There are also the film soundtracks to all the Musicals that were about in the 60's
.
Sound of Music ,
Mary Poppins,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
West Side Story,
My Fair Lady,
Oliver,
Half A Sixpence,
Oh! What A Lovely War!
Doctor Doolittle,
Man of La Mancha,
Sweet Charity,
Thoroughly Modern Millie,
The Jungle Book,
Finians Rainbow,
and for now Paint your Wagon.
Any more for any more?
Although I have a bit of a soft spot for “Oliver”, I have to say that, if only for the sheer quality of its songs, “West Side Story” is streets ahead of the rest on the list.
My three favourite songs from this musical are “Maria”, “Somewhere” and “America”, and here are three non-production alternative versions of those songs:-
Although I like the Marvin Gaye and P. J. Proby tracks, I feel that the Nice’s version of “America” is, quite frankly, a bit of a dirge, lacking both the sheer musical exuberance and (being an instrumental) the witty lyrics of the “West Side Story” version. So here is a clip from the 1961 film of “West Side Story” clearly demonstrating how the song should be performed:-
I tend to keep away from the Music forum, and only visit occasionally, this is because 99% of the threads seem to be devoted to music I really cannot stand, i.e. modern music!
However this thread is absolutely terrific, as is the similar seventies thread.
A big thankyou to all who've contributed such amazing music, most notably Capablanca, Ohglobbits, Randy Gibbons and Vabosity.
And, of course, a big thankyou to Mushymanrob for coming up with the idea for the threads in the first place.
I tend to keep away from the Music forum, and only visit occasionally, this is because 99% of the threads seem to be devoted to music I really cannot stand, i.e. modern music!
However this thread is absolutely terrific, as is the similar seventies thread.
A big thankyou to all who've contributed such amazing music, most notably Capablanca, Ohglobbits, Randy Gibbons and Vabosity.
And, of course, a big thankyou to Mushymanrob for coming up with the idea for the threads in the first place.
thanks for that
personally i wish that other oldies would not be so put off by the modern bias here and post away! pop music as we know it is 50 odd years old, theres so much to share, discuss, that id be most happy to see more retro threads.
hi th ere what a good thread you cant beat the oldies
ricky stevens i cried for you
johnny crawford your nose is gonna grow
just a couple i can remember
As there is a Christmas song thread running on this board, thought I would add The Supremes with lead vocals from Florence Ballard with the hymn "Oh Holy Night."
Although justly regarded as Britain's premier instrumental group, The Shadows - like many instrumentalists - were very underrated - and pretty good - vocalists.
Contrary to popular belief, the first single release as The Shadows (after they changed their name from The Drifters) was not "Apache", but "Saturday Dance" which just missed the chart in early 1960 and is rarely played:-
I believe there is an album of their vocal work available and I'm fundamentally certain there is a Shadows nut on DS who will say how many vocal tracks they recorded
If anybody else knows of rare vocals by instrumentalists, I'd be very grateful.
You might remember the version by Darts, but here's Gene Chandler - Duke Of Earl (1962) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Uht69h8Is
It was a number 1 in the US, but did nothing here - I'm not sure it was even released.
The Lafayettes - Life's Too Short (1962) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2u9cTfLKWQ
Reached #87 in the US. The idea that there was 86 records in the charts better than this that week takes some believing.
The Edsels - Rama Lama Ding Dong (1961) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KStsPPgeka4
This was released way back in 1957 and it eventually reached #21 in the US charts in 1961. Something of a slow burner I suppose. I think the 'wad' might have covered this one, but I'm trying not to think about that.
How about Blue Ribbons from The Paramounts,Weekend from Earth and Fire(no relation to Earth Wind and Fire), Reason To Believe by Rudy Bennett of The Motions(eventually covered in the uk by Rod Stewart) and Marble Breaks and Iron Bends by Peter Fenton(English version of Drafi Deutscher's Marmor steine und Eisen Bricht.)
Sergio Mendes? Did somebody mention Sergio Mendes just now? Odd coincidence as his Like a Lover was playing on the radio as I read it.
The lush Many Stars is much more LA than Brazil, so with strained reasoning can I slip a sly one under the wire to restore a latin bias?
This recent-ish remake of Marianne Faithful's As Tears Go By is sung in Brazilian Portuguese with a bossa bias; Jun Miyake & Arto Lindsay with vocals by Vinicius Cantuaria, apparently. Come to think of it, bossa nova is hot in Japan, and the cross-influences are worth seeking out but that's for a different thread.
But that said I was a big fan of Bowie, Ferry, Bolan and Mercury. Probably the only 'white artists' that I grew to respect ..but not immediately. But I sometimes wonder if I was forced to like them
And yes, I'm white, but had far more respect for black artists and thought that they should have made it a thousandfold over our poor crappy stuff that was around in the charts in that time.
War and Fatback Band were blowing every white artist out of the water in the disco scene at the time...............but sadly disappeared just as suddenly :rolleyes:
Like with Jazz (and indeed modern pop music) I really don't have much time for about 99.9% of Country music, but even so I think there are always gems to be found, even in genres of music you don't normally like or listen to. A great song is a great song, no matter what. Here's an example:
Written by Nelson when he was a struggling songwriter, it was originally recorded by Faron Young, who had a hit with it, and then Willie recorded his own version the next year.
Great soulful record, If you mention Etta James you think of "I'd Rather Go Blind" but Barbara Lynn (again) also does an excellent version of the same song.
I love fifties music, particularly rock ‘n’ roll, doo-wop and rhythm ‘n’ blues, plus the odd bit of country, jazz and skiffle. Even the pop music has a quaint, old-fashioned charm that I find strangely appealing.
Of course, submitting fifties tracks to a sixties thread isn’t quite playing the game, but as 1959 is almost the sixties, and as I (and others) have quite happily submitted tracks from that year before (believing that we were bending rather than breaking thread rules), here are a dozen more tracks from the final year of the glorious fifties.
Bobby Darin - Queen Of The Hop (1959)
1959 was a good year for Bobby Darin. In May he topped the UK singles charts with the semi-classic, “Dream Lover”, while in September he topped them once again with the out-and-out classic, “Mack The Knife”. Back in January, “Queen Of The Hop” could get no higher than no. 24, which is a great pity, because afaic it’s a great rock ‘n’ roll single.
The Browns - The Three Bells (1959)
English language version of “Les Trois Cloches”, a hugely successful French song dating back to the forties and originally recorded by Edith Piaf et les Compagnons de la Chanson.
Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue Got Married (1959)
This is the sequel to one of Buddy’s best known and most popular singles, “Peggy Sue”, and was a minor hit in the UK a few months after his tragic death on February 3rd 1959.
Ritchie Valens - Donna (1959)
I love this song! A minor UK hit single for Valens in March 1959, a month after he was killed in the same air crash that killed Buddy Holly.
Sarah Vaughan - Broken Hearted Melody (1959)
If I were to list my Top Fifty female singers all the so-called divas of the last quarter of a century would be conspicuous by their absence. There would, however, be no shortage of fifties jazz singers, most notably Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, Dinah Washington and, of course, Sarah Vaughan. This track is much more pop than jazz, but it’s still Sarah at her very best.
Jackie Wilson - That’s Why I Love You So (1959)
A while back I devoted to a whole post to tracks by the brilliant Jackie Wilson, and since then I can’t get enough of the man’s music, so here’s another gem from him.
Connie Francis - Young Love (1959)
This is an album track I’ve only recently discovered. Prior to that, I was only familiar with the 1957 UK chart-topping version by Tab Hunter, an actor, who by his own admission, couldn’t sing to save his life. Connie Francis has an exceptional voice, so hearing her version of this song for the very first time really was a case of going from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Sam Cooke - Only Sixteen (1959)
I adore this man’s voice! Although it would appear that back in August 1959 the British record buying public did not, for while this single languished at number 23 in UK chart, a quite appalling (imho) British cover version by Craig Douglas was at number one. Unbelievable!
Comments
Ray Barretto - El Watusi (1961)
Tito Puente - Oye Como Va (1963)
Tito Puente - Fat Mama (1966)
Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 - Mas Que Nada (1966)
Joe Bataan - Subway Joe (1968)
Santana - Jingo (1969)
.
Although I have a bit of a soft spot for “Oliver”, I have to say that, if only for the sheer quality of its songs, “West Side Story” is streets ahead of the rest on the list.
My three favourite songs from this musical are “Maria”, “Somewhere” and “America”, and here are three non-production alternative versions of those songs:-
Marvin Gaye - Maria (196?)
P. J. Proby - Somewhere (1965)
The Nice - America (1968)
Although I like the Marvin Gaye and P. J. Proby tracks, I feel that the Nice’s version of “America” is, quite frankly, a bit of a dirge, lacking both the sheer musical exuberance and (being an instrumental) the witty lyrics of the “West Side Story” version. So here is a clip from the 1961 film of “West Side Story” clearly demonstrating how the song should be performed:-
West Side Story - America (1961)
Matt Monro - Somewhere (1964)
However this thread is absolutely terrific, as is the similar seventies thread.
A big thankyou to all who've contributed such amazing music, most notably Capablanca, Ohglobbits, Randy Gibbons and Vabosity.
And, of course, a big thankyou to Mushymanrob for coming up with the idea for the threads in the first place.
thanks for that
personally i wish that other oldies would not be so put off by the modern bias here and post away! pop music as we know it is 50 odd years old, theres so much to share, discuss, that id be most happy to see more retro threads.
ricky stevens i cried for you
johnny crawford your nose is gonna grow
just a couple i can remember
The Redcaps - Talking About You (1963)
Pat Wayne & The Beachcombers - Roll Over Beethoven (1963)
Both of these Chuck Berry covers feature a young Jimmy Page on guitar and are pretty hard rocking for '63.
Bobby Shafto - She`s My Girl (1964)
Simon Scott - Move It Baby (1964)
Two great singles by EMI hopefuls.
Mike Sheridan's Lot - Don't Turn Your Back On Me (1965)
You can clearly hear Roy Wood singing backing vocals on this great version of a Jackie De Shannon tune.
Finally a lively beat version of a Fats Domino number, again featuring Jimmy Page in fine form:
Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders - Hello Josephine (1963)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TkWeQfdpo4
Contrary to popular belief, the first single release as The Shadows (after they changed their name from The Drifters) was not "Apache", but "Saturday Dance" which just missed the chart in early 1960 and is rarely played:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7RchguPd4g
I believe there is an album of their vocal work available and I'm fundamentally certain there is a Shadows nut on DS who will say how many vocal tracks they recorded
If anybody else knows of rare vocals by instrumentalists, I'd be very grateful.
You might remember the version by Darts, but here's Gene Chandler - Duke Of Earl (1962)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Uht69h8Is
It was a number 1 in the US, but did nothing here - I'm not sure it was even released.
The Lafayettes - Life's Too Short (1962)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2u9cTfLKWQ
Reached #87 in the US. The idea that there was 86 records in the charts better than this that week takes some believing.
The Edsels - Rama Lama Ding Dong (1961)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KStsPPgeka4
This was released way back in 1957 and it eventually reached #21 in the US charts in 1961. Something of a slow burner I suppose. I think the 'wad' might have covered this one, but I'm trying not to think about that.
Rain and Tearshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNCu5QGWJII
It's Five O'Clockhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4WkKLmbBQo&feature=related
Well, in his Aphrodite's Child manifestation it's Such a Funny Night that does it for me.
After wondering since 1969 what the hell the song is about, I've recently decided it's just a nice tune.
The lush Many Stars is much more LA than Brazil, so with strained reasoning can I slip a sly one under the wire to restore a latin bias?
This recent-ish remake of Marianne Faithful's As Tears Go By is sung in Brazilian Portuguese with a bossa bias; Jun Miyake & Arto Lindsay with vocals by Vinicius Cantuaria, apparently. Come to think of it, bossa nova is hot in Japan, and the cross-influences are worth seeking out but that's for a different thread.
Glasgow's finest :
The Poets -Now We're Thruhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNgFAgiVcz0
Clear Light- She's Ready To Be Freehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPu8sLZXawY
The Open Mind- Cast A Spellhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bEyC2Y6Mq0&feature=related
The Sauterelles - Janethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zLrKfV6G8U
Anything 70s soul is my thing.
But that said I was a big fan of Bowie, Ferry, Bolan and Mercury. Probably the only 'white artists' that I grew to respect ..but not immediately. But I sometimes wonder if I was forced to like them
And yes, I'm white, but had far more respect for black artists and thought that they should have made it a thousandfold over our poor crappy stuff that was around in the charts in that time.
War and Fatback Band were blowing every white artist out of the water in the disco scene at the time...............but sadly disappeared just as suddenly :rolleyes:
"ride on baby" #31 1966
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ2vrXfbqww
"my way of giving in" #48 1967
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s2F80Nl7zE
which i note is a marriot/lane composition.... no doubt their version is somewhere!
Soul Survivors - Shakin' With Linda (1966ish)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaucG0AbgGg
An old Isley Brothers tune apparently.
The US Male - You Got Yours (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7g9572tFSk
The Rogues - How Many Times (1966)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5pfiO-7IhQ
First up the magnificent Sugar Pie Desanto with Rock Me Baby followed by the just as good Barbara Lynn with You'll Lose A Good Thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZIzF2uC9MM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAnSyQA_fT4
Why are so many great artists ignored?
Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - Do I Make Myself Clear
Willie Nelson- Hello Walls (1962)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cwcETeIUUg&feature=related
Written by Nelson when he was a struggling songwriter, it was originally recorded by Faron Young, who had a hit with it, and then Willie recorded his own version the next year.
Great soulful record, If you mention Etta James you think of "I'd Rather Go Blind" but Barbara Lynn (again) also does an excellent version of the same song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAxHgNbM4SA
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Ninety-Nine And a Half
And some country R&B from Johnny Adams ' debut album
Johnny Adams - Georgia Morning Dew
I'll end with another soul cover of a country song by Tom Jones off the album, Green Green Grass Of Home.
Tom Jones - Ring of Fire
Of course, submitting fifties tracks to a sixties thread isn’t quite playing the game, but as 1959 is almost the sixties, and as I (and others) have quite happily submitted tracks from that year before (believing that we were bending rather than breaking thread rules), here are a dozen more tracks from the final year of the glorious fifties.
Bobby Darin - Queen Of The Hop (1959)
1959 was a good year for Bobby Darin. In May he topped the UK singles charts with the semi-classic, “Dream Lover”, while in September he topped them once again with the out-and-out classic, “Mack The Knife”. Back in January, “Queen Of The Hop” could get no higher than no. 24, which is a great pity, because afaic it’s a great rock ‘n’ roll single.
The Browns - The Three Bells (1959)
English language version of “Les Trois Cloches”, a hugely successful French song dating back to the forties and originally recorded by Edith Piaf et les Compagnons de la Chanson.
Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue Got Married (1959)
This is the sequel to one of Buddy’s best known and most popular singles, “Peggy Sue”, and was a minor hit in the UK a few months after his tragic death on February 3rd 1959.
Ritchie Valens - Donna (1959)
I love this song! A minor UK hit single for Valens in March 1959, a month after he was killed in the same air crash that killed Buddy Holly.
Johnny Otis and Marci Lee - Telephone Baby (1959)
Oh, wonderful stuff! I could listen to this type of music all day.
Sarah Vaughan - Broken Hearted Melody (1959)
If I were to list my Top Fifty female singers all the so-called divas of the last quarter of a century would be conspicuous by their absence. There would, however, be no shortage of fifties jazz singers, most notably Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, Dinah Washington and, of course, Sarah Vaughan. This track is much more pop than jazz, but it’s still Sarah at her very best.
Eddie Cochran - Somethin' Else (1959)
Original and imho best version of the song successfully covered twenty years later by the Sex Pistols.
Jackie Wilson - That’s Why I Love You So (1959)
A while back I devoted to a whole post to tracks by the brilliant Jackie Wilson, and since then I can’t get enough of the man’s music, so here’s another gem from him.
Connie Francis - Young Love (1959)
This is an album track I’ve only recently discovered. Prior to that, I was only familiar with the 1957 UK chart-topping version by Tab Hunter, an actor, who by his own admission, couldn’t sing to save his life. Connie Francis has an exceptional voice, so hearing her version of this song for the very first time really was a case of going from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Ray Charles - Night Time Is The Right Time (1959)
My favourite ever track by the great Ray Charles. R’n’B just doesn’t get any better than this!
Sam Cooke - Only Sixteen (1959)
I adore this man’s voice! Although it would appear that back in August 1959 the British record buying public did not, for while this single languished at number 23 in UK chart, a quite appalling (imho) British cover version by Craig Douglas was at number one. Unbelievable!
Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks - Mary Lou (1959)
I only discovered this track earlier today. What a find! The Hawks (minus Hawkins) would years later become the Band.