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 & Saturday night school dances. 

Issue #132, May, 2024

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In This Issue.

• A Tribute to Fallen Soldiers.

• Guitar Legend Duane Eddy Has Died.
  

• Farewell To The Memphis Man.
  

• Spotlight Song Of The Month - Triple Feature.

• Album Cover Art Of The Month...
  

• Notable May dates in History.

• You Might Also Like These Vinyl Record Memories.
  

• What's Next?

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A Tribute to Fallen Soldiers...
In The Arms of An Angel.

This Memorial Day we honor those men and women - Our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers who have laid down their life for our country.

Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Despite the increasing celebration of the holiday as a summer rite of passage, there are some formal rituals still on the books: The American flag should be hung at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, then raised to the top of the staff.  And since 2000, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time. 

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The "Titan of Twang" Has Died.

Duane Eddy, the legendary guitarist who brought a distinctly 'twangy' sound to the world of rock'n'roll in the 1950s, died on April 30, 2024. He was 86.

Eddy, an inductee in both the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame and Musicians Hall of Fame, is known as the "titan of twang", a reference to the distinct guitar sound that made him a sensation in the 1950s and 60s.

"Rebel-'Rouser" is the rock and roll instrumental song that started it all for Duane Eddy. Written by Eddy and Lee Hazlewood and originally released on Jamie Records in 1958 as a single (Jamie 1104) with "Stalkin'" on its B-side. The Saxophone player was Gil Bernal - Both tracks were produced by Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood.

The Duane Eddy sound will forever echo in the halls of rock ‘n’ roll history.

And this is how it sounded in 1958...

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Farewell To The Memphis Man...

Growing up North of Cincinnati in Hamilton, Ohio, I was no stranger to some of the local clubs and roadhouses located in and around the Hamilton area. I met a young Lonnie Mack in 1961 at the Twi-Light Inn, a dusty roadhouse located between Hamilton and Oxford, Ohio. I was 17 at the time...

Cool Cars and Roadhouse Music would only get better after Lonnie introduced his guitar instrumental, "Memphis" in 1963. And if you've never heard this 1986 album favorite, "Me And My Car," from Mack's album, "Second Sight," this one is sure to make your favorites list.

A fiery guitarist and soulful singer, Blues-rock originator, Lonnie Mack, died on April 21, 2016, at the age of 74. My friend Randy McNutt, Independent record producer and author said it best about the passing of Lonnie Mack in this touching tribute...Farewell to the Memphis Man.

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Country Doo Wop Show Spotlight Song of The Month.

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This Month in May Music History...

This month, courtesy of Ned and his producer, Mr. Barney, we include some of our favorite "Spotlight Songs" played regularly on the Country Doo Wop Show.  Enjoy...

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May 9 - 1964 -  Chuck Berry makes his UK stage debut at London's Astoria Theatre, with The Animals, The Nashville Teens, and The Swinging Blue Jeans opening for him. Thirty years later this #14 song, "You Never Can Tell," released on the 1964 album, St. Louis to Liverpool, became a big hit in the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction. Look-a-like Ed Sullivan and Marilyn Monroe watch Uma Thurman and John Travolta in this short clip from the movie. 

May 9 - 2020 - Rock pioneer Little Richard dies of bone cancer at the age of 87. Throughout his legendary career, he recorded some of America's most recognizable songs, including "Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally," "Lucille," and "Good Golly Miss Molly."

May 7 - 2022 - Mickey Gilley dies at 86. He had 39 Top 10 Country hits and owned a bar in Dallas called Gilley's that was known as "the world's biggest honky-tonk." This song is about a place many of us would gladly revisit for the good times...Back In The "Doo-Wha Days."

Album Cover Art Of The Month...

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As graduation for most High Schools begin this month I decided to add an unusual album I located in a retirement community some years back. 

Senior Prom is a 1987 issue by the Sessions Record Label that sold records through radio and television advertisements. They were the record label arm of Audio Research, Incorporated, located in the greater Chicago area.

Sessions usually had two or three record sets pressed by the Special Products divisions of the major labels (Columbia, RCA, Warner Brothers, MCA), so the quality of the vinyl was excellent, and this 37 year old record is no exception. Both Album cover and all four records are in near mint condition.

Sessions began issuing CDs in the late 1980s. By about 1993, they discontinued issuing albums.

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Notable Dates - This Month In May Music History.

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May 1 - 1956 - Johnny Cash releases "I Walk The Line," a pledge of fidelity to his first wife. When the song becomes a hit, Cash finds it much harder to be true and strikes up an affair with June Carter, whom he later marries.

May 1 - 1957 - The first issue of 16 Magazine, featuring Elvis Presley on the cover, is published.

May 7 - 1966 - "Monday Monday" by The Mamas & the Papas goes to #1 on the Hot 100, becoming the first song with a day of the week in the title to top the chart.

May 1 - 1995 - Nancy Sinatra, 54, appears on the cover of Playboy magazine. In her centerfold, she wears only her famous boots.

May 10 - 2011 - Norma Zimmer, The Lawrence Welk Show's longtime "Champagne Lady," dies at age 87.

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You might also like these stories...

• This song tells the story of a man who can't get over a lost love, and he uses the metaphor of a jukebox in his mind to replay all the memories and songs associated with their relationship. It's a nostalgic song that captures the emotions of heartbreak and longing. Relive your Jukebox Memories here...

• Great Rockabilly Songs of the past are still with us today. Listen to these two guitar legends, Scotty Moore and Eric Clapton, and their Rockabilly vinyl record memories tribute to Elvis.

• A short song with a long-lasting heartbroken message. For its brief length, "Why Do I Love You So" is perhaps one of the more romantic teen ballads written at the time. See if you agree...
  

I hope you find time to visit more great stories about growing up in the 50s, 60s and 70s. You can start here.... 

What's Next?

June 3, 2011 - Andrew Gold , who penned what would famously become the theme song to The Golden Girls, dies of heart failure at age 59. We will let you in on our favorite Andrew Gold song and his many talents. 

Our Kenny Rogers Collection Series for June will showcase his 1979 album titled, "Kenny." This album contains his hit songs, "You Decorated My Live," and "Coward of The County."

The Drive-in Movie season has arrived and is still thriving in many parts of the country. We will give you our take on the passion pit, along with some of the classics we grew up with and actually drove to those great out-door theaters.

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