WLCY Radio Hits: Classic R&B

Showing posts with label Classic R&B. Show all posts

Mar 31, 2020

Ruth Brown - Teardrops From My Eyes (1950)

"Teardrops from My Eyes", written by Rudy Toombs, was the first upbeat major hit for Ruth Brown, establishing her as an important figure in rhythm and blues. Recorded for Atlantic Records in New York City in September 1950, and released in October, it was Billboard's number-one R&B hit for 11 non-consecutive weeks. It was Atlantic's first release on the new 45-rpm record format. The huge hit earned Brown the nickname "Miss Rhythm" and within a few months she became the acknowledged queen of R&B. "Teardrops from My Eyes" was her first of five number-one R&B hits.

The Coasters - Love Potion No. 9 (1971)

"Love Potion No. 9" is a song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by the Clovers, who took it to number 23 on the US as well as R&B charts that year.

The Coasters released a version in December 1971 with "D. W. Washburn" on the B side. It reached #76 in the Billboard Pop Chart and #96 in the Cash Box Pop Chart.

The Boll Weevil Song by Brook Benton (1961)

"Boll Weevil" is a traditional blues song, also known by similar titles such as "Boweavil" or "Boll Weevil Blues". Many songs about the boll weevil were recorded by blues musicians during the 1920s through the 1940s. However, a rendition by Lead Belly recorded in 1934 by folklorist Alan Lomax led to its becoming well-known. A 1961 adaptation by Brook Benton became a pop hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Perhaps as early as 1908, blues pioneer Charley Patton wrote a song called "Mississippi Boweevil Blues" and recorded it in July 1929 (as "The Masked Marvel") for Paramount Records. Some of the lyrics are similar to "Boll Weevil," describing the first time and "the next time" the narrator saw the boll weevil and making reference to the weevil's family and home. "Mother of the Blues" Ma Rainey recorded a song called "Bo-Weavil Blues" in Chicago in December 1923, and Bessie Smith covered it in 1924, but the song had little in common with Lead Belly's "Boll Weevil" aside from the subject matter.

Crying in the Chapel by The Orioles (1953)

"Crying in the Chapel" is a song written by Artie Glenn for his son Darrell to sing. Darrell recorded it while still in high school in 1953, along with Artie's band the Rhythm Riders. The song was rejected by Hill and Range Songs and Acuff-Rose Music.

The black R&B group, The Orioles, recorded a cover version of the song which became a major success in 1953. The Orioles' version went to number one on the R&B chart and number eleven on the pop chart. It was included on the soundtrack album for the film American Graffiti.

She’s Not Just Another Woman - 8th Day (1971)

She’s Not Just Another Woman by 8th Day (R&B) (1971)

"She's Not Just Another Woman" is a song written by Ron Dunbar and Clyde Wilson and performed by 8th Day. It reached #3 on the U.S. R&B chart and #11 on the U.S. pop chart in 1971. It was featured on their 1971 album 8th Day.

The song ranked #64 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1971.

A Rainy Night in Georgia by Brook Benton (1970)

"Rainy Night in Georgia" is a song written by Tony Joe White in 1967 and popularized by R&B vocalist Brook Benton in 1970. It was originally released by White on his 1969 album, Continued, on Monument Records, shortly before Benton's hit single was issued.

There Goes My Baby - The Drifters (1959)

There Goes My Baby by The Drifters (1959)

"There Goes My Baby" is a song written by Ben E. King (Benjamin Earl Nelson), Lover Patterson, George Treadwell and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for The Drifters. This was the first single by the second incarnation of the Drifters (previously known as the 5 Crowns), who assumed the group name in 1958 after manager George Treadwell fired the remaining members of the original lineup. The Atlantic Records release was King's debut recording as the lead singer of the group.

Edwin Starr - War (1970)

War is a counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song – a blatant anti-Vietnam War protest – with The Temptations as the original vocalists..

After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release "War" as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist, with the label deciding to withhold the Temptations' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans. Starr's version of "War" was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970, and is not only the most successful and well-known record of his career, but it is also one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded. It was one of 161 songs on the Clear Channel no-play list after September 11, 2001.

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