Articles by John Twang

The Rivileers (Herb Crosby, Gene Pearson, Alfonso Delaney, Milt Edwards and Errol Lennard) first recording was "A Thousand Stars" (Alfonso - Carolyn Grissom) in 1954. Kathy Young and the Innocents (Darron Stankey, Jim West and Al Candaleria) reached number three for the 15 year old in 1960. Kathy was once married to John Walker (Maus) a founder of the Walker Brothers. In 2013 we had the pleasure of watching her and others in an oldies show in Toronto. She is as beautiful as ever and her voic…

The Pinetoppers (George Vaughn Horton and brother Roy Horton) and the Beaver Valley Sweethearts issued "Mockingbird Hill" (George Horton) in 1950. The melody is based on a Swedish waltz called "Life in the Woods". Other Vaughn Horton compositions by the former coal miner include "Sugar Foot Rag", "Plantation Boogie" and "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie". Patti Page's (Clara Ann Fowler) cover in 1951 peaked at number two on Billboard and was her fourth million seller. Through the forties, fifties and sixt…

Composed in 1932 and dedicated to George Gershwin according to one of the most credible experts, Arnold Rypen, it was band leader/composer/violinist Paul "King of Jazz" Whiteman who was first to record "Willow Weep For Me" (Ann Ronell) and take this classic to the number two position. Britons Chad (Stuart) and Jeremy (Clyde), Jeremy is a descendent of the Duke of Wellington, hit the top twenty on pop charts and number one easy listening with the 1964 cover. The duo had more success in the No…

This tune titled "Tell Me Why" is not to be confused with the Four Aces or Eddie Fisher hit in 1951 or the Bobby Vinton version in 1964 or the Beatles song from the same year. It's not to be confused with the Genesis tune from 1993 or the Wynonna country hit the same year. One of the few interracial groups at the time, high school friends Norman Fox & the Rob-Roys (Robert Thierer, Marshall Helfand, Bob Trotman and Andre Lilly) hit with "Tell Me Why" (Marshall "Buzzy" Helfand) in 1957. Afte…

One of those responsible for the award winning "Jersey Boys", Frankie Valli (Castelluccio) released "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" (Bob Crewe - Bob Gaudio) in 1965 from the album "Solo". Other members of the Four Seasons were on the session but it was still released as his single. One year later The Walker Brothers (Scott Engel, John Maus and Gary Leeds) top twenty single "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" came from the album of the same name.

Big band vocalist/actor Dick Haymes' "The More I See You" (Harry Wareen - Mack Gordon) was featured in the 1945 motion picture "Bill Rose's Diamond Horseshoe" starring Betty Grable and Dick Haymes. Under the mentorship of label owner Herb Alpert, Chris Montez (Montanez) recorded the top twenty single from the album "The More I See You" in 1966.

Australian country singer/songwriter Al Geoffrey McElhinney composed "I've Been Everywhere" (Geoff Mack) and in 1962 Lucky Starr (Leslie Morrison) made it a hit in their homeland. Using an atlas Geoff Mack re-wrote the song for Hank (Clarence) Snow and the North American market where it hit the top of the country charts and number sixty-eight on the pop chart. There are also versions for Germany, Britain, Asia, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Finland and various Americ…

Grammy winner Willie "Mabon" Dixon wrote and recorded "Seventh Son" (Willie Dixon) in 1955. Willie won a Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship novice division in 1937, turned professional and was a sparring partner for Joe Louis. In the early fifties he was a session player, producer, staff songwriter and talent scout for Chess Records in Chicago. Johnny Rivers' album "Meanwhile Back at the Whisky a Go Go" was issued in 1965 and contained his cover which peaked in the top ten.…

Sir Cliff Richard and the Shadows (Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan) were the first to perform and record "I Gotta Know" (Paul Evans - Matt Williams) at London's Abbey Road Studios in 1959 for the album "Cliff Sings". The B side of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" the Elvis Presley and the Jordanaires cover which had been written specifically with Elvis in mind hit the fifteenth position on Billboard in 1960.

Italy's Anna Indentici and the Sandpipers recorded "Quando M'innamoro" (Livraghi - Pace - Panzeri) in 1968 at the San Remo Music Festival. Featuring English lyrics by Barry Mason Engelbert Humperdick's (Arnold Dorsey) "A Man Without Love" made the top twenty the same year.

"Fuedin' Banjos" (Arthur Smith) was composed and recorded in 1955 by banjo players Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith and Don Reno. Arthur owned and operated a sound studio in Charlotte, North Carolina where he produced Billy Graham's Hour of Decision radio show AND James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"! The movie "Deliverance" featured a memorable version titled "Duelling Banjos" (Arthur Smith - Don Reno) by former member of the Tarriers and the Greenbriar Boys, session musician and one of t…

Originally recorded by Grand Ol' Opry stalwart Roy Acuff in 1945 "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (Fred Rose) was released only as a single. Fred Rose and Roy Acuff were the founders of the independent label, Hickory Records and the men behind "Acuff-Rose Music" signing the likes of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson and the Everly Brothers. Texan Willie Nelson's 1975 album "Red Headed Stranger" featured the historic single which became the Willie's first number one country hit as a singer…

The Clovers (John Bailey, Harold Lucas, Billy Mitchell, Matthew McQuater and Harold Winley) "Devil or Angel" (Blanch Carter) was issued in1955 and peaked at number three on the R&B chart. In 1960 "Devil or Angel" was just one of Bobby Vee's (Velline) dozens of chart hits, this one peaking at number six on the Billboard top one hundred. Wikipedia: In his autobiography, Chronicles, Volume One, Bob Dylan makes special mention of Vee and shares significant and complimentary details about their…

Often a member of the Ringo Starr's All-Star Band, Dave Edmunds issued "Queen of Hearts" (Hank DeVito) on his 1979 album "Repeat When Necessary". The single reached the U.K. top twenty although it failed to chart in North America. Judy "Juice" Newton's 1981 album "Juice" featured her cover and it peaked in the top twenty on the Country charts, number two on both the adult contemporary and the top one hundred.

In 1990 Grammy winners Asleep at the Wheel (Ray Benson and more drifting members than you can count) recorded "Boot Scootin' Boogie" (Ronnie Dunn) for the album "Keepin' Up Nights" their only release on Arista Records. Over time they recorded for EMI, Liberty, DreamWorks Capitol, Epic, MCA, Sony and other labels. The (Leon "Kix") Brooks & (Ronnie) Dunn 1992 cover was issued initially as the B side "My Next Broken Heart" from the album "Brand New Man". It was later released as an A side. The s…

Kenny Rankin appeared on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in excess of twenty times. Johnny even wrote the liner notes for Kenny's 1967 debut album "Mind Dusters" which features the original recording of "Peaceful" (Rankin). He performed "Blackbird" at the request of Paul McCartney when he and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Kenny also sang at the 2008 memorial service for his close friend George Carlin. Helen Reddy hit the top ten with her cover in 1973. It'…

Marvin (Phillips) & Johnny (Emory Perry) issued "Cherry Pie" (Phillips) in 1954. It's interesting to note that there was a long line of "Johnny's" which once included Jesse Belvin, Carl Green or Bobby Sheen, sometime it was just Marvin overdubbing his own voice. The Skip (Clyde Battin) & Flip (Gary Paxton) cover of "Cherry Pie" (Joe Josea) with the Clyde Gary Orchestra peaked at number eleven. Note the different name for composer.

The Kinks (Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Peter Quaife and Mick Avory) recorded "Dandy" (Ray Davies) in 1966 for their album "Face to Face". Many years ago Peter Quaife and I quaffed ales together at a quiet bar in my Ontario home city. After a most pleasant conversation I learned the next day that I had been chatting with this member of the Kinks. How cool is that? Later that year Herman's Hermits (details elsewhere on this site) cover hit the top five on Billboard along with "No Milk Today" on th…