Betty
It's a GREAT track, Betty ... for some reason, this one always kinda reminded me of The Eagles! Nigel's got an AMAZING voice (honestly, more to my liking that Elton's!!! lol) I've always felt that he should have pursued his solo singing career. Dancin' Shoes hit #17 on the Cash Box Chart in early 1979. A follow-up remake of A Little Bit Of Soap topped out at #33. But another one of my favorites by him is the VERY hard to find Only One Woman, which peaked at #91 back in 1975, and was written by The Bee Gees (although I've never found it on a Bee Gees album!) I LOVE this song ... yet it totally bombed. (We used to hear it quite often on the old soft-rock WBBM-FM here in Chicago ... and that's my old scratchy single you hear on the website today.)
Yep ... it's a Nigel Olsson Two-Fer today in Forgotten Hits!!! (Now where else are you EVER gonna find that?!?!?)
Dancin' Shoes
Only One Woman
'60's FLASHBACK:
Here's a short piece we did on Nigel Olsson (and "Dancin' Shoes") a few years back in Forgotten Hits:
Back in the mid-'70's, when some of the biggest names in the recording business were starting to take three to four or even five years to record a single album, Elton John was often releasing up to three albums per year!!!It was pure saturation ... to the point that I actually got tired of him there for a while. (Of course, in hindsight, what OTHER artist can you name that has hit the charts as consistently for the past 35 years.) However, it certainly came as a pleasant surprise when, in 1975, Elton's drummer, Nigel Olsson, released a solo single on Elton's Rocket Records label. Who knew that this guy could sing like that?!?! With a very high, but instantly likable voice, Olsson first captured my attention with the song Only One Woman, written by The Brothers Gibb, which, for a short time anyway, was all over the soft-rock station here in Chicago. (I don't believe that The Bee Gees ever recorded this song themselves, and that's a shame ... it's a beautiful track and I would LOVE to hear their interpretation of it!)That record stiffed (it hit #91 in Billboard ... and took six weeks to climb that high!) and everyone figured that ol' Nigel had gotten the solo star bug out of his system. He was then fired by Elton John (along with longtime Elton John Band bassist Dee Murray) immediately after the release of their #1 Album Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, and decided to give the solo scene another shot.
In early 1979, Nigel climbed the pop charts to #17 with a nice little number called Dancin' Shoes ... a tune that, despite its title (at the height of the Disco Movement) was actually more reminiscent of some of The Eagles' best soft-rock work. A remake of the '60's classic A Little Bit Of Soap went to #33 later that year but that spelled the end of Nigel's solo chart success. In fact, by the early '80's, he had rejoined Elton John's back-up band, handling background vocals as before. (However, by 1984, he was gone again ... after releasing the album Breaking Hearts with original EJ band members Dee Murray and Davey Johnstone!)
DIDJAKNOW? 1: Both Dancin' Shoes and A Little Bit Of Soap were produced by '70's soft-rock artist Paul Davis ... who's OWN version of A Little Bit Of Soap stopped at #52 back in 1970.
DIDJAKNOW? 2: Before joining Elton John's band in the late '60's, Nigel Olsson spent some time as the drummer of The Spencer Davis Group. He can also include some work with hard rockers Uriah Heep on his resume and, in between his tenure with Elton (1975-1981), he drummed for The Tremblers, a "new wave" band fronted by '60's pop star (and Forgotten Hits member) Peter Noone!
A COUPLE OF YOUR ORIGINAL COMMENTS:
Thanks for giving this song a name and an artist. It was only a memory until now.
Hil
.....geez.......i thought this WAS the eagles!...........Rettaric
***
FRIDAY RADIO NEWS:
Just a couple of quick reminders:
Big Jay Sorensen will be Sam Lit's guest on today's live Hy Lit Radio Broadcast from The Quality Hotel, Philadelphia International Airport, 45 Industrial Highway, Essington, PA. Exit 9 of Interstate 95. Sam Lit's Friday Night Dance Party happens EVERY Friday at this location ... check out his website for more details at www.hylitradio.com. (Big Jay is a 39-year radio veteran having worked in Philadelphia, New York & New Jersey, beginning his broadcast career in New Jersey at stations like WOBM-FM, WHLW-AM, WJRZ FM, and WCTC AM. Then on to WPST FM, 66 WNBC, WWDB 96.5, WPHT 1210, NJ 101.5. Jay currently works at WCBS-FM ... and you'll catch his comments on a somewhat regular basis right here in Forgotten Hits, too!!!) You can "Listen Live" here:
Also ... a reminder that Stu Weiss (aka DJ Stu) will be saluting Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens on HIS program tonight on his Pop Shoppe Radio Program over at Top Shelf Oldies: You'll find a "Listen Live" link here: www.topshelfoldies.com
Here's his program itinerary for this evening:
It is hard to believe that Feb 3rd marked 50 years since the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, J.P Richardson (The Big Bopper) and pilot Roger Peterson.
After the radio announcements were made about the crash, the town of Clear Lake, Iowa has since been etched in our memories (the last place the boys sang).
Years later Don McLean wrote and sang "American Pie" which was the story of the day the music died. If you know the history of our music, you'll know that the music didn't die but our hearts were broken as we lost three recording artists that had so much more to offer. We will never know the heights of achievement they could have reached.
This Friday evening don't forget to tune into my show.
From 7 till 9 PM you'll be hearing a mixture of memories from the 50's and 60's.
At 9 till 1 AM I will present to you my very own presentation of "The Day The Music Died".
Tuesday night topshelf Dee jay Jim Sinner spent 4 hours on this subject. Let's take our hats off to Jim for a job well done.
So get ready for an evening you won't soon forget.
And a special thanks to my listener and friend Ricky who has helped me with some of the music I'll be playing on this tribute.
At 1 AM I return to the music of the 50's and 60's.
Please note, our regular country segment is being replaced by some of Buddy's early country songs with Bob Montgomery.
Remember you must be there because I don't want to be alone.
If you are new to topshelf, please note that the best way to hear the program is by downloading winamp (www.winamp.com). After that, click on the little "t" on the top left. Then click on play and go to url. In that box type in the topshelf address which is www.topshelfoldies.com:8005
Next, if you click on open it should bring up the music.
My address is djstu43@verizon.net ... use that address to contact me during my show if you aren't in our chat room.
So let's have a party this and every Friday night. It all happens at www.topshelfoldies.com
See you there!
Stu Weiss (DJSTU)
After the radio announcements were made about the crash, the town of Clear Lake, Iowa has since been etched in our memories (the last place the boys sang).
Years later Don McLean wrote and sang "American Pie" which was the story of the day the music died. If you know the history of our music, you'll know that the music didn't die but our hearts were broken as we lost three recording artists that had so much more to offer. We will never know the heights of achievement they could have reached.
This Friday evening don't forget to tune into my show.
From 7 till 9 PM you'll be hearing a mixture of memories from the 50's and 60's.
At 9 till 1 AM I will present to you my very own presentation of "The Day The Music Died".
Tuesday night topshelf Dee jay Jim Sinner spent 4 hours on this subject. Let's take our hats off to Jim for a job well done.
So get ready for an evening you won't soon forget.
And a special thanks to my listener and friend Ricky who has helped me with some of the music I'll be playing on this tribute.
At 1 AM I return to the music of the 50's and 60's.
Please note, our regular country segment is being replaced by some of Buddy's early country songs with Bob Montgomery.
Remember you must be there because I don't want to be alone.
If you are new to topshelf, please note that the best way to hear the program is by downloading winamp (www.winamp.com). After that, click on the little "t" on the top left. Then click on play and go to url. In that box type in the topshelf address which is www.topshelfoldies.com:8005
Next, if you click on open it should bring up the music.
My address is djstu43@verizon.net ... use that address to contact me during my show if you aren't in our chat room.
So let's have a party this and every Friday night. It all happens at www.topshelfoldies.com
See you there!
Stu Weiss (DJSTU)
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