Articles by John Twang

The 1968 LP "Turn Around, Look At Me" by The Vogues (lead vocalist Bill Burkette, Chuck Blasko, Hugh Geyer and Don Miller) includes the first recording of "It's Getting Better" (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil). Cass Elliot took "It's Getting Better" to the Billboard top thirty and the Easy Listening chart number thirteen position in 1969. The issue also hit the top ten in several countries. The single remained on the chart for nineteen weeks! Despite rumours, members of The Mama And The Papas wer…

These are The Doobie Brothers (lead vocalist Tom Johnston, John Hartman, Michael Hossack, Tiran Porter and Patrick Simmons) and the 1970 demo for "Long Train Runnin'" (Tom Johnston). The song started as an improvisational instrumental with various titles: "Osborn", "Parliament" and "Rosie Pig Mosley". In 1973 came the LP "The Captain And Me" and the tracks "China Grove" and "Long Train Running" became hits with "Long Train Runnin'" reaching number eight on the Top One Hundred.

"Taking A Chance On Love" (Latouche - Fetter - Duke) was prominent in the 1940 play and the 1943 Vincente Minnelli directed motion picture "Cabin In The Sky" where it was sung by Ethel Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Wikipedia article on Ethel's life in Philadelphia: "On her 17th birthday, she attended a costume party at a nightclub on Juniper Street. She was persuaded to sing two songs and impressed the audience so much that she was offered professional work at the Lincoln Theatre in Bal…

Beth Nielsen Chapman performs "This Kiss" (Chapman - Lerner - Roboff) at Pocklington Arts Centre in East Yorkshire, England. Mrs. Tim McGraw, actress, People's Choice and Grammy winner Faith Hill issued "This Kiss" with Beth Nielsen Chapman on backing vocal as the first single from her album "Faith" in 1998. The song topped the Country chart, peaked at number seven on the Top One Hundred and number three on the Adult Contemporary charts. "This Kiss" received two Grammy nominations.

A regular member of the Metropolitan Opera, Ernestine (Tini) Schumann-Heink was the first to record "Danny Boy" (Frederick Weatherly) in 1917. Wikipedia: "Initially written to a tune other than "Londonderry Air", the words to "Danny Boy" were penned by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in Bath, Somerset in 1910. After his Irish-born sister-in-law Margaret (known as Jess) in the United States sent him a copy of "Londonderry Air" in 1913 (an alternative version of the story has her si…

The Mills Brothers (John Jr., Donald, Herbert and Harry) recorded "Till Then" (Eddie Seiler - Sol Marcus - Guy Wood) in 1944 and reached number eight on Billboard. This was a two sided hit, the other side was "You Always Hurt The One You Love" posted elsewhere on this blog.. The Hilltoppers 1954 version peaked at number ten. Group member Billy Vaughn went on to great notice with Dot Records. Jimmy Sacca was the lead vocalist.

First recorded by crooner, actor Rudy (Hubert) Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees in 1934, "P.S. I Love You" is presented in an edited version to include the vocal. The Hilltoppers featuring Jimmy Sacca had their first hit with "P.S. I Love You" (J. Mercer - G. Jenkins) and peaked at number four on Billboard in 1953. Groups members were either born or went to college in Kentucky. Member Billy Vaughn is on piano. The moniker comes from the Bowling Green, Western Kentucky State College sports…

Under the direction of Walter B. Rogers this is The Victor Military Band recording of "Poor Butterfly" (Raymond Hubbell) in 1916. The band was an idea of the Victor Talking Machine Company to sell dance records. The production was inspired by Puccini's opera Madam Butterfly and appeared in the Broadway show "The Big Show" when it was sung by Sophie Bernard. The Hilltoppers' (Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire, Seymour Spiegelman and Bill Vaughn) 1954 cover of "Poor Butterfly" (Hubbell - Golden) pea…

The Chicago (lead vocals Peter Cetera, Bill Champlin, Robert Lamm, Denny Seraphine) Billboard number one single "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (Peter Cetera - David Foster) is from the 1982 album Chicago 16. The lead single from the LP featured an augmented session with David Foster and members of Toto, topped both the pop and Adult Contemporary charts.. Az Yet (lead Marc Nelson, Dion Allen, Darryl Anthony, Kenny Terry and Shawn Rivera) featuring Peter Cetera covered "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" on thei…

Pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter John Hiatt wrote "Angels Eyes" (John Hiatt - Fred Koller) and it appeared on his 1994 concert LP "Hiatt Comes Alive At Budokan". After the disc was released it was learned that this was not recorded at Budokan but at concerts earlier that year with The Guilty Dogs (Dave Faragher, Michael Urbano and Michael Ward) in The State Theatre, Portland, Maine and other American venues. Canada's Jeff Healey Band (Jeff Healey, Joe Rockman and Tom Stephen) with t…

The Walt Disney production of Zorro starring Guy Williams included this opening theme. Music is by George Bruns and lyrics by Norman Foster. The late Henry Clavin (Calvin Goodman) is the actor who played Sgt. Garcia and is the lead vocalist. The Chordettes (Janet Ertel, Carol Buschmann, Lynn Evans and Jinny Lockard) recorded "Zorro" (N. Foster - G. Bruns) in 1959 and peaked at number seventeen on Billboard. The single is found on the LP "All The Very Best Of The Chordettes". Janet Ertel marr…

The traditional song "Beautiful Brown Eyes" (Arthur Smith) was recorded by the Arthur Smith Trio accompanied by Alton and Rabon Delmore in 1937. This was "Fiddlin'" Arthur Smith who was a member of The Grand Ole Opry and not Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith. Rosemary Clooney covered "Beautiful Brown Eyes" (A. Smith - Delmore) with Mitch Miller conducting in 1951. The single peaked at number eleven on Billboard. Details on the singer are all over this blog. Rosemary recorded from the early fiftie…

From the album "We Wrote 'Em And We Sing 'Em" comes Lincoln Chase and "Jim Dandy". Lincoln wrote "The Name Game", "The Clapping Song" and "Such A Night". LaVern Baker and the Gliders hit with "Jim Dandy" in 1956 topping the R&B chart and peaking at number sixteen on the pop side. Sam "The Man" Taylor is featured on sax. This is on her self-titled Atlantic album. The Gliders name was owned by Atlantic Records and consisted of a number of back-up singers. Black Oak Arkansas (Jim Mangrum, To…

Rock pioneer Chuck Berry wrote and recorded "Reelin' And Rockin'" in 1957 as the B side of "Sweet Little Sixteen". At his funeral in April of 2017 The Rolling Stones sent a flower arrangement in the shape of a guitar. The Dave Clark Five (Dave Clark, Mike Smith, Lenny Davidson, Denis Payton and Rick Huxley) issued a 1965 cover of "Reelin' And Rockin'" from the LP "Weekend In London". This DC5 cover peaked at number twenty-three on the Top One Hundred and top ten in Canada. An in concert…

Jack Oakie (Lewis Offield) and Dorothy Dell (Goff) sang "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming" (Gordon - Revel) in the 1934 Paramount film "Shoot The Works". The scene starts with the duo composing the song followed by the full orchestra concert performance. While in her late teens, Dorothy was killed in a car accident within months of the motion picture. Leo Reisman & His Orchestra with vocal by George Beuler were first to record "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming" and reached number three…

Richard Marx wrote "Surrender To Me" (Richard Marx - Ross Vanelli) and sings it as a cover here with Lara Fabian (Crokaert). Lara is well known in French Canada and Europe and has a vocal range envied by many. Richard's father "Dick" wrote jingles for Nestle Crunch, Dial Soap, Wrigley's Doublemint Gum, Kellogg's Raisin Bran and wrote the music for the movie "A League Of Their Own". Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Ann Wilson of Heart teamed for the 1988 hit with "Surrender To Me". This is on…

The stunning talents of Richard Marx are evident in "Dance With My Father" (Richard Marx - Luther Vandross). This was recorded in concert in 2003. Richard wrote the music. Richard sang backup for Kenny Rogers and has collaborated with the likes of Keith Urban, John Farnham, Ringo Starr and Emerson Drive. Luther Vandross sings the title track from the 2003 LP "Dance With My Father". This was his final album. The single won the Song Of The Year and Best Male R&B Vocal performance at the 2003 G…

"With All My Heart" was originally released in 1957 as "Gondolier" (Peter De Angelis - Jean Broussolle) by Dalida (Iolanda Cristina Gigliott). Dalida was crowned Miss Egypt in 1954 yet had a most tragic life ending in her 1987 suicide. One hit wonder Jodie Sands (Eleanor DiSipio) peaked at number fifteen on Billboard with the English issue "With All My Heart (Peter De Angelis - Bob Marcucci) in the summer of 1957.