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Swan Records
Swan Records was a mid-20th century United States–based record label, founded in 1957 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It had a subsidiary label called Lawn Records. History Swan Records had enjoyed chart success with several U.S. artists but came into the spotlight after EMI, a prestigious British music company headquartered in London, leased the Beatles' recording of " She Loves You" backed with " I'll Get You" and, as catalogue number Swan 4152, it became an American number 1 hit on March 21, 1964. This followed the decision made by EMI's American subsidiary Capitol Records not to exercise its option to release the Beatles singles in the U.S. Swan also assumed the rights to the German version of "She Loves You", "Sie Liebt Dich" which peaked at No. 97 in 1964. The success of the "She Loves You" single kept Swan going while other small record labels were snowed under by the British Invasion, but it finally closed filing bankruptcy in 1967. The company was initia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wild Weekend (instrumental)
"Wild Weekend" is an instrumental written by Phil Todaro and Tom Shannon and performed by The Rebels, later known as The Rockin' Rebels. The tune was originally heard in a theme song for Shannon's radio show on WKBW in Buffalo, New York. The words "Wild Weekend" are not found in the song's lyrics (Shannon's show aired on weekdays). The Russ Hallett Trio recorded the original theme for radio airplay by Shannon in 1958. Buffalo band The Rebels reworked it as an instrumental that was released as "Wild Weekend" on the Marlee label in 1960 without national chart success. In November 1962 the Rebels' single was re-released on the Swan label. The band name was changed to The Rockin' Rebels, apparently to avoid confusion with Duane Eddy And The Rebels. It entered Billboard's national Hot 100 at the end of December with its chart run continuing into 1963 when it peaked at #8, and at #28 on the U.S. R&B chart. The song ranked #22 on ''Billboard'' magazine's Top 100 singles of 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roulette Records
Roulette Records was an American record company and label founded in 1957 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Kahl, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed director. The label had known ties to New York City mobsters. Levy ran the label with an iron fist. In 1958 Roost Records was purchased. Goldner subsequently bowed out of his partnership interest in Roulette and, to cover his gambling debts, sold his record labels Tico, Rama, Gee and—years later—End and Gone to Levy, who grouped them into Roulette. Peretti and Creatore later left Roulette and worked as freelance producers for RCA Victor throughout the 1960s. They co-founded Avco Records in 1969. In 1971 Roulette took over the catalog of Jubilee Records. History During the late 1950s, Roulette scored hits by Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, The Playmates, Jimmie Rodgers, Ronnie Hawkins, The Delicates, and Frankie Lymon as well as releasi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Close Your Eyes (Chuck Willis Song)
"Close Your Eyes" is a song written by Chuck Willis and performed by The Five Keys. It reached number 5 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1955. Other charting versions * The Skyliners released a version of the song as a single in 1961 which reached number 105 on the U.S. pop chart. *The Three Degrees released a version of the song as a single in 1965 which reached number #126 on the U.S. pop chart. *Peaches & Herb released a version of the song as a single in 1967 which reached number 4 on the U.S. R&B chart and number 8 on the U.S. pop chart. Their version ranked number 71 on ''Billboard'' magazine's Top 100 singles of 1967. * Aaron Neville featuring Linda Ronstadt released a version of the song as a single in 1992 which reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, number 38 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart and number 90 on the Canadian Singles Chart. It was featured on Neville's 1991 album, '' Warm Your Heart''. Other versions *Ray Noble Orchestra with Al Bowlly released an or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Five Keys
The Five Keys were an American rhythm and blues vocal group who were instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s. They were formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News, Virginia, US, in the late 1940s, and initially consisted of two sets of brothers – Rudy West and Bernie West, and Ripley Ingram and Raphael Ingram. Raphael Ingram left in 1949 and Maryland Pierce and Thomas 'Dickie' Threat became members in his place. At this juncture the name of the group was changed to The Five Keys. They were signed to Aladdin Records in 1951, and in 1952 Rudy West left to join the United States Army, and he was replaced by Ulysses K. Hicks. When Hicks died of a heart attack in Boston in 1955, Rudy West returned to the group. In 1954 Dickie Smith left and was replaced with Ramon Loper. At this point the Five Keys were signed to Capitol Records, and their popularity increased, although more instrumentation was used. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Three Degrees
The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although 12 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Helen Scott, Valerie Holiday and Freddi Poole. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985. The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. By mid-1963, Porter and Turner were replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott; Scott was replaced by Sheila Ferguson in 1966, while Harmon was replaced by Valerie Holiday in 1967. This line-up of Pinkney, Holiday and Ferguson became the most successful in the group's history; together from 1967 to 1976, they topped the ''Billboard'' US Hot 100 as featured vocalists on the MFSB single " TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974, and had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single " When Will I See You Again", which was a huge intern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Heart Belongs To Only You
"My Heart Belongs to Only You" is a song written by Frank Daniels & Dorothy Daniels. Bette McLaurin and June Christy both released versions of the song in 1952. In 1953, the song reached No. 27 on ''Cash Box''s chart of "The Nation's Top 50 Best Selling Records", in a tandem ranking of June Christy, Bette McLaurin, these versions were marked as bestsellers. Bobby Vinton recording The most successful version of the song was recorded by Bobby Vinton on October 23, 1963, and released in February 1964, backed by arranger/conductor Stan Applebaum, and which was released in February 1964. It was released as a single and on the album '' There! I've Said It Again''. Bobby Vinton's version spent nine weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 9, while reaching No. 2 on ''Billboard''s Middle-Road Singles chart, No. 8 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100, No. 8 on the '' Music Vendor'' Top 100 Pop chart, and No. 15 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade. Charts Other recordings *In 1953, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billy & Lillie
Billy & Lillie were an American pop vocal duo, composed of Billy Ford (William T. Ford; March 9, 1919 or 1925 – March 1983) and Lillie Bryant (born February 14, 1940, Newburgh, New York).Joel Whitburn, ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits''. 7th edn, 2000. Career Billy Ford was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey; many sources give his birth year as 1925 (or 1927), but blues researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc state 1919. He was a trumpeter, who recorded as a bandleader and accompanist for many labels from the mid-1940s. He recorded two singles for United Records, credited to Billy Ford & the Thunderbirds, without attaining much commercial success. Billy & Lillie recorded for Swan Records in the late 1950s, and charted three hit singles in the United States, two of them written by the songwriter and record producer Bob Crewe, and producer Frank Slay, known as Frank C. Slay, Jr. Crewe later became one of the most successful songwriters and producers in history, having pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gerry Granahan
Gerald Granahan (April 20, 1932 – January 10, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s. Life and career Granahan was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1932. He worked at WPTS as a radio announcer and disc jockey in his youth. His Elvis Presley-like voice got him a job recording demos of songs submitted to Presley. Granahan was offered a contract with Atlantic Records in 1957 as a rockabilly artist under the name Jerry Grant, but his first record release sank without a trace, and another release shortly after on Mark Records was also a flop. In 1958, Granahan teamed with publisher Tommy Volando on Sunbeam Records, and recorded the single "No Chemise Please". The song became a nationwide hit in the U.S., peaking at No. 23 on the ''Billboard'' " Top 100 Sides". [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mashed Potato Time
"Mashed Potato Time" is a 1962 single written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe, and performed by Dee Dee Sharp, with backing vocals by The Orlons, on her debut album ''It's Mashed Potato Time''. The song refers to the Mashed Potato (dance), Mashed Potato dance move, which was a fad. It was one of several songs that at that time that referenced the dance, another being James Brown's "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." The Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman" is mentioned in the lyrics and is copied in the arrangement. Also mentioned in the lyrics are the songs "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens and "Dear Lady Twist" by Gary U.S. Bonds. Sharp recorded a sequel to "Mashed Potato Time" called "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)". In 1996 the Campbell Soup Company featured the song in a $30 million advertising campaign, using a new, more upbeat recording by Sharp. Chart performance The song reached No. 1 on the ''Cashbox (magazine), Cashbox'' Top 100 and ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot R&B/H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Limbo Rock
"Limbo Rock" is a popular song about limbo dancing written by Kal Mann (under the pseudonym Jan Sheldon) and Billy Strange. An instrumental version was first recorded by The Champs in 1961. The first vocal version was recorded in 1962 by Chubby Checker (on Parkway Records): it peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for two weeks (held out by "Telstar" by The Tornados) and at number one on the ''Cash Box'' charts. The Chubby Checker recording also made it to number three on the R&B charts. In Canada it reached number 7 for 2 weeks co-charting with the B-side. Checker then released a sequel, " Let's Limbo Some More", in 1963, which peaked at #20 in the ''Billboard'' chart and #16 in Canada. Background and composition In 1960, session guitarist Billy Strange and a friend were listening to a song on the radio. Strange sneered that he could write a better song in five minutes. His friend produced a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and bet him he could not. Strange pu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cameo-Parkway Records
Cameo-Parkway Records was the parent company of Cameo Records and Parkway Records, which were major American Philadelphia-based record labels from 1956 (for Cameo) and 1958 (for Parkway) to 1967. Among the types of music released were doo-wop, dance hits, popular/rock, rockabilly, big band, garage rock, soul and novelty records. Until 1962, Cameo was also the parent company name for both labels, and Parkway was a subsidiary. In 1962, the parent company was renamed from Cameo to Cameo-Parkway, to give both labels equal status. In some foreign markets, Cameo-Parkway was also a label name, issuing records by artists from both labels. The Cameo-Parkway catalogue is currently owned by ABKCO Records. History Cameo Records was founded in December 1956 in Philadelphia by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann; it has no connection to the 1920s record label Cameo Records. Parkway, initially a subsidiary label, was formed in 1958. Mann and Lowe had been a successful songwriting team prior t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
