Janice Harper Update

If you can see this, that means I fixed Blogger myself.

This is a Janice Harper follow-up, or sorts. Somebody was nice enough to send me scans of a promotional picture Janice was using in the mid-1960's and I have included one of the three images that was on it, below. The party that sent it to me was a husband and wife musical team that used to work in the same Pocono Pennsylvania resort clubs as Janice. The husband led a band that used to back up Janice and other artists that came through such as Bob Hope, Robert Goulet and others. Buddy Hackett played there, as well as the other big stars of the mid- to late-'60's. This couple also told me that the promo photo of her had her booking agent contact information on the back of it - address and telephone number. I tried calling the telephone number, but it just keeps ringing and nobody picks up. I don't know what this means. Obviously somebody still has that number, but it could be a new person or the same person who's had it for years. But, by nobody picking it up, I can't tell for sure which it is. But, I'm still trying to see if she can be traced, so I haven't given up yet!

Forced Vacation

And, if that wasn't enough, now Google blogger won't seem to allow me to upload any photographs. My blogs all rely on photographs, so I suppose until somebody straightens this out, I won't be able to post anything on Music For Every Mood temporarily. If it's not one thing, it's always a half a dozen others.
You'll all remember how lightning struck my computer a couple weeks back and I had to buy a new one. Well, my car had "issues" and it had to be taken into the shop for repairs. It's supposed to be around the tune of $700. (Not my favorite tune, mind you!) They were okay with me paying half tomorrow (when it's supposed to be finished), and the rest in a week or so. Well, today I find that I lost my job and I get my car insurance statement which will be due at the end of this month. Will it never end!?

Don't despair. I'll try to be back soon!

Patti Page Followup

Artist: Patti Page

Song: A Poor Man's Roses (a-side) (b-side is The Wall)

Label: Mercury Records 71059X45

Number: YW14651

Songwriters: DeLugg-Hilliard

Time: 2:25

Released: February 4th, 1957

This is just a short Patti Page followup post to let everyone know what's going on here at Music For Every Mood. A few weeks ago, a huge thunderstorm swept through my area and lightning struck and took out my computer. (And several others all along my block!) I finally got a new one and returned to the internet, but I've still got some catching up to do. For now, maybe this lovely song by Patti will help tide you over until I can get some new things up.

This song is the flipside of a record I've already posted, here, but this one has such a nice guitar part that features throughout, I decided to post it, too! If you didn't know that I play guitar in a band, you might not know why I like the guitar so much in music. But, that's not the only reason this song is good. Patti delivers it with so much confidence that it grabs you and pulls you in to liking it the very first time you hear it. Sometimes, certain uptempo songs like this do things like that! So, please enjoy Patti Page singing A Poor Man's Roses, because I certainly do and I think you will, too. And we all know what a great taste in music I have! (Wink, wink!)

Forever Linda

Artist: Linda Laurie
Song: Prince Charming (a-side) (b-side is Soupin' Up Your Motor)
Label: Rust 5022
Number: ZTSP 65682
Songwriters: L. Stallman - S. Jacobson
Time: 2:11
Released: 1960

If there was ever an artist that could be considered to be the female Ray Stevens, Linda Laurie would be it. She recorded quite a few novelty songs which featured her doing all the voices of the different characters in the songs. Songs such as Ambrose, Part 5, Jose He Say and Chico were all such non-serious songs of hers. But, like Ray Stevens, she had a serious side and attempted standard songs as well.

All told, Linda Laurie's career had a lot of variety to it. She appeared on To Tell The Truth and American Bandstand, in 1959 and 1960 respectively; recorded girl-group songs; wrote a smash-hit recorded by Helen Reddy and co-authored the theme of the classic mid-'70's children's cartoon The Land Of The Lost. She also performed live and appeared in Australia, touring with Lloyd Price, Conway Twitty, The Kalin Twins and a host of Australian Rock'n'Roll stars on the same bill. In addition to all that was the novelty songs I spoke of.

Songs such as Ambrose, Part 5, (and it's sequels Forever Ambrose and The Return Of Ambrose), Chico, Jose He Say and Stay At Home Sue (A parody of Runaround Sue), cemented her fame in the novelty category. But, she also released serious tunes she had recorded such as Stay With Me, Lucky, Lazy Love, All Winter Long, Ooh, What A Lover, When You Find Out Where You're Going Let Me Know, Leave Me Along (Ruby Red Dress), which she recorded herself but Helen Reddy had the huge hit version; and today's featured song Prince Charming.

Prince Charming is a straight ahead pop song of the early rock and roll era and Linda sings it with much sincerity. If all you had ever heard of her was songs like these, you'd be wondering if she had a lot of other hits in this style. Sadly, she did not. I suppose her talent was such that she wanted to do more than just be the next Connie Francis or Brenda Lee and broke off into other genres. If you ever get a chance to hear one of the Ambrose songs or Jose, He Say, you'll see what I mean. She had passion for a lot of things and it shows in even this serious song. Listen to Prince Charming by Linda Laurie and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Such an amazing voice!

Ruby Ruby

Artist: Ruby Murray
Song: I'll Remember Today (a-side) (b-side is Ain't That A Grand And Glorious Feeling)
Label: Capitol F3947 (White Label Promotional Record)
Number: 45-X42040
Songwriters: Piaf - Engvick
Time: 2:30
Released: November 1957 (?)

Today's featured artist was born Ruby Florence Murray on March 29th, 1935, in Belfast, Ireland. She toured as a child artist and first appeared on television at the age of 12. She acted in motion pictures and performed for the British Royal family. But her most remarkable achievement happened in 1955, when she had 5 singles in the top 20 of the charts at the same time. This is a record that still stands today!

Some of her hits include Heartbeat; Softly, Softly; Happy Days And Lonely Nights; Let Me Go, Lover; If Anyone Finds This; I Love You (with Anne Warren); Evermore; I'll Come When You Call; Real Love; Goodbye Jimmy, Goodbye and You Are My First Love. For the complete year of 1955, she had at least one song in the U.K. charts every week. During this time, she had her own television show, performed at the London Palladium in Painting The Town and toured the world. After her last appearance on the charts in the late 1950's, she continued to headline variety shows for another two decades, but her career would never reach such a peak again. She died of liver cancer on December 17th, 1996. Ruby was still performing in cabaret and in nostalgia shows with other stars of the 1950's right up to her death.

Today's song is in waltz time and features Norrie Paramor's Orchestra. Patty Page also had a hit with I'll Remember Today, such was it's popularity. With it's lilting Italian sound, featuring accordian and strings, her strong voice pulls you into her vow about always remembering today. She was a huge star in Great Britain and is still fondly remembered by her fans today. If you don't believe me, download the plaintive I'll Remember Today by Ruby Murray and see for yourself if she doesn't convince you of her sincerity with her fine voice.

Book 'Em, Lani

Artist: Lani Kai
Song: Batik (b-side) (a-side is I'm Gonna Leave My Heart At Home)
Label: Keen P 82103 (Promotional - Not For Sale)
Number: 59191
Songwriters: Kai
Time: 2:37
Released: 1960 (?)

Lani Kai represented the image of the handsome, native Polynesian man for viewers in the early 1960's on a television show called Adventures In Paradise. Born George Clarence Dennis James Von Ruckleman Woodd III on August 15th, 1936, in Honolulu, Oahu, Kai was 24 when he signed for Adventures in Paradise, and even had a co-starring role in the Elvis Presley movie, Blue Hawaii, in 1961.

Lani was an accomplished songwriter whose most notable songs are Puka Shells and Tutukane. His performances and acts are credited for transforming the local entertainment scene in Hawaii. He continued to compose music and scriptwriting until his sudden death at a friend's home on August 24th, 1999. Kai was 63 and was survived by a brother and half-sister. At his request his ashes were scattered at Chun's Reef.

The flipside of today's record, I'm Gonna Leave My Heart At Home, sounds like any other teen idol of the late 1950's/early 1960's. As such, it's quite a rocking little tune. He conveys the material well. But, it's the b-side of this record that is being featured here today because of it's use of native Hawaiian language and instruments. Batik is a tune he wrote himself, as he was an accomplished songwriter, and it's theme revolves around a guy questioning his love about the vows they had previously made to each other. Batik is her name. It's a very nice number and if you've ever loved tropical islands or wished you could visit Hawaii, like I have, then you'll want to download and listen to Batik, by Lani Kai. Just imagine yourself lying back in a hammock, while waves spill onto the beach and warm tropical breezes gently blow the tiny umbrella around in your drink. Aloha and mahalo!

I apologise for the scant amount of information I could locate about him, but there wasn't much to be found out there. That's really a shame because he was such a talented singer, songwriter and actor, as well. To make up for it, I include as a bonus picture, this screen capture from when Lani made one of his three guest appearances on Hawaii Five-O. This one is from 1970, in a second season episode entitled Most Likely To Murder:

Her Nibbs, Miss Gibbs

Artist: Georgia Gibbs
Song: Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe (b-side) (a-side is Happiness Street)
Label: Mercury 70920X45
Number: YW13032
Songwriters: Arlen - Harburg
Time: 2:43
Released: July 12th, 1956

Today's artist is the epitomy of what Music For Every Mood is all about. Trust me, you're going to want this one for sure! Georgia Gibbs was a singer who was known historically - and controversially - as one of the whites who gained success in the 1950's covering rhythm and blues hits by black artists. Sometimes, her versions, which included sanitized lyrics, even upstaged the originals. In reality she was a genuinely talented pop vocalist, whose jazz-tinged approach reflected years of experience in the big band era, a period when there was no stigma attached to covers.
Georgia Gibbs was born Frieda Lipschitz, in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 17th, 1919. Her father died when she was six months old, and she spent her first seven years in an orphanage in Worcester, separated from her other siblings. She revealed a natural talent for singing at a very young age and was given the lead in the orphanage's yearly variety show. She began her professional career at the age of thirteen, and was singing in Boston's Raymor Ballroom the following year. She soon found steady work on radio and began freelancing with big bands such as Frankie Trumbauer, Hal Kemp, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw. It was with Shaw's band (then billed as Fredda Gibson) that she scored her first hit, Absent Minded Moon (1942).

In 1943, she changed her name to Georgia Gibbs and began appearing on the popular Camel Caravan radio program, hosted by Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore. It was Moore who bestowed the famous nickname "Her Nibs, Miss Georgia Gibbs" upon her; the nickname is a playful reference to her diminutive stature of barely over 5 feet. She was a regular performer on this show until 1947. Gibbs signed with Majestic Records in 1946, and while she recorded many great records, she would have to wait until 1950 for her first hit single, If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked A Cake (on the Coral label). Her most successful record was Kiss Of Fire which reached the #1 position on the pop music charts in 1952. Other notable songs included Melancholy Baby, I'll Be Seeing You, Autumn Leaves, You Keep Coming Back Like A Song, Red Hot Mama, A-Razz-A-Ma-Tazz, Ol' Man Mose and Shoo Shoo Baby. Covers of Dance With Me, Henry and Tweedle Dee saw her popularity rise to new heights in the mid-1950's, only to fade toward the end of the decade when she had her final hit with the novelty number The Hula Hoop Song, in 1958. She cut her final album, Call Me, in 1966 and rarely performed after that. Georgia Gibbs died of leukemia on December 9th, 2006, aged 87, at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Despite all the different song genres she employed throughout her career, I think today's record defines her sound the best. Singing the classic 1940 pop song Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe, written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, she seems well at ease with herself, her talents and her voice. The subdued arrangement by Glenn Osser smolders in the background while she is allowed to shine vocally front and center. If one only heard this solitary record of hers, they would believe she deserved a place in the pantheon of great torch singers. But, in reality, she excelled at singing Popular music, R&B, Rock and Roll and Big Band Swing just as easily. Some night when the rain is pouring down outside and you're all alone with that special someone, make sure your fireplace is crackling warm and low, snuggle up with a light wine and listen to Georgia Gibbs singing Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe. It's moments like these you'll treasure forever.