Showing posts with label Bill Haley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Haley. Show all posts

April 11, 2025

Bill Haley & His Comets ~ Rock Around the Clock

 ~        
Rock Around the Clock movie poster - 1952


On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley & His Comets recorded Rock Around the Clock. I have written much about the song which was released a year later in the movie Blackboard Jungle.           
            
I just could not let the date pass without honoring the song again. There are links below to my articles  on the Viewfinder.           
            
            
            
Viewfinder links:         
         
45 RPMs Archive            
Bill Haley Rocks Around the Clock                
Blackboard Jungle         
Rock Around the Clock        
        
        
        
        
Net links:          
        
        
        
        
        
        
         
YouTube links:         
        
Blackboard Jungle        
Rock Around the Clock        
        
        
        
         
Styrous® ~ Friday, April 11, 2025       






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October 8, 2023

Otis Redding US postage stamp

 ~       

 
commemorative stamp - 1993
 designer: John Berkey
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thirty-one years ago today, on October 8, 1992, the US Postal Service announced a new series of stamps would be issued to celebrate Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rhythm & Blues music and artists. The first full set entitled the Legends of American Music Series, included Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Clyde McPhatter, Dinah Washington, and Otis Redding (links below).             
     
The Redding stamp was issued as part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll/Rhythm & Blues se-tenant set of seven. The design was by John Berkey.  This was the first full set in the Legends of American Music Series, The first day of issue: was on June 16, 1993.    
    
Otis Redding was on a chartered plane that crashed into Lake Monona on Dec. 10, 1967, killing Redding and four members of his backup band, the Bar-Kays while they were flying to a scheduled performance.          
    
    
    
Viewfinder links:    
     
The Bar-Kays     
Bill Haley    
Buddy Holly    
Otis Redding    
    
Net links:     
    
Musical Stamps ~ Legends of American Music Series             
RollingStone ~ Putting Their Stamp on the Music    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Styrous® ~ Sunday October 8, 2023.   
 
 
 
    
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May 1, 2021

Glenn Ford ~ A man's man

  ~      
date & photographer unknown


Today is the birthday of film actor, Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford, aka Glenn Ford, a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. He was born in 1916, in Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Quebec. His father was an engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway and he was a great-nephew of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, and was also related to U.S. President Martin Van Buren, one of the founders of the Democratic Party.       
          
Ford made dozens of films some great, some good and some bad; typical of most Hollywood careers. My favorite films of his may not have been considered GREAT but I loved them.              
 
In date order, as Johnny Farrell in Gilda (1946) with Rita Hayworth in her first film role, they sizzled. In a nightclub scene she sang one of my favorite songs, Amado Mio, which was actually sung by Anita Ellis. The song was covered by Dick Haymes in 1946, by Grace Jones on her album Bulletproof Heart in 1990 and by Pink Martini on their 1997 album Sympathique.        
 
 
 
 
In 1949 he appeared with Ida Lupino in the film, Lust for Gold, about the legendary Lost Dutchman gold mine, starring Ford as the "Dutchman" and Lupino as the woman he loves. It's a tale of deceit and greed, murder and deception with both characters as swarmy as the other. George Duning wrote the score for the film.           
 
 
 
 
He appeared with Hayworth again in 1952 in the film, Affair in Trinidad. Once again her singing was dubbed; this time by Jo Ann Greer, who later also sang for her in Miss Sadie Thompson and Pal Joey.           

movie poster


In 1953 he starred in The Big Heat, an American film noir crime film directed by Fritz Lang starring Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Lee Marvin and Jocelyn Brando
 
 
 
 
For me the most impact was the scene where Vince Stone (Lee Marvin) throws a boiling pot of coffee into the face of Debby Marsh (Gloria Grahame) irreparably disfiguring her. Not a pleasant scene to watch.    
 
 
movie poster
 
 
Then there is my-top-of-the-list favorite of ALL of his films, the stunning 1955 social drama film, Blackboard Jungle, in which he portrays Richard Dadier, a school teacher in an interracial inner-city school, based on the 1954 novel The Blackboard Jungle by Evan Hunter. His wife is played by Anne Francis who would appear a couple of years later as Altaira "Alta" Morbius in the film Forbidden Planet. I have already written at length about the Blackboard Jungle which introduced me to Bill Haley and Rock and Roll (link below).      


movie poster


          
In 1978 Ford was superb as the stepdad of Superman and Christopher Reeve was perfectly cast as the Man of Iron.          
 
 
 
I've mentioned his serious films but he has proved he can handle comedy as well. In 1956 there was The Teahouse of the August Moon, in 1959 The Gazebo in which John McGiver pronounced it "The Gaze Bo", in 1961 Cry for Happy. Also in 1961, a film I REALLY liked him in, Pocketful of Miracles as Dave "the Dude" Conway, a gangster with a heart of gold inspired by Apple Annie, played by Bette Davis, and her "lucky" apples. It's a totally sweet and heart warming story.     
 


 
 
Pocketful of Miracles - 1961
 movie poster
          
          
          
Viewfinder links:
           
Blackboard Jungle          
Glenn Ford           
Bill Haley            
Rita Hayworth     
Dick Haymes          
Grace Jones           
Fritz Lang        
Pink Martini          
Chuy Reyes ~ Rumba de Cuba @ 10"          
          
Net links:
          
Filmography          
Film Plots ~ 
      Affair in Trinidad           
      The Big Heat      
      Blackboard Jungle     
      Gilda     
      Lust for Gold     
      Pocketful of Miracles      
      Superman     
          
YouTube links:
          
Peter Ford -  
      Glenn Ford A Life - Part 1           
      Glenn Ford A Life - Part 2           
      Glenn Ford A Life - Part 3          
          
          
          
          
         
Styrous® ~ Saturday, May 1, 2021 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

March 1, 2021

Chrisma ~ Chinese Restaurant lyrics

 ~  
*
1   Thank you   4:17        Cover from the Chrisma album: Chinese Restaurant lyrics


2
Black silk stocking
2:36


3
Lola
2:52


4
C-rock
5:29


5
What for
3:43


6
Wanderlust
2:14


7
Lycee
7:38


8
Mandoia
4:24


9
Thank you
4:19




 






Total playing time
37:53
























Black silk stocking lyrics

Sensitive her feeling, when she's Waking in the morning,
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking
Put your hand inside it, and she'll tell you where to find it,
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking

And when she is not talking, be sure she wants some rockin'
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking
If you're not into rockin' you're best to keep on walking
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking
You think she's going to leave you, but she only wants to see you
in her, black silk stocking
Black silk stocking
Lutting instigation, her spell is captivating,
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking
Provoking whip, lash lash, please stop smoking
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking

Ho baby, baby no-ones loving, your degeneration
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking
Oh baby, no-ones loving, your degeneration
Black silk stocking
Black silk stocking


Line

Lola lyrics

She lives alone
Lola,
But every night
she goes down,
to the Chinese where
she works very hard there,
sipping her cocktails.
expenses paid
Lola
She is performing
For a cause,
Her glances faking,
A deep fascination,
She wants information
She goes upstairs
Lola
Clinging on to
Another man,
She lays him down, down
Almond eyes on fire,
Seducing his mind
Behind the smoke and
Screenz-a,
Lola is a
Private eye,
She well disguises
Her lingering actions,
No-one suspecting

At the Chinese
Lola
Killed all those
Who did her wrong,
Her soul is blazing
Whith blood thirsty craving,
No-one, objecting


Line

C-rock lyrics

Let's rocking
Go back rocking
[etc.]


Line

What for lyrics

What for
She likes the way you bore,
What for
Her foot's inside the door,
What for
She'll push you to the floor,
what for
She loves the way you bore

What for
She likes the way you go
What for
Her answer's never no,
what for
She likes to take you so
what for
She loves you when you're low

What for
She likes to make you sigh,
what for
shee seems to get you high
what for
she's got to get some more
what for
she loves the way you bore,
what for
she never did before
What for
She likes the way you know
What for
She likes it very slow,
what for
Your mind's about to blow,
what for
And you're just going to owl
got it
got it
got it
what for
she likes the way you bore,
what for
She loves the way you bore
Take it,
take it, take it, take it, take it,
what for
We're getting to the core
What for, we like the way we bore


Line

Wanderlust lyrics

Got the wanderlust
you go te the airport
and see a plane take off,
go to England
or take a trip by sea
and get off, where you want to get off,
write to the boy
next door, who always wants
to do, what you're just about to do
tell him that
you like New York city
I'm sure he'll like it too
- you say you like your nation
- so let's take a long vacation

Tell your navigator
to wait downstairs
with his white gloves on,
tell him to
zip up your bag
with his white gloves on
take your diamond,
so if you've got the money left,
you can always sell it
here I come,
get ready
get set fire go, go, go, go, go
- you say you like your nation
- so let's take a long vacation

My transfer agent
sens me where I
Where I want to go
That's a fact
He thinks I'm great
'cos I treat him like dirt, like durt,
he does me favours
But I could do with
even better ones,
they call him sticky
'cos I treat him like dirt,
like dirt, like dirt
- you say you like your nation
- so let's take a long vacation
Your transit airman
is heating up the engine
clear your head,
go out and get it
instead of watching T.V.,
and stagnating in your bed,
by the window
thinking of the next record
that you're going to buy,
you like Maurice
with his safety pin
so it's gonna be a Punk one
- you say you like your nation
- so let's take a long vacation

Got the wanderlust
it's time to go
and do, what you've decided to do
Go to Milan
Or if not just you take a bike
to see a sight
I feel free
you feel free
and how about the boy next door,
tell him that
you like New York
I'm sure he'll like it too
- you say you like your nation
- so let's take a long vacation


Line

Lycee lyrics

I was looking through
Through the, the window pane
Tears of rain ran down,
And blurred a sight so bad,
Revolution now,
Somehow, I feel afraid

I, I heard her cry
out loud, echoes insane,
shee feel to the ground,
her hand reached out in vain

Young, Lycee was young,
but now, oh there she lay,
who will call her name,
Victim of blood red flame,
she, a living sun
will not come back again
I, I saw her face
Through the, the window pane,
I, still hear her cry
I feel, I want to die,

I, I saw her face
Through the, the window pane,
I, still hear her cry
I feel I want to die

Line


Mandoia
lyrics

I'v gotta in Mandoia
An easy hackin in the haia
smoking laia
I see the hakin of the Maia
In Mandoia
I feel the iaia to mahoia
through my Lala
I see the hackin of Ma'haia

in Mandoia
An easy hackin in the haia
smoking laia
I see the hakin of the Maia
In Mandoia
I feel the iaia to mahoia
through my Lala
I see the hackin of Ma'haia

so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...

I'v gotta in Mandoia
An easy hackin in the haia
smoking laia
I see the hakin of the Maia
In Mandoia
I feel the iaia to mahoia
through my Lala
I see the hackin of Ma'haia

I'v gotta in Mandoia
An easy hackin in the haia
smoking laia

I see the hakin of the Maia
In Mandoia
I feel the iaia to mahoia
through my Lala
I see the hackin of Ma'haia

so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...

so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...

so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...

so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...

so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...
so schön you can komm...

Line

Thank you lyrics

We would like to thank:
Mr. King: for the wonderful chinese food
Moira: for lending us coffee
Yiannis: for inviting us to pay for meals
The japs: for inventing the American finger tip orchestra
The traffic warden: for the 52 parking tickets
The Queen: for her Silver Jubilee...
Romeo Ongarello: for international telecommunications
The publishers: for allowing us to earn 50% OF OUR RIGHTS


We would like to thank:

Lonnie Donegan
Eddie Cochran
Fats Domino
Jerry Lee Lewis
Little Richard
Bill Haley
Chuck Berry
Wanda Jackson
Charlie Watts
The Boys
Mick Jagger
The Saints
Bill wyman
Iggy Pop
Neu (Ney)
Fats and his Cats
Dave Anthony Mods
Les Paul
Sha-Na-Na
Roxy Music
Buddy Holly
Gene Vincent
Jimi Hendrix
Jonny Kid
Brian Jones
Jim Morrison
Elvis Presley
Marc Bolan
Louis Armstrong
Bing Crosby

and to everyone alse we have forgotten in words but not in thoughts
thoughts, thoughts, thoughts, thoughts, thoughts, thoughts
      
       
      
       
      
      
      
      
      
     
Viewfinder links:
     
Vangelis           
Chrisma ~ Chinese Restaurant           
     
YouTube link:
     
Chrisma     
     
     
     
     
     
Styrous® ~ Monday, march 1, 2021   



















July 22, 2020

Johnnie Ray articles/mentions

~
     
Bill Haley ~ Rock Around the Clock   
Kay Starr ~ A shimmering light         
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
photo: Michael Ochs Archives


















December 25, 2019

Mitch Miller articles/mentions

~    
       
       
mentions:
Maurice Jarre ~ The Longest Day
John Marks ~ Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer   
Joan Weber ~ Let Me Go, Lover       
       
       
       
date & photographer unknown 
      
      
      
      
      
      








July 20, 2019

45 RPMs 33: Buddy Knox ~ Party Doll & My Baby's Gone

~      
Buddy Knox ~ Party Doll
45 RPM
photo by Styrous®


Today, July 20, is the birthday of Buddy Knox whose hit Party Doll, written by him and Jimmy Bowen, was a major hit when it was released on the Roulette record label and went to No.1 on the Cash Box record chart in 1957. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.   

I remember I was in high school when Party Doll was released and going to friends' houses for parties and it was one of the songs that HAD to be played and we danced with such glee to it.  


Buddy Knox ~ Party Doll
45 RPM label detail
detail photo by Styrous®


While Knox never achieved the same level of artistic success as Holly or Orbison, he outlived both and enjoyed a long career in music. For his pioneering contribution, Knox was elected to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Party Doll was voted one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

In the early 1960s Knox signed with Liberty Records and released several more mainstream pop records, featuring string arrangements and backing vocalists. Lovey Dovey and Ling-Ting-Tong were the most notable recordings from this era. The sound captured on these recordings was a distinct departure from his earlier rockabilly work for Roulette. Ling Ting Tong,  was recorded by The Five Keys, Otis Williams & the Charms, Bill Haley & the Comets as well as by Hawkshaw Hawkins.

Knox also did a cover of the 1957 country/western song, A White Sport Coat, written by Marty Robbins (link below). I loved this song; I even had one I bought for my junior prom, a white sport coat, that is. Unfortunately, the lyrics all too well fit the event, a long story.       


Buddy Knox ~ My Baby's Gone
45 RPM
photo by Styrous®


After pressing copies of the record, a DJ in Amarillo began playing Party Doll in 1956 and it soon became a regional hit. After being contacted by Roulette Records in New York City, the song was distributed around the U.S. and became a chart-topping hit, spending a week at No. 1 on the Top 100 chart, the precursor to the Billboard Hot 100, in March 1957. Jerry Allison, drummer for The Crickets (who also recorded for Petty at Clovis), stated in an interview that the drum on Party Doll (which he said was played on a cardboard box) was the inspiration for the drum sound he used for Not Fade Away.        

Almost immediately after Roulette released the Knox version of the song, competing versions of Party Doll were recorded and released by other record labels. Wingy Manone and Roy Brown recorded R&B versions of the song which saw some success and The Crests in 1960, The Fleetwoods and Ronnie Dove in 1961. A less rock and roll version by Steve Lawrence (with Dick Jacobs conducting the orchestra) also became a pop hit that year, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Top 100. Lawrence's version was released on the Coral label.      
     

Buddy Knox ~ My Baby's Gone
45 RPM label detail
detail photo by Styrous®


Knox was born in 1933 in the tiny farming community of Happy, Texas, where, in 1948, when he was fifteen, he wrote the original verses of Party Doll behind a haystack on his family farm. Knox's sister and two of her friends, Iraene Potts of Amarillo and a neighbor, sang background vocals on the song.        

 
Buddy Knox - 1951 
photographer unknown

He learned to play the guitar in his youth and in his teens, he and some high school friends formed a band called the "Rhythm Orchids".


Rhythm Orchids - 1955 
photographer unknown


After they performed on the same 1956 radio show as fellow Texan Roy Orbison and his "Teen Kings" band, Orbison suggested that Knox go to record producer Norman Petty, who had a recording studio in Clovis, New Mexico, the same studio where Buddy Holly recorded several of his early hits, including That'll Be the Day.

There's a great video of his Swingin' Daddy on YouTube (link below); it's fun to watch the fashion and dance moves from this 1958 television broadcast.    
       
Buddy Knox - 1956
photographer unknown


Trading card photo of Buddy Knox. In 1957, Topps gum cards issued a series of movie stars, television stars and recording stars. He was part of their recording stars cards.     


Buddy Knox - 1957
Trading card photo
          
         
Viewfinder links:         
         
Bill Haley         
Buddy Holly         
Roy Orbison        
     
Net links:         
 
45 Cat ~ Buddy Knox Discography       
Black Cat Rockabilly ~ Buddy Knox    
Cover Me ~ Covering the hits ~ Party Doll (Buddy Knox)      
Daily Doo Wop ~ Party Doll lyrics         
Geezer Music Club ~ Buddy Knox vs Buddy Holly        
History Link ~ Buddy Knox at Bingen on January 30, 1957        
Independant ~ obit       
Northern Daily Leader ~ Buddy Knox: Adult Volunteer of the Year  
Rockabilly Hall of Fame ~ Buddy Knox: A Texas Gentleman      
Seattle Times ~ obit             
TSHA ~ Knox, Buddy Wyne        
T. Simon ~ Buddy Knox and the Rhythm Orchids         
Vancouver Pop Music ~ Dear Abby by Buddy Knox             
Way Back Attack ~ Buddy Knox       
         
YouTube links:         

Buddy Knox ~
      Party Doll
      My Baby's Gone     
      Hula Love
      Swingin' Daddy
      A White Sport Coat       
      Ling-Ting-Tong    
Ling Ting Tong ~ 
      The Five Keys   
      The Charms   
Marty Robbins ~ A White Sport Coat And A Pink Carnation   
        
             
       
       
“Life without music would be a mistake.” 
                   ~ Buddy Knox
      
        
          
         
Styrous® ~ Saturday, July 20, 2019