BRC Record Show
We’re making final preparations for our upcoming record & cd show. Just 2 months to go. There is a job for you. We’ll need help at the door, in the kitchen, at the food counter, setting up Friday, and many other various jobs that help make the show successful. You can contact one of the officers, email me or while at our monthly meeting sign up to volunteer.

Dealer Information
Dealer Set-Up is Friday, August 17, 2007 ... 12:00 NOON and Limited early admission (MEMBERS ONLY) 2:00 p.m. . For info on reserving dealer table(s), contact Ben Saxon.

Here are the answers to last month’s trivia questions.

1) In 1957, what group had 3 songs on the charts at the same time while the songs were found on 3 different labels?

THE DEL-VIKINGS

2) What were the above songs and the labels?

COME GO WITH ME---LUNIVERSE (also on Dot)

WHISPERING BELLS---DOT

COOL SHAKE---MERCURY

3) What was the first HIT record showcasing the phrase “DOOWOP”?

WHEN YOU DANCE-----THE TURBANS

4) Many people credit Philadelphia and the east coast as the “birth place” of DOOWOP. However, one of the all-time classics, “Earth Angel” was recorded by the Penguins who were from where?

LOS ANGELES

DOOWOP show in Birmingham. Saturday, July 14th at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center located on the UAB campus. Show times are at 2:30 & 7:00. Acts include The Drifters featuring Charlie Thomas, The Crystals, Jay Siegel (Tokens), Larry Chance (Earls) and The Toys featuring Barbara Harris. Ticket prices range from $40 – $300. 1-800-239-4000.

MUSIC THEME FOR JUNE: BRITISH INVASION

**********MEMBER PRESENTATION**********

Club member, Andy Millard, a native Brit, will be giving his perspective of the way things were “over there” during this crazy time in music history. What was music in England like just before performers like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Gerry & The Pacemakers & DC5 made such a big splash and what was it like to see all this hullabaloo over these British kids? Bring a friend and hear his story.

The British are coming! The British are coming! 1 if by land, 2 if by sea, 3 if by 45, 4 if by LP. And come they did starting in earnest in February 1964. Who were these people and where did they come from? I don’t remember where I was when I first heard “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, but I do remember hearing the Stones, “Heart Of Stone” for the first time on my new transistor radio I got for Christmas in 1964. This was a magical time for music although some weren’t pleased with it.

Let’s go back to the music scene of the 50’s and early 60’s in the UK and what effect it was having in the USA. The craze of the 50’s was the Skiffle Bands sound. This was what we might have called jug bands or folk. Jazz also had a big following during this time. The King of Skiffle was Scottish born Lonnie Donegan. He had 3 songs hit the US charts between 1956-61. “Rock Island Line”, # 8, and “Lost John”, # 58, both charted in 1959. His highest chart record was “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor”, which reached # 5 in 1961. The Chris Barber Jazz Band hit # 5 in 1959 with “Petite Fluer.” 13 year old Laurie London’s recording of “He’s Got The Whole World (In His Hands)” reached # 1 in 1958. 16 year old pop singer Helen Shapiro had a # 100 song in 1961 with “Walkin’ Back To Happiness Listen.” Mr. Acker Bilk scored a # 1 hit in 1962 with “Stranger On The Shore.” Over the next year he had 3 more songs crack the Top 100 but none higher than # 59. Also in 1962, The Tornadoes hit # 1 with “Telstar.” They never had much success after that having only one more song go to # 63 in 1963. The Springfields (Dusty) had a # 20 hit in 1962 with “Silver Threads & Golden Needles Listen Your browser may not support display of this image..” They had 3 other songs that hovered around the # 100 position. Frank Ifield had a #5 hit in 1962 with “I Remember You” but then never cracked the top 40 again. Cliff Richard had the longest lasting success on the American charts but never made a big splash during this time charting 3 songs from 1959-1963 and only twice during 1964. His highest ranking was # 25, “It’s All In The Game Listen.” His biggest success came much later with 13 songs in the Top 100 from 1976-1983. But in the UK and Europe he was a sensation. His 1958 recording of “Move It” is considered by some as the first British rock classic. British performers had 3 #1 hits from 1958-1962. Compare that to the years 1964-1966 when the Brits topped the charts 28 times. 12 of those being by The Beatles.

So the British music of the 50’s and up until 1963 had very little impact on the states. Then came the influence of American blues, rock, country and even Motown. UK teens were listening to Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, James Brown and Muddy Waters. Another big influence was the music of 30’s blues singer Robert Johnson who Eric Clapton called “the most important blues musician who ever lived.”

I have always felt that the Brits brought back rock & roll if not saved it. They CHERISHED the early American R&R records they could find. They paid tribute to American performers and their music by covering so much of the music that many Americans took for granted. Look at the names they chose for their groups. Did The Beatles name come from the name “Crickets” of Buddy Holly fame? The Rolling Stones name came from a Muddy Waters record title. The Searchers came from the John Wayne movie of the same name, Sherman of Bullwinkle fame was where Herman’s Hermits derived their name and Bo Diddley’s song, “Pretty Thing” was where The Pretty Things got their name. Talk about being influenced. One writer said that the British borrowed American rock music and returned it- restyled and refreshed - to a generation largely ignorant of its historical and racial origins.

Then on May 27, 1963 a record entitled “From Me To You” was released that made # 116 during August, 1963. The Beatles had cracked the US charts but no one really noticed. Del Shannon had met the Beatles in 1963 and heard this song, recorded it and his version reached # 77 during the same time period Listen. Then with a mighty push and maybe on a “wing and a prayer”, British performers headed over here. The Dave Clark 5 was the first British group to begin a tour of the states, then The Beatles. In November, 1963, Dusty Springfield’s recording of “I Only Want To Be With You” was released making its debut in the charts in January 1964 and climbing to # 12. All three of these performers would make appearances on The Ed Sullivan show during the early part of 1964. A new sound that the British and the Europeans had been experiencing for 1-2 years would now be exported to the states and would be here to stay.

Yes, the British may have given us Herman’s Hermits and Freddie & The Dreamers but remember, we gave them Slim Whitman.

Now let’s hear some of the music and performers that have been mentioned.

Lonnie Donegan:

Mr. Acker Bilk:

Tornados:

Frank Ifield:

Cliff Richard: (is that Buddy Holly on guitar?)

Cliff Richard: (see any Elvis influence?)

Dusty Springfield:

Beatles: (at the New Music Express awards 1964)

Beatles; (Ed Sullivan 1964)

Beatles: (recorded in London for Shindig)

Rolling Stones: (covering Arthur Alexander)

Rolling Stones:

Them: (great version of blues song. 1964)

The writer’s version of the above song. Had to add it.

Dave Clark 5:

Some of my favorites from 1964-66.

Moody Blues:

Them:

Animals:

Kinks:

Yardbirds:

Nashville Teens:

Pop test time. Get out a pencil and a piece of paper.

1. Dave Clark and his band mates formed the Dave Clark 5 to raise money for what purpose?
2. Chas Chandler, bassist for The Animals, took what American guitarist to London that soon became a superstar?
3. What American performer was sometimes called the “Fifth Beatle?”
4. The Yardbirds, through personnel changes, became what hard rock super group of the 70’s?
5. Name the British performer that had a # 1 hit in 1964 that was singing on the radio at age 9, had her own TV show at 15, made over 500 appearances during WWII to entertain the troops, had her photos plastered on UK and USA tanks for good luck and became known as “Britain’s Shirley Temple?” By the way she will be 75 this year.
6. This duo’s first 3 hits were written by Paul McCartney.
7. Although never together at the same time, what group had guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page as members?
8. What was the first song The Beatles sang during their first appearance on Ed Sullivan February 9, 1964?
9. Which of these groups was not from England?

1. Sir Douglas Quintet
2. Troggs
3. Nashville Teens
4. Spencer Davis Group

Want to hear British music, 1962-1966? Try this internet radio site http://nanker.podomatic.com/

JULY MEMBER PRESENTATION
Next month’s music theme will be car songs. Did you buy or ever want a particular car because of a song? Americans do have a love affair with their cars and many songs paid tribute to many of them. I’ve asked Johnny Powell to bring some pictures of his hot rod, a 1930 Ford, to add to the festivities. Got any LP’s or picture sleeves that have a special kind of car on them? Bring ‘em. What about some car song you’d like to share. Bring ‘em.

Jerry Garmmer shares more stories “from the road”

Diamond Tie Tack vs. Screwdriver

Another time with Jerry Woodard in Hotlanta. Jerry picked me up for work. Driving down the freeway he noticed a diamond tie tack that I was wearing. Let me see that! OK, I took it off and handed it to him. Wrong thing to do. Jerry said; I like this, then threw it out the window.

Later I got even. (Right) We were once again heading for a gig and I rambled through his glove box. Wow, a brand new screwdriver. I said; I like this, then threw it out the window. Jerry got so upset! I got even. A $200.00 tie tack and a 50c screwdriver. It took a long time for him to get over my throwing his screwdriver out!

The Hole In The Wall

While living on Saint Simons Island I left Woodard for about a year and started my own group.

I was booked for a 6 month 6 nights per week Gig on St Simons with the "Jerry Grammer Three". The club was an upscale club named “The Hole In The Wall.” We were supposed to play Society Music all night. I was running out of stuff so I started sneaking Tony Joe White stuff in every now and then. We were playing it soft. Well after about a week the Owner told me to knock it off. A few nights later Ladies in Diamonds and Furs would come up to me and say; play that Polk Salad thing! I would tell them I wasn't allowed. They swamped (no pun intended) the owner and I won. I ended up playing the rest of the contract what I wanted and more and more people started pouring into his place. He offered to double my salary to sign up for another 6, but I needed to get on down the road!!

Get well soon, Bo. Bo Diddley suffered a stroke recently causing him to be hospitalized in Iowa. He was to have been one of the headliners at The Rockin’ Fifties Fest in Wisconsin. The good news is that he has been released from the hospital and is recuperating at his home in Florida.

This week in music history:

June 9, 1951: “Rocket 88”, an Ike Turner production featuring Jackie Brenston on vocals hits # 1 on the R&B charts. The backing band, The Delta Cats were actually The Rhythm Kings, a band Ike Turner formed while in high school.

June 5, 1956: Elvis appears on the Milton Berle show. His rousing rendition of “Hound Dog” appalls many adults and press members.

June 1, 1964: The Rolling Stones arrive in the US.

June 5, 1961: Roy Orbison earned his first #1 song with “Running Scared.”

June 2, 1967: The Beatles LP, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is released in the US.

Don’t forget to go to the BRC website and see what’s new.www.birminghamrecord.com. Check out volume 24 & 25 of The Heart & Soul Of Rock & Roll. Great music.

Questions, comments, ideas???? Send them to me. cbailey@bsc.edu

See Ya,

Charlie