The Plymouth Rockers - Don't Say Why

There were a number of bands in the mid-60s who went by the British Invasion-ish name, The Plymouth Rockers. I first came to this Don't Say Why on Valiant Records by a New England Garage comp. But it turns out that this band was not from any of the original colonies. These cats were apparently from Phoenix, Arizona. I don't know a whole lot more than that. I do know that it is one fine rocker with strong fuzz, great vocals (both lead and back-up) and a really nice melody that ends in a big crescendo. I love the way the lead singer starts off in a whispered hush. It plays to the tentative nature of the rather sexually suggestive lyrics (which tend to repeat and repeat and repeat).

Don't say "why?"
Don't say "when?"
Don't say anything
Just let it end. 

Then we move to a full group vocal repeating nearly the same exact line. It's not until about the :58 mark that we hear the Bob Seeger-like booming voice of one of the band members bellow out "I'm through with you, that's for sure." It's just a deep guttural growl of a voice that sticks out from the sweet harmonies like an intriguing mole on Marilyn Monroe's cheek. 

The song was written by Moore and Moore. Two brothers in the band? Could explain the taut harmonies. This was their second and last release on Valiant Records. They may also be the same Plymouth Rockers who released two tepid Chuck Berry covers on Warner Brothers in 1964. Surprising that not much more is known about them. If anyone has info on these guys, please leave us a comment below.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Four Just Men - That's My Baby/Things Will Never Be The Same

Back in August we did a nice little Tower Records Spotlight. One of those featured in that two week spotlight was a band called Just Four Men doing their song, There's Not One Thing. Read that post here. We're back today with the same band, but here they are called Four Just Men. This double sider was the Liverpool quartet's debut single, released in the UK in November of 1964 on Parlophone Records. In the states it was released in February of 1965 on Tower Records.

The A-Side was composed by singer Dimitrius Christopholus and guitarist John Kelman. That's My Baby has a wonderful and unique whining guitar riff throughout the song. It lifts the ballad to new levels. The Flip-Side, Things Will Never Be The Same was composed by Christopholus and Kelman and bassist, Lawrence Arendes. The break-neck speed song features more great guitar work from Kelman and a chord transition reminiscent of an early Everly Brothers song. This song would have been prime for a screaming lead, and clocking in at a quick 1:48, would seem they would have had time to stick one in there. Both sides are solid all the way through.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

R.I.P. Bunny Yeager

You may not know the name but you assuredly have seen her work. Bunny Yeager, the model turned innovative pin-up model photographer, passed away yesterday at the age of 85.

The Song Still Remains the Same: the unauthorized etymology of Led Zeppelin songs. Stairway To Heaven

Stairway To Heaven

Taurus

We've brought you three articles on the history of Led Zeppelin songs and how some of their songs may just have been lifted from the works of others.

The song we first looked at was Dazed and Confused. We talked in-depth about how the song was taken from Jake Holmes' 1968 composition called, wait for it, Dazed and Confused. Read about and listen to both versions of Dazed and Confused here.

Then we wrote about Zep's Whole Lotta Love and how that was lifted, vocal style and all, from The Small Faces, who, in turn had lifted it from Muddy Waters. Read and listen to a side by side comparison of Whole Lotta Love here.

Most recently we talked about Led Zeppelin's Since I've Been Loving You and how that shares a more than passing resemblance to Moby Grape's 1968 composition, Never. Read about and listen to both Since I've Been Loving You and Never here. 

In the news today is the story of Led Zeppelin's signature song, Stairway To Heaven. The family members of the late Randy California, guitarist for the band, Spirit, have brought a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin and Atlantic Records alleging that the iconic opening riff of Stairway To Heaven was lifted from Spirit's 1968 song entitled Taurus.

Led Zeppelin, in both 1968 and in 1969, opened for Spirit numerous times and would have had ample opportunity to hear the number performed both live and on record.

"It was such a pretty moment, and it would typically come after a big forceful number and always got a good response," [founding band member, Mark] Andes told Bloomberg. "They would have seen it in that context.... It is fairly blatant, and note for note. It would just be nice if the Led Zeppelin guys gave Randy a little nod. That would be lovely."" [Los Angeles Times, May 22, 2014]

For the sake of brevity, we'll just say, you be the judge. We formed our opinion years and years ago. Now is your chance to play both Sprit's Taurus and Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven back to back. And then ask yourself, does anyone remember laughter?

Enjoy, and let us know what you think.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

The Raelettes - That Goes To Show You

The Raelettes were a revolving door of singers assembled to provide Ray Charles with a solid-to-the-core vocal back up. Who is singing on this 1970 release on Ray Charles' Tangerine Records label, I can not tell you. It's not the incomparable Margie Hendrix (pictured below), that's for sure. But I'm pretty sure that is Ray giving the occasional "hey" in the background of the charming That Goes To Show You. May also be him on piano too. But I don't really know.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!