Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 17 January 15

September In The Rain - Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington

Real name Ruth Jones, Dinah was already a musical legend by the time she had hit the charts with the remake of the Harry Warren and Al Dubin song that had been a massive hit for Guy Lombardo in 1937. It had first been heard in the movie of that year, 'Melody For Two' in which it was performed by James Melton. Combining jazz, blues and gospel with pop music, Dinah found popularity with a diverse audience but thrived on extravagance spending indiscriminately on jewellery, cars, men and more to her detriment, drink and drugs. Her erratic behaviour finally caught up with her when she died in Detroit in 1963 at the age of thirty-nine from an overdose of alcohol and pills. A collection of some of her best work has now been made available on the Fantastic Voyage label on a triple eighty track CD, 'Dinah Washington-Original Queen of Soul-Three decades of Artistry' which includes this classic track, 'September In The Rain'.

If I Never Get To Love You - Lou Johnson

Lou Johnson’s recordings of Bacharach and David songs became the template for many a performer who would cover and have success with the writer’s songs that Lou had first sung including 'Message To Martha', a hit for Adam Faith and '(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me' a number one for Sandie Shaw. Lou’s first attempt at one of Burt and Hal’s songs was this 1962 release, 'If I Never Get To Love You'.

You Were On My Mind - Crispian St Peters

After two major flops, desperation kicked in and his manager persuaded him to cover a song that was climbing the American charts by folk group, We Five called 'You Were On My Mind'. Crispian hated the song and at first refused to record it, but was persuaded by his mother to record it. The single was released towards the end of 1965 and as interest began to gather, Decca continued to promote it into the new year and by the end of January, 1966, it was winging its way up the charts. Sadly he was plagued with illness throughout most of his elder life and passed away in 2010 aged seventy-one.

Summer In The City - The Lovin’ Spoonful

The Lovin’ Spoonful

The song started life as a poem written by John Sebastian’s brother, Mark. On showing it to John, he told him that the beginning wasn’t strong enough and helped him write a new start with more tension. The group’s bassist, Steve Boone had a piece of music he’d composed that he couldn’t finish but found it fitted perfectly with the rest of the song.

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals

The group’s third consecutive UK top ten hit was originally recorded by Nina Simone in 1964. The song came about from an idea by arranger, Horace Ott who thought of the title line after a row with his girlfriend and wife to be, Gloria Caldwell. He then contacted writing partners, Bennie Benjamin and Sol Marcus to help him finish the song. When it came time for the credits to appear on a record for the first time, Ott was prevented to include his name as the other two composers were members of opposing music societies and American rules prevented members of different organisations to collaborate, so he listed his wife as co-writer.

And When It's Over - Bert Sommer

Taken from Bert Sommer’s debut album, 'The Road To Travel' that he recorded for Capital Records in 1968 at the age of seventeen. Although he went through his recording career virtually unknown, he appeared on Broadway in the controversial first run of the musical, "Hair” playing the part of Woof, was a member of the group The Left Banke for a short spell, was the only non superstar to appear at the Woodstock Festival where he received a standing ovation for his performance of Paul Simon’s 'America'. Sommer died in New York in July, 1990, aged forty-three after a long battle with a respiratory illness.

I Go To Pieces - Peter & Gordon

Peter & Gordon

Written by Del Shannon for one of his own discoveries, R&B singer Lloyd Brown but after producing it with him failed to find a label interested enough to release it. Shannon attempted at recording it himself but was unable to cut a version with which he was happy. He then played the song to The Searchers when they were touring together in Australia. Peter and Gordon were also on the bill and overheard the song from their next door dressing room and after learning that The Searchers had turned it down, asked Shannon if they could record it, happily he agreed and the result was an American top ten hit but surprisingly it failed to chart in the UK.

The Madison Time Pt 1 - Ray Bryant Combo

For a short time, “The Madison” challenged “The Twist” as one of the most popular dances helped to some degree by this record by Philadelphia born Ray Bryant and his Combo. Over the years Ray had recorded with several leading jazz musicians including Miles Davis, Carmen McRae, Coleman Hawkins and Aretha Franklin which ultimately led to a prolific career as leader of his own trio. 'The Madison Time' features dance calls by Eddie Morrison with a British cover version by the late Alan Freeman backed by the Talmy Stone Band, selling around twenty copies.

Don't Play With Love - Little Willie John

Little Willie John was born in Arkansas but he moved with his family to Detroit at the age of four. He was one of ten children and the some of the eldest formed a gospel group performing at talent shows leading to Willie being given a recording contract with the King label where he achieved a string of American R&B hits, his most famous, the original version of 'Fever' later made famous by Peggy Lee. Willie John had a reputation for having a short temper and abuse of alcohol that turned his life into a tragedy when he was jailed for manslaughter in 1966 after killing a man in a bar brawl and died in prison two years later. To this day, many of his records still adorn the more trendy retro clubs and 'Don’t Play With Love' one of his later recordings never fails to get the seal of approval from the crowds.

Weird of Hermiston - Jack Bruce

Jack Bruce

'Songs For A Taylor' was the second solo album recorded by the late Jack Bruce but the first to be released in 1969 as the first, 'Things We Like' was shelved and only issued a year later. The album was titled in tribute to Cream’s recently deceased clothing designer and the song, 'Weird Of Hermiston' was inspired by an unfinished novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, 'Weir Of Herminston' that was cut short by the Author’s sudden death in 1894.

You Better Watch Yourself - George Smith & The Chicago Blues Band

George Smith was born in Illinois in 1924 and learned to play harmonica and guitar from his mother who was determined her son would become a musician. Moving to Chicago in 1949 George began working with a group led by a young Otis Rush before being asked to join Muddy Waters’ band where he remained until 1954. Heading to Los Angeles with a huge travelling review in 1955, he made his first recordings as a singer and decided to make LA his home. It would seem a little unfair that George didn’t get the opportunity to record an entire album until 1968 which was a tribute to another musician, Little Walter Jacobs who had died only weeks earlier. Now released on CD by BGO Records, this is 'You Better Watch Yourself' from 'Blues With A Feeling-A tribute To Little Walter' by George Smith & The Chicago Blues Band.