Hi Kent,
I found this on youtube and was very surprised to see the gals of Love Unlimited singing vocals to “Love’s Theme”, which is one of my all-time personal favorite instrumentals!! I don’t recall ever hearing ANY vocal version of this song! Was there an album cut or B-side with vocals that I wasn’t aware of? Does anybody know anything about this? I would greatly appreciate any info on this. Even better of course if someone has an MP3 to share. Thanks for your help!
Eddie Burke
Orange, CT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Hw6yAaeBw
Honestly, I've never heard a vocal arrangement of this song either ... (although I can't honestly say that I like it!!!) Sorry, but on THIS one, I think the instrumental version rules!!! (kk)
KK -
I have a question for you or FH regarding Neil Diamond.
I believe Solitary Man was reissued in 1970. Is that version that actually made Top 40 the same as the '66? release?
Thanks,
John
It's the same recording per se ... but enhanced with more orchestration and instrumentation.
When "Solitary Man" was first released back in 1966, it became Neil Diamond's first charting single, peaking at #55 on the Billboard Chart. Three months later, Diamond's career took off when "Cherry, Cherry" went to #6 ... and six more Top 40 Hits recorded for Bang Records followed.
Then, in 1968, Diamond signed with Uni Records. His first release for the label, "Brooklyn Roads", although one of my favorites, failed to make The Top 40. When follow-up releases "Two-Bit Manchild" and "Sunday Sun" ALSO missed The Top 40, Bang decided to start re-releasing some of their Neil Diamond back catalog, usually with some type of music enhancements and new mixes. Soon Neil was competing with himself on the charts.
Finally, in 1969, Neil scored three straight Top 20 Hits ("Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show", #13; "Sweet Caroline", #3 and "Holly Holy", #4.) Meanwhile, Bang Records was able to capitalize on Neil's new-found success and watched "Shilo", "Solitary Man", "Do It" and "I'm A Believer" all climb the charts alongside Neil's latest releases.
"Solitary Man" reached #20 in its re-released format. (It went to #2 here in Chicago!) But they are the same recording with different instrumentation. (Give a listen!) kk
Kent,
Is there a possibility that there are two versions, single or album, of the Guess Who's Star Baby? This has been driving me crazy for years as the current versions you hear on the internet just don't sound right. I remember the version that WLS played to death was noticeably faster, more energetic. But then, wasn't one of the Chicago stations accused of speeding up the songs so they could have more room for commercials?
Dave
Hoffman Estates
"Star Baby" was a HUGE hit for The Guess Who here in Chicago, where it went all the way to #3. (Nationally, it peaked at #30 in Cash Box Magazine and #39 in Billboard.) MOST of their hits did better here in Chicago ... where the band often came to record in the late '60's and early '70's.
It wouldn't surprise me to find out that there are different album and single versions of this tune ... "punched-up singles" were pretty much the norm back then. (And you're right, at various times, WLS and WCFL were BOTH accused of speeding up their records to not only squeeze a little more music in but to all sound a little more "high intensity" on the air.)
For this one, I went to our resident Guess Who Expert, Dan Hudelson. Here's what he had to say:
Hi Kent,
As long I've been mingling with the Guess Who fans online, discussing all manner of minutiae, this subject has never come up. Although I never bought the 45 (did play it and its "Musicioné flip on the jukebox in various establishments), I certainly heard the song enough times on Chicago radio (was living in Bellwood at the time), as well as on the ROAD FOOD LP, and never noticed there to be a difference of tempo or pitch that would result from speeding it up (don't actually remember if we listened to WCFL or to WLS).
I certainly would have expected this subject, were it true, to have come up during the past ten years that I've been in contact with Guess Who fans online.
Dan
I was just intro'ed to your site by a search I did (yahoo) for The Cryan Shames. You guys were very helpful, thanks.
So I was half-right, there was a band by this name, but I cant remember what song it was that I heard of theirs in the 60's. (I was living in Alabama then)
"Shame, shame, we had a good thing goin', shame, shame ..."
(kk)
Thanx!
Pttibg
We actually have TWO sets of Instrumental Charts on our website ...
The first chart is a mathematical calculation based on these records' actual performance on the national charts.
Then, we polled our readers to vote for their all-time favorite instrumental hits ... we were curious to see which ones, after all this time, still made their lists.
You can find BOTH charts here (on the other Forgotten Hits Website);
RE: THE DEADLINE DASH:
Just a few more tidbits we received this week ...
Hi Kent.
This Saturday I will be playing guitar for the Chantels and the Duprees in Jackson, New Jersey. I do not know who else is on this show, but I will give you an up-date.
Regards,
Don "Young" Albano
Please do, Don ... we've got a TON of New Jersey readers who might like to catch this show! (kk)
Then, from 10:00- 10:30, I'll be remembering Alan Freed ...We go back to the 50's for one of Alan's shows. Some great memories here!!!!!
Stuart Weiss / DJ STU
re: AND SOME SAD NEWS THIS MORNING, TOO:
I received this email from Ides Of March keyboardist Scott May earlier this week:
-- Scott May
Several readers wrote in as well ... and provided a link to an article published in our local Daily Herald newspaper:
Ray Herr played his guitar at restaurants and clubs throughout the Northwest suburbs, but his claim to fame stretched back to 1970, when he played guitar with the Ides of March in their biggest hit, “Vehicle.” The single rose to No. 2 on the national charts and broke ground for its use of a brass section in a rock band.
Herr continued to record with the Ides, including their other major hit, “L.A. Goodbye,” which reached the top of Chicago charts, but he left the band after that and never looked back.
Herr died Tuesday from esophageal cancer. The Hainesville resident was 64.
“Ray had that certain star quality that just lit up the stage,” said Jim Peterik, lead singer of the Ides of March who now lives in Burr Ridge. “When he was part of the Ides' lineup, there was never a dull moment. We had to keep up with Ray.”
Herr grew up in Arlington Heights and was among the first four-year class to graduate from St. Viator High School, in 1965. During high school, Herr played in the bands Second Story and The Orphanage at the Cellar, a popular teen venue in Arlington Heights that showcased local rock bands.
He auditioned with the Ides of March in 1969, and was part of the band's rapid rise to national fame, when “Vehicle” became the fastest-selling single in Warner Bros. Record's history.
It wound up selling more than 1 million copies, and led to an album by the same name, as well as extensive national tours. The Ides recorded their second album, “Common Bond,” and one of its singles, “LA Goodbye,” stayed on top of Chicago's charts for five weeks.
Ray Graffia, lead singer and guitarist with New Colony Six, another popular rock band in the late 1960s, remembers his band vying with the Ides of March for radio time.
“At the time, there were six of us sharing the charts, the New Colony Six, the Cryan' Shames, the Ides of March, the Buckinghams, American Breed and the Shadows of Knights,” Graffia says. “It was friendly competition.”
When Herr broke away from the Ides of March in the early 1970s, he returned to play in the Northwest suburbs. Friends say he played regular solo gigs at the Banana Boat in Rolling Meadows, P's & Q's in Palatine and Mrs. P and Me in Mount Prospect.
By the 1980s, he joined with friends in a band called the Ron Showboat Show Band, that played at the VIP Lounge in Mount Prospect.
More recently, Herr was an active member of the Sons of the American Legion, based at the American Legion Post 208 in Arlington Heights. He joined members there in a band called the “208's,” and he helped to organize an open mic night, that gave a venue to up and coming musicians to perform.
Herr often played with them, providing backup guitar and bass, and lending his star power to young performers.
“He was something of a celebrity around here,” says John Jarosz Jr. of Rolling Meadows, commander of the Sons of the American Legion. “He was a real draw.”
Herr also played at many of the American Legion events, including its summer car shows, during Frontier Days ever summer, and on Thanksgiving, when the post hosted Navy recruits from Great Lakes Naval Base.
He even served one term as commander of the Sons of the American Legion and helped further its service project, which was raising money to ship musical instruments overseas to military troops.
Herr was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Elsie. He is survived by his wife Debbie.
A memorial service will take place at 6 p.m. April 9 at American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave. in Arlington Heights.
And this, from The Ides Of March Website:
To modern Ides fans, he is best known for his grainy black and white picture on the back of the "Vehicle" album, but back in the classic days, he was front and center, sharing the spotlight with Jim. We're very sorry to report that Ides Alum RAY HERR passed away on Tuesday. March 29th.
Ray came to the band in 1968, after playing with a very popular local band, The Second Story. Ray was the rhythm guitarist (Larry at the time, played keyboards) and played bass on the brass songs, when Bob went over to sax. Ray was there for the wild days when "Vehicle" was brand new, and toured extensively with the band, until he resigned in 1970. Ray continued to play in bands, and as a solo artist, enjoying wide popularity in the Northern Suburbs. Ray also very active in the American Legion. No Funeral will be held, but a memorial service is to be conducted April 9, 6 p.m.. at American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave. in Arlington Heights.
