Search among John Twang's articles

Alex Harvey and Larry Collins composed "Delta Dawn" and the first recording came in 1971 by Alex himself. Under the guidance of Nashville's Billy Sherrill, 13 year old Tanya Tucker took her first hit to the top ten on the country charts in 1972. From

In the 1972 album "Hallway Symphony" you'll find (Dan) Hamilton, Joe Frank (Carollo) and (Tommy) Reynolds singing "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" (Dennis Lambert - Brian Potter). The trio were all touring members of the T-Bones who hit the top

The Gladiolas featured the man who wrote "Little Darling", Maurice Williams. The tune hit the top twenty on the R&B charts in 1957. Within a couple of years the musicians became known as Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs (Maurice Williams, Henry

The Bee Gees composed "Islands in the Stream". Barry sang lead on the demo specifically for Kenny Rogers. As a duet Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers sang "Islands in the Stream" on Kenny's album "Eyes That See in the Dark". It became the number one song

Formed by group member Dave White as The Juvenairs, Danny and the Juniors (Danny Rapp, Dave White, Frank Maffei and Joe Terranova) hit it big with the chart topping "At the Hop" in 1957. Originally it was titled "Do the Bop" and released again later

Composers of The Weavers (Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays and Fred Hellerman) "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (Joel Newman - Paul Campbell) include Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, Howard Richmond (Newman - Campbell were his pseudonyms), Sam Kennedy, Fred

Carnaby Street is part of the Soho fashion district in London. Germany's Kaiser Bill (Wilhelm) was Queen Victoria's grandson and "a batman" is a servant. The Carnaby Street Set released "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" (Cook - Greenaway) in 1967. The

Composed in 1952 this tune topped the country charts in 1953. "The Singing Ranger" Hank (Clarence) Snow's "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I" (Bill Trader) was just one of his 85 charted singles. Hank used Elvis Presley as his opening act and it

You may know her as "Cricket Blake" from "Hawaiian Eye" or an actress that dated Elvis! Connie Stevens (Concetta Ingoglia) took her father's stage name of (Teddy) "Stevens" and joined the group "The Fourmost" and shortly after when she left the quartet,

He is a member of the Apollo Theatre's Hall of Fame, "It's Not Unusual" was written with him in mind, he is a permanent member of New York City's Friar's Club. He is blues singer Chuck Jackson who hit the top fifty on the R&B charts in 1969 with a

After having written lyrics for standards like "Tico, Tico", I Believe", "Al, Di La", "Quando, Quando" and "Perdido", in 1961 Ervin Druckman composed "It Was a Very Good Year" (Ervin Drake) specifically for Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio and it appears

Vanderbilt graduate, singer, actress and avid golfer Frances Rose Shore changed her name to Dinah when she sang that song and the announcer couldn't remember her name, referring to her as "the Dinah girl". Dinah was first to record this old French

Fleetwood Mac's (over time: Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and others) single "Black Magic Woman" (Peter Green) was issued in 1968 appearing the next year on the album "English Rose". Gregg

Artie Glenn wrote this in 1953 for his son Darrell Glenn to sing. While still in high school Darrell recorded "Crying in the Chapel" with his father's band The Rhythm Riders". This version topped the Cash Box chart. The Jordanaires with someone named

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Benjamin - Caldwell - Marcus) was written just for musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone (Eunice Waymon) for her1964 album "Broadway, Blues, Ballads". The Animals (Eric Burdon, Mick Gallagher, Alan Price, Chas

"Hier Encore" (Only Yesterday) (Aznavour) was released by French performer, songwriter, singer, diplomat and actor Charles Aznavour (Shahnour Aznavourian) in 1964. It was released throughout the world in other languages and with other titles including

Don Schlitz wrote and recorded "The Gambler" in 1978 when it reached the country charts. The Grammy winner also composed "Forever and Ever, Amen", "On the Other Hand" and "When You Say Nothing At All". Kenny Rogers inducted him into the Songwriters Hall

Philadelphia group The Top Notes recorded the Phil Spector production "Twist and Shout" (Phil Medley - Bert Russell) originally titled "Shake It Up Baby" in 1961 but the issue went nowhere. There were two groups with the same moniker so membership is

Pete Seeger composed "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" (Seeger - Hickerson) to the tune of an old Russian folksong in 1955. It's part of a medley on the Folkways 1960 release "The Rainbow Quest". Director of the Archive of Folk Songs at the American

The 1937 motion picture "Feather Your Nest" contains talented British entertainer George Formby (Booth) signing "Leaning on a Lamp Post" (Noel Gay). The clean-cut Herman's Hermits cover hit the top ten in 1966. Lead singer Peter Noone was already well

Popular Italian singer/actress and also known for posing nude in the Italian edition of Playboy, Ornella Vanoni recorded "Senza Fine" (Gino Paoli) in 1961. Studio musician/sax and clarinet player Phil Boder worked with such jazz notables as Miles

Harlan Howard composed "I Fall to Pieces" with the other country "Hank" legend, Hank Cochran. After Brenda Lee and Roy Drusky turned the song down, Patsy Cline recorded the Owen Bradley produced album "Showcase" in 1961 and, from it, came her first

While living in Los Angeles Harland Howard was once signed to a song publishing company owned by Tex Ritter and Johnny Bond. It was he who wrote "Everglades". The Kingston Trio "Everglades" comes from the 1960 album "String Along", their fifth

The prolific Harland Howard wrote "Heartaches by the Number" in 1959 and the success of the song brought him to Nashville the next year. Guy Mitchell topped the charts with the pop hit the same year and this was his last top forty success. But it was

Paul McCartney wrote "On the Wings of a Nightingale" and this demo comes from "Judy W" at the Oldiesboard. The Everlys 1984 album "EB84" produced by Dave Edmunds contains this superior production. The single made it into the top fifty.

In 1961 Harland Howard had a total of 15 songs on the country chart. "Mr. In-Between" is just one of his many successful ventures. Accomplished stage/movie/television actor and balladeer Burl Ives hit the top twenty in 1962 with his cover featuring

Harland Howard once said "country music is three chords and the truth" but it's sometimes just good fun too. Harland and Buck Owens composed "Tiger by the Tail" when they were inspired by the Esso gas company slogan "put a tiger in your tank". Buck

Harland Howard was a mainstay in country music for forty years. One of the reasons was his song "Too Many Rivers". Brenda Lee's 1965 top twenty cover was again produced by the smooth magic of Owen Bradley.

Metropolitan Opera star Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin first sang "Some Enchanted Evening" on the Broadway stage in the original production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" in 1949. But the first recording was probably by Frank Sinatra &

The original "Red Roses For a Blue Lady" includes an opening verse unknown to me. Actor, singer John Laurenz gave us the original in 1948 but it did not chart. The best selling version of "Red Roses For a Blue Lady" (Sid Tepper - Roy Bennett) was the

Musicologist Alan Lomax found the 1939 record with Zulu musician Solomon Linda's (Ntsele) Original Evening Birds (Gilbert Madondo, Boy Sibiya, Gideon Mkhize, Owen Sikhakhane and Samuel Mlangeni) "M'Bube". Mr. Lomax gave the vinyl to Pete Seeger of the

Born on the island of Corfu, Vicky Leandross (Vassiliki Papathanasiou) sang the beautiful "L'amour est Bleu" (Love is Blue) (Andre Popp) French lyrics by Pierre Cour, English lyrics by Brian Blackburn for the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite

Dallas Frazier was discovered by Ferlin Husky and became one of those few truly prolific composers. His hits include "Alley Oop", "There Goes My Everything", Mohair Sam", "Johnny One Time", Elvira", "Timber, I'm Falling" and "The Son of Hickory Holler's

The Sharps once featured vocalist Thurston Harris. When he left the group they became The Rivingtons of "Papa Oom Mow Mow" fame. Thurston went on to his own success but "Hey Little Girl" (Otis Blackwell - Bobby Stevenson) didn't mean anything for his

Prior to the sixties it was normal to have many artists having success with versions of hit songs. Such was the case with Burl Ives who sang "Lavender Blue" (Ives) in the 1948 Disney movie "So Dear To My Heart". Dinah Shore recorded "Lavender Blue"

Don (Harris) and Dewey (Terry) recorded "Big Boy Pete" first in 1959 for the album "Don and Dewey". The Olympics (Walter Ward, Charles Fizer, Eddie Lewis, Walter Hammond and Melvin King) issued "Big Boy Pete" (Harris - Terry) in 1960. The release made

Hedy West picked up her five string banjo and recorded her song "500 Miles" two years after the original first recording. It's based on the fiddle tune "Reuben's Train". The Journeymen (John Phillips, Scott McKenzie and Dick Weissman) recorded the

The tune "Love Letters" (Victor Young) comes from the movie of the same name and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1945. Edward Heyman added lyrics and it became a top twenty hit for Dick Haymes. From a family of 15, actor/singer Ketty Lester

The Mighty Diamonds (Donald Shaw, Fitzroy Simpson and Lloyd Ferguson) were the first to record "Pass the Koutchie" (Ferguson - Simpson). You'll find it on their 1982 album "Changes". A koutchie is a drug pipe. British reggae band Musical Youth (Dennis

Eddie Miller issued "Release Me" (Eddie Miller - Robert Yount - James Pebworth) in 1949 because he couldn't get anyone else to record this classic when the tune was composed years earlier. The Cherokee Cowboy, Ray Price 1954 cover got well into the top

Britain's Helen Shapiro recorded the album "Helen In Nashville" in 1963 and it's there you'll find the original recording of "It's My Party" (John Gluck Jr. - Walter Gold - Herb Weiner). When the Beatles toured Britain for the first time, they were

Fleetwood Mac (Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch) recorded the album "Bare Trees" in 1972 and that's where one would find the original version of "Sentimental Lady (Bob Welch). Bob Welch's 1977 first solo album

Former member of the Emmylou Harris Hot Band, Rodney Crowell composed "Shame On the Moon" in 1981. Rodney and Roseanne Cash were once married. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band released the album "The Distance" in 1982 and "Shame On the Moon" with

The Outsiders (Sonny Geraci, Tom King, Mert Madsen were the core members) first recorded "Bend Me, Shape Me" (Scott English, Larry Weiss). It's on the Cleveland groups "The Outsiders In" album from 1966. A year later The American Breed (vocalist Gary

Swings Senior Statesman Benny Goodman and vocalist Helen Ward took "Goody, Goody" (Matty Malneck - Johnny Mercer) to the top of the charts in 1936. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers (Jimmy Merchant, Sherman Garnes, Herman Santiago and Joe Negroni) hit

Len Barry encouraged the Orlons (Osetta Hightower, Shirley Brickley, Marlena Davis and Stephen Caldwell) to sign with Cameo-Parkway Records and probably got a big "thank you" from the label owners. The Orlons released "Don't Throw Your Love Away" (Jimmy

German electronic music pioneer Gershon Kingsley (Gotz Ksinski) composed "Popcorn" for his 1969 album "Music to Moog By". In 1972 the Hot Butter (Stan Free and studio musicians Dave Mullaney, Danny Jordan, John Abbott, Bill Jerome and Steve Jerome)

The tune was turned down by the Oak Ridge Boys, then The Marcy Brothers (Kris, Kevin and Kendal Marcy) recorded "Don't Tell My Heart" (Don Von Tress) for their self-titled album in 1991. The next year Miley's daddy, singer/actor Bill Ray Cyrus issued

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys give us their version of the traditional fiddle classic "Ida Red" recorded in 1938 which is the basis for "Maybellene". Chuck Berry's initial release for Chess Records was "Maybellene". It was originally called "Ida

Worldwide star Roger Whittaker was the first to record "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Larry Henley - Jeff Silbar) in 1982 for the album of the same name. The co-composer Larry Henley is the same Mr. Henley who sang with The Newbeats of "Bread and Butter"

You may still see him playing jazz trumpet at Preservation Hall, the retired Dave Bartholomew recorded "Let the Four Winds Blow" (Dave Bartholomew - Fats Domino) in 1952. The band leader, producer and composer was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of

Family Dogg (Albert Hammond and Steve Rowland along with backup personnel) issued "Arizona" (Kenny Young) in 1969. Mark Lindsay, former leader of Paul Revere & the Raiders the first rock group to be signed to Columbia Records, hit the top ten

Once a pianist and arranger for B.B. King, the Julliard trained Joe Jones was the first to release "California Sun" (Henry Glover - Morris Levy) in 1961. Joe discovered Shirley and Lee of "Let the Good Times Roll" fame and not only discovered but

The Kinks (Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Peter Quaife and Mick Avory) recorded "Dandy" (Ray Davies) in 1966 for their album "Face to Face". Many years ago Peter Quaife and I quaffed ales together at a quiet bar in my Ontario home city. After a most pleasant

Marvin (Phillips) & Johnny (Emory Perry) issued "Cherry Pie" (Phillips) in 1954. It's interesting to note that there was a long line of "Johnny's" which once included Jesse Belvin, Carl Green or Bobby Sheen, sometime it was just Marvin overdubbing

Kenny Rankin appeared on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in excess of twenty times. Johnny even wrote the liner notes for Kenny's 1967 debut album "Mind Dusters" which features the original recording of "Peaceful" (Rankin). He performed

In 1990 Grammy winners Asleep at the Wheel (Ray Benson and more drifting members than you can count) recorded "Boot Scootin' Boogie" (Ronnie Dunn) for the album "Keepin' Up Nights" their only release on Arista Records. Over time they recorded for EMI,

Often a member of the Ringo Starr's All-Star Band, Dave Edmunds issued "Queen of Hearts" (Hank DeVito) on his 1979 album "Repeat When Necessary". The single reached the U.K. top twenty although it failed to chart in North America. Judy "Juice" Newton's

The Clovers (John Bailey, Harold Lucas, Billy Mitchell, Matthew McQuater and Harold Winley) "Devil or Angel" (Blanch Carter) was issued in1955 and peaked at number three on the R&B chart. In 1960 "Devil or Angel" was just one of Bobby Vee's

Originally recorded by Grand Ol' Opry stalwart Roy Acuff in 1945 "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (Fred Rose) was released only as a single. Fred Rose and Roy Acuff were the founders of the independent label, Hickory Records and the men behind

"Fuedin' Banjos" (Arthur Smith) was composed and recorded in 1955 by banjo players Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith and Don Reno. Arthur owned and operated a sound studio in Charlotte, North Carolina where he produced Billy Graham's Hour of Decision radio

Italy's Anna Indentici and the Sandpipers recorded "Quando M'innamoro" (Livraghi - Pace - Panzeri) in 1968 at the San Remo Music Festival. Featuring English lyrics by Barry Mason Engelbert Humperdick's (Arnold Dorsey) "A Man Without Love" made the top

Sir Cliff Richard and the Shadows (Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan) were the first to perform and record "I Gotta Know" (Paul Evans - Matt Williams) at London's Abbey Road Studios in 1959 for the album "Cliff Sings". The B side of

Grammy winner Willie "Mabon" Dixon wrote and recorded "Seventh Son" (Willie Dixon) in 1955. Willie won a Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship novice division in 1937, turned professional and was a sparring partner for Joe Louis. In the

Australian country singer/songwriter Al Geoffrey McElhinney composed "I've Been Everywhere" (Geoff Mack) and in 1962 Lucky Starr (Leslie Morrison) made it a hit in their homeland. Using an atlas Geoff Mack re-wrote the song for Hank (Clarence) Snow

Big band vocalist/actor Dick Haymes' "The More I See You" (Harry Wareen - Mack Gordon) was featured in the 1945 motion picture "Bill Rose's Diamond Horseshoe" starring Betty Grable and Dick Haymes. Under the mentorship of label owner Herb Alpert, Chris

One of those responsible for the award winning "Jersey Boys", Frankie Valli (Castelluccio) released "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" (Bob Crewe - Bob Gaudio) in 1965 from the album "Solo". Other members of the Four Seasons were on the session but

This tune titled "Tell Me Why" is not to be confused with the Four Aces or Eddie Fisher hit in 1951 or the Bobby Vinton version in 1964 or the Beatles song from the same year. It's not to be confused with the Genesis tune from 1993 or the Wynonna

Composed in 1932 and dedicated to George Gershwin according to one of the most credible experts, Arnold Rypen, it was band leader/composer/violinist Paul "King of Jazz" Whiteman who was first to record "Willow Weep For Me" (Ann Ronell) and take this

The Pinetoppers (George Vaughn Horton and brother Roy Horton) and the Beaver Valley Sweethearts issued "Mockingbird Hill" (George Horton) in 1950. The melody is based on a Swedish waltz called "Life in the Woods". Other Vaughn Horton compositions by the

The Rivileers (Herb Crosby, Gene Pearson, Alfonso Delaney, Milt Edwards and Errol Lennard) first recording was "A Thousand Stars" (Alfonso - Carolyn Grissom) in 1954. Kathy Young and the Innocents (Darron Stankey, Jim West and Al Candaleria) reached

"The father of country music" and "the singing brakeman" Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Blue Yodel #8" in 1930. Since then the title morphed into "Mule Skinner Blues" (Jimmie Rodgers) when Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys recorded the tune. Called The

Originally written as an instrumental piece by orchestra leader Borney Bergantine in the early thirties and played by the orchestra many times "My Happiness" was not recorded until the forties with lyrics by Betty Peterson. The Marlin Sisters (Goldie

Motown's Eddie Holland was first to record "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" (Eddie Holland - Lamont Dozier - Brian Holland) in 1964 although it wasn't released for more than four decades. Detroit's Kim (Agatha) Weston backed by the

A Mouseketeer in 1955, Judy Harriet (Spiegelman) recorded "Tall Paul" (Bob Roberts - Dick Sherman - Bob Sherman) in 1958. The following year fellow Mickey Mouse Club member Annette Funicello had her breakthrough cover as "Annette and the Afterbeats"

Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded By the Light" (Bruce Springsteen) is the first track from his 1973 album "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.". Incidentally the correct line is: blinded by the light, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night".

Once a session musician for acts like Sam Cooke, Little Richard, The Beatles and Ray Charles R&B, soul, rock and gospel artist Billy Preston's "You Are So Beautiful" (Billy Preston - "Beach Boy" Dennis Wilson - Bruce Fisher) is from the 1974 album

The is Carole King's demo for "Go Away Little Girl". Carole as usual for that period, composed the melody. Bobby Vee (Velline) was first to record the unreleased "Go Away Little Girl" (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) in the same session he did "It Might As

The composer of American Breed's "Bend Me, Shape Me" and The Animals "Help Me Girl", Larry Weiss wrote and recorded "Rhinestone Cowboy" (Larry Weiss) for his 1974 album "Black and White Suite". This opening track single was released and peaked in the

Former member of the Kingston Trio, John Stewart composed "Daydream Believer" and this version comes from his 1971 release "The Lonesome Picker Rides Again". The Monkees (Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz) had the original

Once a member of the R&B group The Ravens, Ollie Jones composed The Crescendos "Oh Julie", The Crests "Step by Step", Fabian's "Tiger" and "Send For Me". This version by Ollie was recorded in 1961 for the album "We Wrote 'Em We Sing 'Em". Nat

Poet, singer, cartoonist for Playboy, composer, writer and generally extraordinary Shel Silverstein wrote "The Unicorn" for his book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and the first recording of the song appears on the 1962 issue "Inside Folk Songs" Yes they

Huddie "Lead Belly" Leadbetter is often credited with composing "Black Betty" but it may have been simply adapted by him from a traditional work song. The moniker "Black Betty" often referred to a musket, police wagon or whiskey bottle, From the self

In 1966 Dallas Frazier issued the album "Elvira" and the single reached into the top one hundred, top thirty here in Canada. Dallas has given us some of the more fun music for generations. Former award winning gospel group The Oak Ridge Boys (Joe