I'm Shady Del Knight
and I've got proof
that old school
...is COOL!
THE SHERRY SISTERS
Sailor boys were a familiar theme in pop music
in 1964. I guess you could say the girls who
made those records were nautical and nice.
(Please don't leave! No more puns, I promise!)
In February and March, Diane Renay's signature song
"Navy Blue" climbed the chart and finished at #6.
In May, Diane's follow-up single "Kiss Me Sailor"
reached the top 30.
In June, a Brooklyn act known as the Sherry Sisters
tried their luck with "Sailor Boy." Not to be confused
with a song of the same name recorded by both the
Chiffons and Goldie & the Gingerbreads, "Sailor Boy" by
the Sherry Sisters is one of the best girl group sounds
of the Sixties. The record had "hit" written all over it,
yet it never even reached the Bubbling Under chart.
It was a different story in Japan where "Sailor Boy"
floated their boats and went on to become a million
seller. Let's hear what American ears were missing.
"Sailor Boy" - The Sherry Sisters
(June 1964, uncharted)
DEE-ANNE
AND THE KITTENS
"Robot Man" is one of the lost rock 'n' roll recordings
by Connie Francis that's included on her Rocksides
compilation. Instead of playing Connie's version I'd like
you to hear an exciting rendition of the song performed
by the girl group Dee-Anne and the Kittens on Oh Boy!,
the first teen music program on British television.
The show originally aired in 1958 and 1959 and was
resurrected in the late 70s in a retro rock format.
Series regular Dee-Anne, now known as Deanne Blazey
of the band Baby Go Boom, was still in her teens
when she appeared on this 1980 episode of Oh Boy!
and did a fantastic job of covering Connie!
"Robot Man" - Dee-Anne and the Kittens
(from 1980 British TV show Oh Boy!)
Show of hands..........
Does anybody else see the resemblance between Dee-Anne and actress Haley Mills (at right)? Watch the next clip of Dee-Anne covering a Brenda Lee hit and let me know if you agree.
"I'm Sorry" - Dee-Anne
(from 1980 British TV show Oh Boy!)
DON COVAY
AND THE GOODTIMERS
In 1968 the courtroom was a familiar setting for soul songs.
Judge Shorty Long presided over "Here Comes the Judge."
The Unifics held "Court of Love" and R&B vet Don Covay
confessed: "I Stole Some Love" and was brought before
Judge Cupid for stealin' the love of another man.
Don - say it ain't so, buddy!
I remember obtaining this Don Covay record at Woolworth.
It was sold in one of those shrink wrapped bundles that
contained ten 45rpm records and priced at only 99 cents.
Those budget packs were like a box of chocolates.....
you never knew what you were gonna get. In the case of
this Don Covay single I got a double dose of ear candy!
"I Stole Some Love" - Don Covay & the Goodtimers
(October 1968, uncharted)
On the flip side of "I Stole Some Love" was a killer bee
called "Snake in the Grass."
This sssssidewinder was another sssssizzling
ssssslab of deep fried sssssouthern R&B
from Don Covay and the Goodtimers.
"Snake in the Grass" - Don Covay & the Goodtimers
(October 1968, uncharted B side of "I Stole Some Love")
THE BEAU BRUMMELS
They made the rounds of teen music/dance shows
like Shindig and Hullabaloo. Featuring the smooth
and soulful vocals of lead singer Sal Valentino,
the Beau Brummels exemplified the West Coast
folk rock sound of the mid 60s. The San Francisco
band had a top 20 hit with "Laugh, Laugh" and a
top 10 charter with "Just a Little."
My Pick to Click is a record that never reached the top 50,
probably because the Beau Brummels' small label, Autumn,
was going belly up by the time it was released. As I always
preach, chart position has absolutely nothing to do with
greatness, and here's one of the finest, purest folk rock
sounds of the Sixties, "Don't Talk to Strangers."
"Don't Talk to Strangers" - Beau Brummels
(October 1965, highest chart position #52)
Join me next time
for more proof
that old school
...is COOL!
Have a Shady day!