Previous Feature 45s — Page 16

Bob Luman was born and bred in Texas and began recording in 1957. In 1959 he signed to the Warner Bros. label and a number of his records was released while he was serving in the US army. His first hit was Let's Think About Living in 1960. Private Eye was released in 1961 making No.36 on 2UE's Top 40 on 14th October.
See Boston Rocker and The Great Snowman.

Frank Guida and Joseph Royster wrote this song, originally recorded by U.S. Bonds in 1960. Eddie Hodges, famous for his 1961 hit I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door revived New Orleans in 1965. Hodges was born in Mississippi and relocated to New York as a youngster. He started an acting career on stage and film and began recording in 1958, aged 11.

Moon Kim was popular in Korea in the 1940s but moved to the US with her Korean-American husband in the 1950s. She recorded an album for RCA with Joe Reisman's Orchestra in 1956 and first came to our notice that year with Kanda Kanda (A Singy Sangy Song). Later, two songs on the LP, Oriental Hop and I'm Dingy Dongy Over You were released on a single.

Neil Sedaka started as a classical pianist but later developed an interest in pop music. After many years writing songs with Howard Greenfield, he moved to Britain to start a partnership with Phil Cody. Their composition Bad Blood was a single released from the Polydor album Overnight Success. The single reached No.12 in Sydney (2UE Top 40) on 11th December 1975, his twelfth top 40 hit.

'The Invaders' was formed from 'The Downbeats', a group from Christchurch, New Zealand. After gaining popularity in Auckland late in 1962, they tried in Australia with a single I Wanna Be Your Man coupled with Cat's Eyes. It failed, but later in 1964 they topped our charts with She's a Mod. 'The Invaders' was the backing group for Roy Orbison during his tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1965.
See Till We Kissed

Wayne Cornell began in show business as a 14 year-old dancer with Bob Malcolm's Dance Group in Sydney. His first TV appearance was on Keith Walshe's 'Teen Time' and his first disc was the single Drum Majorette. But Wayne is probably more famous for his 1967 recording with 'The Delltones' of Glory Glory to South Sydney, the theme song of the South Sydney Rugby League team.

Sung by 'The Diamonds' over the opening credits of the MGM film of the same name, The Horizontal Lieutenant featured new lead singer Jim Malone who replaced Dave Somerville. The group was formed in Canada in the 1950s and they made their way to stardom in the U.S.A. in 1955. Their first Top 10 hit was Little Darlin' in 1957. In all they had 16 Billboard hits between 1956 and 1961.

This band started as a backing group for artists on the Stax label. In 1962 they were improvising an organ riff during downtime in the studio and it was recorded. The track was later named Green Onions and topped the R&B charts in America. In 1968 they had their first Top 40 hit in Australia, Soul-Limbo which made No.3 on the 2UE Top 40 dated 4th September, 1968.

Bing Crosby recorded many Christmas songs over a number of decades. His version of Silent Night was recorded in 1935 and on Christmas Day in 1941 he introduced Irving Berlin's White Christmas by singing it live on radio. Do You Hear What I Hear? has been listed in Billboard's Top 100 Christmas songs since 2013.

Joey Dee had a hit in 1961, The Peppermint Twist (Part 1) with his group 'The Starliters'. Let's Have a Party was a track lifted from his Dance, Dance, Dance album recorded in 1963 without 'The Starliters', instead assisted by a female vocal backing group, The Ronettes.

The Mystics were signed to Laurie records in 1958 and their first hit Hushabye was released in May 1959. Eight months later they recorded All Through the Night with 5 vocalists including Paul Simon (as Jerry Landis). The composer was Kal Mann who wrote the lyrics to many pop songs of the 50s and 60s.

Bill Clifton was born in the U.S.A and has been performing for 80 years. His first recording dates back to 1952. He recorded Beatle Crazy for Decca records in England in 1963 when 'The Beatles' were enjoying their first year of fame. The song was written by an Englishman, Geoff Stephens and Clifton sang it in a 'talking blues' style.

TV host and Gold Logie winner, Jimmy Hannan recorded Hokey Pokey Stomp as a follow-up single release to his 1963 hit Beach Ball. It made No.21 on the 2UE Top 40 dated 10th April 1964.
See Chang the Magic Dragon

'The Equals' formed in Britain in 1964. Baby, Come Back was written by group member, Eddy Grant and was originally released as a B-side in June 1967. It was re-released in 1968 and topped the British charts. In Sydney it made No.13 on 2UE Top 40, 18th September, 1968.

Joe Barry started his recording career in Louisiana in 1958 and scored a national hit with I'm a Fool to Care in 1961. The following single Teardrops in My Heart / For You, Sunshine made No.63 on the Billboard Hot 100 (28 Aug 1961). Both singles failed to chart in Australia.

Paul Francis Webster and Sammy Fain wrote The Deadwood Stage for the movie 'Calamity Jane' in 1953. It was originally released as the B side to Secret Love (in Australia, on a Philips 10 inch 78 rpm single in July 1954). Coronet Records reissued it on a 45 in 1957.

Jamie Horton recorded under her real name, Gayla Peevy until she recorded this single for Joy Records in 1959. It was issued as the B-side of My Little Marine which made No.84 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 1st February, 1960. Later in 1960 she made the Australian charts with her cover version of the Connie Francis hit, Robot Man.

I Wanna Be Loved By You was introduced by Helen Kane in the 1928 stage musical 'Good Boy'. In 1958, Marilyn Monroe recorded it for the film 'Some Like It Hot' in which she starred with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The recording was released in Australia shortly before the film but it failed to chart.

Two brothers from Louisiana, U.S.A. began recording in 1954 as Rusty and Doug. In 1961 they had a Billboard hit with Louisiana Man which was later recorded by a number of artists including Rick Nelson and Gene Pitney. In 1964 they released another of their own compositions, Malinda.

A British duo, Chad and Jeremy formed in 1962 and had only one hit in Britain with Yesterday's Gone. They were more popular in the U.S.A. where they had 11 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, A Summer Song their biggest, making No.7 on 17th October, 1964. In the same week, in Sydney it made No.68 on the 2SM Top 100.

Jamie Redfern was born in Liverpool, England and with his family, emigrated to Australia. He was seen on Melbourne television from 1964 and eventually became a regular on 'Young Talent Time'. His first hits were oldies including Rainbow on the River which was originally recorded in the U.S.A by Bobby Breen (age 9) in 1936. Redfern's version made No.6 on 24th December, 1972.

Bobby Day began as an R&B recording artist in 1949 with his group 'The Hollywood Flames' and later as a solo rock and roll singer and songwriter. He wrote Little Bitty Pretty One for Thurston Harris in 1957 and Over and Over for the flipside of his own smash hit, Rock-In' Robin which peaked on the 2UE Top 40 at number 9 on 14th November, 1958.

Canadian singer and songwriter, Paul Anka was of Middle Eastern descent. His first record, I Confess was released in 1956 and less than a year later he had a world-wide smash hit with Diana. Four years later and after many more hits he released another self composition Tonight, My Love, Tonight which made No.21 on Sydney's 2UE Top 40 chart dated 20th May 1961.

Carl Dobkins Jr. released his first record in the U.S.A. in 1957 for the Fraternity label at the age of 16. He switched to Decca and had a No.3 Billboard hit with My Heart Is an Open Book in 1959. In Sydney, Dobkins had three Top 40 hits, the last being Exclusively Yours which peaked at No.24 on radio 2UE's chart on 9th July, 1960.

Billy Jo Spears was a country singer from Texas, USA. Her first recording was released in 1953 when she was 15. It would be another 15 years before her first commercially successful recording Mr. Walker, It's All Over. In 1975 Blanket on the Ground was number 1 on the U.S. Country Charts.

Another Jerry Fuller song recorded by Rick Nelson. This not as big as the others which included Travelin' Man, Young World, A Wonder Like You and It's Up to You. Rick Nelson had 17 Top 40 hits in Sydney between 1958 and 1964 and one more in 1972. Congratulations failed to make the charts.

Cathy Carroll started at age 13 appearing on American TV variety shows and later as a backing girl for The Earls and the 4 Evers before recording for Warner Bros. Her one and only Billboard hit Poor Little Puppet peaked at No.91 on the Hot 100 on 18th August, 1962. In Sydney the recording was listed on the 80 predictions for the 2UE Top 40 at No.38 (22 Jul 1962).

American songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman handed this song to English popstar, Marty Wilde when they were touring England in 1959. Later there were American versions by The Everly Brothers and Freddie Cannon. Marty Wilde was one of the leading British stars of the time and also appeared on stage in live theatre.

American country and pop music artist, B.J.Thomas first made the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966 with his version of Hank Williams country classic, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. In Australia his first Top 40 entry was Mama. Thomas's childhood friend, Mark James wrote Hooked On a Feeling and it made No.10 on the 2UE Top 40 on 9th April, 1969.

Ray O'Connor arranged this traditional children's nursery song for an 18-year-old female singer, Lee Sellars backed by The Penny Rockets. Lee flew from her hometown Adelaide to Sydney to appear on Brian Henderson's Bandstand to promote this, her first recording. Later in 1961, she moved to Sydney and became a regular on TV and stage concerts.

The Fireballs, a quintet from New Mexico formed in 1957 and auditioned for Norman Petty in 1958. They had a number of instrumental hits such as Torquay, Bulldog, Foot-Patter and Kissin'. In 1963 they had a No.1 hit with Sugar Shack with a Norman Petty session vocalist, Jimmy Gilmer. Later The Fireballs returned to the charts with Keith McCormack as vocalist on Bottle of Wine.

American musician Larry Weiss co-wrote a number of hit songs in the late 60s including Bend Me, Shape Me; Help Me Girl and Hi Ho Silver Lining. In the 70s, he wrote Rhinestone Cowboy and his original recording spent two weeks of August 1974 at No.39 on the 2UE Top 40. It was later recorded by Glen Campbell.

The song At the Shore was written by the Philadelphia song-writing team of Johnny Madara and David White who also wrote At the Hop, You Don't Own Me and 1-2-3. Johnny Caswell recorded it with Madara and White's Orchestra and it made No.97 on Billboard (3 Aug 1963) and in Sydney it made No.36 on the 2SM Top 100 (6th Sept 1963).

A vocal quintet from Ohio, USA known as 'Ruby and the Romantics' with female lead singer Ruby Nash and four male backing vocalists made No.1 on Billboard with their first recording Our Day Will Come. They had six more Billboard hits over the next two years. In Sydney they had only the one above which made No.11 on the 2UE Top 40 chart dated 11th May 1963.

An English quartet, formed in 1962, was named from a BBC radio show segment, 'Unit 4'. They later added two musicians and became "Unit 4 + 2". Their first two singles were not popular but thanks to the UK pirate radio stations, their third release, Concrete and Clay made No.1 in Britain. In Australia it was a Top 10 hit, making No.9 on the 2UE chart dated 14th April 1965.

The Lettermen was a vocal trio formed in 1959 and signed to Capitol records in 1961. Noted for their close 3-part harmony, their first Top 10 hit was When I Fall in Love. Another revival, namely Come Back Silly Girl was more popular in America than the original 1960 release by Steve Lawrence. It made No.17 on Billboard March 31, 1962 and No.31 on 12th May 1962 on Sydney's 2UE chart.

Originally recorded by The Drifters in 1964, an Australian vocal quartet, The Delltones, recorded the song 21 years later for their Chase LP Out in the Open. The Delltones formed in Sydney in 1958 and in the 80s they became a 5-piece band before recording Saturday Night at the Movies.

Melbourne-born, Peter Doyle appeared on the TV show 'Swallow's Juniors' in 1959 and cut his first record in 1960. He signed to the 'Sunshine' label in 1965 and was a regular on 'The Go!! Show'. His revival of 'The Platters' 1956 hit, The Great Pretender made No. 11 on the Melbourne charts.

'The Belmonts' was the pop group formed in the mid fifties that launched the career of Dion di Mucci. Their first record was in 1957. After they split with Dion, the group continued as a vocal trio and formed their own record label in 1961, for which they later recorded Come On, Little Angel.

Sylvia Dee and George Goehring wrote Robot Man and the Connie Francis version became a No.2 hit in the UK while Jamie Horton's version was big in America. In Australia the song made No.6 on the 2UE Top 40 dated 24th September, 1960. It was Connie's eighth Top 40 hit in Sydney and her fifth in a row to make the top 10.

Jerry Wallace began recording in 1952 but his first Billboard hit How The Time Flies was not until 1958. He followed with Primrose Lane, a Top 10 hit. On a Merry-Go-Round didn't make it on Billboard but gained some airplay in Australia and made No.71 on the 2SM Top 100 on 12th April 1963.

Mac Davis began as a songwriter, in particular for Elvis Presley. He wrote In the Ghetto, A Little Less Conversation, Don't Cry Daddy and others. His first hit as a vocalist was Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me which topped Billboard in 1972 and was also a big hit in Australia. It's Hard to Be Humble made No.2 on Sydney's 2UE Top 40 on 24th September, 1980.

Australian singer, Johnny Ashcroft started performing on radio as a teenager and later recorded for Rodeo Records. His first big hit came in 1960 with his own composition Little Boy Lost. In 1962 actor and writer Slim deGray wrote The Girl Behind the Bar and Ashcroft's recording made No.14 on the 2UE Top 40 dated 12th January 1963.

An instrumental version of Sœur Sourire's massive hit Dominique. This was a single release from an album called "Spike Jones New Band". Spike Jones was a skilled musician, renowned in the 1940s for his spoofs of classical and popular music. In this rendition, Dominique gets a Dixieland Jazz treatment.

Culture Club is a British Band formed in 1981 with cassock wearing vocalist, Boy George. Culture Club topped the British charts in 1982 with Do You Really Want to Hurt Me and again in 1983 with Karma Chameleon which became the biggest selling UK hit of the year and eventually sold almost 2 million copies world-wide. It made no.2 in Sydney on 20th October, 1983.

Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse wrote this novelty song and it made the No. 8 prediction for the 2UE Top 40 on 25th August 1962. Anthony Newley was a Londoner who started recording in 1959 and had a number of earlier hits, including Why and Do You Mind both of which topped the British charts. He won a Grammy Award in 1963 for his composition What Kind of Fool Am I?

'The Temperance Seven' was formed in London late in 1955 and specialised in recreating the sound of the 20's. You're Driving Me Crazy was written by Walter Donaldson in 1930 and was made famous by Rudy Vallée. The pastiche by 'The Temperance Seven' topped the UK charts in 1961 and in Australia it made No.15 on the 2UE Top 40 on 8th July, 1961.

Born in New Zealand, Johnny Devlin became popular there in the late 50s. Lee Gordon invited him to be a support act for the Everly Brothers on their Australian tour. Johnny moved to Australia in 1959 and co-founded the record label, 'Teen'. He had four Top 40 hits for that label; the third was Gigolo which had been a hit for Mitchell Torok in 1954.

Pretty Little Angel Eyes was produced by Phil Spector for Dunes Records which was owned by Ray Peterson and his manager Stan Shulman. The song was performed by Curtis Lee and The Halos and written by Curtis Lee and Tommy Boyce. It made No.7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in Sydney it made No.9 on the 2UE Top 40 chart bearing the date 30th September, 1961.

Scottish-born Johnny Cymbal moved to Canada at age 7 with his family and later lived in the U.S.A. He took his step-father's name Cymbal at an early age but later recorded under many different names, including Derek, Taurus, Brother John and Milk. Mr. Bass Man featured Ronnie Bright as the bass voice and it made No.3 on Sydney's 2UE Top 40 chart dated 28th June, 1963.

Johnny Burnette and his brother Dorsey moved from Memphis TN to California in 1956. They recorded together before going their separate ways. Johnny first made the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 with Dreamin'. In 1961 Big, Big World, written by Gerald Nelson, Fred Burch and Red West made No.58 on Billboard. On Sydney's 2UE Top 40 it was prediction No.5 for the chart dated 27th May, 1961.

Dave Dudley began recording at age 19 for the King label (based in Ohio, USA) in 1955. He wrote many songs as a teenager. Two of his songs made the US Country charts, namely Maybe I Do and Under Cover of Night. His first Billboard Hot 100 hit was Six Days on the Road which made No.32. It charted in Sydney in August 1963 on the 2GB Tunetable chart at No.22 and the 2SM Top 100 at No.24.