Vinyl Record Lovers Newsletter
Welcome to my monthly Newsletter. Thank you for subscribing.
The golden age of vinyl records and all things retro are the highlights of my Newsletter.
Writing stories based on my vinyl record collection is my way of sharing memories and keeping the oldies alive.
I do appreciate the time you take to read my newsletter.
Issue #082 - December 20, 2019In This Issue:
- A Special Playlist from Special Friends
- Christmas Memories
- All I Want For Christmas Is You.
- Popular Elvis Duet - Blue Christmas
- Owning Vinyl or Digital - You Be The Judge
- 50s Rocker, Jack Scott, has died.
A Special Playlist
After my Jukebox songs review in the November Newsletter I called on my Doo-wop buddies out West and ask for a couple of Jukebox songs during their show, time permitting.
A special thanks to DJ Ned Ward and the Country Doo-wop producer, Mr.
"B" for the exciting Jukebox playlist featured on the 12-16-2019 Monday
show. I put in a request to hear Jukebox In My Mind and they cut loose
with five in a row starting with "Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I
Die)." I kinda figured that's where I might end up one day and a few song
lyrics fit right in.
Prop me up beside the jukebox if I die
Lord, I want to go to heaven, but I don't want to go tonight
Just make your next selection, and while you're still in line
You can pay your last respects one quarter at a time
Thanks for a fun show, Ned and Mr "B."
Listen in or call Ned and request your favorite song. Make your request here.
Nothing evokes the memories of Christmases past like music. It captures the warmth of family and friends reunited for a few days at least. It gladdens the heart with familiar melodies, and lifts the spirits with its timeless message of peace, love, and goodwill toward all. Here's a couple of my favorites I'd like to share with you.
Its been nearly 30 years since I first discovered, "All I Want For Christmas is You."
We all have our favorite Christmas songs, among mine are, Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock." But from the moment this song began to play it stuck with me.
The song remains at the top of my list of favorites. As I recall, the DJ introduced the group as, Vince Vance and The Valiants, with Lisa Layne on lead vocals, and my initial thought was this song must be from the late 50s or early 60s, and somehow I missed it the first time around.
To my surprise the song was actually released in September, 1989. Others have covered it, but I have yet to hear a better version. For all the oldies visitors, please enjoy this special video I put together just for you. I added Elvis and 50s teen idol, Fabian, to give Lisa and the ladies someone to wish for. For the guys, we have Christmas gifts for our lady friend in this video that will keep us wishing, "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
Elvis and Martina
A Blue Christmas To Remember.
When Elvis filmed his 1968 "Comback" TV Special, Martina McBride was not quite 2 years old.
Forty years later the country singer steps back in time and walks out of the audience to join Elvis in one of the most remarkable Elvis videos ever.
The Elvis Presley Blue Christmas page is always in the top 3 of most viewed pages every month at vinyl record memories, both winter and summer months. Elvis still remains popular world wide more than forty years after his death.
Yes ladies, we get to have Elvis right here with us for another Christmas. This is a real treat if you have not seen this Martina and Elvis duet.
Blue Christmas duet - Now how'd they do that?
Martina filmed her duet parts in front of a green screen and the producer, George Flanigen says it took four weeks to piece it together. Follow along with the producer as he and Martina detail how all this was accomplished.
The Christmas album photo above and to th right is the same one I purchased new in 1957 as a teenager. I managed to keep that album for more than a half century before I sadly lost it in a move.
Enjoy...
Why owning vinyl records is the best deal of all.
For all my digital friends who think they own their own
music, think again. Imagine if a record label sent someone to your home
to take back a vinyl record album they said you no longer own. They
inform you that the artist that recorded on your "Capital" record has
signed with another label, BMI, and they have purchased the rights to
Capital records. They don't want it out there under the Capital label,
only the BMI label. This scenario is pretty ridiculous as nobody would
ever come to your house and take it away because the artist switched to a
new label.
But that is exactly what happens with Spotify, and
many other streaming sites. If the record company has a disagreement
with Spotify over royalties, the music you like and think you own comes
down.
Why?
Because you don’t own it anymore. You simply
own “access” to what Spotify and the labels have allowed you to. But
where does it end? If you use an e-reader, you don’t own books, they can
be removed, you don’t own movies or TV shows on Netflix, Hulu or
Amazon, you only have access to them.
We live in a digital world
of vapor. Our music, movies, almost all entertainment is not ours.
Owning vinyl records is the perfect solution. Streaming music enables a
lack of listening or even conscious thought about what is being played.
Vinyl records demand your attention. In addition the vinyl album comes
with beautiful art work designed on the cover and content about the
artist on the back. What's not to love about the beautiful art work on a vinyl album cover
Jack Scott (born Giovanni Domenico Scafone Jr.)
January 24, 1936 – December 12, 2019
With the exception of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, no white rock & roller of the time ever developed a finer voice with a better range than Jack Scott, or cut a more convincing body of work in rockabilly, rock & roll, country-soul, gospel, country-pop, or blues.
"My True Love" was his first big hit reaching #3 on the charts, but the first two Jack Scott songs that really stuck with me were "Goodbye Baby" and "Leroy." All three were released in 1958, but the song, "Oh Little One" from 1960 would remain my favorite by Jack Scott.
Anyone who laments Scott's failure to remain a rockabilly artist will be surprised at just how much he brought to country ballads and gospel, as well as the convincingly bluesy approach to rock & roll that he maintained years into his recording career. He found success as more of a ballad singer, however, and never returned to his rock & roll roots for more than a song at a time.
Many people are not aware that Scott wrote most of his songs. Scott had more US singles (19), in a shorter period of time (41 months), than any other recording artist except for The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino and Connie Francis. He wrote all of his own hits, except one: "Burning Bridges." I for one don't believe Jack Scott got the recognition that he deserved. He continued to sing and tour and lived in a suburb of Detroit.
Sadly, Jack Scott died of congestive heart failure on December 12, 2019, at the age of 83. His niece, singer and actress Rio Scafone, announced his death on her Facebook page, stating that he had suffered a massive heart attack on December 8 and there was nothing they could do for him. Scott died four days later, in the afternoon. Thanks for the memories, Jack. Growing up with you on the charts made teen life an exciting time during the fifties.
Remembering Jack Scott
Read the Jack Scott Page at Vinyl Record Memories.
Return to Vinyl Record Memories Home Page.
Do you have questions, comments or suggestions?
If you have any favorite vinyl record topics you'd like to see on this site, please click here and enter your information in the contact form. I would love to hear from you.
All the best,
Danny Lee Sandrik
Vinyl Record Memories
"Dream" - Roy Orbison cover of this 1944 Johnny Mercer classic.
The song "Dream" reminds us of those glamorous movie stars of the '40s,' 50s, and early '60s. The one thing they all shared was a level of glamor we still aspire to today. This is a song everyone should have in their music collection. Read more ...
The End - Earl Grant
A truly beautiful song with words that reflect the long lasting meaning of love.
"But just tell me you love me and you are only mine ...
And our love will go on 'til the end of time." Read more ...
The Duke of Earl Story
Vee-Jay records were responsible for some great music in the 50s and 60s and "Duke of Earl" was one of their mega hits. However, Gene Chandler almost prevented this from happening until Vee-Jay stepped in and offered him a choice. Read more ...
This Darling Lorraine page returns to 1959 and the remarkable story about a determined song writer. Includes memorable video clip with original lead singer. Read more here.
An American Treasure
Brian Wilson is an American Treasure and Good Vibrations is without a doubt one of Brian Wilson's greatest songwriting accomplishments. Read more...
Tucked between the 50s Doo Wop groups and the mid-60s British invasion was the phenomenon known as the Girl Groups. Read More.
Love Me
With All Your Heart.
Just creamy harmony and seamless pleasure returns you to the days when easy listening was called "dinner music." A Love Song...
How I Took A Hobby
And Created A Website About My Passion.
Do You Know Something About Anything? A Hobby? A Passion? What Do You Know and Love?
The old record business returns!
This must-needed dictionary will help you understand the old recording industry. Bubblegum music, cherry pie, album cover art, ride a record, and other forgotten terms are revealed in "Spinning the Groove," the big book of old record business lingo, lore, legends, and trivia for vinyl lovers, record producers, and disc jockeys.
See All Randy McNutt books
in One location.
Jukebox Memories
Follow my DJ buddy, Ned Ward and his other great show, Jukebox Memories every Saturday from 4-6pm ET on Doowopradio.com
The Chordettes
Lollipop & Mr. Sandman
If you lived and breathed in the fifties those songs of the past reminds us of our connection to innocence and the fabulous harmonies of these four pretty gals.
More than 60 years later, the emotional power of these two songs still resonates with listeners, and as a result, still remains current. Read more ...
Cowboy Campfire Songs.
Polish up your spurs, Saddle up ole paint and get ready to relive your childhood! Come with me and let's relive those bygone days with these cowboy campfire songs and fond memories of your favorite silver screen cowboys. Read more...
"Just The Way You Are"
"We almost didn't put it on an album. We were sitting around listening to it going...naaah, that's a chick song." Billy Joel...
Song of the year and Record of the year in 1978. Read more...
Don't Break The Heart
That Loves You.
This haunting ballad is about a plea from a heartbroken teenager trying to understand why her boyfriend is going out of his way to treat her unkindly. Read more...
Pink Shoe Laces was a cute # 3 hit song for 13 year old Dodie Stevens in 1959. Forty years later she performs with her daughter in a 1999 special called "Rock-n-Roll Graffiti" and ... WOW! Read more.
Many consider "In The Still of The Night" to be the anthem of Doo Wop oldies and it would be hard to argue that point giving the year the song was originally released, 1956. Read more.
An Old Song & A New Friend
"I don't usually contact doo wop article authors as I rarely find much value in the articles, but your article struck me as sincere, genuine and respectful."
Tom Sokira,
Producer, Audio Engineer
"In The Still Of The Night" (1956)
Read the story here.
Venus
The Roman Goddess of Love.
Frankie Avalon song details a man's plea to Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, to send him a girl to love and one who would also love him in return. Read More ...
The Del Shannon Story
Few songs remain as enduring and haunting as the 1961 No. 1 hit, "Runaway." Written by Del Shannon and his keyboardist, Max Crook, it outlines in tear-streaked detail a guy who's lost his girl. Read more ...
You Belong To Me
Patsy Cline songs are the voice of the average woman...the waitress at the diner, the counter girl at the all-night truck stop, or even the stay-at-home mom who stops to wonder what happened to all her dreams. Patsy Cline was their voice. Read more...
The true story of a teenage crush and how a young man was inspired to write his song about the girl he left behind. Read the Fireflies story.
The Fireflies 1959
"You Were Mine."
"Baby's Gone"
It's been more than fifty years since I heard this wonderful old tune.
A song I heard only a few times back in 1964, but from the first note of this memory-filled song, I was swimming in a sea of nostalgia. Read more ...
