Singles Going Steady 62-New And Forgotten

Upon a cloudy and foggy afternoon I made my way to Iowa City to see what I can find for music.  And amazingly I found some of note.


1)  Jesus Was A Cross Maker-Judee Sill  (Asylum 45-11000)  1972

The first act to be signed to David Geffen's label, was Sill, who made this forgotten folk rock gem that critics tend to rave about. Perhaps one of the most bad luck artists, Judee ended up overdosing on drugs in 1979 and hanging with the wrong crowd.  B side Lady O was covered by the Turtles as a minor hit in 1969.  I basically bought this an curio.  Both songs produced by Graham Nash.

2)   Follow Me-The Drifters (Atlantic 45-2292)  #91 1965

There's a 2 CD best of The Drifters that covered the songs up to At The Club, Follow Me didn't make the cut since this was the beginning of the end of the beloved Drifters, not that they were not making quality sides but this song seems to be tailored made for Dionne Warwick.  But it's not exactly a memorable hit, it sputtered to 91 on the Billboard charts and probably higher up on the R and B track.  B side The Outside World was originally recorded at Gold Star for Dobie Gray but it was never released and so  the Drifters added vocals.   Probably would have been a better A side.   The Drifters continued to record singles for Atlantic up to 1971.  Here's hoping in the future I might find those forgotten records.

3)    You Got Style-Jon And Robin (Abnak AB-130)  1968

Another forty five from Jon And Robin to which Jeff Berry and Andy Kim wrote this failed single. One of the mysteries of life is why this didn't chart.  Highly infectious, somewhat like Neil Diamond was making for Bang Records, to which Jeff Berry may had something to do with that. B side Thursday Morning is a more darker number, which kinda recalls Norweign Wood but twice as depressing.  I should get that Sundazed best of from Jon N Robin.


4)    Ask Me What You Want-Millie Jackson (Spring SPR-123)  #27  1972

The original bad girl, who stirred the pot of R rated soul, starts out with a nice innocent soul toe tapper, I love the chorus line  Ask Me what you want, and I'll try my best to get it get it get it get it.  Another artist that is in need a decent overview.  B side I Just Can't Stand It, is a passable soul ballad.

5)  The Shape I'm In-The Band (Capitol 2870)  #77 1970  (B side Time To Kill)

Time To Kill charted at number 77 however The Shape I'm In got more air play and made the regional charts. The Shape I'm In is actually better and played more on classic rock radio.

6)    Beer Barrel Polka-Glahe Musette Orchestra  (RCA Victor 45-1009)  1951
        Hot Pretzels-Bernie Wyte Musette Orchestra

Two different bands, but basically it's polka music. But very popular enough for RCA to issue it on the Gold Standard Series.  This record is the actual purple pressing from 1951 on 45 and spent a good six months in agony at the Salvation Army waiting for some hoarder to pick it up.  Still plays VG despite not having a record sleeve and fared better than a Glenn Miller In The Mood 45 that got cracked.

7)   Cotton Eyed Joe-Al Dean (Paid PAD-135)  1981

Originally on Kik-R-202 and issued in 1971.  Collectors had debated about this record, which was part of Stop Records but issued on the Kik R label instead.  It's hillbilly bluegrass and a lot of fun to listen to.  Like the old days of Starday Records and their type of hillbilly bluegrass country.


8)   Blue Moon-Elvis Presley (RCA-447-6013)  1956

Reissue of 47-6640 single, to which I already have, but it seems the later day pressing has a bit more clarity than the original 45.  But hoarders love to collect Elvis singles and the more off the wall the better.   I have come to enjoy hearing this version of Blue Moon, very seeped in the blues.  B side is Just Because.   This is the mid 60's reissue with the dog on the side label.

9)   Hello Mary Lou-Bobby Lewis (United Artists UA-50668)  1970

Lewis recorded for United Artists from 1965-1972.  I had him confused with the Tossing And Turning Bobby Lewis, but I do recall hearing this on KHAK years ago, back when KHAK was playing actual country and not that pop crap garbage auto tuned bullshit that is considered country.  B side Love Wonderful Love is a honky tonk weeper.

10)  Shake Em On Down-Savoy Brown (Parrot 45-40034)  1968

In the glorious history of Savoy Brown, this is their first single released and from their first album called Shake Down which is hard to find on CD (or LP for that matter).  Features Brice Portius on vocals, this is basically the Savoy Brown that was into blues covers and not necessarily the boogie, tho' this song is the most close to the boogie that would figure once a change in players became in order.  The only 45 that I picked up at Analog Vault before the 2019 year ended out. 


Goodwill finds at DBQ.

Toward the end of last year, I made one trip to Dubuque and came across some late 60's early 70s forty fives that were in so so shape. But played fairly well.

11)  Master Jack-Four Jacks And A Jill (RCA 47-9473)  #18  1968

From South Africa I believe, a very odd song about coming of age and finding Master Jack was a very strange man, to which the final line  instead of saying But I Thank You to, You're a Very Strange Man....Aren't You?  To which this song gets crabby points for that.  Followup was Mister  Nico which appeared in the bottom 90 of the top 100 for two weeks.

12)  They Don't Know-Tracey Ullman (MCA/Stiff 52347)  #8 1984

A cover of Christy McColl's single, also issued via Stiff, to which at that time, was dying on the vine at MCA Records.  While Tracey is more a comedy performer, she does put a 60s' girls' charm to this single, to which gets played on the radio from time to time.

13)   It's Up To You Petula-Edison Lighthouse (Bell 960)  #72 1971

Their 3rd single, to which they changed producers, from Tony Macaulay to themselves.  Martin Rushant (Fleetwood Mac, Ian Gomm) recorded this minor pop hit.  I remember KCRG playing this song in the sunny days of 1971.  I'm surprised this didn't chart higher.

14)   Jennifer Tompkins-Street People (Musicor 45-1365)  #36 1970

From the mind of Rupert Holmes, who would give you the Pinata Colata  Song later in 1979.  But at this point he was writing bubblegum numbers and of course, Timothy, which The Buoys covered.  Paul Vance produced.

15)  Always Something To Remind Me-RB Greaves (Atco 6726)  1969  Charted 1/24/70 #27

Followup to Take A Letter Maria. If you listen close to the horns, they actually mirror Dionne Warwick's Do You Know The Way To San Jose.

16)  California Kid And Remo-Lobo (Big Tree BT-119)  #72 1971

A disappointing showing on the Billboard chart and I don't think the folks at KCRG payed much attention to this, but this light pop rock number is what Lobo does best. Humm-able chorus and a story line somewhat like Me And You And A Dog Named Boo. Lobo did paved the way for the likes of Gene Cotton, The Bellamy Brothers and anybody that was on Big Tree (with the exception of Brownsville Station).

17)  Don't Monkey With Another Monkey's Monkey-Johnny Paycheck (Little Darlin LD-0035) 1967

Celebrated for his Epic singles, I think Johnny had better country songs via the Little Darlin label.  This is hard core honky tonk but without Billy Sherrill's polished production.  Overall I like Aubrey Mayhew's production over Sherrill's. tho once Johnny went to Epic, Billy was his producer.  But then we tend to forget Johnny would record for A.M.I and Mercury in the 80s but was hardly noticed.

18)  Don't Leave Me This Way-Communards (MCA-London 52928)  #40 1986

19)  The Lion Sleeps Tonight-Robert John (Atlantic 2846)  #3 1972

Two remakes.  One, a decent cover of Thelma Houston's 1977 disco topping hit and the other a modern pop version of The Tokens.  Robert John had a history of covering old songs from the 50s and 60s for various labels (Columbia and A&M), followup Hushabye said howdy number 99 on the top 100 and faded after that.  John would score a big hit with Sad Eyes for EMI in 1980.  Jimmy Somerville would leave the Communards for a solo career and the band renamed themselves Bronski Beat.

20)  Primitive Man-Ivan Neville (Polydor 889 022-7)  1989

 Somebody was listening to the Rolling Stones it seems. Followup to Not Just Another Girl, this didn't place on the charts but it's a quite rocking little number.  To which Neville would be part of Keith Richard's Expensive Winos band.  Ivan made another album but have basically disappeared since then.

21)  Sunday Sun Neil Diamond (Uni 55084)  #68 1969

 The A side is Neil learning a few things from Jeff Berry and Ellie Greenwich.  That could be Ellie singing along in the background.  Don Costa provides the arrangement, tho his orchestra is way back in the mix.   B side Honey Drippin Times, is one of those weird sides that Neil was famous for (Pot Smoker's Song, Your So Sweet Horseflies Hang Around Your Neck), it also shows hints of his MOR sound later on. Sunday Sun, however might be the great lost Bang single that was issued elsewhere.