I must confess I had never heard this -- or heard of it, for that matter -- untill our pal Sal name-checked it over at Burning Wood last week. The writing and production credits, are of course, familiar -- it's a collaboration between the great hitmaking team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill with Russ Titelman, who is perhaps (unfairly) better known for having been an exec at Warner Brothers Records for a few decades rather than his cooler credits, like having been a member of the Shindig TV show house band. Who the girls are, however, i have no idea.
In any event, this one knocked me out before the vocals even came in; clearly, it's an A-minus artifact of Brill Building songcraft and performance.
Thanks, Sal!
16 comments:
THIS is a way to start a Monday morning! This one has alluded me until today. Thanks for this deep dive!
paulinca
Good stuff! I think "A-" is about right - there's something missing from the arrangement that would put it over the top as a classic - a horn section, maybe?
The intro should be longer. IMHO.
The only weak link to the recording is the lead vocal.
Captain Al
"The only weak link to the recording is the lead vocal."
Are you kidding?
A minus. Intro too short. Weak lead vocal.
Jeez, tough crowd.
Brill Building? Al Kooper would like a word. He's known to get a little perturbed when the Kirschner song mill Goffin, King, Weil, (and Al) etc worked in is referred to the Brill Building (it was down the block).
Also Titelman co-wrote "Guess I'm Dumb" with Brian Wilson, Brian's "gift" to Glen for taking his place on the road as a temporary Beach Boy.
Sounds like the Cookies because it is the Cookies. Big in Miami.
Member Earl-Jean later did original "I'm Into Something Good."
Heard this getting airplay in Modesto while visiting nmy cousin summer 1964.
B+
VR
Sal:
I don’t think the lead vocal is all that good. The rest of the recording is really good. Listen to the lead voice. It’s okay not great. Not up to the rest of the performance.
Captain Al
Tough Room
rob
Hey Allan,
re: lead vocal - je bent helemaal gek
I only knocked down to a B+ for it's cookie cutter approach. Pun intended.
VR
i think it's great.
For some additional unknown girl-group action, check out The Tammy's Egyptian Shumba, written by Lou Chrisie. I love the craziness of the song and it's sound is way ahead of 1962.
Recommendation:
One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost And Found - Rhino 4-CD box (It doesn't have it all, but it's got a lot of gems, including those mentioned above.)
VR
While Earl-Jean usually sang lead for the Cookies, backing singer Margaret Ross fronted the Cinderellas.
Girl Groups - Music Of The Sixties...Google it, well worth your time.
As an aside when I was riding my bike in the early sixties, prior to the Beatles,
I had a basket on its front where I put my transistor radio. Dialed I to our local A.M station I can almost recall those streets listening to Marha, Ronnie
rob
Captain Al,
Thanks for suggesting I "listen to" the lead vocal. I hadn't thought of that.
I did "listen to the lead vocal." About 200 hundred times since I first heard it years ago. It's fantastic. At my place, I called Margaret Ross's vocal "a powerhouse." And you know what, it is.
Sal:
I guess we disagree on this one.
:-)
Be well
Captain Al
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