Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 6 September 14

(I Can't get No) Satisfaction - Otis Redding

Otis became the first black artist to have a hit with a song written by one of the "British Invasion groups" into America and on the day of recording he had to attend a medical examination and was late arriving in the studio by which time Steve Cropper and the rest of his backing band had recorded the track and were waiting for Redding to add his vocal.

It's About Time - Linda Ronstadt

BGO Records have just released a double CD by Linda Ronstadt containing three of her early albums, 'Silk Purse', her self-titled 'Linda Ronstadt' and her debut 1969 solo LP, 'Hand Sown...Home Grown' that includes songs by several of her musical influences such as Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and this track that is highlighted by an exceptional string arrangement of Chip Douglas’s 'It’s About Time'. Taylor was once the bass player with The Turtles and produced several records by The Monkees.

What Is A Man - The Four Tops

A virtual failure Stateside, the record only managed a top position of number fifty-three whereas in the UK it climbed to number sixteen. Nevertheless, it was apparent that the popularity of The Four Tops was on the decline in their homeland despite their continued success throughout Europe. 'What Is A Man' was written by Doris McNeil and Johnny Bristol who also produced the track for the album, 'The Four Tops Now'. Many believed that the recordings more pronounced vocal harmonies were at the expense of Levi Stubbs’ usual strong lead although an alternative version with a more prominent Stubbs did emerge some years later on a 1993 compilation.

Save The Last Dance For Me - The Drifters

Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and came about after Shuman had played Pomus a melody with a strong Latin feel and suggested he wrote a lyric to it. That evening, Pomus found an old wedding invitation in a hatbox and began writing some words to the tune on the back of it. On completion of the verses late into the night, he decided to come back to the chorus with a clear head in the morning writing the title 'Save The Last Dance For Me' across the top and went to bed thinking he’d re-think it when he woke up but the next day he knew he’d never find a better title.

Mud (Hippopotomus Song) - The Serendipity Singers

'Mud (The Hippopotamus Song)' was written by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann and based on the old time musical song, 'Beer, Glorious Beer'. On completion, they played the song to opera singer, Ian Wallace who immediately recorded it and it became an instant success. In 1964 The Serendipity Singers set about recording their self titled debut album, 'The Serendipity Singers', and whilst searching for material stumbled on this song that dates back to the fifties and decided to give it their own interpretation.

A Little Loving - The Fourmost

Originally named The Four Jays, they made regular appearances at the Cavern Club in Liverpool with The Beatles and in 1962 changed their name to The Four Most before Brian Epstein signed them the following year after three attempts at becoming their manager. As they had no original material, they approached John Lennon who gave them 'Hello Little Girl' that The Beatles had performed at their Decca auditions. With a slight name change to The Fourmost, this became their first single and debut hit followed by another Lennon and McCartney song, the less successful, 'I’m In Love' then the Russ Alquist composition, 'A Little Loving' that became their biggest hit and their third and final single to make it into the top twenty.

Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee

Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, the song has had many covers since Bobby’s original including a version recorded by The Beatles for their Decca audition tapes. Vee himself re-recorded it as a ballad on his 1973 album, 'Ain’t Nothing Like A Sunny Day', released under his real name, Robert Thomas Velline. The Johnny Mann Singers achieved a UK top ten hit in 1967 with their version of Jim Webb’s 'Up Up And Away'.

My Heart - Gene Vincent

Recorded in 1958, a year before Vincent had virtually gone to ground as far as the American audiences were concerned, whilst his label continued to issue his material without the singer being around to promote his records. He moved to Los Angeles in 1959 working occasionally with local bands. Although being passed over in the States, the opposite was true in Britain after Jack Good brought him over for a number of important TV appearances and an opportunist promoter arranged a twelve date tour of the provinces with Eddie Cochran added to the package with further dates arranged. Then tragedy struck when Cochran was killed in a car crash in Wiltshire in April 1960 and Vincent suffered severe injuries. It was around this time that Capitol released 'My Heart' in the UK, a song written by Johnny Burnette.

What About Me - Don Gibson

Don Gibson is still best remembered for his talent as a songwriter whose works include, 'I Can’t Stop Loving You' and 'Oh Lonesome Me'. Inspired by Django Reinhardt he learned to play the guitar and by the mid forties joined a group called The Sons Of The Soil. before taking over the band and renaming them Don Gibson & His King Cotton Kinfolks. During this period he met Wesley Rose, a partner in Acuff-Rose Publishing who helped him get a recording deal with Columbia but to little effect. In 1955 he was signed to MGM securing his first hit, 'Sweet Dreams' that became a bigger hit for Faron Young. In 1957 Rose persuaded Chet Atkins to sign him to RCA where he would remain until the end of the sixties. His biggest hit for the label was 'Sea Of Heartbreak', but it’s his 1961 release 'What About Me' that we played.

Angelica - Scott Walker

Originally recorded by Barry Mann and written by him with his wife Cynthia Weil, and lurked just outside the American Hot 100 for over a month. Despite not becoming the big hit for which he hoped, the song attracted several covers, notably by balladeers, Gene Pitney, P. J. Proby and actor, Jordan Christopher. Scott Walker also included his version on his debut solo album, 'Scott'.

World Without Love - Peter & Gordon

Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and a song that The Beatles never recorded but topped the American charts for one week and for two in the UK. McCartney didn’t think the song was strong enough for The Beatles and offered it to Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas who also rejected it. John Lennon’s reaction to the song was to laugh at the first line, “please lock me away”, he’d say, “Yes, ok, end of song”. Fortunately Peter Asher’s sister was going out with McCartney at the time and suggested that her brother Peter, who had just formed the duo, Peter and Gordon attempted the song, and when they did, they proved everyone else wrong.

Teenage Has Been - Barry Mann

Written by Barry with his wife Cynthia Weil plus a credit to the late Gerry Goffin, 'Teenage Has Been' was inspired by Barry’s huge success in America with his hit single, 'Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)' that he was unable to successfully follow up despite writing dozens of hit songs for other artists. 'Teenage Has Been' tells the sad tale of a singer who had a huge hit single and the adoration of thousands of fans but for him, the party is over.

Read Bob Stanley’s profile of another legendary song writing duo, Goffin & King, here.