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I loved 1967’s “The Letter” when it came out, but I liked the Box Tops’ follow- up song “Cry Like a Baby” even more!
Of course I, like my friends, knew the words to both songs and sang them often while walking to and from school. (You left the water running now)
Composed by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, with Alex Chilton on lead, “CLAB” was the best on the LP of the same name IMHO.
The single peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 100.
After four LPs the Memphis group disbanded in 1970.
You may read up on the history and the current activities of the group at The Box Tops Website.
Alex Chilton Trivia(SOURCE): After performing as lead singer with blue-eyed soul group The Box Tops from 1967 to 1970, earning him the #1 hit “The Letter” at the age of sixteen, Alex Chilton recorded a solo studio album.
He was offered the role of lead vocalist for Blood, Sweat & Tears, but turned the offer down as “too commercial.”
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There are more 1969 Grammy Awards left to discuss then there is month left in February .
I had a hard time deciding which award winning song to close the month out with, but finally decided on one of my favorite dance tunes of the Sixties -sung by one of my favorite tenors of all time — The Isley Brothers “It’s Your Thing” which won the 1969 Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance By a Group or Duo.
The brothers had been around as a gospel quartet ever since the fifties. The group was made up of brother Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Vernon Isley. When Vernon passed after a bicycle accident in 1955, Ronald became the new lead singer.
From the RCA label with their soulful sounds (“the classics “Shout” and “Twist & Shout”), to their own label T-Neck, to Motown’s Tamla label, and finally back to T-neck the brothers had their hard-knocks on the road to Grammy Gold.
Like many others in the Motown stable, The Isley Brothers were tired of the neglect they received at Motown while Gordy concentrated on making The Supremes, The Temptations and Diane Ross the superstars of the label.
They were released from their contract and almost immediately the brothers co-wrote “It’s Your Thing” and released it on their own T-Neck label. The funky “IYT” topped the R&B charts at #1 and the Billboard Top 100 at #2 , then went on the win the first Grammy Award for any former Motown artist.
Everyone covered the song including many Motown artists. I am especially partial to The Temptations’ psychedelic cover: the vocals harmonies are awesome! The J5 version is pretty great too IMHO. Check them out right now and let me know what you think.
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The Temptations 1960 cover version
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This is the original vocal from the J5 cover but it is a current extended Remix that I have been listening to a lot lately. Hope you enjoy it.
Trivia. This is the first song on which the then 17 yr old, baby brother, Ernie Isley, played bass on a song. Of course brother Ernie would go on to become an integral part of the third generation Isley Brothers renamed Isley Brothers 3 +3 — one of the most successful self contained family funk units of the seventies.
The Isley Brothers first charted in 1959 with “Shout -- Part 1″ ( #47 billboard top 100)
The Isley Brothers next appearance on the music charts was in 1962 with “Shout -- Part 1″ (#94 Billboard top 100)
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Probably one of the most under-rated pop singers of my generation is Dionne Warwick.
Brought up in the gospel world in a musical extended family, Dionne formed the “Gospelaires” singing group with her sister Dee Dee and her aunt Cissy Houston ( later the mother of Whitney Houston). Dionne and her group did vocal session work in New York on weekends while she studied music on scholarship in college during the week.
The story goes that Dionne was asked to provide vocals for some demos written by the songwriting-producing team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, while in the studio working on the backing vocal for the Drifter’s song “Mexican Divorce.”
When the composing duo pitched the demo(s) to Scepter Records, the head of the label (Florence Greenberg) liked what she heard and signed Dionne to a recording contract.
Bacharach and David wrote her first song for recording and the rest is legend!
Dionne sang her first and all subsequent Bacharach and David unusually complicated songs with ease, grace and smoothness. Her voice is just so mellow yet expressive and her singing sounds effortless. I recall playing with my Barbie doll in her black evening gown, microphone and pink scarf singing nothing but Dionne Warwick songs because even as a youngster she epitomized class to me!
Warwick charted high continuously from 1963 up until 1980 before her recording career began to slow down a bit.
This 1967 the single, “I Say A Little Prayer,” charted #8 R&B and #4 on the Billboard Top 100. The song appeared on Dionne’s LP of the same year “The Windows of the World” pictured above.
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Aretha obviously loved the song too because only a year later she put her spin on the tune and released her cover of Dionne’s hit. Naturally The Queen of Soul’s version was a hit too! Charting #3 R&B and #10 Pop in 1968. The song appeared on her 1968 certified Gold classic LP “Aretha Now” pictured above.
Over the years, Aretha’s hit cover of Marie Dionne Warwick’s original hit has become the definitive version of the song. Don’t think so? Then check this out -- my most favorite part of the movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding” is this clip: this is why I love YouTube
Of course I want to know which of these two renditions of the Bachrach/David classic YOU like best so please vote.
And here are a few more related videos to enjoy while they last on YouTube.
Dionne and Boy George “Say A Little Prayer” together live in the 80s
Aretha Says a Little Prayer live in 1970
Trivia: The Gospelaire’s are thought to have provided backing vocals for Ben E. King’s “Spanish Harlem” and “Stand By Me.”
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Another hit written and produced by Ashford and Simpson from the Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell LP of the same name — “You’re All I need to get By” was one of the biggest hits of Marvin & Tammi’s career as a duo. It charted #1 on the R&B charts and remained there for 5 weeks! The song charted #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1968 as well. This is one of my favorites by the singing duo!
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Aretha covered the Marvin & Tammi smash hit in 1971 for her “Aretha’s Greatest Hits” LP. This cover did not earn her the Grammy, as did her second cover from the same LP did (“Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” ) in 1974, but the single did chart #3 R&B and #19 Pop and remained at #19 on the British singles charts for an amazing 19 weeks!
Sometimes I wonder about the Grammy voters: personally this cover seems more Grammy worthy than “Real Thing” cover did — but that’s just my opinion.
Ashford & Simpson
One awesome song sung in two different styles! Although covered and sampled by many other artists -- these two renditions presented today are my favorites. I can’t really pick one over the other. Can you?
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Just about every song Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell performed together was a smash hit for Motown. There is not a single song they recorded that I don’t adore. I don’t think anyone could surpass what those two put on wax together!
“Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing,” composed by the extraordinary songwriting couple of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, was surely no exception. “Real Thing” was just one of many of Ashford and Simpson’s long string of hits on Gaye & Terrell that had started with 1967’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.
“Real Thing” topped the R&B singles chart at #1 in 1968 and was #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song appeared on the duo’s 1968 LP (#4 R&B #60 Billboard Top 200 Albums) entitled “You’re All I Need ” -- pictured above.
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One of my personal favorite covers of this tune was by the Jackson 5 with Jermaine and MJJ sharing lead, but this month’s theme is Aretha covers and of course her cover version, recorded in 1973 and released as a single in 1974, charted a respectable #6 R&B and #47 Pop.
This time around Aretha didn’t best the original, but she sure made a great showing! Don’t you agree? Besides — this cover earned Aretha the 1974 Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal!
Aretha’s cover version appeared on her 1974 LP release “Let Me In Your Life” — pictured above.
Ok, now that you have voted for your fave please enjoy the bonus video below. This is my all time favorite version of “Real Thing.”
MJJ -- I miss you. Jermaine is that an afro wig or did you actually groom your hair into that perfect halo? Jackie and Marlon your moves are great: smooth temptation-like unison fellas!
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But King’s labelmate, Aretha, dipped into King’s Songbook in 1970 and covered his hit and bested him by taking it all the way to the top of the the charts: her single went #1 R&B and #11 on the Billboard Top 100. This tune also earned Aretha the 1970 Best Female R&B Vocal Performance!
You know what to do now … vote for your fave and then enjoy the YouTube Videos below while you can!
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“Spanish Harlem” was the first hit in the solo career of Benjamin E. Nelson: it was also the name of his first solo LP pictured above. The fantastic Latin-flavored song (why don’t they make them like this anymore?) composed by Jerry Lieber and Phil Spector, took Nelson to #10 on the Billboard Top 100 and #15 on the R&B charts. Not a bad way to start a solo career at all!
Formerly of the hit Doo-Wop group The Drifters, Nelson took the group into a smooth, soulful sound. Leaving the group and changing his stage name to Ben E. King for his solo career certainly paid off — don’t you agree?
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A decade later Aretha decided to cover this gem and of course she made it her own and took it to the very top of the charts at #1 R&B for three weeks; #2 Pop for two weeks; and #6 Adult Contemporary. Although originally recorded for her “Young, Gifted and Black” LP, the song appeared on her 1971 “Aretha’s Greatest Hits” LP.
Besting the originator Ben E. King — this was not the first time Aretha had dipped into Ben E. King’s Songbook. After you vote on your favorite version of “Spanish Harlem,” try to guess which other Ben E. King song Aretha made her own! I will be doing the reveal on Thursday so stay tuned.
Musically Yours,
Thought I would add this related YouTube video for you to enjoy while it lasts.
(You left the water running now)
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They were released from their contract and almost immediately the brothers co-wrote “It’s Your Thing” and released it on their own T-Neck label. The funky “IYT” topped the R&B charts at #1 and the Billboard Top 100 at #2 , then went on the win the first Grammy Award for any former Motown artist.
