1 of 1- GrimsbyFan
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Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
One of my favorite pastimes is digging around for lesser known songs from the late 50s to the mid 60s (my favorite oldies era) that I consider should have been hits. I know we have visited this topic before, but there are always "new" songs popping up from that time period that I haven't heard before
Here are just a few of the most recent songs that I have added to my playlist that reflect the topic title,
I would invite any other examples/suggestions you may have,
What's The Matter With Marilyn" Vinnie Monte
Great Gene Pitney sounding song. Terrific pop record.
The Thrill Is Gone - Clydie King
A Wall of Sound-like song that features an amazing, strong lead vocal.
Gee How I wish You Were Here - Curtis Lee
Beautiful Doo Wop. B-side of Pretty Little Angel Eyes
Crying My Eyes Out - Carol and the Memories
Outstanding vocal. There were so many excellent female singers in that era.
Last edited by GrimsbyFan (May 18, 2024 4:57 pm)
- aflem
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
This wasn't so much a hit that wasn't, but a hit that should have been. It's a song by Freddie and the Dreamers called "How's About Trying Your Luck With Me?"
The problem is that it was released as a B-side to the far inferior novelty-type tune "A Windmill In Old Amsterdam," which showed only middling chart results.
"Luck" was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and is 2:07 of classic pop. I think it would have been huge if it had been released on the A side, but we'll never know. Since discovering it a few years ago, it's become one of my favorite oldies that no one else has ever heard of.
- Taz
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU
You just became my favorite member of the board.
My first pick was Wiggle Waggle Walk - Tony Smith And His Aristocrats
I’ve looked for it unsuccessfully for decades. I did find it as part of a Fool's Paradise radio show from July 28, 2001. Unfortunately, the link no longer works.
Doing a search to respond to your thread, I FOUND A 45 COPY ON EBAY!!!!!
Paid $9.59. With inflation, I think that’s close to equal to the original price.
Here it is by Teddy Phillips. not as good.
Couple others:
Bill Black's Combo – Ribbon of Darkness
On the album it was mistitled River of Darkness.
Go to full screen and you can read it in the album cover.
I found it on 45 then later on import CD of the beat goes on album
Sea Shell Sherry - Jerry Keller
Because of the old board I found it on 45 and later on the Here Comes Summer CD.
I think you helped complete my music bucket list today unless Wiggle Waggle Walk ever comes up on CD.
Life is not a float trip
- GrimsbyFan
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Really enjoyed the Freddie and the Dreamers song, Aflem.
Here's another British Invasion sounding tune - leans heavily on the Searchers sound. It's from my boyhood days growing up in Montreal. A local hit but nothing more.
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Thread Starter- aflem
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Not a bad tune. Turns out not only are JB & Co. still around, but they'll be playing in Montreal on June 8th.
JB & The Playboys website
- GrimsbyFan
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Thanks for sharing those songs,Taz.
Always good to hear songs I haven't heard before.
Last edited by GrimsbyFan (May 19, 2024 5:10 pm)
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Thread Starter- Taz
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
GrimsbyFan wrote:
Always good to hear songs I haven't heard before.
Try these
The Little Blue Man - Betty Johnson
Rex Allen - Don't Go Near The Indians
Don't Go Near The Eskimos , Ben Colder
The Avons - Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat
Rusty Draper - In the Middle of the House
Tippy Toeing , The Harden Trio
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- Jim Southern
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Looking back on my DJ days, I heard a number of songs that "shoulda-been" but weren't. I'll mention a few...Two that I have seen mentioned at various internet sites are..."Peace Of Mind" and "Baby's Gone" by Gene Thomas. Both are favorites of mine.
I've mentioned before my friendship with Randy Nauert, the bass player with the SoCal surf band The Challengers. He sent me one of their singles back in the mid 1960's called "Before You" that I felt was a decent Top 10 offering.
My favorite version of the classic "Softly As I Leave You" was by the Nordic Trio on Dot. I played it for a month on my show at KXLF in Butte, MT. They had a Lettermen sound.
One that was a hit in Salt Lake City was called "The Right Boy" by Wendi. It was on the Champ label based in Wisconsin.
Meeting the singer of "One Of Those Songs" from 1966 was one of the biggest thrills of my DJ days. He was a Vaudville, Movie, Recording, Television, Radio and Concert star, the legendary Jimmy Durante. That song fit him like a glove!!
- aflem
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Another B-side that could easily have been the hit. It's on the back of "Keep On Dancing" by The Gentrys from 1965. I like it better than the song that made the charts.
Last edited by aflem (June 11, 2024 2:32 pm)
- memphis boy
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Nice memory aflem. Here the Gentry's are posing at their high school Treadwell High in Memphis
- AzMike
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Here’s one from 1965 by Connie Dee (Landers). Remember her? No, probably not. Strike one. Her record was a hit. Well, actually it was on the Hit Records label. Strike two. Not only that, her 39 cent gem was buried on the B-side of a Jolly Green Giant knockoff. Strike three. But, Connie’s snappy recording of “Ring Telephone” was one of the rare Hit Records original releases, and she wrote it. If released a few years earlier, on a better label with the right promotion, it coulda, mighta at least cracked the Hot 100. Ring Telephone
- aflem
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Here's another B-side that's pretty terrific. Not as good as the A-side ("Maybe I Know" by Lesley Gore) but a great tune that rarely got any airplay.
It's called "Wonder Boy" and was produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. I'm not entirely sure what the origin of the video below is, but it looks like something from one of those old Scopitones, the original video jukeboxes that came along well before there was anything like an MTV.
- chrdude
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Of the songs listed by Taz - I remember Little Blue Man by Betty Johnson and I have the 45's Don't Go Near The Indians by Rex Allen and Tippy Toeing by The Hardin Trio. Tippy Toeing was a country hit - got a lot of airplay on CFGM Toronto (Richmond Hill) in the mid 60s. Don't Go Near The Indians was a country crossover to Top 40 - not on CHUM but it was on the CKEY chart -peaked in the mid 40s, so not a big hit.
- Taz
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
A few more
I always got bored with the hit song played too often so I found myself liking the more obscure songs. Here are some that I spent hours and hours over weeks and weeks finding on CD. I found many before Al Gore invented the internet so I had to spend a lot of evenings after work looking at a terminal at Blockbuster.
We kept hearing this in the Tampa – St Petersburg – Clearwater area when I was in the Air Force
Guy Marks 'Loving You Has Made Me Bananas' 1968
Rip Van Winkle – Devotions
Snoopy V.S. The Red Baron -- The Royal Guardsman
Bonnie Jo Mason - Ringo I Love You
May the Bird of Paradise (Fly Up Your Nose) Little Jimmy Dickens
Tennessee Bird Walk - Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan
Saturday Morning Confusion - Bobby Russell
You Can't Roller Skate In a Buffalo Herd - Roger Miller
Freddy Cannon does appearances on Svengoolie now and then
Abigail Beecher - Freddy Cannon
Tallahassee Lassie - Freddy Cannon
Washington Square - The Village Stompers
Not a song but a radio routine on record
AJAX Liguor Store - Hudson and Landry
Big Bopper's Wedding - Big Bopper
Big Boy Pete – Olympics
Beep Beep - The Playmates
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Over Night) - Lonnie Donegan
History Repeats Itself - Buddy Starcher
Big Mable Murphy - Sue Thompson
Beans In My Ears - The Serendipity Singers
Swinging On A Star - Big Dee Irwin
Conscience - James Darren
Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren
She Can't Find Her Keys - Paul Petersen
For some reason, this was #1 on a local country station for weeks
Street Fair - Magic Organ
Little Red Rented Rowboat - Joe Dowell
Dear One - Larry Finnegan
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - "Israelites"
Johnny Bond - Here Come The Elephants
Little Boxes Pete Seeger
Ghost Riders In The Sky - Baja Marimba Band
Life is not a float trip
- Taz
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Re: Obscure Songs That Should Have Been Hits
Life is not a float trip