Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 05 March 16

The stories behind tracks from The Dave Clark Five, Al Stewart, Sonny & Cher and many more...

Do You Love Me - The Dave Clark Five (1963)

After several releases, that elusive hit evaded The Dave Clark Five. Then the decision was taken for them to cover an American hit that was climbing the charts in The States, ‘Do You Love Me’ by The Contours. The song choice was the right one, giving the group their first taste of chart success. Unfortunately, over at Decca records, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes had the same idea and their version went to number one. However, The Dave Clark Five were on the map and their next release, ‘Glad All Over’ was a chart topper.

Get Lost - Eden Kane (1961)

Eden Kane was born in India and is the older brother of singers Peter and Robin Sarstedt. ‘Get Lost’ was the follow up to his number one hit, ‘Well I Ask You’ and a song in a similar vein, both written by successful composer, Les Vandyke, also known as Johnny Worth. ‘Get Lost’ was sometimes subtitled with the words ‘In My Arms’ in brackets to show programmers that the sentiment of the song was of love and not rejection.

In The Bad, Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me) - The Foundations (1969)

This became The Foundations fourth and final UK single to make the top forty whose line up included members that were West Indian, White British and a Sri Lankan. Lead singer, Clem Curtis later went on to pursue a solo career in 1968. Colin Young replaced him on this track and their previous hit, ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ before they finally disbanded in 1970. Curtis later formed The New Foundations but with little success.

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight - Linda Ronstadt (1969)

Linda Ronstadt’s debut solo album was in terms of sales a commercial failure and on initial release sold less than ten thousand copies but as her popularity spread and through TV and live appearances, her second album, ‘Silk Purse’ made a bigger impact. ‘Hand Sown - Home Grown’ began to pick up more sales but never managed to sell in high numbers. On side two was another Bob Dylan song, her interpretation of his classic, ‘I’ll Be Your baby Tonight’.

You Don’t Own Me - Lesley Gore (1963)

This single was written by John Madara and David White and reached number two on the American charts when she was still only seventeen years old. It was only kept off number one by ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ the first US hit by The Beatles. ‘You Don’t Own Me’ was revived in 1996 by Diane Keaton, Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn in their movie, ‘The First Wives Club’.

The Old Payola Roll Blues (Pt 1) - Stan Freberg (1960)

Stan Freberg was born in California and the son of a Baptist minister. He grew up in Pasadena and at the age of eleven was helping his magician uncle with his stage act. After leaving school he turned down an offer to obtain a drama scholarship in favour of working with the legendary Mel Blanc providing the voices for many cartoon characters for major movie studios. In the fifties he signed a recording deal with capitol records and recorded dozens of comedy songs. This track raised a few eyebrows as it pokes fun at a big payola scandal within the music business in America. The record featured Billy May’s orchestra and singer, Jesse White. Part 2 of the track was on the other side of the disc where he tries to get radio stations to play the song.

In Brooklyn - Al Stewart (1969)

This track is from Al’s second album, ‘Love Chronicles’ released in 1969 which was his first release in America where he was living at the time. Among the supporting musicians were Jimmy Page and members of Fairport Convention. This song, ‘In Brooklyn’ was inspired by a girl he met in the area but the rest of the story in the lyrics are apparently fiction.

I’ll Pick A Rose For My Rose - Marv Johnson (1969)

This became Marv Johnson’s first release in over two and a half years in America on Motown’s Gordy label in The States and it was also his last. Despite being the first artist to record for Berry Gordy’s label, the decision was taken not to renew his contract but then ‘I’ll Pick A Rose For My Rose’ became a surprise hit in the UK leading to the release of a full album titled after the hit including a number of tracks that had never been released before. The American arm offered him a new contract but none of his future recordings were ever released.

Jezabel - Marty Wilde (1962)

From mid 1958 to the end of 1959, Marty Wilde was one of the leading British rock and roll singers, along with Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard. His backing group at that time were called the Wildcats whose line-up included at various times Big Jim Sullivan, Brian Locking, Keith Shields and Brian Bennett who later joined The Shadows. In 1962, he decided to revive Frankie Laine’s big 1951 American hit, ‘Jezabel’, resulting in his final UK top twenty success.

Nothing Can Stop Me - Gene Chandler (1965)

There can be nothing more frustrating for an artist or a record label when one of their releases begins to sell and looks like becoming a big hit when it suddenly stalls at number forty-one on the charts, deeming it a failure. Such was the case of Gene Chandler’s recording of ‘Nothing Can Stop Me’, first released in America in 1965 and reaching number eighteen. In the UK, it made no impact until re-issued in 1968 on the small Soul City label that specialised in re-issues especially tracks that were showing interest on the Northern Soul scene. This much in demand release did exactly that, sold in its thousands on rerelease but once the loyal fans had bought their copies, the record dropped down the charts faster than the speed of sound.

Waltz For Lumumba - The Spencer Davis Group (1967)

This 1967 instrumental by The Spencer Davis Group was featured as a bonus track on their 1967 ‘Best Of’ album. ‘Waltz For Lumumba’ and is also known under the title of ‘Waltz For Caroline’. Written by Steve Winwood, this was recorded just prior to him leaving the band to form Blind Faith.

Baby Don’t Go - Sonny & Cher (1965)

After a chance meeting, Sonny and Cher were signed to the Reprise label where they recorded as Caesar and Cleo. After their first couple of releases that failed to chart, the label let them go. Fortunately Atco Records saw potential in the couple and agreed to allow them to record Sonny’s song, ‘I Got You Babe’ that became a number one hit all over the world. Spotting an opportunity, Reprise decided to rush release one of their older tracks, ‘Baby Don’t Go’ to cash in on the success. Despite the duo’s annoyance, it gave them another big hit.