Today, Chuck Buell’s historical musical example of making the Most of One’s Self is brought to you by The Number 40 . . .
There’s a lot of talk these days about having more than one dedicated career in one’s lifetime.
Charles Gates Dawes, born in 1865, apparently was a believer in that philosophy during his. Imagine being a businessman, a banker, a general, a diplomat, a musician, a Vice President of the United States and a Forgotten Hits songwriter!
As a U.S. Vice President, he served with President Calvin Coolidge from 1925 to 1929. But 14 years before that in 1911, being the self-trained pianist and flautist that he was, he wrote a short classical instrumental piece he titled “Melody in A Major.”
40 years after that, in 1951, American songwriter Carl Sigman put lyrics to Dawes’ melody and called it, “It’s All in the Game.” A young R&B Singer by the name of Tommy Edwards cut the tune that year and earned a #18 Hit on Billboard's Best Sellers Chart.
Believing that the song deserved a better fate, Tommy Edwards recorded that song again in a brand new arrangement seven years later and, in 1958, this version sold a million copies and went all the way to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100, where it stayed at Number One for six weeks, including the entire month of October.
In that 40-year timeline, Dawes is credited as being the only U.S. Vice President in history to write a Top 40 Number One Forgotten Hit that has since been covered by an impressive number of other artists!
So, here beginning with Tommy Edwards’ 1958 Number One ice-breaker, are just a few of them in my “Chuck Buell All in the Game Minute-Plus Medley!”
In order, you’ll hear brief excerpts by ~~~
Cliff Richards, who’s version went to Number 25 in 1964,
The Four Tops, who’s interpretation went to Number 24 in 1970,
Elton John,
Dinah Shore,
Van Morisson,
Gene McDaniels,
Barry Manilow, and
Nat King Cole
CB ( which stands for “Collaborating-Tunes Boy!” )
Tommy's #1 Hit:
After Tommy hit pay dirt with his "All In The Game" remake, Tommy recut a couple of his other earlier hits ... to great success ...
"The Morning Side Of The Mountain" (#24 in 1951) went to #27 in its revamped form in 1959 ...
While "Please Mr. Sun" (a #22 Disc Jockey Hit in 1952) climbed to #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart in 1959. (kk)
One more closer from Chuck ...
Bob Dylan's Friend, Tom Petty, Enters Rock 'n'; Roll Heaven ~~~
