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My Life In Songs – 1954 – 2024

We are really getting into British Invasion territory now. Eight songs from the Fab Four. Sums up what an influence they were on me. Slow Down’ was a cover version of Larry Williams’ 1958 song. It was their final chart hit of vintage material (for the most part).

The Stones, the Who, the Animals, the Kinks all get a listing. Two of the great Civil Rights movement anthems – Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and The Impressions “People Get Ready” are incredible powerful songs. “Cilla Black had a close working relationship with The Beatles, who helped launch her career after John Lennon introduced her to their manager, Brian Epstein”***

“Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (29 December 1946 – 30 January 2025) was an English singer and actress who achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her UK top 10 single “As Tears Go By” ( written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham). She became one of the leading female artists of the British Invasion in the United States”.***

Beau De Glen “Mance” Lipscomb (April 9, 1895 – January 30, 1976) Although not as well known as many other Bluesmen he is a favourite of mine.

Nothing sings more of New Orleans than the great Professor Longhair. The Animals “Boom Boom” is a John Lee Hooker classic.

The Fugs were an out there band. I love the songs CIA Man. The Fugs is an American rock band formed in New York City in late 1964, by poets Ed Sanders and Tuli Kupferberg, with Ken Weaver on drums. Soon afterward, they were joined by Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber of the Holy Modal Rounders. Kupferberg named the band from a euphemism for fuck used in Norman Mailer‘s novel The Naked and the Dead.***

Who can kill a general in his bed?
Overthrow dictators if they’re Red?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man! (full lyrics below) PS nothing has changed much in America

Memphis Slim’s “Dedicated to Pete Johnson” (March 25, 1904 – March 23, 1967) is about his respect of the Boogie Woogie Pianist. The Georgia Satellites did a great cover of The Swinging Blue Jeans “Hippy Hippy Shake” in 1989. Jan and Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve” as suggested by the title has some dark lyrics. Unfortunately as life sometimes imitates art, Jan Berry had a serious car crash two year later effectively ending the duos career!

Manfred Mann’s “5-4-3-2-1” were from the opening of Ready Steady Go T.V. show. The Stones’ “Not Fade Away”, was a Crickets song from1957.

The Hollies were named after Buddy Holly and led by Graeme Nash who as we know went on to Crosby, Stills Nash and Young. Chuck Berry’s “No Particular Place to Go” was written while he was in prison as was “Promised Land”!

Was there ever a brothel “House of the Rising Sun” as sung by the Animals. There is a lot of conjecture still to this day. “While a specific, definitively identified “House of the Rising Sun” brothel from the song is debated by historians, a leading theory points to a brothel at 826-830 St. Louis Street in the 1870s run by a madam named Marianne LeSoleil Levant, whose name means “Rising Sun” in French. Other theories suggest it may have been a syphilis ward for prostitutes or even a women’s prison, and some historians believe the location never actually existed as a single, verifiable place”.*** Still in is a great song.

There are two listings for the song “It’s All Over Now” and many of you will easily associate the song with the Stones however the original version (The Valentinos) was recorded two month early than the Stones version. Martha and the Vandellas “Dancin’ In the Street” has been recorded by the Grateful Dead, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, the Kinks and Van Halen.

Sam the Sham was Domingo Samudio, and Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs were an Mexican-American band formed in 1961, and at one time included Trini Lopez.

The Skatalites instrumental “The Guns of Navarone” has an interesting background: The song “Guns of Navarone” is the theme music from the 1961 film of the same name, and its lyrics describe the plot of the film: an Allied commando mission to destroy a massive German fortress and its giant guns on the fictional Greek island of Navarone during World War II***.

So what is the “Killin’ Floor” as sung by Howlin’ Wolf: The “killing floor” in the Howlin’ Wolf song is a metaphor for being in a bad relationship, as explained by his guitarist Hubert Sumlin. While it can also refer to a slaughterhouse, Wolf used the term to describe a situation where a woman was treating him so badly it felt like he was being destroyed or “killed,” often referencing a specific incident where a woman shot at him.

The Beau Brummels “Laugh Laugh Laugh” introduced the early San Francisco sound to the world. The song is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s – “500 songs that shaped Rock ‘n’ Roll”. An interesting side note is that Sly Stone produced some of the early recordings.

One of my favourite finger pickin’ Bluesmen is The Reverend Gary Davis: Gary D. Davis (April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972), known as Reverend Gary Davis and Blind Gary Davis, was a blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica. Born in Laurens, South Carolina, and blind since infancy. His influenced so many people and still does to this day: His students included Stefan Grossman, David Bromberg, Steve Katz, Roy Book Binder, Larry Johnson, Alex Shoumatoff, Nick Katzman, Dave Van Ronk, Rory Block, Ernie Hawkins, Larry Campbell, Bob Weir, Woody Mann, and Tom Winslow. He also influenced Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Wizz Jones, Jorma Kaukonen, Keb’ Mo’, Ollabelle, Resurrection Band, and John Sebastian (of the Lovin’ Spoonful). On the Roy Book Binder live album “Don’t Start Me Talkin” there is an 11 minute version of Davis’ “Candy Man” which includes a long monologue of Binder meeting the Rev.

Mississippi John Hurt (March 8, 1893 – November 2, 1966) is another fantastic performer who was rediscovered again in his later life: In 1952, musicologist Harry Smith included John’s version of “Frankie and Johnny” and “Spike Driver Blues” in his seminal collection The Anthology of American Folk Music which generated considerable interest in locating him. The The Lovin’ Spoonful took their name from a recurring phrase in Hurt’s song “Coffee Blues“.***

Mose Allison’s “Parchman Farm” is the Mississippi State Penitentiary. A notorious maximum security prison and a number of well known bluesmen spent time there. Among them: Bukka White R. L. Burnside, John “Big Bad Smitty” Smith, Terry “Big T” Williams, and, reportedly, Aleck “Rice” Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson No. 2), while songs with Parchman themes were recorded by Charley Patton, Wade Walton, and others.. Read more here: https://msbluestrail.org/blues-trail-markers/parchman-farm

Tom Paxton was another of the Greenwich Village folkies (what an incredible breeding ground the Village was. His song “What Did You Learn in School Today? The song is likely referring to the 1964 folk song “What Did You Learn in School Today?” and was famously covered by Pete Seeger. It is a satirical song that asks the question from the perspective of a child and then provides an answer to those questions the idealized or propagandized versions of history and government often taught in schools. See below for the lyrics. The song resonates today as the American Govt. is hell bent of rewriting and sanitising its own history.

Nineteen and sixty four

(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me – Sandie Shaw
5-4-3-2-1 – Manfred Mann
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles
A World Without Love – Peter And Gordon
All Day and All of The Night – The Kinks
All I Really Want to Do – Bob Dylan*
Anyone Who Had a Heart – Cilla Black
As Tears Go By – Marianne Faithfull
Baby I Need Your Loving – The Four Tops
Baby Let Me Take You Home – The Animals
Baby Love – The Supremes
Baby, Don’t Lay It on Me – Mance Lipscomb
Big Chief – Professor Longhair
Bits and Pieces – The Dave Clark Five
Boom Boom – The Animals
California Dreaming – The Mamas & The Papas
Chapel Of Love – The Dixie Cups*
Chimes of Freedom – Bob Dylan
CIA Man – The Fugs
Come See About Me – The Supremes
Crawling Up a Hill – John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Dancing In the Street – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Dead Man’s Curve -Jan & Dean
Dedication to Pete Johnson – Memphis Slim
Didn’t It Rain – Sister Rosetta Tharpe**
Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann
Do You Love Me – The Dave Clark Five
Do You Want to Know A Secret – The Beatles
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals
Don’t Throw Your Love Away – The Searchers
Down Home Girl – Alvin Robinson
Downtown – Petula Clark
Every Little Bit Hurts – Brenda Holloway
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love – Solomon Burke*
Farmer John – The Premiers
Glad All Over – The Dave Clark Five
Go Now – The Moody Blues
Goin’ Out of My Head – Little Anthony & The Imperials
Going Back to Louisiana – Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Good Times – Sam Cooke
Guns Of Navarone – The Skatalites
Have I the Right – The Honeycombs
Heart Of Stone – The Rolling Stones*
Hello Dolly! – Louis Armstrong
Hey Little Bird – The Barbarians
Hi Heel Sneakers – Tommy Tucker
High on a Hill – Scott Hendricks
House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
How Do You Do It? – Gerry & The Pacemakers
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) – Marvin Gaye
I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of This Jelly Roll – Sweet Emma Barrett
I Can’t Explain – The Who*
I Feel Fine – The Beatles
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
I Want to Hold Your Hand -The Beatles
I Wish You Would – The Yardbirds
I’m into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits
In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
It’s All Over Now – The Valentinos
It’s All Over Now – The Rolling Stones
Just One Look – The Hollies*
Keep On Pushing – The Impressions
Killing Floor – Howlin’ Wolf
La La La La La – The Blendells
Laugh Laugh – The Beau Brummels
Leader Of The Pack – The Shangri-Las
Lewis Boogie – Jerry Lee Lewis
Little Red Rooster – The Rolling Stones
Long Legged Baby – Graham Bond
Long Tall Sally – The Kinks
Love Me Do – The Beatles
Luci Baines – The American Four
Memphis – Johnny Rivers
Mercy, Mercy – Don Covay & The Goodtimers
Mornin’ Train – Reverend Gary Davis
Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds
My Baby – The Red Onion Jazz Babies
My Boy Lollipop – Millie Small
My Diary – Jimi Hendrix feat. Rosa Lee Brooks
My Generation – The Who
My Girl Sloopy – The Vibrations
My Girl – The Temptations
My Guy – Mary Wells
My Home Is in The Delta – Muddy Waters
My Time After Awhile – Buddy Guy*
Nadine (Is It You?) – Chuck Berry
Needles and Pins – The Searchers
Neighbour, Neighbour – Jimmy Hughes
No Particular Place to Go – Chuck Berry
Nobody’s Dirty Business – Mississippi John Hurt
Not Fade Away – The Rolling Stones
Oh No, Not My Baby – Maxine Brown
Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
Opportunity – The Jewels
Out Of Sight – James Brown
Parchman Farm – Mose Allison
People Get Ready – The Impressions
Pride of Man – Hamilton Camp
Promised Land – Chuck Berry
Remember (Walkin’ In the Sand) – The Shangri-Las
Slow Down – The Beatles
Soon My Work Will Be Done – Reverend Gary Davis
Steal Away – Jimmy Hughes
Stoned – The Rolling Stones
Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
Tell Me – The Rolling Stones
The Boy From New York City – The Ad Libs
The Hippy Hippy Shake – The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Jerk – The Larks
The Last Thing on My Mind – Tom Paxton
The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) – Jan & Dean
The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
The Way You Do the Things You Do – The Temptations
Time Is on My Side – Irma Thomas*
Twine Time – Alvin Cash
Twist And Shout – The Beatles
Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um – Major Lance
Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
Under the Boardwalk – The Drifters
Up On the Roof – The Drifters
Walk on By – Dionne Warwick
We’ve Gotta Get out of This Place – The Animals
What Did You Learn in School Today? – Tom Paxton
What Kind of Man Is This – Koko Taylor
Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes
Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
Yeh-Yeh! – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
Yes I’m Ready – Barbara Mason
You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
You’re My World – Cilla Black
You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – The Righteous Brothers

C.I.A. man (The Fugs)

Who can kill a general in his bed?
Overthrow dictators if they’re Red?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can find a counter-agent quick?
Especially the ones, themselves, of it?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can plan a riot in Vietnam?
Who can have the troops restore the calm?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can buy a government so cheap?
Change a cabinet without a squeak?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)

CIA Man!

Who can get a budget that’s so great?
Who will be the 51st state?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)

CIA Man!

Who has got the secret-est Service?
The one that makes the other service nervous?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)

CIA Man!

Who can cypher anything with zeros?
Not well known, but simply worth the heros.
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)

CIA Man!

Who can take the sugar from its sack
Pour in LSD and put it back?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can squash republics like bananas?
Simply if they do not like their social manners?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can train guerrillas by the dozens?
Send them out to kill their untrained cousins?
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can mine the harbors Nicaragua?
Out hit all the hitmen of Chicag-ua.
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who can be so overtly covert?
Sometimes even covertly overt.
Fucking-a man!
(Fucking-A! C-I-A!)
CIA Man!

Who’s the agency well-known to God?
The one that copped his staff and copped his rod?
Fucking-a man! CIA Man!
Fucking-a man! CIA Man!
Fucking-a man! CIA Man!
CIA Man! CIA Man!
CIA Man! CIA Man!
CIA Man!
C I A

What did you learn in school today (tom paxton)

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned that Washington never told a lie
I learned that soldiers seldom die
I learned that everybody’s free
And that’s what the teacher said to me
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

And what did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned that policemen are my friends
I learned that justice never ends
I learned that murderers die for their crimes
Even if we make a mistake sometimes
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

And what did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned that war is not so bad
I learned about the great ones we have had
We fought in Germany and in France
And someday I might get my chance
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

And what did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned our government must be strong
It’s always right and never wrong
Our leaders are the finest men
And we elect them again and again
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

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My Life In Songs – 1954 – 2024

So here we are in 1963. I turn 9 years old and the music is amazing. Of course I didn’t hear all the songs listed below in that same year. The beauty of being a music lover is always discovering both new and old songs.

If you talk to any musician that plays the Hammond they will invariably mention Jimmy Smith as an influence. His Bobliness makes an appearance. Phil Ochs was one of the stand-outs of the early sixties folk scene of Greenwich Village. I never say Johnny Copeland play but I have seen his fabulous daughter Shemekia play up a storm.

(Booker T. Washington)”Bukka” White (November 12, 1906 – February 26, 1977) was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer who was a tremendous influence on his cousin Mr. B.B.King. Eric Bibb released the album Booker’s Guitar in 2010 “The genesis of this deeply moving album was in an almost chance encounter at a London hotel, where Eric Bibb had just played a set. He was approached by a fan with a beat-up guitar case, which turned out to contain a 1930s National steel guitar that had been owned and played by legendary Delta blues legend Bukka White. Bibb was inspired to write a half-spoken, half-sung ode to White, which he then recorded in London using that guitar“***.

The great Sonny Boy Williamson II “Help Me” is such as intense pleading song about obviously getting help from a lover. Why is he named the second Sonny Boy Williamson . Because there was another of the same name. John Lee Curtis “Sonny Boy” Williamson (March 30, 1914 – June 1, 1948) was an American blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter. He is often regarded as the pioneer of the blues harp as a solo instrument. He played on hundreds of recordings by many pre–World War II blues artists. Under his own name, he was one of the most recorded blues musicians of the 1930s and 1940s. Williamson’s harmonica style was a great influence on postwar performers. Later in his career, he was a mentor to many up-and-coming blues musicians who moved to Chicago, including Muddy Waters. In an attempt to capitalize on Williamson’s fame, Aleck “Rice” Miller began recording and performing as Sonny Boy Williamson II in the early 1940s, and later, to distinguish the two, John Lee Williamson came to be known as Sonny Boy Williamson I or “the original Sonny Boy”****. How confusing it that Sonny Boy the second was born earlier that Sonny Boy the first. Both of them died very early.

Those four Liverpudlians now enter the charts. The Beatles were a huge influence on my music life and I followed them relentlessly. They revolutionized songwriting and recording techniques, elevating the album to an art form, popularizing new genres like folk rock and psychedelic rock, and profoundly influencing pop culture and fashion. They moved beyond simple pop songs to incorporate complex arrangements, classical music, and non-Western sounds, pushing rock and pop into new creative territories. And I went along for the ride with them. The great singer-songwriter Glen Cardier released his album “Wild at Heart” in 2019. It included the song “Are You Beatles, Are You Stones“, in my formative years I was definitely Beatles! Interesting to note that the release of “Please Please Me” on the first American release misspelled their name as The Beattles!

The New Orleans Gospel icon Mahalia Jackson’s song “If I Can Help Somebody” is listed. I never saw Mahalia sing (more the pity) however I did have an epiphany when I was privileged to see Leonard Cohen play at the Mahalia Jackson theatre in New Orleans (28/03/2013).

Ellis Marsalis (born in New Orleans) “Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr. (November 14, 1934 – April 1, 2020) was an American jazz pianist and educator. Active since the late 1940s, Marsalis came to greater attention in the 1980s and 1990s as the patriarch of the Marsalis musical family, when sons Branford and Wynton became popular jazz musicians“****.

There seems to be a lot of songs about Surfin’ and not just by The Beach Boys! Jan and Dean’s hit sounds a lot like a Beach Boys song. Maybe because Brian Wilson wrote it and also did the harmonies. The Penguins “Memories Of El Monte” was a retro Doo Woop song co-written by Frank Zappa. “On Broadway” by the Drifters became a major hit for George Benson in 1978.

Inez and Charlie Foxx’s “Mockingbird” has been covered by Aretha Franklin, Barry Goldberg and Carly Simon & James Taylor. “Surfer Bird” by The Trashmen (what a great band name) has been covered by The Ramones and The Cramps. Betty Everett’s “You’re No Good” has been covered by among others Linda Ronstadt and Elvis Costello

nineteen and sixty three

  • A Breathtaking Guy – The Supremes
  • Atlantis – The Shadows
  • Back At the Chicken Shack – Jimmy Smith
  • Banjo In the Hollow – The Dillards
  • Be My Baby – The Ronettes
  • Blowin’ In the Wind – Bob Dylan*
  • Blue Bayou – Roy Orbinson
  • Can I Get a Witness – Marvin Gaye
  • Come And Get These Memories – Martha & the Vandells
  • Cry Baby – Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters
  • Da Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals
  • Davey Moore – Phil Ochs
  • Devil With the Blue Dress – Shorty Long
  • Do-Wah Diddy – The Exciters
  • Down on Bending Knees – Johnny Copeland
  • Drunken Leroy Blues – Bukka White
  • Easier Said Than Done – The Essex
  • El Watusi – Ray Barretto
  • Everytime I See You – The Heartbreakers
  • Fiberglass Jungle – The Crossfires
  • Fingertips – Stevie Wonder*
  • From Me to You – The Beatles**
  • Good Luck Charm – Elvis Presley
  • Groovy Baby – Billy Abbott and the Jewels
  • Hanky Panky – Tommy James and the Shondells
  • Harlem Shuffle – Bob &Earl
  • Hello Stranger – Barbara Lewis
  • Help Me – Sonny Boy Williamson II
  • Here I Stand – The Rip Chords
  • He’s so Fine – The Chiffons
  • Hi-Heel Sneakers – Tommy Tucker
  • Hot Pastrami – The Dartells
  • Hot Tamales – Bobby Hatfield
  • How’s Your Bird? – Baby Ray and the Ferns
  • If I Can Help Somebody – Mahalia Jackson
  • If You Need Me – Solomon Burke*
  • I’m Gonna Build Me a Web – K.C.Douglas
  • I’m Leaving It Up to You – Dale & Grace
  • It’s All Right – The Impressions
  • It’s Gonna Work Out Fine – Ike and Tina Turner
  • It’s Too Late – Wilson Pickett
  • Java – Al Hirt
  • Just One Look – Doris Troy
  • Little Latin Lupe Lu – The Righteous Brothers
  • Lost and Lookin’ – Sam Cooke
  • Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
  • Magnolia Triangle – Ellis Marsalis*
  • Mean Woman Blues – Roy Orbinson
  • Memories Of El Monte – The Penguins
  • Mockingbird – Inez and Charlie Foxx
  • My Babe – The Righteous Brothers
  • My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels
  • Night Train – The Oscar Peterson Trio
  • No Title Yet Blues – Clarence White
  • Not Me – The Orlons
  • On Broadway – The Drifters
  • Packing Up – The Famous Ward Singers
  • Pain in My Heart – Otis Redding
  • Penetration – The Pyramids
  • Please Please Me – The Beatles
  • Pride and Joy – Marvin Gaye
  • Prisoner Of Love – James Brown
  • Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
  • Ruler of My Heart – Irma Thomas*
  • She Loves You – The Beatles
  • So Far Away – Hank Jacobs
  • So Much in Love – The Tymes
  • Streamline ‘Frisco Limited – Reverand Robert Wilkins
  • Streamline Special – Bukka White
  • Sugar and Spice – The Searchers
  • Summer Holiday – Cliff Richards & the Shadows
  • Surf City – Jan & Dean
  • Surfer Girl – The Beach Boys
  • Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen
  • Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
  • Sweets for My Sweet – The Drifters
  • Take Five – Quincey Jones
  • The Big Surfer – Brian Lord & the Midnighters
  • The Cruncher – The Rotations
  • The Martian Hop – The Ran-Dells
  • The Monkey Time – Major Lance
  • The Nitty Gritty – Shirley Ellis
  • Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals
  • Those Lonely, Lonely Feelings – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
  • Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um – Major Lance
  • Walking the Dog – Rufus Thomas
  • Watermelon Man – Quincy Jones
  • Wham! – Lonnie Mack*
  • What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) – The Tams
  • Who Do You Love – Ronnie Hawkins
  • Wipe Out – The Sufaris
  • Yeah Yeah – Georgie Fame
  • You’re No Good – Betty Everett
  • *Seen perform live
  • **The only Beatle I have seen perform live was Ringo (front row at Festival Hall)
  • ***All Music
  • ****Wikipedia
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My Life In Songs – 1954 – 2024

So here we are 1962. My lists are tending to get longer the further I get into my seventy years of music.

John Lee Hooker (Boom Boom), now that’s how to boogie. In 1995, John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame‘s list of “The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The Animals did a version of Boom Boom in 1964. Chubby Checker sure had a lot of songs with Twistin’ in the title.

We get the debut single from the one and only Otis Redding. Stevie Wonder in his early career was known as Little Stevie Wonder. The Beatles recorded a version of the Isley Brothers ‘Twist and Shout” in 1964. “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” by New Orlean’s Barbara Lynn included Mac Rebbeneck aka Dr. John on piano. The song was recorded at the famous Cosimo Matassa’s J & M Studios. Although no longer a studio (it is a laundromat) there is a plaque on the building recognising its significance to New Orleans. Little Eva’s “Locomotion” has been recorded by many artists over the years but my favourite cover is by Grand Funk Railroad in 1974. Booker T’s classic 12 bar blues “Green Onions” is a classic instrumental. If you get a chance to visit the Stax Records museum in Memphis you can stare at the Hammond used in the recording. “Stubborn Kind of Fellow” was Marvin Gaye’s first hit for the Motown label (although not his first recording). Now you might say to me why the novelty song “Monster Mash” by Boris Pickett? I did tell you in an earlier post that I am a sucker for a novelty song. “Song to Woody” by Bob Dylan is of course a homage to the great Woody Guthrie

Nineteen and Sixty – Two

  • (You’re My) Dream Come True – The Temptations
    409 – The Beach Boys
    All These Things – Art Neville
    Alligator Man – Jimmy C. Newman
    Any Day Now – Chuck Jackson
    Beechwood 4-5789 – The Marvelettes
    Big Boss Man – Frank Frost
    Big Girls Don’t Cry – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
    Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker
    Boss – The Rumblers
    Bring It Home to Me – Sam Cooke
    Bustin’ Surfboards – The Tornadoes
    Cinnamon Cinder – The Pastel Six
    Do You Love Me – The Contours
    Do You Want to Dance – Cliff Richard & The Shadows
    Do-Re-Mi – Lee Dorsey
    Down In the Valley – Solomon Burke*
    Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) – Roy Orbison
    Funny How Time Slips Away – Willie Nelson*
    Green Onions – Booker T.* & The MGs
    Having a Party – Sam Cooke
    He Hit Me (And I Felt Like a Kiss) – The Crystals
    Help Me – Sonny Boy Williamson
    He’s a Rebel – The Crystals
    Hitch Hike – Marvin Gaye
    Howlin’ For My Darling – Howlin’ Wolf
  • Humpty Dumpty Heart – Jim Cava
    I Ain’t Got No Home – Ramblin’ Jack Elliott*
    I Call It Pretty Music but The Old People Call It the Blues Pt 1 – Stevie Wonder*
    I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles*
    I Need Your Loving – Don Gardner
    I Sold My Heart to the Junkman – Patti Labelle And the Bluebelles
    I’ll Try Something New -The Miracles
    It’s Raining – Irma Thomas*
    I’ve Made Nights by Myself – Albert King
    Keep on Naggin’ – Jimmy Anderson
    La La La La La – Stevie Wonder
    Land of 1000 Dances – Chris Kenner
    Let Me In – The Sensations
    Let’s Dance – Chris Montez
    Let’s Go (Pony) – The Routers
    Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette) – Benny Spellman
    Loop De Loop – Johnny Thunder
    Mama Didn’t Lie – Jan Bradley
    Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
    Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
    Moon River (From “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) – Danny Williams
    Mumblin’ Blues – Sylvester Buckley
    My Man He’s a Lovin’ Man – Bettye LaVette
    Night Train – James Brown
    Oh, My Angel – Bertha Tillman
    Only One – Scotty Wayne
    Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) – Roy Orbison
    Palisades Park – Freddy Cannon
    Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow – The Rivingtons
    Party Lights – Claudine Clark
    Pipeline – The Chantays
    Playboy – The Marvelettes
    Queen of My Heart – René And Ray
    Remember the Night – The Atlantics
    Return to Sender – Elvis Presley
    Shake For Me – Howlin’ Wolf
    Shake Sherry – The Contours
    Sheila – Tommy Roe
    Sherry – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
    Shout Bamalama – Otis Redding
    Slow Twistin’ – Chubby Checker
    Soldier Boy – The Shirelles
    Something’s Got a Hold on Me – Etta James
    Song to Woody – Bob Dylan*
    Soul Twist – King Curtis And the Noble Knights
    Spoonful – Howlin’ Wolf
    Stubborn Kind of Fellow – Marvin Gaye
    Surfin’ Safari – The Beach Boys
    Take It Off – The Genteels
    Tell Him – The Exciters
    Tell Him – The Drew-Vels
    Telstar – The Tornados
    The Back Door – Badeaux & Louisiana Aces & D.L. Menard
    The Loco-Motion – Little Eva
    The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro) – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass*
    The One Who Really Loves You – Mary Wells
    The Red Rooster – Howlin’ Wolf
    The Syracuse – Felix Cavaliere & The Escorts
    The Town I Live In – McKinley Mitchell
    The Wah Watusi – The Orlons
    These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding
    Too Many Cooks – Buddy Guy*
    Twist and Shout – The Isley Brothers
  • Twistin’ The Night Away – Sam Cooke
    Two Lovers – Mary Wells
    Up On the Roof – The Drifters
    Venus in Blue Jeans – Jimmy Clanton
    Village of Love – Nathaniel Mayer & The Fabulous Twilight
    Walk On with The Duke – Gene Chandler
    Watermelon Man – Mongo Santamaria
    What’s a Matter Baby – Timi Yuro
    Wiggle Wobble – Les Cooper
    Working for the Man – Roy Orbison
    Yes Indeed – Pete Fountain
    You Beat Me to The Punch – Mary Wells
    You Better Move On – Arthur Alexander
    You’ll Lose a Good Thing – Barbara Lynn
    You’ll Never Cherish a Love So True (Till You Lose It) – Johnny O’Keefe*
    You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – The Miracles
  • * Seen perform live I have seen Booker T. backed by the Drive By Truckers
     
     
Posted on by treme54 · 2 Comments

MY LIFE IN SONGS 1954 – 2024

There are some new artists to sample in my list for 1961.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight” is a song originally written and recorded by Solomon Linda under the title “Mbube” for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. Linda’s original was written in Zulu, while the English version’s lyrics were written by George David Weiss.

There are a couple of Jimmy Reed classics “Big Boss Man” and Bright Lights, Big City”. Interesting to note that Phil Spectre played guitar on the Ben E. King classic “Stand By Me”. John Lennon also recorded Stand By Me for his Rock ‘n’ Roll album which was produced by a then very crazy Phil Spectre. “During the sessions, Spector fired a gun in the studio, and the bullet reportedly skimmed past Lennon’s ear. Lennon responded, “Phil, if you’re going to kill me, kill me. But don’t f**k with my ears. I’m a musician, I need ’em!”.

The Mar-Keys, formed in 1958, were an American studio session band for Stax Records, in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1960s. As the first house band for the label, their backing music formed the foundation for the early 1960s Stax sound. The Ikettes were Ike Turner’s all-femala backing group.

I’m pretty sure that the band Big Sambo and the Housewreckers would not be a name chosen today. The Falcons and Band had a young Wilson Pickett in the line-up. Pickette rerecorded the song “I Found Love” in 1967. New Orleans Champion Jack Dupree is a huge favourite of mine. “William Thomas “Champion Jack” Dupree (July 23, 1909 or July 4, 1910 – January 21, 1992) was an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist and singer. His nickname was derived from his early career as a boxer. and he was the lightweight champion of Indiana“.

Walter E. “Furry” Lewis was an American country blues guitarist and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of the earliest of the blues musicians active in the 1920s to be brought out of retirement and given new opportunities to record during the folk blues revival of the 1960s.  Joni Mitchell‘s song “Furry Sings the Blues” (on her album Hejira) is about her visit to Lewis’s apartment and a mostly ruined Beale Street on February 5, 1976.

nineteen and sixty-one

  • Big Bad John – Jimmy Dean
    Big Boss Man – Jimmy Reed
    Bleeding Heart – Elmore James
    Blue Moon -The Marcels
    Bright Lights, Big City – Jimmy Reed
    Bristol Stomp – The Dovells
    Bumble Boogie – B. Bumble & The Stingers
    Buttered Popcorn – The Supremes
    Calinda – Jim Smoak
    Candy Man – Roy Orbison
    Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
    Check Mr. Popeye – Eddie Bo
    Come Back, Baby – Dave Van Ronk
    Crazy – Patsy Cline
    Daddy’s Home – Shep & The Limelites
    Dog Patch Creeper – Velveteens
    Du Dee Squat – Little Luther
    Duke of Earl – Gene Chandler
    Dupree Special – Champion Jack Dupree
    Every Beat of My Heart – Gladys Knight
    Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
    Free, Single & Disengaged – Huey “Piano” Smith
    Gin House Blues – Nina Simone
    Goin’ To Kansas City – Furry Lewis
    Got Me a Louisiana Woman – Lightnin’ Hopkins
    Gypsy Woman – The Impressions
    Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart) – Ricky Nelson
    Hey! Baby – Bruce Channel
    Hide Away – Freddy King
    Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles*
    I Found a Love – The Falcons
    I Just Want a Little Bit – Magic Sam feat. Eddie Shaw
    I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More) – Barbara George
    I Like It Like That Part 1 – Chris Kenner
    I Pity the Fool – Bobby “Blue” Bland*
    I Want a Guy – The Supremes
    If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody – James Ray
    I’m A Fool to Care – Joe Barry
    I’m Blue – The Ikettes
    Jamie – Eddie Holland
    John Henry – Furry Lewis
    Last Night – The Mar-Keys
    Lazy River -Bobby Darin
    Let Me Down Easy – Freddie King
    Let’s Go Trippin – Dick Dale
    Life Is Just a Struggle – Johnny Adams
    Lonely Blue Nights – Rosie & The Originals
    Love Me Baby – Shakey Jake
    Lover’s Island – The Blue Jays
    Memphis Slim U.S.A. – Memphis Slim
    Midnight Special – Jimmy Smith
    Mother-In-Law – Ernie K-Doe
    My Girl – Charles McCullough
    My True Story – The Jive Five
    Night Train – James Brown
    Not me – Gary US Bonds
    Oh, Mother of Mine – The Temptations
    One Mint Julep – Ray Charles*
    Only the Lonely – Roy Orbison
    Peanut Butter – The Marathons
    Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes
    Pony Time – Don Covay & The Goodtimers
    Quarter To Three – Gary U.S. Bonds
    Raindrops – Dee Clark
    Rainin’ In My Heart – Slim Harpo
    Runaround Sue – Dion
    Runaway – Del Shannon
    Running Scared – Roy Orbison
    She Put the Hurt on Me – Prince La La
    Soothe Me – Sim Twins
    Stand By Me – Ben E. King
    Stick Shift – The Duals
    Surfer’s Stomp – The Marketts
    Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
    Swear I’ll Tell the Truth – Earl Hooker
    Swing Down Chariot – The Staple Singers
    Tears of Sorrow – The Primettes
    Tears On My Pillow -Little Anthony & The Imperials
    The Fly – Chubby Checker
    The Lakes of Pontchartrain – Jim Smoak
    The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) – The Tokens
    The Mountain’s High – Dick & Dee Dee
    The Rains Came – Big Sambo & The House Wreckers
    The Roach – Gene & Wendell
    The Wanderer – Dion & The Belmonts
    The Watusi – The Vibrations
    The Young Ones – Cliff Richard & The Shadows
    Underwater – The Frogmen
    Up on the Roof – The Drifters
    Walk Right Back – The Everly Brothers
    Walked Down So Many Turn Rows – Mercy Dee Walton
    When We Get Married – Bill Deal and The Rhondels
    Wild Wind – John Leyton
    Ya Ya – Lee Dorsey
    Ye Jacobites By Name – Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger
  • * Seen perform live