Category: Music

A Tale of Two CD’s

In 1987 it seemed like it had taken forever until the first “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” CD was released, only four years after the Compact Disc was introduced in America, and 20 years after the original album came out. The remixed stereo CD of Pepper is now out, and it definitely sounds remixed, not just remastered as with the 2009 sets, which also included the original mono mixes. I like most of the changes in the new Pepper, but some will take a little getting used to.

Here’s a quick glimpse of what was going on exactly 30 years ago, with a bit of Johnny Carson’s opening monologue from May 21, when the Alzheimer’s Disease affecting Ronald Reagan was already starting to show.

Shelley’s Suitors

Shelley Fabares

Here’s a fun musical novelty that I somehow hadn’t noticed until now. James Darren, Paul Peterson, and Shelley Fabares were the “Teenage Triangle.” The title and cover design of the album implied a romantic competition for Shelley’s affection, which is a bit odd considering that Paul had played Shelley’s kid brother on “The Donna Reed Show.”

The first album did well enough to rate a follow-up. A lot of the songs sound as though they were intended to appeal to parents more than their teenage children.

Gimme Some Lovin’, My Boy Lollipop

A few years ago, a retired A&R man (artists and repertoire) named Chris Peers contacted me, requesting help putting him in touch with Prue, which of course I was glad to do. Peers was involved with Chris Blackwell and Island Records at the beginning, before branching out on his own. One of the acts he worked with was the Spencer Davis Group, with Stevie Winwood, as he explains in this video. Peers told me that he had a heck of a time pitching the band in America, before finally landing a deal with United Artists.

And this, of course, was the song that broke the top 10 for the Spencer Davis Group in America.