Sony/ATV’s "Musical Notes" #35 - Bert Berns
Apr 14, 2009
A fortnightly newsletter highlighting some of the many classic songs in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog.
From Alan Warner, Creative Consultant
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Stories behind classic Sony/ATV songs
#7: RICH WOMAN (Dorothy LaBostrie/McKinley Millet)
“I got a woman with plenty of money
She got the money and I got the honey”
This song was most famously revived recently by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss on their Grammy©-winning 2008 album “Raising Sand” but its origins hark back some 53 years!
Released as a single by singer/pianist L’il Millet & The Creoles on Art Rupe’s Specialty label in the fall of 1955, it was written by L’il (aka McKinley) Millet along with Dorothy LaBostrie, the lady who co-authored the Little Richard classic “Tutti Frutti”.
Recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Music Shop in New Orleans, that original take on RICH WOMAN featured Lee Allen on tenor sax, Earl Palmer on drums and Edgar Myles (formerly of the legendary Shaweez) on trombone.
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An extended, updated list of Sony/ATV’s New Orleans R&B songs will appear in our next “Musical Notes”
And now…
Classic Songs By BERT BERNS (1929-1967)
Using the pseudonym Bert Russell, Bert Berns was an outstanding New York-based white songwriter/producer with a touch of genius particularly when working with African-American soul singers.
He was born in the Bronx to Russian immigrant parents and spent the early 60’s working out of the Brill building and though he died young, left behind a rich supply of R&B and pop classics. Here is a listing of some of Bert’s best compositions:
AM I GROOVING YOU (Bert Berns/Jeff Barry)
By Freddie Scott (Shout/Sony: 1967) US #25 R&B, #71 Pop
ARE YOU LONELY FOR ME
Aka ARE YOU LONELY FOR ME BABY (Bert Berns)
“I’m lonely baby, I’m lonely and blue/I’m lonely baby and I’m lonely for you”
A soulful cry of utter anguish, this song first charted for Freddie Scott on Bert’s own Shout label and later by Chuck Jackson on Motown.
By Freddie Scott (Shout/Sony: 1967) US #1 R&B, #39 Pop
By Chuck Jackson (Motown/Universal: 1969) US #27 R&B
Other versions incl: Al Green (Hi/Fat Possum), Buddy Guy (Silvertone), Gregg Allman (Universal)
Performed by Andrew Strong in the movie “The Commitments” (20th Fox: 1991)
BABY COME ON HOME (Bert Berns)
By Solomon Burke (Atlantic/WMG: 1966) US #31 R&B
CRY BABY (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
“Come on and cry, Cry Baby, cry baby, cry baby/
Welcome back home”
Pleading R&B ballad first etched into the world’s conciousness via the soul-
drenched vocal of Garnet Mimms. The revival by rock goddess Janis Joplin
was a cut from her classic album “Pearl”.
By Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters
(United Artists/EMI: 1963) US #1 R&B, #4 Pop
By Janis Joplin (Columbia/Sony: 1971) US #42 Pop
By Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone
(in a medley with PIECE OF MY HEART)
(Grammy download: 2005) US #32 Pop
Other versions incl: Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings (Fuel 2000), Klique (MCA), The Mad Lads (Stax), Janis Joplin (Live version:
Columbia/Sony), Natalie Cole (Capitol/EMI), Don Bryant
(Hi/Fat Possum)
Song was featured in the rockumentary “Janis” (Universal: 1975)
CRY TO ME (Bert Berns)
“When your baby leaves you all alone/And nobody calls you on the phone/
Don't you feel like crying?, don't you feel like crying?
Well here I am my honey, come on you Cry To Me”.
This heart-wrenching soul ballad marked Solomon Burke’s finest recordings
on Atlantic and into it he poured every ounce of his remarkable talent.
By Solomon Burke (Atlantic/WMG: 1962) US #5 R&B, #44 Pop
By Betty Harris (Jubilee/Rhino: 1963) US #10 R&B, #22 Pop
By The Pretty Things (Fontana/Universal: 1965) UK #28
By Freddie Scott (Shout: 1967) US #40 R&B, #70 Pop
By Betty Harris (Jubilee/Rhino: 1969 re-issue) US #44 R&B
Other versions incl:
The Rolling Stones (Abkco); Buckwheat Zydeco (Charisma),
Gwen McRae (Ichiban), Dana Gillespie (Wolf), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Asylum/WMG), Eruption (BMG/Sony), Ronnie McDowell (Curb), The Contours (RCA/Sony) Solomon Burke’s version was featured on the soundtrack of “Dirty Dancing” (Vestron: 1987).
EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE
(Bert Berns/Solomon Burke/Jerry Wexler)
“Everybody needs somebody/Everybody Needs Somebody To Love/
Someone to love, Sweetheart to miss, Sugar to kiss, I need you”
As with Garnet Mimms on “Cry Baby”, Solomon Burke’s gospel roots shine
thru on this outstanding heartfelt, soulful message.
By Solomon Burke (Atlantic/WMG: 1964) US #4 R&B, #58 Pop
By Wilson Pickett (Atlantic/WMG: 1967) US #19 R&B, #29 Pop
By The Blues Brothers (EastWest/WMG: 1990) UK #12
Other versions inc: The Rolling Stones (Abkco), The Jerry Garcia Band (Arista/Sony), Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (WEA/WMG), The Shadows Of Knight
(Sundazed), Thee Midniters (Norton)
Performed by The Blues Brothers in “The Blues Brothers” movie (Universal: 1980)
GET HIM (Bert Berns/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller/Ray Passman)
By The Exciters (United Artists/EMI: 1963) US #76 Pop
HANG ON SLOOPY (Bert Berns/Wes Farrell)
“Sloopy lives in a very bad part of town/
And everybody else tries to put my sloopy down”
This exuberant rock song started life as “My Girl Sloopy” recorded by an R&B group called The Vibrations. Producers Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer re-cut it as “Hang On Sloopy” with four guys from Ohio called Rick & The Raiders who changed their name to The McCoys. Their single rocketed to the top of the charts in October ’65. By the way, ‘Rick’ later carved out a solo career as Rick Derringer and he re-recorded the song himself in 1975.
By The Vibrations (as MY GIRL SLOOPY)
(Atlantic/WMG: 1964) US #10 R&B, #26 Pop
By The McCoys (Bang/Sony: 1965) US #1 Pop, UK #5
By The Ramsey Lewis Trio
(Cadet/Universal: 1965) US #6 R&B, #11 Pop
By Little Caesar & The Consuls (as MY GIRL SLOOPY):
(Mala/Sony:1965) US #50 Pop
By The Lettermen (Capitol/EMI: 1970) US #93 Pop
By Rick Derringer (Purple Pyramid: 1975) US #94 Pop
By The Sandpipers (Satril: 1976) UK #32
Other versions incl: Quincy Jones (Verve/Universal),
The Strangeloves (Bang/Sony), Jan & Dean (Liberty/EMI),
Billy Lee Riley (GNP Crescendo), The Beau Brummels
(Warner Bros/WMG), The Supremes (Motown/Universal),
Count Basie & His Orchestra (Brunswick), Die Toten Hosen.
HEART BE STILL (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
By Lorraine Ellison (Loma/WMG: 1967) US #43 R&B
Other versions incl: Labelle (Warner Bros/WMG).
HERE COMES THE NIGHT (Bert Berns)
“I could see right out my window, walkin' down the street, my girl with another guy/
His arm around her like it used to be with me, oh it makes me want to die”.
On a visit to the UK, Bert Berns cut the first version of this with Scottish-born Lulu but the
song really took off when he recorded it with Them, the group from Northern Ireland led by
a young Van Morrison. Following up Them’s first two chart 45’s (“Gloria” and “Baby
Please Don’t Go”), “Here Comes The Night” quickly became a bona fide British rock classic.
By Lulu (UK Decca/Universal: 1964) UK #50
By Them (Parrot/Universal: 1965) US #24 Pop, UK #2
Other versions incl: David Bowie (EMI), Ducks Deluxe (Skydog), The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Private Music/Sony), Dwight Yoakam (Reprise/WMG), Van Morrison (‘live’ version: Universal)
I WANT CANDY (Bert Berns/Bob Feldman/Jerry Goldstein/Richard Gottehrer)
“I know a girl who's tough but sweet/She's so fine she can't be beat/
She's got everything that I desire/She sets the summer sun on fire”
A wonderful slice of bombastic rock ‘n’ roll, this song initially charted for the songwriting
team of Feldman/Goldstein/Gottehrer using the alias of ‘The Strangeloves’ on Bang, the
label of which Bert Berns was a co-founder. Years later it was successfully revived by the
new wave girl group, Bow Wow Wow.
By The Strangeloves (Bang/Sony: 1965) US #11 Pop
By Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (UK Decca/Universal: 1965) UK #25
By Bow Wow Wow (RCA/Sony: 1982) UK #9, US #62 Pop, UK #9
By The Candy Girls (Feverpitch: 1996) UK #30
By Aaron Carter (Jive/Sony: 2000) UK #31
Other versions incl: The Bishops (Chiswick/UK Ace), Melanie C
(Red Girl), Good Charlotte (Epic/Sony)
Performed by Good Charlotte on the soundtrack of Joel Gallen’s film
“Not Another Teen Movie” (Columbia: 2001)
I’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU(Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
By Garnet Mimms (United Artists/EMI: 1966) US #15 R&B, #30 Pop
Other versions incl: Cissy Houston & Chuck Jackson (Shanachie),
Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (EMI)
IF I DIDN’T HAVE A DIME (TO PLAY THE JUKEBOX)
(Bert Berns/Phil Medley)
Superior 1960’s singer Gene Pitney nailed this distinctive ballad penned by
Bert along with Phil Medley, his collaborator on “Twist And Shout”. In later years, IF I DIDN’T HAVE A DIME became a Carolina beach music favorite.
“If I Didn't Have A Dime and I didn't take the time to play the jukebox/
Oh-oh-oh, Saturday night would have been a sad and lonely night for me” If d and lonely night for me
By Gene Pitney (Musicor/Global: 1962) US #58 Pop
Other versions incl: Ron Moody & The Centaurs (Columbia/Sony), Bob Collins & The Fabulous Five (Ripete)
IT WAS EASIER TO HURT HER (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
By Garnet Mimms (United Artists/EMI: 1965)
By Wayne Fontana (Fontana/Universal: 1965) UK #36
Other versions incl: Chris Farlowe (Immediate),
Keith Powell (UK Pye/Universal)
KILLER JOE (Bert Berns/Phil Medley/Bob Elgin)
The Rocky Fellers was a family group: a father and four sons of which lead
singer Eddie was just 8 years-old!
By The Rocky Fellers (Scepter/Global: 1963) US #16 Pop
By The Kingsmen (Wand: 1966) US #77 Pop
A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP (Bert Berns)
“A Little Bit Of Soap will wash away your lipstick on my face/
But a little bit of soap will never, never, never ever erase/
The pain in my heart and my eyes/As I go through the lonely years/
A little bit of soap will never wash away my tears”
A much-recorded midtempo song which was initially the property of a doo-wop group from Richmond, Virginia, who were named The Jarmels after a street in Harlem. UK rock revivalists Showaddywaddy notched up a Top 5 hit with it in their home country 17 years later.
By The Jarmels (Laurie/EMI: 1961) US #7 R&B, #12 Pop
By Garnet Mimms (United Artists/EMI: 1965) US #95 Pop
By The Exciters (Bang/Sony: 1966) US #58 Pop
By Paul Davis (Bang/Sony: 1970) US #52 Pop
By Showaddywaddy (Arista/Sony: 1978) UK #5
By Nigel Olsson (Bang/Sony: 1979) US #34 Pop
Other versions incl: Brook Benton (Cotillion/WMG), Narvel
Felts (Hi/Fat Possum), Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (HMV/EMI),
Yvonne Carroll (Challenge/Sony/ATV), Jimmy Justice (UK Pye/
Universal), Gene McDaniels (Liberty/EMI), The Yardbirds
MY GIRL SLOOPY(Bert Berns/Wes Farrell)
See under: HANG ON SLOOPY
ONE WAY LOVE (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
“Go and find the kind of girl/Who thinks you`re the only guy in the world,
No more half-hearted kisses, that`s bad enough/
Whoa no more teardrops, no more (One-Way Love) /
No more (one-way love)”
With Johnny Moore singing lead, The Drifters introduced this reggae-rhythm-
based song that was successfully covered in the UK by Cliff Bennett.
By The Drifters (Atlantic/WMG: 1964) US #12 R&B, #56 Pop
By Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers;
(Parlophone/EMI: 1964) UK #9
Other versions include: Bryan Ferry (EMI), Erma Franklin
PIECE OF MY HEART (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
“Break another little piece of my heart now baby
'Cause you know you got it if it makes you feel good”
With her electrifying performance of this supreme soul ballad, Aretha’s sister Erma Franklin (1938-2002) proved she had what it took to rival Lady Soul.
Full of anguish and torment, the song has proved itself extremely durable over
the years and Faith Hill even transformed it into a #1 country hit.
By Erma Franklin (Shout/Sony: 1967) US #10 R&B, #62 Pop
By Big Brother & The Holding Company feat. Janis Joplin
(Columbia/Sony: 1968) US #12 Pop
By Etta James (Warner Bros/WMG: 1978) US #93 R&B
By Sammy Hagar (Geffen/Universal: 1982) US #73 Pop, UK #67
By Shaggy (Virgin/EMI: 1997) US #57 R&B, #72 Pop, UK #7
By Sandy Croft (Capitol/EMI: 1985) US #68 Country
By Erma Franklin (Epic/Sony: 1992 re-issue) UK #9
By Faith Hill (Warner Bros/WMG: 1994) US #1 Country
By Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone (in a medley w/CRY BABY)(Grammy download: 2005) US #32 Pop
Other versions incl: Bryan Ferry (EMI), Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (EMI), Phoebe Snow (House Of Blues), The Move (A&M/Universal), Betty LaVette (SSS), Etta James (Bullseye Blues/Rounder), Nazareth (Vertigo)
TELL HER (Bert Berns)
By Gil Hamilton (Capitol/EMI: 1962)
TELL HIM (Bert Berns)
“I know something about love, you've gotta want it bad/
If that guy's got into your blood, go out and get him/
If you want him to be the very part of you/
That makes you want to breathe, here's the thing to do...
Tell Him that you're never gonna leave him
Tell him that you're always gonna love him
Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now”
Solid gold girl group classic by The Exciters with their Brenda Reid singing lead.
British covers included a 1974 revival by Hello (a three-man London group produced by Mike Leander as glam rock was sweeping the charts) and much later by Caroline Quentin & Leslie Ash at the time they were co-stars in the UK TV’s hit sitcom “Men
Behaving Badly”. TELL HIM was first recorded as TELL HER by Gil Hamilton on Capitol.
By The Exciters (United Artists/EMI: 1963) US #5 R&B, #4 Pop, UK #46
By Billie Davis (UK Decca/Universal: 1963) UK #10
By Hello (Bell/Arista/Sony: 1974) UK #6
By Quentin & Ash (EastWest/WMG: 1996) UK #25
Other versions incl: Linda Ronstadt (Asylum/WMG), Sonny & Cher (Atlantic/WMG), The Glitter Basnd (Bell/Sony), Vonda Shepard (550 Music/Sony), Josie Cotton (Elektra/WMG)
As TELL HER:
By Dean Parrish (Boom/Universal: 1966) US #97 Pop
By Kenny Loggins (Columbia/Sony: 1989) US #76 Pop
TWIST AND SHOUT(Bert Berns/Phil Medley)
“Well shake it up baby now, Twist And Shout”
The original version by The Top Notes on Atlantic in 1961 was produced
by Phil Spector and made no noise at all so Bert Berns made a version with
The Isley Brothers and the rest is history! Note particularly that the song had a huge UK revival in the last weeks of 1993 with a version by reggae
duo, Chaka Demus & Pliers.
By The Isley Brothers (Wand/Highland: 1962) US #2 R&B, UK #42 (in ’63)
By Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (UK Decca/Universal: 1963) UK #4
By The Beatles (Capitol/EMI: 1964) US #2 Pop
By The Beatles (Capitol/EMI: 1986 reissue) US #23 Pop
By Salt-N-Pepa (Next Plateau/Universal: 1989) US #45 R&B, UK #4 (in ’88)
By Chaka Demus & Pliers (Mango/Universal: 1993) UK #1
Other versions incl: Ike & Tina Turner (Warner Bros/WMG),
Chubby Checker (Parkway/Abkco), The Mamas & The Papas
(Dunhill/Universal), Buck Owens & The Buckaroos (Capitol/EMI), Elvin Bishop (Capricorn/Universal), Rodney Dangerfield (MCA/Universal), Del Shannon (Big Top/Bug Music), The Astronauts (RCA/Sony), Cliff Richard (EMI), The Who
Performed by Rodney Dangerfield in the movie “Back To School” (Orion: 1986)
Click here for Associated Playlist
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US chart positions courtesy of Joel Whitburn & Billboard Magazine
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Please note that my email address has changed.
It is now awarner@wizwas.com
Many thanks.
3/09
Apr 14, 2009
A fortnightly newsletter highlighting some of the many classic songs in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog.
From Alan Warner, Creative Consultant
***************
Stories behind classic Sony/ATV songs
#7: RICH WOMAN (Dorothy LaBostrie/McKinley Millet)
“I got a woman with plenty of money
She got the money and I got the honey”
This song was most famously revived recently by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss on their Grammy©-winning 2008 album “Raising Sand” but its origins hark back some 53 years!
Released as a single by singer/pianist L’il Millet & The Creoles on Art Rupe’s Specialty label in the fall of 1955, it was written by L’il (aka McKinley) Millet along with Dorothy LaBostrie, the lady who co-authored the Little Richard classic “Tutti Frutti”.
Recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Music Shop in New Orleans, that original take on RICH WOMAN featured Lee Allen on tenor sax, Earl Palmer on drums and Edgar Myles (formerly of the legendary Shaweez) on trombone.
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An extended, updated list of Sony/ATV’s New Orleans R&B songs will appear in our next “Musical Notes”
And now…
Classic Songs By BERT BERNS (1929-1967)
Using the pseudonym Bert Russell, Bert Berns was an outstanding New York-based white songwriter/producer with a touch of genius particularly when working with African-American soul singers.
He was born in the Bronx to Russian immigrant parents and spent the early 60’s working out of the Brill building and though he died young, left behind a rich supply of R&B and pop classics. Here is a listing of some of Bert’s best compositions:
AM I GROOVING YOU (Bert Berns/Jeff Barry)
By Freddie Scott (Shout/Sony: 1967) US #25 R&B, #71 Pop
ARE YOU LONELY FOR ME
Aka ARE YOU LONELY FOR ME BABY (Bert Berns)
“I’m lonely baby, I’m lonely and blue/I’m lonely baby and I’m lonely for you”
A soulful cry of utter anguish, this song first charted for Freddie Scott on Bert’s own Shout label and later by Chuck Jackson on Motown.
By Freddie Scott (Shout/Sony: 1967) US #1 R&B, #39 Pop
By Chuck Jackson (Motown/Universal: 1969) US #27 R&B
Other versions incl: Al Green (Hi/Fat Possum), Buddy Guy (Silvertone), Gregg Allman (Universal)
Performed by Andrew Strong in the movie “The Commitments” (20th Fox: 1991)
BABY COME ON HOME (Bert Berns)
By Solomon Burke (Atlantic/WMG: 1966) US #31 R&B
CRY BABY (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
“Come on and cry, Cry Baby, cry baby, cry baby/
Welcome back home”
Pleading R&B ballad first etched into the world’s conciousness via the soul-
drenched vocal of Garnet Mimms. The revival by rock goddess Janis Joplin
was a cut from her classic album “Pearl”.
By Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters
(United Artists/EMI: 1963) US #1 R&B, #4 Pop
By Janis Joplin (Columbia/Sony: 1971) US #42 Pop
By Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone
(in a medley with PIECE OF MY HEART)
(Grammy download: 2005) US #32 Pop
Other versions incl: Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings (Fuel 2000), Klique (MCA), The Mad Lads (Stax), Janis Joplin (Live version:
Columbia/Sony), Natalie Cole (Capitol/EMI), Don Bryant
(Hi/Fat Possum)
Song was featured in the rockumentary “Janis” (Universal: 1975)
CRY TO ME (Bert Berns)
“When your baby leaves you all alone/And nobody calls you on the phone/
Don't you feel like crying?, don't you feel like crying?
Well here I am my honey, come on you Cry To Me”.
This heart-wrenching soul ballad marked Solomon Burke’s finest recordings
on Atlantic and into it he poured every ounce of his remarkable talent.
By Solomon Burke (Atlantic/WMG: 1962) US #5 R&B, #44 Pop
By Betty Harris (Jubilee/Rhino: 1963) US #10 R&B, #22 Pop
By The Pretty Things (Fontana/Universal: 1965) UK #28
By Freddie Scott (Shout: 1967) US #40 R&B, #70 Pop
By Betty Harris (Jubilee/Rhino: 1969 re-issue) US #44 R&B
Other versions incl:
The Rolling Stones (Abkco); Buckwheat Zydeco (Charisma),
Gwen McRae (Ichiban), Dana Gillespie (Wolf), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Asylum/WMG), Eruption (BMG/Sony), Ronnie McDowell (Curb), The Contours (RCA/Sony) Solomon Burke’s version was featured on the soundtrack of “Dirty Dancing” (Vestron: 1987).
EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE
(Bert Berns/Solomon Burke/Jerry Wexler)
“Everybody needs somebody/Everybody Needs Somebody To Love/
Someone to love, Sweetheart to miss, Sugar to kiss, I need you”
As with Garnet Mimms on “Cry Baby”, Solomon Burke’s gospel roots shine
thru on this outstanding heartfelt, soulful message.
By Solomon Burke (Atlantic/WMG: 1964) US #4 R&B, #58 Pop
By Wilson Pickett (Atlantic/WMG: 1967) US #19 R&B, #29 Pop
By The Blues Brothers (EastWest/WMG: 1990) UK #12
Other versions inc: The Rolling Stones (Abkco), The Jerry Garcia Band (Arista/Sony), Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (WEA/WMG), The Shadows Of Knight
(Sundazed), Thee Midniters (Norton)
Performed by The Blues Brothers in “The Blues Brothers” movie (Universal: 1980)
GET HIM (Bert Berns/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller/Ray Passman)
By The Exciters (United Artists/EMI: 1963) US #76 Pop
HANG ON SLOOPY (Bert Berns/Wes Farrell)
“Sloopy lives in a very bad part of town/
And everybody else tries to put my sloopy down”
This exuberant rock song started life as “My Girl Sloopy” recorded by an R&B group called The Vibrations. Producers Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer re-cut it as “Hang On Sloopy” with four guys from Ohio called Rick & The Raiders who changed their name to The McCoys. Their single rocketed to the top of the charts in October ’65. By the way, ‘Rick’ later carved out a solo career as Rick Derringer and he re-recorded the song himself in 1975.
By The Vibrations (as MY GIRL SLOOPY)
(Atlantic/WMG: 1964) US #10 R&B, #26 Pop
By The McCoys (Bang/Sony: 1965) US #1 Pop, UK #5
By The Ramsey Lewis Trio
(Cadet/Universal: 1965) US #6 R&B, #11 Pop
By Little Caesar & The Consuls (as MY GIRL SLOOPY):
(Mala/Sony:1965) US #50 Pop
By The Lettermen (Capitol/EMI: 1970) US #93 Pop
By Rick Derringer (Purple Pyramid: 1975) US #94 Pop
By The Sandpipers (Satril: 1976) UK #32
Other versions incl: Quincy Jones (Verve/Universal),
The Strangeloves (Bang/Sony), Jan & Dean (Liberty/EMI),
Billy Lee Riley (GNP Crescendo), The Beau Brummels
(Warner Bros/WMG), The Supremes (Motown/Universal),
Count Basie & His Orchestra (Brunswick), Die Toten Hosen.
HEART BE STILL (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
By Lorraine Ellison (Loma/WMG: 1967) US #43 R&B
Other versions incl: Labelle (Warner Bros/WMG).
HERE COMES THE NIGHT (Bert Berns)
“I could see right out my window, walkin' down the street, my girl with another guy/
His arm around her like it used to be with me, oh it makes me want to die”.
On a visit to the UK, Bert Berns cut the first version of this with Scottish-born Lulu but the
song really took off when he recorded it with Them, the group from Northern Ireland led by
a young Van Morrison. Following up Them’s first two chart 45’s (“Gloria” and “Baby
Please Don’t Go”), “Here Comes The Night” quickly became a bona fide British rock classic.
By Lulu (UK Decca/Universal: 1964) UK #50
By Them (Parrot/Universal: 1965) US #24 Pop, UK #2
Other versions incl: David Bowie (EMI), Ducks Deluxe (Skydog), The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Private Music/Sony), Dwight Yoakam (Reprise/WMG), Van Morrison (‘live’ version: Universal)
I WANT CANDY (Bert Berns/Bob Feldman/Jerry Goldstein/Richard Gottehrer)
“I know a girl who's tough but sweet/She's so fine she can't be beat/
She's got everything that I desire/She sets the summer sun on fire”
A wonderful slice of bombastic rock ‘n’ roll, this song initially charted for the songwriting
team of Feldman/Goldstein/Gottehrer using the alias of ‘The Strangeloves’ on Bang, the
label of which Bert Berns was a co-founder. Years later it was successfully revived by the
new wave girl group, Bow Wow Wow.
By The Strangeloves (Bang/Sony: 1965) US #11 Pop
By Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (UK Decca/Universal: 1965) UK #25
By Bow Wow Wow (RCA/Sony: 1982) UK #9, US #62 Pop, UK #9
By The Candy Girls (Feverpitch: 1996) UK #30
By Aaron Carter (Jive/Sony: 2000) UK #31
Other versions incl: The Bishops (Chiswick/UK Ace), Melanie C
(Red Girl), Good Charlotte (Epic/Sony)
Performed by Good Charlotte on the soundtrack of Joel Gallen’s film
“Not Another Teen Movie” (Columbia: 2001)
I’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU(Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
By Garnet Mimms (United Artists/EMI: 1966) US #15 R&B, #30 Pop
Other versions incl: Cissy Houston & Chuck Jackson (Shanachie),
Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (EMI)
IF I DIDN’T HAVE A DIME (TO PLAY THE JUKEBOX)
(Bert Berns/Phil Medley)
Superior 1960’s singer Gene Pitney nailed this distinctive ballad penned by
Bert along with Phil Medley, his collaborator on “Twist And Shout”. In later years, IF I DIDN’T HAVE A DIME became a Carolina beach music favorite.
“If I Didn't Have A Dime and I didn't take the time to play the jukebox/
Oh-oh-oh, Saturday night would have been a sad and lonely night for me” If d and lonely night for me
By Gene Pitney (Musicor/Global: 1962) US #58 Pop
Other versions incl: Ron Moody & The Centaurs (Columbia/Sony), Bob Collins & The Fabulous Five (Ripete)
IT WAS EASIER TO HURT HER (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
By Garnet Mimms (United Artists/EMI: 1965)
By Wayne Fontana (Fontana/Universal: 1965) UK #36
Other versions incl: Chris Farlowe (Immediate),
Keith Powell (UK Pye/Universal)
KILLER JOE (Bert Berns/Phil Medley/Bob Elgin)
The Rocky Fellers was a family group: a father and four sons of which lead
singer Eddie was just 8 years-old!
By The Rocky Fellers (Scepter/Global: 1963) US #16 Pop
By The Kingsmen (Wand: 1966) US #77 Pop
A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP (Bert Berns)
“A Little Bit Of Soap will wash away your lipstick on my face/
But a little bit of soap will never, never, never ever erase/
The pain in my heart and my eyes/As I go through the lonely years/
A little bit of soap will never wash away my tears”
A much-recorded midtempo song which was initially the property of a doo-wop group from Richmond, Virginia, who were named The Jarmels after a street in Harlem. UK rock revivalists Showaddywaddy notched up a Top 5 hit with it in their home country 17 years later.
By The Jarmels (Laurie/EMI: 1961) US #7 R&B, #12 Pop
By Garnet Mimms (United Artists/EMI: 1965) US #95 Pop
By The Exciters (Bang/Sony: 1966) US #58 Pop
By Paul Davis (Bang/Sony: 1970) US #52 Pop
By Showaddywaddy (Arista/Sony: 1978) UK #5
By Nigel Olsson (Bang/Sony: 1979) US #34 Pop
Other versions incl: Brook Benton (Cotillion/WMG), Narvel
Felts (Hi/Fat Possum), Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (HMV/EMI),
Yvonne Carroll (Challenge/Sony/ATV), Jimmy Justice (UK Pye/
Universal), Gene McDaniels (Liberty/EMI), The Yardbirds
MY GIRL SLOOPY(Bert Berns/Wes Farrell)
See under: HANG ON SLOOPY
ONE WAY LOVE (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
“Go and find the kind of girl/Who thinks you`re the only guy in the world,
No more half-hearted kisses, that`s bad enough/
Whoa no more teardrops, no more (One-Way Love) /
No more (one-way love)”
With Johnny Moore singing lead, The Drifters introduced this reggae-rhythm-
based song that was successfully covered in the UK by Cliff Bennett.
By The Drifters (Atlantic/WMG: 1964) US #12 R&B, #56 Pop
By Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers;
(Parlophone/EMI: 1964) UK #9
Other versions include: Bryan Ferry (EMI), Erma Franklin
PIECE OF MY HEART (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragovoy)
“Break another little piece of my heart now baby
'Cause you know you got it if it makes you feel good”
With her electrifying performance of this supreme soul ballad, Aretha’s sister Erma Franklin (1938-2002) proved she had what it took to rival Lady Soul.
Full of anguish and torment, the song has proved itself extremely durable over
the years and Faith Hill even transformed it into a #1 country hit.
By Erma Franklin (Shout/Sony: 1967) US #10 R&B, #62 Pop
By Big Brother & The Holding Company feat. Janis Joplin
(Columbia/Sony: 1968) US #12 Pop
By Etta James (Warner Bros/WMG: 1978) US #93 R&B
By Sammy Hagar (Geffen/Universal: 1982) US #73 Pop, UK #67
By Shaggy (Virgin/EMI: 1997) US #57 R&B, #72 Pop, UK #7
By Sandy Croft (Capitol/EMI: 1985) US #68 Country
By Erma Franklin (Epic/Sony: 1992 re-issue) UK #9
By Faith Hill (Warner Bros/WMG: 1994) US #1 Country
By Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone (in a medley w/CRY BABY)(Grammy download: 2005) US #32 Pop
Other versions incl: Bryan Ferry (EMI), Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (EMI), Phoebe Snow (House Of Blues), The Move (A&M/Universal), Betty LaVette (SSS), Etta James (Bullseye Blues/Rounder), Nazareth (Vertigo)
TELL HER (Bert Berns)
By Gil Hamilton (Capitol/EMI: 1962)
TELL HIM (Bert Berns)
“I know something about love, you've gotta want it bad/
If that guy's got into your blood, go out and get him/
If you want him to be the very part of you/
That makes you want to breathe, here's the thing to do...
Tell Him that you're never gonna leave him
Tell him that you're always gonna love him
Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now”
Solid gold girl group classic by The Exciters with their Brenda Reid singing lead.
British covers included a 1974 revival by Hello (a three-man London group produced by Mike Leander as glam rock was sweeping the charts) and much later by Caroline Quentin & Leslie Ash at the time they were co-stars in the UK TV’s hit sitcom “Men
Behaving Badly”. TELL HIM was first recorded as TELL HER by Gil Hamilton on Capitol.
By The Exciters (United Artists/EMI: 1963) US #5 R&B, #4 Pop, UK #46
By Billie Davis (UK Decca/Universal: 1963) UK #10
By Hello (Bell/Arista/Sony: 1974) UK #6
By Quentin & Ash (EastWest/WMG: 1996) UK #25
Other versions incl: Linda Ronstadt (Asylum/WMG), Sonny & Cher (Atlantic/WMG), The Glitter Basnd (Bell/Sony), Vonda Shepard (550 Music/Sony), Josie Cotton (Elektra/WMG)
As TELL HER:
By Dean Parrish (Boom/Universal: 1966) US #97 Pop
By Kenny Loggins (Columbia/Sony: 1989) US #76 Pop
TWIST AND SHOUT(Bert Berns/Phil Medley)
“Well shake it up baby now, Twist And Shout”
The original version by The Top Notes on Atlantic in 1961 was produced
by Phil Spector and made no noise at all so Bert Berns made a version with
The Isley Brothers and the rest is history! Note particularly that the song had a huge UK revival in the last weeks of 1993 with a version by reggae
duo, Chaka Demus & Pliers.
By The Isley Brothers (Wand/Highland: 1962) US #2 R&B, UK #42 (in ’63)
By Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (UK Decca/Universal: 1963) UK #4
By The Beatles (Capitol/EMI: 1964) US #2 Pop
By The Beatles (Capitol/EMI: 1986 reissue) US #23 Pop
By Salt-N-Pepa (Next Plateau/Universal: 1989) US #45 R&B, UK #4 (in ’88)
By Chaka Demus & Pliers (Mango/Universal: 1993) UK #1
Other versions incl: Ike & Tina Turner (Warner Bros/WMG),
Chubby Checker (Parkway/Abkco), The Mamas & The Papas
(Dunhill/Universal), Buck Owens & The Buckaroos (Capitol/EMI), Elvin Bishop (Capricorn/Universal), Rodney Dangerfield (MCA/Universal), Del Shannon (Big Top/Bug Music), The Astronauts (RCA/Sony), Cliff Richard (EMI), The Who
Performed by Rodney Dangerfield in the movie “Back To School” (Orion: 1986)
Click here for Associated Playlist
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US chart positions courtesy of Joel Whitburn & Billboard Magazine
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Please note that my email address has changed.
It is now awarner@wizwas.com
Many thanks.
3/09
