Listen here to this week’s dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic:
Well, there was the customary big cheery welcome to one and all . . . and for those looking for something different, something not chosen by an algorithm, then there was the reassurance that you were definitely in the right place, because I was along with a big dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic. It was full to the brim with the good stuff and all ready to make your ears smile and your toes wiggle. It all started off with Emma Noble and we were not pausing long because the party people were out there and they were ready to step out with Ole Borud for some rock steady. Then, there were some big smiles, as I was breezing through all the new releases and found the new album from Kelly’s Lot, with a song for these times . . . ‘Just Tell The Truth’. For those who think of Joanne Shaw Taylor as a blueser, through and through, her latest album ‘Heavy Soul’ might be a surprise because it has some great soulful numbers like her take on Joe Simon’s . . . ‘Drowning In A Sea Of Love’.
Our Tell It Like It Is feature was focused on New Jersey vocal group, The Spellbinders. They got signed to Columbia Records in 1965 and befriended Van McCoy, who went on to write and produce for them. During ’65 and ’66, they toured America and Canada, as well as appearing in the UK. They got to play at the legendary Northern Soul venue, the Manchester Twisted Wheel and on UK TV’s Top of the Pops. Sadly, they had no major hits and after releasing one of the great soul album they faded into obscurity. . . . but they left behind a classic Northern Soul track that still gets played on the soul scene . . . ‘Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again)’.
Rock Steady
We Gonna Live Forever – Emma Noble
Rock Steady – Ole Borud
Just Tell Me The Truth – Kelly’s Lot
Drowning In A Sea Of Love – Joanne Shaw Taylor
Tell It Like It Is
Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again) – The Spellbinders
That Lovin’ Feeling
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling – Creme De Cocoa
Give It All To You – Linda Lee Hopkins
La De Da De Da (Lost Without Your Love) – Labi Siffre
Back Where You Belong – Gerald McClendon
Devil’s Child – The What If
Got To See Her Tonight – Phil Dearing
Mellow Moment
Dark End Of The Street – James Carr
Make It Through
You’re All I Need To Get By – Blame Jones
Here Comes The Sun – Joss Stone
Make It Through – Sean Webster
Lie To Me – Toby Lee
That’s Just Love – Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps
Gotcha Covered
Don’t You Just Know It – Geraint Watkins & The Dominators
Roberta – Casey Van Beek & The Tulsa Groove
Rockin’ Pneumonia & Boogie Woogie Flu – Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames
Yeh Yeh
Real Lovin’ – Back Pocket
Long Night of Summer – Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
Put Some Rhythm In My Blues – Blue Blot
Yeh Yeh – Matt Bianco
Self Discipline – Zoot Money
Got You On My Mind – Cliff Bennett
Pretty Legs – Mike Sanchez
Midnight Tiger – Red Shahan
Call Me Up Tonight – The Pepita Slappers
I Love To Boogie – Mickey Jupp
Why Did God Make Boogie Woogie – Tyler Yarema
Our our Gotcha Covered feature brought us some of the songs of New Orleans legend, Huey Piano Smith, heard again through the covers of others. The first choice comes from celebrated UK band Geraint Watkins & The Dominators . . . with a much covered Huey Smith classic ‘Don’t You Just Know It’. Then, came Casey Van Beek & The Tulsa Groove, with their take on a song originally recorded by Huey Piano Smith, but it became a hit for Frankie Ford and there’s a whole story about that, but we were not going to dwell on that, because closing this trio of tracks are Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames with what the funkiest of doctors might have recognised as a common ailment and one of Huey Smith’s biggest hits . . . ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia & Boogie Woogie Flu’
As the sands of time were running for this week’s Sonic Tonic, there was a big thanks for your good company and the hope that we’ll meet again soon for another dose of Doctor Roberts Sonic Tonic, but not before Tyler Yarema played us out with a question that must be worthy of a doctorate thesis . . . ‘Why Did God Make Boogie Woogie’?
Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 12 June 2024
Broadcast by Reflections Radio on 17 June 2024
Just Cruising 