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Publication date  /  2018  /  January   -   34 articles

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  • Little Latin Lupe Lu

    - 03 Jan 2018
    The initial single The Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield) issued was "Little Latin Lupe Lu" (Bill Medley) in 1963 and it reached the middle of Billboard's pop chart. An augmented Wrecking Crew supplied the instrumentation. It's rumoured

  • (You're My) Soul And Inspiration

    - 03 Jan 2018
    The Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield) recorded "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weill) in 1966 as the title single from the LP of the same name. This topped the Billboard chart as a follow-up to "You've Lost That

  • Every Little Bit Hurts

    - 04 Jan 2018
    Brenda Holloway didn't want to record "Every Little Bit Hurts" (Ed Cobb) because she had done it already a few years before signing with Motown. The original recording was released on Bob Keane's label, Del-Fi Records in 1962 when Brenda was sixteen. The

  • On The Sunny Side Of The Street

    - 05 Jan 2018
    It's been said that Fats Waller wrote "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" and sold the rights so now the writers credited are listed as Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. The first public airing of the song was in Lew Leslie's "International Review" starring

  • I'll Be Home

    - 06 Jan 2018
    "I'll Be Home" (Washington - Lewis) surfaced in 1955 and was successful for The Flamingos when it peaked at number five on the R&B chart. The single was featured on the "Rock, Rock, Rock" soundtrack. Pat Boone's 1956 cover of "I'll Be Home" sold a

  • Big Love

    - 07 Jan 2018
    Lindsey Buckingham, his finger picking style on the guitar and "Big Love". It was Lindsey's idea to use this on his 1985 solo album but it morphed into a Fleetwood Mac project. The 1987 LP "Tango In The Night" by Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham,

  • I Wish You Love (Que reste-t-il de nos amours)

    - 08 Jan 2018
    "Que reste-t-il de nos amours" (Leo Chauliac - Charles Trenet) can be translated as "What Remains Of Our Love", it was recorded initially by Lucienne (Emilienne-Henriette) Boyer in 1942. Co-composer Charles Trenet issued his version in 1943. Charles

  • Hello Walls

    - 09 Jan 2018
    Willie Nelson recorded "Hello Walls" in 1962 on his debut album "... And Then I Wrote". This vinyl also contained the writer's versions of "Family Bible", "Crazy" and "Funny How Times Slips Away". Webb Pierce is credited with discovering "The Young

  • With All My Heart (Gondolier)

    - 10 Jan 2018
    "With All My Heart" was originally released in 1957 as "Gondolier" (Peter De Angelis - Jean Broussolle) by Dalida (Iolanda Cristina Gigliott). Dalida was crowned Miss Egypt in 1954 yet had a most tragic life ending in her 1987 suicide. One hit wonder

  • Dance With My Father

    - 11 Jan 2018
    The stunning talents of Richard Marx are evident in "Dance With My Father" (Richard Marx - Luther Vandross). This was recorded in concert in 2003. Richard wrote the music. Richard sang backup for Kenny Rogers and has collaborated with the likes of Keith

  • Surrender To Me

    - 11 Jan 2018
    Richard Marx wrote "Surrender To Me" (Richard Marx - Ross Vanelli) and sings it as a cover here with Lara Fabian (Crokaert). Lara is well known in French Canada and Europe and has a vocal range envied by many. Richard's father "Dick" wrote jingles for

  • With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming

    - 12 Jan 2018
    Jack Oakie (Lewis Offield) and Dorothy Dell (Goff) sang "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming" (Gordon - Revel) in the 1934 Paramount film "Shoot The Works". The scene starts with the duo composing the song followed by the full orchestra concert

  • Reelin' And Rockin'

    - 13 Jan 2018
    Rock pioneer Chuck Berry wrote and recorded "Reelin' And Rockin'" in 1957 as the B side of "Sweet Little Sixteen". At his funeral in April of 2017 The Rolling Stones sent a flower arrangement in the shape of a guitar. The Dave Clark Five (Dave Clark,

  • Jim Dandy

    - 14 Jan 2018
    From the album "We Wrote 'Em And We Sing 'Em" comes Lincoln Chase and "Jim Dandy". Lincoln wrote "The Name Game", "The Clapping Song" and "Such A Night". LaVern Baker and the Gliders hit with "Jim Dandy" in 1956 topping the R&B chart and peaking at

  • Beautiful Brown Eyes

    - 15 Jan 2018
    The traditional song "Beautiful Brown Eyes" (Arthur Smith) was recorded by the Arthur Smith Trio accompanied by Alton and Rabon Delmore in 1937. This was "Fiddlin'" Arthur Smith who was a member of The Grand Ole Opry and not Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith.

  • Zorro

    - 16 Jan 2018
    The Walt Disney production of Zorro starring Guy Williams included this opening theme. Music is by George Bruns and lyrics by Norman Foster. The late Henry Clavin (Calvin Goodman) is the actor who played Sgt. Garcia and is the lead vocalist. The

  • Angel Eyes

    - 17 Jan 2018
    Pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter John Hiatt wrote "Angels Eyes" (John Hiatt - Fred Koller) and it appeared on his 1994 concert LP "Hiatt Comes Alive At Budokan". After the disc was released it was learned that this was not recorded at Budokan but

  • Hard To Say I'm Sorry

    - 18 Jan 2018
    The Chicago (lead vocals Peter Cetera, Bill Champlin, Robert Lamm, Denny Seraphine) Billboard number one single "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (Peter Cetera - David Foster) is from the 1982 album Chicago 16. The lead single from the LP featured an augmented

  • Poor Butterfly

    - 19 Jan 2018
    Under the direction of Walter B. Rogers this is The Victor Military Band recording of "Poor Butterfly" (Raymond Hubbell) in 1916. The band was an idea of the Victor Talking Machine Company to sell dance records. The production was inspired by Puccini's

  • P. S. I Love You

    - 19 Jan 2018
    First recorded by crooner, actor Rudy (Hubert) Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees in 1934, "P.S. I Love You" is presented in an edited version to include the vocal. The Hilltoppers featuring Jimmy Sacca had their first hit with "P.S. I Love You" (J.

  • Till Then

    - 19 Jan 2018
    The Mills Brothers (John Jr., Donald, Herbert and Harry) recorded "Till Then" (Eddie Seiler - Sol Marcus - Guy Wood) in 1944 and reached number eight on Billboard. This was a two sided hit, the other side was "You Always Hurt The One You Love" posted

  • Danny Boy

    - 20 Jan 2018
    A regular member of the Metropolitan Opera, Ernestine (Tini) Schumann-Heink was the first to record "Danny Boy" (Frederick Weatherly) in 1917. Wikipedia: "Initially written to a tune other than "Londonderry Air", the words to "Danny Boy" were penned by

  • This Kiss

    - 21 Jan 2018
    Beth Nielsen Chapman performs "This Kiss" (Chapman - Lerner - Roboff) at Pocklington Arts Centre in East Yorkshire, England. Mrs. Tim McGraw, actress, People's Choice and Grammy winner Faith Hill issued "This Kiss" with Beth Nielsen Chapman on backing

  • Taking A Chance On Love

    - 22 Jan 2018
    "Taking A Chance On Love" (Latouche - Fetter - Duke) was prominent in the 1940 play and the 1943 Vincente Minnelli directed motion picture "Cabin In The Sky" where it was sung by Ethel Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Wikipedia article on Ethel's

  • Long Train Runnin'

    - 23 Jan 2018
    These are The Doobie Brothers (lead vocalist Tom Johnston, John Hartman, Michael Hossack, Tiran Porter and Patrick Simmons) and the 1970 demo for "Long Train Runnin'" (Tom Johnston). The song started as an improvisational instrumental with various titles:

  • It's Getting Better

    - 24 Jan 2018
    The 1968 LP "Turn Around, Look At Me" by The Vogues (lead vocalist Bill Burkette, Chuck Blasko, Hugh Geyer and Don Miller) includes the first recording of "It's Getting Better" (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil). Cass Elliot took "It's Getting Better" to the

  • You Really Got Me

    - 25 Jan 2018
    The Kinks (Ray and Dave Davies, Peter Quaife and Mick Avory) peaked at number seven on Billboard and topped the U.K. charts with "You Really Got Me" (Ray Davies) in 1964. The single showed up on their debut self-titled album. Van Halen's (David Lee

  • Who's That Lady (That Lady Part 1)

    - 26 Jan 2018
    The Grammy winning Isley Brothers (Rudolph, Ronald and O'Kelly Isley) wrote and recorded the single "Who's That Lady" for the first time in 1964. Some of the lyrics were changed, the song re-written by the six members and the song was re-introduced as

  • Bei Mir Bist Du Schein

    - 27 Jan 2018
    The original titled "Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn" ("To Me You‘re Beautiful") was written in Yiddish by Sholom Secunda and Jacob Jacobs for the 1932 musical "I Would If I Could". The play was presented for one season at the Parkway Theatre in Brooklyn, where it

  • Rum And Coca-Cola

    - 27 Jan 2018
    Lord Invader (Rupert Grant)'s original "Rum And Coca-Cola" (Lord Invader - Lionel Belasco) is a calypso protest song. Lionel Belasco wrote the music based on a Martinique folk song. The Yankees referred to the American soldiers stationed in Trinidad.

  • Somebody To Love

    - 28 Jan 2018
    The Great Society (Grace Slick, husband Jerry Slick, brother-in-law Darby Slick, Peter Vandergelder, Bard Dupont and Dave Miner) released "Somebody To Love" (Darby Slick) in 1966 to little fanfare. The track is on their 1968 live concert album

  • Again

    - 29 Jan 2018
    Pioneering director, producer, writer, singer and actress Ida Lupino sang "Again" (Cochran - Newman) in the 1948 motion picture "Road House". The star-studded cast included Cornel Wilde, Richard Widmark and Celeste Holm. Ida was the only woman to direct

  • Mexican Joe

    - 30 Jan 2018
    Mitchell Torok wrote "Mexican Joe" in a half-hour, before political correctness was a issue. It was 1953 and Mitchell hit with his own release of "Caribbean". Abbott Records was Mitchell Torok's label and that record company issued the original Jim

  • These Eyes

    - 31 Jan 2018
    The Guess Who's (Bachman - Cummings, Jim Kale and Garry Peterson) "These Eyes" (Randy Bachman - Burton Cummings) is on the 1969 album "Wheatfield Soul". The single originally titled "These Arms" peaked at number six on Billboard and became the group's