Vinyl Record Lovers Newsletter
(VIP Club)

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The golden age of vinyl records and all things retro are the highlights of my Newsletter. Writing stories about our vinyl record memories with added content from my collection is another 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 night school dances. 

Issue #133, June, 2024

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In This Issue:

• Spotlight Song of The Month - A Doo-Wop Classic.

• Remembering Andrew Gold - "That's Why I Love You."

• Popcorn and Romance Under The Stars...
  

• Old Flames - Keepers of Memories - Man Cave Art.
  

• Album Cover Art Of The Month..."Stray Cats"

• Kenny Rogers Vinyl LP Album Collection Series.

• This Month In June Music History.

• What's Next?

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Take a trip down memory lane with with the original classic oldies show - Monday thru Saturday from 1pm to 3pm, all times Pacific, on KNCP Newberry Mix 107.3 FM.  Ned Ward turns music into memories playing yesterday's country favorites and the classic hits of the 50's and 60's Doo Wop style.

Country Doo-Wop Spotlight Song of The Month
Del Vikings - Come Go With Me

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David Lerchey had already retired but sometimes agreed to sing with his old friend Norman Wright as he did here in 1999.

David died in January 2005, and sadly another Doo Wop great, lead singer Norman Wright, died in April 2010. Norman Wright was 73.

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"That's Why I Love You" ( 1975)
(August 2, 1951 – June 3, 2011)

Return with me to 1975 and those memorable lyrics from the Andrew Gold song, "That's Why I Love You." Let's bring back the best of times with that one special girl surrounded by the lyrics, "It's the smile on your face, It's your style and your grace...And that's why, that's why I love you."

Memories and perfect lyrics from the song reach back in time as you recall that special lady with the words ..."You're a party with the lights down low, you're my Friday night movie show, love me tender on the radio, just hold me tight and don't let go." 

I wrote a special page for Andrew Gold because he was, in my opinion, an underrated artist, a gifted man with gifted parents.

Andrew Gold has toured with The Eagles, played on records and toured with Jackson Browne, produced, wrote and sang/played on three 10cc tracks; played and sang on records and toured with James Taylor, produced singles for Vince Gill, and wrote and produced for Celine Dion; was second engineer on part of Joni Mitchell's Blue album.

Through his music he has ventured into space and wrote a popular theme song about three special senior ladies.

Are you beginning to grasp my "underrated artist" opinion here? Please read on and allow me to tell you more amazing information about this multi-talented entertainer, Andrew Gold. Read more here...

Note: This is a temporary video service I am looking at. No need to respond to any video requests...

The American Drive-in Theater.
Popcorn And Romance Under The Stars.

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As of 2023 there were 299 drive-in theaters in the United States with a total of 522 screens, according to the United Drive-in Theater Owner Association. 

A memorable return to all those wonderful old Drive-in theaters that were so much a part of family entertainment in the fifties and sixties. Fast forward to today and you are guaranteed to fall (back) in love with these beloved drive-in movie theaters.

Vinyl records are back in a big way, so why not Drive-in theaters?

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Drive-in numbers exploded and peaked in the late 1950's – early 1960's. During this time, which is generally considered the golden age of drive-ins, there were over 4000 drive-in theaters across the United States.

It was popcorn and romance under the stars.

Enjoy this video and hear sleepwalk played in the background. If you've never been to a Drive-in-movie you'll find one after watching this video...

If You Have Never Been To A Drive-in Theater... 
Add It To Your Bucket List.

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Though drive-in theaters are far less prevalent now, there are still some holdouts across the country, from around 4000 in the late 50s to a current count of around 300 left in the U.S. Check out one near you.

A drive-in theater experience will guarantee to make you forget all about your plans to lounge around and binge-watch a mindless TV series from the tiny screen of your laptop.

Current drive-in owners adapt well to changing times. With online ticket sales, reserved parking spots, and food delivered to your car from the concession stand, many owners have made drive-in theaters easier and more fun to attend.

In a culture where family time has become so rare and the price of movie tickets are breaking the budget, the time is right once more for the drive-in to satisfy the national thirst for affordable, good, quality family entertainment.

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"Old Flames"
They Are The Keepers of Memories.

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This Drive-in-theater backdrop below titled, "Old Flames," will bring a smile to the face of many of our "senior" readers who grew up in this special time as we continue to reminisce about  "Old Flames."

Nearly everyone's been tempted to check up on an old flame.  Second chances can be lasting and wonderfully satisfying. They are the keepers of memories; they hold the keys to our past and help us make peace with aging.

It's simply undying love for those "Old Flames" we choose not to forget.  It does make life sweeter and my friend, Dale Klee, brings all those memories to life with his amazing classic car art.

Paintings with titles like Mopar Meadow, Mustang Mania, Country Vettes, Barnyard Shakers, and modified memories, will have you dreaming about that special old flame from years past.    

Surely you didn't think I was referring to an old high school flame or that sweet college girl you left behind.  Surely not!!!

Here's a couple of my favorite "Old Flames" sadly abandoned near a 50's drive-in theater, also known back in the day as the passion pit.

For the "Old School" guys, paintings like this one you proudly display on your man cave wall aren't necessarily limited to men with high mileage or fine character...Hot Rod and custom car lovers worldwide will continue to find this part of automobile history captivating.

In the November, 2020 issue, I introduced Dale Klee and his amazing classic old car art paintings. In January, 2021 Dale's art was again featured with one of my favorites titled, A Few Good Years.

Today, Dale continues to create his colorful classic automobile scenes. Each one forms a particular memory and a sentimental look back for those of us who grew up in this very special time in history. His prints now adorn homes and businesses throughout the world. You can view more automotive art at the Dale Klee Art website.

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Framed Album Cover Art of The Month.

When writing about music, especially music that was recorded before you were born, you only have the luxury of listening as an outsider. It is the Album Cover Artwork that will be a constant reminder how good the music inside really is.

In an age of digital downloads, another example why fans still love and need to love vinyl records. Between the mid-1960s and the late 1970s, the long-playing record allowed popular music to become an art form and changed popular music for ever.

Musicians could escape the confines of the three-minute pop single and express themselves as never before with glorious artwork and adorning gatefold sleeves. Arriving at your local Drive-in-movie in this cool hot rod would certainly turn some heads for sure...

It was hard to pass up this 1983 album by The Stray Cats with its "take me back to the rockabilly fifties" look, and the great layout on the Stray Cats sleeve insert.

The stray cats rockabilly line up begins with one cool cat, Lee Rocker, "Slappin' that Doghouse Bass."  On drums we have "Hittin' Not Missin," and the "Howlin' & Screamin'" backing vocals courtesy of Slim Jim Phantom. The "Sangin' & Guitar Twangin'" is provided by lead cat, Brian Setzer.

Producer, Dave Edmunds, also did work on the Carl Perkins Rockabilly Sessions in London in 1985.  Gavin Cochrane did the cover photography and Liner photography was done by Robert Matheu.

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The Kenny Rogers Album Collection Series.
("Kenny" Vinyl LP - Released 1979)

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We continue with our Kenny Rogers Collection Series for June showcasing his 1979 album titled simply, "Kenny." This album contains his hit songs, "You Decorated My Live," and "Coward of The County."

Rogers 8th studio album reached the top five of the US Billboard album chart and #1 in the Country charts (where it stayed for a record total of 25 weeks).

This album is one of several Kenny Rogers albums in my collection, all in excellent condition. The album still has the shrink wrap you see covering the album with a K-mart $6.57 price sticker. 

I give credit to session players as they are often over looked playing behind the artist. Without session players I believe many songs would not have reached a top ten ranking on the music charts. 

Reggie Young is one of several guitar players on this album. He was the lead guitarist in the American Sound Studio house band, The Memphis Boys, and was a leading session musician.

He played on various recordings with artists such as Elvis, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, The Box Tops, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard, George Strait, The Highwaymen, and many other notable entertainers...

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This Month In June Music History.

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June 28, 1962 - The Drifters record "Up On The Roof."

June 29, 1963 - Del Shannon's cover of The Beatles' "From Me to You" enters the Hot 100 at #96, becoming the first Lennon-McCartney composition to chart in America. Shannon's version peaks at #77; in the UK the Beatles original hits #1 in May.

June 6, 1964 - The Dixie Cups' "Chapel Of Love," a Phil Spector wall-of-sound production, hits #1 in America, where it stays for three weeks.

June 3rd, 1967 - Aretha Franklin's "Respect" hits #1 in America. The song was written and originally recorded by Otis Redding, whose version hit #35 in 1965.

June 16, 1978 - The movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opens in US theaters, becoming the smash hit and  highest-grossing film of 1978.

June 2nd, 1979 - Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" goes to #1 in the US, where it stays for three weeks.

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What's Next?

Our Kenny Rogers Collection Series for July will showcase his 1981 album titled, "Share Your Love." This album, produced by Lionel Richie, contains the hit song, "Through The Years."

Special Framed Album Cover Art may soon be for sale to the public. Stay tuned...

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