Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CDVI--The Spaniels: Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite

 Literally spent an hour this week trying to remember which movie I had seen that led me to add this week's tune to the pantheon of tunes that make up Friday Night Jukebox.  It's Wikipedia entry lists American Graffiti and Three Men and a Baby as movies where it was featured (if you've seen the latter you probably won't forget its placement), but I haven't seen either in years.  Eventually I gave up--my guess is a week from now it will pop into my mind. No matter, if nothing else it gave me an intro for this week's post....

The Spaniels formed in Gary, Indiana in 1952 at their high school in Gary, Indiana.  They are considered the first successful doo-wop group to come out of the Midwest.  As was the custom in their day, they were mostly a singles band that toured constantly on what was once known as the Chitlin Circuit.  Unfortunately, their label, Vee-Jay, went bankrupt in 1966 and the band stopped performing.  They reunited in 1969, had another hit, before parting again in 1970.  The Spaniels had two competing incarnations for many years on the oldies circuit.  Sadly, all of the original members have passed away.

Fun Fact:  The Spaniels are considered pioneers in pop music by some because they were the first group to spotlight their frontman with his own microphone while the remaining members shared a second one.

"Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" was released as a single in 1954.  As it was in the day when albums were an afterthought, there was no album release, though it would be released on a number of hits packages and oldies collections through the years.  The song hit #5 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard R & B Chart. A version by the much whiter McGuire Sisters hit # 8 on Billboard's then version of its current Hot 100.

It's a testament to the talents of the five men who made up the Spaniels how in just two short years since their beginning they made a record as wondrous as "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite."  The harmonies are as good as any I've ever heard, and the segues into the solo verses are as smooth as silk.  The bass singer's intro (and add ons ) to the chorus, as well as the sweet but soft laments of an electric guitar are fine moments, as well.  And when you add in lyrics about not wanting to say good night to your lovely lady...well, it's a doo wop dream. 

Lyric Sheet:  "I hate to leave you I really must say/Oh, good night sweetheart, good night..."

Enjoy:

Republican = Traitor

Peace,

emaycee

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CLXVI--The Del-Vikings: Come Go with Me

"Dom-dom dom-dom dom-de-doo-be"...proof positive that the best lyrics don't have to be "How many roads must a man walk down?" or "In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream..." to make a classic pop song.

The Del-Vikings (sometimes the Dell Vikings or the Dell-Vikings) were formed in Pittsburgh, PA in 1955 by several servicemen stationed at a nearby Air Force Base.  Known as a doo-wop group, they had three top 15 singles by 1957...and haven't come close since.  Still, the band is performing to this day, though through the years they have split, reunited, had several different incarnations (thus the differing spellings on the band name), and had something near to 52,000 different members (only a slight exaggeration).  Near as I can tell, all of the original band members have departed this vale, but their legacy as one of the few racially integrated bands in the 1950's to achieve chart success is a fine feather in their caps...as is the wonderful single featured this week on FNJ.

Released in 1956, "Come Go with Me" would go on to reach #4 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the biggest selling single of the Del-Vikings' career, eventually going gold.  The song would also be listed at #449 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"--a fine tidbit for their musical resume.

Fun Fact:  The first time Paul McCartney saw John Lennon, Lennon's band the Quarrymen was playing "Come Go with Me"--and Lennon couldn't remember the words so he made them up as the song went along.  Tsk, tsk, John!

As I noted in the intro, there are pop songs that try to make a big statement, and there are pop songs that are just a hell of a lot of fun...and "Come Go with Me" sits squarely in the latter.  Opening with the wonderful scatting and closing their intro with the always welcome "whoa whoa whoa," the song is little more than a boy telling a girl that he loves her and just wants a chance to win her heart.  The harmonies are as good as any you'll ever hear, and there is an absolutely killer saxophone (replete with hand claps, as well) solo about two thirds of the way in...before closing with some more unparalleled harmonies.  This one is all about the fun--I can tell you that no matter how bad of a day I'm having, if I hear this song it is immediately lightened, and it'll be ear candy for the next several days. Just a great single from the early days of rock and roll....

Lyric Sheet:  "Dom-dom dom-dom dom-de-doo-be dom dom dom dom dom dom-de-doo-be dom dom dom dom dom dom-de-doo-be dom, whoa, whoa, whoa..."

Enjoy:

Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee