I found myself having a surf around the Internet earlier today. It isn't something I often have time to do, but having managed to record all my shows for the Christmas & New Year period, I was at a loose end. During my trawl, I found some things I'd like to share with you that I think are good reading. All of course are music related.
Lawrence Horn was a Motown engineer involved in some of their biggest hits. Here's the story how he went from top to bottom.
source: Uproxx
Novelty Hits. We love them (for about five minutes). Then we hate them (for ever). But what do the people who made such classics as Kung Fu Fighting and the Crazy Frog think of them now?
Ballad of the thirteen year old bride. Myra Lewis Williams - known as the young wife of Jerry Lee Lewis—speaks candidly about their notorious rock & roll romance.
source: Cuepoint
Barry Gibb - The last brother: Barry Gibb Looks back on the Monster hits, the long simmering feuds and the tragedy of life as a Bee Gee.
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,
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.
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'.
Alvin Stardust, the pop
singer, best known for 1970s hits such as ‘My Coo Ca Choo’ and ‘Jealous Mind’
has died aged 72 after a short illness.
Born, Bernard William
Jewry on 27 September 1942, he made is stage debut in panto aged 4.
He was the road manager
and occasional singer with Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes who submitted a
demo tape to the BBC as Shane Fenton and the Fentones.
Johnny Theakstone (Shane
Fenton) died and Jewry became the new Shane Fenton. They began to have 4 top 40
hits in the UK between October 1961 & July 1962, the biggest of which was ‘Cindy’s
Birthday’ which reached #18. He quit recording in 1964 to work in management.
However, by 1973, and with
a new name, Alvin Stardust, had a new image of black leather (including
gloves), stuck on sideburns and dyed black hair. With the changes became new
stardom, becoming successful with both singles and album success.
By 1975 however, his career
was ebbing and in 1975 he had his last Top 40 hit of the 70s, ‘Sweet Cheating
Rita’ which only peaked at #37
In 1981, he had something of
a revival when he joined Stiff Records and covered Nat’ 'King’ Cole’s ‘Pretend',
getting to #4. Another chart run ensued until 1985 when his last song to enter
the UK chart, ‘Got A Little Heartache’ only reached #55.
His career wasn’t over
though as he appeared in many concerts and ‘oldies’ reunion tours. I remember
seeing him at Birmingham’s NEC in the mid-1990s, by which time he seemed to be
having fun singing his greatest hits and taking the mickey out of his Alvin
Stardust persona.
He was recently diagnosed
with metastatic prostate cancer and died at home in West Sussex with his wife
and family around him.
Pretty much all of the Shane Fenton and Alvin Stardust catalogue would now be classed in 'Missing In Action' and I'll look to get some of his music in the show in the near future.
Alvin Stardust R.I.P
While you're here - don't forget to become an 'Insider' and find out more about what's happening in the show. You'll also be able to get any special shows that won't be available anywhere else, and be eligible for any special offers that might come our way!
It’s funny how artists and their songs may be ‘Missing In
Action’ in one country, and yet in another country, they can be heard on
mainstream radio on a regular basis. In fact, it can be the case in counties (states,
if you’re in America for example). You can also say that there are many artists
who haven’t crossed over the Atlantic and made too big an impact either.
Since I started doing ‘Missing In Action’ and have developed
an American listenership, I've noticed this even more.
When it comes to putting my shows together, I’ll get
requests from listeners in America for songs that I don’t think I’ve ever heard
on radio in England and I know that songs that charted here have been totally
unknown there.
To me, this is the great thing about music. I do what’s
primarily an oldies show, and yet week after week, I come across oldies that
are totally ‘new to me’.
Here are 10 videos of songs that may be well known in
America, but I don’t think would be known to the majority people in the UK
Roger Voudouris - Get Used To It (US #21 – 1979)
Ali Thomson - Take A Little Rhythm (US #15 – 1980)
Beau Brummels – Laugh Laugh (US #15 – 1965)
Stampeders - Sweet City Woman (US #8 – 1971)
Jim Photoglo - Fool In Love With You (US #25 – 1981)
Johnny Rivers – Secret Agent Man (US #3 – 1966)
Ian Matthews – Shake It (US #13 – 1979)
Mouth & McNeal – How Do You Do (US #8 – 1972)
Gary Lewis & The Playboys – Green Grass (US #8 – 1965)
For me, the thing is that I really like these songs, and am enjoying finding all these American hits that had evaded me for so many years. And it's great to be sharing them with people who would agree that they really are 'Missing In Action'!
While you're here -
don't forget to become an
'Insider' and
find out more about what's happening in the show. You'll also be
able to get any special shows that won't be available anywhere else,
and be eligible for any special offers that might come our way!
