Articles by John Twang

This is the demo of "You Showed Me" (James McGuinn - Gene Clark) composed by the writers when they were performing as a duo. The song was recorded by The Byrds (David Crosby, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Chris Hillmann and Jim McGuinn) in 1964 but not released until the 1969 LP "Preflyte". The Turtles (Howard Kalan, Mark Volman, John Barbata, Al Nichol and Jim Pons) slowed down and slightly different version of "You Showed Me" hit number six on Billboard in 1969 from the album "The Turtles Pre…

Co-writer of "Spiders And Snakes" David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers (David and Howard) with the duo's take on the hit. Wikipedia: "The Bellamy Brothers live in Florida on a 200-acre family ranch in Darby where they raise Brahman cattle and quarter horses, with three generations of their family living in the compound". In 1974 Jim Stafford's "Spiders And Snakes" peaked at number three on Billboard while in Canada it topped the charts. The single is from Jim's first and self-titled album.…

Spandau Ballet (lead vocalist Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, John Keeble and Steve Norman) released the LP and the single "True" (Gary Kemp) in 1983. The song peaked at number four on the Top One Hundred while topping the Adult Contemporary chart. P.M. Dawn (brothers Attrell Cordes aka Prince Be and Jarret Cordes aka DJ Minutemix) issued "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss" (Attrell Cordes - Gary Kemp) in 1991 and got to number one on Billboard. The track was originally released on their debut album "Of Th…

Songwriter, producer, recording artist, television host and actor "Whispering" Bill Anderson wrote and recorded "Mama Sang A Song" in 1962. The single spent almost two months on top of the Country chart. The openly sentimental single is on the album "Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs" and made a brief appearance near the bottom of the Top One Hundred. This was his first of many songs to reach the top of the Country chart. Academy Award winner Walter Brennan covered "Mama Sang A Song" i…

The Four Aces (lead vocals Al Alberts, Dave Mahoney, Lou Silvestri and Rosario Vaccaro) recorded "Sin"(George Hoven - Chester R. Shull) in 1951 on the small Philadelphia label Victoria Records. The single peaked at number four on Billboard. The 1957 Decca album "Shufflin' Along" includes the re-recorded "(It's No) Sin" by The Four Aces featuring Al Alberts. Research at two sites suggest that this time the song may have hit number five.

Academy Award winning Victor Young wrote and recorded "Theme From Medic" in 1955. The Emmy winning television show starred Richard Boone who went on to star in "Have Gun, Will Travel". Richard turned down the role of Steve McGarrett on Hawaii 5-0. Victor Young also composed "Love Letters", "Golden Earrings", "Stella By Starlight", "When I Fall In Love" and "Around The World". Frequent collaborator with Victor Young, Eddie Heyman added lyrics to the Medic Theme including the term "Blue Star".…

The group Survivor was founded by Jim Peterik and this is his version of "Eye Of The Tiger" (Frank Sullivan - Jim Peterik) from the movie "Rocky lll". The song was commissioned especially for the film by Sylvester Stallone after Queen denied him use of "Another One Bites The Dust". This is apparently recorded in the home of one of those involved in "Hardcore Pawn, Chicago". The intro was edited for timing and talkers in the background. Survivor (lead vocalist Dave Bickler, Marc Droubay, Step…

Jim Peterik performs "Vehicle" on Indiana's Lakeshore FM 89.1 in 2013. In 1964 Jim and some friends from J. Sterling Morton High School West formed the Ides Of March. The Ides Of March (Jim Peterik, Bob Bergland, Mike Borch, John Larson, Larry Millas and Chuck Soumar) and hit number two on Billboard with "Vehicle" in 1970. According to a few sources this was Warner brothers fastest selling single to that time. The stretch of highway from Riverside Drive to Cermak Road in Berwyn, Illinois was…

From the 2016 LP "Jim Peterik - The Songs" this is the writers studio version of "Caught Up In You" (Jim Peterik - Don Barnes - Jeff Carlisi). 38 Special (lead vocalist Don Barnes, Carol Bristow, Steve Brookins, Jim Carlisi, Jack Grondin, Larry Junstrom, Lu Moss and Donnie Van Zant) hit the top ten with "Caught Up In You" in 1982. The track is on the LP "Special Forces".

From his 2000 LP "And Another Thing" talented singer and songwriter Graham Gouldman with "Heart Full Of Soul" (Graham Gouldman). Graham was with The Mindbenders and 10CC. Graham has written more hits than you and I and that guy over there put together. The Yardbirds (Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Keith Relf and Jim McCarty) first single after Eric Clapton left the group "Heart Full Of Soul" is from the later album "Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds". The single hit the top ten in bot…

Just check out the writers of The Coasters (lead vocalist Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Leon Hughes and Bobby Nunn) 1957 hit "Young Blood" (Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller - Doc Pomus) with Leiber and Stoller taking care of production and it's obvious why the song topped the R&B chart and reached number eight on Billboard. The track is on their debut self-titled album. Among the dozens of cover versions is the 1976 hit by Bad Company (lead vocals Paul Rodgers, Boz Burrell, Simon Kirke and Mike Ralphs…

Mungo Jerry (lead vocalist Ray Dorset, Mike Cole, Colin Earl and Paul King) with the original chart topping "In The Summertime". The single is on the album "Electronically Tested". Despite hitting number one throughout the world, this peaked at number three on Billboard. Shaggy (Orville Burrell) featuring Rayvon (Bruce Brewster) covered "In The Summertime" for the 1995 LP "Bombastic" with Ray Dorset on guitar, jug and percussion. Like the original this peaked at number three on the Top One H…

The Valentinos (lead vocal Bobby Womack with brothers Cecil, Curtis, Friendly Jr. and Harry) "Lookin' For A Love" (J. W. Alexander - Zelda Samuels) peaked at number eight on the R&B chart and got to seventy-two on the Billboard pop chart in 1962. The song was on Sam Cooke's SAR label and produced by Sam himself. "Looking For A Love" by The J. Geils Band (Steve Bladd, Magic Dick, John Geils, Seth Justman, Dan Klein and lead vocalist Peter Wolfe) is from their second LP "The Morning After". Th…

Bread (lead vocals David Gates, Mike Botts, James Griffin, Larry Knechtel and Robb Royer) recorded "Everything I Own" (David Gates) for the 1972 LP "Baby I'm-a Want You". The single peak at number five on Billboard's Top One Hundred, number three Adult Contemporary. It's said that the composer wrote this about his father shortly after the man's funeral. Boy George (O'Dowd) issued the single "Everything I Own" from the album "Sold" in 1987. This was his only chart topping solo single in the U…

Listen to Carl Spencer and the Videos and the original 1958 issue of "Let The Little Girl Dance" (Carl Spencer - Henry Glover). Yet another original that could have been a hit. Carl and his brother Bobby were members of the Halos who backed Curtis Lee on "Pretty Little Angel Eyes". Barry Mann on "Who Put The Bomp", Gene Pitney on "Every Breath I Take" and other artists including Connie Francis, Ben E. King, Dion, Johnny Mathis, Bobby Vinton and more. Val Shively sold me the 45 for fifteen times…

Lulu's (Marie Lawrie) "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Lulu - Billy Lawrie - Steve DuBerry) is also the title of her 2002 autobiography. One of the writers, Billy Lawrie is Lulu's brother. This is from her 2002 LP "The Greatest Hits". The single was issued in 1993 as a B side. They offered the song to Sade who sent it to Tina Turner. Tina Turner's version of "I Don't Wanna Fight" was used perfectly on the soundtrack to the 1993 film of her life's story "What's Love Got To Do With It". The Grammy nomin…

Irish tenor Michael O'Higgins recorded "Galway Bay" (A. Colahan - Turner Huggard) in 1947. The tune was authored by Irish doctor and British Army officer, Dr. Arthur Colahan whose brother drowned in Galway Bay. Academy Award winning actor, stage, radio and television personality, acclaimed crooner and one of the few with three stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, Bing (Harry) Crosby with orchestra directed by Victor Young reached number three on Billboard with "Galway Bay" (Colahan) in 1949.…

The extraordinary singer and actress Ethel Waters and New York City's Plantation Club Orchestra recorded "Dinah" (Harry Akst - Joe Young - Sam Lewis) in 1925 and reached number two in the U.S.. Ethel was nominated for an Academy Award and was the first female "African-American" to be nominated for an Emmy. Her life story is fascinating. In late 1931 Bing (Harry) Crosby was an impromptu surprise at a Mills Brothers (John Jr., Herbert, Harry and Donald), recording session. The y decided to sin…