What's So Good About Good-BY --The Miracles (1961) Smoky Robinson sings lead but this song pre-date the groups name change to Smoky Robinson and the Miracles. It is one of his best largely unknown songs. I still have it on a 45 record on our 58 United juke Box.
I think old juke boxes are cool. Any pics? BTW, Smokey Robinson is one singer I could sit and listen to for hours. One of many I like: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I'm sure their skin is thick enough that they can tolerate my opinion. Meanwhile, in Oldies stations across North America, "Tears of a Clown" is played 5x/day.....
I"m taking you back to two rock and roll songs from the early 50s. These are from two rival groups with the same lead singing base. The lead singer is Bill Brown who passed away while in his early 20s. The first group is "The Dominos". The Dominos were comprised of, among later to be famous others, Jackie Wilson and Clyde McPhatter who was the first lead singer for the Drifters. Bill Brown and another singer left the Dominos and formed the rival group "The Checkers." Listen for the unmistakable base voice of Bill Brown singing lyrics that by 50's standards were risqué in the following competing songs from competing groups: Sixty Minute Man-- Billy Ward and the Dominos-- (1951) llhttps://www.google.com/search?q=billy+ward+and+the+dominoes+sixty+minute+man&oq=billy+ward+and+the+dominoes+6sixty+minute+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i13k1j0i13i30k1l2.16219.26461.0.31264.15.15.0.0.0.0.279.2232.0j14j1.15.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.12.1859...0j0i67k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i160k1j33i13i21k1j33i21k1.0.Hm4PY-Jr4WE Sixty-minute man, sixty-minute man Look a here girls I'm telling you now They call me "Lovin' Dan" I rock 'em, roll 'em all night long I'm a sixty-minute man If you don't believe I'm all that I say Come up and take my hand When I let you go you'll cry "Oh yes" "He's a sixty-minute man". There'll be 15 minutes of kissing Then you'll holler "Please don't stop" (Don't stop !) There'll be 15 minutes of teasing And 15 minutes of squeezing And 15 minutes of blowing my top........ Don't Stop Dan --The Checkers (1954)--
Thanks for the interesting music history lesson, Jim. Yes, lyrics are risqué for that era. Now, they are tame compared to what's passed off today. The Drifters are coming to west Michigan in December. Playing, that I know of, three venues. Shows are promoted by Wolverine Productions. Proceeds to benefit Fraternal Order of Police. One show is close to us. Wife and I plan to go on December 14. $35 per couple.
Charlie Thomas, now 80, is the only recording era Drifter left: http://www.cthomasdrifters.com/ I saw Bill Pickney all the time here but he has since passed. He sang their recording of White Christmas. He was one nice guy. Ben E. King who sang lead on so many of the Drifter songs like "There Goes My Baby"recently passed. I saw him sing live many times also.
We should also remember the great lead Drifters voice of Rudy Lewis (RIP) post Ben E. King. Here Rudy is in 1961 singing a song written by none other than Carol King and her then husband, Gerry Goffin (RIP). Some Kind of Wonderful --The Drifters (1961) with the production and arrangement, including background strings, by Jerry Lieber (RIP) and Mike Stoller of Atlantic records.
Finally, the lead singer and founder of The Drifters, Clyde McPhatter, died in 1972. He was born close to me in Durham, N.C. After he left the Dominos here is CM's unique tenor voice singing: Money Honey --The Drifters (1953)
Brings back memories of the 50s revolution. Get two for one here with Gene Vincent (Bebop A lula) and Edie Cochran (Summer time blues). Went from Patti Page "How much is that doggy" to this. And throw in a little Little Richard and Bill Haley and parents were horrified!
Continuing on with some of the history surrounding the historic recording group, The Drifters, Rudy Lewis, the lead singer after Ben E. King, only lived to age 27. He had a great voice and great material to record. Here RL is singing a song written by none other than Burt Bacharach, a truly prolific song writer. It is not so well known but has all the hallmarks of The Drifters and Atlantic Records, especially background strings on a pop song. The song is Please Stay:
Jerry -here is the lead Drifter you will see this December as he appeared in a photo with Ben E. King in 1958. Charlie Thomas is on the far left.
