Sixties Sunday Sounds!

I've just been playing some songs from the 1096-1963 era and realised how little they are heard in this day and age. In fact I can't remember hearing them on mainstream radio in the last 20 years. Here's 10 that I love. What do you think?

Freddy Cannon - Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy - April 1960 - US #34 - UK Didn't Chart

Johnny Preston - Cradle Of Love - April 1960 - US #7- UK Didn't Chart

Billy Bland - Let The Little Girl Dance - April 1960 - UK #15 - US #7

Sam Cook - That's It- I Quit - I'm Movin' On - May 1961 - US #31 - UK Didn't Chart

The Drifters - I Count The Tears - February 1961 - UK #28 - US #17

Eddie Cochran - Stockin's & Shoes - December 1961 - Didn't Chart in UK or USA (B side in UK)

The Dovells - Do The New Continental - March 1962 - US # 37 - UK Didn't Chart (B side)

The Orlons - Don't Hang Up - December 1962 - UK #39 - US #4

Trini Lopez - Sinner Not A Saint - 1963 - Didn't Chart in UK or USA

Jimmy Soul - If You Wanna Be Happy - April 1963 - UK #39 - US #1

Here's the thing. These are all great songs that are ignored these days. These songs are part of the reason I do the Missing In Action show. I'd hate to see these songs get forgotten,

Jimmy Ruffin R.I.P.

It has been confirmed today that Jimmy Ruffin passed away on 17 November 2014. He had been ill since being hospitalized in Las Vegas in October. He was 75.

He first joined Motown in 1961 and was drafted into the army before returning in 1964. He was almost invited to join The Temptations, but after hearing his brother David, that didn't happen.

In 1966, he heard a song that was due to go to The Spinners and convinced Motown to let him record it, and it became his biggest hit "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted". Jimmy had some follow up hits, but couldn't sustain his success, so in 1970 he started to focus on the U.K.

He had big hits in the UK throughout 1970. He also teamed up with brother David and recorded an album "I Am My Brother's Keeper".

In the 1980s, Jimmy moved to the UK where he continued to perform and in 1984 collaborated with Paul Weller on the single Soul Deep, He also worked with the likes of Heaven 17 and Maxine Nightingale, He even hosted a radio show in the UK as well.

He moved back to America and continued to work and record until he fell ill recently.

Here are some of his songs that I feel have been Missing In Action.

"I've Passed This Way Before"

"Hold On To My Love"

"I'll Say Forever My Love"

"Tell Me What You Want"

"Farewell Is A lonely Sound"

The Stylistics - 'Missing In Action?' Not from what I saw last night!

Last night, I went to see The Stylistics in concert. It’s not an unusual event for me. Just over five years ago I came into contact with lead singer Eban Brown (he took over when Russell Thompkins Jr left in 2000). 

During that time, we've become friends, and during their English tour each year, we meet up at one of their dates. This time it was in St Albans (Hertfordshire).

What became apparent again last night is how wide their appeal still is. In the audience last night were plenty of people who’d been fans right from the beginning of the early 1970s and were the age of the founding members Herb Murrell and Airrion Love. Then there were the next age group down which is mine (I'm 54 in case you didn't know – July 29 if you want to send me a card next year!). And there were people in their 40s, 30s and 20s as well.

Certainly from where I sat, everyone seemed to know their songs and were singing along. There was plenty of dancing going on as well.

It led me to wonder why, with so much support still wanting to see them, that they’re so underplayed on UK radio. And so today, I'm going to offer you my Top 5 'Missing In Action' Stylistics songs. But first, here’s a 30 second snippet from last night’s show!

1) People Make The Word Go Round

2) Break Up To Make Up

3)  Peek A Boo

4) The Miracle

and finally.... much newer than these four, but a song that always gets a good reception when I play it - Born To Step Together

All I can say is that The Stylistics are still performing fantastically well. Their songs are still loved, and I think far too many of their songs are 'Missing In Action'.