Search among John Twang's articles

Because of time constraints I had to edit the lengthy introduction to the original Clarence Reid's "Rockin' Chair" (C. Reid - W. Clarke). The 1974 single was issued as a B side. The late Clarence was also known as Blowfly and appeared on stage in costume

Based on a poem by war bride Dorothy Norris, "You'll Never Know" (Harry Warren - Mack Gordon) was featured in the film "Hello, Frisco, Hello" where it was sung by Alice Faye (Leppert). This won the 1943 Academy Award for Best Original Song. Even though

Hamilton, Ontario's Ian Thomas recorded "Hold On" (Thomas) for the 1981 album "The Runner". Ian played the part of Dougie Franklin on The Red Green Show. The following year Santana (Carlos Santana, Alex Ligertwood, Armando Peraza, Prestes Vilato,

Peggy Lee's first Decca record was the original "Be Anything (But Be Mine)" (Irving Gordon) in 1952. The single peaked at number twenty-six. Irving Gordon also wrote the standards, "Unforgettable", "Me, Myself And I", "Delaware" by Perry Como, "Mama From

From the cylinder recorded by Bob Roberts here's "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" (Clark - Muir - Abrahams) from 1912. This proved to be a chart topper and the number two song of the year. The song was inspired by the composer's nephew dressed as a cowboy. In 1947

Eddy Howard recorded his first hit, "To Each His Own" (Livingston - Evans) composed for the film of the same name even though it didn't appear in the movie. This was the first of many versions including those by The Ink Spots, Freddy Martin, Tony Martin

"Let Me Serenade You" (John Finley) started it's successful life in 1968 as "I Will Serenade You" on the self-titled album by Rhinoceros (John Finley, Doug Hastings, Alan Gerber, Mike Fonfara, Billy Mundi, Jerry Penrod and Danny Weiss). "I Will Serenade

Roy Hamilton recorded "The Aisle" (Billy Dawn Smith - Stuart Wiener) in early 1957. Like a few other recording acts Roy was a successful at commercial art and placed a number of his works in NYC galleries, even as a teenager. The military came calling

Leader of The CBS Orchestra aka The World's Most Dangerous Band on the David Letterman extravaganza, Paul Shaffer wrote "It's Raining Men" along with the late Paul Jabara. This is Paul Shaffer solo at New York's Birdland in 2008. The song was written

Former circus clown, story teller and guitarist Angel Villoldo composed the tango "El Choclo" in 1903. Spanish for "The Corn Cob", the nickname of a nightclub owner, this was one of the most popular tangos to emerge from Argentina. Here is an early

Shirley Jones was first to record "Pepe" (Wittstatt - Langdon) in the 1960 motion picture of that name starring Cantinflas (Mario Moreno). Shirley was a star in many Hollywood musicals and won the Academy Award for her performance in "Elmer Gantry" before

This is an edited track from the Walt Disney Donald Duck cartoon "Donald Duck In Nutzi Land" eventually re-titled "Der Fuehrer's Face". The short won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Incidentally the award for best song that year was won by

Toto's (David Paich, Bobby Kimball, David Hungate, Jeff and Steve Porcaro) 1982 album "Toto IV" contains the Billboard chart topping "Africa" (David Paich - Jeff Porcaro). Like this or not, Karl Wolf (Carl Samah) featuring rapper Culture issued their

The 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" featured one ton of hits including The Bee Gees "If I Can't Have You" (B. R. & M. Gibb). This was the B side of "Stayin' Alive"! The Bee Gees manager and producer of the movie told the trio that despite their

"To Love Somebody" (Barry Gibb - Robin Gibb) was written at the request of Bee Gees (Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb) manager Robert Stigwood. It was played for Otis Redding but he didn't have a chance to record it before he died. This is the second single

"How Do I Live" was written for the star studded movie "Con Air". Teenager LeAnn Rimes was first to record "How Do I Live" (Diane Warren) as a single that appeared in an extended version on the 1997 album "You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs". The

Philippine born, Spanish painter, singer and poet Luis Eduardo Aute (Gutierrez - Repide) composed and recorded "Aleluya No. 1" (Aute) in 1967. The single topped the charts in Spain and other countries. "Aleluya No. 1" was translated to "Who Will

Billy Stewart's " I Do Love You" (Stewart), from the album of the same name, came out in 1965 and hit number six on the R&B chart and twenty-six on Billboard's Top One Hundred. Billy once backed Bo Diddley and often sang with Don Covay. From the

Jimmy Liggins (Elliott) and his Drops of Joy issued "Cadillac Boogie" (J. Liggins) in 1948. In his younger years Jimmy boxed professionally under the name Kid Zulu. Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, in actuality Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm, recorded

Wynn Stewart's original "It's Such A Pretty World Today" (Dale Noe) topped the Country chart in 1967. The single, voted the Country Music Song Of The Year, is from the LP of the same name. Andy Russell (Rabago) covered "It's Such A Pretty World Today"

Priscilla Bowman (Mills) and the Spaniels (Opal Courtney Jr., Gerald Gregory, Pookie Hudson, Willie Jackson and Ernest Warren) sang "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love)" (Brook Benton - Clyde Otis - Luchi de Jesus) in 1958. The Brook

(Jim) Seals and (Dash) Crofts "Summer Breeze" (Seals - Crofts) peaked at number six pop and number four AC on Billboard in 1972. The single is from the top ten album of the same name. "Hummingbird" is the lead track on the same LP. Just a few of the

Here is the studio demo for "('Til) I Kissed You" (Don Everly) with The Crickets Sonny Curtis on guitar and Jerry Allison on drums. The hit had Chet Atkins on guitar and Buddy Harman on drums. The single peaked at number four on Billboard in 1959.

The Everly Brothers issued "Devoted To You" (Boudleaux and Felice Bryant) as the B side to "Bird Dog" in 1958 and peaked at number two on both the pop and R&B charts while attaining the number seven country position. Carly Simon released the album

The Eagles' singer and drummer Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer" (Don Henley - Mike Campbell) is the lead single from the 1984 LP "Building The Perfect Beast". Don peaked at number five on Billboard's Top One Hundred and topped the Rock Tracks chart. Mr.

Bonnie Tyler's (Gaynor Hopkins) "The Best" (Mike Chapman - Holly Knight) is from the Welsh singer's 1988 album "Hide Your Heart" aka "Noted From America" in the U.S. Tina Turner's (Anna Mae Bullock) 1989 cover of "The Best" is from her album "Foreign