May Musical Birthdays

The “May Musical Birthdays” have been uploaded and can be found in the pages listed in the right-hand sidebar.

Love is Strange as Performed by Mickey & Sylvia (1957)

Love Is Strange – Mickey & Sylvia (1957)

You just gotta love this song. If you have never heard it before just take a listen and you will be hooked.

This innovative and often covered song, composed by Bo Diddley (but credited to his then wife, Ethel Smith) and guitarist Jody Williams, was first recorded by Mickey “Guitar” Baker and Sylvia Vanderpool Robinson. Sylvia was Mickey’s guitar student.

The details of the song are clearly outlined in the songs’ own WIKI Page.

“Love is Strange” went to #1 on the R&B Charts and #11 on the Pop Charts. Mickey & Sylvia continued to record up until 1965 but never had another top 40 hit.

Mickey continued in a career as a studio musician and Sylvia had a solo hit in 1973 with “Pillow Talk” (Remember that one Boomers?: this was heavy breathing BEFORE Donna Summer ) and co-founded the first Rap Label – “Sugar Hill Records”.

Love Is Strange Composed By Bo Diddley and Jody Williams

Love, love is strange
Lot of people take it for a game
Once you get it
You’ll never wanna quit (no, no)
After you’ve had it (yeah, yeah)
You’re in an awful fix
Many people
Don’t understand (no, no)
They think loving (yeah, yeah)
Is money in the hand
Your sweet loving
Is better than a kiss
When you leave me
Sweet kisses I miss

[MICKEY:]
Silvia…

[SILVIA:]
Yes Mickey?

[MICKEY:]
How do you call your loverboy?

[SILVIA:]
Come ‘ere loverboy!!

[MICKEY:]
And if he doesnt answer?

[SILVIA:]
Ohh loverboy!

[MICKEY:]
And if he STILL doesnt answer?

[SILVIA:]
I simply say
Baby,
Oohh baby
My sweet baby
You’re the one

[TOGETHER:]
Baby,
Oohh baby
My sweet baby
You’re the one

Sylvia Robinson Trivia: She wrote “Pillow Talk” for Al Green but he turned the song down! (Source)

Thanks for stopping by to hear the music.

Let the Goodtimes Roll as Performed by Shirley & Lee (1956)

Shirley & Lee – Let the Good Times Roll (1956)

From 1952 to 1963, billed as “The Sweethearts of the Blues”, Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee enjoyed much National success on the music charts as a New Orleans singing duo. Ironically they didn’t really sing conventional duets in harmony — but they each alternately sang lines and/or verses — Shirley in her high pitched, wavering way and Leonard in his deep smooth soulful sound.

Going #20 on the Pop Singles Charts and #1 on the R&B Singles Chart. “Let the Good Times Roll” was, to quote Bryan Thomas of All Music,

“the biggest hit in their careers. Goodman and Lee borrowed one of New Orleans’ most familiar refrains and built a rocking tune around it called “Let the Good Times Roll.” The recording was an instant smash and received substantial airplay, climbing up the charts in the process. It sold well-over one million copies and for more than 40 years has been a staple of oldies play lists. To date, there are over a hundred cover versions of the song, but most still prefer the original.” (Source)

The song became the first million-seller for Aladdin Records.

A concise career biography of the group can be found here.

Let the Good Times Roll Composed by Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee

Come on baby let the good times roll
Come on baby let me thrill your soul..
Come on baby let the good times roll..
Roll all night long…

Come on baby yes this is this…
This is the something I just can’t miss..
Come on baby let the good times roll..
Roll all night long…

Come on baby while the thrill is on..
Come on baby lets have some fun..
Come on baby let the good times roll..
Roll all night long…

Come on baby just close the door..
Come on baby lets rock some more…
Come on baby let the good times roll..
Roll all night long…

Feels so good…
When your home..
Come on baby..
Rock me all night long..

Come on baby let the good times roll
Come on baby let me thrill your soul..
Come on baby let the good times roll..
Roll all night long…

Feels so good…
When your home..
Come on baby..
Rock me all night long..

Come on baby let the good times roll
Come on baby let me thrill your soul..
Come on baby let the good times roll..
Roll all night long.. .

Well I suppose I can see why some radio jocks refused to play the song insisting that the lyrics were “indecent” (LOL) and yet don’t they seem tame compared to the trash that is out today?

What do YOU think? I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Let It Be Me as Performed by The Everly Brothers (1960) and Betty Everett & Jerry Butler (1964)

The Everly Brothers – Let It Be Me (1960)

“Let It Be Me” is a reworking of a French song recorded in 1955 by Gilbert Becaud called “Je T’Appartiens.”
The first English version of the song was recorded in 1957 by an actress named Jill Corey with limited success.

But The Everly Brothers released their remake as a single and it zoomed to #7 on the US Pop Singles Chart and #13 on the UK charts. It also appeared on the Cadence label LP “The Fabulous Style of the Everly Brothers” that went to #23 on the Pop LP Charts in 1960.

The Everlys performed together as a group from 1954 to 1973, setting an example for all country/pop/rockers to follow. And their harmonies were flawlessly beautiful and unique.

Betty Everett & Jerry Butler – Let It Be Me (1964)

This next extraordinary cover version, like the Everlys, also became a top ten Hot 100 hit. But it also bested the Everly Brothers version by also going to #1on Billboard’s R&B chart! I do believe that this is the definitive version of song, that has been covered countless times in every decade since the Sixties to date, by solo artists, other duos and larger groups as well. (Personally I am also partial the The Sylvers version and will share it here under the appropriate theme and time in the future.) Just goes to show you that a classic song is what all artists want to interpret.

Betty Everett sang gospel growing up in Mississippi and then began recording secular music for Cobra in 1958 with no success . But then when she joined Chicago’s Vee-Jay Records the hits came. She first recorded “You’re No Good”. Next the Shoop-Shoop Song zoomed to #6 in 1964 and then this Duet with Jerry Butler zoomed to #5.

Of course Jerry Butler and his childhood friend Curtis Mayfield also grew up singing gospel music, then secular music together in the Roosters, which then became Kerry Butler & the Impressions. Eventually Mr. Butler went on to pusure a successful solo career after leaving the Impressions, as well as a string of hit duets and last but not least a venture into Chicago politics. Mr. Butler has served as the Cook County Illinois Commissioner and then became a City Alderman.

Jerry Butler still performs today, as seen in this August 2001 PBS Special “Doo Wop 51 Live in Pittsburgh”. This was Betty Everett’s last public appearance; she died at her Wisconsin home in August 2001.

Let It Be Me Composed By Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoé

God bless the day I found you
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you
Let it be me

Don’t take this heaven from one
If you must cling to someone
Now and forever
Let it be me

Each time we meet love,
I find complete love
Without your sweet love
Tell me, what would life be?

So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only
And that you’ll always
Let it be me

Beautiful sweet lyrics for a beautiful sweet song. Hope you enjoyed the music.

Thanks for stopping by.

Singer-Songwriter Paul Davis Dies

“Paul Davis, a singer-songwriter who had two No. 1 country hits, died Tuesday (April 22) in Meridian, Miss., of a heart attack. He was 60. After minor success with two country singles, Davis first hit the top of the country chart in 1986 with a duet with Marie Osmond, “You’re Still New to Me,” which he co-wrote with Paul Overstreet. He had No. 1 success again the following year when he collaborated with Overstreet and Tanya Tucker to sing “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love,” which was penned by Overstreet and Don Schlitz. Davis was best known in pop circles for his 1978 single “I Go Crazy,” which was in the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 40 weeks. He recently retired from music to return to his hometown of Meridian.” (SOURCE – CMT)

RIP Mr. Davis. “I Go Crazy” is a wonderful legacy you have left us.