This week on Treasure Island Oldies

This week on Treasure Island Oldies
August 24th to August 30th 2008

It was so good to be back in the studio for another live show. Despite I only took last week off, it sure seemed like a long time away. As usual, the Chat Room was really busy and buzzing with lots of great conversations and sharing some wonderful musical memories.

On a very sad note, I would like to extend my personal condolences to my friend Matt Meaney from Langley, British Columbia, whose father passed away in California. Matt, all your friends in the Chat Room send their thoughts your way and we all look forward to seeing you and MrsMatt again when you are able.

Next week on the show it's our annual Labour Day Weekend Back To School (and Work) Special. Plus we've got another special all lined up for you, this time it's on Sunday, September 14th with an Encore Presentation of our annual Name Game Special.

Over at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog, our Song of the Week is Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes by Edison Lighthouse, featuring Tony Burrows on lead vocals. This is a performance from England's Top Of The Pops TV show. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights Sir Paul McCartney with two great solo era songs for your votes: Listen To What The Man Said and Let 'Em In. Cast your votes by clicking the Voice Your Choice button on any page of the website and making your selection. We'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's show.

A reminder from UpSNAP that you can now listen to Treasure Island Oldies on your mobile cell phone at no cost. Your carrier airtime minutes and long distance rates apply. All you need to do is call (704) 631-4060. You’ll want to select #1 for Mobile Radio from the main menu and then 9. You will then be prompted to enter the following 4-digit ID code: 1765 for the Archive of the latest show, or 1121 to hear the live show Sunday nights. I've listened to the Archive show and it's cool to hear it via the phone.

Ian Chapman sure surprised me with Connie Francis on this week's feature. Be sure to listen once again next week for another great story and song on Ian Chapman's Girl Groups ONLY on Treasure Island Oldies.

Lots of listeners have signed their name to the Treasure Island Oldies World Map. I invite you to sign the map as well. Just click on the World Map, then fill in your name, city and any comment you'd like to make. You'll join the many listeners who have put themselves on the Treasure Island Oldies World Map. Let the world know you're a proud listener!

If you missed the live show, you can enjoy the Archive of August 24th, 2008, click the Listen button on the Menu.

Have a good week. Bye for now.
Michael

Paul McCartney - Voice Your Choice

This week on Voice Your Choice, Treasure Island Oldies presents Paul McCartney with two of his great solo singles: Listen To What The Man Said and Let 'Em In.

Which song would you like to hear? Cast your vote by coming to the Voice Your Choice Page. Make your selection then wait for the results. We'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's show.

Edison Lighthouse - Song of the Week

Edison Lighthouse, featuring top lead vocal session singer Tony Burrows, are our feature Song of the Week with Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) in a performance from the British TV show Top Of The Pops.

Enjoy!

Michael

Pervis Jackson of The Spinners Died At Age 70

Pervis Jackson (pictured on far left of photo), who sang bass with The Spinners, has died from cancer at age 70.

Pervis Jackson the bass singer of the Spinners died today of Cancer in a Detroit hospital at the age of 70. Jackson who was an original member of one of Detroit's most well known singing groups.

The Spinners were the greatest soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul. The groups roots lay in Detroit, where they formed as a doo wop group during the late '50s. Throughout the '60s, the Spinners tried to land a hit by adapting to the shifting fashions of R&B and pop. By the mid-'60s, they had signed with Motown Records, Their primary Motown hit "It's a Shame" became a hit in 1970. The group moved on to create a dynasty of hits such as "Sadie", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", and "I'll Be Around", "Love Don't Love Nobody" and other major songs of the 70's.

No funeral arrangements have been given currently, you can find out more at MotownAlumni.com

Visit Motown Alumni Association at:
http://motownalumniassociation.ning.com

This week on Treasure Island Oldies

This week on Treasure Island Oldies
Weeks of August 10th to 23rd 2008

What another great show we had again this week , with a lot of requests and a Chat Room full of fun and memories. Speaking of the chat room, there are several listeners and one of the regular "Nuts in the Hut" recently upgraded their Java. The result has been disastrous in that this new version of Java does not work with the Java Applet, one of the two ways to connect; and the other way is via mIRC software. So if you are prompted on your computer screen to upgrade to the latest version of Java, I would say no if you intend to join the Chat Room using the Java Applet. Just a word to the wise.

A program note for next week. I am taking next Sunday, August 17th off, and there will be no live show. However, we are presenting for your enjoyment, an Encore Presentation of our August 17, 2007 show. So the Top Five Countdown and Rock and Roll News will both reflect the correct week. Isn't that clever? lol




On a sad note, I am sorry to say that we lost our beautiful Patches, the Guardian 0f the Treasure Island Oldies Vault. She passed away in her sleep this past Thursday, at the ripe old age of 17 (approximately 85 in human years). She lived a good life and was always loved unconditionally. She will be greatly missed. As a tribute to Patches, I am posting a couple of recent photos. The photo of her looking into my eyes was taken about a week before she died. And although week and frail, she still looked good, as she also did in the other photo from about four weeks ago.
To see an old photo of her in her active role of Guardian of the Vault, click here.



The Treasure Island Oldies Blog this week features postings on the passing of three musicians and artists, the legendary Isaac Hayes, Louis Teicher of Ferrante & Teicher, and Erik Darling from The Tarriers and The Rooftop Singers. In addition, we have our posting for Voice Your Choice, plus the Song of the Week, featuring The Walker Brothers and their second hit song Make It Easy On Yourself. The bonus is Gary Walker is interviewed prior to the guys performing the song. Enjoy!

Please note that there will be no Voice Your Choice this week, due to our Encore Presentation of the August 19, 2007 show next week. This popular feature will return in two weeks. Be sure to visit the website to find out the name of the artist and the songs up for your votes.

I received an email from UpSnap informing me that you can now listen to Treasure Island Oldies on your mobile cell phone at no cost. Your carrier airtime minutes and long distance rates apply. All you need to do is call (704) 631-4060. You’ll want to select #1 for Music from the main menu and then enter a 4-digit ID code. For the latest Archived Show enter 1120 or 1795; for the Live Show enter 1121. Please let me know how this works for you; I'd love to hear from you.

That was a real Lost Treasure from The Chiffons on Ian Chapman's Girl Groups this week. I can't remember when I last heard Stop, Look and Listen. Ian's weekly feature will return in two weeks for our next live show.

Lots of listeners have signed their name to the Treasure Island Oldies World Map. I invite you to sign the map as well. Just click on the World Map, then fill in your name, city and any comment you'd like to make. You'll join the many listeners who have put themselves on the Treasure Island Oldies World Map. Let the world know you're a proud listener!

If you missed the live show, you can enjoy the Archive of August 10th, 2008, click the Listen button on the Menu.

Have a great week; back live in two weeks. Bye for now.

Michael

The Walker Brothers - Song of the Week

Now here is something very cool for this week's video clip, not just a performance, but an interview too. Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers, the trio from Los Angeles who became huge in the UK, is interviewed and then the guys perform their second hit, Make It Easy On Yourself, the Hal David and Burt Bacharach song. And it's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!
Michael

Legendary Soul Man Isaac Hayes Dead At 65

Very sad news from NME.
Isaac Hayes passed away yesterday (August 10) in Memphis after being found unconscious near a treadmill in his home.

He was 65.

Hayes was discovered by his wife, son and his wife's cousin who returned home from buying groceries to find him on the floor of a downstairs bedroom. After being taken to hospital, Hayes was pronounced dead.

Born August 20, 1942, in Covington, TN, Isaac Hayes was orphaned as a baby and was brought up by his grandparents in a poor rural environment where the family raised their own food.

At 21, Hayes joined the Stax Records family in Memphis and his first paid sessions were as a pianist with Otis Redding in 1964. Going on to work with Booker T And The MGs, The Bar-Kays and Rufus Thomas, Hayes performed as a session musician with a string of acts that created what became known as the Memphis Sound.

His most famous collaboration proved to be 'Soul Man' which he co-wrote for Sam And Dave. The track had been inspired by the African-American Civil Rights Movement and specifically Hayes seeing coverage of the 12 Street Detroit Riot on television. He noted that African-American owned and operated institutions were marked with the word "soul" so that rioters did not destroy them.

He co-wrote the track with his regular song-writing partner David Porter, as "a story about one's struggle to rise above his present conditions. It's almost a tune [where it's] kind of like boasting 'I'm a soul man'. It's a pride thing".

Hayes' 1969 solo album 'Hot Buttered Soul' was groundbreaking. The record put him on the map thanks to his unique style, which introduced new music directions, from his rap-vocals to longer songs.

It was his 1971 album 'Shaft' that shot Hayes to stardom. As the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, the album was the first record by a solo black artist to reach the top of both the R&B and Pop charts, winning an Academy Award for Best Musical Score and landing three Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe. The album stayed in the charts for 16 months.

In addition to his music, Hayes forged a successful career as an actor, with roles in over 30 movies including 'Robin Hood: Men In Tights', 'It Could Happen To You' and 'Reindeer Games'.

His TV career also flourished as the voice of Nickelodeon's 'Nick At Nite' and acting roles in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', 'Sliders', 'Tales From The Crypt' and 'Girlfriends'.

In 1997 he landed the voice of Chef on animated TV show 'South Park', voicing the popular character from the show's inception until 2006. In character, he scored a UK Number single in 1999 with 'Chocolate Salty Balls (PS I Love You)'.

Hayes left the show acrimoniously after reportedly being unhappy with an episode which criticised his religion Scientology, with the star reportedly saying at the time "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins."

However with Hayes suffering a stroke just before his departure from the show, there was some question whether he could have been capable of making such a statement, or the decision by himself.

Inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, Hayes's music has been sampled in over 200 songs by the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Destiny's Child, Tricky, Portishead and Notorious BIG.

Hayes was married four times and had 12 children. He is survived by his wife Adjowa.

Erik Darling of The Tarriers and The Weavers Dead at 74

Erik Darling, who sang with the Tarriers and the Weavers and had a #1 hit with his Rooftop Singers with "Walk Right In", died Saturday (August 2)of Burkitt's lymphoma in a hospice center near Chapel Hill, N.C. He was 74. Born in Baltimore in 1933 (he grew up in Canandaigua, New York), Erik moved to New York City in the late '40s to sing folk music. He formed the Tarriers in 1955, first charting as a backup to Vince Martin on "Cindy, Oh Cindy" (#9-1956) then on their own with a unique adaptation of "The Banana Boat Song" (#4-1957). Erik moved on to replace Peter Seeger in the Weavers in 1958, but the blacklisted group was well past it's ability to chart. In 1962, he left to start a solo career and released the album "True Religion". An aspiring singer named Lynne Taylor sent Erik a recording of her singing harmony to the album that impressed him enough to form a folk trio with Lynne and his friend, Bill Svanoe. Erik ran across a 1929 tune by Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers called "Walk Right In" that he felt would be the perfect song for the new group, which he named the Rooftop Singers. It was. The song went to #1 in early 1963, and soon the group was playing the Newport Folk Festival and touring Australia. "Tom Cat" later that year got to a respectable #20 but "Mama Don't Allow" fizzled at #55 and, within a year, their chart hits were over. They did, however, record three well-received albums-- the last with Mindy Stuart replacing Lynne. The group disbanded in 1965 and Erik continued as a solo singer and banjo player, moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico in the '80s.

Ferrante and Teicher's Louis Teicher Dead at 83

Louis Teicher, one-half of the piano duo of Ferrante and Teicher, died Sunday (August 3) of a heart attack at his summer home in North Carolina. He was 83. Born in 1924 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Lou met Arthur Ferrante while they were both students at the famed Julliard School of Music in Manhattan (Lou was five and Art was eight when they started studies). They then went on to teach at the facility after graduation, while recording and performing avante garde music using "prepared" pianos-- fitted with clothes pins and sandpaper to create unusual sounds. Their big break occurred when they switched from Columbia Records to United Artists in 1960 and created a lush arrangement of the Oscar-winning film, "The Apartment". It reached #10 that year and was followed by themes from "Exodus" (#2-1960 and a million-seller), "One-Eyed Jacks" (#37-1961)and "Tonight" from "West Side Story" (#8-1961). One last top forty single was the theme from "Midnight Cowboy" (#10) in 1970. As successful as their singles were, though, the duo's albums became instrumental standards. Art and Lou charted 30 times in a dozen years before retiring in 1989.

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies
August 3rd to 9th, 2008

We know we are smack dab in the middle of summer when it is time for our annual Instrumental Gems Wordless Wonders Special. And what a great time we had too! It never ceases to amaze me just how many instrumental hits there were during the '50s and '60s, and to a certain extent the '70s too, although by then they were less frequent. But the variety of music from big band to jazz, from ballad to boogie, was fantastic with many hits, and we played four hours worth of them. And I bet you knew just about every note too. This music stuck in our hearts and memories and why it is so good to hear them again all together in one special. I would like to thank you for taking the time to email and call in with your requests. They were wonderful suggestions and greatly added to the show. Our next scheduled special will be our annual Back To School Special on Labour Day weekend, Sunday, September 7th. Be sure to get your requests in for this upcoming special.

By the way, I will be taking a mini break on Sunday, August 17 and I will not in the studio for the live show. However, we will bring you the show from exactly one year ago, so it will fit into the regular timeline. I hope you enjoy this encore presentation.

Ian Chapman returns to next week's show with another great story and songs on Ian Chapman's Girl Groups. Be sure to listen for it in Hour 1.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog this week features Bobby Darin and his 1959 smash Dream Lover. Enjoy this great video clip as our Song of the Week.

This week on Voice Your Choice it's the sweet soul music of Peaches and Herb with two of their soulful love ballads: Close Your Eyes and For Your Love. Click the Voice Your Choice button on any page of the website and cast your vote. We'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's show.

Lots of listeners have signed their name to the Treasure Island Oldies World Map. I invite you to sign the map as well. Just click on the World Map, then fill in your name, city and any comment you'd like to make. You'll join the many listeners who have put themselves on the Treasure Island Oldies World Map. Let the world know you're a proud listener!

If you missed the live show of our annual Instrumental Gems Wordless Wonders Special, you can enjoy the Archive of August 3rd, 2008, click the Listen button on the Menu.

Have a great week.

Michael

Peach And Herb - Voice Your Choice

Peaches and Herb, an R&B duo from Washington, DC, were Francine "Peaches" Barker (she was born Francine Hurd in 1947) and Herb Fame (born Herbert Feemster October 1, 1942).

There were three "Peaches" between 1967 and 1980. The original Peaches, Francine Barker, was temporarily replaced by Marlene Mack from 1968-69. In 1978 Herb teamed up with a new Peaches, this time Linda Green, when they recorded Shake Your Groove Thing and Reunited.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice focuses on the original Peaches and Herb with Close Your Eyes and For Your Love. Which song would you like to hear? Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page then sit back and wait for the results. We'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's show.

Bobby Darin - Song of the Week

Bobby Darin and his 1959 smash Dream Lover is our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

By the way, Rhino Records has just re-released the 1962 greatest hits album, The Bobby Darin Story. What makes this different is that Bobby narrates the story and background behind every song. Truly a unique greatest hits package.