Old School Music Lover

“Oh How Happy” Performed by Shades of Blue (1966), Edwin & Blinky (1969) & The Jackson 5 (1971)

SonDan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:03 +0000

#12 Billboard Top 100, #16 R&B Singles Chart

In 1961 a group of Detroit high school students formed a singing group called the Domingos who naturally patterned their sound after Motown. When another local group suggested they audition for RicTic Records (home of the Flaming Ember(s) and the Reflections and eventually purchased by Motown) they hung around the studio and stated singing with Edwin Starr who had a partially written song and the result was “Oh How Happy” recorded for The Golden World Label.

An independent producer liked what he heard and gave the soulful singers a new name and took them to Impact Records where “OHH” was recorded and became a hit in 1966! The group soon broke up in 1970.

More historical detail on the blue-eyed soul group can be found here at this well done web site.

#92 Billboard Hot 100

“Just We Two” , a 1969 Motown LP of duets by Edwin Starr and Blinky (Sandra Williams) contains their cover version of the classic.

Composed by Charles Hatcher, this feel-good classic is another tune I have always loved both when the original came out in 1966, when Edwin & Blinky’s cover came out, and then later when the J5 cover came out, with my then love Jermaine singing lead. Of course MJJ’s background harmonizing and Tito’s bass is awesome too. Just listen and I bet you will agree. Here it is as it appears on the J5’s 1971 “Third Album.”

Please vote and share your favorite version of this song. I know I went off the Theme a bit by sharing covers of the original by the Blue Eyed Soul Artist being recognized — but I just love the song in all incarnations and wanted to share my joy. Hope you don’t mind.

Trivia: Even thought the group helped to create this classic, often covered hit song, they never got the writing credit they deserved. The record was credited solely to Charles Hatcher — the birth name of Edwin Starr!

Musically Yours,

“Spinning Wheel” Performed by “Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969)

SonDan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:55 +0000

#1 Adult Contemporary, #2 Billboard Top 100, #45 R&B Singles

This song was very, very popular when I was in high school -- loved it then and now! Whenever I hear it it takes me back to those carefree days!

This song is from second LP released by the Al Kooper formed rock band ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’ that earned the group the 1969 Grammy for Album of the year. Entitled “Blood, Sweat and Tears” the group had added four new members since their debut LP and this no doubt pushed them to the next level since one of those four new members was the extraordinary soulful voice of new member and lead singer Canadian David Clayton Thomas!

Born David Henry Thomsett in the UK, Clayton-Thomas wrote the song “Spinning Wheel” which was one of three hit singles from this award winning, now classic IMHO, LP. The song also won the 1969 Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement for Fred Lipsius.

The LP charted #1 Billboard top 100 albums and #15 Billboard R&B albums.

According to WIKI:

In 2002, the album was honoured with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Clayton-Thomas left the band twice, but he was still touring with a reconstituted Blood, Sweat & Tears through 2004.

Clayton-Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996. In January, 2006, the song “Spinning Wheel” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Clayton- Thomas is still performing and touring today. His schedule can be found on his My Space Profile and his Official Website which also contains historical/biographical information for your review.

Trivia: The third single to chart from this LP was the cover of the 1967 hit for Motown’s Brenda Holloway — “You Made Me So Very Happy.” Composed by Berry Gordy, Jr., Patrice Holloway, Brenda Holloway and Frank Wilson, the David Clayton-Thomas led version is simply awesome. I loved it the first time I heard it.

I recall in an interview many years ago reading that Holloway was credited with saying that Clayton’s soulful version is how it was meant to be -- not the watered down version Gordy had her release : she loved it!

BTW — has anyone seen In Concert: A Musical Biography? I was thinking of buying it.

Musically Yours,

OSML Recommended Reading List Updated

SonDan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:29:44 +0000

Just updated my Recommended Reading Page.

If you haven’t checked it out in a while please visit to see the new additions I have recently read.

If you are new to OSML, do stop by to see the list of great books related to Boomer music and the artists that made it, that I highly recommend you give a reading.

If you have some books you would like to suggest please, please let me hear from you.

Lolly Vegas Redbone Musican Dies

SonDan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:06:28 +0000

Just read this news at the “Treasure Island Oldies Blogspot”. First Ron Banks now the lead singer of another favorite groups of mine – Redbone! Now I fear for the proverbial third round of bad news. ;-(

Lolly Vegas, 70, the lead singer and guitarist for Redbone, a Native American rock band that had a million-selling hit in 1974 with the bouncy”Come and Get Your Love,”died in his sleep Thursday at his home in Reseda.

He had lung cancer and had been in poor health since suffering a stroke 15 years ago, said the band’s manager, Michael Stone.

This article continues at the “All About Jazz” website.

Check out the group’s classic hit “Come and Get Y0ur Love” on YouTube while it lasts.

Dramatics founder Ron Banks dead at 58

SonDan — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:11:10 +0000

Ronald Dean Banks 1951-2010

By BRIAN McCOLLUM
Free Press Pop Music Writer

Ron Banks, whose silky falsetto helped give the Dramatics one of the most enduring careers in R&B, has died at home in Detroit. He was 58.

Banks died at about noon today, possibly of a massive heart attack, said Billy Wilson, president of the Motown Alumni Association.

The Obituary continues here at FREEP.COM

—

This afternoon while at work I checked my email only to find this distressing news in the form of an email with the subject line “R.I.P. -- Ron Banks of the Dramatics” from the Publisher of the “Soul Tracks” website. I read the post and could barely get it back together to continue working.

As with the loss of MJJ, the loss of Ron Banks is another blow that shook me to the core as if he were a family member.

Although I never met him personally, we were two years apart in age and grew up musically together. Mr. Banks was a great admirer of the late great Eddie Kendricks as was I. But Ron had a sound all his own.

Just listen to this to hear for yourself. I blogged about this song here on OSML before: but since it is my favorite Dramatics song of all here it is again!

I can always pick the sweet tenor stylings of Eddie, Ron Banks and Ronald Isley out of a sea of voices. It doesn’t matter if they are singing lead or are in the background I can always pick them out. These three gentleman are at the top of the heap in terms of tenor vocals in the entire history of modern pop music IMHO.

My condolences go out the the Banks family, friends and all the the fans that loved him as I did for bringing so much joy and pleasure into my life.

Ron’s tenor is superb in this song — isn’t it?

Musically Yours,

“Girl Watcher” Performed By The O’Kaysions (1968)

SonDan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:27 +0000

Photo Source: www.okaysions.com

This has got to be one of my all time favorite songs from the Sixites period. It was also one of my Dad’s favorites. I have no clue what it is about it that just clicked for us both, but it did then and still does for me.

As much as I loved the tune I never knew it was a Blue Eyed Soul cut until just a few years ago thanks to the Internet. Check out the official site of the Original O’Kaysions for a short biography.

Written by Ronald Killette and band member Wayne Pittman, this single by the North Carolina group, charted #6 R&B and #5 Pop in 1968 for ABC Records.

Trivia: The group, known as The Kays in 1967, has previously recorded this song for a local label in North Carolina before joining ABC Records and changing their name to The O’Kaysions.

Musically Yours,

“Westbound #9″ Performed by Flaming Ember (1970)

SonDan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:21 +0000

24 Pop 15 R&B

This blast from my high school past was (and still is) the perfect song to do the “Temptation Walk” to. Can you dig it?

Composed by Daphne Dumas, Ronald Dunbar and Edith Wayne, the tune “Westbound #9″ was recorded on the band’s Hot Wax label which was owned by Holland, Dozier and Holland formerly of Motown.

The band had first recorded for the Ric Tic label (distributed by Buddah) as the Flaming Embers, before dropping the “s” and joining Hot Wax.

The band members included Jerry Plunk on drums and lead vocals; Joe Sladich on guitar; Bill Ellis on keyboards; Jim Bugnel on bass guitar (replaced Mike Jackson in 1966); and Larry Gregg on drums.

The group, hailing from Detroit, later changed its name to ” Mind, Body and Soul” and continued to play in and around Detroit during the Seventies.

Trivia: When Ric Tic was purchased by Berry Gordy, he did not want the Embers as part of the package — so it just goes to show you that Mr. Gordy did not always make the correct decision now did he?

Here is the group performing their biggest hit for as long as it lasts on YouTube. Enjoy!

Musically Yours,

“It’s Your Thing” Performed By The Isley Brothers (1969)

SonDan — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:00:24 +0000

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.

The Temptations 1960 cover version

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)

Musically Yours,

“Color Him Father” Performed by The Winstons (1969)

SonDan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:00:39 +0000

The 1969 Grammy for the Best Rhythm and Blues Song was “Color Him Father,” Richard Spencer, songwriter.

Just like another Grammy winning song in 1969, “A Boy Name Sue, “ “Color Him Father” is all about the superb lyrics!

Composed by group member Richard Spencer of Washington DC’s The Winstons, this song tells of the love for a step-father that holds a special place in my heart. When it came out I was learning to love my new step-mother (R.I.P) as another person to trust in my young confused life.

The song got a lot of local airplay (I lived then and now in the Maryland suburbs of DC) and truly was inspirational in my life.

The Winstons had recorded a song prior to this one on the Curtom Label that was a minor local success, but “CHF” was their first and last big hit on the Metromedia label. It charted #2 R&B and of course won a Grammy.

Rev. O.C. Smith recorded a popular cover of the song that appeared on his 1969 LP ” O.C. Smith At Home,” but I prefer the original by the Winstons when composer Richard Spencer sings the lead.

Color Him Father by Richard Spencer

There’s a man at my house he’s so big and strong
He goes to work each day, stays all day long
He comes home each night looking tired and beat
He sits down at the dinner table and has a bite to eat
Never a frown always a smile
When he says to me how’s my child
I’ve been studying hard all day in school
Tryin’ to understand the golden rule

Think I’ll color this man father
I think I’ll color him love
Said I’m gonna color him father
I think I’ll color the man love, yes I will

He says education is the thing if you wanna compete
Because without it son, life ain’t very sweet
I love this man I don’t know why
Jexcept I’ll need his strength till the day that I die
My mother loves him and I can tell
By the way she looks at him when he holds my little sister nell
I heard her say just the other day
That if it hadn’t been for him she wouldn’t have found her way
My real old man he got killed in the war
And she knows she and seven kids couldn’t of got very far
She said she thought that she could never love again
And then there he stood with that big wide grin
He married my mother and he took us in
And now we belong to the nman with that big wide grin

Think I’ll color this man father
I think I’ll color him love

Said I’m gonna color him father
I think I’ll color the man love, yes I will

OSML TRIVA: The Winstons toured as the backup band for The Impressions

Musically yours,

“A Boy Named Sue” Performed by Johnny Cash (1969)

SonDan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:00:39 +0000

The 1969 Grammy for Best Country Song went to “A Boy Named Sue ” - Shel Silverstein, Songwriter.

The 1969 Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male went to “A Boy Named Sue” sung by Johnny Cash.

Like the so-called labeled Soul Gospel song “Oh Happy Day” in the last post — this Country Song was a staple on AM radio when it came out and everyone loved it! It is another song that defies category IMHO. I realize that the record industry insists on charting music by category, but frankly in the Sixties and into the Seventies for me and my friends and family good music was good music no matter what the genre!

I loved Johnny Cash ever since I first heard “Get Rhythm” and ” I Walk The Line” as a little girl in the Fifties. “Daddy Sang Bass” is still a fave and on my mp3 player to this day!

The Double Grammy winner “Sue” song topped both the Adult Contemporary and Country Singles Charts at #1 and the Billboard Hot 100 at #2.

In his autobiography Cash wrote that he had just received the song and only read over it a couple of times. It was included in that concert to try it out; he didn’t know the words and on the filmed recording, he can be seen regularly referring to a piece of paper. Cash was surprised at how well the song went over with the audience – the rough, spontaneous performance with sparse accompaniment was included in the Johnny Cash At San Quentin album, ultimately becoming one of Cash’s biggest hits.

According to Shel Silverstein’s biographer Mitch Myers, it was June Carter Cash who encouraged her husband to perform the song. Silverstein introduced it to them at what they called a “Guitar Pull,” where musicians would pass a guitar around and play their songs. (SOURCE:WIKI Page “A Boy Named Sue”)

This is live at San Quentin in 1969.

“A Boy Named Sue” Composed by Shel Silverstein

My daddy left home when I was three
And he didn’t leave much to ma and me
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
Now, I don’t blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me “Sue.”

Well, he must o’ thought that is quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a’ lots of folk,
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and I’d get red
And some guy’d laugh and I’d bust his head,
I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a boy named “Sue.”

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
I’d roam from town to town to hide my shame.
But I made a vow to the moon and stars
That I’d search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man who gave me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
I thought I’d stop and have myself a brew.
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
There at a table, dealing stud,
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me “Sue.”

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
From a worn-out picture that my mother’d had,
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
He was big and bent and gray and old,
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
And I said: “My name is ‘Sue!’ How do you do!
Now your gonna die!!”

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
And he went down, but to my surprise,
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a’ gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

I tell ya, I’ve fought tougher men
But I really can’t remember when,
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
He stood there lookin’ at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: “Son, this world is rough
And if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn’t be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you’d have to get tough or die
And it’s the name that helped to make you strong.”

He said: “Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn’t blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I’m the son-of-a-bitch that named you “Sue.’”

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I came away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I’m gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

Now I have shared with you some of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. What are some of your please?

Musically Yours,