Elenore
Gee, I think you’re swell
And you really do me well
You’re my pride and joy, et cetera…
After the huge success of their “Happy Together,” The Turtles’ record label asked them for another love song in a similar vein. Jokingly, they turned in “Elenore.” It became their eighth US top 40 hit, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Turtles’ Mark Volman was born on this date in 1947. A few songs from his band are included on today’s playlist.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook
Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
The Young Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere was born on this date in 1942. A few of his band’s tunes are included on today’s playlist.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6icgYsLWcFdCmZ6QAVPeo9?si=9a63899c125246c3
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook
Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Producer Phil Spector had Righteous Brother Bill Medley sing the first verse of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” When his righteous brother Bobby Hatfield (they’re not brothers in the familial sense, see) asked what he was supposed to do during that verse, Spector told him “You can go directly to the bank.” To the bank he went, as YLTLF became one of the biggest US hits of 1965.
Bill Medley turns 83 today. A couple of his duo’s hits are included on today’s playlist.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook
Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
Judy Craig, the lead singer of The Chiffons, was a senior in high school when “He’s So Fine” hit number one. Written by the group’s manager, Ronnie Mack, the song was recorded with the band The Tokens providing the instrumentation. The Tokens brought the recording to their record label, Capitol, to see if they’d be interested in releasing it, but the label president thought it “too trite.” Laurie Records signed the group and made “He’s So Fine” one of the biggest hits of 1963. The group hit the top ten twice more, with “One Fine Day” and “Sweet Talkin’ Guy.” Judy Craig, who turns 79 today, still tours with The Chiffons, now comprised of her, her daughter and her niece.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook
Follow Tunes du Jour on X
Follow me on Instagram
Though Shirley Owens usually sang lead on recordings by The Shirelles, on the group’s cover of The 5 Royales’ “Dedicated to the One I Love,” member Doris Coley sings the lead vocals. Though Cass Elliot is the Mama that usually sang lead on recordings by The Mamas and the Papas, on the group’s cover of The Shirelles’ cover of The 5 Royales’ “Dedicated to the One I Love,” member Michelle Phillips sings the lead vocals. Something about this song….
The late Doris Coley was born on this date in 1941. On today’s playlist are several hits from The Shirelles that feature Coley’s lead vocals.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook
Follow Tunes du Jour on X
Follow me on Instagram
A popular misconception that I sometimes fall into is that the years after The Day The Music Died (early 1959) and before The Beatles hit in America (early 1964) the pop chart was pretty dull. Sure, there was a lot of schmaltz on the Hot 100 – there always is – but there was a lot of exciting stuff, too, as today’s Throwback Thursday playlist will attest. Girl groups, Motown, Ray Charles, James Brown, Frankie Valli, Sam Cooke, The Beach Boys and lots of other good stuff made the top 40. Have a listen to thirty of 1962’s best.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Facebook.
Follow Tunes du Jour on Twitter.
Follow me on Instagram.