'Girl Group' called the Lana Sisters during the late 1950s. The Lana Sisters never managed to get a chart hit though they were familiar performers to British TV viewers. They probably came closest with a version of 'Seven Little Girls' which they made with Al Saxon who took the male vocals. Her first taste of real success came when she teamed up with her brother Tom Springfield (Dion O'Brien) and his friend Tim Field. Together they formed the 'Springfields' who produced a blend of 'folk' and pop that audiences were ready for at the beginning of the 1960s.

Despite the success of the Springfields, Dusty decided to take a chance and go solo during 1963. Her first single 'I Only Want To Be With You' must have removed any doubts that she harboured about leaving the Springfields. A long series of hits followed and she rapidly became one of the most successful UK female singers of the era. By the late 1960s she pushed her music further towards the 'black' music she loved and became renowned on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the few white artists who could really sing 'soul'.

By the end of the decade she had decided to move her base to the U.S. as she thought this would broaden her career and bring greater success. Unfortunately, the break from the support that she had grown used to was too great. She didn't make the progress in the U.S. that she should have done because of the poorer level of management and her own lack of discipline. Although her career in the 1970s had its high points, they were fewer and harder to find than they were in the 1960s. As the 1970s gave way to the 1980s her plight grew worse and she became increasingly dependent on alcohol.

Despite her personal and professional problems her potential to sing was released by the Pet Shop Boys at the end of the 1980s. Her rendition of the lyric on 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' earned her the respect and admiration of a new young audience and delighted her older fans. Her new found success showed up her wasted years in the USA even more strongly.

Sadly, Dusty Springfield died of cancer on 2nd March, 1999, finally depriving Britain of its finest female vocalist.

Dave Davies - Hits

2011-12-31T12:48:00.000-08:00

Death Of A Clown/The Sun Shines/Funny Face/
Susannah's Still Alive

David Russell Gordon "Dave" Davies (born 3 February 1947, Fortis Green, London) is an English rock musician best known for his role as lead guitarist and vocalist for the English rock band The Kinks.

In July 1967, Davies released his first solo single, credited entirely under his name, (although co-written by his brother and fellow Kinks member Ray Davies) entitled "Death of a Clown". In the past as a member of The Kinks Dave Davies had only released his own compositions on B-sides and as part of albums. The Kinks' record label sensed potential sales in a solo release from the overlooked Davies, and issued "Death of a Clown" as his debut. Although credited to Davies, it was technically a Kinks recording, as his backing band was The Kinks.

Upon its release, "Death of a Clown" rose to number three on the UK Singles Chart. Wanting to profit off of the new buzz suddenly surrounding Davies, a solo LP was slated for release some time in 1968 or 1969. The follow-up single, "Susannah's Still Alive", was released in November 1967; however, it only reached #20 on the Melody Maker chart. The release of the solo album was held back, and it was decided to wait and see how another single would fare. As anticipation grew for the release of the new LP, it was nicknamed it A Hole in the Sock Of. "Lincoln County" was chosen as the next single, but failed to chart. By the time one or two more singles were met with the same results, a combination of Davies' own disinterest in continuing and Pye's decision to stop killed off any hopes of an album.

Kinks - Kwyet Kinks

2011-12-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

Wait Till The Summer Comes Along/Such A Shame/A Well respected Man/Don't You Fret

My apologies to anyone who has already downloaded this one I seem to have posted the wrong RAR file the mistake has now been rectified

Kwyet Kinks is the third EP by The Kinks, released in September 1965. Unlike most of their other EPs, it contained all exclusive tracks and all were original compositions.

The EP represented a significant departure as hinted at by the play on words title as all four tracks are 'quieter' than the typical early Kinks rock sound, particularly lead track "Wait Till The Summer Comes Along", sung by Dave Davies with prominent acoustic guitar and a clear country or folk influence. The most well known track is "A Well Respected Man" which was the first real example of the social commentary and a songwriting style which would come to be associated with Ray Davies and The Kinks.

"A Well Respected Man" was released as a single in the US in October 1965 (b/w "Such A Shame") where it reached no. 13. Following the success of the similar "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" it was also released as a single in mainland Europe in 1966.

In the US, the tracks were included on the Kinkdom album (released November 1965). All four tracks were not available on another official Pye release in the UK, however three of the tracks (excluding "Such a Shame") were included on the budget Marble Arch compilation LP Well Respected Kinks in 1966 and "Such a Shame" appeared on that LP's follow up Sunny Afternoon in 1967. The EP was made available on CD in 1998 as part of the EP Collection boxed set. The tracks are currently available as bonus tracks on the CD reissue of Kinda Kinks.

The 5th Dimension - Oh Sweet Blindness

2011-12-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Sweet Blindness/Stoned Soul Picnic/The Sailboat Song/Bobbie's Blues (who do you think of)

The Fifth Dimension's unique sound lay somewhere between smooth, elegant soul and straightforward, adult-oriented pop, often with a distinct flower-power vibe. Although they appealed more to mainstream listeners than to a hip, hardcore R&B audience, they had a definite ear for contemporary trends; their selection of material helped kickstart the notable songwriting careers of Jimmy Webb and Laura Nyro, and their biggest hit was a medley from the hippie musical Hair, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In." The group's soaring, seamless harmonies were given appropriately sweeping, orchestrated period production by Bones Howe, which often placed their records closer to California-style sunshine pop. That's actually part of the reason why the best singles from the Fifth Dimension's heyday of the late '60s and early '70s still evoke their era with uncanny precision.

The Fifth Dimension began life in Los Angeles in 1965 as the Versatiles. Lamonte McLemore, Ron Townson, and Billy Davis, Jr. all grew up in St. Louis, and moved to Los Angeles independently of one another; each was trained in a different area -- jazz, opera, and gospel/R&B, respectively. Marilyn McCoo was the first female singer to join, and she was soon augmented by Florence LaRue; both were ex-beauty pageant winners who'd attended college in the L.A. area. Their demo tape was rejected by Motown, but after a one-off single for Bronco, they caught the attention of singer Johnny Rivers, who'd just set up his own label, Soul City. Rivers signed the group in 1966 on the condition that they update their name and image, and thus the Fifth Dimension was born.

Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass - The Lonely Bull

2011-12-16T02:22:00.000-08:00

The Lonely Bull/Mexico/El Lobo/Crawfish

"The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)" is a song by Sol Lake recorded by The Tijuana Brass with Herb Alpert among others. The Herb Alpert single represents the first release on A&M Records.

It became a hit (US #6) and title song to the album The Lonely Bull, released in December 1962.

While experimenting with the sound of an overdubbed trumpet, this song was recorded in Herb Alpert's garage. The single and album recordings of the song were recorded at Conway Recorders in Hollywood, California and featured the sounds of a crowd cheering "Ole" inside a bullfight arena in Mexico.

Beatles - Norwegian Wood

2011-12-11T22:33:00.000-08:00

Paperback Writer/We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper/Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

This another Australian only EP release .

The Beatles originally intended for Day Tripper to be the a-side of their final single of 1965. However, after the group recorded We Can Work It Out four days later, on 20 October, it was considered the more commercial song.
Lennon's protestations resulted in the single being marketed as the world's first double a-side. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that We Can Work It Out was requested by a greater proportion of record buyers, and was likewise favoured by radio stations.
Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out was released in the UK on 3 December 1965 - the same day as the Rubber Soul album, on which it did not feature. Five days later the single entered the chart at number one, where it remained for five weeks. It sold over a million copies.
Paperback Writer was a standalone single released in June 1966, written by Paul McCartney and recorded over two consecutive days during the Revolver sessions. The release of Paperback Writer came 27 weeks after its predecessor, Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out.
Norwegian Wood was a landmark recording for The Beatles, being one of the first Western pop songs to feature the sitar, an Indian instrument. Norwegian Wood was featured on the Rubber Soul album.

The Beatles - With The Beatles

2011-12-10T23:52:00.000-08:00

Devil In Her Heart/Not A Second Time/It Won't Be Long/Don't Bother Me

EMI Australia did not receive the cover art for 'With The Beatles' LP and used a caricature of the band in a similar style to the black-and-white photograph on other releases. The Beatles were unaware of this until fans showed them the cover during their only Australian tour, and informed the EMI publicity staff that they were not pleased with the substitution. The EP Has the same cover art as the LP and "With the Beatles EP" is an Australian only release.

The Who - Ready Steady Who

2011-12-10T07:12:00.000-08:00

Disguises/Circles/Batman/Bucket T/Barbara Ann

Ready Steady Who is a 7" EP by The Who, released only in the UK on 11 November 1966. The title refers to a Ready Steady Go! TV special the band had recently appeared in, but the EP contains different recordings to what was performed on the TV show. These consist of two original songs by Pete Townshend, as well as covers of the theme from the Batman TV series and Jan and Dean's "Bucket T". Also included is a cover of The Regents' "Barbara Ann", a song whose famous arrangement by The Beach Boys The Who follows more closely.

The original EP credits the song "Batman" to Jan Berry, Don Altfeld (misspelled as "Altfield") and Fred Weider. The song was actually written by Neal Hefti, and is not a cover of the Jan and Dean-embellished version. The credit was corrected in the liner notes to the 1995 CD release of A Quick One.

All of the songs are available as bonus tracks on the 1995 reissue CD of A Quick One, except for "Circles", which differs from the version on the My Generation LP, and can be found on Two's Missing.

Jackie De Shannon - Guess Who

2011-12-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

Guess Who/Faded Love/I'll Drown In My Own Tears/Just Like In the Movies

One of the first female rock 'n' roll songwriters, De Shannon penned the classics "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" and "When You Walk in the Room" and collaborated extensively with Randy Newman, Jimmy Page, John Bettis and Donna Weiss. Weiss and De Shannon were awarded the 1982 Grammy for Song of the Year for their song "Bette Davis Eyes."
De Shannon started her career as a teenager, when she sent samples of her work to record labels across the country. Liberty Records signed her at 16, and she started writing songs and singing teen pop hits.
In the early 1960s, De Shannon former a writing partnership with Sharon Sheeley. The duo produced "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee and "I Love Anastasia" for The Fleetwoods. At the same time, De Shannon was singing and slowly gaining popularity on the U.S. and Canadian pop charts with hits such as "Needles and Pins" and "Lonely Girl."
In 1964, De Shannon received one of the biggest breaks of her career when she received a call from Brian Epstein, the manager for The Beatles. He asked her to open for the group on its first American tour.
In an interview on Fresh Air, De Shannon describes what it was like to accompany The Beatles across the U.S.
"I went out the wrong door once, to try to get on the bus to get back to the airplane," she says. "And people were pulling my hair, pulling my clothes. It was really scary. I thought this was going to be it. But they were so crazy, they wanted anyone who had been near [The Beatles]. Anyone that they thought had been close to them — it was pretty frightening."
De Shannon's other hits include her songs "Break-A-Way" and "Come and Stay With Me" — and singing Burt Bacharach and Hal David's soulful classic "What the World Needs Now."
"It brought me to the forefront," she says. "And it was a big record, and to this day, I love that record. ... People just loved it. They loved the record. They loved the song. They loved the vocals. They loved the arrangement — everything."

Tab Hunter - Tab Hunter

2011-12-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

Young Love/Ninety Nine Ways/Don't Let It Get Around/I'm Alone Because I Love You

Tab Hunter (born Arthur Andrew Kelm; July 11, 1931) is an American actor, singer, former teen idol and author who has starred in over forty major films

Arthur Kelm was given the stage name "Tab Hunter" by his first agent, Henry Willson. His good looks landed him a role in the film Island of Desire opposite Linda Darnell. However, it was his co-starring role as young Marine Danny in 1955's World War II drama Battle Cry, in which he has an affair with an older woman, but ends up marrying the girl next door, that cemented his position as one of Hollywood's top young romantic leads. His other hit films include The Burning Hills with Natalie Wood, That Kind Of Woman with Sophia Loren, Gunman's Walk With Van Heflin and The Pleasure Of His Company with Debbie Reynolds. He went on to star in over forty films.

Hunter had a 1957 hit record with a cover of the song "Young Love", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks. He also had the hit "Ninety-Nine Ways", which peaked at #11 in the chart. His success prompted Jack Warner to enforce the actor's contract with the Warner Bros. studio by banning Dot Records, the label for which Hunter had recorded the single (and which was owned by rival Paramount Pictures), from releasing a follow-up album he had recorded for them. He established Warner Bros. Records specifically for Hunter, although his singing career foundered after a few more recordings.

Sam Cooke - Cooke's Tour

2011-12-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

Chain Gang/Coffee Song/Far Away Places/South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)

Samuel Cook, (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and influence on the modern world of music. His contribution in pioneering Soul music led to the rise of Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and popularized the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown.

Cooke had 29 top-40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1964. Major hits like "You Send Me", "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Cupid", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful World", and "Twistin' the Night Away" are some of his most popular songs. Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career. He founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer. He also took an active part in the American Civil Rights Movement.

On December 11, 1964, Cooke was fatally shot by the manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 33. At the time, the courts ruled that Cooke was drunk and distressed, and that the manager had killed Cooke in what was later ruled a justifiable homicide.

Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself

2011-12-08T23:43:00.000-08:00

I Can't Help Myself/Ask The Lonely/Something About You/ It's The Same Old Song

For information on the Four Tops please use the search facility to locate other Four Tops posts on the blog

"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" is a 1965 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label.

Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. The song hit number one on the R&B charts and was also the number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks,. from June 12 to June 19 and from June 26 to July 3 in 1965. It replaced "Back in My Arms Again" by labelmates The Supremes, was first replaced by "Mr. Tambourine Man" by The Byrds, then regained the top spot before being replaced by "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones.

The song finds lead singer Levi Stubbs, assisted by the other three Tops and The Andantes, pleadingly professing his love to a woman: "Sugar pie, honey bunch/I'm weaker than a man should be!/Can't help myself/I'm a fool in love, you see." Like most of his lead parts, Stubbs' vocals are recorded in a tone that straddles the line between singing and shouting, similar to the tone of a black Baptist preacher. The melodic and chordal progressions are very similar to the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go".

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #415 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It has been covered extensively since 1965, including versions done for several television commercials

ZZ Top - The ZZ Top Holiday EP

2011-12-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

Tush/Got Me Under Pressure/Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers/I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969. Musician Billy Gibbons and drummer Dan Mitchell, originally in a band called the Moving Sidewalks, got together with bassist Lanier Greig (soon replaced by Billy Ethridge), to form ZZ Top. In 1969, Ethridge and Mitchell were replaced by Dusty Hill and (the beardless) Frank Beard from the band American Blues. The band soon began developing a following in Texas.

They were signed to London Records in 1970 and released several albums, beginning with their 1971 debut album, followed by their 1972 album Rio Grande Mud. In 1973, the band emerged into the mainstream with the album Tres Hombres, and their 1975 follow-up Fandango! expanded on their sound and sense of humor. By the mid-1970s, they were among the most popular touring acts in the United States and broke various concert attendance feats. After years of touring, the band went on a two-year break in 1977, which resulted in Gibbons and Hill growing chest-length beards.

Although they returned in 1979 and the band signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Records (taking the rights to their London recordings with them), it was not until the band released 1983's Eliminator that they reached a new height in popularity, selling over 10 million copies. Throughout the late 1980s, the band made several hits and won several awards for music videos like "Legs" and "Sharp Dressed Man". After over 40 years of performing with the same members, the band continues to tour and record music.

ZZ Top has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, including 25 million albums in the US alone. The band scored eight Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, six number one Mainstream Rock hits, and three MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Tommy James and the Shondells - Mirage

2011-12-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

Mirage/I Like the Way/Run Run Baby Run/Baby Let Me Down

Tommy James and the Shondells are an American rock and roll group whose period of greatest success came in the late 1960s. They had two No. 1 singles in the U.S. — "Hanky Panky" (1966) and "Crimson and Clover" (1969) and also charted 12 other Top 40 hits, including five in the top ten: "Crystal Blue Persuasion", "Mony Mony", "I Think We're Alone Now", "Sweet Cherry Wine", and "Mirage".

They amassed six million-selling gold records: "Hanky Panky", "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mony Mony", "Crimson and Clover", "Sweet Cherry Wine", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion"

"Mirage" is a song by Tommy James and the Shondells released in 1967 on the album, I Think We're Alone Now. The song debuted on the Hot 100 on Tommy's 20th birthday, eventually reaching No. 10 there and No. 2 on the Canadian charts.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid (Mexico)

2011-11-26T03:48:00.000-08:00

Paranoid/Rat Salad/Electric Funeral

I have already posted some Black Sabbath on the Blog so if you need to know about the band do a search. But who doesn't know Black Sabbath nothing uncommon about the tracks and the Covers are on some pretty flimsy paper not the uaual hard covers I'm used to seeing on the Australian, UK and French EP's so the only excuse for posting it is that it comes from Mexico.

Equals - Baby Come Back

2011-11-26T03:27:00.000-08:00

Baby Come Back/Is It Right/Giddy Up A Ding Dong/Butterfly Red White And Blue

In 1965, the group began playing together on a Hornsey Rise council estate. The Equals released "Hold Me Closer" / "Baby Come Back" single in 1966. It did not do well in the United Kingdom, but went to the number one position in Germany and The Netherlands. On the song's re-issue in the UK, it also reached the top position, giving President Records their only number one hit. In June 1969, the group received a gold disc for a combined one million sales of the disc. The year 1968 saw the release of "I Get So Excited" was released in 1968, and reached the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. In September 1969, according to reports, all five group members were injured in a motorway car accident in Germany.

A string of single releases followed up to 1970, all of which charted in the UK. The group also attracted attention as one of the few racially integrated bands of the 1960s, which was reflected in the group's name: The Equals.

At the beginning of 1971, Grant suffered a collapsed lung and heart infection, following which he returned to Guyana. He promptly left The Equals to pursue his solo career. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Grant released several Top 40 singles, including "Living On The Front Line", "Electric Avenue" and "Romancing the Stone". Grant also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with "I Don't Wanna Dance". Although The Equals never charted again after Grant's departure, they remained a popular live act, performing into the late 1970s and beyond.

"Baby, Come Back" is a song written by Eddy Grant, and originally performed and recorded by him and the rest of his band The Equals.
The Equals were a group from North London, England. "Baby Come Back" is a mixture of rock and roll and beat, very much reflecting the London sound of the 1960s. The song was first released in 1966, a year after the band formed, but did not chart. However after impressive sales in the rest of Europe (it reached the top 10 in Belgium and The Netherlands) the song was re-issued in the UK on 1 May 1968 and reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart on 6 July 1968 spending three weeks there. In all the song stayed in the UK Top 75 for 18 weeks.

Dionne Warwick - A House Is Not A Home

2011-11-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

A House Is Not A Home/You'll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart/Get Rid Of Him/Make The Night A Little Longer

Dionne Warwick (born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health.

Best known for her partnership with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest hit makers of the entire rock era (1955–1999), based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. According to Billboard Magazine, Warwick ranks second only to Aretha Franklin as the most charted female vocalist with 56 singles making the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998.

"A House Is Not a Home" is a 1964 song recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick. Written by the team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song was a modest hit in the U.S. for Warwick, peaking at #71 on the pop singles chart as the B-side of the top 40 single, "You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)". Two weeks earlier, a competing version by Brook Benton had debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. Benton's version split airplay with Warwick's, and ultimately peaked at number seventy-five. The Brook Benton version of the tune was used as the theme for the film of the same name.

Warwick's version of "A House Is Not a Home" fared better in Canada, where it was a top 40 hit, peaking at #37. The song made the R&B top 10 in Cashbox by both Warwick and Benton, with neither artist specified as best seller.

Lulu - Lulu

2011-11-10T22:51:00.000-08:00

Heatwave/What's Easy For Two Is So Hard For One/Nothing Left To Do But Cry/The Trouble With Boys

Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE (born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, 3 November 1948, Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire), best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day. She is internationally identified, especially with North American audiences, with the song "To Sir, with Love" from the film of the same name and with the title song to the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. In European countries she is also widely known for her Eurovision Song Contest winning entry "Boom Bang-a-Bang" and in the UK for her first hit "Shout".

Cilla Black - Anyone Who Had A Heart

2011-11-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

Anyone Who Had A Heart/Just For You/Love Of The Loved/Shy Of Love

Cilla Black OBE (born Priscilla Maria Veronica White, 27 May 1943) is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie. After a successful recording career and a brief time as a comedy actress, she became the best paid female presenter in British television history. In September 2009, Black's 45 years in showbusiness were celebrated by EMI (the record label which launched her career in 1963) with the release of a new CD/DVD set alongside an album of club remixes (aka Cilla All Mixed Up). In May 2010, new research published by BBC Radio 2 claimed that Cilla Black's version of Anyone Who Had a Heart was the UK's biggest selling single by a female artist in the 1960s.

"Anyone Who Had a Heart" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) for Dionne Warwick in 1963. Cilla Black's version was a UK #1 hit in 1964: in May 2010 research published by BBC Radio 2 revealed that her version was the biggest female chart hit of the 1960s although that version, as well as Cilla Black, remains relatively unknown outside the UK and western Europe.

Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou

2011-11-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

Blue Bayou/Candy Man/Pretty Paper/Mean Woman Blues

"Blue Bayou" is the title of a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson and sung by Orbison.A plaintive ballad, it was originally released by Orbison as a 45rpm single on the Monument Records label in August 1963 (backed with the rock song "Mean Woman Blues")."Blue Bayou" also appears on Orbison's 1963 album, In Dreams and his 1989 posthumous album A Black & White Night Live from the 1988 HBO television special.

This is an Australian only EP with 4 of Roy's biggest hits in Australia "Blue Bayou" made it to the #1 position on the Australian charts, Candyman also made #1 with "Pretty Paper" coming in at #4 and "Mean Woman Blues" another #1.

Cliff Richard - The Young Ones

2011-11-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

The Young Ones/ Got A Funny Feeling/Lessons In Love/We Say Yeah

"The Young Ones" is a single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. The song, written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, is the title song to the 1961 film The Young Ones and its soundtrack album. It sold over 2.6m worldwide.

The track was included on Cliff Richard and the Shadows #1 EP Hits from the Young Ones

Hits from The Young Ones is an EP by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, released in 1962. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number Columbia SEG 8159. The record was the number-one EP in the UK for 2 weeks starting June 2, 1962.

In the 1980s it became the title song to the British TV series The Young Ones.

Manfred Mann Chapter III - Happy Being Me

2011-10-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Being Me/Ain't It Sad/One Way Glass/Sometimes

Manfred Mann Chapter Three was a British experimental jazz rock band founded by South African keyboard player Manfred Mann and long-time partner Mike Hugg. The line-up for its debut at Newcastle's Mayfair Ballroom on October 24, 1969 was; Mike Hugg (vocals/electric piano), Mann (organ), Bernie Living (alto sax), Steve York (bass) and Craig Collinge (drums), augmented by a five-piece brass section of Clive Stevens (tenor sax), Carl Griffiths (tenor sax), Dave Coxhill (baritone sax), Gerald Drewett (trombone) and Sonny Corbett (trumpet).

The band's approach centred around the "time, no changes" approach of Miles Davis and John Coltrane applied to slow, funky grooves with voodoo lyrics inspired by Dr John alternating with blaring big-band horn riffs and improvised free-jazz solos reminiscent of Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler. Although intelligible at a time when artists like Davis himself were crossing over into the rock/funk field and American "jazz-rock" ensembles such as Blood, Sweat and Tears and The Mothers of Invention espoused brass sections and atonality, the formula was limited and the band expensive to maintain, so it was short-lived and disbanded after two albums. Mann went on to form Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1971.

Drifters - Vol. 2

2011-10-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

Under The Boardwalk/I've Got Sand In My Shoes/He's Just A Playboy/I Don't Want To Go On Without You

The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) backing group in 1953. Rolling Stone magazine states that the Drifters were the least stable of the vocal groups due to being low-paid hired musicians of their management. The Treadwell Drifters website states that there have been 60 vocalists in the history of the Treadwell Drifters line. Several splinter groups by former Drifters members add to the count. Only one splinter Drifters group features a classic Drifters member, Charlie Thomas' Drifters. Nevertheless, there are two versions of the Drifters that are notable. The first classic Drifters formed by Clyde McPhatter was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "The Drifters" or "The Original Drifters". The second Drifters formed by Treadwell featuring Ben E. King was separately inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as Ben E. King and the Drifters. In their induction, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame eclectically selected four members from the classic Drifters, two from the second Drifters, and one from the post-King Treadwell Drifters. According to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, "Through turmoil and changes the (original) Drifters managed to set musical trends and give the public 13 chart hits, most of which are legendary recordings today." Matching that feat more or less, the non-original Drifters managed to give the public 13 Hot 100 top 30 chart hits.

Bobbie Gentry - I'll Never Fall In Love Again

2011-10-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

I'll Never Fall In Love Again/Casket Vignette/Ace Insurance Man/Sweete Peony

Roberta Lee Streeter (born July 27, 1944), professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own material. Her songs typically drew on her Mississippi roots to compose vignettes of the Southern United States.

Gentry shot to international fame with her intriguing Southern Gothic narrative "Ode to Billie Joe" in 1967. The track was fourth in the Billboard year-end chart of 1967 and earned her Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1968. Gentry charted eleven singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and four singles on the United Kingdom Top 40. Her album Fancy brought her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. After her first albums, she turned towards variety shows. After a successful run on the Las Vegas Strip in the late 1970s, she lost interest in performing and has since lived privately in Los Angeles.

Dave Berry - Dave Berry

2011-10-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

Me-O My-O/St. James Infirmary/If You Need Me/Ella Speed

Dave Berry (born David Holgate Grundy, 6 February 1941, Woodhouse, Sheffield) is a British pop singer and former teen idol of the 1960s. He performed a mixture of hard R&B and pop ballads and was popular in Britain, and on Continental Europe but had no commercial success in the US, where he is best known for the original versions of Ray Davies' "This Strange Effect" and Graham Gouldman's "I'm Going To Take You There". He had an unusual ambition for a pop performer trying to make a name for himself - to appear on TV completely hidden by a prop. In his own words, to "not appear, to stay behind something and not come out". He often hid behind the upturned collar of his leather jacket, or wrapped himself around, and effectively behind, the microphone lead.

His best remembered hits are Memphis, Tennessee, "The Crying Game" (1964) and his 1965 hit "Little Things", a cover version of Bobby Goldsboro's Stateside Top 40 success. "This Strange Effect" (1965), written by Ray Davies, became a Number One hit for him in the Netherlands and Belgium, countries where he still enjoys celebrity status, having received an award from Radio Veronica, Netherlands, for their best selling pop single of all time. B. J. Thomas's sentimental "Mama" (1966) and "Don't Gimme No Lip Child",

Herman's Hermits - Hermania

2011-10-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

Sea Cruise/Mother-In-Law/ I Understand/Thinkin' Of You

Herman's Hermits are an English beat (or pop) band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most (who controlled the band's output), emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers. This helped Herman's Hermits become hugely successful in the mid-1960s but dampened the band's songwriting; Noone, Hopwood, Leckenby and Green's songs were relegated to B-sides and album cuts.
The Hermania EP by Herman's Hermits was the band's first EP and was released in the United Kingdom by EMI/Columbia (catalogue number SEG 8440.)

Duanne Eddy - Rebel Rouser

2011-10-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

Rebel Rouser/Stalkin'/Ramrod/The Walker

Duane Eddy (born April 26, 1938) is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit records, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994

Aerosmith - Rats In The Cellar

2011-10-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

Rats in the Cellar/Walk This Way/Same Old Song and Dance/Dream On

Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock,has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal,and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many subsequent rock artists. The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with singer Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano, and formed Aerosmith. In 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford, and the band began developing a following in Boston.

Aerosmith is the best-selling American rock band of all time, having sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, including 66.5 million albums in the United States alone. They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group. The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, nine number-one Mainstream Rock hits, four Grammy Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and were included among both Rolling Stone's and VH1's lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Adam Faith - Hit Parade Vol. 3

2011-10-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

As You Like It/Lonesome/Face To Face/Don't You Know It

Adam Faith grew up in Acton Vale, West London. Like many of his generation he began playing skiffle with some friends and managed to get a regular booking at the Two I's coffee bar where Tommy Steele had started his singing career. From there Adam managed to secure an appearance on Jack Good's 'Oh Boy!' rock and roll TV show. However, despite this and two singles released on the HMV label there was insufficient reaction to start a show business career and Adam found work as a film editor for a movie company in west London. His ambition at that time was to become a movie star- a 'British James Dean'.

However John Barry, who knew Adam through their association on TV (The John Barry Seven were a resident band on 'Oh Boy!') was looking for a suitable singer for a song that he'd acquired from Johnny Worth entitled 'What Do You Want?'. John Barry's superb backing and Adam's original vocalisation of the piece proved a winning combination and the record went to the UK number 1 spot at the end of 1959. A long string of hit records ensued and by changing his style to suit the new 'group' sound in 1963 he maintained his chart career until 1967.The EP shown on the left was issued in 1962 as the third volume in a series that began in 1960, with his first EP release "Adam's Hit Parade"

Despite previous film appearances Adam was no thespian and it was with astonishment in some quarters that Adam switched his career to acting. Adam learned his trade the hard way, on the road with a repertory company. The roles that he played were usually minor ones until in 1971 he landed the lead in the television series 'Budgie'. The series was highly successful and re-established Adam in the public eye again.During the 1970s Adam became increasingly involved with the management of other performers, particularly his association with singer Leo Sayer. However, although his career gradually moved away from acting Adam's focus moved towards the world of finance, not entertainment. Despite occasional setbacks- some very serious- Adam had been an intelligent investor and he became a popular source of financial advice in newspaper and television. He continued to function in this role despite undergoing major heart surgery during the 1980s.

Adam Faith returned to acting during the 1990s and most recently became a familiar figure on TV again in the series 'Love Hurts'.Sadly, to the shock of his many fans and friends, Adam Faith died during the early hours of 8th March, 2003 in a Stoke-on-Trent hotel. He had appeared in a play at a local theatre the previous evening.

Buffalo Springfield - Fours

2011-10-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Bluebird/Mr. Soul/Rock & Roll Woman/Expecting to Fly

Buffalo Springfield is a North American rock group among the first wave of North American rock bands such as The Byrds and Lovin' Spoonful to become popular in the wake of British invasion bands. Appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Buffalo Springfield is best known for the song "For What It's Worth", a political anthem written by Stills in response to an LAPD assault on young hippies.

After the band's formation in April 1966, a series of disruptions, including infighting and the pressure of working in the music industry, resulted in constant changes in the group's lineup and ultimately culminated in the group's disbanding after roughly 25 months.

Buffalo Springfield released three albums but left many demo recordings, studio outtakes and live recordings, as well as a reputation for excellent personnel and high band dysfunction. Despite the band's short tenure and limited output it was one of the most influential bands of the 1960s, with several solo careers, subsequent bands, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition for Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Neil Young separately. CSN, CSN&Y, Poco, Loggins and Messina, and Neil Young with Crazy Horse were immediate successors.

Steve Marriott - Moments

2011-10-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Money, Money/Good Morning Blues/You Really Got Me/You'll Never Get Away from Me

Legend is an oft abused word. There are few stars in the British pop pantheon who could legitimately be described as such. Steve Marriott is one. With an army of dedicated devotees numbering Weller and Gallagher in their ranks, the Marriott legend continues to grow.
From his first role as the original Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart’s first run of Oliver, to the electrifying bundle of energy that fronted the Small Faces, through his Humble Pie ‘super-group’ with Peter Frampton, and his eventual return to his Essex blues roots. Marriott crammed a lot into a short time.
Following his tragic death at 44 in a house fire in 1991, the Small Faces catalogue has been reissued in a hundred different ways. Box sets, CDs in tins – virtually every track they recorded is available. For a band together for only three years, their impact still looms large as the genuine mod icons.
But what of Marriott’s time before the Small Facesspent in the band The Moments a chance discovery in an east London attic cast new light on those less well documented days.
At 16, Steve Marriott formed The Moments, an east London r & b band with a loyal mod following through their residencies at the Flamingo Club. They gigged hard through 1964 but commercial success eluded them and in October of that year Marriott was dumped by the rest of the band after they decided that ‘he didn’t have it in him to be a singer…’
Then, according to David Bowie, he and Marriott were planning a blues band called David and Goliath when Marriott jumped ship and formed the Small Faces with Ronnie Lane.
In 2008, Barry Hewitt, the bass player in The Moments chanced upon an un-played acetate recorded back in 1964. A conversation with Whapping Wharf’s John Hellier led the unheard recordings to Acid Jazz, where they have been coupled with The Moments only release, the impossibly rare ‘You Really Got Me’/’Money’ (US World Artists 1964) for a limited edition 7 inch vinyl EP.

Spencer Davis Group - Somebody Help Me

2011-10-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

Somebody Help Me/Sittin' And Thinking/Dimples/This Hammer

"Somebody Help Me" is the title of the 6th single by The Spencer Davis Group, which was released in 1966. It became a number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart. Like "Keep on Running", it was composed by Jackie Edwards.
"Dimples / Sittin' and Thinkin'" was their 1st single and did not chart, "This Hammer" was the B-side of Strong Love their 4th single (June 1965) and made UK #44

The Who - Pictures Of Lily

2011-10-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

Pictures Of Lily/I Need You/Doctor Doctor/Run Run Run

"Pictures of Lily" is a single by the British rock band The Who, written by guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend. It was released in 1967 as a single, and made the top five in the UK, but failed to break into the top 50 in the United States.
According to Pete Townshend in the 2006 book "Lyrics" by Rikky Rooksby, "the idea was inspired by a picture my girlfriend had on her wall of an old Vaudeville star Lily Bayliss . It was an old 1920s postcard and someone had written on it 'Here's another picture of Lily hope you haven't got this one.' It made me think that everyone has a pin-up period."

This song was first played live in 1966, and they continued to play through whilst touring until 1968. It returned to make a one-off appearance at a show in Passaic, New Jersey on 11 September 1979, where singer Daltrey forgot the lyrics and they went straight to Free's "All Right Now", which the band performed on rare occasions in the 1970s. Daltrey performed this four times in his 1985 solo tour. The Who returned it to their set list, however, and most recently performed it in 1989. Though Daltrey stated in 2008 the song had been taken off their set list, he is currently performing it on his Use It Or Lose It solo tour.

During the period that the song was recorded, in 1967, Kit Lambert, the band's first "real" manager, according to Townshend, mixed the song. He filmed the band recording the song, showing the four bandmates performing, with Keith Moon being recruited for the high notes in the song (even though Pete Townshend can be heard telling Keith he "keeps jumping on John's part", however, other live video footage shows John Entwistle, the band's bassist harmonizing and playing the trumpet. Daltrey has said the French horn solo was an attempt to emulate a World War I klaxon warning siren, as the Lily girl was a World War I era pinup.

Small Faces - My Mind's Eye

2011-10-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

My Mind's Eye/I Can't Dance With You/Shake/One Night Stand

"My Mind's Eye" was the sixth single released on 11 November 1966 by the successful English R&B, beat group Small Faces. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart the B-side was "I Can't Dance With You", "Shake" and "One Night Stand" appeared on their album from 1966 "Small Faces".
"My Mind's Eye" was originally intended to be an album track by the band but was released as a single without their knowledge or consent whilst touring in the north of England. Don Arden had been eager for the group to release a song before Christmas and released an unfinished, rough demo copy in his possession. The single was a hit, reaching number 4 on the UK singles chart, but in terms of relations between Arden and Small Faces, it was to signal the end of the band's relationship with both Arden and Decca. Marriott admitted using part of the popular Christmas song "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" as inspiration for the melody to the chorus.

Shotgun Express - Could Feel The Whole World Turn Round

2011-10-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

I Could Feel The Whole World Turn Round/Curtains/Funny 'Cos Neither Could I/Indian Thing

Shotgun Express was a short-lived British R&B band formed in London in May 1966. Although it achieved little success at the time, it is notable for having briefly included such subsequently famous musicians as Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green.

The band emerged when Peter Bardens' instrumental group, Peter B's Looners, which included Bardens on keyboards, Peter Green on guitar, Dave Ambrose on bass and Mick Fleetwood on drums, decided to change styles and add vocalists. They were joined by singers Rod Stewart - previously of Steampacket and Beryl Marsden who had been the leading female singer on the Liverpool club scene - and took the name Shotgun Express.

The band played London clubs, and focused on performing soul classics such as "Knock On Wood", "In The Midnight Hour", and "Hold On, I'm Comin'". Green left the band in late 1966 to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and was replaced by, first, John Mooreshead and then Phil Sawyer. The group released their first single, "I Could Feel The Whole World Turn Round" (Columbia DB 8025), in October 1966, but it was regarded as over-orchestrated by the band's followers and was not successful. Stewart then left to join the Jeff Beck Group at the start of 1967. The group released a second single, "Funny Neither Could I", again with little success.
Shotgun Express split up in early 1967. Fleetwood joined Green in John Mayall's band before founding Fleetwood Mac. Marsden joined The She Trinity, Ambrose joined Brian Auger, Sawyer joined Spencer Davis, and Bardens later formed prog-rock band Camel.

Otis Redding - I Love You More Than Words Can Say

2011-10-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

I Love You More Than I Can Say/Scratch My Back/Let Me Come On Home/Treat Her Right

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer-songwriter and record producer. Redding is considered one of the major figures in soul/R&B; his open-throated singing was an influence on other soul singers of the 1960s, while – usually with his writing partner Steve Cropper – he crafted a lean and powerful style of rhythm and blues that formed the basis of the Stax Sound. After appearing at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, he wrote and recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", which went on to become a number one record on both the pop and R&B charts after his death in a plane crash.

Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and later moved to Macon, Georgia. At age 15 he left school to help out his family financially and was hired as the lead singer for The Upsetters. Together with guitarist Johnny Jenkins he formed the band "Pinetoppers". They toured the Southern United States, with Redding serving as the driver. An unscheduled gig led to a turning point in his career. He signed a contract with record label Stax Records and released his debut album Pain in My Heart in 1964. This album produced his first single, "These Arms of Mine".

Although he was more popular among blacks early in his career, the same among whites became true. Redding initially performed on small gigs in the South, but that changed when he and his band performed at the nightclub Whisky a Go Go, their first concert in the Western United States. Internationally, Redding scheduled concerts in Paris and London among other venues. His performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 was his last big concert before his death in a plane crash at the age of 26. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", released s month after Redding's death, became his biggest hit to date. He is considered one of the major figures in soul/R&B, which eventually resulted in the honorific nickname "King of Soul", a title also given to American musicians James Brown and Sam Cooke.

The Animals - The Animals Sing

2011-10-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

The House Of The Rising Sun/Talkin' 'Bout You/Gonna Send You Back To Walker/Baby Let Me Take You Home

My next few post's will be French EP's one of the few countries that seemed to appreciate the EP format along with Australia and England the only criticism I have of French EP's is their choice of artwork which is most times pretty lame but the one's I've chosen are the exception, the backcover's only use it seems is to advertise and usually looks so drab having said that it is still an EP.
So here is the first one The Animals Sing with probably their best known song "House Of The Rising Sun".

"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans. The most successful commercial version was recorded by the English rock group The Animals in 1964, which was a number one hit in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland and Canada.

Donovan - Volume 1

2011-10-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Sunny Goodge Street/Oh Deed I Do/Jersey Thursday/Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)

Donovan was born in Maryhill, Glasgow, the son of Winifred (née Phillips), a factory worker, and Donald Leitch, a Rolls Royce factory employee. He contracted polio as a child and the disease, and subsequent treatment, left him with a limp. In 1956, his family moved to Little Berkhamsted near Hertford, England. Influenced by his family's love for Scottish and English folk music, he began playing guitar at 14.

Sunny Goodge Street, Oh Deed I Do and Jersey Thursday are taken from "Fairytale" the second album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. The single "Turquoise" was released in the United Kingdom on October 30, 1965 and charted at #30 on the UK charts. The "Turquoise" single was backed with "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"

Boomtown Rats - Surface Downunder

2011-09-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Rat Trap/Looking After No.1/Like Clockwork/Diamond Smiles

The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.

Boomtown Rats - Surface Down Under 1979 Australian-only 4-track 7", unique picture sleeve

"Diamond Smiles" was the second single from The Boomtown Rats' album The Fine Art of Surfacing. It was the follow-up to their vastly successful single "I Don't Like Mondays" and also peaked at a respectable Number 13 in the UK Charts. The band has suggested that it might have fared better had it not been for a strike of lighting technicians on the powerful UK TV programme Top of The Pops at the time that the record was released and rising in the charts.

Dealing with death, as had "I Don't Like Mondays", the song tells the story of a glamorous debutante ('Diamond') who commits suicide and is remembered only for her low-cut dress.

The song also featured as one of four songs on an Australian EP called Surface Down Under that also featured past hits "Rat Trap", "Looking After No.1" and "Like Clockwork".

Henry Mancini - Hatari

2011-09-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Baby Elephant Walk/'Theme From "Hatari"/Just For Tonight/Soft Touch

Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards (20), plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995. His best-known works include the jazz-idiom theme to The Pink Panther film series ("The Pink Panther Theme"), the Peter Gunn Theme from the television series, and back-to-back Academy Awards for the songs "Moon River" from the Blake Edwards film Breakfast at Tiffany's and "Days of Wine and Roses" from the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses.

Zombies

2011-09-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

Kind Of Girl/Sometimes/ It's Alright With Me/Summertime

The group formed in 1961 in St Albans, England, and gained their initial reputation playing the Old Verulamians Rugby Club in that city. The group was formed while the members were at school. Some sources state that Argent, Atkinson and Grundy were at St Albans School, while Blunstone and White were students at St Albans Boys' Grammar School (since renamed Verulam School). Argent was a boy chorister in St Albans Cathedral Choir.

After winning a beat-group competition sponsored by the London Evening News, The Zombies signed to Decca and recorded their first hit, "She's Not There" (Argent's second song, written specifically for this session), which was released in mid-1964 and peaked at number 12 in the UK, where it was their only UK Top 40 hit. This minor-key, jazz-tinged number, distinguished by its musicianship and Blunstone's breathy vocal, was unlike anything heard in British rock at the time. It was first aired in the United States in early August 1964 on New York City rock station WINS by Stan Z. Burns, who debuted the song on his daily noontime "Hot Spot". The tune began to catch on in early fall and eventually climbed to #2.

Like many other British Invasion groups, The Zombies were sent to the United States to tour behind their new hit single. Among their most memorable early U.S. gigs were Murray the K's Christmas shows at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre, where the band played seven performances a day. Hugh Grundy later recalled also contributing to the sets by the Shangri-Las — not as a musician, but by revving a motorcycle brought backstage as a sound effect for their performance of "Leader of the Pack". In January 1965 the band was set to make their first in person appearance on U.S. television. The Zombies were to appear on the first episode of NBC's Hullabaloo. They played "She's Not There" to a screaming hysterical audience full of teenage girls.

After the follow-up single "Leave Me Be" stiffed in the UK (and not issued as an "A" single in the US), Rod Argent's "Tell Her No" became another big seller in the United States (in 1965), but failed to make the Top 40 in the band's native UK. Subsequent recordings such as "I Love You" (which became a hit for People! in 1968), "Indication", "Whenever You're Ready", and "Is This the Dream" failed to achieve the success of the previous two singles (although they had continued success in Scandinavia and the Philippines).

Their first UK LP, Begin Here (1965), was a collection of early singles, featuring half a dozen original songs combined with several R&B covers. While continuing recording in 1965-66 and trying to achieve chart success, they recorded enough material for a follow-up album, but the lack of chart success kept most of those tracks from being issued (most of them were the basis for the unreleased follow-up to their "Odessey and Oracle" LP, which was going to be titled "R.I.P.")

In 1967, The Zombies signed to CBS Records, for whom they recorded the album Odessey and Oracle. (The word odyssey was misspelled by cover designers.) Because the band's budget could not cover session musicians, they used a Mellotron, a device designed to imitate orchestral sections.

By the time Odessey and Oracle was released in April 1968, the group had disbanded. The album sold poorly and was only given a U.S. release because musician Al Kooper, then signed to Columbia Records, convinced his label of the album's merits. An album track, "Time of the Season", written by Argent, was released as a single and eventually (1969) became a nationwide hit (Billboard #3).

The band's original lineup declined to regroup for concerts, so various concocted groups tried to capitalize on the success and falsely toured under the band's name. Another such group toured in 1988, going so far as to trademark the group's name (since the band had let the mark lapse) and recruit a member named Ronald Hugh Grundy, who was passed off as being an original member.

Swinging Blue Jeans - Shake

2011-08-16T00:12:00.000-07:00

Hippy Hippy Shake/Shakin' All Over/Shake Rattle And Roll/Good Golly Miss Molly

The Swinging Blue Jeans were a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow-up, Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", a Clint Ballard song that provided a change of pace and furnished the group's most enduring achievement. But subsequent singles released that year and the next made no impression. In 1966 their version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Don't Make Me Over" peaked at #31 in the UK Singles Chart, but the group never charted again.

The group had its origins in 1957 when Ray Ennis and Bruce McCaskill in 1957 formed a jazz influenced skiffle sextet group, called the Blue Genes. The skiffle group line-up included Bruce McCaskill on guitar and vocals, Tommy Hughes on banjo, Norman Kuhlke on washboard, and Spud Ward on oil drum bass. Ralph Ellis later joined on guitar, and Ward moved to Rory Storm's band, and eventually Les Braid took over the bassist spot. Hughes and McCaskill left, the former for the army and the latter over personal disagreements, replaced by John E. Carter and Paul Moss, respectively. By 1962, they were working full-time and playing skiffle at venues in Liverpool and at the Star Club in Hamburg. However the German audiences booed them off the stage, and the group rapidly changed direction and focus.

They switched to rock and roll, and with a name change to reflect their attire, to the Swinging Blue Jeans. This earned them a recording contract with HMV with record producer, Walter Ridley. With the departure of Moss soon after, they were left as a quartet comprising Ray Ennis (rhythm guitar, vocals), Les Braid (bass, keyboards), Ralph Ellis (lead guitar), and Norman Kuhlke (drums). Nevertheless, they made their recording debut as a quintet, with an Ennis penned original, "It's Too Late Now," which made the UK Top 40.

The Swinging Blue Jeans performed on many popular TV shows in the United Kingdom and Europe, appearing with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, and The Merseybeats. The Swinging Blue Jeans had the standard Shadows line-up of two guitars, a bass guitar and drums and achieved local fame with their appearances at the Mardi Gras Club and the Cavern Club. They had a three year spell of success, rising and falling with Merseybeat itself.

An album Hippy Hippy Shake was released in 1964 by EMI on their HMV label. In Canada it was issued by Capitol Records (T6069), and in the US on Imperial Records (LP-9261). A second album, Blue Jeans a' Swinging was also released.

Ralph Ellis who, with Ray Ennis was one of the two songwriters in the group, left in early 1966, and was succeeded by Terry Sylvester from The Escorts. Finding themselves trying to keep up with the rapidly changing times, the band recorded a second album at Abbey Road Studios in early 1966 which had a limited release in Canada. The band drifted into a middle of the road direction which failed to bring them any success. In 1967, the band's producer Ridley decided to try and transform Ray Ennis into a solo star, cutting the disc "Tremblin'" with session musicians and backing vocals by Madeline Bell and Kiki Dee, but it was ultimately released under the band's name. Later that year another member from The Escorts - Mike Gregory joined the band making it a five piece line-up. Gregory played bass and Braid moved to the keyboards until 1972. Gregory left for family reasons and Braid reverted back to playing bass. June 1968 saw a one off disc credited to 'Ray Ennis and The Blue Jeans', but this failed to bring any change in fortune, and Sylvester left at the end of 1968 to replace Graham Nash in The Hollies. "Hey Mrs Housewife" was credited to The Blue Jeans in April 1969, after which they were dropped by EMI. The band then changed their name to Music Motor for a one off single on Deram, "Happy", after which they reverted back to The Swinging Blue Jeans name and the band eventually retired to the cabaret circuit.

The Swinging Blue Jeans, continued with Ray Ennis and Les Braid until Braid's death in 2005, leaving Ennis as the sole original member. After fifty years as an active member, Ray Ennis announced he would retire after the band's tour which ended in Liverpool on 30 May 2010.

Kinks - Kinksize Session

2011-08-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Louie, Louie/I Gotta Go Now/I've Got That Feeling/Things Are Getting Better

Kinksize Session is the first EP released by The Kinks in the UK in 1964, a month after their debut LP. The tracks were all exclusive to this release and it includes some original compositions.
Despite the title, only three of the tracks were recorded in a single session (18 October 1964) with "I Gotta Go Now" having already been recorded (believed to be at the same session as single "All Day and All of the Night" on 23 September).
In the US, the tracks were included on the Kinks-Size album in 1965. "Louie Louie" was included on the UK compilation album Sunny Afternoon in 1967 but the other tracks remained unavailable elsewhere. The EP was made available on CD in 1998 as part of the EP Collection boxed set. All four tracks were included as bonus tracks on the 2004 reissue of the Kinks' debut album.
The follow-up EP, Kinksize Hits simply compiled the hit singles "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" along with their respective B-sides. Their next EP of original material would be 1965's Kwyet Kinks.

Annette - Mr Piano Man

2011-08-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Mister Piano Man/Dream Boy/Talk To Me Baby/Dreamin' About You

Annette Joanne Funicello (born October 22, 1942) is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.

"Mr. Piano Man, Please" is a ragtime style song written for former Disney Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello by songwriters, Bob and Dick Sherman for the Golden Horseshoe Revue. This song follows in a long line of popular songs written by the Sherman Brothers for Annette. Other "top ten" songs include "Tall Paul" and "Pineapple Princess". As Annette went on to make films for other film companies besides Disney, the Sherman Brothers continued to work for the family friendly conglomerate eventually winning two Oscars for Mary Poppins in 1965.

Jimi Hendrix - Gypsy Eyes

2011-08-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

Gypsy Eyes/Remember/Purple Haze/Stone Free

"Gypsy Eyes" (spelt as Gipsy Eyes on the UK edition) is a song by Jimi Hendrix, performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience on their 1968 album Electric Ladyland, and based on the field holler. When released as a double-A-sided single with "Remember", it reached no. 35 in the UK charts.
A great slice of blues/psychedelia, "Gypsy Eyes" is based on a standard, ancient blues field holler, with Jimi Hendrix creating some great synergy between his vocal and the lead guitar riff. In fact, the song is loaded with a collection of riffs, and Hendrix neatly compiles them together in one song. Utilizing the recording studio as an instrument, Hendrix's overdubbing technique reaches an early peak here, as the multiple guitar parts swirl around each other in spectacular fashion. In addition, the flanging/phasing effects are also a part of the arrangement, and by proxy the song itself.

Tom T. Hall - Tom T. Hall

2011-08-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine/Ravishing Ruby/Pamela Brown/Watergate blues

Thomas "Tom T." Hall (born May 25, 1936, in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He became known to fans as "The Storyteller," thanks to his storytelling skills in his songwriting.

As a teenager, Hall organized a band called the Kentucky Travelers that performed before movies for a traveling theater. During a stint in the Army, Hall performed over the Armed Forces Radio Network and wrote comic songs about Army experiences. His early career included being a radio announcer at WRON, a local radio station in Ronceverte, West Virginia. Hall was also an announcer at WVRC-FM Radio in Spencer, West Virginia in the 1960s.

Hall's big songwriting break came in 1963, when country singer Jimmy C. Newman recorded his song, "DJ For a Day." Soon, Hall moved to Nashville, and within months, he had songs climbing the charts. Hall has been nicknamed "The Story Teller," and he has written songs for dozens of country stars, including Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, and Bobby Bare.

One of his earliest successful songwriting ventures, "Harper Valley PTA," was recorded in 1968 by Jeannie C. Riley, sold over six million copies, and won both a Grammy Award and CMA award. The song would go on to inspire a motion picture and television program of the same name. Hall himself has recorded this song, on his album The Definitive Collection (as track #23). Hall's recording career took off after Ms. Riley's rendition of the song, and he had such hits as "A Week in a Country Jail," "(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine," "I Love," "Country Is," "The Year Clayton Delaney Died," "I Like Beer," "Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet)", and many others. He is also noted for his children-oriented songs, including "Sneaky Snake" and "I Care," the latter of which hit #1 on the country charts in 1975.

Johnny & The Hurricanes - Red Rriver Rock

2011-08-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

Buckeye/Red River Rock/Lazy/Crossfire

Johnny and the Hurricanes was a rock and roll band that began as The Orbits in Toledo, Ohio in 1957. Led by saxophonist Johnny Paris (born John Pocisk, 1940, Walbridge, Ohio, died 1 May 2006, Ann Arbor, Michigan), they were school friends who played on a few recordings behind Mack Vickery, a local rockabilly singer.
They signed with Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik of Twirl Records, which led to national engagements in 1959. Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded "Crossfire" in a vacant cinema to provide echo. That became a nationwide U.S. hit, and ranked No. 23 in the U.S. chart in the summer of 1959.

Johnny and the Hurricanes followed with "Red River Rock", an instrumental version of "Red River Valley", on Warwick Records, that became a Top Ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic (No. 5 in the U.S., No. 3 in the UK), and sold over a million copies. The musicians in the band then were Paris on saxophone, Paul Tesluk on an early version of a Farfisa organ, Dave Yorko on guitar, Butch Mattice on bass, and Bill "Little Bo" Savich on drums.

Many recordings were cover versions of old tunes with a rock and roll beat. They chose these songs because they were well recognized and easier to accept with the rock and roll beat. Tunes were credited to 'King, Mack' and sometimes one other name, King and Mack were in fact pseudonyms for Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik, the band's managers. In 1960, they recorded the United States Army bugle call, "Reveille", as "Reveille Rock", and turned "Blue Tail Fly" into "Beatnik Fly". Both tunes made the Top 40 achieving number 15 and 25 respectively. The band also recorded "Down Yonder" for Big Top Records. Still in 1960, they recorded "When The Saints Go Marching In" as "Revival", but it ranked in the charts for just one week, and peaked at No. 97. The track fared better in the UK as the B-side of "Rocking Goose", which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.

The band developed a following in Europe. In 1962, they played at the Star-Club in Hamburg, where the Beatles, then a little-known band, served as an opening act. Johnny and the Hurricanes cut records until 1965, with "Old Smokie" (their cover of "On Top of Old Smokey"), and an original tune, "Traffic Jam", both on Big Top Records, being their last releases to chart in America. Johnny Paris, the only constant member of Johnny and the Hurricanes, continued to tour with his Hurricanes in Europe and United States until his death.

Johnny & The Hurricanes - High Voltage

2011-08-06T23:37:00.000-07:00

High Voltage/Old Smokie/You Are My Sunshine/Down Yonder

During the late fifties sax-player John Pocisk (who changed his surname into Paris) started one of the most succesfull instrumental groups ever. Early members included Dave Yorko (guitar), Paul Tesluk (organ), Butch Mattice (bass) and Tony Kaye (drums), soon to be replaced by former Royaltones drummer, Bill Savich.
Over a couple of years several superb instrumentals were recorded, often rocked up versions of well known songs. "Red River Rock" was a world-wide millionseller in 1959, and the same formula paid off for their subsequent singles on the Warwick and Big Top labels. Many of them turned out to be great two-siders. Three albums were released and their popularity in Europe was striking, especially in countries like Sweden, France, Germany and Great Britain.
Around 1962 the original members of the group had left, and John had to build a new line-up with Eddie Wagenfield (organ), Billy Marsh (guitar), Bobby Cantrell (bass) and Jay Drake (drums).
In 1963 the invasion of UK artists prevented more success for Johnny and the Hurricanes, and the move to a new label, Mala, did not help.

David Bowie - Heroes

2011-08-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

Heroes (English)/Heroes (French)/Heroes (German)/V-2 Schnieder

"Heroes" is a song written by David Bowie and Brian Eno in 1977. Produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, it was released both as a single and as the title track of the album "Heroes". A product of Bowie's fertile 'Berlin' period, life in the city was crystallized into a tale of two lovers who come together in the shadow of the 'Wall of Shame' (though here "the shame was on the other side"). While not a huge hit at the time, the song has gone on to become one of Bowie's signature tunes and is well known today for its appearance in numerous advertisements. It has been cited as Bowie's second most covered song after Rebel Rebel

"Heroes" was released in a variety of languages and lengths ("a collector's wet dream" in the words of NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray, see Other releases below). In contrast to the bewildering audio situation, the video (directed by Stanley Dorfman) was a stark and simple affair, the singer captured performing the song in what appeared to be a single take with multiple cameras, swaying in front of a spotlight that created a monotone and near-silhouette effect. Despite a large promotional push, including Bowie's first Top of the Pops appearance since 1972, "Heroes" only reached #24 in the UK charts, and failed to make the US Billboard Hot 100.

In February 1999, Q Magazine listed "Heroes" as one of the 100 greatest singles of all time as voted by the readers. In March 2005, the same magazine placed it at #56 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In 2004, Rolling Stone rated "Heroes" #46 in its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was included in 2008's The Pitchfork Media 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. John J. Miller of National Review rated "Heroes" #21 on a list of "the 50 greatest conservative rock songs". Uncut placed "Heroes" as #1 in its 30 greatest Bowie songs in 2008.

Thanks again to ecrob for this EP

Shocking Blue - Venus

2011-08-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Venus/I'm A Woman/Love Buzz/Hot Sand

Shocking Blue was founded in 1967 by Robbie van Leeuwen. The group had a minor hit in 1968 with "Lucy Brown is Back in Town". After Mariska Veres took over the vocals, the group charted a world-wide hit with the song "Venus", which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. Initially the disc was a big hit in the Netherlands, where it reached #3 in the summer of 1969. It subsequently sold 350,000 copies in Germany, and topped the U.S. chart for three weeks, becoming the Netherlands' first American #1 hit. It sold over one million copies there by January 1970, and received a gold disc awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America. Global sales exceeded five million copies. The song was based on “The Banjo Song” (1963) by The Big Three.

Other hits include "Send Me a Postcard" in 1968/69 and "Long and Lonesome Road" (often mistakenly named as "Long Lonesome Road") in 1969. Shocking Blue's songs also received quite a large amount of radio airplay on Dutch channels.

"Venus" was followed by "Mighty Joe" (flip-side "Wild Wind") in 1969 and "Never Marry a Railroad Man" (flip-side "Roll Engine Roll") in 1970, which both sold over a million records. Later songs - including "Hello Darkness" (1970), "Shocking You", "Blossom Lady" and "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" (1971), "Inkpot", "Rock in the Sea" and "Eve and the Apple" (1972) and "Oh Lord" (1973) were successful in Europe, Latin America and Asia, but failed to chart in the U.S..

In 1974 Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo career. Her singles "Take Me High" (1975) and "Lovin' You" (1976) were mainly popular in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Nirvana covered the Shocking Blue song "Love Buzz" as their debut single in 1988 and as an extra track on the re-release of their 1989 release Bleach.

Middle of the Road - Middle of the Road

2011-08-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Soley Soley/Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep/Sacramento/Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum

Middle of the Road are a Scottish pop group who enjoyed success across Europe and Latin America in the early 1970s. Three of their singles sold over one million copies each, and received a gold disc. The tracks were "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (which went on to sell over 10 million), "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum" and "Soley Soley". By early 1972 alone the group had sold over five million records.

Lead singer Sally Carr, drummer Ken Andrew, guitarist Ian McCredie and his bassist brother Eric McCredie, founded the band on 1 April 1970. They already played together under the name Part Four since 1967 and later in Latin American style under the name Los Caracas.

They moved to Italy in 1970 because they had not found success in the United Kingdom. There they met the Italian music producer Giacomo Tosti, who gave the band their distinctive sound and gave them their international break.

The band had their first and biggest hit record in the United Kingdom with debut UK single, "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" to reach #1 in the UK Singles Chart in June 1971 and keep it for four more weeks. In all, Middle of the Road had five hit singles in the UK during 1971-1972. The band had enduring success only in Germany, where they achieved eleven Top 40 hits in 1971-1974.

In 1974 early Bay City Rollers member Neil Henderson joined the band on guitar. He wrote and co-wrote songs for Middle of the Road (including the singles "Rockin' Soul" and "Everybody Loves A Winner" and 1974 albums, You Pays Yer Money And You Takes Yer Chance and Postcard, all released in Germany via Ariola like their first German LP, Music Music), but their commercial success could not keep pace with that of earlier songs.

Thin Lizzy - Star Trax

2011-08-06T05:47:00.000-07:00

Jailbreak/Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed/The Boys Are Back In Town/Waiting For An Alibi

Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. The two founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums. Thin Lizzy are best known for their songs "Whiskey in the Jar", "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back in Town", all major international hits still played regularly on hard rock and classic rock radio stations. After Lynott's death in 1986, various incarnations of the band have emerged over the years based around guitarists Scott Gorham and John Sykes, though Sykes left the band in 2009.

Thin Lizzy's de facto leader, Lynott was composer or co-composer of almost all of the band's songs. He was one of the few black musicians to achieve commercial success in hard rock, and the first black Irishman to do so. Thin Lizzy boasted some of the most critically acclaimed guitarists throughout their history, with founders Downey and Lynott as the rhythm section, on the drums and bass guitar. As well as being multiracial, the band drew their members not only from both sides of the Irish border but also from both the Catholic and Protestant communities during The Troubles. Their music reflects a wide range of influences, including country music, psychedelic rock, and traditional Irish folk music, but is generally classified as hard rock or sometimes heavy metal. Rolling Stone magazine describes the band as distinctly hard rock, "far apart from the braying mid-70s metal pack".

Nazareth - Hot Tracks

2011-08-06T04:55:00.001-07:00

Love Hurts/This Flight Tonight/Broken Down Angel/Hair Of The Dog

Nazareth was formed in December 1968 in Dunfermline, Scotland, out of the ashes of semi-professional local group The Shadettes (formed in 1961) by vocalist Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton (ex Mark V and The Red Hawks), bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet. They took their name from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, which is cited in the first line of The Band's classic song "The Weight" ("I pulled into Nazareth / Was feelin' about half past dead..."). Nazareth's cover version of "Java Blues" by The Band's bassist/singer Rick Danko and Emmett Grogan is on their 1981 live album Snaz.

The band moved to London, England in 1970, and released their eponymous debut album in 1971. After getting some attention with their second album Exercises, released in 1972, Nazareth supported Deep Purple on tour, and issued the Roger Glover-produced Razamanaz, in early 1973. This collection spawned two UK Top Ten hits, "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy". This was followed by Loud 'N' Proud in late 1973, which contained another hit single with a hard-rocking cover of Joni Mitchell's song "This Flight Tonight". Then came another album Rampant, in 1974, that was equally successful although its only single, "Shanghai'ed in Shanghai", narrowly missed the British Top 40. A non-album song, again a cover version, this time of Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle", was a UK Top 20 entry in 1975.

Hair of the Dog was released in April 1975. The title track of that album (popularly, though incorrectly, known as "Son Of A Bitch" due to its hook lyrics) became a staple of 1970s rock radio. The American version of the album included a song originally recorded by The Everly Brothers, and also covered by Roy Orbison, the melodic ballad "Love Hurts", that was released as a hit single in the UK and in the U.S., where it went platinum. The track became the band's only U.S. Top Ten hit. The song spent a record-shattering 60 weeks on the Norwegian chart.

In 1979, second guitarist Zal Cleminson was added to the line-up, remaining for two albums, No Mean City and Malice in Wonderland, and contributing numerous compositions. Malice in Wonderland produced a popular Adult-Oriented Rock single called "Holiday". In 1981, they contributed the song "Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)" to the soundtrack to the film, Heavy Metal.

Various Nazareth line-ups continued to make studio albums and tour throughout the 1980s and 1990s, although their popularity had declined such that some albums no longer received either a UK or a U.S. release. They remained popular in Europe, particularly Germany, where "Dream On" became a hit single. Billy Rankin returned for a second spell in the ranks in 1991 for the No Jive album, replacing Manny Charlton who pursued a solo career.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

2011-08-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

Paranoid/Black Sabbath/Tomorrow's Dream/Changes

Black Sabbath are an English rock band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of twenty-two musicians have at one time been members of Black Sabbath. Originally formed as a heavy blues rock band named Earth, the band began incorporating occult- and horror-inspired lyrics with tuned-down guitars, changing their name to Black Sabbath and achieving multiple platinum records in the 1970s. Despite an association with occult and horror themes, Black Sabbath also composed songs dealing with social instability, political corruption, the dangers of drug abuse (rather ironic) and the often apocalyptic prophesies of the horrors of war.

Black Sabbath are cited, along with Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, as pioneers of heavy metal. The band helped define the genre with releases such as quadruple-platinum Paranoid, released in 1970. They were ranked by MTV as the "Greatest Metal Band" of all time, and placed second in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list, behind Led Zeppelin. Rolling Stone has posited the band as 'the heavy-metal kings of the '70s'. They have sold over 15 million records in the United States alone and more than 100 million records worldwide.

Vocalist Ozzy Osbourne's heavy alcohol and cocaine usage led to his being fired from the band in April 1979, after which he began a very successful solo career, selling more than 100 million albums.

David Bowie - David Bowie

2011-08-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Rebel Rebel/Queen Bitch/Sorrow/Amsterdam

"Rebel Rebel" was written by David Bowie, released in 1974 as a single and on the album Diamond Dogs. Cited as his most-covered track, it was effectively Bowie's farewell to the glam movement that had made him a star.

Originally written for a mooted Ziggy Stardust musical in late 1973, "Rebel Rebel" was Bowie's last single in the glam rock style that had been his trademark. It was also his first hit since 1969 not to feature lead guitarist Mick Ronson; Bowie himself played guitar on this and almost all other tracks from Diamond Dogs, producing what NME critics Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray called "a rocking dirty noise that owed as much to Keith Richards as it did to the departed Ronno".

The song is notable for its gender-bending lyrics ("You got your mother in a whirl / She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl") as well as its distinctive riff, which rock journalist Kris Needs has described as "a classic stick-in-the-head like the Stones' 'Satisfaction'". Bowie himself later said, "It's a fabulous riff! Just fabulous! When I stumbled onto it, it was 'Oh, thank you!'"

The single quickly became a glam anthem, the female equivalent of Bowie's earlier hit for Mott the Hoople, "All the Young Dudes". It reached #5 in the UK and #64 in the USA. The latter release initially featured a different recording altogether. The single, credited to simply 'Bowie', is shorter (2:58) and more uptempo, dense and camp, featuring phased vocals and Bowie playing all of the instruments with the exception of Geoff MacCormack on Congas. It was swiftly withdrawn and replaced by the UK single version.

Searches - When You Walk In The Room

2011-08-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

When You Walk In The Room/I'll Be Missing You/Someday Were Gonna Love Again/No One Else Could Love Me

The Searchers are an English beat group, who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers.

The band's hits included a remake of the Drifters' 1961 hit, "Sweets for My Sweet"; remakes of Jackie DeShannon's "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk In The Room"; an original song written for them, "Sugar and Spice"; The Orlons' "Don't Throw Your Love Away"; and a cover of The Clovers' "Love Potion No. 9". They were the second group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have a hit in the United States when "Needles and Pins" charted during the first week of March 1964.

"When You Walk In The Room" was recorded by The Searchers in 1964 after they had already had success with another DeShannon song, "Needles and Pins". This version became an international hit, reaching #35 in the US and #5 in the UK."When You Walk in the Room" was written and recorded by Jackie DeShannon, first released by her in 1963.

Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders - Game Of Love

2011-08-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Game Of Love/Since You've Been Gone/She's Got The Power/One More Time

The Mindbenders (originally the backing group for Wayne Fontana) was a 1960s beat group from Manchester, England. They were part of the mid 1960s British Invasion with their chart-toppers "Game of Love" (with Wayne Fontana) and "A Groovy Kind of Love".

Wayne Fontana founded the band in 1963 with Bob Lang, Ric Rothwell, and Eric Stewart. The group was later joined by Grahame Foote. The name of the group was inspired by the title of a 1963 film, starring the British actor Sir Dirk Bogarde, called The Mind Benders. They released a few unsuccessful singles before recording "Um Um Um Um Um Um" in 1964, which was a major hit in Britain and led to a tour with Brenda Lee. They also had a #1 hit in the United States with "Game of Love".

After a tour of America and some more unsuccessful singles, Fontana left the band in the middle of a concert in 1965. Stewart became the lead singer of the band, which also dropped 'Wayne Fontana' from its name.

Duane Eddy - The Lonely One

2011-07-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

Cannonball/The Lonely One/Mason Dixon Line/Detour

Duane Eddy was born on the 23rd April 1938 in Corning, New York, USA. During his teenage years he and his family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona before getting involved in the local music scene there. As a result he decided to quit high school before forming a band called The Rebels alongside the original line up of Al Casey, Buddy Wheeler, Donnie Owens, Cork Casey, Mike Bermani and Pias Johnson. The band were signed to Ford Records and released their debut, and only single for the label entitled Ramrod in January 1958. The young guitarist then befriended a disc jockey named Lee Hazelwood who signed the band to Jamie Records, which he co-owned with Dick Clark. Hazelwood became Duane’s co-writer on many of his hits. The band changed their name to Duane Eddy & The Rebels and released Moovin’ N’ Groovin’ peaking at number seventy two in the American charts. It wouldn’t be until the release of the follow up, Rebel Rouser [USA: #6] that Duane’s now famous twang sound would be heard on both sides of the Atlantic. The guitarist became the first real rock ‘n’ roll instrumentalist to have a string of massive hits, including Cannonball, The Lonely One and Yep! In June 1959 Duane released Peter Gunn that became a top ten hit in the UK, and would be once more 27 years later. The single was credited to just Duane Eddy, the track paved way for an impressive series of major UK hits. The hits kept coming with more classic instrumentals like Forty Miles Of Bad Road, Some Kind-A Earthquake, Bonnie Come Back, Shazam!, Because They’re Young, Pepe, Theme From Dixie, Ring Of Fire (pre-dating the Johnny Cash version), Drivin’ Home, My Blue Heaven, Caravan, Deep In The Heart Of Texas and The Ballad Of Paladin. It wasn’t just the hit singles that made Duane a huge star, he was also one of the first artists to enjoy the success of having hit albums including Have “Twangy Guitar” Will Travel, Especially For You, The “Twangs” The “Thang”, Sons Of Heritage, A Million Dollars’ Worth and Girls Girls Girls.

Around mid 1960, the guitar legend made his acting debut in the film Because They Are Young and go onto appear in a further films The Savage Seven, A Thunder of Drums, The Wild Westerners and Kona Coast. In 1962 Duane took a new direction with his music by having a female singers appearing on his records. Now recording as Duane Eddy & The Rebelettes, they went on to have further hits with (Dance With) The Guitar Man and Boss Guitar. A further three hits credited to Duane followed, Lonely Boy, Lonely Guitar, Your Baby’s Gone Surfin’ and Son Of Rebel Rouser marked the end of his five year run of hits in the USA, partly due to the explosion of The Beatles. Although the hit singles and albums had ended, Duane still carried on as a recording artist for the duration of the 1960s & 1970s. His last UK hit was in February 1975, once again with The Rebelettes on Play Me Like Your Guitar peaking at number nine.

In 1983 Duane began touring once more and in 1986 teamed up with the Art of Noise on their remake of his classic hit Peter Gunn. He became the first guest artist to team up with them and also appeared live with them on British music television show The Tube, and at some of their live shows. The result of the new version of Peter Gunn brought him back to the public attention and earned him a Grammy Award. This collaboration with the Art of Noise was not a one-off thing as they recorded a further two tracks with him, the single Spies and Lost Innocence that appeared on his 1987 comeback album Duane Eddy. As well as featuring the Art of Noise, the album also included contributions from Paul McCartney on the track Rockestra Theme that was also released as a single, Jeff Lynne, Ry Cooder, James Burton, Steve Cropper, former Rebels Jim Horn and Jim Keltner with the late George Harrison.

In early 1994 Duane was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before contributing recording new material with Hans Zimmer on the music score to the film Broken Arrow some two years later. Prior to the new material, two of his hits were used in the films Forrest Gump and Natural Born Killers. Further recognition of Duane’s work came when he placed his signature and handprints into cement as he was inducted into the Rockwall in 1997. In 2004 Gibson Guitars introduced the Duane Eddy Signature Model that was built to his own specifications before being presented with the Guitar Player Magazine Legend Award later that year.

For the past fifty years Duane’s legacy as a guitar legend still remains. He is the biggest selling instrumentalist of all time and is regarded as one of the true rock n’ roll greats by many of todays guitar heroes.

Richard Harris - Macarthur Park

2011-07-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

Macarthur Park/The Yard Went On Forever/Paper Chase

Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer.

He appeared on stage and in many films, and is perhaps best known for his roles as King Arthur in Camelot (1967), as Oliver Cromwell in Cromwell (1970) and as Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) (Released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), his final film. He also played a British aristocrat and prisoner in A Man Called Horse (1970), Emperor Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (2000), St. John The Apostle in Apocalypse Revelation (2002), and the gunfighter English Bob in Clint Eastwood's Western film Unforgiven (1992).

Harris had a top ten hit in Britain and the US with his 1968 recording of Jimmy Webb's song "MacArthur Park".

The song was first recorded by Richard Harris on his album A Tramp Shining in 1968 and was released as a single this is by far one of the most impressive songs recorded in the late 1960's. If you listen, you will see how Jimmy Webb created a composition that was very far ahead of it's time. Only later did television use many of the elements of Jimmy's talent displayed here. And, Richard's rendering of this song is without compare. It was an unusual single, running for more than seven minutes, with a long, climactic orchestral break. Harris topped the music charts in Europe and Australia, and peaked at No. 2 on the American charts. The song peaked at No. 10 in Billboard's Easy Listening survey, and was No. 8 for the year on WABC's overall 1968 chart.

Harris first met Webb at a fundraiser in East Los Angeles, California in late-1967. Webb had been invited to provide the musical backdrop at the piano. Out of the blue, Harris suggested to him that he wanted to release a record. Webb didn't take it seriously until he later received a telegram from Harris, requesting that he come to London to begin the project. After exhaustively listening to all of Webb's compositions, Harris selected "MacArthur Park" for his pop music debut.

Throughout his recording, Harris can be heard using an incorrect possessive form, "MacArthur's Park". Webb has said he tried correcting Harris during re-takes, but gave up when he simply could not (or would not) sing the correct words.

MacArthur Park received the Grammy Award for "Best Orchestration" in 1969

Thanks to Mr & Mrs Ozzie from the Ozzie Music Man Blog For This One

The 5th Dimension - Aquarius

2011-07-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Aquarius-Let The Sunshine In/Up Up And Away/Sweet Blindness/Wedding Bell Blues

The 5th Dimension are an American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire also includes pop, R&B, soul, and jazz.

Originally known as The Hi-Fi's, the 5th Dimension changed their name in late 1966, and were best-known during the late 1960s and early 1970s for popularizing the hits "Up, Up and Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "One Less Bell to Answer", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All", and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", as well as the eponymous 5th Dimension and The Magic Garden LP recordings.

The five original members were Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. They have recorded for several different labels over their long careers. Their first work appeared on the Soul City label, which was started by Imperial Records/United Artists Records recording artist Johnny Rivers. The group would later record for Bell/Arista Records, ABC Records, and Motown Records.

"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (commonly called "The Age of Aquarius" or "Let the Sunshine In") is a medley of two songs written by James Rado, Gerome Ragni, and Galt MacDermot written for the 1967 musical Hair, released as a single by The 5th Dimension. The song peaked at number one for five weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the spring of 1969. The single became the first medley to top the American pop charts and was eventually certified platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.

The song listed at #57 on Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time

Donovan - Atlantis

2011-07-30T06:24:00.000-07:00

Atlantis/There Is A Mountain/Hurdy Gurdy Man/Lalena

"Atlantis" is a folk-pop song written and recorded by Scottish singer Donovan. It was released as a single in 1968 (see 1968 in music) and became a worldwide success; most notably in Austria, the United States and Germany, and in Switzerland where it became a number-one success in 1969 (see 1969 in music).[1] In South Africa it peaked at no. 2. In the U.S., the song served as the b-side to "To Susan on the West Coast, Waiting."

In 2001, Donovan and German pop band No Angels re-recorded the track for the closing credits of the Walt Disney Feature Animation picture Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). Included on a concomitant album for the German-speaking music market, it was once more released as a single and re-entered the top five in Austria and Germany.

"There is a Mountain" is a song and single by Donovan, released in 1967. It charted in the USA (Billboard: #11) and UK (#8).
Featured musicians are Donovan (vocals and acoustic guitar), Tony Carr on percussion, Harold McNair on flute and arrangement and Danny Thompson on bass.
Chart positions: # 11 (USA Billboard), # 9 (USA Cashbox), # 11 (USA Record World), # 8 (UK)

The Allman Brothers Band's "Mountain Jam" (from Eat a Peach, 1972) is a long, improvised jam song based on this song.

"Hurdy Gurdy Man" is a song by the Scottish musician Donovan. It was written and recorded in early 1968 and released in May as a single and gave name to the album The Hurdy Gurdy Man, which was released in October of that year. It reached #5 in the U.S. and #4 in the UK pop charts. The song was written for Donovan's old friend and guitar mentor Mac MacLeod. MacLeod was in a Danish band at the time called Hurdy Gurdy. The song features a harder rock sound than Donovan's usual material, supplying a range of distorted guitars. It also features an Indian influence with the use of a tambura. The song was an anthem for free-spirited hippies at the time due to its psychedelic sound.

Chart positions were #4 UK Singles Chart; #5 Billboard Pop Singles (US); #3 Cash Box (US)

"Laléna" is the title of a composition by Donovan for whom it was a Top 40 single in the autumn of 1968 reaching #33 on the Hot 100 in Billboard.

"Laléna" was recorded in a September 1968 session at Olympic Studios produced by Mickie Most, session personnel being Harold McNair on flute, Bobby Orr on drums, Danny Thompson on bass with the Royal Philharmonic strings; John Cameron was the arranger. Donovan was not working toward an album when he recorded "Laléna", having completed the tracks which would comprise his The Hurdy Gurdy Man album in April 1968; that album and the single "Laléna" both were issued in the US in October 1968 (Donovan was at this time unable to have product released in the UK due to a contractual dispute). The single was also a hit in France reaching #22.

Thanks again to ecrob for the EP

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

2011-07-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

A Whiter Shade Of Pale/Conquistador/She Wandered Through The Garden Fence

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well. It is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.

With its haunting Bach-flavoured instrumental melody, soulful vocals, and unusual lyrics—by the song's co-authors Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, and Matthew Fisher-- "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached #1 in several countries when released in 1967. In the years since, it has become an enduring classic. It was the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009), and the United Kingdom performing rights group Phonographic Performance Limited in 2004 recognised it as the most-played record by British broadcasting of the past 70 years. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone placed "A Whiter Shade of Pale" #57 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

More than 900 recorded cover versions by other artists are known. The song has been included in many music compilations over the decades and has also been used in the soundtracks of numerous films, including The Big Chill, Purple Haze, Breaking the Waves, The Boat That Rocked and notably in Martin Scorsese's segment of New York Stories. Cover versions of the song have also been featured in many films, for example by King Curtis in Withnail and I and by Annie Lennox in The Net.

EP provided by ecrob

Billy Bragg - Levi Stubb's Tears

2011-07-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Levi Stubbs' Tears/Think Again/Walk Away Renee

Listen to this track by the celebrated Bard of Barking and one-time One-Man Clash, Billy Bragg. It’s “Levi Stubbs’ Tears”, a story of a young marriage, loneliness, violence and tragedy; perfect subject matter for a folk song, then. The song is taken from Billy’s 1986 album Talking to the Taxman About Poetry.

Where Bragg is well-known for his politically-oriented material, particularly around this time at the height of Margaret Thatcher’s era as British Prime Minister, this song proves that what Billy Bragg does best is to use songwriting as a means of telling stories. This is certainly one of his best, a song about a downtrodden woman, having married young, and finding herself alone after her ex-husband attempts to kill her, before abandoning her.

Blues Band - Maggie's Farm

2011-07-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

Maggie's Farm/Ain't It Tuff/Diddy Wah Diddy/Backdoor Man

The Blues Band were formed in Britain in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with Manfred Mann in the 1960s, and vocalist/slide guitarist Dave Kelly, who had formerly played with the John Dummer Blues Band, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker among others. Also in the band’s first line-up were bassist Gary Fletcher, Jones’s former Manfred Mann colleague, also guitarist Tom McGuinness and drummer Hughie Flint, who had previously formed McGuinness Flint.

Their first album The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album, a mixture of blues standards and original songs featured the Jones and McGuinness composition "Come On In" and their long-standing stage favourite "Flatfoot Sam". This album initially attracted no interest from major record companies, so the band pressed a limited run of 3,000, hand-stamped their logo on the cardboard sleeve and signed them all. After unqualified endorsement from BBC Radio 1 presenter Simon Bates and others, media interest resulted in a recording contract with Arista Records, who released the album under the same title.

In 1982 Flint left and was replaced by former Family drummer Rob Townsend. They briefly disbanded later that year after recording a live album Bye Bye Blues (1983), but reformed soon afterwards. In the new millennium they recorded albums such as Back For More (2002) and Thank You Brother Ray (2004), which paid tribute to Ray Charles. Now in their thirty second year as a band, they still perform across Europe with the same line-up.

EP provided by Ecrob

Billy Bragg - Between The Wars

2011-07-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

Between The Wars/Which Side Are You On/World Turned Upside Down/ It Says Here

Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957), better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes. His music career has lasted more than 30 years.

In 1977, Bragg formed the punk rock/pub rock band Riff Raff, and toured London's pubs and clubs. The band released a series of singles, which did not receive wide exposure. He also worked in Guy Norris Records in Barking. Bragg became disillusioned with his music career, and in May 1981 joined the British Army as a recruit destined for the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars of the Royal Armoured Corps. After three months, he bought his way out of the army for £175 and returned home, having attended basic training but having never served in a regiment as a soldier.

Bragg began performing frequent concerts and busking around London, playing solo with an electric guitar. His roadie at the time was Andy Kershaw, who became a BBC DJ (Bragg and Kershaw later, in 1989, appeared in an episode of the BBC TV programme, "Great Journeys", in which they travelled the Silver Road from Potosí, Bolivia, to the Pacific coast at Arica, Chile).

Bragg's demo tape initially got no response from the record industry, but by pretending to be a television repair man, he got into the office of Charisma Records' A&R man Peter Jenner. Jenner liked the tape, but the company was near bankruptcy and had no budget to sign new artists. Bragg got an offer to record more demos for a music publisher, so Jenner agreed to release them as a record. Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy was released in July 1983 by Charisma's new imprint, Utility. Hearing DJ John Peel mention on-air that he was hungry, Bragg rushed to the BBC with a mushroom biryani, so Peel played a song from Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy although at the wrong speed (since the 12" LP was, unconventionally, cut to play at 45rpm). Peel insisted he would have played the song even without the biryani, and later played it at the correct speed.

Within months, Charisma had been taken over by Virgin Records and Jenner, who had been laid off, became Bragg's manager. Stiff Records' press officer Andy Macdonald – who was setting up his own record label, Go! Discs – received a copy of Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy. He made Virgin an offer and the album was re-released on Go! Discs in November 1983. In 1984, he released Brewing Up with Billy Bragg, a mixture of political songs (e.g., "It Says Here") and songs of unrequited love (e.g., "The Saturday Boy"). The following year he released Between the Wars, an EP of political songs that included a cover version of Leon Rosselson's "The World Turned Upside Down".

Thanks again to ecrob for this one.

Status Quo - Live

2011-07-09T03:54:00.000-07:00

Roll Over Lay Down/Gerdundula/Junior's Wailing

Status Quo, also known as The Quo or just Quo, are an English rock band whose music is characterized by their distinctive brand of boogie rock.

The group's origins were in "The Spectres" founded by schoolboys Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster in 1962. After a number of lineup changes, the band became "The Status Quo" in late 1967, finally settling on the name "Status Quo" in 1970. They have recorded over 60 chart hits in the UK, more than any other rock group in history. 22 of these have reached the UK Top Ten.

The tracks for the Ep were recorded at Kursaal, Southend on 1/3/75 and at Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent 2/3/75 using the Rollong Stones mobile studio.The EP made #9 on the UK charts and #2 on the Australian charts.

Special thanks to ecrob from the Midoztouch Forum for this upload

Rutles - I Must Be In Love

2011-07-08T02:46:00.000-07:00

I Must Be In Love/Cheese & Onions/A Girl Like You

The Rutles (also known as the Prefab Four) are a band that are known for their visual and aural pastiches and parodies of The Beatles. Originally created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes as a fictional band to be featured as part of various 1970s television programming, the group (remaining a parody of The Beatles) recorded, toured, and released two UK chart hits in reality.

Initially created for a short sketch in Idle's UK television comedy series Rutland Weekend Television, The Rutles gained international fame after being the focus of the 1978 mockumentary television film, All You Need Is Cash (often referred to as just The Rutles). Having been encouraged by the reaction to the sketch, featuring Beatles' music pastiches by Neil Innes, the film was written by Idle, who co-directed it with Gary Weis. It featured 20 songs written by Innes, which he performed with three musicians as "The Rutles". A successful soundtrack album in 1978 was, much later, followed in 1996 by Archaeology, which spoofed the Beatles' Anthology series which had recently been released. The Rutles pre-date the American parody Spinal Tap by about a year.

A second film, The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch — modelled on the 2000 TV special The Beatles Revolution — was made in 2002 and released in the US on DVD in 2003, but it did not prove as popular as the original film.

Gordon Lightfoot - Gordon Lightfoot

2011-07-08T00:51:00.000-07:00

If You Could Read My Mind/Me And Bobby McGee/Summer Side Of Life/Talking In Your Sleep

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 70s. He has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter and, internationally, as a folk-rock legend.

If You Could Read My Mind was Lightfoot's breakthrough on the US charts, reaching #5, and was to become one of the most covered songs in popular music history. It has been recorded by artists across the musical spectrum - country, folk, bluegrass, pop, even disco. In 1998, a new dance version was released, sung by three disco divas: Ultra Naté, Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez.

But the adaptability of his songs, and his own style, is not limited to this one song. Lightfoot himself evolved from a country/folk sound, to folk/rock, pop, and adult contemporary styles. Yet he is always able to move back and forth among the styles, performing his classics from the 60s (like Early Mornin' Rain, Song For A Winter's Night and Canadian Railroad Trilogy), his hits from the 70s (Sundown, Carefree Highway, Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald as well as If You Could Read My Mind), and material from the 80s, 90s and 2000s with equal ease and credibility.

Christie - Christie

2011-07-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

Everything's Gonna Be Alright/Freewheelin' Man/Magic Highway

Christie were an English rock band formed at the end of the 1960s. They are best remembered for their UK chart topping hit single, "Yellow River" released in 1970.
In addition to Jeff Christie (born Jeffrey Christie, 12 July 1946, St Martin's Road, Leeds, Yorkshire, England)[2] their vocalist, bassist and songwriter; they initially included guitarist Vic Elmes and drummer Mike Blakley (born Michael Blakley, 12 January 1947, Bromley, Kent, England).

Jeff Christie offered his composition "Yellow River" to The Tremeloes. They recorded it to release as a single, but when they changed their minds they allowed Christie to use the backing track themselves. The result was a UK number one hit in June 1970, and subsequently #23 in the U.S., also accumulating more weeks (23) on the Hot 100 than any other entry on that chart completely inside 1970. It was a worldwide hit and was number one in 26 countries with global sales of over 3 million.

The follow-up single from October 1970, "San Bernadino", reached UK Number 7 and Number 1 in Germany, but only U.S. #100. Both tracks became flash songs on their eponymous debut album of that year, and it stayed on U.S. Billboard 200 chart for ten weeks. But the trio failed to sustain a lasting career, and Blakley was replaced by Paul Fenton just before the release of the band's second album, For All Mankind (1971).

Lem Lubin (ex-Unit 4 + 2) was added to the line-up for Iron Horse (1972), but the title track proved to be the band's final hit single. The departure of Fenton and Lubin hastened the demise of the original line-up, but Jeff Christie returned with new members Terry Fogg (drums), Roger Flavell (bass), and Danny Krieger (guitar). A 1974 single "Alabama" / "I'm Alive" failed to resurrect the band's fortunes, and new members Tony Ferguson (guitar) and Roger Willis (drums) were brought in to join Christie and Flavell."JoJo's Band", written by Elmes, was a chart-topper for Jeff Christie in Argentina and Brazil, while the last Christie hit, "Navajo", was Number 1 in Mexico.

Nina & Frederick - Nina & Frederick

2011-07-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

I Would Amor Her/Oh Sinner Man/Listen To The Ocean/Sippin' Cider

Nina and Frederik were a Danish popular singing duo of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their repertoire consisted of a blend of folk music, calypsos and standards. The duo consisted of Frederik, Baron van Pallandt and his wife at the time Nina van Pallandt.

Nina and Frederik began singing together at the age of four, but since Frederik's father was the Dutch ambassador to Denmark, his family moved away and the children lost contact with each other. However in 1957 he re-established contact with Nina at her parents' home and one evening played his guitar for her. To his surprise Nina began singing to it, and it was at that moment that they decided to sing together. Originally they sang only for their friends, and occasionally at house parties. This led to them being asked to perform at charity shows and soon they were in demand professionally. On 1 July 1957, the duo made their professional show business debut in Copenhagen's top night club, Mon Coeur. Within a matter of months they had become great favourites throughout Europe. They married in September 1960 and, in 1961, had their own series on British Television, Nina and Frederik at Home.

Their earliest known single was "Jamaica Farewell"/"Come Back Liza", both Calypso songs, issued in 1959 on Pye International 7N 25021, but showing a 1957 'recording first published' date.

Their album, Nina and Frederik, charted at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart in February 1960. Their follow-up collection, also entitled Nina and Frederik, but featuring completely different songs, peaked at number 11 in the UK chart in May 1961.

Shirley Bassey - Let's Face The Music

2011-07-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

Let's Face The Music And Dance/I Should Care/Let's Fall In Love/The Second Time Around

Shirley Bassey was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, and raised in the nearby working class neighborhood of Splott. Her mother was originally from Yorkshire, and her father was a Nigerian seaman who left the family when she was less than two. She later helped to support her family by working in an Enamelware factory. She made her professional debut at 16 appearing in a touring revue "Memories of Al Jolson". Her first major hit was "The Banana Boat Song," he is best known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979), and is a UNESCO Artist for Peace

Bassey's biggest selling solo albums are The Shirley Bassey Singles Album, peaking at #2 and earning a gold disc, and the limited edition double album, Shirley Bassey 25th Anniversary Album, a platinum record charting at #3 in 1978 (UK Albums Chart). Her Top 10 album Something is her biggest-selling studio album, remaining in the UK Albums Chart for five months. Bassey has two #1 UK singles to her credit: "As I Love You" and the double A-sided, "Reach for the Stars" / "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", as well as a #1 on the dance chart; "History Repeating" in 1997. She reached the top spot on the Australian and South African charts with 1973's "Never, Never, Never". With the release of "The Living Tree" in 2007, she marked a 50 year span of appearances in the UK Singles Chart.

Though her only solo album to enter the Top 20 of a U.S. chart (R&B) is Live at Carnegie Hall, she has enjoyed five top 10 singles on American charts over the decades: "Goldfinger" (her only Billboard Hot 100 Top 10); "Something"; "Never, Never, Never"; "History Repeating" and "Get the Party Started"

Animals - See See Rider

2011-06-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Inside -Looking Out,See See Rider,Don't Bring Me Down and Help Me Girl

REPOST

The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London. The Animals were known for their gritty, bluesy sound and frontman Eric Burdon, as exemplified by their number one signature song "The House of the Rising Sun" as well as by hits such as "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", "It's My Life" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". The band balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against rhythm and blues-oriented album material. They were known in the U.S. as part of the British Invasion.

The Animals underwent numerous personnel changes in the mid-1960s and suffered from poor business management. Under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, they moved to California and achieved commercial success as a psychedelic rock band, before disbanding at the end of the decade. Altogether, the group had ten Top Twenty hits in both the UK Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

See See Rider was a #10 US pop hit in 1966 . The Animals' heavy version (featuring Eric Burdon's screaming vocal) also reached #1 on the Canadian RPM chart, and #8 in Australia. It was the last single before the group disbanded in September 1966.