"It's a Shame" by The Spinners.

OK, girls and boys. back to the 70s: This Detroit-based R&B vocal quintet was formed in 1954 as The Domingoes. Their first Top 20 hit and their biggest Motown smash came in 1970 (great year!) with a Stevie Wonder/Syreeta Wright/Lee Garrett R&B/soul composition. A man complains about his lover "messin' around" (hint, hint!) on him. #14 Billboard Hot 100, #3 R&B. Smooth lead vocals by G.C. Cameron. First song produced by Stevie Wonder for another act. Smokin' guitar work by Dennis Coffey, Robert White and Eddie Wills of Motown's The Funk Brothers. Group? Song? Answer: "It's a Shame" by The Spinners. Fond memories of our senior year in high-school/freshman year in college. The Spinners were certainly a hit-making machine! They were hot in Philly when I arrived there in 1973. They did most of their recording at Sigma Sound Studios, not far from Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, where I lived during my four years of med school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoZP18U5VyY&list=RDWoZP18U5VyY&start_radio=1

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"All I Want Is You" ("The Little Farmer") from the Lay's 2025 Super Bowl commercial. (Posted on FB 6/24/25).

OK, girls and boys, coming at ya from farm (hint, hint!) country: Children's music singer/songwriter Barry Louis Polisar composed and first recorded this catchy, lilting 1977 tune. Featured in the opening credits of the 2007 film "Juno". It was "rediscovered" and recorded under a new title by Caroline Says, becoming the background music for a 2025 Lay's Potato Chips Super Bowl commercial that captured the hearts of the nation and placed the spotlight on agriculture. Speaks of the deep-rooted traditions and noble hard work of the American farming family. Inspired by real-life 5th generation Wisconsin potato farmer Jeremie Pavelski and his kin, especially his 7-year-old daughter. Killer acoustic guitar work on the commercial evocative of the late-great John Prine's trademark fingerstyle picking. Original song? Lay's commercial version? Answer: "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar. "The Little Farmer" by Caroline Say...
Read more

"Where Do You Work A-John?" aka "The Delaware-Lackawan Song".

OK, boys and girls, back to the 20s (a toughie!): This classic "Italian"-American novelty song was written in 1926 by Harry Warren (Salvatore Anthony Guaragna), "Hollywood's Unknown Composer", with lyrics by M. Weinberg/C. Marks/E. Krickett/E. Stamper. Minor hit in '58 for Lou Monte. Featured in Betty Boop's "Mask-A-Raid" in '31 and in John Wayne's "Fighting Seabees". Song? Alternate title? Answer: "Where Do You Work A-John?" aka "The Delaware-Lackawan Song". This song was a staple at the "notorious" Phi Chi Medical Fraternity Wednesday night parties in Philly in the early 70s along with "Roller Derby Queen", "Born to Run", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and, of course, the one about the Fugawi Tribe ("The Wild West Show"). How the heck did we do that and make it to lecture the following morning?! YOUTH!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLgqKm8NC2o...
Read more

"Goldfinger" theme - Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: The theme song for the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger" was Shirley Bassey's only Top 10 hit. It was produced by Sir George Martin at Abbey Road Studios, accompanied by the John Barry Orchestra. Which two future members of Led Zeppelin played in the recording? Answer: Jimmy Page (guitar) and John Paul Jones (bass). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D1nK7q2i8I
Read more