Superfly – Curtis Mayfield – 1972

A man with an interesting life… Curtis Mayfield had a 1972 hit with the title track from the Superfly soundtrack.

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• Born in Chicago, in 1942, Curtis Lee Mayfield is remembered as one of the most influential musicians behind politically conscious African-American music.
• His first success was with The Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s before becoming a solo artist.
• In 1965, he wrote People Get Ready for The Impressions – the song is ranked at #24 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and, in 1998, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
• In 1972, Curtis wrote the soundtrack for the blaxploitation movie, Superfly. The soundtrack produced two hit records, Freddie’s Dead, which peaked at #4 on the US charts, and Superfly which peaked at #8 in the US and #52 in the UK.
• In 1990, Curtis was paralysed from the neck down after lighting equipment fell on him during a live performance in New York. He continued his career as a recording artist, releasing his final album New World Order in 1996.
• Curtis was awarded a Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He is a double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of the Impressions in 1991, and again in 1999 as a solo artist.
• Curtis died from complications of type 2 diabetes in 1999.

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• Superfly was written by Curtis Mayfield, as the title track of the 1972 soundtrack – it plays over the movie’s closing credits.
• It peaked at #8 on the US singles charts and #52 on the UK charts.
• The song plays over the film’s closing credits.
• The bassline and percussion break from the song’s introduction have been used in a number of rap songs. Curtis himself sampled the original song in Superfly 1990, a duet with rapper Ice-T.
• The song appeared in the 2012 movie Dark Shadows.
• Superfly lyrics.

superfly – curtis mayfield – 1972 -video

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I Can’t Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles – 1973

One hit wonder? Yep, probably… Ann Peebles made the top 40 in the US and UK only once; in 1973 with I Can’t Stand the Rain.

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• Known for Memphis soul albums released throughout the 70s, Ann Peebles began her career as a gospel singer opening for artists such as Mahalia Jackson and the Soul Stirrers featuring Sam Cooke.
• While singing in clubs in St Louis, Ann was offered a recording contract with Hi Records. A number of albums followed, seven of them in just nine years throughout the 70s; she scored a number of R&B hits from them but only once dented the Top 40. That was in 1973 with I Can’t Stand the Rain.
• Hi Records closed in 1979 leaving Ann without a label. She took a break from singing but returned in 1989 with her album Call Me.
• Ann continued to perform through to 2012 when she suffered a stroke.

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• I Can’t Stand the Rain was originally recorded by Ann Peebles who wrote the song with her husband Don Bryant, and Bernard Miller.
• I Can’t Stand the Rain was Ann’s biggest hit, reaching #38 on the US charts & #41 on the UK charts.
• John Lennon called I Can’t Stand the Rain, “The best song ever,” in a Billboard magazine article and Ian Dury chose this as one of his eight songs on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs programme.
• In 1978, disco band, Eruption released a cover version which went on to become the group’s biggest hit, reaching the top ten in a number of countries around the world – peaking at #18 on the US charts.
• Then, in 1984 Tina Turner recorded the song. It was released as a single in Europe and was fairly successful. It peaked at #57 in the UK.
• I Can’t Stand the Rain lyrics.

i can’t stand the rain – ann peebles – 1973 – video

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At the Hop – Sha Na Na – 1970

First performed (as a cover) by Sha Na Na at Woodstock in 1969, the song later appeared on the 1970 Woodstock album.

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• Sha Na Na began as part of the Columbia University a cappella group, the Kingsmen, but changed their name when a band of the same name gained fame for Louie, Louie.
• Performing 50s hit songs, accompanied by dance moves and harmonies, Sha Na Na began performing in 1969 at the height of the hippie counterculture but went on to achieve US-wide fame after opening for Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock Festival. Fame that went on to inspire similar groups throughout North America, as well as Grease, American Graffiti and the television show Happy Days.
• The band then hosted the Sha Na Na variety television show from 1977 to 1981 with guests including James Brown, the Ramones, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, the Ronettes, and Chubby Checker.
• Still performing today, the current line-up includes Donny York and Jocko Marcellino, two of the original 12 members, and long-time member Screamin’ Scott Simon, who joined in 1970.
• In their early years, Sha Na Na band played at venues such as Fillmore East and Fillmore West, opening for the Grateful Dead, the Mothers of Invention, and the Kinks. Soon the band began headlining at such venues – one of their opening acts was Bruce Springsteen. In 1972, Sha Na Na was one of just four acts invited by John Lennon and Yoko Ono to perform with them at their One-to-One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden.

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• At the Hop was written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White and originally released by Danny & the Juniors in late-1957, reaching #1 on the US charts on January 6, 1958. It peaked at #3 on the UK charts.
• The song was covered by Sha Na Na at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and featured in the 1973 George Lucas movie American Graffiti.
• Notable covers, other than Sha Na Na’s version, include, Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys. It also formed part of Uriah Heap’s song, Rock’n’Roll Medley.
• At the Hop lyrics.

at the hop – sha na na – 1970 – video

at the hop sha na na – 1969 – woodstock video

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Roxanne – The Police – 1978

For around seven years in the late 70s and early 80s, British band, The Police, dominated the singles charts in the UK and the US; their first hit was a re-issue of a song that had initially failed to make the charts – Roxanne.

the police fax

• Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar, primary songwriter), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion) formed The Police in 1977 in London.
• Their 1978 debut album, Outlandos d’Amour, peaked at #6 on the UK Albums Chart. They followed that with Reggatta de Blanc (1979) which became the first of four consecutive #1 studio albums in the UK. Message in a Bottle, from that album became their first #1 UK single.
• Faring well in the US, it wasn’t until their 1983 album Synchronicity (their final studio album), that they hit #1 in the US – it reached #1 in the UK also. The Police’s 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, a UK #1, peaked at #2 in the US>
• The Police have sold over 75 million records, making them one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.
• In terms of awards and accolades, The Police won six Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award. In 2003, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• The Police disbanded in 1986, but reunited in early 2007 for a one-off world tour that ended in August 2008 – they were the world’s highest-earning musicians in 2008, due to their reunion tour.

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• Roxanne, written by The Police lead singer and bassist Sting, recorded in January 1978 and released in April 1978, was the first single from The Police’s debut album Outlandos d’Amour.
• On first release, the song didn’t feature on any music charts. However, on re-release in 1979, the song peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart.
• Rolling Stone magazine ranked Roxanne at #388 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
• In 2008, Roxanne was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The same year, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included Roxanne in its list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
• Roxanne lyrics.

roxanne – the police – 1978 – video

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Mouldy Old Dough – Lieutenant Pigeon – 1972

A tune I could easily have forgotten about were it not that I listened to an old Desert Islands disc podcast featuring Jarvis Cocker and he chose this as one of his songs, Lieutenant Pigeon’s 1972 #1 UK hit, Mouldy Old Dough.

trivia fact

Mouldy Old Dough is the only song featuring a mother and son to top the British charts.

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• Lieutenant Pigeon were a novelty band formed in 1972 in Coventry, England – a spin-off from an experimental band which went by the name of Stavely Mackpeace. Band members were Rob Woodward (keyboards, guitar, vocals, etc.), Nigel Fletcher (drums), Stephen Johnson (bass) and Hilda Woodward (honky-tonk piano), Rob’s mother.
• Lieutenant Pigeon’s hits were few – both in 1972 and both largely instumental – with Mouldy Old Dough and Desperate Dan (which peaked at #17 in the UK) being their only hits. Although, they did reach #3 on the Australian charts with a cover version of I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen (1973).
• Lieutenant Pigeon remains active today, mostly producing backing tracks for various musicians and advertising jingles.
• Hilda Woodward died, aged 85, on 22 February 1999. She was 58 when Mouldy Old Dough hit the #1 UK single spot making her one of the oldest female artists to feature on a UK #1 single. Her piano is an Exhibit at Coventry Music Museum.

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• Largely instrumental (apart from the words “Mouldy Old Dough” and “Dirty Old Man” being growled occasionally) was written by Rob Woodward and Nigel Fletcher and recorded by Lieutenant Pigeon.
• First recorded by Rob and Nigel’s previous band Stavely Makepeace, the song was recorded in the front room of Rob’s house.
• Nigel was once asked what the song meant only to reply that he had no idea.
• The band’s manager was dubious about releasing the song but eventually agreed – it flopped. However, a current affairs show in Belgium used it as theme music and it became a hit. It was re-released in the UK and, with the backing BBC Radio 1 DJ Noel Edmonds, it became a hit, spending four weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart in October 1972.
• Mouldy Old Dough sold 790,000 copies in the UK. It charted in New Zealand (#1), Ireland (#1), and Canada and Australia. It didn’t chart at all in the United States.

mouldy old dough – lieutenant pigeon – 1972 – video

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Sad Sweet Dreamer – Sweet Sensation – 1974

Almost a one-hit wonder, Sweet Sensation had a #1 UK hit 1974 hit with Sad Sweet Dreamer and a #11 UK hit with Purely by Coincidence.

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• Formed in Manchester, England, in 1971, Sweet Sensation were an eight-piece soul band.
• Sweet Sensation’s first appearance was on the television talent show, New Faces (think early X-Factor).
• Signed to Pye Records, the band’s first single, Snowfire, failed to reach the charts. Their second single, however, reached #1 in the UK and #14 in the US.
• Several follow-up singles failed to reach the charts and, having released only one album (Sad Sweet Dreamer in 1975), the group disbanded in 1978.
• Sweet Sensation’s youngest member, lead vocalist, Marcel King, (one of the few members not born in Kingston, Jamaica) launched a solo career in 1985, but had little success. Marcel died of a brain haemorrhage on 5 October, 1995, at the age of 38.
• Another founder member, Leroy Smith, was found dead in his Manchester flat, on 15 January, 2009. He had died from bronchopneumonia, at the age of 56.

sad sweet dreamer fax

• Sad Sweet Dreamer was written by David Parton and recorded by Sweet Sensation.
• It reached #1 on the UK singles chart in October 1974 & peaked at #14 on the US chart.
• Co-produced by English musician, Tony Hatch, the band’s vocals were augmented by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent.
• Sad Sweet Dreamer featured in the 2013 movie Rush.
• Sad Sweet Dreamer lyrics.

sad sweet dreamer – sweet sensation – 1974 – video

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Mississippi – Pussycat – 1975

From 1975 and Dutch country band, Pussycat, their #1 hit single, Mississippi.

pussycat fax

• Active from 1973 – 1985 and 2004 – 2005, Pussycat was a Dutch country/pop band.
• Pussycat was formed by three sisters, Toni, Betty and Marianne Kowalczyk. The three sister were telephone operators when they met other band members, guitarists Lou Willé (Toni’s husband), Theo Wetzels, Theo Coumans, and John Theunissen.
• The two Theo’s and John were in a band named Scum, while Lou was in Ricky Rendall and His Centurions. The seven joined forces to create Sweet Reaction which morphed to Pussycat.
• The band produced six studio albums in quick succession and released 18 singles, all hits in the Netherlands but with limited success overseas – except for Mississippi which hit #1 in a number of European countries, UK, South Africa, and New Zealand.

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• Mississippi was written by Werner Theunissen – the guitar teacher of Pussycat members, the Kowalczyk sisters.
• Recorded by Dutch band, Pussycat in April 1975, and lifted from their first album, First of All, the song became the band’s first single and their only #1 record outside of the Netherlands.
• Werner had written the song six years before it was recorded and said it was inspired by the Bee Gees song, Massachusetts.
• Mississippi reached #1 in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom – not to mention, #2 in Australia, #4 in Austria, and #6 in Sweden.
• The song is estimated to have sold five million copies worldwide.
• Pussycat released a simultaneous German language version which peaked at #24 on the German charts.
• Mississippi lyrics.

mississippi – pussycat – video – 1975

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I Hear You Knocking – Dave Edmunds – 1970

#1 in the UK, #4 in the US; Dave Edmunds is another one of those artists whose first couple of hits were his most successful – I Hear You Knocking, his only #1, was his first solo single.

dave edmunds fax

• Dave Edmunds was born in Cardiff, Wales. Making music since a child, most of his hit records were in the 70s and early 80s.
• Dave’s musical career began at ten years-old as half of a piano duo with his brother Geoff. By age 13, he was playing guitar in a band named The Stompers, later changed to The Heartbeats. Then came The 99ers and Crick Feather’s Hill-Bill’s.
• The first band Dave fronted was as a 17-year-old in a rockabilly band, The Raiders. His first band to record was Love Sculpture who had moderate success with a #5 UK single, Sabre Dance.
• Going solo in 1970, Dave had an immediate #1 hit with I Hear You Knocking – a cover of a Smiley Lewis song which he came across while producing Shakin’ Stevens’ first album.
• Throughout the 80s and 90s, Dave continued to perform and release material. He appeared as part of Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band in 1992 and 2000.
• In 2015, Dave released his first instrumental album On Guitar… Dave Edmunds: Rags & Classics, which featured instrumental covers of classic songs such as The Beach Boys‘, God Only Knows and Elton John‘s, Your Song. This was to be Dave’s final album and after playing a final show in July 2017, he was reported to have retired from the music business.

i hear you knocking fax

• I Hear You Knocking, sometimes written I Hear You Knockin’, was written in the mid-1950s by Dave Bartholomew. New Orleans blues singer Smiley Lewis first recorded the song in 1955. Reaching #2 in the US’s Billboard R&B singles chart in 1955, it was Smiley’s popular and best-known song.
• Dave Edmunds covered the song in 1970 reaching #1 in the UK and #4 in the US.
• Dave’s version hit #1 in the UK in December 1970, filling the coveted Christmas #1 slot – it stayed there for six weeks.
• Dave’s version of I Hear You Knocking sold over three million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. It later appeared on Rockpile, Dave’s first solo album.
• I Hear You Knocking lyrics.

i hear you knocking – dave edmunds – 1970 – video

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Ginger Baker 1939 – 2019 – Obituary

Ginger Baker, Cream co-founder who redefined rock drumming, has died, aged 80. To read the Rolling Stones Magazine tribute click here.

sunshine of your love – cream – featuring Ginger Baker – video

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I Don’t Like Mondays – The Boomtown Rats – 1979

The Boomtown Rats sole #1 hit, the massive, I Don’t Like Mondays – from 1979.

boomtown rats fax

• The Boomtown Rats formed in Dublin in 1975, led by vocalist Bob Geldof, with other original members being, Garry Roberts (lead guitar), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Pete Briquette (bass), Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar) and Simon Crowe (drums).
• The Boomtown Rats broke up in 1986, but reformed in 2013, without Johnnie or Gerry.
• The band’s original name was The Nightlife Thugs. The name was changed when Garry threatened to resign if they continued performing under that name. The Boomtown Rats is taken from a gang of children written about in Woody Guthrie’s autobiography, Bound for Glory.
• The Boomtown Rats’ music was often overshadowed by Bob’s charity work including Band Aid (on which all the band members played).
• Singles-wise, the band’s most successful era was 1977 – 1980 when they had nine singles which charted in the UK – five of those in the Top 10; two reaching #1. Their only song to chart in the US was I Don’t Like Mondays, which peaked at #73.

i don’t like mondays fax

• I Don’t Like Mondays was written by Boomtown Rats members, Bob Geldof and Johnnie Fingers and recorded by The Boomtown Rats. as the lead single from their third album, The Fine Art of Surfacing.
• The song was released in the UK on 13 July, 1979 and the US in October 1979.
• I Don’t Like Mondays is about the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego.
• I Don’t Like Mondays was a #1 single in the UK, Ireland, Australia and South Africa. It peaked at #73 in the US.
• The Boomtown Rats performed I Don’t Like Mondays for Live Aid in 1985 – the band’s final major appearance. At a London concert in 1995, Bon Jovi covered the song after being joined on stage by Geldof at Wembley Stadium.
• I Don’t Like Mondays lyrics.

i don’t like mondays – the boomtown rats – 1979 – video

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