Girls Are Out To Get You, The Fascinations (1966) Produced by Curtis Mayfield, this song reached No. 92 on Billboard Hot 100. Formed in 1960, Shirley Walker (aka Shirley Lawson) and Martha Reevesoriginally planned on calling their group the Sabre-ettes. Reeves had more success as lead singer for Martha & The Vandellas.
Being Without You, Maurice Williams (1966) Maurice Williams (with The Zodiacs) was best known for the classic 1960 hit Stay, the shortest recorded number one hit in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart (US).
It Ain’t Nothin’ But Rock And Roll, The Matadors (1963) Puerto Rican street corner vocal group The Epsilons formed in Brooklyn NY, changed the name to the The Matadors and recorded four songs in 1963. There was another group with the same name, and rather than give up their matching bullfighter garb, they became The Toreadors.
Do The Zombie, M.R. Baseman & The Symbols (1963) This song was the B-side of a 45rpm recorded on the Graphic Arts label, the A-side being a cover of the Devotions’ Rip Van Winkel, recorded by “Marty & The Symbols.” Very little is known about this group except they may have been from Astoria, Queens, NY. No relation to the 1960s UK pop band The Symbols.
Ever Again, Bernie Williams (1969) Not to be confused with recording artist and Major League Baseball player of the same name, Bernie Williams was a Northern Soul singer who recorded for Bell Records. A rare promo 45rpm of Ever Again/ Next To You was recently listed for £3,900 ($4,861 USD).
Nite Owl, Tony Allen and The Champs (1955) Anthony Penia Allon, aka Tony Allen, was born in New Orleans of mixed creole, Indian and black parents. He grew up a few houses down from Fats Domino who inspired him; his musical resume is solid. This original version (by Tony Allen and The Chimes – Specialty Records got the group’s name wrong) was also released as Night Owl.
Night Owl, Bobby Paris (1966) Roberto Pares, aka Bobby Paris, was a blue-eyed soul singer (with brown eyes due to his Puerto Rican heritage). In 1956 Paris sang with The Golden Keys, a neighborhood R&B group, began his recording career in 1960 and eventually became a producer for Capitol Records. His first and biggest hit came in 1966 with his cover of Tony Allen’s Nite Owl, rearranged and mashed up with Tom Jones’ 1965 hit It’s Not Unusual.
30 foot waves are expected at south facing beaches in So. California due to the leftovers of Hurricane Hilary. Live surf cams here and here. San Clemente has a decent one.
[Top image: Screened patio, Orange County North Carolina (ca. 2014) found somewhere on Twitter/X.]
BluesBeaten Redshaw on cigar box banister rail & tea spoon diddley bow (via @bluesharp). Not a lot can be found about this BB Redshaw guy, other than he hails from Yorkshire, has been performing since he was 14, and drove a 1948 Fergusen tractor from northern England to Switzerland, playing gigs along the way.
Australian guitar slinger Dave Hole is living proof that there’s a Mississippi Delta somwhere in Oz. [h/t Archie Archive]
Don’t know about you, but these days are flying by for me. I must be doing something wrong, or maybe something right. Have a great weekend and we’ll trash talk whoever doesn’t show
Cruisin’ For A Love, J. Geils Band (1973) One of the greatest bar bands to hit it big (timeline of band members here). Guitarist John Warren Geils Jr. passed away in 2017 at 71.
Tacky Raccoons 