A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
One of Motown’s biggest hits, this was written by Marvin Gaye, William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter and released in 1964 by Martha and the Vandellas. It reached No … Continue readingMartha and the Vandellas: Dancing in the Street
The Jamies were an American singing group, led by siblings Tom and Serena Jameson. Tom wrote this song which got to No 26 in America in 1958. It was re-released in … Continue readingThe Jamies: Summertime, Summertime
Originally called Tell Her, this was written by Bert Berns, who also wrote Twist and Shout. The first release was by Johnny Thunder in 1962, but it got nowhere. Jerry Leiber and … Continue readingThe Exciters: Tell Him
Written by Jerry Ragovoy (who also wrote Stay With Me Baby) and Bert Berns (who wrote Twist and Shout), this was first recorded by Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha, in 1967. … Continue readingErma Franklin: Piece of My Heart
AM I alone in finding this year’s winning one-liner at the Edinburgh Fringe distasteful? Headlined by the BBC and sundry papers as a joke about vegetables, it runs: ‘I keep randomly shouting … Continue readingWhen is a disability joke OK? When it’s told by a Leftie
Written by Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon and Mack David, brother of Hal David, this reached No 8 in America in 1961. 8 I have to say I find it a … Continue readingThe Shirelles: Baby It’s You
Another of those ‘Wow, you’re suddenly all grown up’ songs. This was written by Brian Wilson and released in 1965. It is said that radio stations did not like the … Continue readingThe Beach Boys: The Little Girl I Once Knew
Schubert wrote this piano duet between January and March of 1828, the last year of his life, when he knew that he was dying. He dedicated it to his pupil … Continue readingSchubert Fantasy in F minor, D 940
This is the fifth in a weekly series celebrating the immense Jewish contribution to popular music over the last century. RICHARD Rodgers and Lorenz Hart returned from Hollywood to a triumph with … Continue readingThe Melody Makers 5: Rodgers and Hart, Part II
A commenter reminded me of this slightly odd song released in 1975 by Reparata, former lead singer of Reparata and the Delrons. It was first recorded in 1973 by a … Continue readingReparata: Shoes