Goodbye pop pickers

The death of Alan 'Fluff' Freeman has triggered a wave of nostalgia for Radio Luxembourg and for his Pick of the Pops programme of the 60s. Like virtually everyone of my generation, 208 was the only source of pop music in my formative years, the BBC being far too snobbish in those days to broadcast much in the way of contemporary records. Freeman was one of many Luxembourg DJs of the era, the list including Jimmy Saville, Ray Orchard, Pete Murray, Jack Jackson, Tony Hall, Tommy Vance, Sam Costa, Jimmy Young, Simon Dee, Alan Dell, David Jacobs and your DJ BA Barry Alldis among many others. I would listen to my transistor radio beneath the bedclothes and when I got a reel to reel tape recorder I spent many happy hours recording the latest 45s, despite the notoriously bad reception from Big L.
My happiest memories of Alan Freeman are from his Pick of the Pops days. On a Sunday afternoon a friend and I would cycle the not inconsiderable distance to Crystal Palace Park with our transistor radio to listen to Fluff but more in the vain hope of picking up girls (we never did). Happy days? Not 'arf.
Nice article on Radio Luxembourg in today's Indy, plus many obits of Fluff in today's papers.
http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2023838.ece

More top tens

My favourites, as recorded at the time, from around this date 1960-65. Motown had really hit its stride by 1964 and there were some classic soul records in 65.
Nov 22, 1960: 1. Perfidia - The Ventures; 2. Learning the game - Buddy Holly; 3. Poetry in motion - Johnny Tillotson; 4. Ready for love - Jimmy Jones; 5= You talk too much - Joe Jones, and Somebody to love - Bobby Darin; 7. Is it me? - Tracey Pendarvis; 8. Charming Billy - Johnny Preston; 9. Last date - Floyd Cramer; 10= Don't be cruel - Bill Black's Combo, and You've got to move two mountains - Marv Johnson.
Nov 22, 1961: 1. Under the moon of love - Curtis Lee; 2. What a party - Fats Domino; 3, God, country and my baby - Johnny Burnette; 4. So long baby - Del Shannon; 5. Look at me - Buddy Holly; 6. Crazy - Patsy Cline; 7. Feel it - Sam Cooke; 8. Jeannie Jeannie jeannie - Eddie Cochran; 9. Take good care of my baby - Bobby Vee; 10. For me and my gal - Freddy Cannon.
Nov 23, 1962: 1. Up on the roof - The Drifters; 2. Nothing can change this love - Sam Cooke; 3. If you were a rock and roll record - Freddy Cannon; 4= Stop the music - The Shirelles, and Return to sender - Elvis Presley; 6. He's a rebel - The Crystals; 7. Next door to an angel - Neil Sedaka; 8= Ride - Dee Dee Sharpe, Leah - Roy Orbison, Only love can break a heart - Gene Pitney; Susie darling - Tommy Roe, and Rocking around the Christmas tree - Brenda Lee.
Nov 20, 1963: 1. Walkin' the dog - Rufus Thomas; 2. Drip drop - Dion; 3. Swinging on a star - Big Dee Irwin; 4. Be my baby - The Ronettes; 5. I'm leaving it up to you - Dale & Grace; 6. Bo Diddley is a lover - Bo Diddley; 7. You lost the sweetest boy - Mary Wells; 8. The girl sang the blues - Everly Brothers; 9. 24 hours from Tulsa - Gene Pitney; 10. Deep purple - Nino Tempo & April Stevens.
Nov 22, 1964: 1. Dancing in the street - Martha & the Vandellas; 2. When I grow up - The Beach Boys; 3. Needle in a haystack - The Velvelettes; 4. Don't turn your back one me - Jackie DeShannon; 5. How sweet it is - Marvin Gaye; 6. Walking in the rain - The Ronettes; 7= Ride the wild surf - Jan & Dean, and Any day now - Chuck Jackson; 9= Gone gone gone - Everly Brothers, Little Honda - Hondells, and He's in town - The Tokens.
Nov 24, 1965: 1. My girl - Otis Redding; 2. Rescue me - Fontella Bass; 3. Don't fight it - Wilson Pickett; 4. 1-2-3 - Len Barry; 5. These hands - Bobby Bland; 6. You're gonna make me cry - O V Wright; 7. Treat her right - Roy Head; 8. My baby - The Temptations; 9. Let's hang on - The Four Seasons; 10. Sugar dumplings - Sam Cooke.

Robert Lockwood Jr

The last remaining link with the pre-war blues of Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson has ended with the death of Robert Lockwood Junior at the age of 91. An influence on B B King among others, his place in the blues pantheon was assured long ago, but he continued to perform and record into his late 80s. He was truly a blues legend and coming, as it does, so soon after the death of Ruth Brown, his death marks the end of yet another important chapter in 20th century music.
Footnote: There's an obituary of Robert Lockwood Jr in The Times of November 28th and a reminder that, with his, death, only three pre-war Delta bluesmen remain - Homesick James, Pinetop Perkins and David 'Honeyboy' Edwards. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2474535,00.html

Books for Christmas

A quick glance at the racks at Waterstones reveals that lovers of books about rock and roll, soul and blues have never been so well catered for as they are today. There are, as usual, many books about Elvis, the most inventive being the Graceland Interactive Pop up Book - a snip for those who prefer pictures to words at a mere £25. Or there's the table shattering Elvis at 21 - New York to Memphis, which comes in at a weighty £35. There are numerous books on Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, as well as anthologies on various aspects of rock, soul and blues. Dream Boogie, the excellent biography of Sam Cooke, is now out on paperback at £12.99 - well recommended. But avoid the Penguin Guide to Record Values by Nick Hamlyn, which has glaring omissions and, judging by recent ebay prices, unrealistically low values for many rare records. Stick to the Record Collector guide.
No doubt there are many great books around that I haven't come across, but the two that have caught my eye and that I would like to see in my Christmas stocking are the All Music Guide to Soul (900 pages of small print covering every aspect of soul and R and B), and an excellent coffee table book called Rockin' Down the Highway (£25), which charts the link between cars and music over the years and includes hundreds of colour illustrations.

Miss Rhythm passes on

The death of 50s R and B legend Ruth Brown at the age of 78 brings the curtain down on a career that inspired a generation of later R and B and soul performers. She was one of the last of the great divas from an era that spawned rock and roll and everything that has followed since - only Etta James of the true greats now remains. She was known as Miss Rhythm - the title of her 1996 autobiography - and for me her Atlantic recordings stand out as some of the most exciting R and B tracks of all time. She will always be remembered for hits such as Lucky lips, Mama he treats your daughter mean and 5-10-15 hours. But she was also a dynamic live performer, as anyone who saw at Jazzfest or at Ronnie Scotts a few years ago will testify.
According to Stevie Wonder, it was Ruth Brown who started it all. Without her 'there wouldn't be no Aretha, wouldn't be nobody'. And Little Richard went even further: 'I idolised Ruth Brown. I wanted to be Ruth Brown,' he said, and he very nearly succeeded.

Classic top tens continued

Some more golden oldies from my top tens 1960-65:
Nov 13, 1960: 1. Learning the game - Buddy Holly; 2= Ready for love - Jimmy Jones, & Perfidia - Ventures; 4. Blue angel - Roy Orbison; 5. Devil or angel - Bobby Vee; 6= Somebody to love - Bobby Darin, & Save the last dance for me - Drifters; 8. The twist - Chubby Checker; 9. You talk too much - Joe Jones; 10. You've got to move two mountains - Marv Johnson.
Nov 15, 1961: 1. Under the moon of love - Curtis Lee; 2. Take good care of my baby - Bobby Vee; 3. Feel it - Sam Cooke; 4. What a party - Fats Domino; 5. God country and my baby - Johnny Burnette; 6. Crazy - Patsy Cline; 7. September in the rain - Dinah Washington; 8= Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie - Eddie Cochran, & My heart belongs to you - Jackie Wilson; 10= Take five - Dave Brubeck, & For me and my gal - Freddy Cannon.
Nov 17, 1962: 1. Nothing can change this love - Sam Cooke; 2. Next door to an angel - Neil Sedaka; 3. He's a rebel - Crystals; 4. Up on the roof - Drifters; 5. Baby face - Bobby Darin; 6. Heartaches - Patsy Cline; 7. Working for the man - Roy Orbison; 8. Rockin' around the Christmas tree - Brenda Lee; 9. Guitar man - Duane Eddy; 10. Let's dance - Christ Montez.
Nov 17, 1963: 1. Walking the dog - Rufus Thomas; 2. Be my baby - Ronettes; 3. Drip drop - Dion; 4. Swinging on a star - Big Dee Irwin; 5. I'm leaving it up to you - Dale & Grace; 6. The girl sang the blues - Everly Brothers; 7. You lost the sweetest boy - Mary Wells; 8. Deep purple - Nino Tempo & April Stevens; 9. What does a girl do - Everly Brothers; 10. It's all right - Impressions.
Nov 12, 1964: 1. Dancing in the street - Martha & the Vandellas; 2. When I grow up - Beach Boys; 3. Ain't that loving you baby - Elvis Presley; 4. Little Honda - Hondells; 5. He's in town - Tokens; 6= Ride the wild surf - Jan & Dean, and Walking in the rain - Ronettes; 8= Any day now - Chuck Jackson, That's where it's at - Sam Cooke, & Don't turn your back on me - Jackie DeShannon.
Nov 18, 1965: 1. 1-2-3 - Len Barry; 2. My girl - Otis Redding; 3. Rescue me - Fontella Bass; 4. Treat her right - Roy Head; 5. Don't fight it - Wilson Pickett; 6. These hands - Bobby Bland; 7. My heart belongs to you- Wilson Pickett; 8. Sugar dumplings - Sam Cooke; 9. My baby - Temptations; 10. No pity in the naked city = Jackie Wilson.

Scouring the boot sales

The great thing about scouring car boot sales and charity shops for old records (as I have done for quite a few years now) is that you never know what you will pick up. For every collectable record there are many hundred pieces of shite so patience is a virtue. And I have learned that it's best to buy anything collectable if the price is right (ie very cheap), even if it's not for my own collection. I can always sell it on eBay if it's in decent nick. I didn't buy much this morning but what I got was quite interesting: namely a US-only Shirley Ellis LP called The Name Game after her 1965 hit, and Chris Montez's first and only London LP called Let's Dance and have Some Kinda Fun. The latter isn't in fantastic condition but it's certainly rare and it only cost me 50p. I also got Billy Fury's rarest 45 from 1959 - My Christmas Prayer. All in all, a worthwhile morning.

Allen Toussaint at the Jazz Cafe

Having missed Allen Toussaint when he performed in London a few months ago I made sure that I caught his act at the Jazz Cafe last night, despite the high ticket price. I was not disappointed. Looking decidedly dapper in a smart pinstripe suit and sitting at a grand piano with no accompaniment, he ranged through a good selection of his many compositions, plus one or two others, for over an hour and a half. Kicking off with Java, made famous by Al Hirt, he launched into a medley of some of his New Orleans classic songs, including Ernie K-Doe's A Certain Girl and Mother in Law, Benny Spellman's Fortune Teller and Lee Dorsey's Working in a Coalmine.
Allen has recently recorded an album with Elvis Costello so naturally he played a couple of tracks from that, but it was the New Orleans R and B that made the show, including several Lee Dorsey numbers, Wrong Number, an early recording by Aaron Neville, and the wonderful Lipstick Traces, the A (or B side depending how you look at it) of Fortune Teller by Benny Spellman. He included a couple of Professor Longhair tracks - his 'patron saint' as he put it - and How Come My Dog Don't Bark, but mostly it was a demonstration of what a great songwriter, and fantastic pianist, he is. Never the greatest of singers, he nevertheless did justice to everything he attempted and Southern nights (a rare hit for him as a recording artist) was a highlight coming, as it did, after some fascinating reminiscences about the stories he heard while visiting relatives in the Louisiana bayous as a child.
Allen may be 68 but he still looks and sounds great. So many of those he made stars of have passed away that he remains one of the few remaining greats of New Orleans R and B which has always been my personal favourite style of music. Allen was one of the reasons I first visited the Big Easy and it was good to see and hear him once again.
Still with pianists I got round to buying the much hyped Last Man Standing at last. I agree with the favourable reviews Jerry Lee has received, although I have to say that I mostly preferred the upbeat numbers. He sounded rather old and tired on some of the country tracks.

More classic top tens

Here they are once again, my top tens as recorded at the time from around this date 1960-65:
Nov 7, 1960: 1. Blue angel - Roy Orbison; 2. Devil or angel - Bobby Vee; 3= Learning the game - Buddy Holly, & Save the last dance for me - The Drifters; 5. It's now or never - Elvis Presley; 6. You've got to move two mountains - Marv Johnson; 7. Let the good times roll - Shirley & Lee; 8. I just go for you - Jimmy Jones; 9. Humdinger - Freddy Cannon; 10. My heart has a mind of its own - Connie Francis.
Nov 6, 1961: 1. Take good care of my baby - Bobby Vee; 2. Take five - Dave Brubeck; 3. Feel it - Sam Cooke; 4. Under the moon of love - Curtis Lee; 5. This time - Troy Shondell; 6. The twist - Chubby Checker; 7. As long as I live - Jerry Lee Lewis; 8. His latest flame - Elvis Presley; 9. Heartaches - The Marcels; 10. The fly - Chubby Checker.
Nov 7, 1962: 1. He's a rebel - The Crystals; 2. Nothing can change this love - Sam Cooke; 3. Next door to an angel - Neil Sedaka; 4. Working for the man - Roy Orbison; 5. Baby face - Bobby Darin; 6. The cha cha cha - Bobby Rydell; 7. No one can make my sunshine smile - Everly Brothers; 8. Pop pop popeye - The Sherrys; 9. Let's dance - Chris Montez; 10= Do you love me - The Contours, & Did you ever see a dream walking - Fats Domino.
Nov 4, 1963: 1. Be my baby - The Ronettes; 2. The girl sang the blues - Everly Brothers; 3. Walking the Dog - Rufus Thomas; 4. Deep purple - Nino Tempo & April Stevens; 5. Honolulu Lulu - Jan & Dean; 6. Let it rock - Chuck Berry; 7. What does a girl do - Everly Brothers; 8. Talk to me - Sunny & the Sunglows; 9. Busted - Ray Charles; 10. The trouble with boys - Little Eva.
Nov 6, 1964: 1. When I grow up - The Beach Boys; 2. Ain't that loving you baby - Elvis Presley; 3. Dancing in the street - Martha & the Vandellas; 4. He's in town - The Tokens; 5. That's where it's at - Sam Cooke; 6. Little Honda - The Hondells; 7. Ride the wild surf - Jan & Dean; 8. GTO - Ronny & the Daytonas; 9. Baby I need your loving - Four Tops; 10. Out of sight - James Brown.
Nov 2, 1965: 1. Treat her right - Roy Head; 2. 1-2-3 - Len Barry; 3. Sugar dumplings - Sam Cooke; 4. Cry no more - Ben E King; 5. No pity in the naked city - Jackie Wilson; 6. These hands - Bobby Bland; 7. It's too late baby - Arthur Prysock; 8. Go now - Bessie banks; 9. I found a girl - Jan & Dean; 10. In the midnight hour - Wilson Pickett.