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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
     
     
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My Life in songs 1954 – 2024

Now we start on the “Swinging Sixties”. In my humble opinion the 60’s were the most innovated decade of music on record (pardon the pun). The 1960s were a musical explosion — a decade that reshaped sound, culture, and creativity forever.

Youth Rebellion & Counterculture: The post-war baby boomers came of age, challenging norms through music. Civil rights, anti-war protests, and feminist movements fuelled powerful lyrics and bold experimentation.

British Invasion: Bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones brought fresh energy and global appeal, transforming pop and rock music into cultural phenomena.

Folk Revival: Artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez used music as protest and poetry, giving voice to social change

Psychedelic Rock: Acts like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane pushed boundaries with surreal sounds and mind-expanding themes.

Motown Magic: Detroit’s Motown Records introduced soulful, polished pop with stars like Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, creating “The Sound of Young America”.

Fusion & Experimentation: Folk rock, progressive rock, and avant-garde styles emerged, blending genres and defying musical conventions

  • Woodstock & Music Festivals: These gatherings became symbols of peace, love, and artistic freedom.
  • Film & Pop Music: Soundtracks and music-driven films amplified pop’s reach and impact.

The 60s weren’t just a decade — they were a turning point. Music became a mirror of society, a tool for change, and a playground for innovation.

A few observations of some of the below songs: Two classics from Etta James “All I Could Do Is Cry”and “At Last”. Jesse Hill’s “Ooh Poo Pa Doo” a song I first heard sung by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Jackie Wilson’s “Night” is listed. In 1972 Van Morrison released the album St Dominics Preview which included the song “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile”. How about the song ‘LSD-25′ by the Gamblers, a daring song title for 1960. The label execs were convinced it was about a Naval ship! Johnny Kidd and the Pirates “Shakin’ All Over”, I have great memories of Way Out West’s Patron Saint Chris Wilson singing this classic at our Christmas gigs. New Orlean’s piano virtuoso James Booker’s “Gonzo” is a classic. Booker was a flawed genius and he also recorded a song titled “Smacksie” and then ironically went to the slammer for drug usage. Harry Connick Snr. was the D.A. and Booker’s lawyer and he kept Booker from a jail sentence in exchange for piano lessons for his son Harry Connick Jnr.! You may remember Ringo Starr (1974) doing a cover of Johnny Burnette’s hit “You’re Sixteen”. What is it with old men singing about 16 year olds and school girls? Slim Harpo’s created a new genre, Swamp Blues with the song “Rainin’In My Heart”.

I have been to New Orleans 10 times. Every time I hear Fats Donino’s song “Walking to New Orleans” I have a hankering to go back again.

Ninteen and sixty

  • A Fool In Love – Ike and Tina Turner
  • A Thousand Stars – Kathy Young & The Innocents
  • All I Could Do Is Cry – Etta James
  • Alley-Oop – The Hollywood Argyles
  • Angel Baby – Rosie & The Originals
  • Angel On My Shoulder – Shelby Flint
  • Apache – The Shadows
  • At Last – Etta James
  • Baby Sittin’ Boogie – Buzz Clifford
  • Baby, What You Want Me To Do? – Jimmy Reed
  • Beatnik Sticks – Paul Revere & The Raiders
  • Big Boy Pete – The Olympics
  • Big Chief – Professor Longhair
  • Big Mr. C – The Link Eddy Combo
  • Blues Come to Texas – Lil’ Son Jackson
  • Boss Man Blues – Smoky Babe
  • Bye Bye Baby – Mary Wells
  • Call Me Juke Boy – Juke Boy Bonner
  • Carnival Time – Al Johnson*
  • Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
  • Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
  • Charlena – The Sevilles
  • Chills and Fever – Johnny Love & His Orchestra
  • Church Key – The Revels
  • Come On, Pt.1&2 – Earl King
  • Crawdad Song – Doc Watson, Clarence Ashley and Group
  • Cry to Me – Solomon Burke*
  • Diamonds and Pearls – The Paradons
  • Do The Chicken – Earl Hooker
  • Doggin’ Around – Jackie Wilson
  • East LA. – Bob Arlin
  • Fannie Mae – Buster Brown
  • Finger Poppin’ Time – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
  • Fortune Teller – Benny Spellman
  • Freeway – The Fugitives
  • Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles*
  • Gonzo – James Booker
  • Gun Slinger – Bo Diddley
  • Hangover – Roosevelt Sykes
  • Have Love Will Travel – Richard Berry
  • He Will Break Your Heart – Jerry Butler
  • Holy One – Freddy Fender
  • I Am the Black Ace – Black Ace
  • I Count the Tears – The Drifters
  • I Love The Way You Love – Mary Johnson
  • If You Believe in Me – Phil Sloan
  • Image of a Girl – The Safaris
  • It Will Stand – The Showmen
  • It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley
  • John Brown’s Body – Pete Seeger
  • Juicy – Lynn Hope
  • Just a Little Bit – Rosco Gordon
  • Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go – Hank Ballard
  • Let’s Have A Party – Wanda Jackson
  • Little by Little – Junior Wells
  • Boogie Jake Loaded Down – Boogie Jake
  • Lonely Weekends – Charlie Rich
  • Louisiana Man – Doug Kershaw*
  • LSD-25 – The Gamblers
  • Madison Blues – Elmore James
  • Messin’ With The Kid – Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band
  • Mission Bell – Donnie Brooks
  • Mississippi Heavy Water Blues – Robert Pete Williams
  • Mope-Itty Mope – The Boss-Tones
  • Mother-In-Law – Ernie K-Doe
  • Mule Skinner Blues – The Fendermen
  • My Babe – Little Walter
  • My Old Man’s a Dustman – Lonnie Donegan
  • Mysteries Of A Hobo’s Life – Cisco Houston
  • New Orleans – Gary U.S. Bonds
  • Night – Jackie Wilson
  • Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out – Nina Simone
  • On the Rebound – Floyd Cramer
  • Ooh Poo Pah Doo – Jessie Hill
  • Over You – Aaron Neville*
  • Red River Blues – Lil’ Son Jackson
  • Richmond is a Hard Road to Travel – The New Lost City Ramblers
  • Road Runner – Bo Diddley
  • Rooster Blues – Lightnin’ Slim
  • Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters
  • Shake ‘n‘ Stomp – Dick Dale
  • Shake Your Moneymaker – Elmore James
  • Shaking All Over – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
  • Shop Around – The Miracles
  • Shopping for Clothes – The Coasters
  • Shortnin’ Bread – Paul Chaplain and His Emeralds
  • Spanish Harlem – Ben E. King
  • Spoonful – Howlin’ Wolf
  • Standing At The Crossroads – Elmore James
  • Stay – Maurice Williams
  • Stewball – Memphis Slim
  • Stompin the Boogie – Roosevelt Sykes
  • Stone Crazy – Buddy Guy*
  • Surf Beat – Dick Dale
  • Take A Little Walk With Me – Otis Spann
  • The Hoochi Coochi Coo – Hank Ballard
  • The Madison Time – Ray Bryant Combo
  • The Old Payola Roll Blues (Pts. 1 & 2) – Stan Freberg
  • The Twist – Chubby Checker
  • Theme from “A Summer Place” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra
  • There Is Something on Your Mind – Bobby Marchan
  • Think – James Brown
  • This Magic Moment – The Drifters
  • This Old Heart – James Brown
  • Those Oldies But Goodies – Little Caesar & The Romans
  • Today I Sing the Blues – Aretha Franklin
  • Tonight’s The Night – The Shirelles
  • Too Close Blues – Lightnin’ Slim
  • Train Done Gone – Eddie ‘Blues Man’ Kirkland
  • Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino
  • Wild Weekend – The Rockin’ Rebels
  • Will My Man Be Home Tonight – Lillian Offitt
  • Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
  • Won’t be Long – Aretha Franklin
  • You Been Torturing Me – The Four Young Men
  • You Talk Too Much – Joe Jones
  • Your Dice Won’t Pass -Sally Doston, Smoky Babe & Hillary Blun
  • You’re Sixteen – Johnny Burnette