Our recent comment about generally liking the FIRST version we ever hear of any given song ... regardless of how many OTHER versions may, in fact, exist ... has already inspired a couple of comments from our readers ... here's another one!!!
We tend to favor the versions of songs that we grew up listening to. That's certainly true for me except for one exception. As I learned the true origins of some 60s rock classics, I have since discovered the original blues versions of songs, and I tend to like the simplicity of them. One original worth checking out is Jimmy Webb's version of MacArthur Park. I've only heard it once and found it far better than Richard Harris' over produced take. Forget Donna Summer's cover.
Jack
Incredibly for me it was the exact opposite. I never could STAND Richard Harris' over-the-top, over-produced version of this so-called classic (nor will I EVER understand the whole "someone left the cake out in the rain" attraction) ... but, although it goes COMPLETELY against my character, I absolutely LOVED the Donna Summer remake. To MY ears, she completely reinvented the song. (Maybe what I like MOST about it is that it's about as different an interpretation as could possibly be imagined ... kudos to whoever came up with the concept!) As for Jimmy Webb's original version, I'd never heard it before so I couldn't honestly comment ... but we DID find a copy at Amazon.com, so let's leave it to the listeners to decide!!!
We've debated the "cultural value" of "MacArthur Park" many times now in these pages over the past several years ... today we're just going to let the music speak for itself. Suffice to say, the line on this one seems to be pretty well-drawn ... either you LIKE it ... or you HATE it ... there doesn't seem to be ANY middle-ground when it comes to your affection (or lack thereof) for "MacArthur Park"!!!
In keeping with our trend these past few days, we've got another "Triple Play" here for you again today ...
First up, the Jimmy Webb original ... followed up by the #2 Richard Harris Symphonic Version from 1968 ... and then we'll dim all the lights, sweet darlin', and put on the 1978 Donna Summer chart-topping take. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Letter
Yesterday's comment about generally liking the FIRST version we ever hear of any given song ... regardless of how many OTHER versions may, in fact, exist ... has already inspired a couple of your comments ... we'll look at two of these today in Forgotten Hits.
I must say, the Rose Colored Glass version, to me, is the single worst version of the song ever created. It is just horrible. Chart position means absolutely nothing. It just means the record company threw more money behind it. I know of thousands of absolutely killer tunes that didn't get anywhere NEAR the hot 100 charts ... it doesn't make them bad records for not charting!
The Opheus version is the best, and Hootie's is pretty good but not great, to me. I wouldn't lose any sleep if the original session master for the Rose Colored Glass version got destroyed in a flood or a fire ...
Tom Diehl
And the more I listened to all three versions yesterday, the more I liked the Rose Colored Glass version!!! Just goes to show you why music has such universal appeal ... it speaks to all of us differently ... yet still unites us all the same! (kk)
Kent -
Thank you for the thinking person’s notes on Can’t Find the Time. I grew up in New England and surely my first exposure to the song was the Orpheus version. And yes, following versions always seemed to pale to me having been imprinted at an early age by the Orpheus ballad. By the way, Orpheus’s earlier song, Brown Arms in Houston, is also lovely.
But let me offer up another song where all three interpretations appeal to me. And that is: The Letter. It was the Box Tops' inaugural hit in mid-1967. It was followed by the Ann Arbor-based Arbors slower tempo, lush sounds version that was released a year and a half later. And then, of course, the iconic Joe Cocker came out a year after that with his indelible rockin’ version. Three very different interpretations of the same song and I like / appreciate them all. By the way, when was the last time you heard the Arbors on the radio? -jsl
Amazingly, I never liked The Box Tops' version of "The Letter" ... it topped the charts here in Chicago for six consecutive weeks back in 1967, so clearly I was in the minority on this one!!! lol Ironically, I liked ALL of their other hits right out of the box (top) ... but my opinion on this one has never changed. It also seemed to be played more than any other song on the radio at the time ... part of that may simply have been the pure stature of its hit status ... but I also believe that because the song clocked in at under two minutes, it was an easy one to sneak it virtually ANYWHERE if there was an on-air gap to fill. (I can't tell you how many times I heard this song lead into the newscast back in 1967.) It's STILL one of the most-overplayed oldies on the radio and, as I said, my affection for it hasn't grown any stronger. As such, I was COMPLETELY blown away by The Arbors' version, a song we've featured a few times here in Forgotten Hits (and we played it during our last appearance on Jim Shea's Radio Show, too!) It's an absolutely AMAZING vocal arrangement that completely reinvented the song ... and, when Joe Cocker did his rocked-up, soulful live version the following year, it was yet another complete reimagination of what was (by then) a classic tune. Great example, John ... three DISTINCTLY different interpretations of a song that couldn't be any more unique.
And, just like we did yesterday with "Can't Find The Time" ... the song that inspired these comments ... we'll feature all three of these versions of "The Letter" here today ... again, an EXCELLENT example of how many different ways an artist can interpret any given song ... or should I say any GOOD song ... proving that "The Letter" has the depth ... and the legs ... to pull this off successfully THREE times!!!
DIDJAKNOW?: "The Letter" was written by Wayne Carson Thompson, who also played guitar on The Box Tops' recording session. He didn't particularly care for the finished version, stating that the record was too short and complaining to producer Dan Penn that "The boy don't sing high enough." When Penn added the airplane sound to the recording, Wayne Carson Thompson clearly thought that Penn had lost his mind. He hadn't ... several weeks later it became one of the biggest records of the '60's ... and The Box Tops went on to record ... and have hits with ... a few other Thompson compositions, including their follow-up release, "Neon Rainbow" (#24, 1967), "Soul Deep" (a #13 Hit in 1969) and "You Keep Tightening Up On Me" (their last chart hit, which peaked at #74 in 1970). Thompson didn't do too badly either ... a few years later, he won a Grammy for cowriting the Elvis Presley / Willie Nelson Hit "Always On My Mind".
I must say, the Rose Colored Glass version, to me, is the single worst version of the song ever created. It is just horrible. Chart position means absolutely nothing. It just means the record company threw more money behind it. I know of thousands of absolutely killer tunes that didn't get anywhere NEAR the hot 100 charts ... it doesn't make them bad records for not charting!
The Opheus version is the best, and Hootie's is pretty good but not great, to me. I wouldn't lose any sleep if the original session master for the Rose Colored Glass version got destroyed in a flood or a fire ...
Tom Diehl
And the more I listened to all three versions yesterday, the more I liked the Rose Colored Glass version!!! Just goes to show you why music has such universal appeal ... it speaks to all of us differently ... yet still unites us all the same! (kk)
Kent -
Thank you for the thinking person’s notes on Can’t Find the Time. I grew up in New England and surely my first exposure to the song was the Orpheus version. And yes, following versions always seemed to pale to me having been imprinted at an early age by the Orpheus ballad. By the way, Orpheus’s earlier song, Brown Arms in Houston, is also lovely.
But let me offer up another song where all three interpretations appeal to me. And that is: The Letter. It was the Box Tops' inaugural hit in mid-1967. It was followed by the Ann Arbor-based Arbors slower tempo, lush sounds version that was released a year and a half later. And then, of course, the iconic Joe Cocker came out a year after that with his indelible rockin’ version. Three very different interpretations of the same song and I like / appreciate them all. By the way, when was the last time you heard the Arbors on the radio? -jsl
Amazingly, I never liked The Box Tops' version of "The Letter" ... it topped the charts here in Chicago for six consecutive weeks back in 1967, so clearly I was in the minority on this one!!! lol Ironically, I liked ALL of their other hits right out of the box (top) ... but my opinion on this one has never changed. It also seemed to be played more than any other song on the radio at the time ... part of that may simply have been the pure stature of its hit status ... but I also believe that because the song clocked in at under two minutes, it was an easy one to sneak it virtually ANYWHERE if there was an on-air gap to fill. (I can't tell you how many times I heard this song lead into the newscast back in 1967.) It's STILL one of the most-overplayed oldies on the radio and, as I said, my affection for it hasn't grown any stronger. As such, I was COMPLETELY blown away by The Arbors' version, a song we've featured a few times here in Forgotten Hits (and we played it during our last appearance on Jim Shea's Radio Show, too!) It's an absolutely AMAZING vocal arrangement that completely reinvented the song ... and, when Joe Cocker did his rocked-up, soulful live version the following year, it was yet another complete reimagination of what was (by then) a classic tune. Great example, John ... three DISTINCTLY different interpretations of a song that couldn't be any more unique.
And, just like we did yesterday with "Can't Find The Time" ... the song that inspired these comments ... we'll feature all three of these versions of "The Letter" here today ... again, an EXCELLENT example of how many different ways an artist can interpret any given song ... or should I say any GOOD song ... proving that "The Letter" has the depth ... and the legs ... to pull this off successfully THREE times!!!
DIDJAKNOW?: "The Letter" was written by Wayne Carson Thompson, who also played guitar on The Box Tops' recording session. He didn't particularly care for the finished version, stating that the record was too short and complaining to producer Dan Penn that "The boy don't sing high enough." When Penn added the airplane sound to the recording, Wayne Carson Thompson clearly thought that Penn had lost his mind. He hadn't ... several weeks later it became one of the biggest records of the '60's ... and The Box Tops went on to record ... and have hits with ... a few other Thompson compositions, including their follow-up release, "Neon Rainbow" (#24, 1967), "Soul Deep" (a #13 Hit in 1969) and "You Keep Tightening Up On Me" (their last chart hit, which peaked at #74 in 1970). Thompson didn't do too badly either ... a few years later, he won a Grammy for cowriting the Elvis Presley / Willie Nelson Hit "Always On My Mind".
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Can't Find The Time
We've covered this topic before ... typically, we all end up liking the version of any given song that we heard first ... regardless of whether or not it was the first version, remake or whatever ... as far as we're concerned, THAT'S the way it's SUPPOSED to sound in our minds ... and it's pretty rare that anybody improves upon that first inspired moment.
Now don't get me wrong ... it DOES happen from time to time ... but honestly, looking back over the past fifty five years of rock and roll, it doesn't happen all that often. (I'll never forget John Lennon's quote during the post-Beatles days when he commented, "Nobody's ever improved on 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On' for my money" ... and then proceeded to record an entire album's worth of rock and roll remakes himself ... not really improving on any of HIS favorites either!!! lol)
Well, today I think we've found the ULTIMATE "Exception To The Rule" ... and it's a song that has proven to be a Forgotten Hits Favorite ... despite the fact that it was never really a bonafide hit for ANYBODY!!! (Regardless, I believe that once you give these a listen, you'll agree that EACH subsequent release improved upon the version that preceded it ... and that it absolutely SHOULD have been a hit for SOMEBODY!!!)
Back in 1968, Boston's Orpheus first released their version of "Can't Find The Time" ... but it was barely noticed, peaking at #88 in Cash Box Magazine and "Bubbling Under" at #111 in Billboard.
A year and a half later, MGM gave it another shot ... and this time it climbed to #72 in Cash Box and hit #80 in Billboard ... still not a very impressive chart run.
But it was a good song ... so, in 1971, Rose Colored Glass picked up the tempo a little bit and came up with a #53 Hit in the process. THIS is the one that I first fell in love with here in Chicago, where it peaked at #15 ... that slight increase in tempo made ALL the difference in the world to THESE ears ... yet the song STILL couldn't crack The Top 40 nationally.
Although you would hear both of these versions on rare occassions, the song pretty much went forgotten. When we first featured it in Forgotten Hits back in 2001, the reaction was overwhelming ... you guys LOVED hearing it again (or discovering it for the very first time) ... and, despite a seemingly genuine affection for the Orpheus version from our readers in the Boston area (who remembered quite vividly hearing it on the radio in their neck of the woods way back when), the REST of you pretty much preferred the Rose Colored Glass version hands down.
In 2000, Hootie and the Blowfish recorded THEIR much-improved version for the soundtrack to the Jim Carrey film "Me, Myself And Irene". Truth be told, it was one of the FEW highlights to this film ... and by NOT releasing it as a single, I feel that Hootie and the Blowfish missed out on yet another sure-fire Top 20 Hit at the peak of their career. (Their track "I Go Blind" from the "Friends" TV Soundtrack got played like a single but was never released as one ... I feel certain that it, too, would have been a Top Ten Smash had it been marketed this way. Instead, it pretty much single-handedly pushed the "Friends" Television Soundtrack album to platinum status ... of course the title tune, "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts didn't hurt either!!!) And I believe that their killer version of the old Bill Withers' tune "Use Me" also manages to surpass the original ... but this, too, was never released as anything more than a CD Single "Bonus Track".
Today, we've got all THREE versions of "Can't Find The Time" to share with you. Listen to them in the order in which they were released ... and see if you don't agree that you CAN improve upon a good thing ... every once in a while!!!
FOR THE RECORD: Despite what I said earlier, I really DO like John Lennon's versions of "Stand By Me" and "Just Because" from his "Rock And Roll" LP ... but I don't think EITHER one of these truly surpasses the original recordings by Ben E. King and Lloyd Price!
AND, SPEAKING OF DISCOVERING NEW FAVORITES: It's always fun when we hear from readers who are discovering some of this great music through our newsletter ... but it is ESPECIALLY fulfilling when I get to see the reaction on Frannie's face when SHE hears some of these tunes for the very first time. Since moving here in 2000, she's been deeply indoctrinated to the Chicagoland music scene through songs like "It Could Be We're In Love" and "Upon The Roof" by The Cryan' Shames, "I Will Always Think About You" and "You're Gonna Be Mine" by The New Colony Six and "L.A. Goodbye" by The Ides Of March, songs that were pretty much ignored by Texas radio when she was growing up. When we first featured the Orpheus and Rose Colored Glass versions of these songs several years ago, she was also hearing these for the very first time ... apparently NEITHER of these versions ever got airplay down in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Her VERY positive reaction was immediate ... and they've been amongst her all-time favorites ever since ... overshadowed only by the Hootie remake from 2000!!! (Honey, I think you're gonna LOVE today's Forgotten Hits Feature ... 'cause you get all three!!!)
Now don't get me wrong ... it DOES happen from time to time ... but honestly, looking back over the past fifty five years of rock and roll, it doesn't happen all that often. (I'll never forget John Lennon's quote during the post-Beatles days when he commented, "Nobody's ever improved on 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On' for my money" ... and then proceeded to record an entire album's worth of rock and roll remakes himself ... not really improving on any of HIS favorites either!!! lol)
Well, today I think we've found the ULTIMATE "Exception To The Rule" ... and it's a song that has proven to be a Forgotten Hits Favorite ... despite the fact that it was never really a bonafide hit for ANYBODY!!! (Regardless, I believe that once you give these a listen, you'll agree that EACH subsequent release improved upon the version that preceded it ... and that it absolutely SHOULD have been a hit for SOMEBODY!!!)
Back in 1968, Boston's Orpheus first released their version of "Can't Find The Time" ... but it was barely noticed, peaking at #88 in Cash Box Magazine and "Bubbling Under" at #111 in Billboard.
A year and a half later, MGM gave it another shot ... and this time it climbed to #72 in Cash Box and hit #80 in Billboard ... still not a very impressive chart run.
But it was a good song ... so, in 1971, Rose Colored Glass picked up the tempo a little bit and came up with a #53 Hit in the process. THIS is the one that I first fell in love with here in Chicago, where it peaked at #15 ... that slight increase in tempo made ALL the difference in the world to THESE ears ... yet the song STILL couldn't crack The Top 40 nationally.
Although you would hear both of these versions on rare occassions, the song pretty much went forgotten. When we first featured it in Forgotten Hits back in 2001, the reaction was overwhelming ... you guys LOVED hearing it again (or discovering it for the very first time) ... and, despite a seemingly genuine affection for the Orpheus version from our readers in the Boston area (who remembered quite vividly hearing it on the radio in their neck of the woods way back when), the REST of you pretty much preferred the Rose Colored Glass version hands down.
In 2000, Hootie and the Blowfish recorded THEIR much-improved version for the soundtrack to the Jim Carrey film "Me, Myself And Irene". Truth be told, it was one of the FEW highlights to this film ... and by NOT releasing it as a single, I feel that Hootie and the Blowfish missed out on yet another sure-fire Top 20 Hit at the peak of their career. (Their track "I Go Blind" from the "Friends" TV Soundtrack got played like a single but was never released as one ... I feel certain that it, too, would have been a Top Ten Smash had it been marketed this way. Instead, it pretty much single-handedly pushed the "Friends" Television Soundtrack album to platinum status ... of course the title tune, "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts didn't hurt either!!!) And I believe that their killer version of the old Bill Withers' tune "Use Me" also manages to surpass the original ... but this, too, was never released as anything more than a CD Single "Bonus Track".
Today, we've got all THREE versions of "Can't Find The Time" to share with you. Listen to them in the order in which they were released ... and see if you don't agree that you CAN improve upon a good thing ... every once in a while!!!
FOR THE RECORD: Despite what I said earlier, I really DO like John Lennon's versions of "Stand By Me" and "Just Because" from his "Rock And Roll" LP ... but I don't think EITHER one of these truly surpasses the original recordings by Ben E. King and Lloyd Price!
AND, SPEAKING OF DISCOVERING NEW FAVORITES: It's always fun when we hear from readers who are discovering some of this great music through our newsletter ... but it is ESPECIALLY fulfilling when I get to see the reaction on Frannie's face when SHE hears some of these tunes for the very first time. Since moving here in 2000, she's been deeply indoctrinated to the Chicagoland music scene through songs like "It Could Be We're In Love" and "Upon The Roof" by The Cryan' Shames, "I Will Always Think About You" and "You're Gonna Be Mine" by The New Colony Six and "L.A. Goodbye" by The Ides Of March, songs that were pretty much ignored by Texas radio when she was growing up. When we first featured the Orpheus and Rose Colored Glass versions of these songs several years ago, she was also hearing these for the very first time ... apparently NEITHER of these versions ever got airplay down in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Her VERY positive reaction was immediate ... and they've been amongst her all-time favorites ever since ... overshadowed only by the Hootie remake from 2000!!! (Honey, I think you're gonna LOVE today's Forgotten Hits Feature ... 'cause you get all three!!!)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Hey Lawdy Mama ... And Another Forgotten Hits Exclusive!
Early hard-rockers Steppenwolf hit The National Top 40 nine times between 1968 and 1974. They seem to be represented daily on both oldies radio and the classic rock stations by their first two hits, "Born To Be Wild" (one of the most OVER-played songs on the radio today ... not to mention its complete saturation in movies and television ad campaigns) and "Magic Carpet Ride", both of which became #2 national hits in 1968. Most of their OTHER Top 40 Hits, however, have been ignored by radio for YEARS.
You'll hear "Rock Me" every great once in a while on the really good stations ... it became their third straight Top Ten Hit when it peaked at #8 in 1969. But other tunes like It's Never Too Late (#35, 1969); Move Over (#16, 1969); Monster (#23, 1970); Ride With Me (#31, 1971); Straight Shootin' Woman (#20 1974) and today's featured Forgotten Hit, Hey Lawdy Mama (#21, 1970) can't seem to find their way back to radio at all anymore. (Ironically, after "Sookie, Sookie" scored so well on our Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides Poll, we started to hear THAT one every once in a while again ... and that was a B-SIDE ... it seems that even an album track like "The Pusher" gets played more often today than some of these bonafide hit singles!)
Today, we're here to remind you of "Hey Lawdy Mama", a song that JUST missed The Top 20 back in 1970 ... certainly THIS one deserves a spin every now and then!!!
YET ANOTHER FORGOTTEN HITS EXCLUSIVE!!!
About a week or two ago, we featured the John Kay solo record "Easy Evil" in one of our Comments Pages.
Kay, of course, was the lead vocalist for Steppenwolf, who hit The National Pop Top 40 nine times between 1968 and 1974 ... and I used to LOVE hearing his "new" sound with the soulful groove of his latest solo record.
Incredibly, the song flopped, climbing only to #92 in Cash Box and failing to make Billboard's Top 100 at all. I've always felt that it certainly deserved a better fate than that!
During our recent feature of this tune, it came to our attention that "Easy Evil" was written by Forgotten Hits List Member Alan O'Day ... something I had never known before! I asked Alan if he would please share a few memories with our readers about this song, always one of my early '70's favorites. I couldn't help but wonder what the inspiration was for this one. And how did this song get into the hands of John Kay? (I mean, let's face it ... Alan O'Day music and Steppenwolf music aren't often mentioned in the same breath outside the pages of Forgotten Hits!!! lol) Was this one of his earliest breaks as a songwriter? And, was there, perhaps, an Alan O'Day version of this song that we could share with our readers? Quite honestly, ANY background information that Alan was willing to share would be appreciated. And he just came through in spades!!!
Not only do we have a brief history of the song to share with you today, but we have the EXTREMELY rare Alan O'Day DEMO of this song as originally recorded back in 1970! Here's the scoop ... in Alan's own words ...
Kent,
I'm pleased about the interest in "Easy Evil", which garnered around 50 different releases, circa 1970-1973.
I wrote the song loosely based on a hot relationship I was having with a rather experienced & creative young lady, who pretty much played me like a violin!
I played & sang the demo in my apartment bedroom "studio" (Sony reel-to-reel 4 track, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Rhythm Ace Drum Machine, Shure SM57(?) mic, etc.). I added "reverse reverb" to the drum machine by recording the pattern with my mic across the room, then turning the reel of tape over in the machine & playing it backwards while tracking the other instruments & vocals.
Among those recording the song were Dusty Springfield, Sarah Vaughn, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Captain & Tennile, Tony Orlando & Dawn, & yes, John Kay (of Steppenwolf). I was told that Elvis Presley had done a demo on the tune shortly before his demise, but I have no way of verifying that. (For the record, Artie Wayne, then a professional manager at Viva Music, was responsible for getting 6 or 7 of the covers on Easy Evil, including John Kay and Tony Orlando and Dawn.)
BTW, the song's success lasted longer than the relationship!
My best to all your readers.
Chordially,
Alan
EXCELLENT!!! Thanks SO much, Alan ... now sit back and enjoy this "evil" little tune!!!
You'll hear "Rock Me" every great once in a while on the really good stations ... it became their third straight Top Ten Hit when it peaked at #8 in 1969. But other tunes like It's Never Too Late (#35, 1969); Move Over (#16, 1969); Monster (#23, 1970); Ride With Me (#31, 1971); Straight Shootin' Woman (#20 1974) and today's featured Forgotten Hit, Hey Lawdy Mama (#21, 1970) can't seem to find their way back to radio at all anymore. (Ironically, after "Sookie, Sookie" scored so well on our Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides Poll, we started to hear THAT one every once in a while again ... and that was a B-SIDE ... it seems that even an album track like "The Pusher" gets played more often today than some of these bonafide hit singles!)
Today, we're here to remind you of "Hey Lawdy Mama", a song that JUST missed The Top 20 back in 1970 ... certainly THIS one deserves a spin every now and then!!!
YET ANOTHER FORGOTTEN HITS EXCLUSIVE!!!
About a week or two ago, we featured the John Kay solo record "Easy Evil" in one of our Comments Pages.
Kay, of course, was the lead vocalist for Steppenwolf, who hit The National Pop Top 40 nine times between 1968 and 1974 ... and I used to LOVE hearing his "new" sound with the soulful groove of his latest solo record.
Incredibly, the song flopped, climbing only to #92 in Cash Box and failing to make Billboard's Top 100 at all. I've always felt that it certainly deserved a better fate than that!
During our recent feature of this tune, it came to our attention that "Easy Evil" was written by Forgotten Hits List Member Alan O'Day ... something I had never known before! I asked Alan if he would please share a few memories with our readers about this song, always one of my early '70's favorites. I couldn't help but wonder what the inspiration was for this one. And how did this song get into the hands of John Kay? (I mean, let's face it ... Alan O'Day music and Steppenwolf music aren't often mentioned in the same breath outside the pages of Forgotten Hits!!! lol) Was this one of his earliest breaks as a songwriter? And, was there, perhaps, an Alan O'Day version of this song that we could share with our readers? Quite honestly, ANY background information that Alan was willing to share would be appreciated. And he just came through in spades!!!
Not only do we have a brief history of the song to share with you today, but we have the EXTREMELY rare Alan O'Day DEMO of this song as originally recorded back in 1970! Here's the scoop ... in Alan's own words ...
Kent,
I'm pleased about the interest in "Easy Evil", which garnered around 50 different releases, circa 1970-1973.
I wrote the song loosely based on a hot relationship I was having with a rather experienced & creative young lady, who pretty much played me like a violin!
I played & sang the demo in my apartment bedroom "studio" (Sony reel-to-reel 4 track, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Rhythm Ace Drum Machine, Shure SM57(?) mic, etc.). I added "reverse reverb" to the drum machine by recording the pattern with my mic across the room, then turning the reel of tape over in the machine & playing it backwards while tracking the other instruments & vocals.
Among those recording the song were Dusty Springfield, Sarah Vaughn, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Captain & Tennile, Tony Orlando & Dawn, & yes, John Kay (of Steppenwolf). I was told that Elvis Presley had done a demo on the tune shortly before his demise, but I have no way of verifying that. (For the record, Artie Wayne, then a professional manager at Viva Music, was responsible for getting 6 or 7 of the covers on Easy Evil, including John Kay and Tony Orlando and Dawn.)
BTW, the song's success lasted longer than the relationship!
My best to all your readers.
Chordially,
Alan
EXCELLENT!!! Thanks SO much, Alan ... now sit back and enjoy this "evil" little tune!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Jesus Is A Soul Man
As I look over the list of some of the Forgotten Hits we've featured over the past ten years ... and think about some of the ones that got an especially good reaction ... I cannot ignore THIS one ... a #28 Pop Hit from 1969 that probably hasn't been played on the radio since.
"Jesus Is A Soul Man" by Lawrence Reynolds was another one of those VERY unlikely pop hits ... with a real Southern / Gospel feel to it, it most likely clicked because (once again) it didn't sound like ANYTHING else on the radio at the time. (All I know is that to this day, some 40 years later, I STILL get this one stuck in my head ALL of the time ... despite literally NEVER hearing it played anywhere since!)
I remember covering this song back in 2000 and being unable to turn up ANY
information on this guy ... and, quite honestly, the Internet isn't any kinder nine years later!!! But it's a GREAT little track and I wanted to see if I could jar a few of YOUR memories, too, this morning!
Give a listen to "Jesus Is A Soul Man" and see what YOU think!!! (Chances are you'll STILL be singing it DAYS from now!!!)
BTW: Johnny Rivers also cut a version of this song and included it on the B-Side of his "Into The Mystic" single in 1970. Incredibly, when we ran this song nine years ago, more folks on the list seemed familiar with the Johnny Rivers version than the HIT version by Lawrence Reynolds!
"Jesus Is A Soul Man" by Lawrence Reynolds was another one of those VERY unlikely pop hits ... with a real Southern / Gospel feel to it, it most likely clicked because (once again) it didn't sound like ANYTHING else on the radio at the time. (All I know is that to this day, some 40 years later, I STILL get this one stuck in my head ALL of the time ... despite literally NEVER hearing it played anywhere since!)
I remember covering this song back in 2000 and being unable to turn up ANY
information on this guy ... and, quite honestly, the Internet isn't any kinder nine years later!!! But it's a GREAT little track and I wanted to see if I could jar a few of YOUR memories, too, this morning!
Give a listen to "Jesus Is A Soul Man" and see what YOU think!!! (Chances are you'll STILL be singing it DAYS from now!!!)
BTW: Johnny Rivers also cut a version of this song and included it on the B-Side of his "Into The Mystic" single in 1970. Incredibly, when we ran this song nine years ago, more folks on the list seemed familiar with the Johnny Rivers version than the HIT version by Lawrence Reynolds!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Fresh As A Daisy
This week we're going to feature some more of what we call "Good Old Fashioned Forgotten Hits" ... spotlighting a few tracks that you probably haven't heard on the radio in AGES!!!
We'll kick things off with a personal favorite of mine that garnered a HUGE, favorable response the last time we featured it several years ago.
"Fresh As A Daisy" became a #38 Cash Box Hit for Emitt Rhodes back in 1971.
Dismissed by many as a Paul McCartney-wannabe, I'll admit to ranking his self-titled solo album amongst my all-time favorite LPs.
Just as McCartney had done on his first solo album, Rhodes played all of the instruments and handled all of the vocals himself ... and there is no question that he was heavily influenced by McCartney and The Beatles. (Being born and raised in Hawthorne, California, you'd also have to include Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys amongst his musical and inspirational idols ... in fact, while still part of the group The Merry-Go-Round, who scored two minor national hits in 1967 with "Live" and "You're A Very Lovely Woman", the band performed a VERY impressive cover version of "California Girls" with their A&M label boss, Herb Alpert on trumpet. You can listen to the audio of that venture here:
Click here: YouTube - Herb Alpert-California Girls ...
unfortunately, the VERY cool ... and extremely colorful video that originally accompanied this tune ... from a live appearance on The Hollywood Palace, I believe ... has apparently been deleted from YouTube!!!)
For MY money, "Fresh As A Daisy" was absolutely a "Can't Miss" hit ... but somehow it still did. Although it managed a #38 showing in Cash Box, it failed to make Billboard's Top 50 ... and it never charted here in Chicago either, despite ALL kinds of commercial airplay for the LP from which it came.
Give a listen and see if this one rings any bells ... and see if you, too, agree, that this absolutely SHOULDA BEEN A HIT!!!
We'll kick things off with a personal favorite of mine that garnered a HUGE, favorable response the last time we featured it several years ago.
"Fresh As A Daisy" became a #38 Cash Box Hit for Emitt Rhodes back in 1971.
Dismissed by many as a Paul McCartney-wannabe, I'll admit to ranking his self-titled solo album amongst my all-time favorite LPs.
Just as McCartney had done on his first solo album, Rhodes played all of the instruments and handled all of the vocals himself ... and there is no question that he was heavily influenced by McCartney and The Beatles. (Being born and raised in Hawthorne, California, you'd also have to include Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys amongst his musical and inspirational idols ... in fact, while still part of the group The Merry-Go-Round, who scored two minor national hits in 1967 with "Live" and "You're A Very Lovely Woman", the band performed a VERY impressive cover version of "California Girls" with their A&M label boss, Herb Alpert on trumpet. You can listen to the audio of that venture here:
Click here: YouTube - Herb Alpert-California Girls ...
unfortunately, the VERY cool ... and extremely colorful video that originally accompanied this tune ... from a live appearance on The Hollywood Palace, I believe ... has apparently been deleted from YouTube!!!)
For MY money, "Fresh As A Daisy" was absolutely a "Can't Miss" hit ... but somehow it still did. Although it managed a #38 showing in Cash Box, it failed to make Billboard's Top 50 ... and it never charted here in Chicago either, despite ALL kinds of commercial airplay for the LP from which it came.
Give a listen and see if this one rings any bells ... and see if you, too, agree, that this absolutely SHOULDA BEEN A HIT!!!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Jimmie Rodgers - Part 3
Besides the incredible "Hit List" we featured the other day tracing Jimmie Rodgers' pop chart career, three of Jimmie's B-Sides also received several of your votes in our "Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides" Poll a couple of years back. In addition, Rodgers ALSO had a Two-Sided Hit place in our Top 200 Biggest Two-Sided Hits Of All-Time Countdown when Secretly / Make Me A Miracle came in at #162. (We featured that barely-remembered B-Side yesterday ... while "Secretly" peaked at #4 on both the Billboard and the Cash Box Chart, "Make Me A Miracle" climbed to #31 in Cash Box on its own! Rodgers recorded his own remake of "Secretly" in 1978 ... and it actually hit Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart, peaking at #46!)
"The Long Hot Summer" was the title song from the 1958 film starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Orson Welles, Lee Remick and Angela Lansbury. (How's THAT for an incredible cast?!?!?) It began climbing the charts on its own strength just as its A-Side, "Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again" was making its final descent. Because "The Long Hot Summer" never rose above #49 in Cash Box Magazine (and, inexplicably stalled at #77 in Billboard), it became eligible for our special Favorite B-Sides Poll.
Coming close to disqualification was "Waltzing Matilda", the B-Side to Rodgers' 1960 Hit "T.L.C. Tender Love And Care". It peaked at #41 in Billboard all on its own, one position away from elimination. (In order to qualify as a "Favorite, Forgotten B-Side", the A-Side of the record HAD to be a National Top 40 Hit ... but the B-Side could NOT be a Top 40 Hit on its own.) Just as strangely, this side failed to chart at all in Cash Box.
"Waltzing Matilda" was an old Australian Folk Song that I remember singing in grade school (and learning the literal translation to each Australian slang term used in the song ... I couldn't even BEGIN to tell you what it means now!!!) The song rose to popularity when it was used in the 1959 film "On The Beach",
starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins ... and shows once again the diversity of different musical styles that Jimmie Rodgers introduced us to in the early days of Rock And Roll.
Finally, the flipside of Jimmie's 1967 "comeback" hit "Child Of Clay", a personal favorite of mine that we featured at the beginning of this series, was nominated ... and, as such, Rodgers' version of "Turn Around" earned some of your votes in our B-Sides Poll. This one's a folk music standard, first introduced by Harry Belafonte back in 1959 on his "Love Is A Gentle Thing" album.
Not a bad year for great singles, either. Elvis scores with "Jailhouse Rock," "Teddy Bear," "Loving You" and "All Shook Up." Pat Boone scores with "Bernardine," "Love Letters In The Sand," "April Love" and "Don't Forbid Me." Sonny James and Marty Robbins crossover from country to the pop charts with "Young Love" and "A White Sport Coat." The Everlys hit with "Wake Up Little Susie," Jerry Lee Lewis contributes "Great Balls of Fire," The Crickets amaze us with "That'll Be The Day," Little Richard gives us "Lucille" and "Tutti-Frutti," and Sam Cooke delivers "You Send Me." Roulette Records artist, Buddy Knox, scores with "Party Doll," and a label mate, James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers bursts upon the national scene with his chart topping "Honeycomb."
I was an eighth grader at Starr King Elementary School in Sacramento in the fall of 1957 when Jimmie had his first #1, "Honeycomb." In the midst of all the great rock and roll songs -- to say nothing of the great 'pop' icons who were still having hits like Doris Day, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and others, here was this very refreshing new talent singing about how the 'Lord made the bee and the bee made the honey." It was different. It was distinctive. It was pop, it was folk, but one thing was for certain: it was a smash.
I was already a huge Elvis, Ricky Nelson and Pat Boone fan and a member of their respective 'fan clubs.' I called the radio stations faithfully to request their latest release, not that I really had to. All were 'automatic' adds at the local radio stations. But when you were a member of their fan club, you would do anything and everything to support your favorite 'star.' By the fall of 1957 I'd already scored my first major interview for my elementary school paper, meeting Ricky and David Nelson on the set of television's "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." I'd also started working as a radio 'gopher' and teen news announcer at KRAK Radio, then a 50kw Top 40 station serving Stockton and Sacramento.
When I heard Jimmie's hit record I knew I'd have to find a way to interview him. And I could hardly wait for a follow-up single. I didn't have to wait long. Another #1, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," managed to stay in the Top 100 for over twenty weeks the later part of 1957 and well into 1958. Then, a succession of other hits: "Oh, Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again," "Secretly," "Are You Really, Really Mine," and others. By that time, however, I had joined Jimmie's fan club -- run by his secretary and assistant, Merry Stevens, and -- on a trip to Los Angeles with my folks in '58 -- I made it a point to visit her at their fan club office on North Highlands Avenue, south of Sunset Blvd.
As all of us "Forgotten Hits" readers know, it was an era of hit singles. It was all about the '45.' Albums often contained a hit or two, but were also made up of 'filler' tunes. You often felt a bit disappointed when you paid $3.99 for an album - a lot of money for kids who typically made fifty cents to a buck allowance -- only to find one or two tracks you really enjoyed.
With Jimmie, however, I began to get into the entire album, not just the hits. That's where Jimmie's folk sound really came through. Songs like "Woman From Liberia," "Waltzing Matilda" "Froggy Went A Courting," "Soldier, Won't You Marry Me," and "Black Is The Color of My True Love's Hair." These songs became favorites of mine and fifty+ years later, merely reading these titles evokes wonderful memories of a era when our passion for music denominated our lives. We could hardly wait to get out of school so we could rush home to tune in "American Bandstand." We waited patiently for our favorite singer or group to come out with a new single or album.
Sometimes, we were a bit disappointed but not so with Jimmie. His songs -- and the distinctive sound he brought to them -- never let me down. I knew I had to interview Jimmie and when I heard he was coming to the California State Fair in August of 1958, I got my chance. I called Merry and she arranged for me to meet Jimmie and his wife, Colleen, at the Sacramento Inn. My friend, Bob Jones, accompanied me and we had a wonderful visit. We even met their two poodles, "Honeycomb" and "BeeBee." The interview was my first published feature in my high school newspaper, The El Caminian, shortly after I began my freshman year.
Over the next year or so I entered several contests that Jimmie's fan club put on from time to time. We were asked to write a story about our favorite song or we'd get 'points' for mailing out post cards to radio stations requesting Jimmie Rodgers songs. I'd get periodic notes or autographed photos from Jimmie from time to time and when I learned he was to appear at the Venetian Room of San Francisco's world famous Fairmont Hotel, I called Merry once again, asking if she could arrange for me to see Jimmie. The arrangements were made and my Mother and I drove over to San Francisco to attend the concert. Since San Francisco was my home town, and since we would always stay with my Grandmother at her home on Guerrero Street, we would not have to rush home to Sacramento immediately after Jimmie's performance.
The Venetian Room was one of the top showrooms on the West Coast, much like the Empire Room at New York's Waldorf - Astoria, or the Coconut Grove Ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Ernie Hecksher and his Orchestra provided the music -- it was a big band, not a combo -- and everyone from Nat "King" Cole to Ella Fitzgerald, to Cab Calloway to Pat Boone played the room. There were two shows, a dinner show at 8 PM and a cocktail show around 11. It was a suit and a tie affair. Everyone dressed up if they were going to The Fairmont. My Mother and I were escorted to our seats by the Maitre de, and they were right near the front of the room, just to the right of the stage. The menu offered everything from salads and sandwiches to full dinners.
An evening at The Venetian Room was not a 'cheap date.' It was expensive by late 1950's standards, and we were very careful what we ordered. If I recall, my mother had a house salad and I had a sandwich. Still, the bill, with 'cover charge' and gratuity, was probably in the twenty-five dollar range. That sounds like a pittance today, but in 1959 and 1960, it was a lot of money!
After we'd finished our meal and the waiters had bussed the tables, the audience was ready for the show. Jimmie came out decked in a black tux. He did all his hits and some of those equally familiar folk songs. Jimmie had this distinctive curl in the middle of his forehead and it was his trademark, so to speak. His gracious smile, his warm voice, his friendly demeanor filled the room. Then, just as I was getting into the show, it was over.
Merry had arranged for my Mother and I to meet Jimmie between his two shows but first we had to 'settle up' with the waiter. It seemed forever for the check to come. Finally, my Mother got the attention of one of the table captains and asked for our check. "Oh, I'm sorry for your wait, Mame, Mr. Rodgers has taken care of it," was his reply. Jimmie's kind gesture became a conversation topic for years. My mom and I always joked about the fact that we had made it a point to be thrifty at the dinner show, not knowing we could have ordered anything on the menu and Jimmie would have graciously picked up the tab! :)
My Mother and I had a wonderful visit with Jimmie that night at The Fairmont and the memory of that dining experience is fondly remembered fifty years later. My Mother and Father are gone now, as is Jimmie's first wife, Colleen. I can't begin to recall what Jimmie and I spoke about that night but I'll always be deeply indebted to him for the generosity he showed a sixteen year old fan and his Mother.
I caught up with Jimmie several times after that evening. One was his 'comeback' performance at the Coconut Grove Ballroom in Los Angeles after he had recuperated from his December, 1967, beating on the Hollywood Freeway. There he was, up on the stage, wearing the familiar black tux, and sporting the spit-curl. I was managing The Beach Boys then, so when the check came, I gladly paid for my own meal!
Jimmie also recorded an album with Jimmy Bowen in Nashville. It was in the late 70's. I visited him briefly at the recording studio -- and we spoke to each other once or twice since he's been living in Branson -- but that evening at The Venetian Room in San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel fifty years ago -- remains one of my favorite remembrances of my fifty-two years in radio and records.
Fred Vail
Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc.
Nashville, TN
"Music City, USA"
Thanks, Fred ... my guess is that reading this will stir a memory or two for Jimmie, too!!! (kk)
"The Long Hot Summer" was the title song from the 1958 film starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Orson Welles, Lee Remick and Angela Lansbury. (How's THAT for an incredible cast?!?!?) It began climbing the charts on its own strength just as its A-Side, "Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again" was making its final descent. Because "The Long Hot Summer" never rose above #49 in Cash Box Magazine (and, inexplicably stalled at #77 in Billboard), it became eligible for our special Favorite B-Sides Poll.
Coming close to disqualification was "Waltzing Matilda", the B-Side to Rodgers' 1960 Hit "T.L.C. Tender Love And Care". It peaked at #41 in Billboard all on its own, one position away from elimination. (In order to qualify as a "Favorite, Forgotten B-Side", the A-Side of the record HAD to be a National Top 40 Hit ... but the B-Side could NOT be a Top 40 Hit on its own.) Just as strangely, this side failed to chart at all in Cash Box.
"Waltzing Matilda" was an old Australian Folk Song that I remember singing in grade school (and learning the literal translation to each Australian slang term used in the song ... I couldn't even BEGIN to tell you what it means now!!!) The song rose to popularity when it was used in the 1959 film "On The Beach",
starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins ... and shows once again the diversity of different musical styles that Jimmie Rodgers introduced us to in the early days of Rock And Roll.
Finally, the flipside of Jimmie's 1967 "comeback" hit "Child Of Clay", a personal favorite of mine that we featured at the beginning of this series, was nominated ... and, as such, Rodgers' version of "Turn Around" earned some of your votes in our B-Sides Poll. This one's a folk music standard, first introduced by Harry Belafonte back in 1959 on his "Love Is A Gentle Thing" album.
***
Here's what some of you had to say about Jimmie's movie theme "The Long Hot Summer", a #49 hit in 1958 (and the flipside of his Top 20 Hit "Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again") after our B-Sides Series ran.
Here's one I eagerly flipped over way back when, since I was (and am) a movie nut. In fact, I MAY have bought it for The Long, Hot Summer. As you know, I was no child when this one came out and my tastes leaned more towards melodic ballads than bouncy pop tunes so this one gets my vote. Jimmie seemed an odd choice for a major motion picture theme song, but he sure did it well.
Hil (TheOneBuff)
Jimmie made a few film appearances himself ... and was reportedly due to begin filming another motion picture the morning after he was attacked back in 1967. There certainly have been STRANGER choices to sing a movie theme!!! Here is yet another case where the EXPECTED A-Side ... the theme to a major motion picture ... wound up on the B-SIDE of the record instead!!! (We saw a few examples of this during the course of our B-SIDES Series!) Thanks, HIL. (kk)
For me, nothing by Jimmie outranks "The Long Hot Summer." The combination of that song and the opening scenes of the film make for an unforgettable audio-visual experience.
Jerry Osborne
((((Kent))))
Thank you so much for "The Long Hot Summer". I LOVE that song, and the movie is one of my favorites.
Shirley
Here's one I eagerly flipped over way back when, since I was (and am) a movie nut. In fact, I MAY have bought it for The Long, Hot Summer. As you know, I was no child when this one came out and my tastes leaned more towards melodic ballads than bouncy pop tunes so this one gets my vote. Jimmie seemed an odd choice for a major motion picture theme song, but he sure did it well.
Hil (TheOneBuff)
Jimmie made a few film appearances himself ... and was reportedly due to begin filming another motion picture the morning after he was attacked back in 1967. There certainly have been STRANGER choices to sing a movie theme!!! Here is yet another case where the EXPECTED A-Side ... the theme to a major motion picture ... wound up on the B-SIDE of the record instead!!! (We saw a few examples of this during the course of our B-SIDES Series!) Thanks, HIL. (kk)
For me, nothing by Jimmie outranks "The Long Hot Summer." The combination of that song and the opening scenes of the film make for an unforgettable audio-visual experience.
Jerry Osborne
((((Kent))))
Thank you so much for "The Long Hot Summer". I LOVE that song, and the movie is one of my favorites.
Shirley
***
After our series started, we heard from Ronnie Allen, who sent us a link to an interview that he did with Jimmie shortly after his surgery:
Kent, I look forward very much to your Jimmie Rodgers tribute. I was the first person to do a full-length interview show with him after his life-saving "miracle" surgery in 2007. It's on my Radio Page:
Ronnie's Radio Page ..... http://www.jerseygirlssing.com/RonnieRadioPage.html
This is one incredible man!
Ronnie Allen
I also received some VERY special Jimmie Rodgers Memories, courtesy of our recuperating buddy, Fred Vail, who asked us to share these stories with our Forgotten Hits Readers:
1957. There are not too many years of rock's 'golden era' that can match that singular year. Think about it: Elvis makes his final appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and purchases "Graceland." Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel form "Tom and Jerry." Pat Boone stars in two films, "Bernardine" and "April Love." Bo Diddley records "Hey, Bo Diddley." John and Paul meet at St. Peter's Church in Liverpool." "American Bandstand" premiers on television, and, while it can't quite be considered a 'rock' classic, Leonard Bernstein completes his work on "West Side Story."Not a bad year for great singles, either. Elvis scores with "Jailhouse Rock," "Teddy Bear," "Loving You" and "All Shook Up." Pat Boone scores with "Bernardine," "Love Letters In The Sand," "April Love" and "Don't Forbid Me." Sonny James and Marty Robbins crossover from country to the pop charts with "Young Love" and "A White Sport Coat." The Everlys hit with "Wake Up Little Susie," Jerry Lee Lewis contributes "Great Balls of Fire," The Crickets amaze us with "That'll Be The Day," Little Richard gives us "Lucille" and "Tutti-Frutti," and Sam Cooke delivers "You Send Me." Roulette Records artist, Buddy Knox, scores with "Party Doll," and a label mate, James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers bursts upon the national scene with his chart topping "Honeycomb."
I was an eighth grader at Starr King Elementary School in Sacramento in the fall of 1957 when Jimmie had his first #1, "Honeycomb." In the midst of all the great rock and roll songs -- to say nothing of the great 'pop' icons who were still having hits like Doris Day, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and others, here was this very refreshing new talent singing about how the 'Lord made the bee and the bee made the honey." It was different. It was distinctive. It was pop, it was folk, but one thing was for certain: it was a smash.
I was already a huge Elvis, Ricky Nelson and Pat Boone fan and a member of their respective 'fan clubs.' I called the radio stations faithfully to request their latest release, not that I really had to. All were 'automatic' adds at the local radio stations. But when you were a member of their fan club, you would do anything and everything to support your favorite 'star.' By the fall of 1957 I'd already scored my first major interview for my elementary school paper, meeting Ricky and David Nelson on the set of television's "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." I'd also started working as a radio 'gopher' and teen news announcer at KRAK Radio, then a 50kw Top 40 station serving Stockton and Sacramento.
When I heard Jimmie's hit record I knew I'd have to find a way to interview him. And I could hardly wait for a follow-up single. I didn't have to wait long. Another #1, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," managed to stay in the Top 100 for over twenty weeks the later part of 1957 and well into 1958. Then, a succession of other hits: "Oh, Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again," "Secretly," "Are You Really, Really Mine," and others. By that time, however, I had joined Jimmie's fan club -- run by his secretary and assistant, Merry Stevens, and -- on a trip to Los Angeles with my folks in '58 -- I made it a point to visit her at their fan club office on North Highlands Avenue, south of Sunset Blvd.
As all of us "Forgotten Hits" readers know, it was an era of hit singles. It was all about the '45.' Albums often contained a hit or two, but were also made up of 'filler' tunes. You often felt a bit disappointed when you paid $3.99 for an album - a lot of money for kids who typically made fifty cents to a buck allowance -- only to find one or two tracks you really enjoyed.
With Jimmie, however, I began to get into the entire album, not just the hits. That's where Jimmie's folk sound really came through. Songs like "Woman From Liberia," "Waltzing Matilda" "Froggy Went A Courting," "Soldier, Won't You Marry Me," and "Black Is The Color of My True Love's Hair." These songs became favorites of mine and fifty+ years later, merely reading these titles evokes wonderful memories of a era when our passion for music denominated our lives. We could hardly wait to get out of school so we could rush home to tune in "American Bandstand." We waited patiently for our favorite singer or group to come out with a new single or album.
Sometimes, we were a bit disappointed but not so with Jimmie. His songs -- and the distinctive sound he brought to them -- never let me down. I knew I had to interview Jimmie and when I heard he was coming to the California State Fair in August of 1958, I got my chance. I called Merry and she arranged for me to meet Jimmie and his wife, Colleen, at the Sacramento Inn. My friend, Bob Jones, accompanied me and we had a wonderful visit. We even met their two poodles, "Honeycomb" and "BeeBee." The interview was my first published feature in my high school newspaper, The El Caminian, shortly after I began my freshman year.
Over the next year or so I entered several contests that Jimmie's fan club put on from time to time. We were asked to write a story about our favorite song or we'd get 'points' for mailing out post cards to radio stations requesting Jimmie Rodgers songs. I'd get periodic notes or autographed photos from Jimmie from time to time and when I learned he was to appear at the Venetian Room of San Francisco's world famous Fairmont Hotel, I called Merry once again, asking if she could arrange for me to see Jimmie. The arrangements were made and my Mother and I drove over to San Francisco to attend the concert. Since San Francisco was my home town, and since we would always stay with my Grandmother at her home on Guerrero Street, we would not have to rush home to Sacramento immediately after Jimmie's performance.
The Venetian Room was one of the top showrooms on the West Coast, much like the Empire Room at New York's Waldorf - Astoria, or the Coconut Grove Ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Ernie Hecksher and his Orchestra provided the music -- it was a big band, not a combo -- and everyone from Nat "King" Cole to Ella Fitzgerald, to Cab Calloway to Pat Boone played the room. There were two shows, a dinner show at 8 PM and a cocktail show around 11. It was a suit and a tie affair. Everyone dressed up if they were going to The Fairmont. My Mother and I were escorted to our seats by the Maitre de, and they were right near the front of the room, just to the right of the stage. The menu offered everything from salads and sandwiches to full dinners.
An evening at The Venetian Room was not a 'cheap date.' It was expensive by late 1950's standards, and we were very careful what we ordered. If I recall, my mother had a house salad and I had a sandwich. Still, the bill, with 'cover charge' and gratuity, was probably in the twenty-five dollar range. That sounds like a pittance today, but in 1959 and 1960, it was a lot of money!
After we'd finished our meal and the waiters had bussed the tables, the audience was ready for the show. Jimmie came out decked in a black tux. He did all his hits and some of those equally familiar folk songs. Jimmie had this distinctive curl in the middle of his forehead and it was his trademark, so to speak. His gracious smile, his warm voice, his friendly demeanor filled the room. Then, just as I was getting into the show, it was over.
Merry had arranged for my Mother and I to meet Jimmie between his two shows but first we had to 'settle up' with the waiter. It seemed forever for the check to come. Finally, my Mother got the attention of one of the table captains and asked for our check. "Oh, I'm sorry for your wait, Mame, Mr. Rodgers has taken care of it," was his reply. Jimmie's kind gesture became a conversation topic for years. My mom and I always joked about the fact that we had made it a point to be thrifty at the dinner show, not knowing we could have ordered anything on the menu and Jimmie would have graciously picked up the tab! :)
My Mother and I had a wonderful visit with Jimmie that night at The Fairmont and the memory of that dining experience is fondly remembered fifty years later. My Mother and Father are gone now, as is Jimmie's first wife, Colleen. I can't begin to recall what Jimmie and I spoke about that night but I'll always be deeply indebted to him for the generosity he showed a sixteen year old fan and his Mother.
I caught up with Jimmie several times after that evening. One was his 'comeback' performance at the Coconut Grove Ballroom in Los Angeles after he had recuperated from his December, 1967, beating on the Hollywood Freeway. There he was, up on the stage, wearing the familiar black tux, and sporting the spit-curl. I was managing The Beach Boys then, so when the check came, I gladly paid for my own meal!
Jimmie also recorded an album with Jimmy Bowen in Nashville. It was in the late 70's. I visited him briefly at the recording studio -- and we spoke to each other once or twice since he's been living in Branson -- but that evening at The Venetian Room in San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel fifty years ago -- remains one of my favorite remembrances of my fifty-two years in radio and records.
Fred Vail
Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc.
Nashville, TN
"Music City, USA"
Thanks, Fred ... my guess is that reading this will stir a memory or two for Jimmie, too!!! (kk)
Friday, May 8, 2009
Jimmie Rodgers - Part 2
Several folks who were not on the list back in 2007 when the Jimmie Rodgers story broke have written in asking for more details.
Yesterday we recounted how Jimmie sustained his injury in the first place. (This episode has been a matter of GREAT debate for forty years ... but we stated the facts as reported by BOTH sides involved in the incident. Sadly, Jimmie had to live with the outcome of that fateful night for the next forty years of his life. During that time, he never had another record reach the pop charts.)
We found a number of pieces in the archives surrounding Jimmie's 2007 surgery and feel it's easiest to replay these pretty much the way we received them. A greater outpouring of love, appreciation and prayer for an artist throughout the oldies community would be hard to imagine ... and to this day Michael Rodgers believes that it was the combination of this love and prayers from all of his Father's friends and fans that pulled him through this very critical time.
Here is how it all began ... FH List Member Tom Diehl forwarded us a copy of a letter that he received from Jimmie's son Michael, which we immediately ran in our daily Forgotten Hits Newsletter:
Hello Everyone!
My name is Michael Rodgers. My Father's name is Jimmie Rodgers. Some of you might remember him from his musical career that has now spanned fifty years. In 1957 he recorded a song called "Honeycomb" and followed it up with a string of hit records totaling 25 top ten singles, eighty million records sold worldwide and concert appearances throughout the world.
Through all of that he carried himself with grace, charm and an incredible sense of humor and style. In 1967 when he was 33 years old my Father was injured in what is now known as a road rage incident. He suffered severe head injuries and underwent three brain surgeries. During one of those surgeries, he lost 28 square inches of his skull on the right side of his head. Since 1968 he has carried what is considered to be the largest steel plate ever implanted in someone's head.
It took Dad nearly 15 years to recover from the last surgery in 1968 as he had to learn to walk, speak and regain his motor skills. He was not supposed to live more than 10 years with this steel plate in his body as the body continually tries to reject these kind of implants. Over the years as he has gotten older the skin on his scalp has gotten thinner and the remaining bone continually cuts his scalp. If left this way, this situation will eventually lead to his death.
Over the last 15 years he has had over 60 different skin graphs and other surgeries. The last such surgery was 18 months ago and it nearly killed him. He now has a hole in his head the size of a half dollar and it has been this way since February.
My Dad is tough. He is the definition of the word. He has avoided what is about to take place and tried everything imaginable to live with the constant pain and discomfort and he has now made a decision that will define what will be the rest of his life. On Thursday June 28, 2007, a team of Brain Surgeons in Hot Springs, Arkansas, will remove the steel plate that he has carried with him for 39 years. They plan to remove the outer layer of skin and lift the plate away from the position it has held covering the outer layer of his brain. If successful, they will replace the plate with a new material that has been developed that will recreate the skull bone and will not be rejected by the body.
If this surgery works he will have the chance to live what is left of his life without pain. Dad has made the decision. The doctors feel confident that all will be fine and we are stepping out on faith that this is the right course of action.
As someone who some of you know to be a fairly private person, I am opening up to you about a very serious family issue. From now until the end of next week, and beyond if possible, I kindly ask you all to please do the following:
*** Please pray for my Father that his surgery and recovery will be successful and that his health will be completely restored.
*** Please pray for the team of doctors and nurses that will be performing the surgery so that they might have guidance and wisdom during this time.
*** Please pray for our family that we might have strength and courage to face the days ahead in helping Dad with his recovery.
*** Please put my Father, Jimmie Rodgers, on your prayer lists at church or through an email request such as this one. (Feel free to copy and send). All of us are connected in this life in some way. I believe there is power in prayer and power in positive thought. I believe that together all of us, through prayer and positive energy and thinking, can help that to happen.
Thank you all for being a part of and playing a part (large or small) in my life.
Name: Jimmie Rodgers
Date of Surgery: June 28, 2007
My family and I thank you. And my Father thanks you and will be most appreciative to you for your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless,
Michael Rodgers
As soon as a copy of this letter ran in Forgotten Hits, we received a flood of prayers and well-wishes for Jimmie Rodgers. Several of the deejays on the list picked up the story and went on the air with it the very same day. Here are just a few of the touching emails that we received a day or two after this piece first ran:
Whoa ... the Jimmie Rodgers story as related by his son just brought me to tears! God Bless Jimmie, and may he rally through this surgery! God help him!
Wild Bill Cody
Oh my God, Kent.
I had no idea all of this had happened to Jimmie Rodgers. I am so sorry. Thank you so much for passing the message on. Jimmie certainly has my prayers.
Shirley
Regarding Jimmie Rodgers, it is important to note that he was a folk rock pioneer 50 years ago – well before Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio or any of the other leaders of the folk-rock boom that really began with Rodgers’ string of more than two dozen ‘50s and ‘60s hits. His only significant predecessors in the folk-rock genre – The Weavers, The Easy Riders, The Tarriers, etc. – all spent relatively short spells as national hitmakers. I’m glad you chose “Child Of Clay” as an example of Jimmie at his best. I included it in one of the folk box sets I produced for Reader’s Digest Music along with it’s flip side – an incredibly moving version (perhaps the best ever made) of the timeless and thoughtful folk standard “Turn Around.”
Gary Theroux
"Child Of Clay" has always been one of my favorite Jimmie Rodgers tunes ... and it proved to be QUITE the comeback hit for him when A&M released it in the Fall of '67. (It became his LAST chart hit in fact!) kk
Hey Kent,
What could be weirder than this: As I started to read Tom Diehl's posting regarding Jimmie Rodgers, what should Scott Shannon be saying but a plug for Forgotten Hits, mention of the email address for the60sShop, and a quick review of the letter, and then he played Honeycomb. It just finished. Go Kent and Scott!Guy Arnston in Algonquin
My prayers are with Jimmie Rogers. I remember that incident well. It was all so murky. In those days the "Blue Wall" was in place and cops, drunk or sober were given a pass ,and whether on duty or not, you crossed them at your peril. He received $200,000 in settlement for a quiet, gentle, musical life shattered. Dolph
Hello again Kent!
I had no idea anything happened to Jimmie Rodgers. I am glad he is recovering. I appreciate his son letting us know he is doing OK. Kent, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. You add quality to my life. Every time you send me the latest, I feel like I have won something. Everyone on your list has to appreciate your intelligence and journalistic abilities and your from-the-heart-drive to keep this music alive. You are a real hero to me. I sincerely wish all the best to you and Frannie. I don't know how to thank you.
Pat Fogel
We forwarded a good number of these sentiments to Michael Rodgers ... and, a few days later, we received our next update ... ALL good news ... MIRACULOUS news, in fact!!! Check this out:
Miracles do happen and one happened this morning. The surgery began this morning with a group prayer with the doctors and family. About four minutes after beginning, the doctors pulled back the scalp to reveal the plate. When they did that, the plate literally jumped up away from his head. The doctors, five in all ... a Neuro Surgeon, Two Plastic Surgeons, Two Stem Cell Specialists and the rest of the team ... began to clean the plate and lift it away from the head. It released itself and came away clean. On the video we could hear the Neuro Surgeon say "Oh my God, look at that. How did that get there?"
Under the plate was revealed a complete and intact skull bone where three months ago there was none. The entire hole in the bone which was an eight inch by six inch oval had grown completely closed with a new skull bone which was smooth and shaped to match the existing skull. It was perfect in every way and was the same thickness as the other bone.
The doctors said that in 35 years of surgery they had never seen anything like it. They did not need to recreate a new skull bone at all. Dad was completely healed and made whole again after 40 years.
The stem cell doctors sprayed a stem paste made from Dad's blood over the skull bone and onto the skin flap and the Plastic Surgeons closed him up. The stem paste will keep him from swelling and will encourage skin growth onto the bone. The entire procedure took about 28 minutes and after one hour in recovery Dad walked out of the room on his own, much to the anger and dismay of the nursing staff. He is coming home tomorrow.
And then this ...
He spent one night in the hospital and was released yesterday.
When we left the hospital yesterday he was hungry so we went to a nearby Olive Garden restaurant for lunch. You should have seen everyone's face when Dad walked in with this turban bandage on his head. It was very funny.
As of this morning, June 30, 2007, he went bass fishing and, when I spoke to him about an hour ago, he had landed two.
My Father and our family want to personally thank everyone who has sent emails and well wishes from around the world. Your prayers and positive thoughts were heard and all of our lives have been changed in such an amazing way. We cannot thank you enough.
So if anyone asks you how Jimmie Rodgers is doing, please tell them that he is completely healed and is in perfect health.
God bless you all and than you again so very much.
Michael Rodgers
Michael later told us:
My original email was sent on Monday, June 25th, to about 65 friends and co-workers that I know. That letter was forwarded and here are some of the results and responses that I received.
Within a 48 hour period I received emails from Honduras, Germany, South Africa, England, France, Denmark, Sweden, the Philippines and Italy. As well as from nearly every state in the union including North Pole, Alaska.
Dad was placed on the Australian Prayer Network which reaches over 10,000 prayer partners worldwide. He was also placed in dozens of prayer chains throughout the US and abroad and prayer groups were held the morning of the surgery while it was in progress. Also, I received word that 14 Catholic Churches around the country held a special mass for Dad the morning of the surgery.
On XM Satelitte Radio a DJ named "Matt the Cat", who hosts the 50's on 5 show, paid tribute to Dad the night before the surgery. Dad called in to thank him and Matt said "Jimmie we are going to make you a miracle" and then he played Dad's record of the same name. It was very touching and Dad teared up a little on that one.
Also on XM Radio the Rollye James Show had a tribute program for Dad as well and fans from all over the country called in and said that they were praying for him. This is just an example of the response one email request for prayer can receive when sent to such a limited group of people.
I firmly believe that Dad was healed and given a new skull bone because of the faith of Dad, our family, and so many people throughout the world. Please never forget that prayer works. Prayer is powerful. God is Great!
Please forward this letter to everyone that you might have sent the prayer request to so that they may know the outcome as well.
It was an amazing day.
Prayer is so powerful.
Much Love to you all,
Michael Rodgers
The "Oldies Community" really jumped on the bandwagon on this one ... our sincere thanks to EVERYONE on the list who said a prayer or helped us put the word out to other music fans out there regarding Jimmie's recent battle. (Boy, it SURE is nice to get GOOD news once in a while, isn't it?!?!?) To all the jocks who went out on the air with this ... to EVERY fan who whispered something to The Big Guy Upstairs ... sincere thanks from Jimmie and his family. In a world filled with so much BAD news, this truly is an ASTOUNDING story.
Thanks so much for sharing it with our group, Michael ... many of whom are amongst your Father's biggest, concerned, and loving fans. (kk)
Dear Kent:
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this is by far one of the ultimate and most inspiring pieces I have ever read since I have been a part of the Forgotten Hits family, which has been from the beginning.
Myself, being a Christian woman, can relate to the power in prayer (my two daughters are prayer babies.) It's NO secret what God can do! Jimmie Rodgers, is a living testimony of how awesome our God truly is. His healing could only come from the master physician, our creator. (as his son described in full detail, in his letter to you)
Prayer is powerful!!! God is awesome!!! Jimmie, literally had thousands and thousands of people being intercessors for him and his miracle healing.
Thank you, Jimmie and family for sharing your amazing story with us.
Thank you, Kent for passing it on.
~God bless ALL~
We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7
Hugs & Prayers
Janny
I've passed your sentiment on to the Rodgers family. Isn't it SAD how RARE it is to hear GOOD news these days?!?!? Everyone is SO focused on pointing out all that is wrong ... but this sounds to me to have TRULY been a miracle.
Yesterday we recounted how Jimmie sustained his injury in the first place. (This episode has been a matter of GREAT debate for forty years ... but we stated the facts as reported by BOTH sides involved in the incident. Sadly, Jimmie had to live with the outcome of that fateful night for the next forty years of his life. During that time, he never had another record reach the pop charts.)
We found a number of pieces in the archives surrounding Jimmie's 2007 surgery and feel it's easiest to replay these pretty much the way we received them. A greater outpouring of love, appreciation and prayer for an artist throughout the oldies community would be hard to imagine ... and to this day Michael Rodgers believes that it was the combination of this love and prayers from all of his Father's friends and fans that pulled him through this very critical time.
Here is how it all began ... FH List Member Tom Diehl forwarded us a copy of a letter that he received from Jimmie's son Michael, which we immediately ran in our daily Forgotten Hits Newsletter:
Hello Everyone!
My name is Michael Rodgers. My Father's name is Jimmie Rodgers. Some of you might remember him from his musical career that has now spanned fifty years. In 1957 he recorded a song called "Honeycomb" and followed it up with a string of hit records totaling 25 top ten singles, eighty million records sold worldwide and concert appearances throughout the world.
Through all of that he carried himself with grace, charm and an incredible sense of humor and style. In 1967 when he was 33 years old my Father was injured in what is now known as a road rage incident. He suffered severe head injuries and underwent three brain surgeries. During one of those surgeries, he lost 28 square inches of his skull on the right side of his head. Since 1968 he has carried what is considered to be the largest steel plate ever implanted in someone's head.
It took Dad nearly 15 years to recover from the last surgery in 1968 as he had to learn to walk, speak and regain his motor skills. He was not supposed to live more than 10 years with this steel plate in his body as the body continually tries to reject these kind of implants. Over the years as he has gotten older the skin on his scalp has gotten thinner and the remaining bone continually cuts his scalp. If left this way, this situation will eventually lead to his death.
Over the last 15 years he has had over 60 different skin graphs and other surgeries. The last such surgery was 18 months ago and it nearly killed him. He now has a hole in his head the size of a half dollar and it has been this way since February.
My Dad is tough. He is the definition of the word. He has avoided what is about to take place and tried everything imaginable to live with the constant pain and discomfort and he has now made a decision that will define what will be the rest of his life. On Thursday June 28, 2007, a team of Brain Surgeons in Hot Springs, Arkansas, will remove the steel plate that he has carried with him for 39 years. They plan to remove the outer layer of skin and lift the plate away from the position it has held covering the outer layer of his brain. If successful, they will replace the plate with a new material that has been developed that will recreate the skull bone and will not be rejected by the body.
If this surgery works he will have the chance to live what is left of his life without pain. Dad has made the decision. The doctors feel confident that all will be fine and we are stepping out on faith that this is the right course of action.
As someone who some of you know to be a fairly private person, I am opening up to you about a very serious family issue. From now until the end of next week, and beyond if possible, I kindly ask you all to please do the following:
*** Please pray for my Father that his surgery and recovery will be successful and that his health will be completely restored.
*** Please pray for the team of doctors and nurses that will be performing the surgery so that they might have guidance and wisdom during this time.
*** Please pray for our family that we might have strength and courage to face the days ahead in helping Dad with his recovery.
*** Please put my Father, Jimmie Rodgers, on your prayer lists at church or through an email request such as this one. (Feel free to copy and send). All of us are connected in this life in some way. I believe there is power in prayer and power in positive thought. I believe that together all of us, through prayer and positive energy and thinking, can help that to happen.
Thank you all for being a part of and playing a part (large or small) in my life.
Name: Jimmie Rodgers
Date of Surgery: June 28, 2007
My family and I thank you. And my Father thanks you and will be most appreciative to you for your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless,
Michael Rodgers
As soon as a copy of this letter ran in Forgotten Hits, we received a flood of prayers and well-wishes for Jimmie Rodgers. Several of the deejays on the list picked up the story and went on the air with it the very same day. Here are just a few of the touching emails that we received a day or two after this piece first ran:
Whoa ... the Jimmie Rodgers story as related by his son just brought me to tears! God Bless Jimmie, and may he rally through this surgery! God help him!
Wild Bill Cody
Oh my God, Kent.
I had no idea all of this had happened to Jimmie Rodgers. I am so sorry. Thank you so much for passing the message on. Jimmie certainly has my prayers.
Shirley
Regarding Jimmie Rodgers, it is important to note that he was a folk rock pioneer 50 years ago – well before Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio or any of the other leaders of the folk-rock boom that really began with Rodgers’ string of more than two dozen ‘50s and ‘60s hits. His only significant predecessors in the folk-rock genre – The Weavers, The Easy Riders, The Tarriers, etc. – all spent relatively short spells as national hitmakers. I’m glad you chose “Child Of Clay” as an example of Jimmie at his best. I included it in one of the folk box sets I produced for Reader’s Digest Music along with it’s flip side – an incredibly moving version (perhaps the best ever made) of the timeless and thoughtful folk standard “Turn Around.”
Gary Theroux
"Child Of Clay" has always been one of my favorite Jimmie Rodgers tunes ... and it proved to be QUITE the comeback hit for him when A&M released it in the Fall of '67. (It became his LAST chart hit in fact!) kk
Hey Kent,
What could be weirder than this: As I started to read Tom Diehl's posting regarding Jimmie Rodgers, what should Scott Shannon be saying but a plug for Forgotten Hits, mention of the email address for the60sShop, and a quick review of the letter, and then he played Honeycomb. It just finished. Go Kent and Scott!Guy Arnston in Algonquin
My prayers are with Jimmie Rogers. I remember that incident well. It was all so murky. In those days the "Blue Wall" was in place and cops, drunk or sober were given a pass ,and whether on duty or not, you crossed them at your peril. He received $200,000 in settlement for a quiet, gentle, musical life shattered. Dolph
Hello again Kent!
I had no idea anything happened to Jimmie Rodgers. I am glad he is recovering. I appreciate his son letting us know he is doing OK. Kent, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. You add quality to my life. Every time you send me the latest, I feel like I have won something. Everyone on your list has to appreciate your intelligence and journalistic abilities and your from-the-heart-drive to keep this music alive. You are a real hero to me. I sincerely wish all the best to you and Frannie. I don't know how to thank you.
Pat Fogel
We forwarded a good number of these sentiments to Michael Rodgers ... and, a few days later, we received our next update ... ALL good news ... MIRACULOUS news, in fact!!! Check this out:
Miracles do happen and one happened this morning. The surgery began this morning with a group prayer with the doctors and family. About four minutes after beginning, the doctors pulled back the scalp to reveal the plate. When they did that, the plate literally jumped up away from his head. The doctors, five in all ... a Neuro Surgeon, Two Plastic Surgeons, Two Stem Cell Specialists and the rest of the team ... began to clean the plate and lift it away from the head. It released itself and came away clean. On the video we could hear the Neuro Surgeon say "Oh my God, look at that. How did that get there?"
Under the plate was revealed a complete and intact skull bone where three months ago there was none. The entire hole in the bone which was an eight inch by six inch oval had grown completely closed with a new skull bone which was smooth and shaped to match the existing skull. It was perfect in every way and was the same thickness as the other bone.
The doctors said that in 35 years of surgery they had never seen anything like it. They did not need to recreate a new skull bone at all. Dad was completely healed and made whole again after 40 years.
The stem cell doctors sprayed a stem paste made from Dad's blood over the skull bone and onto the skin flap and the Plastic Surgeons closed him up. The stem paste will keep him from swelling and will encourage skin growth onto the bone. The entire procedure took about 28 minutes and after one hour in recovery Dad walked out of the room on his own, much to the anger and dismay of the nursing staff. He is coming home tomorrow.
And then this ...
He spent one night in the hospital and was released yesterday.
When we left the hospital yesterday he was hungry so we went to a nearby Olive Garden restaurant for lunch. You should have seen everyone's face when Dad walked in with this turban bandage on his head. It was very funny.
As of this morning, June 30, 2007, he went bass fishing and, when I spoke to him about an hour ago, he had landed two.
My Father and our family want to personally thank everyone who has sent emails and well wishes from around the world. Your prayers and positive thoughts were heard and all of our lives have been changed in such an amazing way. We cannot thank you enough.
So if anyone asks you how Jimmie Rodgers is doing, please tell them that he is completely healed and is in perfect health.
God bless you all and than you again so very much.
Michael Rodgers
Michael later told us:
My original email was sent on Monday, June 25th, to about 65 friends and co-workers that I know. That letter was forwarded and here are some of the results and responses that I received.
Within a 48 hour period I received emails from Honduras, Germany, South Africa, England, France, Denmark, Sweden, the Philippines and Italy. As well as from nearly every state in the union including North Pole, Alaska.
Dad was placed on the Australian Prayer Network which reaches over 10,000 prayer partners worldwide. He was also placed in dozens of prayer chains throughout the US and abroad and prayer groups were held the morning of the surgery while it was in progress. Also, I received word that 14 Catholic Churches around the country held a special mass for Dad the morning of the surgery.
On XM Satelitte Radio a DJ named "Matt the Cat", who hosts the 50's on 5 show, paid tribute to Dad the night before the surgery. Dad called in to thank him and Matt said "Jimmie we are going to make you a miracle" and then he played Dad's record of the same name. It was very touching and Dad teared up a little on that one.
Also on XM Radio the Rollye James Show had a tribute program for Dad as well and fans from all over the country called in and said that they were praying for him. This is just an example of the response one email request for prayer can receive when sent to such a limited group of people.
I firmly believe that Dad was healed and given a new skull bone because of the faith of Dad, our family, and so many people throughout the world. Please never forget that prayer works. Prayer is powerful. God is Great!
Please forward this letter to everyone that you might have sent the prayer request to so that they may know the outcome as well.
It was an amazing day.
Prayer is so powerful.
Much Love to you all,
Michael Rodgers
The "Oldies Community" really jumped on the bandwagon on this one ... our sincere thanks to EVERYONE on the list who said a prayer or helped us put the word out to other music fans out there regarding Jimmie's recent battle. (Boy, it SURE is nice to get GOOD news once in a while, isn't it?!?!?) To all the jocks who went out on the air with this ... to EVERY fan who whispered something to The Big Guy Upstairs ... sincere thanks from Jimmie and his family. In a world filled with so much BAD news, this truly is an ASTOUNDING story.
Thanks so much for sharing it with our group, Michael ... many of whom are amongst your Father's biggest, concerned, and loving fans. (kk)
Dear Kent:
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this is by far one of the ultimate and most inspiring pieces I have ever read since I have been a part of the Forgotten Hits family, which has been from the beginning.
Myself, being a Christian woman, can relate to the power in prayer (my two daughters are prayer babies.) It's NO secret what God can do! Jimmie Rodgers, is a living testimony of how awesome our God truly is. His healing could only come from the master physician, our creator. (as his son described in full detail, in his letter to you)
Prayer is powerful!!! God is awesome!!! Jimmie, literally had thousands and thousands of people being intercessors for him and his miracle healing.
Thank you, Jimmie and family for sharing your amazing story with us.
Thank you, Kent for passing it on.
~God bless ALL~
We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7
Hugs & Prayers
Janny
I've passed your sentiment on to the Rodgers family. Isn't it SAD how RARE it is to hear GOOD news these days?!?!? Everyone is SO focused on pointing out all that is wrong ... but this sounds to me to have TRULY been a miracle.
Glad to hear Jimmie Rodgers is doing better after his operation! Hard to believe it's been 50 years since "Honeycomb" hit the charts! Here's an ad from 5/3/58 for "Secretly". Looks like another Elvis to me!! A new version of the song hit the Billboard Easy listening charts 20 years later in '78! Of course, the 1967 incident happened just after his comeback hit, "Child of Clay". By 1969, he had his own short lived TV series, "The Jimmie Rodgers Show" (created by Carol Burnette), so he has been a quick healer all his life, apparently! "Go Jimmy Go"!! WLSClark
It seems only right to feature Jimmie's 1958 Hit "Make Me A Miracle" today ... released as the B-Side to his #4 Hit "Secretly", "Make Me A Miracle" earned enough sales and airplay to chart on its own in Cash Box Magazine, peaking at #31.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Jimmie Rodgers
This week we've been trying to tie up a few loose ends ... and catching up on some topics that we've covered in some of our previous Forgotten Hits features ... which got me to thinking about 1950's and 1960's folk / rock singing sensation Jimmie Rodgers.
Two years ago we reported the details of Jimmie's life-saving surgery to remove a 28" metal plate from his skull that had been there for the past forty years. The good news ... in what doctors called nothing short of a miracle ... is that Jimmie pulled through that surgery with flying colors ... but we couldn't help but wonder how he was doing two years on ... so we contacted his son Michael for an exclusive Forgotten Hits update. Any problems post surgery? Was his father living a better quality of life? We wanted to know the latest.
Jimmie Rodgers was one of the early Rock And Roll Pioneers ... in fact, he was able to incorporate both a Folk Sound and a Country Sound to his music and, in the process, carve his own path up The Popular Music Charts.
Between 1957 and 1967, Jimmie scored fifteen Top 40 National Hits (and just missed with a couple more.) Honeycomb (#1, 1957); Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (#5, 1957); Secretly (#4, 1958) and Are You Really Mine (#10, 1958) went all the way into The Top Ten ... while others, like Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again (#13, 1958); Bimbombey (#11, 1958); The Long Hot Summer (#49, 1958); Make Me A Miracle (#31, 1958); I'm Never Gonna Tell (#36, 1959); Because You're Young (#30, 1959); Ring-A-Ling-A-Lario (#32, 1959); Wonderful You (#40, 1959); Tucumcari (#32, 1959); T.L.C. Tender Love And Care (#24, 1960); Waltzing Matilda (#41, 1960); Just A Closer Walk With Thee (#44, 1960); The Wreck Of The "John B" (#50, 1960); No One Will Ever Know (#43, 1962); The World I Used To Know (#51, 1964); It's Over (#37, 1966) and Child Of Clay (#30, 1967) kept his name on the charts and his voice on the radio for over a decade.
Then, in 1967, a very strange tragedy struck. Jimmie was driving home from a party in December when he was stopped on The San Diego Freeway by an off-duty policeman. The events that transpired AFTER he was stopped have been a point of contention for the past 40 years. The "official" police report states that Rodgers fell to the ground while being questioned about his "erratic" driving. Rodgers has always maintained that he was THROWN to the ground, attacked and beaten. (I've also read that he was attacked through his window ... most likely with a tire iron ... when he rolled it down to see why this other car had forced him off the road.) In EITHER event, he ended up hospitalized for over a year, undergoing three brain operations during which time a 20 square inch steel plate was implanted under his scalp, literally forming part of his skull!!! (One can only surmise that if the official police report is correct, he must have "fallen to the ground" quite a FEW times as he also had multiple leg and arm injuries!!!) In fact, Rodgers once said, "My doctor told me that I'd have had to jump off the roof of my car eight times, landing on my head, in order to cause that kind of damage." Lawsuits transpired for the next several years before things were ultimately settled out of court.
Incredibly, 40 years later ... in March of 2007, the story broke that Jimmie went in to have a surgery to remove this metal plate in his head. We broke regular news updates in our Forgotten Hits Newsletter (courtesy of Jimmie's son Michael), letting our readers know (and, in effect, much of oldies land, thanks to the deejays on our list) that the surgery was a COMPLETE success ... incredibly, during the interim forty years, Jimmie's skull had grown back to its original state. Pretty amazing and miraculous if I do say so myself!!!
We experienced a TREMENDOUS outpouring of prayers and well-wishes ... as well as thanks for all the great music that Rodgers has given us over the years ... all of which were forwarded on to Jimmie in the hopes of helping with the healing process.
Now ... two years later ... we couldn't help but wonder how Jimmie was doing with his recovery ... so we spoke with his son Michael last week, who told us:
Dear Kent,
So nice to hear from you.
Dad is doing great and enjoying life to the fullest. He is still busy with writing projects and playing golf most days. Currently he is on a road trip and is expected here in Nashville sometime next week. When I see him I will tell him of your email and your request to speak with him.
Thanks again and please thank everyone with your group for the love and support that you have all shown my father.
Best,
Michael Rodgers
We're hoping to bring you a few words from Jimmie himself in the days to come. In the meantime, we'd like to offer THIS suggestion: For YEARS now, there's been talk about doing a Jimmie Rodgers bio-pic ... with this INCREDIBLE fairy-tale ending to the story, wouldn't this seem to be the PERFECT time to do so?!?!?!??
Here's one of my all-time favorite Jimmie Rodgers tracks ... sadly, his LAST chart hit. From 1967, it's "Child Of Clay", our featured track in Forgotten Hits today.
Two years ago we reported the details of Jimmie's life-saving surgery to remove a 28" metal plate from his skull that had been there for the past forty years. The good news ... in what doctors called nothing short of a miracle ... is that Jimmie pulled through that surgery with flying colors ... but we couldn't help but wonder how he was doing two years on ... so we contacted his son Michael for an exclusive Forgotten Hits update. Any problems post surgery? Was his father living a better quality of life? We wanted to know the latest.
Jimmie Rodgers was one of the early Rock And Roll Pioneers ... in fact, he was able to incorporate both a Folk Sound and a Country Sound to his music and, in the process, carve his own path up The Popular Music Charts.
Between 1957 and 1967, Jimmie scored fifteen Top 40 National Hits (and just missed with a couple more.) Honeycomb (#1, 1957); Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (#5, 1957); Secretly (#4, 1958) and Are You Really Mine (#10, 1958) went all the way into The Top Ten ... while others, like Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again (#13, 1958); Bimbombey (#11, 1958); The Long Hot Summer (#49, 1958); Make Me A Miracle (#31, 1958); I'm Never Gonna Tell (#36, 1959); Because You're Young (#30, 1959); Ring-A-Ling-A-Lario (#32, 1959); Wonderful You (#40, 1959); Tucumcari (#32, 1959); T.L.C. Tender Love And Care (#24, 1960); Waltzing Matilda (#41, 1960); Just A Closer Walk With Thee (#44, 1960); The Wreck Of The "John B" (#50, 1960); No One Will Ever Know (#43, 1962); The World I Used To Know (#51, 1964); It's Over (#37, 1966) and Child Of Clay (#30, 1967) kept his name on the charts and his voice on the radio for over a decade.
Then, in 1967, a very strange tragedy struck. Jimmie was driving home from a party in December when he was stopped on The San Diego Freeway by an off-duty policeman. The events that transpired AFTER he was stopped have been a point of contention for the past 40 years. The "official" police report states that Rodgers fell to the ground while being questioned about his "erratic" driving. Rodgers has always maintained that he was THROWN to the ground, attacked and beaten. (I've also read that he was attacked through his window ... most likely with a tire iron ... when he rolled it down to see why this other car had forced him off the road.) In EITHER event, he ended up hospitalized for over a year, undergoing three brain operations during which time a 20 square inch steel plate was implanted under his scalp, literally forming part of his skull!!! (One can only surmise that if the official police report is correct, he must have "fallen to the ground" quite a FEW times as he also had multiple leg and arm injuries!!!) In fact, Rodgers once said, "My doctor told me that I'd have had to jump off the roof of my car eight times, landing on my head, in order to cause that kind of damage." Lawsuits transpired for the next several years before things were ultimately settled out of court.
Incredibly, 40 years later ... in March of 2007, the story broke that Jimmie went in to have a surgery to remove this metal plate in his head. We broke regular news updates in our Forgotten Hits Newsletter (courtesy of Jimmie's son Michael), letting our readers know (and, in effect, much of oldies land, thanks to the deejays on our list) that the surgery was a COMPLETE success ... incredibly, during the interim forty years, Jimmie's skull had grown back to its original state. Pretty amazing and miraculous if I do say so myself!!!
We experienced a TREMENDOUS outpouring of prayers and well-wishes ... as well as thanks for all the great music that Rodgers has given us over the years ... all of which were forwarded on to Jimmie in the hopes of helping with the healing process.
Now ... two years later ... we couldn't help but wonder how Jimmie was doing with his recovery ... so we spoke with his son Michael last week, who told us:
Dear Kent,
So nice to hear from you.
Dad is doing great and enjoying life to the fullest. He is still busy with writing projects and playing golf most days. Currently he is on a road trip and is expected here in Nashville sometime next week. When I see him I will tell him of your email and your request to speak with him.
Thanks again and please thank everyone with your group for the love and support that you have all shown my father.
Best,
Michael Rodgers
We're hoping to bring you a few words from Jimmie himself in the days to come. In the meantime, we'd like to offer THIS suggestion: For YEARS now, there's been talk about doing a Jimmie Rodgers bio-pic ... with this INCREDIBLE fairy-tale ending to the story, wouldn't this seem to be the PERFECT time to do so?!?!?!??
Here's one of my all-time favorite Jimmie Rodgers tracks ... sadly, his LAST chart hit. From 1967, it's "Child Of Clay", our featured track in Forgotten Hits today.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Gimme Some Lovin'
Some of you may remember a discussion that we had a couple of months back regarding the song "Gimme Some Lovin'" and the fact that, here in America, a group called The Jordan Brothers actually released THEIR version first ... despite the fact that the song was written by Stevie Winwood and recorded by his band The Spencer Davis Group. The question came up, "Could the ORIGINATOR of the song actually "COVER" their own tune."
Here's a quick recap of that piece we ran back in March:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
More Of What's Been On Your Minds
Scott Shannon's putting together another one of his True Oldies Channel's "Remakes" Weekends ... and this time around, Forgotten Hits and some of our readers have unearthed some REAL gems ... as soon as we get the broadcast dates, we'll let you know ... but there are some NEAT surprises planned. Meanwhile, while researching originals vs. remakes, THIS song came up:
I was listening to Scott Shannon's show last weekend on channel 1340 Reading, PA, when he was playing originals and remakes that might have done better than the originals. "Give Me Some Lovin' written by Steve Winwood, was originally recorded by the Jordan Bros, a band from Schuylkill County, Pa. The record was selling so well that Winwood decided to record it again himself. He had better connections than the Jordan Bros, so his record went national. Just some more rock and roll trivia.
Gary
Neither Scott nor I had ever heard that story before ... nor had we heard the record ... but I did, in fact, find a website for The Jordan Brothers, who made the local charts a few times in Pennsylvania. FH Regular Tom Diehl filled us in on a few more details ... and even sent us the cut to share with our readers. As to how on earth they got a-hold of The Spencer Davis Group's recording BEFORE it was released in America (in time to learn it and cut their own version), nobody seems to know for sure. I made contact with Frank Jordan, one of the original members of the band, but he hasn't responded to me yet ... if we get more details, we'll be sure to share them with the rest of the class. Meanwhile, here's what we know so far:
The Jordan Brothers version was released in 1966 but didn't manage any chart action until after the release of the Spencer Davis Group version the following year, and bubbled under in 1967. How it got into their hands, I have no idea. All I know is the Philips record number that it was issued on is smack dab in the middle of a hundred other 1966 releases while the Spencer Davis version didn't get released on United Artists until 1967. The Jordan Brothers had some much better records than that one, though they didn't manage any decent chart positions with their songs.
-- Tom Diehl
On The Jordan Brothers' official website, we found a 2-CD set of their Greatest Hits ... along with a survey showing their version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" on the Pennsylvania charts. Interesting ... learn something new here all the time!!! (kk)Click here: The Jordan Brothers
I THINK THEY DID THE COVER VERSION ... STEVIE WROTE THE SONG ... SO MOST LIKELY HAD THE ORIGINAL ... WOW ... A PRETTY TITE PLAYLIST IN LANCASTER, PA ... TWO BIG REGIONAL HITS ... THE KIT KATS FROM PHILLY AND THE MAGNIFICENT MEN FROM VEGAS ... MOST OF THE REST STUFF ... BIG HITS ... UNUSUAL FOR A SMALL MARKET BACK THEN ... SCOTT SHANNON
Clearly The Jordan Brothers COVERED the tune if Stevie Winwood wrote and recorded it ... the big mystery now is how they got their hands on it!!! Anybody out there have any information on this? (File it under the "Helping Out Our Readers" category!!) kk
If Stevie Winwood wrote "Gimme Some Lovin'", I don't see how you can really consider any other artist "covering" the song before he did it. Maybe it was a hit in England before it was a hit here or something and that's how The Jordan Brothers discovered it, I don't know, but clearly it's a Stevie Winwood song. Sounds to me like The Jordan Brothers just had a local Philly hit with it.
Dave The Rave
We had a number of Chicagoland acts "covering" Hollies tunes before The Hollies really made much of an impression on the national charts ... because they had access to import albums and such. (The Cryan' Shames ... one of the artists we'll be featuring this weekend ... had planned to release their version of The Beatles' tune "If I Needed Someone" as their first single ... but reportedly George Harrison put the kabosh on that idea after The Hollies' cover version of the same song failed in England. Instead, they broke through with a remake of The Searches' tune, "Sugar And Spice".) Clearly, the American bands were checking the British charts, looking for ANYTHING that would sound enough like a British hit to actually get played on the radio. The Buckinghams took their name as much from Chicago's Buckingham Fountain as they did from Great Britain's Buckingham Palace!!! The New Colony Six were inspired by the first colonies set up here in America who broke away from British rule. And on it goes!
As far as how these bands continued to find songs that most of us casual listeners weren't even aware of, we have to remember that back then it wasn't at all uncommon for the track line-ups to differ between the UK and the US album releases ... so I suppose The Jordan Brothers COULD have heard the song, jumped on it, and released it before The Spencer Davis Group single hit the charts here in America. (Actually, looking at the charts above, they pretty much charted simultaneously!) Again, not all that uncommon back in the wide-open AM Top 40 programming days when a local artist could chart with the same song as a major artist ... here in Chicago, we heard The Mauds' version instead of the classic Sam and Dave version of "Hold On."
A quick check of The British Charts shows the Spencer Davis version debuting on November 3, 1966 ... that's about eight weeks before the same single first appeared on our Billboard Chart. That means that The Jordan Brothers' version was already climbing the Philadelphia chart BEFORE The Spencer Davis Group's single made its first U.S. chart appearance. I can't imagine any other more reasonable assumption ... but again, in the meantime, if anybody can shed more light on this, please bring it on!!! (Who knows ... maybe we'll even hear back from The Jordan Brothers themselves!!!)
And that's pretty much how things have sat for the past two months.
Then, out of the blue, I FINALLY heard back from Frank Jordan ... who tells us a pretty interesting story. (It would seem that we weren't really that far off track with our "suppositions"!!!) Here's the OFFICIAL word from Frank Jordan himself:
Hi Kent!
I have tried on a few occasions to send this and to no avail. Found out today that I had a computer problem. That being rectified, I pray that this will finally go through.
Artists back in the 50's and 60's relied heavily on the record company's people to come up with a hit for them. This was the case with The Jordan Brothers' band. Upon recieving a phone call from the people at our record company in New York, we packed up our instruments and, along with our father, we went to the Big Apple. The people at our company played a "demo" or demonstration of the song Gimme Some Lovin' for us to hear and approve. We all agreed that we liked the song and agreed to record it. Little did we know that it was the actual 8 track tape we listened to containing Steve Winwood's vocal, organ, a lead guitar, bass guitar and drums. The other remaining tracks were open for any additional accompanyment. We did not know this at the time or how our record company got hold of the original recording. We may never know. Or how the other record company that recorded the other tracks on it got a hold of it. We learned the song, recorded it on that same trip and it was released in three major cities in the U.S. So, we did have the first release in the U.S. and the record took off immediately. It boasted huge sales in three major cities which would make the Spencer Davis version seem like it was a cover. The Spencer Davis version was inhanced with more instrumentation and background voices which gave it somewhat of a "soul sound", a term used back then for a sound produced at Motown records which was very popular at the time. The Spencer Davis version was released and it got immediate attention. It didn't take long for it to take over our version and cover it.
Our apologies for any confusion this may caused to all concerned, but most importantly, to our fans, for any inconvenience or misleading this might have generated.
We thank you all for your interest and that this clears this controversy up once and for all.
Sincerely,
Frank Jordan
So there you have it ... once again, Forgotten Hits comes up with the REAL story. (Jeez, and up until a couple of months ago, I didn't even know that there WAS another version of this tune ... let alone a Philly hit!!!) This means that SOME parts of the country heard The Jordan Brothers' version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" before The Spencer Davis Group version tore its way up to the top of the charts. Amazing!!! (I'd say this makes The Jordan Brothers' version worthy of another spin here today!!!) kk
Here's a quick recap of that piece we ran back in March:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
More Of What's Been On Your Minds
Scott Shannon's putting together another one of his True Oldies Channel's "Remakes" Weekends ... and this time around, Forgotten Hits and some of our readers have unearthed some REAL gems ... as soon as we get the broadcast dates, we'll let you know ... but there are some NEAT surprises planned. Meanwhile, while researching originals vs. remakes, THIS song came up:
I was listening to Scott Shannon's show last weekend on channel 1340 Reading, PA, when he was playing originals and remakes that might have done better than the originals. "Give Me Some Lovin' written by Steve Winwood, was originally recorded by the Jordan Bros, a band from Schuylkill County, Pa. The record was selling so well that Winwood decided to record it again himself. He had better connections than the Jordan Bros, so his record went national. Just some more rock and roll trivia.
Gary
Neither Scott nor I had ever heard that story before ... nor had we heard the record ... but I did, in fact, find a website for The Jordan Brothers, who made the local charts a few times in Pennsylvania. FH Regular Tom Diehl filled us in on a few more details ... and even sent us the cut to share with our readers. As to how on earth they got a-hold of The Spencer Davis Group's recording BEFORE it was released in America (in time to learn it and cut their own version), nobody seems to know for sure. I made contact with Frank Jordan, one of the original members of the band, but he hasn't responded to me yet ... if we get more details, we'll be sure to share them with the rest of the class. Meanwhile, here's what we know so far:
The Jordan Brothers version was released in 1966 but didn't manage any chart action until after the release of the Spencer Davis Group version the following year, and bubbled under in 1967. How it got into their hands, I have no idea. All I know is the Philips record number that it was issued on is smack dab in the middle of a hundred other 1966 releases while the Spencer Davis version didn't get released on United Artists until 1967. The Jordan Brothers had some much better records than that one, though they didn't manage any decent chart positions with their songs.
-- Tom Diehl
On The Jordan Brothers' official website, we found a 2-CD set of their Greatest Hits ... along with a survey showing their version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" on the Pennsylvania charts. Interesting ... learn something new here all the time!!! (kk)Click here: The Jordan Brothers
I THINK THEY DID THE COVER VERSION ... STEVIE WROTE THE SONG ... SO MOST LIKELY HAD THE ORIGINAL ... WOW ... A PRETTY TITE PLAYLIST IN LANCASTER, PA ... TWO BIG REGIONAL HITS ... THE KIT KATS FROM PHILLY AND THE MAGNIFICENT MEN FROM VEGAS ... MOST OF THE REST STUFF ... BIG HITS ... UNUSUAL FOR A SMALL MARKET BACK THEN ... SCOTT SHANNON Clearly The Jordan Brothers COVERED the tune if Stevie Winwood wrote and recorded it ... the big mystery now is how they got their hands on it!!! Anybody out there have any information on this? (File it under the "Helping Out Our Readers" category!!) kk
If Stevie Winwood wrote "Gimme Some Lovin'", I don't see how you can really consider any other artist "covering" the song before he did it. Maybe it was a hit in England before it was a hit here or something and that's how The Jordan Brothers discovered it, I don't know, but clearly it's a Stevie Winwood song. Sounds to me like The Jordan Brothers just had a local Philly hit with it.
Dave The Rave
We had a number of Chicagoland acts "covering" Hollies tunes before The Hollies really made much of an impression on the national charts ... because they had access to import albums and such. (The Cryan' Shames ... one of the artists we'll be featuring this weekend ... had planned to release their version of The Beatles' tune "If I Needed Someone" as their first single ... but reportedly George Harrison put the kabosh on that idea after The Hollies' cover version of the same song failed in England. Instead, they broke through with a remake of The Searches' tune, "Sugar And Spice".) Clearly, the American bands were checking the British charts, looking for ANYTHING that would sound enough like a British hit to actually get played on the radio. The Buckinghams took their name as much from Chicago's Buckingham Fountain as they did from Great Britain's Buckingham Palace!!! The New Colony Six were inspired by the first colonies set up here in America who broke away from British rule. And on it goes!
As far as how these bands continued to find songs that most of us casual listeners weren't even aware of, we have to remember that back then it wasn't at all uncommon for the track line-ups to differ between the UK and the US album releases ... so I suppose The Jordan Brothers COULD have heard the song, jumped on it, and released it before The Spencer Davis Group single hit the charts here in America. (Actually, looking at the charts above, they pretty much charted simultaneously!) Again, not all that uncommon back in the wide-open AM Top 40 programming days when a local artist could chart with the same song as a major artist ... here in Chicago, we heard The Mauds' version instead of the classic Sam and Dave version of "Hold On."
A quick check of The British Charts shows the Spencer Davis version debuting on November 3, 1966 ... that's about eight weeks before the same single first appeared on our Billboard Chart. That means that The Jordan Brothers' version was already climbing the Philadelphia chart BEFORE The Spencer Davis Group's single made its first U.S. chart appearance. I can't imagine any other more reasonable assumption ... but again, in the meantime, if anybody can shed more light on this, please bring it on!!! (Who knows ... maybe we'll even hear back from The Jordan Brothers themselves!!!)
The Jordan Brothers
And that's pretty much how things have sat for the past two months.
Then, out of the blue, I FINALLY heard back from Frank Jordan ... who tells us a pretty interesting story. (It would seem that we weren't really that far off track with our "suppositions"!!!) Here's the OFFICIAL word from Frank Jordan himself:
Hi Kent!
I have tried on a few occasions to send this and to no avail. Found out today that I had a computer problem. That being rectified, I pray that this will finally go through.
Artists back in the 50's and 60's relied heavily on the record company's people to come up with a hit for them. This was the case with The Jordan Brothers' band. Upon recieving a phone call from the people at our record company in New York, we packed up our instruments and, along with our father, we went to the Big Apple. The people at our company played a "demo" or demonstration of the song Gimme Some Lovin' for us to hear and approve. We all agreed that we liked the song and agreed to record it. Little did we know that it was the actual 8 track tape we listened to containing Steve Winwood's vocal, organ, a lead guitar, bass guitar and drums. The other remaining tracks were open for any additional accompanyment. We did not know this at the time or how our record company got hold of the original recording. We may never know. Or how the other record company that recorded the other tracks on it got a hold of it. We learned the song, recorded it on that same trip and it was released in three major cities in the U.S. So, we did have the first release in the U.S. and the record took off immediately. It boasted huge sales in three major cities which would make the Spencer Davis version seem like it was a cover. The Spencer Davis version was inhanced with more instrumentation and background voices which gave it somewhat of a "soul sound", a term used back then for a sound produced at Motown records which was very popular at the time. The Spencer Davis version was released and it got immediate attention. It didn't take long for it to take over our version and cover it.
Our apologies for any confusion this may caused to all concerned, but most importantly, to our fans, for any inconvenience or misleading this might have generated.
We thank you all for your interest and that this clears this controversy up once and for all.
Sincerely,
Frank Jordan
So there you have it ... once again, Forgotten Hits comes up with the REAL story. (Jeez, and up until a couple of months ago, I didn't even know that there WAS another version of this tune ... let alone a Philly hit!!!) This means that SOME parts of the country heard The Jordan Brothers' version of "Gimme Some Lovin'" before The Spencer Davis Group version tore its way up to the top of the charts. Amazing!!! (I'd say this makes The Jordan Brothers' version worthy of another spin here today!!!) kk
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