So pull up a beanbag chair, turn on your lava lamp and take a trip back to a groovier time!
****************************************************************************
February 2013February 28: Today's "Way Back Play Back" looks to burgeoning New Wave band Blondie and their 1979 contribution to the disco era with "Heart of Glass"
February 27: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues to showcase the disco craze with Claudja Barry's 1979 hit, "Boogie Woogie Dancin' Shoes"
February 26: Today's "Way Back Play Back" has Campbellton, NB's Patsy Gallant introducing a new theme honouring the disco movement with her 1977 hit, "From New York to LA"
February 25: Today's "Way Back Play Back" looks to The Beatles and their 1966 tune, "Tomorrow Never Knows" to end this series honouring 1960's psychedelia.
February 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is the 1967, psychedelically-themed "White Rabbit" from The Jefferson Airplane
February 23:
February 22: Today's "Way Back Play Back" looks to another psychedelic classic; this time it's The Vanilla Fudge with their 1969 hit, "Shotgun"
February 21: Today's "Way Back Play Back" looks to The Rolling Stone's contribution to the psychedelic realm with their 1967 album, Their Satanic Majesties Request, and the song, "She's a Rainbow"
February 20: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with the psychedelic theme as we go back to 1968 with The Strawberry Alarm Clock and their hit, "Incense & Peppermints." Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around.
February 19: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is the first in a series honouring the psychedelic genre. With their 1967 hit, "The Golden Road" here is the Grateful Dead.
February 18: Today's "Way Back Play Back" goes back to 1967 with Johnny Rivers and his cover of the Four Tops hit, "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'"
February 17: Today's "Way Back Play Back" goes back to 1979 with Dr. Hook and their contribution to the disco era, "When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman"
February 16: Today's "Way Back Play Back" takes us back to 1969 with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends (including Eric Clapton) with "Poor Elijah"
February 15: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is the randomly chosen 1976 Dusty Springfield cover "I Only Wanna Be With You" by The Bay City Rollers
February 14: Today's "Way Back Play Back" goes back to 1969 with one of George Harrison's contributions to the Beatles' album, Abbey Road. Footage used for the video of "Something" showed John, Paul, George and Ringo with their then wives Yoko Ono, Linda McCartney, Pattie Boyd and Maureen Starkey, respectively.
February 13: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to The Rolling Stones, who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on this date in 1966, with their hit, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
February 12: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours William Oliver Swofford (1945 – 2000), known professionally as Oliver and most recognized for his cover of the 1969 song from the musical Hair, "Good Morning Starshine," who passed away from cancer no this day in 2000 at the age of 54.
February 11: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours Robert George Pickett (1938 - 2007), better known as Bobby "Boris" Pickett and his 1962 novelty hit, "Monster Mash" in which he co-wrote and performed, who was born on this day in 1935. I'll tell them Boris sent me.
****************************************************************************
Featured Way Back Play Back: The Ike & Tina Turner Revue (1960 - 1976)
The Ike & Tina Turner Revue consisted of the husband-and-wife team of Ike Turner and Anna Mae Bullock, their band, The Kings of Rhythm, as well as their back-up dancers/vocalists, The Ikettes. They were once considered one of the hottest, most durable, and potentially most explosive of all R&B ensembles.
By 1956, Ike Turner and his band, The Kings of Rhythm were one of the most popular live performing attractions to the St. Louis nightlife.
Around this time, two young women named Aillene and Anna Mae Bullock
took themselves, along with some other girls, to the nightclubs in St. Louis and it was at a nightclub called Club D'Lisa that Bullock first watched Turner and his band
perform, stating later that the band's performance put her in a trance. 
Ann soon became obsessed with wanting to join the band and ventured to every club Ike's band frequented. One night in 1957 while at Club Manhattan, Bullock asked Turner to let her sing onstage. Though Ike agreed
to it, he never called on her however during an intermission in the show, the band's drummer, Gene Washington,
pulled out a drum microphone and pushed it to Ann and Aillene's table. Though Aillene shied away from the microphone, her sister took it and sung the song that the band was playing,
"I Know You Love Me, Baby". Stunned by Ann's voice, Turner rose from his
piano and asked Ann if she knew any more songs. Every song Ike played,
Ann would sing right along and thus she finished out that night singing lead for Ike's band, marking the
first time that a female singer had sung lead in the band's history.In 1959, having chosen singer Art Lassiter to front The Kings of Rhythm, Turner had written a song for Lassiter called, "A Fool in Love". When Lassiter didn't show up and due to Turner already booking expensive studio time, he allowed "Little Ann" to sing the song as a "dummy track" for Lassiter. That version of the song made its way through regional radio stations in St. Louis and became a hit after its release in the late spring of 1960.
At this time, Turner renamed the song's backing female trio as the The Ikettes and also gave "Little Ann" the name "Tina Turner" to rhyme with his favorite television character, Sheena the Queen of the Jungle, as well as to prevent her from running off with it, in case Bullock left, he could give another woman the name of Tina Turner. He renamed the entire outfit as The Ike and Tina Turner Revue.
After several successive R&B songs the duo reached the Top 20 on the pop charts with "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", which became the duo's second million-selling single and also garnered them their first Grammy Award nomination. It was around this time that the personal friendship between Ike and Tina changed to a sexual one.
As their romance grew, so did the tensions in creating another hit; it was around this time when Turner's first accounts of his abusive dominance occurred when he hit Tina in the eye with his shoe stretcher. In 1962, the couple eloped in Tijuana (however rumors abound the real reason for the marriage was for Turner to avoid paying alimony and child support to Lorraine Taylor), and they and the entire band relocated from East St. Louis to Los Angeles.
By 1968, The Ike & Tina Turner Revue were performing and headlining in Las Vegas in demand despite not having a big hit however as a second opening spot on The Rolling Stones' American tour in November 1969 made Ike & Tina a hot item.
Late in 1970, while on break from touring in Florida, the band recorded their cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary", the song was released the following January and became the duo's best-selling single to date, reaching Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling well over a million copies, later winning them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
By 1976, Ike Turner was so addicted to cocaine that he burned a hole in his nasal septum, leading to nosebleeds, in which he would relieve himself by using more cocaine. During this time, Turner was spending more time in his recording studio than he was with Tina and their children at their home in Inglewood. By this point, Tina Turner had looked inward to help her own problems and soon found it after a friend in their entourage introduced Tina to the teachings of Buddhism. On July 2, 1976, Ike & Tina flew from Los Angeles to Dallas where they were to start another national tour at the Dallas Statler Hilton. While on airplane the two fought, continuing the fight while in their limousine. Ike's account was due to Tina refusing to help him with his nosebleeds as a result of his cocaine use, which had him up for five days straight. Tina's account was Ike's insistence for her to eat chocolates and when she refused, Ike slapped her in the back of her head. Tina recalled she began fighting back, scratching him and kicking him. After Ike fell asleep shortly after arrival to their hotel room, Tina escaped from the back of the hotel, running through a freeway before stopping at a local Ramada Inn hotel where she stayed despite having only 36 cents and a Mobil gas card. Tina then hid out at friends' homes in Los Angeles, constantly moving in fear Ike or members of his entourage would seek her out by force. Tina later purchased a gun for protection.
On July 27, 1976, Tina Turner filed for divorce after 14 years of marriage and thus bringing the end for the The Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
****************************************************************************
February 10: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to my grandmother, Eva McMaster Rector (1917 - 2000), who would have celebrated her 96th birthday today. Here, with her 1962 contribution to the latest dance craze with the Gerry Goffin and Carole King-written , "The Loco-Motion," is Eva Narcissus Boyd, also know as Little Eva
February 9: Today's "Way Back Play Back" takes us back to September 1971 when The Osmond Brothers appeared on The Flip Wilson Show.
February 8: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to American record producer, Terry Melcher (1942 - 2004), who was born on this day in 1942. Melcher was instrumental in shaping the sound of the American West Coast rock music scene with his greatest contribution to the culture of the time being the producing of The Byrds' innovative cover hits "Mr Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!", as well as his work with The Beach Boys. Melcher is also known for being the son of entertainer, Doris Day, as well as his brief encounter with the infamous Manson Family when a hopeful songwriter named Charles Manson auditioned for Melcher.
February 7: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to Reg Presley, the former lead singer of the The Troggs, who passed away on February 4th after battling lung cancer. While with The Troggs, Presley composed and performed the 1967 hit, "Love Is All Around"
February 6: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours the legendary Nesta Robert "Bob" Marley (1945 - 1981), who was born on this day in 1945. "Stir It Up" is a song composed by Marley in 1967 for his wife, Rita, and was his first success outside of Jamaica.
February 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours James Barny "J.R." Cobb, Jr. of the American band, The Classics IV (who which has been credited for beginning the "soft, southern rock" sound) who was born on this day in 1944. The Classics IV began as a cover band consisting of guitarists of Cobb, Buddy Buie, Walter Eaton, keyboardist Joe Wilson, and singer Dennis Yost. The name "The Classics" came from the Classic drum set Yost owned. Cobb and Buddy Buie co-wrote most of the hits of The Classics IV, including the 1968 gold single "Stormy."
February 4: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours the brothers Gibb as it was on this day in 1978 that The Bee Gees started a four week run at Number 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Stayin' Alive." From the film soundtrack Saturday Night Fever, this disco hit gave the brothers their fifth U.S. Number 1 record.
****************************************************************************
Featured Way Back Play Back: The Turtles (1965 - 1970)
The Turtles were an American rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman (later known as Flo and Eddie) that formed in 1965 in Westchester, CA.Adhering to the prevailing musical trend, they initially branded themselves as a folk rock group under the name The Tyrtles, the intentional misspelling inspired by The Byrds and The Beatles, however, the trendy spelling did not survive long.
The Turtles achieved breakthrough success with the Bob Dylan cover, "It Ain't Me Babe" which reached the Billboard Top Ten in the late summer of 1965, and was the title track to the band’s first album.
The first of several key Turtles singles, "Happy Together"
(1967) seemed almost a parody of itself (and had already been rejected by
countless performers), however it was both their biggest hit and became known as their
signature song.Proving to be The Turtles' most successful year on the music charts was 1967; "She'd Rather Be With Me" reached Number 3 on the U.S. charts in late spring of that year and actually out-charted "Happy Together" overseas, reaching Number 4 in the U.K. In late 1968 the band released a concept album called The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands in which the group pretended to be eleven different bands (with names including 'The Bigg Brothers', 'Nature's Children', 'The US Teens featuring Raoul' and 'The Fabulous Dawgs'); each with a song in a different genre. This album yielded two singles: "Elenore" and "You Showed Me" both peaking at Number 6.
Interestingly enough "Elenore" is the only Hot 100 single to date which ever rhymed the phrase et cetera in its lyrics, and was written as a satire of the earlier hit, "Happy Together".
The Turtles wound down their career as a group with a second compilation album, More Golden Hits and a "B-sides and rarities" album called Wooden Head before disbanding in 1970.
****************************************************************************
February 3: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours Don McLean, who's 1971 ballad, "American Pie", recounts of The Day the Music Died (the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper [JP Richardson, Jr.] on this day in 1959) and the aftermath.
February 2: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours Buddy Holly who, along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (JP Richardson, Jr.), appeared at the Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA on this day 1959.
February 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" honours Tommy James & the Shondells, who's hit "Crimson & Clover" hit the #1 position on the US singles chart on this day in 1969.
****************************************************************************
January 2013
January 31: Today's "Way Back Play Back" goes way back to 1941 and is dedicated to the Andrews Sisters. Here is Patty, Maxine and LaVerne in Abbott & Costello's "Buck Privates" with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
January 29: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to a great friend who suggested this 1966 hit by The Capitols. I now have a craving for Cool Whip!
January 28: Today's "Way Back Play Back" comes via a request for the bickering Romeo & Juliet of 70's prime television with their biggest hit from the summer of 1965. Ladies & Gentlemen....Sonny & Cher.
January 27: Today's "Way Back Play Back" takes us back to summer 1967 with Spanky & Our Gang and their biggest hit "Sunday Will Never Be the Same"
January 26: Saturday's "Way Back Play Back" looks to the laid back sounds of Chicago with their conveniently titled "Saturday in the Park"
January 25: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is brought to you by the Easy Beats with their 1966 track "Friday On My Mind"
January 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" takes us back to 1962 and the entire voice of Mr. Johnny Mathis with "Sweet Thursday"
January 23: It will be the soothing sounds of Simon & Garfunkel for today's "Way Back Play Back"
Here they are with "Wednesday Morning 3A.M."
January 21: Following The Mamas & the Papas 1965 hit, "California Dreamin'" group member John Phillips was tasked to write a follow up song on a universal subject. And although originally reluctant, the group arranged and recorded their only U.S #1 song; the result was "Monday, Monday". Here is John, Denny, Cass & Michelle with today's "Way Back Play Back"
No comments:
Post a Comment