September, 2008
Anderson’s folly
“Music to Suffer By” Leona Anderson on Unique Records (1958) A glutton for punishment? Check out the awful truth at WFMU’s Beware of the Blog
Jayne is busting out all over
“Jayne Busts Up Las Vegas” 1961. Jayne Mansfield starring in “House of Love” “A Gay Intimate Revue” with Bill Reddie and his Orchestra. At the Arabian Room at the Dunes Hotel in fabulous Las Vegas. 20th Century Fox Records (“All You Hear Is Beauty”) Jayne “Welcomes You To Her House Of Love” where you’ll meet Mickey Hargitay and some famous show business people as portrayed by the inimitable Arthur Blake (he does Louella Parsons, Bette Davis, Charles Laughton, Noel Coward and Tallulah Bankhead). Check the Cool Wax graciously posted this with a download so you can listen.
At the Party
“At the Party” Hector Rivera on Barry Records. When you talk about Latin Soul, this record always comes up as one of the ten best. This was a HUGE hit in New York and almost nowhere else in 1966.
“Bring your records everybody / don’t you be late to the party / don’t you be late, ’cause I can’t wait / ’cause I’m anxious to get started / time’s a wasting, so get moving / we’ll be dancing, dancing and a-grooving…”
1260 on your radio dial
San Francisco’s radio station KYA released this compilation of “21 Golden Gate Greats Vol. Two” with a rip off of R. Crumb’s cover for Big Brother and the Holding Company. There were tons of these collections from radio stations packaging their city’s local hits. Listen here! to an interview with John Lennon and other old air checks from KYA.
The gold standard
The Fabulous Miracles TAMLA Records (1963) “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me,” “A Love She Can Count On,” etc. Cover Design: Barni Wright Produced by: Smokey Robinson Published by: JOBETE BMI
Liner Notes:
THE “MIRACLES” HAVE STYLE. THEY HAVE AN INDEFINABLE WAY OF DOING A NUMBER THAT MAKES YOU KNOW IT’S RIGHT. WHETHER IT’S A SWINGING ALL-OUT PRODUCTION NUMBER OR AN INTIMATE BALLAD, THE “MIRACLES” HAVE ACQUIRED THE PROFESSIONAL POLISH TO BRING ACROSS THE MOOD AND THE MESSAGE. THE “SOUND” OF THE “MIRACLES” IS THE SOUND OF SUCCESS. THE DYNAMIC VOCAL INTER-REACTIONS OF ROBERT ROGERS, TENOR, RONALD WHITE, BARITONE, PETE MOORE, BASS, BILL “SMOKEY” ROBINSON, LEAD AND CLAUDETTE ROBINSON, QUEEN OF RHYTHM, WITH MARV TARPLIN, THE GROUP’S GUITARIST. THE HOUSE LIGHTS DIM, IN THE GOLDEN GLOW OF A SINGLE SPOTLIGHT STANDS A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF HIGHLY COORDINATED ENTERTAINERS, AND THE AUDIENCES STILLS. THE MOMENT COMES WHEN THE STYLE OF THE “MIRACLES” IS AT ITS FINEST. THEIR STYLE IS REALLY A METHOD. IT’S A METHOD OF TELLING A STORY IN PRECISE, WELL-PLANNED, WELL-EXECUTED ARRANGEMENTS THAT DISPLAY THEIR CONSIDERABLE TECHNICAL ABILITIES . . . ABILITIES MOLDED OVER MANY SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENTS AND RECORDINGS. PRECISION HAS GAINED FOR THE GROUP A WELL-DESERVED FAME. THE HALLMARK OF THEIR STYLE IS THE CLOSE, INSIDE-TIGHT, HARMONY OF VOICES TRAINED FROM WORKING TOGETHER IN SUCH REVUES AS THE “MOTOR TOWN SPECIAL” AND ON SUCH RECORDING HITS AS “I’VE BEEN GOOD TO YO”, “YOU’VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME”, AND “A LOVE SHE CAN COUNT ON”. THEY PRESENT PRECISION, PERFORMANCE, AND PROMISE . . . IN SHORT, THE “MIRACLES” HAVE STYLE.