1960s, Pop

The Boy from New York City

March 7, 2016

First recorded by The Ad Libs (US #8/R&B #6 1965).
Also recorded by Dave “Baby” Cortez (1965).
Other hit versions by Darts (UK #2 1978), The Manhattan Transfer (US #7/MOR #4 1981).

From the wiki: “‘The Boy from New York City’ was originally recorded by the American soul group The Ad Libs. Released as the group’s first single in 1964, it was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (‘Hound Dog‘, ‘On Broadway‘). The song peaked at #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965. The Ad Libs would never repeat their chart success.

“The song was later covered by Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez, as a 1965 instrumental; Darts, in 1978; and The Manhattan Transfer, in 1981. The latter two covers became chart hits in the UK and US, respectively. The Ad Libs recording also inspired a response song by The Beach Boys, ‘The Girl from New York City’, from their 1965 album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!).”

Come Back My Love (The Darts)

January 21, 2015

First recorded by The Wrens (1955).
Also recorded by Cardinals (1955).
Hit version by Darts (UK #2 1978).

From the wiki: “The Wrens were an American doo-wop vocal group from The Bronx, New York City, and were best-known for their song ‘Come Back My Love’ which achieved some local popularity in New York City early in 1955 and put the Wrens on the map for R&B vocal fans. ‘Come Back My Love’ became their signature song despite competition from a cover version done by the Cardinals on Atlantic that same year. Neither recording charted nationally. In 1998, The Wrens were inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association’s Hall of Fame.

“Darts (‘The Girl Can’t Help It‘) were a nine-piece British Doo-wop revival band that achieved chart success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including three successive #2 hits with revivals of early US Rock ‘n roll and R&B songs – among them ‘Come Back My Love’.”

The Girl Can’t Help It

March 28, 2013 • 2 Comments

First recorded by Little Richard (R&B #7/UK #9 1956).
Also covered by The Animals (1964), The Everly Brothers (1965), The Flamin’ Groovies (1969), Led Zeppelin/The Nobs (1970), Mick Ronson (1975), Darts (as “Daddy Cool/The Girl Can’t Help It” UK #6 1977), Bonnie Raitt (as “The Boy Can’t Help It” (1979), Babes in Toyland (2001).

From the wiki: “‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ is the title song to the film The Girl Can’t Help It, composed by songwriter Bobby Troup (‘Route 66’, ‘Girl Talk’, ‘The Meaning of the Blues’). The recording was released in December 1956 and peaked at #49 on the Billboard Top 100 singles chart (also UK #9 and US R&B #7 ), and is included in the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Originally, Fats Domino was lined up to record the track, which was not written to be a Rock song. The movie, The Girl Can’t Help It, was originally intended as a vehicle for the American sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, with a satirical subplot involving teenagers and rock ‘n’ roll music. The unintended result has been called the ‘most potent’ celebration of Rock music ever captured on film. The original music score included the title song performed by Little Richard. Reportedly, the producers had wanted Elvis for ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’, but Elvis’s manager Tom Parker demanded too much money.

Tagged: Darts