Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 18 July 15

Discover the stories behind the songs in our playlist...

One - Three Dog Night

In 1969, this became the group’s first American top ten hit and was written by Harry Nilsson who originally recorded the song a year earlier on his third album, ‘Aerial Pandemonium Ballet’ named after his great-grandparents’ acrobatic stage troupe, “Nilsson’s Aerial Ballet.” The Three Dog Night version first appeared on their debut eponymous album that later became known and named ‘One.’

I’m Gonna Make You Love Me - Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations

The song was written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Jerry Ross that had first been recorded by Dee Dee Warwick and later by Jerry Butler with a UK cover by Madeline Bell. When American NBC Television commissioned a special, ‘Taking Care Of Business’ featuring Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations, Motown Records set about recording an album with the two acts performing together. ‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me’ became the big hit single from ‘Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations’ with lead vocals by Diana although it was their version of “The Impossible Dream” that was planned for the first single but DJ’s who had advanced copies began flipping it forcing the label to have a change of mind.

Look Away - The Spencer Davis Group

Following in the footsteps of The Spencer Davis Group’s first album that was called ‘Their First Album’ and reaching number six on the LP charts they followed it with their second that had the equally imaginative title of ‘The Second Album’, and that reached number three on the charts and had as its opening track, the Bert Berns and Norman Meade song, ‘Look Away’ originally recorded by Garnet Mimms and was for a time considered for release as a single.

He’s Not Mine Anymore - Josephine Sunday

Ace Records have just released a twenty-four track CD of material by producer and song writer Gary Paxton with his work with female singers and groups under the title of ‘Keep A Hold On Him-More Garpax Girls’, and although most of the acts are relatively unknown, the songs are of a very high standard. Josephine Sunday was introduced to Paxton by her boyfriend resulting in the release of ‘He’s Not Mine Anymore’ written by Paxton and stunt man Paul Nuckles whose song was clearly influenced by Jackie De Shannon’s ‘When You Walk In The Room’. Soon after the release of the record, Josephine was the support act on The Rolling Stones first tour of Southern California.

Pinball Wizard - The Who

This was the last song that Pete Townshend wrote for his rock opera Tommy and it’s been reported that he only composed it after learning that music critic Nik Cohn was coming to review the project. Pete knew Cohn was a pinball fanatic, so he wrote the song in the hope that he’d receive a good review. Cohn gave it a great review, and pinball became a main theme of the story. When the single was released from the album, it was sped up to make it more radio friendly.

Baby Not Like You - The Whirlwinds

Released in 1964 on the HMV label, ‘Baby Not Like You’ became the one and only
release for Manchester based band, The Whirlwinds that included in its line up, Lol
Creme who wrote the song and Graham Gouldman, both of whom went on to become
members of Hotlegs who scored a number two hit in 1970 with ‘Neanderthal Man’
although Graham joined later when they toured. Lol Creme then became half of the
successful duo, Godley & Creme with Kevin Godley.

Apache - The Shadows

‘Apache’ was almost an unexpected hit for Cliff Richard’s backing group for after three failed singles, they were expecting their record company to cancel their contract but as luck would have it, they were on tour and song writer Jerry Lordan was also on the bill having had hit records in his own right as a singer. Whilst travelling on a coach from London to Bristol, he played The Shadows the melody of ‘Apache’. Cliff Richard turned up at the recording session and played a Chinese drum on the track.

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.

Back In The U.S.S.R - Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

The group recorded their version of The Lennon and McCartney song on November 10th, 1968 at EMI’s famous Abbey Road studios and exactly four weeks later, the single hit the record stores in time for the Christmas market. Unfortunately the record failed to chart and the group dissolved the following year. Cliff went on to form the group Toe Fat recording two albums with his new outfit. The song first appeared on The Beatles double, ‘White Album’ and is a tribute to Chuck Berry’s ‘Back in the U.S.A’ while the chorus pays homage to the Beach Boys' ‘California Girls’.

My Colouring Book - Dusty Springfield

My Colouring Book was written by Fred Ebb and John Kander and first recorded by Barbra Streisand in 1962 with American hit versions the following year from both Kitty Kallen and Sandy Stewart. Dusty Springfield was so taken with the song that she decided to record her own version that became one of the stand out tracks on her 1964 debut solo album, ‘A Girl Called Dusty.’

Two Can Make It Together - Tony & Tandy

Back in the sixties, producer, writer and session guitarist Graham Dee was known as ‘Mr Tin Pan Alley’ by his contemporaries having worked alongside big names including The Small Faces, the Walker Brothers and Pink Floyd. In 1969 he wrote ‘Two Can Make It Together’ with Brian Potter that was recorded by Tony Colton and Sharon Tandy as Tony and Tandy, who’d released a number of tracks together. The record had almost every DJ in the land playing it which might have been its downfall, with so many plays, it was thought the fans felt there was little need to purchase it. The disappointment was immense but a follow up was recorded but never released as Sharon headed back to her roots in South Africa conceding that the dream was over.

Long Time Gone - Crosby, Stills & Nash

Taken from their multi-million selling eponymous debut album released by Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1969, ‘Long Time Gone’ was written by David Crosby. The photo on the album cover was taken outside a house they’d discovered across from a Santa Monica car wash that they thought would be a perfect fit for their image. For no particular reason they posed for the photo in the order of Nash, Stills, and Crosby, then a few days later after they decided on the name and to prevent confusion, they went back to the house to re-shoot the cover in the correct order, but when they got there they found the house was reduced to a pile of rubble.