Vinyl Record Memories Newsletter
(VIP CLUB)
The golden age of vinyl records and all things retro are the highlights of my Newsletter. Writing stories about my vinyl record memories with added content from my collection is my way of sharing memories and keeping the oldies alive.
I
do hope that you enjoy these little stories, I write. They are short,
they will not win any prizes for literature, but it’s all about the
music and our vinyl record memories.
We wish you lots of fun on this journey to the time of Drive-In Movies, Pizza Parlors, Malt Shops, and those memorable Friday & Saturday night school dances.
Issue #123 - August, 2023
In This Issue:
- What's New?
- Country Doo-Wop Show Spotlight Song.
- A Special Cover Song by A Gifted Lady.
- Favorite Ladies On Vinyl - Album Cover Art of The Month.
- You Might Like These Stories - More Vinyl Record Memories.
- What's Next?
What's New?
Last month, 35 years after the original release, we brought back a Beach Boys
favorite, showed you the reasons we love all the girls, and let Brian Wilson tell you about them. This month with some of our favorite ladies on vinyl, the song, I'm A Girl Watcher, will be our featured video in our Album Cover Art of The Month series.
Country Doo-Wop Spotlight Song: An August return and another fun interview on the Country Doo Wop show with our friend and DJ, Ned Ward. This interview created our Spotlight Song of The Month with Ronnie Milsap doing double video duty with classy Lorrie Morgan. Always a pleasure and thanks to show producer, Mr. Barney for making it all possible.
This song first published in 1926 was a #1 recording by Elvis in 1960. When this gifted lady added her special touch, the cover made our list of best ever cover songs...second to Elvis, of course.
Framed Album Cover Art of The Month. A special treat (for me anyway) is our featured album cover art this month with several of my favorite ladies on vinyl, coupled with the 1968 hit song, "I'm A Girl Watcher" by the O'Kaysions.
More Vinyl Record Memories. Selected pages with stories and songs about many of the forgotten oldies classics. A trip down memory lane.
Let's get started...
Each month I give a little shout-out to my favorite radio program, Ned Ward's Country Doo-Wop show. My friend, Ned, airs his show from out Oregon way and if you tune in you just might hear Ned talk a little about Vinyl Record Memories. Listen in Monday thru Saturday from 1pm to 3pm, all times Pacific, on KNCP Newberry Mix 107.3 FM.
Country Doo Wop Spotlight Song.
(Ronnie Milsap "Lost in The Fifties" Plus Lorrie Morgan Duet)
An early August interview with our favorite DJ, Ned Ward, created this double Ronnie Milsap and Lorrie Morgan video special. Thanks to Ned and his producer, Mr. Barney for all their help with the interview.
I still believe there is a place somewhere on your radio dial that takes you back to this very special time and place in history. Can't find it? Then please join me, and I'll take you on a fun trip "Back to The Future."
Take your time, watch this well-done video below and how close it
relates to the fifties and one of my favorite Doo-Wop songs "In the
Still of the Night" by the Five Satins.
I simply dragged it out of the eighties and sent it back to the fifties, where I believe it has a better fit.
Ronnie Milsap - Lorrie Morgan Duet
"Lost In The Fifties"
The late 50s through the early 60s was filled with music that makes you feel good and smile. It takes us back to a simpler, more innocent time when cars, clothes, dances and friends were important.
We
enjoyed the break-up and make-up songs, the happy songs, the feel good
songs, and vocal group classics... these songs sound even better today
because they're timeless.
So for all of our newsletter subscribers, a special added video treat for you. Another "Lost In The Fifties" duet version with Ronnie and this classy lady performing Milsap's signature song.
A Norah Jones Music Tribute To Elvis.
Are You Lonesome Tonight, a Norah Jones music tribute to Elvis is one of the better covers of the song that I have heard, and certainly the best by any female. The Elvis photo background, plus the 3 piece backing unit set the song mood, and blends well with her piano.
Touches of smoky jazz, country twang, and even a little Memphis soul seem to flow through her original songs as well as her choice of other songwriters material, including great choices of cover songs like this one.
She is a gifted lady...enjoy.
Norah did not do the narration and repeated a verse instead at the end of the song, but I still felt the tribute to Elvis was a strong enough performance to add to our Best Cover Songs pages.
But seriously fellows - How much encouragement would it take to allow Norah to sing you to sleep as she whispers in your ear... "Are You Lonesome Tonight"?
I'm A Girl Watcher - 1968 Hit Song.
(With A Few Of Our Special Ladies On Vinyl)
While a wife may have substantial authority over a whole house in terms of design and decoration, she generally has no say about what gets "mounted on the walls" of a man's personal space.
If clothes make the man, Framed Album Cover Art makes the man cave. Displaying album covers as art on your walls can make for a wonderful wall display that reflects your unique style. It's something unique and creative that is a great ice-breaker, starting conversations about music, art, and all things retro.
This video will give you a brief intro to some of the Framed Vinyl Records in my collection with more detailed information and a better view in the articles below the video...enjoy
The options for using vinyl record covers as wall art are endless. Since record album covers are all uniform squares it is easy to arrange them in patterns which can create a variety of looks for your man cave walls. You are limited only by your imagination.
Whipped Cream & Other Delights.
It All Started With This Album.
For an entire generation of young record store browsers, puberty kicked off immediately upon first sight of this 1965 Herb Alpert "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" packaging. From a male point of view, this was the sexiest album cover of the 1960s, as many then-adolescent boys can to this day vividly recall.
Music and art go hand in hand and the best way to get a potential buyers’ attention is with an eye-catching album cover. You may not be able to judge an album by its cover, but you can certainly appreciate the view.
The sexy cover shoot took place in art director Peter Whorf's studio, a converted garage, became a cultural touchstone, and remained in the Billboard Top 10 for 61 weeks. The photo in question was the now iconic shot of a seemingly nude, doe-eyed young woman in a low-cut dress in what appears to be a giant pile of dessert topping.
Model, Dolores Erickson, age 29 years old and three months pregnant, who wore a bikini with the shoulder straps pushed down and hidden, was for the most part surrounded by cotton batting and many cans of shaving cream because actual whipped cream turned runny and smelly under hot lights.
Erickson received approximately $1,500 plus expenses.
Bobby Gentry - Fancy
Did The Lady Paint A Self Portrait?
It's widely believed that Bobby Gentry painted the portraits used as the covers for her albums Fancy (shown below) and Patchwork.
It is obvious that Bobby Gentry is an extraordinary breed of "Fancy"....one aptly defined by dictionaries as "of superfine quality or exceptional appeal."
Her head is at a delicate tilt, she has a slight trace of smile, and if the lighting is just right in your "Man Cave," her eyes may twinkle as she looks back at you.
1978 Dolly Parton Album - Heartbreaker.
This 1978 Gatefold album opens to a beautiful full length photo of Dolly Parton in the pretty pink dress shown here on the cover. Photographer, Ed Caraeff is also credited with three other Parton albums.
As
you stare at this album its easy to view Dolly a real "Heartbreaker"
as she sings the last track on side 2 titled "I Wanna Fall in Love," and
you just know that ain't gonna happen. And, why not? Because at my age
I'd probably respond by playing side one, track 2, titled...."It's Tool
Late To Love Me Now."
Petite, curvaceous and sporting her trademark platinum tresses, this album cover will leave you in awe as you search for that special place on your Man Cave wall to view this beautiful Album Cover.
"Nobody" - Really?
No. 1 Song from 1982
Here is another 40 year old album that will immediately catch your attention. The album contains the #1 country song "Nobody," which also became a
#15 pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a Top 5 adult contemporary hit.
"Just
Sylvia," is a 1982 Vinyl LP released on the RCA Victor label. I often purchase albums because of the Album Cover Art, and
not necessarily because of the record itself. This is one of those
purchases I made more than forty years ago. The album cover and record are near mint condition and would be an attractive addition to any Man Cave.
From 1979 - Bad Girls - A Donna Summer Disco Classic.
Disco never spawned a brighter star than Donna Summer -- or a more significant album than Summer's 1979 classic, Bad Girls. The Album was proof that a personality as vibrant as Summer's could flourish in a Disco world she surely owned. The album's impact on dance music could not, and cannot, be overstated.
The album's driving title track and equally hot numbers like "Hot Stuff" and "Dim All the Lights" became massive hits, sailing to, respectively, No. 1, No. 1, and No. 2 on the pop singles chart.
Summer managed irresistible melodic hooks into innovative arrangements that blended dance-pop grace with guitar-rock muscle, and the resulting tunes were as popular with roller-skating suburban kids as they were with the sophisticated club crowd.
What's New - Linda Ronstadt & Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
The LP Album, "What's New" was released in September 1983 and spent 81 weeks on the main Billboard album chart. Although this album is filled with great songs, few voices are as synonymous with the ’70s country-rock scene as Linda Ronstadt’s.
Most known for a slew of covers, she never let someone else’s compositions hold her back and Linda Ronstadt’s greatest include even better, fuller-bodied work than the originals.
Linda Ronstadt’s top songs don’t come any better than “You’re No Good” and certainly a favorite, Blue Bayou...The way she sings, “I’m goin’ back someday, come what may, to Blue Bayou / Where you sleep all day and the catfish play on Blue Bayou,” you could almost feel the saltwater on your tongue.
Softly - The Jackie gleason Orchestra - 1970
This 1970 album from the Jackie Gleason Orchestra is a style rich with subtle excitement of burnished brass, haunting trumpet solos, and lush romantic strings. Gleason's objective was to make "musical wallpaper" that should never be intrusive, but rather conducive.
Beginning with a dream-like "Moon River", the orchestra is heard in a variety of musical colors and moods, from the silken brass of "A Man and A Woman" and "The Girl from Ipanema" to "This Guy's In Love with You" and "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet."
As you view this beautiful LP cover, here is surely the best that good listening music has to offer. So if you prefer music for quiet reminiscing or just plain relaxing, sit back and enjoy yourself. Then you'll know...How Sweet It Is!
And with this outfit...Tanya turned Boys to Men!
This Tanya Tucker 1978 TNT Gatefold album was her second-highest ranked ever on the Billboard Country charts at #2.
A
critical 2008 record review revealed the main controversy surrounding
TNT was the album artwork and the sex-driven marketing campaign
undertaken by her management and record company.
This cover photo of the 20-year-old Tucker on the inside foldout,
depicting her in high-heels and a tight-fitting backless red spandex body stocking and staring down at you from your Man Cave wall,
would no doubt be the topic of conversation.
Ever thought of having your own website? I built Vinyl Record Memories "from scratch" with SoloBuildIt! Click below to find out more....
You might also like these stories...
- Wanna return to that feel good music era? Climb aboard the memory train and travel with me back to yet another great time in history when "One Fine Day" lit up the summer of '63.
- The needle made contact with the record and those magical Merle Haggard sounds began to play. Sounds that can only be appreciated with the warmth of vinyl and the solid gold hidden in those grooves. Words alone make this one a Honky-tonk classic.
- It didn't take long for this song to catch on as evidenced by the million copies sold in a little over one month. "Duke of Earl" shot up to #1 on February 17th, 1962, and stayed there for three weeks. It remained on the Hot 100 for a total of 15 weeks. Read this amazing story here.
I hope you find time to visit more great stories about growing up in the 50s, 60s and 70s. You can start here....
Looking for that special song, artist, or group on this site?
What's Next?
September will feature the lady's answer to the "Man Cave" with suggestions on how to use Framed Album Cover Art to decorate, for example...your "Woman Cave" - "She Shed" - "Lady's Lair," or "Fox Hole" - a few names women might use to describe their private, no men allowed space.
It's July 2008 and you have the best seat in the house listening to this really nice live performance of our favorite Billy Joel song, although I did enjoy the "Uptown Girl" performance just as much because of the eye candy :-)
Baby' Gone - A personal favorite, and rare Roy Orbison and Bobby Goldsboro penned Golden Oldie you seldom hear played on the radio. But you will hear it on the popular Country Doo Wop show. You're gonna love this one.
Jeff Beck Remembered
Vinyl Record Lovers t-shirt for women-men-kids-boys-girls-toddler.
Guitars Store
Hankpicked Guitars
We've done the research so you don't have to...
Music Sounds Better On Vinyl!
Vinyl Record Lovers t-shirt for women-men-kids-boys-girls-toddler.
Amazon's Best Sellers in Turntables.
Updated hourly, containing Amazon's Top 100 most popular Audio & Video Turntables.
Doo Wop:
The Music, The Times, The Era.
A walk down memory lane. Meet the pioneers who started it all
with great photos, posters, album covers, newspaper articles, magazine
covers, lyrics, and more. Get your copy here...
Camera and Photo Supplies.
The Amazon Camera & Photo lists, updated hourly, contain bestselling items. The lists are unique and you can find the top 100 most popular Camera & Photo items here.
A Boy Named Sue!
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red...
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head...
I'll tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue. Listen to the rest of the story...
American Graffiti...
Where Were You In 62?
Classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock and roll...and is considered one of the best teen movies ever made. A cool trip down memory lane.
Doo-Wah Days
Mickey Gilley
Time just skipped away
Back in our doo-wah days
Baby I'm Yours
Written by the "The Hustle" guy, Van McCoy, reached #5 in 1965 with Barbara Lewis and a top 5 remake by Jody Miller in 1971. A sexy remake on a great original song... Baby I'm Yours...
Cowboy Campfire Songs
Polish up your spurs, Saddle up ole paint and get ready to relive your childhood! Come with me and let's relive those bygone days with these cowboy campfire songs and fond memories of your favorite silver screen cowboys. Read more...
"Cattle Call Duet"
Cattle Call was originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1945, and re-recorded in 1955. Forty years later, Eddy Arnold joined 13-year-old Texan LeAnn Rimes on a version of "Cattle Call" for her 1996 Curb debut album, Blue. Read more.
The Buddy Holly Story.
If you grew up in the Buddy Holly era, this 1978 biography
profiles the lives of someone who helped change forever, the music in
the 50s and beyond. The Roller Rink medley and The Crickets at the
Apollo looks back at this special time in history and how it all began. Read more...
The Chordettes
Lollipop & Mr. Sandman
If you lived and breathed in the fifties those songs of the past reminds us of our connection to innocence and the fabulous harmonies of these four pretty gals.
More than 60 years later, the emotional power of these two songs still resonates with listeners, and as a result, still remains current. Read more
Billy Joel Cover
Don't Worry Baby
A great version of a Beach Boys classic. Billy Joel Performs "Don't Worry Baby" at a Brian Wilson tribute concert singing with Brian's band. A nice Billy Joel Cover song...
The Duprees
"You Belong to Me."
The Duprees 1962 recording of "You Belong to Me," became the most popular version at the time, reaching #7 on the charts. This talented group brings back memories from more than 60 years ago and adds a touch of class to the original recording. Read more...
I Want to Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart.
Patsy Montana's cowboy song lyrics paints a different picture of a woman who wants to rope and ride and sleep out under the stars, just like her Cowboy Sweetheart. Suzy Bogguss does the song proud. Read More...
Why Do I Love You So?
You said you'd never leave me,
You said you'd never go,
But, oh my darlin',
Why do I love you so?
Vinyl Record Memories
(VIP Club Newsletter)
A Little Bit of Nostalgia in your inbox each month.
Popular Articles
Golden Oldies
Doo-Wop Originals
Best Oldies Cover Songs
More Popular Articles
Best Barroom Songs
Roll On Mississippi.
I Hate You
You said that you love me
Tell me how could this fool be so blind
And I'm trying to hate you
Right out of my mind
Flooded With Memories...
Danny, I could not believe the content of your website. It is just amazing to recall so much we lived through just by checking out so many old posters & album covers.
Your site floods me with memories & reinforces my belief that it truly was a great time to be a teenager. Good work, Danny, please stick with it.
Sincerely Dale
dalekleeart.com
An Old Song
A New Friend
"I don't usually contact doo wop article authors as I rarely find much value in the articles, but your article struck me as sincere, genuine and respectful."
Tom Sokira,
Producer, Audio Engineer
"In The Still Of The Night" (1956)
Read the story here.
A True Story...
"Darling Lorraine"
Danny, Great job !!!! I can't express enough how much my mother
would have been so happy with your work on her song. As for myself and
the rest of my family, we really appreciate your time & effort to
let everyone who is interested in her song know the true story behind
it. Read more...
Thanx so much, Bob
"Duke of Earl" Homecoming
I just read your article on Duke of Earl/Vee Jay Records. My father was Randy Wood, President of Vee Jay at the time.
I'm doing some research on the company and am learning how influential Vee Jay was in shaping the future of music. Nice to see your web page.
Michele Marotta
February 15, 2015
A kind reply
From a grateful family.
Danny, I think you did a great job and my family enjoyed it as well. I have had some more time to go through your site and find it to be fantastic, and your personal story is great as well.
You truly
are a blessing to all of Us. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. I
look forward to seeing and hearing more from you.
Paul Giacalone
The song "You Were Mine" was written by Paul Giacalone. Read the story here.
Memories, Memories
"Thank you so much for all the work you have done on these pages. I found my way here, and spent the next two hours in absolute bliss. Memories, memories...thank you for rekindling them."
Bob Douglass,
VA
One Classic After Another...
Thanks for an excellent musical experience. I found your website by accident and just kept enjoying one classic after another. Great job! Like yourself, I'm still enjoying my vinyl collection. We share many of the same favorite artists.
Regards, Jim Miles
MD
Keeping Old Vinyl Music Alive.
Congratulations on an outstanding site. I am from old school. I was 13 when Rock & Roll erupted in 1955. I would literally run home from school to watch Bandstand every day. I lived outside Philly and grew up with all the Philadelphia music scene and its performers. Keep up the good work and I thank you for your time and effort in keeping the old vinyl music alive for us and future generations.
Bill Moore,
Lugoff, SC
Deceased 2020
Bill was our first newsletter subscriber.
Rest easy, my friend.
Love Your Comments!
"Just stumbled onto this site and decided to stay and visit for a while. You have it laid out so wonderfully. Easy to get around and love your comments. Thanks for my trip down memory lane. Really, really enjoyed it."
Priscilla Hernandez,
Arkansas
A Special Place To Visit.
Danny, great going with your site. I will be visiting often. I have all of my dad's LPs and several of my own, so your site is of special interest to me.
Roy Webber,
Utah
Bobby Vinton
Over The Mountain.
Originally a #8 hit in 1957 for "Johnnie & Joe," and a cover for Bobby Vinton in 1963. What other cover song did Bobby Vinton take to #1 the same year? Read more.
From Rodeo Star to Music Star, Moe Bandy Shines with Talent.
While the tears on my make-up melts my painted smile into a frown. The crowd thinks I'm a dandy, I'm Bandy the rodeo clown...Read more.
The Marcels
Blue Moon
Step back in time and relive those Blue Moon vinyl record memories with this unique cover of a Doo-Wop classic from 1961. You're gonna love this performance.
Amarillo by Morning.
Amarillo By Morning is a Rodeo ballad first recorded in 1973, but the George Strait version which came out ten years later is the one everyone knows and turned Strait into an overnight star. The whining fiddle arrangement will stay with you long after the song ends. Read more...
A Buddy Holly Love Song
This beautiful love song was recorded in the presence of Buddy's wife, and should be appreciated for the impact of this great song, and the love that inspired it. Read the story here.
An American Treasure
Brian Wilson is an American Treasure and Good Vibrations is without a doubt one of Wilson's greatest songwriting accomplishments. Read more...
"He's So Fine"
Great Cover Song.
Originally released by the Chiffons in early 1963, "He's So Fine" entered the national charts again in 1971 where Jody Miller returned the song to the Top 5 on the Country charts. Read the story here...
Andrew Gold
That's Why I Love You
"It's the smile on your face, It's your style and your grace... And that's why, that's why I love you."
A man with this much talent should certainly be entitled to more than this one simple page that I have provided and not just because I enjoyed one particular song of his more than his others. Check out his Guitar Riffs in this song.
Back To The Fifties
Burgers and Fires.
It was simple and good back then never thinking it would end. Cruising the drive-in restaurants where guys with duck tails met gals with pony tails. It was Burgers and Fries and Cherry Pies in a world we used to know. Read the Burgers & Fries story here.
"My Boyfriend's Back "
and...
"You're gonna be in trouble."
This story reveals how an altercation between 2 teens resulted in a #1 song for The Angels. Read the finger pointing story here.
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Will anyone ever record songs like this again? A Beautiful song with perfect harmony and words you can actually understand, make sense and have a meaning. Read more.
Remember the line...
A-hoopa, a-hoopa, hoopa?
Watch as the original "Diamonds" perform live for the last time, this great American classic. Read more...
Best Train Song Ever?
The City of New Orleans is a well-written train song with a beautiful message. If you love the song you probably like trains. If you like trains, this song is sure to delight you. Come with me and Ride That Train.