Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
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Well, this week the Cruise Mobile arrived with with a rocking little number from Ray Collins’ Hot Club, after which we were off down the road again now with vocal group the Vibes who later became The Jayhawks. The wonderful Clarence Samuels followed with his 1959 release ‘We’re Goin’ To The Hop’ and some more rhythm and blues from The Titans with a song that they sang in the highly forgettable film ‘Bop Girl Goes Calypso’.
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We went all the way back to
1951 for Honey Brown’s Derby Records release ‘Rockin & Jumpin’ and then we heard from someone with an impeccable music pedigree, Arbee Stidham, who hailed from Arkansas and moved to Chicago in the late 40s, where he got a chart topper with his first RCA Victor release, then in 1956 he recorded our choice ‘Meet Me Halfway’.
This week’s Cruising Connections featured some very fine covers of songs by one well known songwriter. . . . but who was it? Your starter of three came from German band The Swinging Fireballs, followed by a familiar song, but with a twist of style from Jesse Malin. Finally, we pulled out the Dixie Hummingbirds which got plenty of hands in the air and shouting of ‘Paul Simon’. Then, Mr Simon was back with his long time singing partner Art Garfunkel in their earlier incarnation as singing duo Tom & Jerry with their successful 45 release from 1957 ‘Hey Schoolgirl’.
Goin’ To The Hop
Mine All Mine – Ray Collins’ Hot Club
Let The Old Folks Talk – The Vibes
We’re Goin’ To The Hop – Clarence Samuels
Rhythm & Blues – The Titans
Rockin’ & Jumpin’ – Honey Brown
Meet Me Halfway – Arbee Stidham
Cruising Connections
Take Me To The Mardi Gras – The Swinging Fireballs
Me & Julio Down By The School Yard – Jesse Malin
Love Me Like A Rock – The Dixie Hummingbirds
Hey Schoolgirl – Tom & Jerry
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Girls & Guitars
I Don’t Hurt Anymore – Lisa Mann
Doo Wop Delights
Crazy Bout My Honey Dip – The Cap-Tans
Sweetheart Of Mine – The Valentines
Can’t Stop Moving
When The Chips Are Down – Rocky Sharp & The Replays
I Miss Ya Girl – Chas & Dave with Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry
I Told You Not To Tell Them – Marie Knight
House Near The Railroad Track – Tommy Brown
Can’t Stop Moving – Johnny Chef
This week our Girls & Guitars feature focused on Lisa Mann, who was born in West Virginia, and later moved to California, where at age eleven she bought her first guitar and learnt to play listening to bands like Deep Purple, Cream and Led Zeppelin. She began her professional music career at the age of 19 and, to date, has produced five albums. We chose something from her latest album, ‘Hard Times, Bad Decisions’ . . . . her take on ‘I Don’t Hurt Anymore’.
We started our Doo Wop Delights, where we left off last week. Back then we played a number called ‘Honey Gee’ by The Saigons, and said it was song that many claim was lifted from a number by Washington DC group The Cap-Tans. So, we played their 1950 Dot Records 45 called ‘Crazy Bout My Honey Dip’. They were followed by New York vocal group, The Valentines, with their 1956 Rama 45, ‘Sweetheart of Mine’ which for some reason remained unreleased at the time and we are left to wonder why. To prove that the Brits are no slouches when it comes to doo wop, we pulled out a little number by Rocky Sharp & The Replays that was a great favourite on their live gigs.
Back in April 2014, the UK Rockney record label issued an album of rare recordings by Chas & Dave which included some notable guests, including Clarence Frogman Henry and they graced our playlist with Clarence singing a Chas & Dave original, ‘I Miss Ya Girl’. They were followed by Marie Knight with a great favourite here and then Tommy Brown, performing a new version of a song he cut for Regent records back in 1951. Meanwhile, some may have spotted some familiar faces and places coming into view, as we joined Johnny Chef to take us all the way home with his 1962 Fire 45, ‘Can’t Stop Moving’. But, then sadly we had to stop moving, as we arrived back where we started and just in time to park up the trusty Cruise Mobile and give it a quick polish, so it’s all ready for the next time we all go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 27 October 2018
Just Cruising 