Some Christmas top tens 1960-64

My Christmas top tens as recorded at the time - 1960 to 1964:
Dec 27, 1960: 1. Like strangers - Everly Brothers; 2. Corrine Corrina - Ray Peterson; 3. Counting teardrops - Emile Ford; 4. Last date - Floyd Cramer; 5= Hushabye little guitar - Paul Evans, Stay - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, My girl Josephine - Fats Domino and Why why bye bye - Bob Luman; 9. Perfidia - The Ventures; 10. Doll house - Donnia Brooks.
Dec 28, 1961: 1. Happy birthday sweet 16 - Neil Sedaka; 2= The avenger - Duane Eddy and Run to him - Bobby Vee; 4= So long baby - Del Shannon and Multiplication - Bobby Darin; 6. The twist - Chubby Checker (re-entry); 7. Let's twist again - Chubby Checker; 8= Peppermint twist - Joey Dee & the Starliters, and Rock a hula baby - Elvis Presley; 10. Language of love - John D Loudermilk.
Dec 27, 1962: 1. Love came to me - Dion; 2. Chains - The Cookies; 3. Stop the music - The Shirelles; 4. Under the moon of love - Curtis Lee; 5. If you were a rock and roll record - Freddy Cannon; 6. I can't help it - Johny Tillotson; 7. Rumors - Johnny Crawford; 8. Don't hang up - The Orlons; 9. Spanish lace - Gene McDaniels; 10. Your cheating heart - Ray Charles.
Dec 27, 1963: 1. Run Rudolph run - Chuck Berry; 2. Swinging on a star - Big Dee Irwin; 3. We wish you a merry Christmas - Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva; 4. Fine fine boy - Darlene Love; 5. Gotta dance to keep from crying - The Miracles; 6. 24 hours from Tulsa - Gene Pitney; 7. Little red rooster - Sam Cooke; 8. Hey little girl - Major Lance; 9. Drip drop - Dion; 10. Don't you know - The Lockets.
Dec 29, 1964: 1. Needle in a haystack - The Velvelettes; 2. The jerk - The Larks; 3. Oh no not my baby - Maxine Brown; 4. How sweet it is - Marvin Gaye; 5. Dance dance dance - The Beach Boys; 6. Getting mighty crowded - Betty Everett; 7. Night train - James Brown; 8= Sidewalk surfin' - Jan & Dean, Going out of my head - Little Anthony & the Imperials, and That's what love is made of - The Miracles.

James Brown - last of the great R and B showmen

It had to come some time of course - the first of the six remaining true greats of 50s music has died - the Godfather of Soul, the hardest working man in show business, Mr James Brown. That he has survived this long is in itself something of a miracle, given his history of drink, drugs and prison, but survive he did, and was still a magnetic performer right to the end. I saw him live on TV when he was in London a couple of months ago and he looked and sounded as dynamic as ever.
From Please Please Please way back in 1955 and ever since James cut his own distinct path and influenced many performers. He came out of the rhythm and blues tradition - passion, showmanship, and most of all real soul. There are other soul pioneers of course, be no one could dispute that James Brown was in a league of his own. Hit after hit - they just kept coming and his funky approach was influenced by neither Stax or Motown. He virtually invented funk and was definitely his own man.
I first became aware of him with Think in 1960 and became a fan of to his music with his string of hits in the 60s - I got you, Papa's got a brand new bag, Have mercy baby, Ain't that a groove, It's a man's man's man's world - and followed him into the 70s with classics like Sex Machine. He managed to stay at the very top of his game despite a string of problems with drugs, wives and girlfriends and continued to thrill audiences right up to the present day.
There never will be another James Brown. He was in many ways a throwback to the 40s and 50s but he was totally unique. May the great man rest in peace.
PS The other remaining 50s greats are Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Jerry Lee Lewis.

The Grim Reaper strikes again

They say it's a sign you're growing old when the first thing you look for in the papers is the obituaries page. Sure enough I must be reaching that stage, despite appearances to the contrary, because I do look and there are familiar names listed every time I do. The Grim Reaper has been busy cutting a swathe through British musicians of the 60s and 70s this week. Today's Times includes brief obits of Denis Payton, sax player with the Dave Clark Five (also in the Indy), Dave Mount, drummer with Mud, Mariska Veres, singer with Shocking Blue, and Freddie Marsden, drummer with Gerry and the Pacemakers (also in the Guardian). Sadly, nothing on Rick Hardy.

Great balls of crap

Of all the many cover versions of Great Balls of Fire, probably the most anaemic was by Georgia Gibbs, who has died at the age of 87. But that wasn't the only R and B classic that she massacred. Among the other abominations that Miss Gibbs recorded were versions of LaVern Baker's Tweedle Dee and Jim Dandy, and Dance with me Henry, an emasculated version of Etta James's Roll with me Henry. Georgia Gibbs was already reaching the end of her career when rock and roll came along, and no doubt in the bland 40s and early 50s she was as proficient as most other female singers of her ilk, but I remember her as someone who did her best to take every bit of excitement out of everything she touched. For more information about 'her nibs, Miss Gibbs' see today's obituary in The Independent http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2072997.ece

Rick Hardy

I was shocked to hear the tragic news that Rick Hardy was killed in a car crash the day after the Tales From The Woods Christmas do on Saturday night. Rick was a larger than life character who always had a fund of amusing stories about the early days of British rock and roll, including his time at the 2Is, in Hamburg and elsewhere. He will be missed.
I arrived too late to hear him sing his cockney songs at Saturday's party but he seemed in fine form. I enjoyed the evening, even though the repertoire of some of the old rock and rollers who performed seemed to consist largely of Elvis songs. I never thought that Nobody's Child would be a highlight, but Kenny Cook's version was great. Wee Willie Harris and Danny Rivers were also good, but who the hell is Rocking Gerry Champion?

Top tens 1960-64

First, a minute's silence please in memory of Sam Cooke, who died 42 years ago yesterday.
Now, some more golden oldies from my personal hit parades of the early 60s:
Dec 12, 1960: 1= Last date - Floyd Cramer, My girl Josephine - Fats Domino, and Hushabye little guitar - Paul Evans; 4. Poetry in motion - Johnny Tillotson; 5. Perfidia - Ventures; 6= Lonely teenager - Dion, and Stay - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs; 8. Sway - Bobby Rydell; 9. Ready for love - Jimmy Jones; 10= You've got to move two mountains - Marv Johnson, and Alone at last - Jackie Wilson.
Dec 16, 1961: 1= So long baby - Del Shannon, Happy birthday sweet 16 - Neil Sedaka, and Run to him - Bobby Vee; 4. Johnny will - Pat Boone; 5. Multiplication - Bobby Darin; 6. Happy times - Marv Johnson; 7. Walk on by - Leroy Van Dyke; 8. Please Mr Postman - Marvelettes; 9= Look at me - Buddy Holly, and Settin' the woods on fire - Johnny Burnette.
Dec 12, 1962: Love came to me - Dion; Stop the music - Shirelles; 3. Spanish lace - Gene McDaniels; 4. If you were a rock and roll record - Freddy Cannon; 6. Keep your hands off my baby - Little Eva; 6. I can't help it - Johnny Tillotson; 7. Nothing can change this love - Sam Cooke; 8. Don't hang up - Orlons; 9. Lonely bull - Tijuana Brass; 10. Leah - Roy Orbison.
Dec 13, 1963: Run Rudolph run - Chuck Berry; 2. Swingin' on a star - Big Dee Irwin; 3. Little red rooster - Sam Cooke; 4. 24 hours from Tulsa - Gene Pitney; 5. Drip drop - Dion; 6. Fine fine boy - Darlene Love; 7. Hey little girl - Major Lance; 8. Bo Diddley is a lover - Bo Diddley; 9. Walking the dog - Rufus Thomas; 10. I'm leaving it up to you - Dale & Grace.
Dec 16, 1964: 1. Needle in a haystack - Velvelettes; 2. How sweet it is - Marvin Gaye; 3. Dance dance dance - Beach Boys; 4. Oh no not my baby - Maxine Brown; 5. The jerk - Larks; 6. That's what love is made of - Miracles; 7. Big man in town - Tokens; 8. Don't turn your back on me - Jackie DeShannon; 9. Going out of my head - Little Anthony & the Imperials; 10= Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley, and Dancing in the street - Martha & the Vandellas.

Marshall Sehorn RIP

Thanks to Dave for alerting me to the death of yet another New Orleans R and B legend - this time Marshall Sehorn. Sehorn is best remembered for his partnership with Allen Toussaint where they founded Sansu Enterprises and recorded some great tracks by the likes of Betty Harris and the Meters. But he also worked as southern promotion man for Bobby Robinson's Fire and Fury labels, in which role he was instrumental in discovering Wilbert Harrison and Lee Dorsey and arranging their first successful recording sessions. He also recorded Bobby Marchan's clasic There is something on your mind. Later Sehorn and Toussaint set up the Sea-Saint recording studio in New Orleans which kept the city's recording industry going almost single handedly in the seventies.
I've come across a great blog which gives more details of Marshall Sehorn's life - as well as much more fascinating southern soul stuff - and it's well worth a look:
http://redkelly.blogspot.com/
I haven't seen an obituary of Sehorn in the mainstream media, but there's a good one on Jay McShann in today's Times which is worth a look. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2497582,00.html

Buddy Killen's discoveries - and a question

Much of the career of Nashville music publisher and songwriter Buddy Killen, who has died, was of limited interest to me, as it was concerned with country music. But he made two exciting discoveries which certainly were of interest. The first was Heartbreak Hotel, written by Mae Boren Axton, which he thought would be a suitable vehicle for Elvis. Hewas right. And the second was Joe Tex, whose wonderful country soul records for Dial, which Killen set up just for Joe, were among the soul highlights of the late sixties and early seventies. Who could ever forget Hold what you've got?
A question: why do reggae singers cancel gigs at the last minute so often? The answer, probably, is ganja, but no explanation was given for Sugar Minott's show at the Jazz Cafe being cancelled due to 'unforeseen circumstances' on Monday. Dave had kindly offered me one of two free tickets he had won in a competition. So we didn't even have the consolation of getting our money back!

H-Bomb Ferguson

The Vinyl Word raises a glass to H-Bomb Ferguson, the manic bluesman whose wild act and crazy wigs were a joy to behold, who died last week aged 77. I last saw him at last year's Ponderosa Stomp and he didn't disappoint. Borrowing from the Screaming Jay Hawkins book of understated stage craft, H-Bomb tried hard to live up to his nickname by exploding all over his piano, or so it seemed. He was always great fun and it's a shame that we won't get to see him again. Apparently he made an 'incendiary' performance at the launch of a documentary film about his life in Cincinnati in October - should be worth seeing. For an excellent obituary on H-Bomb read her:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2485127,00.html

My last top ten

Readers of this blog will know that I kept a list of my top ten favourite 45s from 1960 to 1965. My last entry - the 408th in all - was on December 1, 1965. Here are my top tens from around this date:
Dec 2, 1960: 1. Poetry in motion - Johnny Tillotson; 2. Perfidia - The Ventures; 3. Put your arms around me honey - Fats Domino; 4. Hushabye little guitar - Paul Evans; 5. Learning the game - Buddy Holly; 6. Ready for love - Jimmy Jones; 7. Is it me? - Tracey Pendarvis; 8. Last date - Floyd Cramer; 9. You've got to move two mountains - Marv Johnson; 10. Wonderful world - Sam Cooke (re-entry).
Dec 4, 1961: 1. So long baby - Del Shannon; 2. Happy birthday sweet 16 - Neil Sedaka; 3. Look at me - Buddy Holly; 4. Johnny will - Pat Boone; 5. Happy times - Marv Johnson; 6. What a party - Fats Domino; 7. Blue moon - The Marcels; 8. Joy joy joy - Little Richard; 9. God, country and my baby - Johnny Burnette; 10. Goodbye cruel world - James Darren.
Dec 1, 1962: 1. Stop the music - The Shirelles; 2. If you were a rock & roll record - Freddy Cannon; 3. Keep your hands off my baby - Little Eva; 4. Nothing can change this love - Sam Cooke; 5. Up on the roof - The Drifters; 6. Susie darling - Tommy Roe; 7= Leah - Roy Orbison, Return to sender - Elvis Presley, and Come on little angel - The Belmonts; 10= Let's go - The Routers, and Ride - Dee Dee Sharpe.
Dec 3, 1963: 1. Swinging on a star - Big Dee Irwin; 2. Drip drop - Dion; 3. Run Rudolph run - Chuck Berry; 4. Walking the dog - Rufus Thomas; 5. 24 hours from Tulsa - Gene Pitney; 6. Bo Diddley is a lover - Bo Diddley; 7. Fine fine boy - Darlene Love; 8. I'm leaving it up to you - Dale & Grace; 9. You lost the sweetest boy - Mary Wells; 10. Be my baby - The Ronettes.
Dec 2, 1964: 1. Needle in a haystack - Velvelettes; 2. Dancing in the street - Martha & the Vandellas; 3. How sweet it is - Marvin Gaye; 4. Don't turn your back on me - Jackie DeShannon; 5= When I grow up - The Beach Boys, and Dance dance dance - the Beach Boys; 7. Big man in town - Four Seasons; 8. Oh no not my baby - Maxine Brown; 9. Ride the wild surf - Jan & Dean; 10. Walkin' in the rain - The Ronettes.
Dec 1, 1965. 1. My girl - Otis Redding; 2. Rescue me - Fontella Bass; 3. You're gonna make me cry - O V Wright; 4. Don't fight it - Wilson Pickett; 5. Everything's gonna be alright - Willie Mitchell; 6. All or nothing - Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles; 7. 1-2-3 - Len Barry; 8. Ain't that peculiar - Marvin Gaye; 9. Don't have to shop around - The Mad Lads; 10= These hands - Bobby Bland, and My girl has gone - The Miracles.

You bid too much

Having been bidnapped on ebay in pursuit of a number of interesting records recently - admittedly some of them went for a lot more than I was prepared to pay - it came as a relief to actually having a winning bid the other day. The record in question was the US-only 'You talk too much' LP by Joe Jones, who had a massive hit with this slice of New Orleans R and B in 1960. His death almost exactly a year ago passed me by. He recorded his big hit for local label Ric, but it was picked up by Roulette, with whom he had recorded previously, who issued the LP. Joe had some of the New Orleans greats backing him, including Reggie Hall, Roy Montrell and Harold Battiste, but he never had another hit. He went to New York and helped establish the careers of the Dixie Cups and Alvin Robinson, as well as fighting for royalties for black acts. Joe didn't have a great voice, but his impact on the New Orleans R & B scene was considerable.