Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 12 March 16

The stories, facts and figures behind this weeks selection of 60s classics and rarities

Lights of Cincinnati - Scott Walker (1969)

Written by Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens, 'Lights of Cincinatti' became the last of three solo hits from Scott during the sixties, all of which made the top twenty. Oddly, the song was not included on his LP at the time, 'Scott Walker Sings Songs From His TV Series', although the B side, 'Two Weeks Since You've Been Gone' came from his 'Scott 3' album that included the hit on the American version.

There's Nothing Else to Say Baby - The Incredibles (1967)

With shades of the 1966 number one, 'Reach Out' - 'I'll Be There' by The Four Tops, The Incredibles from Los Angeles, California released 'There's Nothing Left to Say' a few months later. This track became hugely popular on the Northern Soul scene some years later thanks to the support from the legendary Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester.

Girl From the Country North - Bob Dylan (1969)

Bob Dylan, who worked with Roy Orbison in Travelling Wilburys released his ninth studio album and fourth number one in 1969, 'Nashville Skyline' on which he displayed his new found love of country music, it also introduced fans to a radically new singing voice from Dylan who wrote all the songs included on the collection. The opening track on side one featured a duet with with country star legend, Johnny Cash on the song "Girl From the Country North" who also helped promote the album by inviting Bob to appear as a guest on his American TV show.

Where Are You Now (My Love) - Jackie Trent (1965)

The first hit song written together by Jackie and her then husband Tony Hatch, 'Where Are You Now (My Love)' held the number one spot in the UK for just one week in May, 1965. The song was commissioned by Granada Television for their drama series 'It's Dark Outside' starring Keith Barron and William Mervyn. When the song first hit the screen, viewers contacted the TV company trying to find out where they could buy it so Pye Records rush released it in order to get it into the shops whist the series was still being aired. You can hear Jackie talking to Brian Matthews about knocking The Beatles off the Number 1 spot back in 1965 by clicking here.

Look What You've Done To My Heart - Shirley & The Shirelles (1969)

In 1969, this was a big comeback record for The Shirelles that became an instant dancehall success but failed to make the charts. This was a firm favourite especially at The Twisted Wheel club in Manchester. Released on the renowned Bell Label, Shirley & The Shirelles obviously had been paying great attention to the success of The Supremes when they recorded this Ellie Greenwich song and by this time had given lead singer, Shirley Owens top billing.

How Much - The Skyliners (1960)

The Skyliners hailed from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and were another American group that fared well in their own country but never touched our charts. Their biggest sucess was their 1959 hit, 'Since I Don't Have You' that reached number twelve. This 1960 release, 'How Much' was written by the group backstage at a theatre in Chicago during a five shows a day stint. After they recorded it, they played it to DJ Alan Freed who loved it and began playing it, initially resulting in their fastest selling single ever but its popularity died just as fast due to the payola scandal that ripped through America with radio stations thinking the song was a sarcastic play on words and decided to drop it from their playlists.

Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison (1964)

Written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees, the song was recorded in Nashville Tennessee and gave Roy his third UK number one and spent three non consecutive weeks at the top of the charts selling in excess of over seven million copies worldwide. The backing band included four guitarists alongside Floyd Kramer on piano, Bob Moore on an upright bass, Boots Randolph and Charlie McCoy on sax, and Buddy Harman and Paul Garrison on drums.

Your Big Brown Eyes - Bobby Comstock (1961)

Bobby Comstock had success in America during the fifties as a solo singer as well as with his backing band The Counts when they revived Patti Page's 'Tennessee Waltz' in 1959 that resulted in them being booked on package tours by DJ Alan Freed. In 1964 he was invited to support The Rolling Stones on their first US tour, three years after the release of his single 'Your Big Brown Eyes' on the Jubilee Label that was founded by bandleader Jerry Blaine and Herb Abramson who would later form Atlantic with Ahmet Ertigun.

Popeye the Hitchhiker – Chubby Checker (1960)

Chubby Checker's American top ten hit was released there as a double 'A' side with 'Limbo Rock', the latter reaching number two state side but only managing a paltry thirty-two in the UK where 'Popeye' was confined to the 'B' side. Chubby made a name for himself by introducing new dance crazes to his fans and on the occasion you got two for the price of one with both 'The Hitchhike' and 'The Limbo'.

Hello World - The Tremeloes (1969)

Written by Tony Hazzard, this became the group's ninth consecutive top forty hit following the departure of Brian Poole after which all members shared vocal duties although most of their hits featured either bass guitairist Len 'Chip' Hawkes or drummer Dave Munden as lead singer although guitarist, Ricky West sang lead on their number one 'Silence is Golden'.

Space Oddity - David Bowie (1969)

After Bowie split from his record label, Deram, he signed to Phillips and producer Gus Dudgeon. An early version of his hit, 'Space Oddity' had appeared in a Bowie promotional film, 'Love You Till Tuesday', but a new recording was rush released on 11th July 1969 supposedly to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon landing and extra promotion came by way of advertisements for the Stylophone played by Bowie on his single. In 1973, the record was re-issued in America giving David his first major hit reaching number fifteen and two years later, it received a re-issue in the UK where it topped the charts.

Finesse - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra (1962)

'Finesse' is a track taken from Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra's 1962 album 'Love is Just a Game of Polka' that includes several of his arrangements of old classics including 'Witchraft' and 'It's So Nice To Have A Man About The House' along with four of his own compositions, one of which being this track.