~
Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem
Peggy Lee ~ Is That All There Is?
Doc Pomus ~ Doo-Wop Wonder
Elvis Presley ~ Hound Dog
Showing posts with label Doc Pomus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doc Pomus. Show all posts
July 22, 2021
March 17, 2021
March 6, 2021
Carole King articles/mentions
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me & Doc Pomus
David Gates ~ First, Bread
The Hour Glass ~
October 27, 2020
45 RPMs 51: Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem
~
45 RPM record in sleeve
photo by Styrous®
Sixty years ago today, on October 27, 1960, Spanish Harlem by American singer and pianist, Ben E. King was recorded at the Bell Sound Studios in New York City. The song was King's first hit away from The Drifters. It was originally released as the B-side to First Taste of Love.
I
remember hearing it for the first time. It is such a beautiful
little song with its slow and gentle, syncopated and sensual beat with the marimba accompaniment; how could you NOT remember hearing it? The arrangement is by Stan Applebaum; in addition to the marimba there was Spanish guitar, drum-beats, soprano saxophone,
strings, and a male chorus. It peaked at number 15 for rhythm and blues
and number 10 in pop music. It was ranked number 358 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. King's version was not a hit in the United Kingdom. The song was re-released in 1987, after Stand By Me made number one.
Spanish Harlem was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
The song was covered by The Drifters and Aretha Franklin in 1971. The Drifter's version is a little faster while the Franklin version is way faster and a bit jazzier (links to all below).
Spanish Harlem lyrics
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
And watch her as she grows in my garden
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jerry Leiber / Phil Spector
The "B" side on this record, Taste of Love, actually started out as the "A" side with Spanish Harlem on the "B" side. By the time this record was issued, the switch had been made.
First Taste of Love was written by Doc Pomus, who wrote songs for many blues and rock singers, and Phil Spector, record producer, musician, and songwriter who developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A Ain't Got No Home, written by Clarence Henry*
Side 2:
B First Taste Of Love, written by Pomus*, Spector* - 2:17
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Argo Record Corp.
Published By – Arc Music (2)
Credits:
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra] – Stan Applebaum
Engineer [Uncredited] – Phil Ramone
Producer – Leiber & Stoller
Side 1:
A Ain't Got No Home, written by Clarence Henry*
Side 2:
B First Taste Of Love, written by Pomus*, Spector* - 2:17
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Argo Record Corp.
Published By – Arc Music (2)
Credits:
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra] – Stan Applebaum
Engineer [Uncredited] – Phil Ramone
Producer – Leiber & Stoller
Notes:
Both sides recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on October 27, 1960
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A): 60C5161
Matrix / Runout (Side B): 60C5162 II
Rights Society: BMI
Ben E. King – Spanish Harlem / First Taste Of Love
Label: ATCO Records – 45-6185
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Dec 1960
Genre: Pop
Style: Vocal
Label: ATCO Records – 45-6185
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Dec 1960
Genre: Pop
Style: Vocal
Viewfinder links:
50srockin ~ Bell Sound Studios N.Y.C
YouTube links:
The Drifters ~ Spanish Harlem
Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem
Ben E. King ~
Styrous® ~ Monday, September 7, 2020
Phil Spector articles/mentions
mentions:
Percy Faith ~ Latin Themes for Lovers
Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem
October 16, 2020
LaVern Baker articles/metions
~
Bert Kaempfert ~ Wonderland By Night
June 27, 2019
Doc Pomus ~ Doo-Wop Wonder
~
Doc Pomus was an American blues singer and songwriter but known predominantly for the lyrics he wrote for some of the greatest songs of the doo-wop and Motown era. He wrote Teenager in Love for Dion and the Belmonts, Suspicion for Elvis Presley, and hits for Big Joe Turner (A Boogie Woogie Country Girl being one of my favorite songs) (link below), the Beach Boys and, of course, Save The Last Dance For Me done by The Drifters (link below).
When he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Pomus said, "Rock and roll wouldn’t have happened without Big Joe Turner."
He was born Jerome Solon Felder on June 27, 1925, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants. He became a fan of the blues after hearing a Big Joe Turner record.
When he was a boy, he had polio and was only able to walk with the help of crutches.
Later, because of post-polio syndrome exacerbated by an accident in 1965, Felder eventually had to rely on a wheelchair. His bus, known as the 'Docmobile', had a custom pneumatic elevator lift for his wheelchair.
NY Times ~ Lonely Avenue: This Magic Moment review
Peter Guralnick ~ Magic & Flying: Doc Pomus
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ~ Big Joe Turner
Stereophile ~ Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus review
Tablet Magazine ~ Blues Brother
Doc Pomus ~
My Good Pott
Send For The Doctor
Save the Last Dance For Me and how it almost wasn't
The Beatles ~ Young Blood
The Coasters ~ Young Blood
Big Joe Turner ~ A Boogie Woogie Country Girl
A.K.A Doc Pomus Official Movie Trailer - 2012
When he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Pomus said, "Rock and roll wouldn’t have happened without Big Joe Turner."
He was born Jerome Solon Felder on June 27, 1925, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants. He became a fan of the blues after hearing a Big Joe Turner record.
Jerome Solon Felder
date & photographer unknown
When he was a boy, he had polio and was only able to walk with the help of crutches.
Jerome Solon Felder
date & photographer unknown
Later, because of post-polio syndrome exacerbated by an accident in 1965, Felder eventually had to rely on a wheelchair. His bus, known as the 'Docmobile', had a custom pneumatic elevator lift for his wheelchair.
Doc Pomus - 1980's
photographer unknown
Using the stage name
"Doc Pomus", Felder began performing as a blues singer when he was a teenager. His
stage name was not inspired by anyone in particular; he just thought it
sounded better for a blues singer than the name Jerry Felder.
Performing at various clubs in and around New York City, he performed with Milt Jackson, Mickey Baker, King Curtis and many others. He recorded approximately 40 sides as a singer in the '40s and '50s
for record companies such as Chess, Apollo, Gotham and others.
In the early 1950s, Pomus started writing magazine articles as well as
songwriting for artists such as Lavern Baker, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles
and Big Joe Turner. His first big songwriting break came when the Coasters had a hit with his song Young Blood; I love this song! There was a cool version of Young Blood (link below) performed by The Beatles for the BBC on June 1, 1963. This song was first released on the LIVE AT THE BBC album in 1994.
He was married to actress and dancer, Willi Burke, who was in several Broadway musicals (On The Twentieth Century, Fiorello!, etc.) He wrote the song, Save The Last Dance For Me on their wedding night. It was later recorded by The Drifters (link below).
He was married to actress and dancer, Willi Burke, who was in several Broadway musicals (On The Twentieth Century, Fiorello!, etc.) He wrote the song, Save The Last Dance For Me on their wedding night. It was later recorded by The Drifters (link below).
photographer unknown
He collaborated with pianist Mort Shuman to write for Hill & Range Music Co./Rumbalero Music at its offices in New York City Brill Building. He asked Shuman to write with him because he didn't then know
much about rock and roll, whereas Shuman was familiar with many popular
artists of the day. They wrote the hit songs A Teenager in Love, Save The Last Dance For Me, Hushabye, This Magic Moment, Turn Me Loose, Sweets For My Sweet (a hit for The Drifters and then The Searchers), Go, Jimmy, Go, Little Sister, Can't Get Used to Losing You, Suspicion, Surrender and (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame.
date & photographer unknown
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pomus wrote several songs with Phil Spector, Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber and other Brill Building-era writers. He also wrote Lonely Avenue, a 1956 hit for Ray Charles.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Pomus wrote songs with Dr. John, Ken Hirsch and Willy DeVille
for what he said were "...those people stumbling around in the night
out there, uncertain or not always so certain of exactly where they fit
in and where they were headed." These later songs are considered by some, musician and songwriter Dr. John and producer Joel Dorn, to be signatures of his best craft.
Alex Halberstadt published a book about Doc Pomus entitled, Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus which refers to his hit song, Lonely Avenue. It was published by Da Capo Press in 1972. It was named a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice and a Best Book of 2007 by The Times (London).
Alex Halberstadt published a book about Doc Pomus entitled, Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus which refers to his hit song, Lonely Avenue. It was published by Da Capo Press in 1972. It was named a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice and a Best Book of 2007 by The Times (London).
Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus
The documentary film A.K.A. Doc Pomus, conceived by Pomus' daughter Sharyn Felder, directed by filmmaker Peter Miller, edited by Amy Linton and produced by Felder, Hechter and Miller, details Pomus' life was released in 2012.
Doc Pomus died on March 14, 1991, from lung cancer, at the age of 65 at the NYU medical center in Manhattan.
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Boogie Woogie Flu ~ Doc Pomus
CJ News ~ TJFF saves the last film for Doc Pomus review
Felder Pomus ~ Doc Pomus
Jewish News ~ Shouting The Blues: A pudgy Jewish kid reborn as Doc Pomus
NY times ~ A.K.A. Doc Pomus review CJ News ~ TJFF saves the last film for Doc Pomus review
Felder Pomus ~ Doc Pomus
Jewish News ~ Shouting The Blues: A pudgy Jewish kid reborn as Doc Pomus
NY Times ~ Lonely Avenue: This Magic Moment review
Peter Guralnick ~ Magic & Flying: Doc Pomus
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ~ Big Joe Turner
Stereophile ~ Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus review
Tablet Magazine ~ Blues Brother
YouTube links:
Doc Pomus ~
My Good Pott
Send For The Doctor
Save the Last Dance For Me and how it almost wasn't
The Beatles ~ Young Blood
The Coasters ~ Young Blood
Big Joe Turner ~ A Boogie Woogie Country Girl
A.K.A Doc Pomus Official Movie Trailer - 2012
The Genius of Doc Pomus (1 hr, 39 min.)
May 19, 2019
20,000 vinyl LPs 185: The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me & Doc Pomus
~
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP front cover
cover photo by Leonard Heicklen
photo of album cover by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 - Save The Last Dance For Me, written by Pomus-Shuman
A2 - I Count The Tears, written by Pomus-Shuman
A3 - Somebody New Dancin' With You, written by Pomus-Shuman
A4 - Jackpot, written by Aaron Schroeder, Chuck Kaye
A5 - No Sweet Lovin', written by David Baughan, James Oliver (4), William Pinckney
A6 - Sweets For My Sweet, written by Pomus-Shuman
Side 2:
B1 - Mexican Divorce, written by Bob Hilliard, Burt F. Bacharach*
B2 - When My Little Girl Is Smiling, written by Carole King, Jerry Goffin*
B3 - Some Kind Of Wonderful, written by Carole King, Jerry Goffin*
B4 - Please Stay, written by Bob Hilliard, Burt F. Bacharach*
B5 - Nobody But Me, written by Pomus-Shuman
B6 - Room Full Of Tears, written by Pomus-Shuman
Companies, etc.
Published By – Progressive (3)
Published By – Rumbalero
Record Company – Atlantic Record Sales
Mastered At – Atlantic Studios
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Stan Applebaum
Producer – Leiber-Stoller*
Written-By – Pomus-Shuman
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Rights Society: BMI
Rights Society: ASCAP
Matrix / Runout (side A label): 11851
Matrix / Runout (side B label): 11852
Matrix / Runout (side A runout etched [except 1]): A11851B AT1 W
Matrix / Runout (side B runout etched [except 1]): 11852-B 1 AT W 5
The Drifters – Save The Last Dance For Me
Label: Atlantic – 8059
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1962
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop
vinyl LP front cover
cover photo by Leonard Heicklen
photo of album cover by Styrous®
The Drifters mono album, Save The Last Dance For Me, was my introduction to the group. The songs on the album are wonderful with two by Carole King who wrote Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? and recorded by the Shirelles, with one by Aaron Schroeder. But most of the songs were written by the Pomus-Shuman team with their Save the Last Dance For Me my favorite tune on the album.
Save the Last Dance For Me was recorded on May 19, 1960, by The Drifters. The song by Doc Pomus (lyrics) and Mort Shuman (music) had Ben E. King on lead vocals; it was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The single was released a few months after King left the group, and would go on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart.
Later that year in November, as a soloist, King would record one of my all-time favorite songs, Spanish Harlem.
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Save the Last Dance For Me was recorded on May 19, 1960, by The Drifters. The song by Doc Pomus (lyrics) and Mort Shuman (music) had Ben E. King on lead vocals; it was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The single was released a few months after King left the group, and would go on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart.
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP back cover
photo by Styrous®
Later that year in November, as a soloist, King would record one of my all-time favorite songs, Spanish Harlem.
Pomus recalls that the single originally had Last Dance designated as the B-side of the record. He credits Dick Clark with turning the record over and realizing it was the stronger song.
In the lyrics for the song, the narrator tells his lover she is free to mingle and
socialize throughout the evening, but to make sure to save him the dance
at the end of the night. Pomus had polio and at times used crutches to get around. During an interview on the Elvis Costello show Spectacle, Lou Reed,
who worked with Pomus, said the song was written on the day of Pomus'
wedding; from his wheelchair he watched his bride dancing with
their guests. His wife, Willi Burke, was a Broadway
actress and dancer who was in the Broadway musical, Fiorello!. The song gives his perspective of telling his wife
to have fun dancing, but reminds her who will be taking her home and "in
whose arms you're gonna be."
Willi Burke & Doc Pomus
date & photographer unknown
"Save The Last Dance For Me"
You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gave you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the man
Who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Oh I know
That the music is fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Baby don't you know I love you so?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance
Go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks
If you're all alone
Can he take you home
You must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me
You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gave you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the man
Who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Oh I know
That the music is fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Baby don't you know I love you so?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance
Go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks
If you're all alone
Can he take you home
You must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP , side 1
photos by Styrous®
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP , side 2
photos by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 - Save The Last Dance For Me, written by Pomus-Shuman
A2 - I Count The Tears, written by Pomus-Shuman
A3 - Somebody New Dancin' With You, written by Pomus-Shuman
A4 - Jackpot, written by Aaron Schroeder, Chuck Kaye
A5 - No Sweet Lovin', written by David Baughan, James Oliver (4), William Pinckney
A6 - Sweets For My Sweet, written by Pomus-Shuman
Side 2:
B1 - Mexican Divorce, written by Bob Hilliard, Burt F. Bacharach*
B2 - When My Little Girl Is Smiling, written by Carole King, Jerry Goffin*
B3 - Some Kind Of Wonderful, written by Carole King, Jerry Goffin*
B4 - Please Stay, written by Bob Hilliard, Burt F. Bacharach*
B5 - Nobody But Me, written by Pomus-Shuman
B6 - Room Full Of Tears, written by Pomus-Shuman
Companies, etc.
Published By – Progressive (3)
Published By – Rumbalero
Record Company – Atlantic Record Sales
Mastered At – Atlantic Studios
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Stan Applebaum
Producer – Leiber-Stoller*
Written-By – Pomus-Shuman
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Rights Society: BMI
Rights Society: ASCAP
Matrix / Runout (side A label): 11851
Matrix / Runout (side B label): 11852
Matrix / Runout (side A runout etched [except 1]): A11851B AT1 W
Matrix / Runout (side B runout etched [except 1]): 11852-B 1 AT W 5
The Drifters – Save The Last Dance For Me
Label: Atlantic – 8059
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1962
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop
Viewfinder links:
The Drifters articles/mentions
The Drifters lineup: 1953 to 2019
Doc Pomus
Lou Reed
Net links:
Unca Marvy ~ The Later Drifters
YouTube links:
The Drifters articles/mentions
The Drifters lineup: 1953 to 2019
Doc Pomus
Lou Reed
Net links:
Song Facts ~ Save the Last Dance for Me
Trivia People ~ The Story behind the song
Unca Marvy ~ The Original Drifters
Unca Marvy ~ The Drifters (The Early Years) Trivia People ~ The Story behind the song
Unca Marvy ~ The Original Drifters
Unca Marvy ~ The Later Drifters
YouTube links:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)