Bobbie Gentry > Ode to Billie Joe
Composed by Bobbie Gentry
It’s hard to convey just how big this record was, other than to say it not only prompted Lou to cover it, but also the unlikely likes of King Curtis, Ike Turner, and Buddy Rich!
What Was That? Week #7
Legends of Country #2
Ballad #40
The Foundations > Baby, Now That I’ve Found You
Composed by by Tony Macaulay & John MacLeod
Their other hit was much bigger and enduring, but like Alison Krauss I always liked this one best.
Alison Krauss > Baby, Now That I’ve Found You
Composed by by Tony Macaulay & John MacLeod
Alison’s been extremely shrewd in using Baby Boom cred to establish herself beyond the country world. But, one needs to more than just old to recognize this gem.
The Temptations > Get Ready
Composed by Smokey Robinson
Ella (or Norman) picked a good one.
What Was That? Week #2
Legends of Soul #10
Legends of Songwriting #18
“Phil Alexander on guitar and vocals!”
“Fred Seibert on organ!”
“Ray Frisby on drums and vocals!”
“Brian North on bass!”
“I’m Rodney Johnson on vocals and tambourine!
And we’re the Neglekted Few!”
Thanks guys, you changed my life forever.
(Spencer Davis Group > Gimme Some Lovin’)
(Composed by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis & Muff Winwood)
Neglekted Few Week #11
Legends of Rock #17
The Young Rascals > Land of 1000 Dances
Composed by Chris Kenner
This album came out right at the beginning of our run (1967) and had an outsize influence on us (I swore it was one of the best albums eva(!), having listened to, what, 10 albums eva?). And Wilson continued to dominate us, at least through his surrogates.
The Rolling Stones > Under My Thumb
Composed by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
We were equal opportunity cover-ers. Though we tended towards the soul and the pop, rock tunes that made it into the Top 40 were fair game too. Early on, Ray and Rodney might have tended towards the more adventurous of us, but we were all on the lookout for the new (as were all our friends).
But, even though the Stones might have had that rebellious image, they made the charts pretty often too and we saw their hits as our territory. And they could always fill the dancefloor as often as the soul ravers.
Neglekted Few Week #8
Legends of Rock #11
Legends of the British Invasion #3
Paul Revere & the Raiders> I’m Not Your Stepping Stone
Composed by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
The Neglekted Few played all kinds of gigs. Dances, concerts, battles of the bands, house parties; we’d even convince our friend Sally Baur (Wingo) to clear out her parents’ living room to make room for us if we didn’t have a paying job. The cops came calling the night we were playing this tune at an outdoor party in Halesite.
Neglekted Few Week #6
Legends of Pop #12
Jay & the Americans > She Cried
Composed by Greg Richards & Ted Daryll
Phil had a great pop voice, a sweet, romantic baritone he used to unbelievable effect to cover this early Jay and the Americans hit. (I think a lot of the action I got that year came after the girls heard this one.) There were a lot of other bands who could get the dancing going (we could too), but not too many that could slow it down as well as we could.
Neglekted Few Week #5
Legends of Pop #11
Ballad #39
Otis Redding > Respect
Composed by Otis Redding
In the haze of a 40 year look back, I think of us as a soul combo. Though we probably looked at ourselves as a rock group, or a covers band. I remember rehearsing Respect out on Ray portico overlooking the beach the summer of ‘67 after Aretha made it a pop smash. Our arrangement was from Otis (via The Vagrants of Long Island, Farfisa and all), and Rodney couldn’t avoid Ree’s “R.E.S.P.E.C.T! “
