Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons singing "Let's Hang On" in 1965 (video)

This is one of my favorite Frankie Valli songs, and this is a fabulous performance...

Great New Releases: Ventures - In The Vaults Volume 4 (Ace UK)

Coming 11/27/2007 from Ace Records in the UK ...



The Ventures - In The Vaults Volume 4 (Ace CDCHD 1176)
Ace ventures back to the ‘60s for an amazing treasure trove of exciting rare and un-issued tracks from the world’s best-selling instrumental group. This is Ace's fourth volume in the series, the other three proving to be among the label’s top-sellers. It includes many previously unreleased tracks, alternative versions and impossible to find rarities. Most of the tracks are drawn from the classic ‘60s period and are of very high quality. Compiled by instrumental magazine Pipeline’s Dave Burke and Alan Taylor.

TRACKS:

1. Journey To The Stars
2. Delicado
3. Night Run-The Marksmen
4. Station Breaks
5. Driving Guitars (Ventures Twist)
6. Don't Avoid Me-Don Lee Wilson
7. Echo
8. Yellow Jacket
9. Delta Lady
10. Heart On My Sleeve-Don Lee Wilson
11. Scratch-The Marksmen
12. Memphis
13. Like You've Never Known Before-Don Lee Wilson
14. Black Tarantella
15. Original Number One
16. The Twomp-Don Wilson
17. Beautiful Obsession
18. Bumble Bee Twist (The Wasp)
19. Son Of A Preacher Man
20. Runaway-Don Lee Wilson
21. Downtown
22. Pedal Pusher
23. Feel So Fine-Don Wilson
24. Medley: Walk Don't Run/Perfidia/Lullaby Of The Leaves
25. The Jam
26. Caravan

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Buddy Holly and the Crickets perform "Oh Boy" in 1958 (video)

A kickin' live rendition of one of my fave Buddy Holly tunes...

Great Songwriters: Deek Watson of The Ink Spots

As a founding member of the Ink Spots, Deek Watson was instrumental in establishing the sound of one of greatest vocal harmony groups of all time. Formed in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1932, by Watson, Charles Fuqua, Orville "Hoppy" Jones, and Jerry Daniels, the group performed first as the Riff Brothers, then as the Percolating Puppies, before settling on the Ink Spots name.

The Ink Spots had their first million-selling single with If I Didn't Care in 1939, and this was followed by a seemingly endless string of smooth, mellow hits, including I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, My Prayer, I'll Never Smile Again, A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening, Java Jive, Into Each Life Some Rain May Fall, We Three, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, and Prisoner of Love.

Watson's impressive list of songwriting credits includes (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and scores of others), Just in Case You Change Your Mind (recorded by Bobby Darin and Bull Moose Jackson), and Ink Spots tunes such as What Can I Do? and Shout, Brother, Shout.

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Petula Clark sings "Ya Ya Twist" in French in 1962 (video)

A sizzlin' hot performance by Petula Clark singing "Ya Ya Twist" in French. If this don't melt your butter, nothin' will!

Great New Releases: Aretha Franklin "Rare and Unreleased"

New This Month from Rhino...

Aretha Franklin: Rare and Unreleased
A treasure trove of vintage and previously unissued demos, outtakes, and B-sides from the Queen of Soul's Atlantic years, spanning 1966-1973. Produced by the legendary Jerry Wexler! Highlights include the Dr. Feelgood, Sweet Bitter Love, and I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You) demos, plus 3 songs from the historic Young, Gifted and Black sessions, and the unedited take of the Aretha-penned classic Rock Steady.

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TRACKS:
Disc 1- 1. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) [#][Demo Version] 2. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business) [#][Demo Version] 3. Sweet Bitter Love [#][Demo Version] 4. It Was You [#][Outtake] 5. Letter [#][Outtake] 6. So Soon [#][Outtake] 7. Mr. Big [#][Outtake] 8. Talk to Me, Talk to Me [#][Outtake] 9. Fool on the Hill [#][Outtake] 10. Pledging My Love/The Clock [Single B-Side] 11. You're Talking Up Another Man's Place [Outtake] 12. You Keep Me Hangin' On [#][Outtake] 13. I'm Trying to Overcome [#][Outtake] 14. My Way [Outtake] 15. My Cup Runneth Over [#][Outtake] 16. You're All I Need to Get By [Take 1][#] 17. You're All I Need to Get By [Take 2][#] 18. Lean on Me [Single B-Side]

Disc 2- 1. Rock Steady [Alternate Mix - Outtake] 2. I Need a Strong Man (The To-To Song) [#][Outtake] 3. Heavenly Father [#][Outtake] 4. Sweetest Smile and the Funkiest Style [#][Outtake] 5. This Is [#][Outtake] 6. Tree of Life [#][Outtake] 7. Do You Know [#][Outtake] 8. Can You Love Again [#][Outtake] 9. I Want to Be with You [#][Outtake] 10. Suzanne [#][Outtake] 11. That's the Way I Feel About Cha [Alternate Version - Outtake] 12. Ain't But the One [#] - Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin 13. Happy Blues [#][Outtake] 14. At Last [#][Outtake] 15. Love Letters [#][Outtake] 16. I'm in Love [Alternate Vocal - Outtake] 17. Are You Leaving Me [#][Demo Version]

Duane Eddy performs "Shazam" on a 1960 Bobby Darin Special

Here's the amazing Duane Eddy, performing "Shazam" on the 1960 British Bobby Darin TV Special, "This is Bobby Darin":