Oldies But Goodies

WELCOME
Here are some trivia notes on popular music of days gone by.   I'll be
back next week with a little of  "This & That".  For those that are new
to this blog it is my first for the month of August.  Be sure to look to
the right and check out  the "archives" for my posts in July.



10 MUSICAL TRIVIA FACTS FROM OF OLDIES BUT GOODIES

----1----
Neils SedakaWas the Piano Player on Bobby Darin's million selling  record
"Dream Lover"


----2----
Singer Gene Pitney also wrote songs for other artists  They include  "Hello
Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson, "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals and "Rubber
Ball" by Bobb Vee.


----3----
The Melody for Tommy Edward's Number 1 hit  "It's All In The Game"
in 1958 was actually written back in 1911 by a bank Vice-President named
Charles Dawes.  Mr Dawes later went on to become a Vice-President of the
United States under Calvin Coolidge.  


----4----
Billy Joel was the piano player for the 1963 Shranga-La's hit  "Leader Of The
Pack".


----5----
The 1960 hit "Alley-Oop" was performed by the Hollwood Argyles which were
just two men (Kim Fowley and Gary Paxton).   It was recorded at the
American Recording Studio in  Los Angeles which was located at the corner
of Hollywood and Argyle, hence their name.


----6----
During 1973 / 74 all four of the Beatles had at least one number one hit as a
solo act and it was Ringo that led the way with two !!!
John.........Whatever Gets You Through the Night(74)
Paul..........My Love(73)
George.....Give Me Love(Give Me Peace On Earth)(73)
Ringo........Photograph(73), Your Sixteen(73)


----7----
The Classic 1963 song "Puff The Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary
had been rumored to be about drugs, but quite the contrary.  The lyrics were
taken from a 1959 poem by Cornell University student Leonard Lipton.
Mr Lipton later went on an amazing versatile life which included producing
twenty-five films, writing four books and obtaining twenty-five patents.


----8----
Barry Manilow's Number 1 hit  "I Write The Songs" was actaully written by
Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys.


----9----
"The Twist" by Chubby Checker, which was written by 50's star Hank Ballard,
is the only song to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts twice.  It originally
hit the top spot on September 19, 1960 then resurfaced again as the number
one song in American on January 13, 1962.


----10----
The song "Bonnie Eloise",  recorded in 1960 by Mitch Miller,  never made the
charts .I only mention it because the song was written by my father, Guy
Harris. He used a melody form a Civil War song which was in public
domain. As I said the song was never a hit but Mr Miller put it in his
album of "Greatest Hits" as a favor and soon dad got royalties.  Even though
he passed away many years ago and the song is over 50 years old,
BMI never forgets me.  Earlier this year I got a check for $114.44,
Thanks Dad !!


AN EXTRA PERFORMANCE
Here is a great clip for you "Oldie But Goodie" Fans.  It's from a concert
circa 1999 featuring two of my favorite Singers Leslie Gore and Lou
Christie singing a duet of  two of my favorite "Oldies Classics".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfH5tdKqNh8&feature=related

See You Next Week

Richard