The music history books are vast and full of interesting bits of knowledge. “Big” Jay Sorensen gives you a recap of the biggest and most interesting music news from the week; something from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.
This week “Big” Jay looks back on a mega hit from Tommy James and the Shondells, a hot album from the Ohio Players and a band from down under that rules the early moments of 1983.
The 1960s
Capitol Records did it again, butchering another Beatles LP for the U.S. release of Rubber Soul. The way the group planned it, Rubber Soul was supposed to be an album containing 14 original tracks (as was the case on their British Parlophone Records release.) Instead, the brain-trust here in the states determined to only put 12 songs on the record, and not release singles from the American version. Regardless, this was the second Beatles LP to contain only new material. The first was the British version of Help!
Our “folk-rock” version contained two songs that were originally released in 1965 on the British LP Help!: “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” and “It’s Only Love,” both of which opened the two sides of the set. Dropped from the British LP for our consumption were the songs: “Nowhere Man” released as a single here instead and backed with “What Goes On,” as well as the album tracks “Drive My Car” and “If I Needed Someone.” All four cuts were used later on the only album release called Yesterday And Today. Other songs on Rubber Soul including: “In My Life,” “Michelle” and “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” are considered classic Beatles recordings.
The expression, Rubber Soul, was actually a slight put-down overheard by Paul McCartney by another singer to describe the singing of the Beatles’ friend Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones as being a “plastic soul” singer—or an “English soul” singer. Rubber Soul was the thrust for Beach Boys’ leader Brian Wilson to produce their landmark album Pet Sounds. The Rubber Soul LP has sold more than six million copies in the U.S. to date, with another few million worldwide.
The 1970s
Barry Eugene Carter a/k/a Barry White was undoubtedly celebrating this week in ’74. Not only was his song “Love’s Theme,” released under the name Love Unlimited Orchestra the top Easy Listening single, but would go on next week to become the leader on the Hot 100 Pop singles chart as well. Add to that, his solo album Stone Gon’ was the biggest record on the Hot Soul LP chart this week.
Stone Gon’ contained just five tracks; all over five minutes in duration, emulating the format of another R&B legend, Isaac Hayes. The standout tracks were also released as singles on 20th Century. First to see the light of day was “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up,” with the unhurried, sexy sound for which he became renowned. The tune reached No. 7 on the Pop chart, and No. 2 on the Soul Singles listing. The more disco-fied, yet lushly produced, “Honey Please, Can’t You See” didn’t fare as well on those two singles charts, reaching No. 44 and No. 6 respectively. That track was considered a hit in the disco rooms at the time, as fellow CBS-FM air-personalities and former club DJs Joe Causi and I can both attest to; always getting people up on their feet.
White had been a child prodigy piano player in the mid-‘50s, performing on seminal R&B records like the 1956 hit, “Goodnight My Love,” the ballad by Jesse Belvin. As a teen, White was put in jail for several months for stealing tires. While there, he reportedly heard the song “It’s Now Or Never” by Elvis Presley, and claimed it changed his life and wanted to return to performing music. He continued to be a mainstay in the Los Angeles music scene through the ‘60s, and became one of the most recognized producers, writers and arrangers (along with Gene Page) in the ‘70s; with a resurgence in the ‘80s. White was wed to Love Unlimited’s lead singer Glodean James in ’74. After a very successful career, White passed away on July 4th, 2003 in L.A.
The 1980s
While Madonna’s album True Blue had been the principal album in the U.S. months before (for five consecutive weeks from the middle of August through the middle of September in ’85) her most recent single “Open Your Heart” was the No. 1 hit in the land this week only. It was her fourth of five singles to be released from the album.
“Live To Tell” had been the first single, followed by the controversial “Papa Don’t Preach,” “True Blue” “Open Your Heart” and finally “La Isla Bonita” all on Sire Records. “Open Your Heart” was yet another highlight in Madonna’s arsenal for this album, which sold over 25 million internationally—making it the most successful album by a female artist, and one of the top-sellers of all time!
Not one to shy away from uproar, this single, “Open Your Heart,” had its share of controversy as well due to the scenario of a minor girl entering a strip club in the video version of the song. The track had actually been the initial song recorded for the album True Blue, but was originally intended for Cyndi Lauper to record by the song’s writers Garner Cole and Peter Rafelson. Madonna ended up with co-writing credit on “Open Your Heart” as she altered some of the lyrics to suit her. The entire album was dedicated to her then husband, actor Sean Penn.
–Big Jay Sorensen/WCBS-FM
More “This Week In History” On WCBSFM.com
This Week In History: It's Business As Usual For Men At Work
This Week In History: The Beatles Show A Little Soul
This Week In History: The Beatles Get Transcendental & More!
This Week In History: A Magical Mystery Tour, C’est Chic, & Thriller!
Tagged: This Week In History 