Post by H2IZCOOL on May 26, 2003 21:59:05 GMT -5
OK, after a week's hiatus while you all waited with baited breath, we're ready to resume this feature.
These are songs that received a little radio airplay at one time, but then, to the best of my knowledge dropped out of sight, never again to be heard. I changed one stipulation. A couple of these songs did briefly sneak into the lower parts of the top 20 -- but only briefly. Most didn't even make the top 40, and a few are totally uncharted.
So, once again, MC, who remembers any of these:
I Can't Grow Peaches on A Cherry Tree - Just Us (1966, #34 ) Chip Taylor and Al Gorgoni from NYC sang this very folk-song sounding tune, that actually covered a 1965 folk song by the Browns that was uncharted. Three years earlier, it would have been a bigger hit, but by '66 Coffee House music was on the wane.
She's Everything (I Wanted You To Be) -Ral Donner (1962, #18) The best of the early Elvis sound-alikes. Ral even narrated the "This Is Elvis" documentary. A good song, but Ral kind of overdid it with "...I wanted you to be-e-e-eee."
High On A Hill - Scott English (1964, #77) A ballad that almost borders on Doo Wop style. After hearing it a few times back in '64, I once heard it on an oldies show in the '90s,so I guess someone else remembers,but not very many.
Jo-Ann - The Playmates (1958, #19) The debut song for the trio from Waterbury, CT (that is also where Gene Pitney was raised). The Playmates are best known for "Beep-Beep", but Jo-Ann features a light doo wop type sound and a mournful sax. When I first heard it growing up in Boston, it was rivaled by a second version of the song done by the Twin-tones. I have both 45s, but prefer the Playmates' version.
Ginny Come Lately - Brian Hyland (1962, #21) One of the lesser known songs by NYC's Hyland,who had million sellers with Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polkadot Bikini and Gypsy Woman. This ballad uses a play on the phrase "Johnny Come Lately"
Summer Souvenirs - Karl Hammel, Jr. (1961, #68). You never hear this song now, but did they ever play the heck out of it in New England in the summer of '61. Hammel soundedlikehe was singing with marbles in his mouth.
I Could Have Loved You So Well - Ray Peterson (1962, #57) The guy who gave us "Tell Laura I Love Her" and "Corrina Corrina" as well as (IMO) a dynamite version of "The Wonder of You" (which he SANG as opposed to slurred ala Elvis) performed this mournful but powerful ballad.
Shake -The Shadows of Knight (1968, #46) The group that had the hit version of Van Morrison's "Gloria" two years earlier, joined the Super K stables of Kasenetz and Katz (1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express). Super K produced mostly bubblegum music, but the Shadows of Knight still rocked! Shake was definitely not bubblegum.
Danger - Vic Dana (1963, #96) The Buffalo born middle of the road singer was best known for his top ten hit Red Roses for A Blue Lady and for his Christmas ballad, Little Altar Boy.
Outside Heaven's Door -Paul Greenwood (1961, uncharted). I remember DJs played this melodic uptempo song complete with angelic choir constantly for about two weeks, and then never again. Have never seen any reference to Greenwood or the song since, except one magic day about 18 months ago, I found it at the late lamented Audiogalaxy (maybe the greatest of all download sites). I may own one of only two or three existing 45s (on Musicor records). I'm really curious if anyone knows this song.
OK folks. Which of these do you remember?
These are songs that received a little radio airplay at one time, but then, to the best of my knowledge dropped out of sight, never again to be heard. I changed one stipulation. A couple of these songs did briefly sneak into the lower parts of the top 20 -- but only briefly. Most didn't even make the top 40, and a few are totally uncharted.
So, once again, MC, who remembers any of these:
I Can't Grow Peaches on A Cherry Tree - Just Us (1966, #34 ) Chip Taylor and Al Gorgoni from NYC sang this very folk-song sounding tune, that actually covered a 1965 folk song by the Browns that was uncharted. Three years earlier, it would have been a bigger hit, but by '66 Coffee House music was on the wane.
She's Everything (I Wanted You To Be) -Ral Donner (1962, #18) The best of the early Elvis sound-alikes. Ral even narrated the "This Is Elvis" documentary. A good song, but Ral kind of overdid it with "...I wanted you to be-e-e-eee."
High On A Hill - Scott English (1964, #77) A ballad that almost borders on Doo Wop style. After hearing it a few times back in '64, I once heard it on an oldies show in the '90s,so I guess someone else remembers,but not very many.
Jo-Ann - The Playmates (1958, #19) The debut song for the trio from Waterbury, CT (that is also where Gene Pitney was raised). The Playmates are best known for "Beep-Beep", but Jo-Ann features a light doo wop type sound and a mournful sax. When I first heard it growing up in Boston, it was rivaled by a second version of the song done by the Twin-tones. I have both 45s, but prefer the Playmates' version.
Ginny Come Lately - Brian Hyland (1962, #21) One of the lesser known songs by NYC's Hyland,who had million sellers with Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polkadot Bikini and Gypsy Woman. This ballad uses a play on the phrase "Johnny Come Lately"
Summer Souvenirs - Karl Hammel, Jr. (1961, #68). You never hear this song now, but did they ever play the heck out of it in New England in the summer of '61. Hammel soundedlikehe was singing with marbles in his mouth.
I Could Have Loved You So Well - Ray Peterson (1962, #57) The guy who gave us "Tell Laura I Love Her" and "Corrina Corrina" as well as (IMO) a dynamite version of "The Wonder of You" (which he SANG as opposed to slurred ala Elvis) performed this mournful but powerful ballad.
Shake -The Shadows of Knight (1968, #46) The group that had the hit version of Van Morrison's "Gloria" two years earlier, joined the Super K stables of Kasenetz and Katz (1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express). Super K produced mostly bubblegum music, but the Shadows of Knight still rocked! Shake was definitely not bubblegum.
Danger - Vic Dana (1963, #96) The Buffalo born middle of the road singer was best known for his top ten hit Red Roses for A Blue Lady and for his Christmas ballad, Little Altar Boy.
Outside Heaven's Door -Paul Greenwood (1961, uncharted). I remember DJs played this melodic uptempo song complete with angelic choir constantly for about two weeks, and then never again. Have never seen any reference to Greenwood or the song since, except one magic day about 18 months ago, I found it at the late lamented Audiogalaxy (maybe the greatest of all download sites). I may own one of only two or three existing 45s (on Musicor records). I'm really curious if anyone knows this song.
OK folks. Which of these do you remember?
