Monday, March 14, 2016

The Shadows - Will You Be There? - EMI Columbia (1966)

Song: Will You Be There?
Writers: Marvin-Welch
Recorded: June 24th, 1966

The Shadows were successful, absurdly talented and underrated outside of the UK. The group were overshadowed and maligned by the Beatles, perhaps because they were the primary professional competition during the early days. Even in Anthology, George Harrison dismissively mocks the Shadows galloping style. Thanks to beautiful, inexpensive reissues and Bill Luther, I now know better. Although they are best known for their instrumentals and backing work for Cliff Richard, the Shadows took a few cracks at recording vocal pop records of their own. The results were excellent. Having the thick, powerful EMI sound gave the Shadows records majesty. Run, don't walk, and purchase as much by the Shadows as you can.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

The Shadows - Will You Be There? - EMI Columbia (1966)

The Shadows - Will You Be There? - EMI Columbia (1966)

Monday, March 7, 2016

The Savages - Little Miss Sad - National & Laurie (1966)

Song: Little Miss Sad
Writers: D. Addrisi & D. Addrisi
Recorded: 1966 at H&H Productions - Tampa, Florida


Little Miss Sad was enough of a hit for Tampa, Florida's The Savages in 1966 to warrant a licensing deal from Laurie records. Tampa had a fantastic pop scene in the mid-1960s that was, perhaps, several bars higher in quality than most other small markets in the United States.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

The Savages - Little Miss Sad - National & Laurie (1966)






Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Kingston Trio - Three Song from Stay Awhile - Decca (1965)

Song: Three Song
Writer: Mason Williams
Producer: Frank Werber
Recorded: 1965


Welcome to the Resurrection Beat Machine! This blog is dedicated to lost 60s pop songs from the US, UK and abroad. Whenever possible, please purchase music and support the artists / labels. Kingston Trio - Stay Awhile available here.

Three Song was recorded for a group of Decca albums during latter part of the career of the Kingston Trio, sometimes called the (John) Stewart Years, after the departure of Dave Guard in 1961. Three Song was not a hit for the group. Interestingly, though, it was written by Mason Williams, who, in 1968, scored a huge hit with Classical Gas. Three Song is a lovely little harmony number that has more in common with 60s folk than the manly, Irish pub style ballads that the Kingston Trio became famous for during their early career. The Kingston Trio decided to fold two years later in 1967 due to the changing tastes of the public. That year, John Stewart scored a huge hit with Daydream Believer for the Monkees.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.


Kingston Trio - Three Song from Stay Awhile - Decca (1965)





Kingston Trio - Three Song from Stay Awhile - Decca (1965) 

Sunday, February 21, 2016

The Castells - Just Walk Away - Decca (1965)

Song: Just Walk Away
Writers: Gary Usher & Raul Abeyta
Producer: Gary Usher
Recorded: 1965

Purchase The Castells and Beyond 1964 - 1966 here.

Credit should go to Rich from SunshineTunes67, who first shared this song in 2009, along with a bonus demo version. I highly recommend a auditory stroll through his epic sunshine pop YouTube posts. 

I had the soaring, cinematic Just Walk Away on continuous repeat for about 2 weeks after I first heard it. Just Walk Away, with a monumental Chuck Girard vocal, double bass, and Wrecking Crew backing (unconfirmed), is my favorite Gary Usher composition and production. Not only was the song not a hit, but it probably sold about 5 copies in 1965, judging by the scant availability of this 45 on the used vinyl market. This would definitely be in my top 10 " this should have been a hit" list.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.


The Castells - Just Walk Away - Decca (1965)




The Castells - Just Walk Away - Decca (1965)

Sunday, February 14, 2016

The Free Design - Felt So Good from One by One - Project 3 (1971) & Light In the Attic (2005)

Song: Felt So Good
Writer: Chris Dedrick
Producer: Enoch Light
Engineers: Don Hahn & Dixon Van Winkle
Recorded: 1971
One by One is available here.

The Free Design are brilliant, and this is my favorite FD song, written by Chris Dedrick from the band. The music is clearly recorded by brilliant session players, weaving in and out of the arrangement with smooth, seamless, innovative runs and grooves. Chris and Sandy Dedrick credit Bob Mann for his fantastic melodic guitar lead on Felt So Good. The music is trippy with a touch of supercharged propellant. Felt So Good is a unique blast of genius from what was, sadly, the final album from the group.


No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

The Free Design - Felt So Good from One by One - Project 3 (1971) & Light In the Attic (2005)


The Free Design -  One by One - Project 3 & Light In the Attic (1972)

Sunday, February 7, 2016

The Four Tops - Wonderful Baby from Reach Out & b-side - Motown (1968)

Song: Wonderful Baby
Writer: Smokey Robinson
Producer: Smokey Robinson
Recorded: 1968


I tend to prefer late 60s / 70s Motown, because the music began to break out of the cookie-cutter production line sound. I had never heard Wonderful Baby until I purchased Phil Spectre - Wall of Soundalikes Volume 2. The entire Reach Out album by the Four Tops is fantastic. It is fun to hear a track that is unjustly obscure from a familiar group.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.


The Four Tops - Wonderful Baby from Reach Out & b-side - Motown (1968)





The Four Tops - Reach Out - Motown (1968)

Monday, February 1, 2016

Part Two: Swinging Blue Jeans - You're Welcome To My Heart - EMI (unreleased until 1992)

Song: You're Welcome To My Heart
Writers: Bateman-Moseley-Wicker
Producer: unknown
Engineer: unknown
Recorded: unknown - unreleased until 1992


This was the first version of You're Welcome To My Heart that I heard. British Invasion bands were notorious for nicking rare soul songs from the USA and topping the chart placings of the originals. This version seems to have everything going for it, with great singing, majestic Abbey Road production and a killer mix. Unfortunately, this version of You're Welcome To My Heart was not released during the band's lifetime, dooming the song to unfair obscurity. The Swinging Blue Jeans version was first released in 1992. Hear the original version by the Chantels here.

No copyright infringement intended. I will remove this immediately at the request of the owners. This channel and blog are not monetized. The purpose is to promote the music. If you like what you hear and it is available on cd, vinyl or as a digital download, please purchase and support the artists & labels.

Swinging Blue Jeans - You're Welcome To My Heart - EMI (unreleased until 1992)


Swinging Blue Jeans - Good Golly, Miss Molly! The EMI Years 1963-1969