BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 12th 2017
2:00 PM HOMEWOOD LIBRARY – 1721 OXMOOR ROAD 35209
NEXT MEETING SUNDAY, APRIL 9th, 2017 THE SECOND SUNDAY
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
*****DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS SUNDAY, MARCH 12TH*****
SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD AND DON’T BE LATE TO THE MEETING
We had a great time last month with Joey Roberts listening to his exploits as a DJ here in Birmingham at WSGN. I now think that all the far-fetched things that went on in the Knight Finance, WKRP In Cincinnati are not as far-fetched as I thought. Thanks, Joey. It was a blast.
At this month’s meeting we plan on playing the final part of the video, Twenty Feet From Stardom, the movie about backup singers who did so much to help recordings become hit records. We had watched the first part at an earlier meeting and it was very information and entertaining.
Also at this month’s meeting, BRC member, Joe, will be bringing a large collection of Doo Wop/Group 45’s he will be selling at very good prices. Check that out for some good sounds.
Don’t forget what we have coming up. At the April and may meetings we will have 2 of our very own as guest speaker, In April, Henry Lovoy will be with us to talk about his time, and it still continues, in the music business. Henry began while in high school singing and playing drums and has been in or filled in for about every band that came out of the Birmingham area. And his record, Baggie Maggie on the Staff label is a very highly sought after 45 for collectors.
In May, Andy Millard will be with us to introduce and discuss his recently released book, Magic City Nights, a documentary about the music scene here in Birmingham beginning in the 50’s and going through current times. We look forward to hearing from him. All you guys that were in a band during that time may want to come and listen to Andy and how this book all came about.
MEMORIUM
Some time back we had two of the original members of the band, Baker Knight and the Knightmares as our speakers and we had a great time hearing all their stories and about probably the very first rock & roll band that came out of Birmingham. Recently I was saddened to learn that one of the gentlemen passed away. Nat Tortorici was his name and his son emailed me about his passing. His son, Sam wanted to have the following put in the newsletter for all the members to read.
On January 17, my father, Dr. I.J. “Nat” Tortorici was called home at the age of 84 after a battle with lung cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Marion, just 4 months earlier. But what transpired in the time following mother’s passing I thought would be of interest to the BRC family.
In dad’s obituary, he was referred to as a ‘giant of a man’ — maybe because of his 6’5″ stature, or maybe due to his engaging personality. But I will always remember him as somewhat of a ‘renaissance man’. Nat was a successful dentist and leader among his peers, a wonderful painter, a loving husband, wonderful father and grandfather, and enjoyed an expansive circle of family and friends. AND, he was a gifted musician — tenor sax, singer, ukulele player. Oh, did he love music!
He earned most of his way through the University of Alabama School of Dentistry playing his sax across west and central Alabama with Stumpy Falls. He was the lead sax player for arguably Birmingham’s first rock and roll band, Baker Knight & The Knightmares. He sang in barbershop quartets around town, sang in local weddings, played lead tenor sax for Joe Giattina & The Bama Cardinals, then picked up the ukulele which he played regularly and amassed a meaningful collection in his later years (he even built a few ukuleles from scratch).
Preceding his battle with cancer, dad lost most of his sight due to macular degeneration. It was incredibly difficult for him to deal with lung cancer and near blindness, on top of losing the love of his life of 52 years. Several times a week for the months after mom passed, I would lay in the bed next to him and we would just reminisce. I would go through all of his mail and read it to him. It became abundantly clear in early 2016 that the #1 thing he looked most forward to was the monthly BRC newsletter. I would read every single word of the newsletter to him, and it was clear by the look of joy on his face that the words and memories gave him great peace. I would pause while reading and download on my iPad some of the great tunes mentioned in the newsletter — he and I would just sit there for hours and read, listen, read and listen. And he gave me a detailed history on every artist and song.
I want to sincerely thank the BRC family for bringing Nat great joy for many years, and obvious peace in his last days. Birmingham has lost an unsung musician. But I am thankful that he passed along his gift of music to me.
BE SURE TO FLIP IT
Years ago one of our club members made the comment that when you bought a 45 RPM you were buying two songs. Don’t forget to flip it over an play the other side. When I reflect on all the good ‘B’ sides I have heard, some better then the hit side, I thought I’d mention a few this month. You have to know that when I say ‘B’ side I am talking about the other side of a hit record although some original ‘B’ sides went on to be the hit side. Booker T & the MG’s had a major hit with ‘Green Onions’ but it was the ‘B’ side when released. Stax Records released Volt 102 with ‘Behave Yourself’ as the ‘A’ side but later released Stax 127 with ‘Green Onions’ as the ‘A’ side. But here if I use the term ‘B’ side I am talking about the non-hit side.
Some artists had a record that had both sides make the charts. For instance, of Ricky Nelson’s first 40 plus releases, all but 2 had both sides chart. Of course Elvis and The Beatles also had many records that had both sides chart.
See if any of your favorite ‘B’ sides are mentioned here. Lloyd Price’s “personality’ had a nice R&B side with ‘Have You Ever Had The Blues’. The Tams, a big favorite around here had a hit with ‘What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)’ but turn it over and you’ll enjoy ‘Laugh It Off’. One of smoothest groups of the 50’s had to be the Platters with the lead vocals of Tony Williams. But, flip over ‘You’re Making A Mistake’ and you’ll hear the female of the group, Zola Taylor sing a nice song entitled ‘My Old Flame’. CCR’s ‘Proud Mary’ was a monster hit but you also got another excellent song when you bought the record and played the flip, ‘Born On The Bayou’. Bob Seger had a nice soft rock hit with ‘We’ve Got Tonight’ but if you wanted to hear the guy rock, flip it and listen to “Ain’t Got No Money’ (this song didn’t get airplay????). Let me mention one more from Seger. “Horizontal Bop’ went to # 42 but to me it is the flip that should have been played – ‘Her Strut’. I mentioned the Beatles earlier having both sides of many 45’s chart. One side that didn’t that did become pretty famous was the flip of ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’. It became one of Charles Manson’s favorites – ‘Helter Skelter’. And let me say this while we are on the Beatles, is there another one of their 45’s that can out do the combo of ‘Matchbox’ and ‘Slow Down’? Two fun sides for the price. Dee Dee Sharp had a Top 10 hit with ‘Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) but I enjoy the flip, ‘Baby Cakes’. Otis may have a hit with ‘Just One More Day’ but how about the other side, ‘I Can’t Turn You Loose’. Now that song did chart on the R&B chart but I am talking about songs on the pop charts. Rod Stewart’s hit “(I Know) I’m Losing You’ had a real nice smooth flip entitled ‘Mandolin Wind’. I have always enjoyed listening to that one. Speaking of ALWAYS enjoying listening to, let me mention these two ‘B’ sides before I run out of room. Them had a great song (this is poor English, that is the group, Them, remember)that only went to # 93 when first released but with this 45 you got two excellent songs with the flip being ‘Baby, Please Don’t Go’. About a year later this 45 would make the charts again and go to #71 but again the flip didn’t chart. One of my favotrite from the British Invasion. And one more excellent two sider of which only one charted, check out Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Foxey Lady’. With this song you also got ‘Hey Joe’ on the other side. Doesn’t get much better than that. Buddy Holly had many very good ‘B’ sides but one of the best was the flip of ‘Oh! Boy’ which was ‘Not Fade Away’. A song that has been covered by over 100 artists. Not bad for a ‘B’ side. Here’s one similar to Buddy’s. The Raindrops, which was Ellie Greenwich and husband Jeff Barry had a minor hit with ‘That Boy John’, but it was the song on the flip side that would make a splash later on by another group – ‘Hanky Panky’. Ellie and Jeff were the writers and recorded it first and the rest is history. As I wind down with so many fun ‘B’ sides not even mentioned I don’t want to leave out the great Carl Perkins song, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’. To think that fans went out an bought that 45 and hopefully turned it over and heard ‘Honey Don’t’. Nearly 40 artists covered that one. And it was a ‘B’ side! Quickly let me mention the flips of these; Marvin Gaye’s ‘Pride And Joy’, had ‘One Of These Days, Curtis Lee’s ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’, had Gee How I Wish You Were Here’, The Capris’, ‘There’s A Moon Out Tonight’, had ‘Indian Girl’, and an excellent flip came with Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs’ ‘Stay’, entitled ‘Do You Believe’, and I’ll end with the flip of one of rocks all time songs, the Rolling Stones ‘Satisfaction’ came with one of their best fun rock and roll recordings, ‘The Under Assistant West Coat Promotional Man’. Well, gotta go. Hope it was fun. Do you have a flip that you enjoyed. Send it to me and I’ll mention it another time. For your entertainment I’ve included some of the above for you to listen to. Enjoy.
Rolling Stones – The Under Assistant West Coast Promotional Man’
Marvin Gaye – ‘One Of These Days’
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs – ‘Do You Believe’
Curtis Lee – ‘Oh How I Wish You Were Here’
TRIBUTE CONCERT FOR BLUES’ MAN’S PASSING
George W. “Birmingham George” Conner, 82, died Dec. 18, 2016. “Birmingham” George Washington Conner moved from Pickens County, Alabama to Chicago and stayed there close to 30 years where he had his own blues club “The Place.” In the 80s he moved to Memphis for 5 years before moving back to Alabama where he opened another blues club. George could be heard every year at the Freedom Creek Festival, in Pickens County, Alabama. Blues musicians from Birmingham and the Black Belt will gather at Henderson’s Lounge to play the late “Birmingham George” Conner’s original songs and his particular style of blues.
The late Willie King credited Birmingham George with teaching him how to play guitar as did many other Alabama musicians. Alabama’s black belt was named after the regions black fertile soil. There was a high African-American population who would entertain themselves playing music and singing. Sunday mornings would be church and gospel but the evenings could be similar music but in the juke joints with the words and tempo changed a little. With little mobility of the population the area developed a certain style of delta blues unique to the area. Birmingham George had that sound as did Willie King.
This tribute will try to recreate and celebrate that sound and honor. Guest musicians will include Clarence Blueman Davis, Jock Webb, Robert Harris, Ardie Dean and several more guests who still play the juke joints of the Black Belt.
The tribute concert will be held April 8th at Henderson’s Lounge in Midfield, AL. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
UPCOMING RECORD SHOWS
Savannah Record Dig & Super Groovy Art Fair – Saturday, April 1. Savannah, GA under tents on DeSoto Street between 40th and 41st in Starland. Over 40 tables of vinyl. Free admission. Www.fearnoarts.com or 1-313-898-1350.
BRC HEART & SOUL OF ROCK AND ROLL
Don’t forget to check out all the great radio shows BRC has on the BRC website. http://www.birminghamrecord.com/brc/
Just click on the ‘RADIO’ icon.
HEY! HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE?
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD THIS HIT?
Rose Royce – ‘I Want To Get Next To You’
1976 – # 10 on Hot 100 and # 3 on Hot Soul Singles
See ya,
Charlie
2 Comments