This week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of August 24th, 2014

August 24^th, 2014 to August 30^th, 2014

I was pleased to share with you some songs from the just-released CD by The Sceptres, Long Lost Hits & Rarities. The Sceptres were a very popular singing group in Montreal during the 1960s, in a similar vein as the Tokens, Happenings and Four Seasons, with tremendous harmonies. The members were Marty Butler, Lead Vocals, Keyboards and Composer; Bill Ott, Bass,  Guitar and Background Vocals; Tim Hewlings, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Arranger and Background Vocals; and Bill Tyler, Drums, Percussion and Background Vocals. Sadly, Marty Butler passed away in 1996. The surviving members had to work very hard to find the master tape recordings, as there five different record companies involved with their recording career: Fi-Sound, RCA International, Allied, Alliance and Polydor. This CD represents the first time that all of their recordings have been assembled and available on one CD. I’ve known Bill Ott since my last year of high school and got to know him better when he did promotion and sales for record distributors in Montreal while I was working in radio as a Music Director. Bill and I eventually worked together at A&M Records, where he was Vice-President Sales and I was Vice-President Artist & Repertoire. The group has provided the opportunity for me to give 5 copies of their CD on the show. If you’d like to have a copy for yourself, enter the contest. Just send your name and mailing address to contest@treasureislandoldies.com. I will randomly pick 5 names from all entries received. Deadline to enter the contest is Saturday, August 30^th, 2014. The surviving members will also autograph the album for you! Don’t delay, enter the contest today. I’ll announce the winners on the show next week.

Next week it’s the annual Labour Day Back To School End Of Summer Special on the show. I’ll play some great work type songs, school related tunes and the last of the great hot summer songs for the season. We’ll be Live Sunday, August 31^st at 6 pm Pacific, 1 am Universal time. And if you miss the Live show, you can Listen to the Archive.

If you have a birthday approaching, be sure to let me know. I’ll wish you Happy Birthday on the show and play Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing The Exciters in a rare Scopitone music film clip. Scopitones often had odd visual themes, not really related to the song itself. This clip by The Exciters was shot at a zoo and they’re lip synching the song to a bear. Odd but historic. Tell Him is our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice reflects the theme for next week’s special with two excellent summer songs by Brian Hyland. Cast yourvote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Sealed With A Kiss or Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. I’ll play the winning songs on next week’s Labour Day Back To School End Of Summer Special.

Here’s the Rock and Roll News for the week of August 24^th

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1962.

That’s all for this week but remember to enter the contest to win an autographed copy of Long Lost Hits & Rarities by The Sceptres. Send your name and mailing address to contest@treasureislandoldies.com

Bye for now.

Michael

Brian Hyland - Voice Your Choice

Brian Hyland was born in Queens, New York on November 12, 1943. He got an early start to his music career, as he had his own group, The Delphis, when he was just 12 years old. He and Del Shannon worked closely together in 1970 when they had a production company.

His first single catapulted him to the top of the charts in 1960 with the Number One song Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, which also became the first of two Gold Records. The second  was in 1970, Gypsy Woman, a remake of the Top Twenty song by The Impressions in 1961.


Next week on Voice Your Choice, in conjunction with the Labour Day Back To School End Of Summer Special on Treasure Island Oldies, we spotlight two great summer smashes by Brian Hyland.

Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either  Sealed With A Kiss or Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

The Exciters - Song of the Week

The Exciters were from Jamaica, New York and had several hits, including the first and original version of Do Wah Diddy Diddy, later recorded by Manfred Mann.

They scored a Number One record with Tell Him and they also made what is now regarded as an early music video for the song. Shot on film and lip synced, Scopitone music films were a bit quirky with the visual theme, but are historical today. Here's what a unit looked like.

Here are The Exciters with Tell Him. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!
Michael

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of August 17th, 2014

August 17^th, 2014 to August 23^rd, 2014

It was great to have Tom Locke join me in the studio for the first hour of this week’s show to celebrate 15 years of the Moment In Time feature on the show. Tom has researched and written every single Moment In Time since its inception in 1999. I really enjoyed reminiscing with Tom, playing some great songs and re-visiting some really interesting stories. As Tom mentioned, the segment was inspired by Paul Harvey, who would be proud that his influence spread to this show and the wonderful feature. Thank again, Tom. Looking forward to having you back in the studio as a guest again soon. If you didn't catch the Live show, be sure to listen to the Archive.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to my good friend and listener, Fay Greenwood, in Langley, British Columbia. Fay and her husband, Matt Meaney wrote and produced the Hits From Across The Pond segment that has once again become a very enjoyable feature on the show with the encore presentations in the 4^th hour every week. If you have a birthday coming up soon, be sure to let me know. I’d love to wish you Happy Birthday on the show and also play The Beatles and Birthday for you. It’s easy; send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

While we are still in the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, the time is passing by quickly. And that brings us to the next special on the show. Join me for the Live show, Sunday, August 31^st for the annual Labour Day, End of Summer, Back to School Special. We’ll feature some work themed songs, the last of the summer songs for the season and also play some great school-related songs as well.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is also celebrating the 15^th Anniversary of the Tom Locke Moment In Time on the show with a great group we played on the show. It’s the Young Rascals with their debut single, I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore, in a live performance from the Alan King TV show. It’s our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights the great Marty Robbins. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Ruby Ann or Don’t Worry (Like All The Other Times). I’ll play the winning song on next week’s show during the 3^rd hour.

Here’s the Rock and Roll News for the week of August 17^th

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1968

Well that’s the latest news update for this week. See you next Sunday for the Live show. And remember if you missed this week’s live show, be sure to listen to the Archive at the Listen page.

Bye for now.

Michael

Marty Robbins - Voice Your Choice

Marty Robbins was born Martin David Robinson in Glendale, Arizona on September 26, 1925. Sadly he died of a heart attack at age 57 on December 8, 1982.

During his very successful career, he charted no less than 94 hits on the country charts between 1952 and 1983. He also had a passion for stock cars, which he raced, and he also appeared in the movies Road To Nashville and Guns Of A Stranger.

On the pop charts, he appeared 24 times including three Top Ten hits and received one Gold Record.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice features Marty Robbins. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Ruby Ann or Don't Worry (Like All The Other Times). I'll play the winner during the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Young Rascals - Song of the Week

We celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Tom Locke Moment In Time on Treasure Island Oldies this week, and here at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog we're keeping the celebration going. 

Here's a clip of the debut single of the Young Rascals from the Alan King TV Show as he introduces the group to the viewers. I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore is our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael