Articles by John Twang

Edgar's older bother, Johnny Winter was first to record "Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo" (Rick Derringer) on the LP "Johnny Winter And" in 1970 when the writer and other members of The McCoys (Rick and brother Randy Zehringer with Randy Jo Hobbs) were members of his band. Rick Derringer (Zehringer) issued his solo version of " Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo" in 1973 and peaked at number twenty-three on the Top One Hundred. This is the first single from Rick's debut album "All American Boy". Rick was…

The Foundations (Lead vocalist Colin Young, Eric Allendale, Pat Burke, Tony Gomez, Tim Harris, Peter Macbeth and Allan Warner) recorded "That Same Old Feeling" (Tony Macaulay - John Macleod) in 1969 for the LP "Digging The Foundations" as produced by the composers. A re-working of the song done by The Fortunes (Rod Allen, Glen Dale and Barry Pritchard) as "Same Old Feeling" came from their 1969 album "It's The Real Thing" which was issued only to Coca-Cola employees attending a convention in…

In 1966 Clarence Carter issued "Tell Daddy" (Clarence Carter). The single recorded at FAME in Muscle Shoals peaked at thirty-five on the Billboard R&B chart. Many give writing credit to Clarence along with Wilbur Terrell and Marcus Daniel. Clarence was born blind and attained his Bachelor of Science degree in music at Alabama State College. Rick Hall produced Grammy winner Etta James (Jamesetta Hawkins) "Tell Mama" single and LP at Muscle Shoals with The Memphis Horns in 1966. The single rea…

"Ramrod" (Al Casey) was originally released on the Ford label by Duane Eddy and His Rock-A-Billies in 1957. Al Casey is actually playing lead guitar! The more successful version of "Ramrod" came a year later when producer Lee Hazlewood added the distinctive "rebel" yells and saxophone. "Ramrod" by Duane Eddy, his Twangy Guitar and the Rebels peaked at number seventeen on the R&B chart while reaching twenty-seven on the Top One Hundred. This track is from what many consider to be the first st…

"Stormy Weather" was written specifically for Cab (Cabell) Calloway and the 1933 production "Cotton Club Parade". Cab had just left as Cotton Club bandleader in Harlem and the producers met with Ethel Waters who agreed to sing the song in the show. In her only appearance in the revue she introduced the classic "Stormy Weather" (Ted Kohler - Harold Arlen). In 1962 Ethel became the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Emmy. The most successful version of "Stormy Weather" came fr…

(Carlos) Santana and Tina Turner teamed for "Game Of Love" (Gregg Alexander - Rick Nowels) but Tina decided she didn't want to be involved in the video. This had label boss Clive Davis look for a female replacement. Eventually the Tina Turner track was issued on the 2007 LP "Ultimate Santana". The 2002 album "Shaman" includes Santana featuring Michelle Branch. The single "The Game Of Love" reached number five on Billboard, topped the A.C. chart and won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration Wit…

Once the lead vocalist and guitarist for Argent, Russ Ballard released the 1976 solo LP and single "Winning" featuring the song of the same name. The 1981 top ten album "Zebop!" by Santana (Carlos Santana, lead vocalist Alex Ligertwood, Alan Pasqua, Armando Peraza, Prestes Vilato, Richard Baker, Graham Lear, David Margen and Raul Rekow) included the single "Winning". This time the song peaked at seventeen on Billboard.

Composer Robert Schumann's wife Heine wrote the poem Die Loreley in 1823 and composer Silcher wrote the music in 1838. Original title of the poem was "Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten". Inventor of the gramophone Emile Berliner himself placed this as "Loreley" on an 1889 disc. Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae recorded "Whispering Hope" (Alice Hawthorne) with Paul Weston's Orchestra in 1949 and peaked at number six on Billboard. Composer Alice Hawthorne was an alias for Septimus Winner who w…

This is from their1986 self-titled Motown LP. The family group Guinn (Bonnie, Earl, Lori, Marjorie, Michel, Randy and Skip Guinn) issued "Dreamin'" (L. Horton - G. Broomfield) as a not too successful single. Singer, actress, designer and once crowned Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams covered "Dreamin'" (Montgomery - Pascal) and released it as a single from her first album, the 1986 release "The Right Stuff". The single reached the top of the R&B chart while peaking at number eight on the Top…

"Tangerine" (Victor Schertzinger - Johnny Mercer) was introduced in the Victor Schertzinger directed film "The Fleet's In" starring Williams Holden, Dorothy Lamour and Betty Hutton' in her first movie role. The tune hit number one for the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with vocalists Bob Eberle and Helen O'Connell who were all featured in the movie. In 1976 the Salsoul Orchestra (New York City session musicians) charted at number eighteen on the Top One Hundred and thirty-six R&B with their disco ve…

John Martin Sommers wrote "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" when he was a member of the John Denver Band. He is featured here on vocals and playing fiddle during a 2015 John Denver tribute concert at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. John Martin Sommers was a guitar, fiddle and mandolin player in the backup band and wrote the song December 31, 1973, John Denver's birthday. The 1974 album "Back Home Again" includes the studio version of "Thank God I'm A Country Boy". This platinum release als…

Cole Porter's "Can-Can" starred Lilo (Lilo Jourdan de la Passardiere) singing "I Love Paris" in the original Broadway musical production. The German born French actress did not speak English and learned the songs phonetically. The show ran for two years and close to 900 performances. One of the reasons "exotica" exists, musician, composer, arranger and actor Les Baxter hit number thirteen with "I Love Paris" in 1953. Les wrote the theme for the television show "Lassie" and was the musical di…

"Lucky" Millinder's (Lucius Venable) "D'Natural Blues" (Millinder -Glover) must be heard throughout the 1948 recording to be appreciated. Lucky could not read music, didn't play an instrument and seldom tried to sing but he was a showman. Detroit saxophonist and bandleader Paul Williams first heard the tune by Lucky Millinder and his band at a concert rehearsal where both bands performed. When Paul Williams watched audience members dance a step called the huckle-buck to the tune Paul changed…

The immensely talented composer, performer Gilbert Becaud (Silly) topped the French chart with the bolero styled "Et Maitenant" (Gilbert Becaud - Pierre Delanoe) in 1961. The song was Gilbert's first taste of success and originally released as a B side. In 1962 Jane Morgan (Florence Currier) released the LP and the single "What Now My Love" (Becaud - Delanoe - Sigman) as the first English version. Sonny And Cher (Bono) placed "What Now My Love" in the Billboard number fourteen spot in 19…

Textones (Kathy Valentine, Markus Cuff, Carla Olson and David Provost) featuring Austin's Kathy Valentine & Carla Olson were first to record "Vacation" (Kathy Valentine). When Kathy Valentine joined The Go-Go's (lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin) in 1981 she brought the song "Vacation" (Kathy Valentine - Jane Wiedlin - Charlotte Caffey) to their attention. The Billboard number eight hit single is from their second LP the top ten "…

The Go-Go's (lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin) first recorded "We Got The Beat" (Charlotte Caffey) in 1980. It became a club scene hit. In 1981 The Go-Go's re-recorded "We Got The Beat" for their first LP, the double platinum "Beauty And The Beat". The single release in 1982 was featured in the film "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" propelling the tune to number two on Billboard while the album topped the chart.

The traditional British ballad "Scarborough Fair" is based on the song "The Elfin Knight" from the seventeenth century. The earliest recorded version of "Scarborough Fair" (Traditional) is on the 1955 album "Encores From The Abbaye" sung by Gordon Heath with Lee Payant. L'Abbaye was a Paris cafe operated by the American entertainers. As the lead track on the 1966 LP "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" (Traditional/Simon - Garfunkel) was issue…

The original "Three O'clock Blues" was recorded by Lowell Fulson with his brother Martin in 1946. The single was released two years later and established his career. The same tune probably launched another career when B. B. King topped the R&B chart in 1951 when he recorded "3 O'clock Blues" in the Memphis Y.M.C.A. the year prior and includes Ike Turner on piano. If you've seen B.B. in concert then he must have played this. Wikipedia: ""3 O'clock Blues" launched B.B. King's career and gave h…