"The REAL Lost 45's" Part 2

[Pete70s]

Here's another installment:

"You Are The One"-Sugar Bears (Big Tree, 1972 #51)
Like The Archies and Banana Splits, the Suger Bears were a studio creation based around a cartoon. Unlike the others, though, the Sugar Bears concept was built around a commercial, not a series. The Sugar Bear from Post Super Sugar Crisp cereal was given a backing band, and a record deal! I'm sure the folks at Post got a nice little increase in sales by giving away a free record on the back of the cereal box, as well.
Nowadays, the record is more well known for featuring a young Kim Carnes, 9 years pefore "Bette Davis eyes" locked up the #1 spot for 9 weeks. though she doesn't sing lead, you can clearly hear her singing back-up.
I don't think it's ever been released on CD, so no link to a sample. But I did one better, here's a link to a page that has the whole song in Real Audio format. Check it out:
franklarosa.com/vinyl/Exhibit.jsp?AlbumID=85

"It Only Hurts For A Little While"-Notations (Gemico, 1977 #17 R&B, did not make BB Hot 100)
I recently found this song on iTunes, not even remembering the name of the group. It holds a childhood memory for me. Every summer, the town I grew up in (Fitchburg, MA) would close up Main Street from Thurs-Sat one week every August for their yearly "sidewalk sale". They'ed bring in bands to perform, a bounce house for the kids, popcorn vendors, etc.., And all the stores would set up tables on the street with sale items. Well, Stuarts Department Store set up a huge bin of cut-out 45's, 10 for a dollar. Most of them turned out to be crap, but of the ten I bought, THIS was the only one that stood out and that I still remember today.
As for the song itself, it's a sweet soul ballad in the vein of The Manhattans.
www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00000365W001007/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_007/104-4452271-2723162

"Want You To Know"-Rotary Connection (Cadet Concept, 1970 #96)
Minnie Riperton was a sad case of a performer who struggled for years, finally had a #1 hit, and then died four years later, virtually forgotten. Between '67-70 she sang lead for a Canadian rock band, Rotary Connection, who gained much critical praise but didn't sell a lot of records.
This is a mellow ballad that features a sweet-voiced Minnie, with none of the high octaves that would become her trademark.
www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000005KR1001015/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_015/104-4452271-2723162

"You Got Me Hummin'"-Cold Blood (San Francisco, 1970 #52)
I saw this album at flea markets for years, so it obviously sold well. I always thought it was strange to have a band with the name "Cold Blood", yet have an album cover with a picture of a very pretty girl. The two just didn't mix, in my opinion. The pretty girl was singer Lydia Pense, a Janis Joplin-influenced siren who fronted this horn-rock band.
The song itself is a 5-minute jam that just cooks from beginning to end. It seems more geared to FM album rock radio than AM pop radio, which may have overall hurt it's chances.
www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000001OZ9001004/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_004/104-4452271-2723162

"Our World"-Blue Mink (Philips, 1970 #64)
Blue Mink is another band I'd heard a lot about over the years, but never heard until recently. Singer Madeline Bell, who'd hit the top-40 in 1968 with the original (and arguably better) version of the Supremes/Temptaions smash"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" teamed up with a rock band featuring a former member of David & Jonathan and a founding member of White Plains.
It's an unusual song that at times reminds me of early Chicago. Not too out of place on the radio in 1970, and obviously a hit SOMEWHERE..
www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000005D3J001007/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_007/104-4452271-2723162

[H2IZCOOL]

Well, once again I am shut-out.

I do remember some of the artists such as the Rotary Connection (although I didn't know Minnie Ripperton was in the group), and Blue Mink. (BTW, I totally agree with you about the Madeline Bell version of I'm Gonna Make You Love Me being superior). -- And untilk I looked it up on Allmusic, I thought that It Onlly Hurts for A Little While was a cover of the Ames Brothers hit from the mid '50s. But, it is apparently a totally different song.

[Dawn]

I have two of these songs, You Are the One and Our World.

I'm surprised You Are the One wasn't a bigger hit. It reminds me a little of some of the earlier Partridge Family songs. I didn't know about the Sugar Crisp cereal connection - interesting!

Our World is one of four Blue Mink songs I own, and is the best track of the four IMO. I agree with your description of it sounding like early Chicago. A shame it didn't make a stronger showing on the charts.

It Only Hurts For A Little While sounds very familiar from the clip, though I'm not sure where I would have heard it. I liked what I heard from the sample.

Very pretty melody and vocals on the Rotary Connection song. Minnie was very talented, and it's a shame we lost her at such a young age.

You Got Me Hummin' is an interesting song. The lead singer reminds me a bit of Janis and possibly Chi Coltrane. I like the band's emphasis on the horn section, but I agree that it might not have been the best fit for AM radio at the time.

[Ken]

You Are The One - Sugar Bears - I've never heard this before, but I like it. As Dawn mentioned it sounds very much like a Partridge Family song especially the background vocals.


"Want You To Know"- Rotary Connection -The song has a nice laid back feel.The only song I'm familiar with from The Rotary Connection is their cover of Ruby Tuesday - I sold the 45 a few years ago unfortunately I never had the chance to listen to it.


Our World"- Blue Mink - That's quite good. Like you Pete, I've heard alot about the band over the years, but up until now , I had never had the chance to hear any of their material.


"You Got Me Hummin'"- Cold Blood - I'm familiar with the band by name only. Wow! I like it. I never would have guessed they were an R&B type of band. Just going by the name I would have thought they were hard rock.

[KittyKat - RIP Luciano]

"It Only Hurts For A Little While"-Notations

After listening to the snippet I totally remember this song. Never knew the name or the group though. I can say that I haven't heard it in over 20 years.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Stumped again! I know you're saying, "Well listen to them and tell me what you think!" LOL! I wish I could at work, but we are limited on the net at work-5 minute intervals. (Pro boards don't get blocked.)

I'd like to try at home some night, when I get the time. I'm busier at home than work!