Search among John Twang's articles

Publication date  /  2019  /  October   -   28 articles

« Sept 19    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31    Nov 19 »

  • Rocky Mountain Way

    - 07 Oct 2019
    Bassist Kenny Passarelli has played with The Elton John Band, Dan Fogelberg, Hall and Oates, Stephen Stills and Joe Walsh when he was a member of Barnstorm (Joe Walsh, Rocke Grace, Kenny Passarelli and Joe Vitale). In 2016 Kenny performed "Rocky Mountain

  • Did You Ever See A Dream Walking

    - 08 Oct 2019
    The 1933 movie musical comedy "Sitting Pretty" introduced "Did You Ever See A Dream Walking" (Harry Revel - Mack Gordon). The song was sung at the end of the film by Art Jarrett and Ginger Rogers in an expensive production number. This clip from the

  • Wishing For Your Love

    - 09 Oct 2019
    The Clovers (John Bailey, Matthew McQuarter, Billy Mitchell, Charlie White and Harold Winley) first recorded one of their last Atlantic sides, "Wishing For Your Love" (Sampson Horton) with Jesse Stone's (aka Charles Calhoun) Orchestra in 1957. The

  • Tell Me A Lie

    - 10 Oct 2019
    Here is the Barbara Wyrick, the co-author's version of "Tell Me A Lie' (Barbara Wyrick - Mickey Buckins) released in 1977 from the Muscle Shoals produced album "A Taste Of". Some of the musicians involved included Mac McAnally, Lenny LeBlanc and Roger

  • Let's Get Away From It All

    - 11 Oct 2019
    From the 1958 album "Matt Dennis Plays And Sings Matt Dennis" Matt does the lounge thing for "Let's Get Away From It All" (Matt Dennis - Tom Adair). Matt sang and played piano for Horace Heidt's Orchestra before forming his band with vocalist Dick Haymes.

  • I'll Follow The Sun

    - 12 Oct 2019
    Supposedly recorded at Paul McCartney's Liverpool home in the late fifties this is "I'll Follow The Sun" (Lennon - McCartney). Stu Sutcliffe was with the group while the drummer was Paul's brother Michael prior to either Pete Best and Ringo Starr joining

  • Happiness

    - 13 Oct 2019
    Some knew him as Naomi Neville, Allen Orange, Clarence Toussaint and Al Tousan. New Orleans iconic producer, pianist, arranger, singer, songwriter Allen Toussaint sings his composition "Happiness" with the vocal backing of Bonnie Raitt and Etta James.

  • Fairytale

    - 13 Oct 2019
    Anita Pointer started writing "Fairytale" (Anita and Bonnie Pointer) as the result of a breakup with a married California radio announcer. The song was introduced to the public at an April 1974 Pointer Sisters concert at the San Francisco Opera House.

  • More, More, More

    - 14 Oct 2019
    The late Andrea True's (Truden) original "More, More, More" was recorded as a demo track in 1975 when the porn star was in Jamaica. Andrea had a bit part in the 1973 film "The Way We Were". Her several stage names included Catherine Warren, Inger Kissin,

  • Surfer Girl

    - 15 Oct 2019
    Here is the original 1962 version of The Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson) which was recorded by Hite Morgan and released on the Canadix label after their first release of "Surfin'. The use of brushes on the drums and the lack of electric guitar

  • Personality (Johnny Mercer)

    - 16 Oct 2019
    The 1946 Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour movie "Road To Utopia" was actually shot three years earlier. When it was released the motion picture introduced the Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke hit "Personality". The composing duo wrote all the

  • Husbands And Wives

    - 17 Oct 2019
    I had so much respect for this man's talent, his personality, humour and his diverse music. Roger Miller's 1966 LP "Words and Music" lead single "Husbands And Wives" reached number five Country, number two on the Adult Contemporary charts as well as

  • Remember Me

    - 18 Oct 2019
    Valerie Simpson from the composing and producing team of Ashford and Simpson presented this as a demo to Diana Ross. "Remember Me" (Ashford - Simpson). It's said this was recorded in one take including the backing of Valerie, Nick, Joshie Armstead and The

  • What I Like About You

    - 19 Oct 2019
    The Romantics (lead vocalist Jimmy Marinos, Rich Cole, Wally Palmar and Mike Skill) 1980 self-titled debut LP included "What I Like About You" (Jimmy Marinos - Wally Palmar - Mike Skill). The band played the song regularly in concert, prior to recording,

  • Pretend

    - 20 Oct 2019
    Band leader and trumpeter Ralph Marterie was first to record the beautiful "Pretend" (Dan Belloc - Lew Douglas - Cliff Parman - Frank Levere) in 1952. The instrumental peaked at number sixteen on Billboard. It was Nat King Cole who had the definitive

  • Peace In The Valley

    - 21 Oct 2019
    Red (Clyde) Foley and The Sunshine Boys Quartet (Fred Daniel, Ace Richman, JD Sumner and Fred Wallace) reached number five on the Country chart with "Peace In The Valley" (Thomas A. Dorsey) in 1951. It was composed for Mahalia Jackson but Red had the hit.

  • Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy

    - 21 Oct 2019
    In 1950 Pat Boone's father-in-law Red (Clyde) Foley topped both the Country and pop charts with the Owen Bradley produced "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" (Harry Stone - Jack Stapp). Red was the first country performer to record in Nashville, Tennessee.

  • Since You've Been Gone

    - 22 Oct 2019
    Here is the demo of The Outfield's (lead vocalist Tony Lewis, Alan Jackman and John Spinks) "Since You've Been Gone" (J. Spinks) as once posted on the group's website. Composer John Spinks passed away in July, 2014. His partner said "The hardest day for

  • You Got The Love

    - 23 Oct 2019
    Ray Parker wrote "You Got The Love" when he was eighteen years. old. To this date I had no idea the man had such guitar skills. This is his instrumental version of the hit. Ray toured as guitarist with the Spinners, wrote with Marvin Gaye, was a studio

  • Theme From Ben Casey

    - 24 Oct 2019
    Ben Casey was an ABC television hit in the early to mid sixties. Vince Edwards (Zoine) was the star while Sam (Shalom) Jaffe co-starred and uttered the phrase "man, woman, birth, death, infinity" during the opening. The theme music for this Bing Crosby

  • Wagon Wheel (Rock Me, Mama)

    - 25 Oct 2019
    In 1973 Bob Dylan recorded the chorus and melody of "Wagon Wheel" titled "Rock Me, Mama" as a demo for the movie "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid". To quote Mr. Zimmerman "I did record it, it’s on one of my old bootleg records. I recorded it with Roger

  • Uptown (Crystals)

    - 26 Oct 2019
    Producer Phil Spector and the composers were unhappy with The Crystals session on "Uptown" (Cynthia Wiell - Barry Mann). Phil brought in Eva Boyd as vocalist and after multiple takes she walked out. According to Cynthia: "Before Little Eva did 'The

  • Years

    - 27 Oct 2019
    A Christmas Day baby, Barbara Mandrell released "Years" (Kye Fleming - Dennis Morgan) from her 1979 album "Just For The Record". The single topped the Country chart and reached number thirty-eight on the Adult Contemporary chart. Barbara plays accordion,

  • Buddy Holly (Weezer)

    - 28 Oct 2019
    Rivers Cuomo sings "Buddy Holly" (Rivers Cuomo) from "Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo". Rivers was convinced by producer Ric Ocasek to include a studio version on his group's initial album. When Rivers was a child his father nicknamed him

  • A Tree In The Meadow

    - 29 Oct 2019
    The Billy Reid Orchestra with his wife Dorothy Squires as vocalist recorded "A Tree In The Meadow (I'll Love You Till I Die)" (Billy Reid) in January of 1948. Note the track is edited to include the vocal. During the thirties the Billy Reid Orchestra was

  • Old Devil Moon

    - 29 Oct 2019
    The 1947 Broadway hit and Tony winning "Finian's Rainbow" introduced "Old Devil Moon" (Burton Lane - E. Y. Harnurg) sung by Ella Logan (Georgina Allan) and Donald Richards. There were a few revivals of the show along with a 1968 motion picture starring

  • Everytime I Think Of You

    - 30 Oct 2019
    Here is musician, songwriter, singer and record producer Ray Kennedy singing "Everytime I Think Of You" (Ray Kennedy - Jack Conrad) in a benefit concert with an attractive female trio and Malik Pointer, Ruth of the Pointer Sisters son. There was a time

  • Going In Circles

    - 31 Oct 2019
    In 1972 Jerry Peters released the LP "Blueprint For Discovery" and the version of his "Going In Circles" (Jerry Peters - Anita Poree) that may force you to make a mixed drink and start smoking again. I urge you to listen to his take available on YouTube.