Month: March 2020

Posted on

The Rays

The Rays was an American quartet whose leading singer was Hal Miller. The vocal group formed in New York, in 1955. Its other members were Walter Ford and David Jones, both of whom were tenors, and baritone, Harry James.

“Silhouettes”, recorded on the label, Cameo, became The Rays’ biggest single when, in 1957, it peaked at No.3 on both the pop and rhythm and blues charts. The song was released simultaneously by the Canadian quartet, The Diamonds, and its recording fared almost as well, reaching its apex at No.10.

http://youtu.be/qC-eQ0yKQ8o

The Rays’ single contained “Daddy Cool” as its B side. This track also charted, but not to the same degree that “Silhouettes” did. Both songs were written by Bob Crewe — who later wrote for The Four Seasons — and Frank Slay Jr.

A more uptempo recording of “Silhouettes” by the British band, Herman’s Hermits, reached No.5 in the United States, No.3 in Britain and No.6 in Australia, in the year of 1965. Cliff Richard reintroduced the song to the British Top 10, in 1990.

Posted on

The Top40 Fantasies: No.10

1. Boogie Woogie (1938, 1943, 1944 and 1945)                                                                                                                                                                                      Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra

2. I’m Walking Behind You (1953)                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Eddie Fisher

3. Happy Together (1967)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Turtles

4. Crazy Arms (1956)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ray Price

5. If I Had A Hammer (1963)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Trini Lopez

6. How Are Things In Glocca Mora (1947)                                                                                                                                                                                                              Buddy Clark

7. Over The Mountain: Across The Sea (1957)                                                                                                                                                                                                       Johnnie and Joe

8. The Crying Game (1964)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Dave Berry

9. Mighty Man (1970)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Mungo Jerry

10. Your Pretty Brown Eyes (1966)                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Joe Dolan

11. Mission-Impossible (1967)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lalo Schifrin

12. Soldier Boy (1962)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Shirelles

13. Dueling Banjos (1973)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell

14. I’m Counting On You (1961)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Johnny O’Keefe

15. Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast (1972)                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Wayne Newton

16. Forever Now (1982)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Cold Chisel

17. Mambo Italiano (1954)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Rosemary Clooney

18. It’s Such A Pretty World Today (1967)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wynn Stewart

19. Back In Baby’s Arms (1963)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Patsy Cline

20. Come On Home (1966)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Wayne Fontana

21. If I Had A Hammer (1962)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Peter, Paul and Mary

22. Tiger Rag (1931)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Mills Brothers

23. Take Me For What I’m Worth (1965)                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The Searchers

24. Teenage Boogie (1956)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Webb Pierce

25. I Love To Boogie (1976)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                T. Rex

26. It’s Because I Love You (1971)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Masters’ Apprentices

27. Breakaway (2004)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Kelly Clarkson

28. Electric Avenue (1983)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Eddy Grant

29. Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud (1968)                                                                                                                                                                                                         James Brown

30. Touch The Morning (1973)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Don Gibson

31. Be My Guest (1959)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Fats Domino

32. 1,2,3, Red Light (1968)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The 1910 Fruitgum Co.

33. The Doggie In The Window (1953)                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Patti Page

34. So Long Marianne (1967)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Leonard Cohen

35. Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat (1959)                                                                                                                                                                                                   Paul Evans, with The Curls

36. You Only Live Once In A While (1974)                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Mickey Newbury

37. The Brontosaurus Stomp (1960)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Piltdown Men

38. Sweet Becky Walker (1973)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Larry Gatlin

39. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (1978)                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ian Dury and The Blockheads

40. Wannabe (1996)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Spice Girls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Bobby Bloom

Robert Bloom was an American singer and songwriter. “Bobby” combined with Jeff Barry, a songwriter of note, to compose “Montego Bay”, a song that was to become Bobby Bloom’s only major success.

The single melds calypso and pop. Calypso emanated from the West Indies and had its international heyday between 1955 and 1957 via such salient exponents as Harry Belafonte, and Terry Gilkyson and The Easyriders.

“Montego Bay” reached No.8 in the United States, in 1970, No.3 in Great Britain and No.13 in Australia.

Bobby Bloom, who reportedly suffered from depression towards the end of his life, was thought to have fatally shot himself whilst cleaning his gun, in February of 1974. He was twenty-eight years of age.

Posted on

‘The Race That Stops A Nation’: Tuesday, 1st November, 1977

We awoke to a leaden overcast. Light rain fell as we travelled to work and was followed by a heavy shower after which the weather became fine.

At lunchtime I turned on Channel Ten and listened to a panel of experts preview this afternoon’s running of the Melbourne Cup. This panel included the race caller, John Russell. Later I watched “Gold And Black” outstay the older “Reckless” and provide the trainer, Bart Cummings, with a record sixth victory in the big event. “Hyperno” finished third.

“Gold And Black” had started as the favourite at the odds of 7/2, with the bookmakers. The winner paid considerably better on the T.A.B. in New South Wales where, in return for an investment of fifty cents, one receives $3.10 on the tote for the win and $1.30 for the place. “Reckless” obviously had many admirers because his return on the place tote was $1.10, while “Hyperno” was the antithesis of this at $13.70. The winning margin was a length, with two and a half lengths separating second and third. The feature double on the Caulfield and Melbourne cups has paid $27.90 for a unit of fifty cents.

Tiki and I drove to Repco at Kogarah to collect two boxes which contained the air-conditioner that is to be fitted to her father’s red Chrysler ute. He had previously paid the two hundred and ninety-three dollars for the unit. Upon our arrival we saw that he had bared the kitchen save for a half of the underlay that remained glued to the floor.

As “Dad” was out on his feet, I took the bevelled-edge chisel from him and from half past five it took me fifty-five minutes to prise up the remainder.

“It’s like shearing a sheep!” I remarked.

“It’s harder than that!” he retorted, as he supervised my every move.

Before we departed at half past six with some indoor flowerpots from “Mum”, I helped him carry the old lino downstairs. It has been a sultry day with a maximum temperature of twenty-eight degrees Celsius.

“Luskin Star” has been purchased by the British pools magnate, Robert Sangster. Mr Sangster is to marry Susan Peacock, the now divorced wife of Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrew Peacock, before the end of the year. The horse is reportedly to do his future racing in the United States.

“Willesee”, at seven o’clock, included a segment on “Reckless” and his trainer, Tommy Woodcock, who is seventy-three years of age. “The Naked Vicar Show” followed at half past the hour and, at half past eight, Channel Ten screened the film, “Duel”, which bears the copyright of 1972. A motorist, played by Dennis “Gunsmoke”/”Kentucky Jones”/”Gentle Ben”/”McCloud” Weaver, is pursued by a maniacal truck driver.

I have inherited a large blister on my right thumb, the legacy from my usage of the chisel.