Welcome to the RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 11th November 2022. Here's some musical highlights from esteemed RPM colleague's sound systems; over to...

Jean -

"As a milestone birthday looms I’ve been thinking of how my music tastes changed once I left school and began working in London. I suppose I met a lot of new people who introduced me to other genres and my first new love was Soul Music."

Tony -

"Here's my weekly choice hoping that everyone is doing ok. Cheers."

Philip -

"Greetings from Swanton Morley. I think I've got some interesting variety this week. The first choice nearly made it into my 3 for last week, and I decided to include it this week on hearing that Mr. Hewson has a new book out (I think I'll read the Dylan instead). Whatever you think of Bono though, it must be admitted that when his band are good, they're very very good. Obviously there is a corollary to this."

Alan -

"Even more goodies from various artist albums this week. Inspired by a play of Inez and Charlie Foxx's excellent 'Come by here' album, it's a selection of 'proto-soul' goodies from the early sixties."

Dee Clark- 'Raindrops' (original 7" US release March 1961. Vee Jay label. UK release Top Rank label. This from US only 'Original Oldies Vol 15' LP released 1973. Springboard label)

"Born in Blytheville, Arkansas as Belectus Clark in 1938, Clarks gospel singing mother, Essie Mae, encouraged Dee to follow his love of music and, aged fourteen, he joined the Hambone Kids and sang on their minor hit 'Hambone' for the Okeh label. He then moved on to the Goldentones, who later morphed into the Kool Gents and had a novelty hit with 'The Delegate' in 1957. After signing a solo deal with Veejay, he completed a string of dates when, mid tour, Little Richard turned to gospel and then recorded several tracks with Richard's backing group, The Upsetters. He placed the perhaps Clyde McPhatter/Impressions influenced "Just Keep It Up" (a minor UK charter) and "Hey Little Girl" in the US top twenty (plus a further six in the top fifty) between 1957 and early 1961 before recording the sound effects laden 'Raindrops', which was superbly orchestrated by Riley Hampton, and was rewarded with a US number two single and sales over one million copies. The single was also successful in New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and Belgium but, despite this, the single made no impression in pre-mod Britain. His follow up single ('Don't walk away from me') flopped and was followed with only a couple of minor hits in 1962/3 and Clark then began to sign to a variety of labels in search of a hit, with only "Come Closer" (1964), "Warm Summer Breezes'', "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965) achieving regional success in Chicago. However, Clark was rewarded with a disco era UK hit in 1975 when 'Ride a wild horse' reached number sixteen, a long way from 'Raindrops' deep soul sound, but following that 'achievement' he was reduced to living full time in a down and out motel and returned to the supper club circuit until his death in 1990."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUnwOwz6OvQ

Maxine Brown- 'All in my mind' (original US 7" single released November 1960. Nomar label.UK release February 1961. London American label.This from 'Rhythm and Blues Explosion' LP. Released 1971. Ember label)

"Yet another product of the gospel circuit, Brown sang with NYC's Angelairs and the Royaltones before signing to Nomar in 1960. 'All in my mind' was her debut self composed single which reached a credible number nineteen on the charts. Her next single, 'Funny', was an r&b chart hit but failed in the pop charts and Brown moved to the bigger ABC-Paramount label for an unsuccessful year before signing to Wand in 1963. Brown recorded a string of sizable hits for Wand over the next three years. Among these were the Carole King/Gerry Goffin songs "Oh No Not My Baby", which reached number 24 on the pop chart in 1964, and "It's Gonna Be Alright", which peaked at No. 26 on the R&B chart the following year. She also recorded duets with label-mate Chuck Jackson, including a reworked version of an Alvin Robinson hit, "Something You Got", which climbed to No. 10 on the R&B chart.. However, the company turned its focus to other bigger-selling acts, especially Dionne Warwick, but despite being approached by the upcoming Ashford and Simpson songwriting team and having the Sweet Inspirations as regular back up singers, Brown's career stalled. Ashford and Simpson later had success with several songs written for Brown including 'Let's go get stoned' and, after signing to the Motown label, the Gaye/Terrell biggie 'Ain't no mountain high enough' which was intended for another Brown/Jackson duet. Disenchanted with Wand, Brown moved to the tiny Commonwealth United label in 1969 where she placed a couple of singles in the r&b charts but further lack of success saw her go into semi-retirement, concentrating her career on the oldies circuit."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV76PKHNEYM

Timi Yuro – 'What's A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)' (original US 7" single released mid1962. UK release mid 1962. Liberty label. This from 'On the soul side' LP released September 1983. Kent label)

"First up, a question............How was this omitted from my 'blue eyed soul' article (see 'Soundcheck' drop down box)? I just can't believe I didn't include this, or any of the other Yuro soul/blues numbers I have in that article! Rosemary Victoria Yuro was born in Chicago (sure I've heard that line before??!) in 1940 before moving to LA in 1952 where she began singing in her parents Italian restaurant and local clubs before being spotted by Sonny Knight of Liberty. Her debut single, an amazing cover of Roy Hamiltons 'Hurt', showcased her deep, almost masculine voice (which convinced some listeners that Timi was a black male artist) and reached number four in the US charts. This was followed by a duet with Johnny Ray (I must dig something out from his 'Big Beat' album some time) and the less successful 'Smile' before she was placed in the studio with future Dylan producer Bob Johnston to release this number twelve charter. She followed up with Burt Bacharach's 'The love of a boy' (number 44) but perhaps mistakenly turned down his new song 'What the world needs now is love'!! She then recorded the 'Make the world go away' album, a respected collection of mainly country influenced songs whose title song was a later hit for Eddy Arnold, and this set the tone for her future direction. There was, however, a UK tour in 1963 where she made a memorable appearance on RSG but her career then stayed planted firmly in country music, much to the despair of some of her early 'proto soul' fans. Despite the popularity of one or two of her later songs on the Northern Soul scene, Yuro concentrated on supper clubs and outings in such memorable films as the Filipino comedians Dolphy and Panchito comedy 'Buhay Marino' (AKA "Life of a Sailor"), a film released by Wag-Wag Productions, and Leila Benitez's 'Student Canteen' TV show. Later in the sixties she performed regularly in London's night clubs, including superfan Reggie Kray's West End Esmeralda's Barn, before retiring from music, disenchanted, following her marriage in 1969. There was a brief revival in Holland in the 1980's where she relocated and had several hits but she returned to the States and released a couple of low key albums and singles before passing away in 2004. Many Small Faces fans will have a version of 'What's a matter baby...' on the b-side to their debut 'Whatcha gonna do about it' single."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg6T_rVQTAk&t=81s

For Tony: Looks like you played the 'real' Jerry Lee/Elvis piano:

From 'World Piano News', February 11th 2022:

"The “Million Dollar Quartet Piano” is a vintage 1949 Wurlitzer spinet. It was the house piano at the Sun Records studio in Memphis Tennessee and is now being sold by the estate of the studio’s legendary owner, the late Sam Phillips*. The piano, unsurprisingly, features on many of the classic 1950s releases from Sun Records. But it gets its name because, in December 1956, it was used on the “Million Dollar Quartet Session. Carl Perkins was recording at the Sun Records studio, and Sam Phillips brought in Jerry Lee Lewis to add some piano (this Wurlitzer) to a track. A little later Elvis Presley arrived at the studio on a casual visit and sat in on the session. Johnny Cash also turned up and the recording became an impromptu jam session. The engineer had the foresight to keep the tape rolling.A local journalist was tipped off about the event and wrote the story up using the headline “Million Dollar Quartet” and the name stuck. The session is regarded as one of the great moments in rock and roll history. An album featuring some of the tracks was released in Europe in 1981, and in 1990 “The Complete Million Dollar Quartet” album with over 40 tracks hit the stores. Elvis played this same Wurlitzer on the majority of the tracks with Jerry Lee Lewis on the others. Lewis subsequently went on to record both “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” using this piano. And it went on to appear on so many of the classic releases from Sun Records. The piano was originally purchased by Sam Phillips from the O.K. Houck piano store – just along the street from Sun Studio. This store was the go-to place for all Memphis’ top musicians. The piano was a modest Wurlitzer spinet (serial no. 387912)."

*In December 2021 it failed to sell at auction with a reserve price of $700,000 (US).

"And to Phil......... 'Yep'!! "

Nina -

"Hi folks, Ahlan from Dahab in Egypt. Having a lovely time kitesurfing, swimming, enjoying the scenery & seeing friends.

Here's my 3, look forward to hearing the full selection over the weekend.

Take care all, Cheers!"

Piers -

"For months John Tam’s viral song ‘Rolling Home’ has been Rolling round our Home. I am surprised that neither of us has submitted it before, as like the poor it is always with us! I only have to be infected by a tiny snatch and it is rolling on yet again. Someone performed it at a sing around up at Weybourne in the early summer and it triggered a three month long response. Like everybody else (I guess?) when I pick up an instrument I tend to twiddle my fingers, as an automatic response. Recently, more than once I have caught myself playing ‘Rolling Home’ when I have no intention of doing so. Even when it has faded for a while it will suddenly come back at full force. I had thought that we had got over it and foolishly let my guard down. Jayne feels the same about the song and I wasn’t surprised to hear her singing it whilst making dumplings to go in the chestnut stew the other night. Lucky it is a song that we both love! I’ll put it last just to give you all a chance to self isolate but please be warned - if you click on that post it may become epidemic…"

Jayne -

"Two tunes heard several times lately plus one from the new First Aid Kit album, sent with all good wishes to you fantastic RPM colleagues."

Jackie -

"Listening to some Classic FM this week....

Tim -

"Trois de moi..."

'Til Next Time...