Silhouettes. Another fun, old song from 1957. I missed not having the doo-wops in the background, but did a little humming. LOL “Silhouettes” is a song made famous by the doo-wop group the Rays in 1957. A competing version by the Diamonds was also successful. In 1965 it was a number 5 hit in the US for Herman’s Hermits, and in 1990 it was a number 10 hit in the UK for Cliff Richard.… Read the rest
The Little White Cloud That Cried. So appropriate for the terrible times we are experiencing now. I was listening to some Johnnie Ray songs and heard this one today. I was only 7 years old back in 1951, but I remember this song and Cry. My Mom use to play the radio back then so I listened to all those great songs. I did not realize that I would still be listening almost 70 years later. Great music is timeless!!! I just love these old songs because they have such great lyrics and messages. Written by Johnnie Ray as a youngster, the song was the “B” side of Columbia Record’s first two-sided hit record. The “A” side was Ray’s first and biggest hit “Cry” and made it to #1 while “Cloud” made it to #2.… Read the rest
The Happy Organ. The sun is shining, it’s 53 degrees – time to rock it. I love playing this piece. I never play it the same way twice! You just get rolling and have fun – mistakes and all. The Roland organ does a great job for this piece. I hope it brings a smile to your face or at least gets your foot tapping. “The Happy Organ” is the name of an instrumental composition made famous by Dave “Baby” Cortez in 1959. Cortez co-composed it with noted celebrity photographer James J. Kriegsmann and frequent collaborator Kurt Wood. A significant portion of the tune bears a strong resemblance to the traditional “Shortnin’ Bread” tune.… Read the rest
Please Mr. Sun. I thought a sun song would be nice after the rain song yesterday. Some of my friends always ask why I don’t sing more. My answer is that I play accordion much better than I sing. LOL I did sing this one. Another pretty song from 1952. “Please, Mr. Sun” is a song written by Ray Getzov and Sid Frank and performed by Johnnie Ray featuring The Four Lads and the Jimmy Carroll Orchestra. It reached #6 on the U.S. pop chart in 1952. It was featured on his 1955 album, I Cry for You.… Read the rest
Nuttin’ For Christmas. Still having fun, but a little sad since I’m getting nothing for Christmas! LOL Cute song. Had fun doing the music and video. I hope it brings a smile to your face as you reminisce about your childhood. Words and music by Roy Bennet and Sid Tepper 1955. Thank You to the wonderful artists at Pixabay for the cute graphics.… Read the rest
Jingle Bell Rock. Always a favorite of mine, much fun to play. Can remember playing it way back in the ’80s. Don’t think I ever saw an audience that did not clap, sing and/or dance. You just can’t sit still for this one. I hope you enjoy my little video. I did it for fun and not perfection. Perfection is getting pretty far out of my reach these days! “Jingle Bell Rock” is an American popular Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and was composed by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe.… Read the rest
Dream Lover. I was rocking it out this morning. Celebrating two good eyes via catarct surgery and having all 3 possible exposures to Covid be negative! The surgery center called me the next day to say they had an asymtomatic Covid Patient that did not know it the day of surgery. Suggested I stay home for awhile. They actually heavily taped our masks on. I still have scabs from pulling the tape off – but boy am I glad they did that. Then my friend that gave me a ride home found her sister that lives with her had become very sick. Went for Covid test. Then my neighbor that gave me a ride to go back and pick up my car had is son exposed in school. We both wore masks. Everyone turned out negative! I am very blessed!!! So I was rocking it out this morning in a very happy mood. Good eyes, good music and no Covid. I did the song in the Enoch Light version where the band did swing it in 1964. But “Dream Lover” is a 1959 song written by Bobby Darin. Darin recorded his composition on March 5, 1959.… Read the rest
Sealed With A Kiss. A very interesting song. I was playing thru my 50′-60’s book and came across it. I believe I remember it. It was done faster, but I felt like a slow beat worked. A little different than I usually do. Love the Sax, Clarinet and Organ sounds on the Roland. “Sealed with a Kiss” is a song written and composed by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It first became a hit in 1962 for Brian Hyland. The original recording of “Sealed with a Kiss” was by the Four Voices which was released as a single in May 1960 without becoming a hit. The lyrics are from the point of view of one of two lovers who have had to part ways over the summer. The narrator promises the lover who has had to leave that he will send his love and dreams in daily letters “sealed with a kiss”. The two also bind each other to a pledge, under seal of a kiss, that they will reunite in September.… Read the rest
Another favorite from Junior High School time. We all dreamed then – big dreams! We all had or wish we had our sweethearts! The old songs from that era play so easy and are so much fun to do. Memories! “All I Have to Do Is Dream” is a song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by Boudleaux Bryant of the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and published in 1958.… Read the rest
My Special Angel is another great song from 1957. Being in Junior High School at that time, I remember so many of the older songs from the 50’s and 60’s. This is from my Fake Book called “The Gold Hits of the Fabulous Golden 50’s and 60’s.” A fun book to play from. There are over 300 songs, so I guess I will have something to keep me busy all winter playing and remembering the songs from the good old days. I used all organ since I thought it would make a good orchestration. I don’t use the great organ sounds on the Roland enough. I hope you enjoy it. “My Special Angel” is a popular song by Jimmy Duncan, published in 1957.… Read the rest
Come Softly To Me. I remember this song from junior high school. I was walking down the hall and could hear a small group singing it acapello. It sounded very nice and I wished that I could sing like that. Strange what memories we associate with music. I have 2 good eyes now, having my 2nd catarac surgery Tuesday, and thought I would play a song. I did it very simply since that was how it was recorded. I could imagine it being done with big string sounds and orchestra sounds, but thought I would go the simple route using some sounds I haven’t used before. “Come Softly to Me” is a popular song recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, the three of whom also wrote it in 1959.… Read the rest
A Walk In The Black Forest is a fun song. I remember it well when I was in College. I had fun playing it and putting the video together. I hope it makes you want to walk or at least tap your foot. Horst Jankowski composed A Walk In The Black Forest in 1965. It was an Instrumental. The original German title is ‘Eine Schwartzwaldfahrt’, though nothing appears to have been released before the Mercury record with that title.… Read the rest