This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of May 24th, 2015

May 24th, 2015 to May 31st 2015

It was great to spend time together again this week on Treasure Island Oldies. And while the Live show has already taken place this week, you can always hear the archive of the show by going to the Listen page. There's two ways to listen to the Archives. First is the 24/7 Stream in Windows Media with the three most recent shows. Alternatively, you can listen to an individual show with Real Media. Just click on your preference. And by the way, I'd suggest you download a free open-source multi-media player, VLC at no cost. That way, you can listen to Windows Media or Real Media streams by using only one player.

The 18th Anniversary Contest continues with the next winner to be announced on the show next Sunday, May 31st. Enter the contest now. If you don't enter, you can't win. Click the Contest ad on the left side.

It was great to play a brand new song for you by Peter Rivera, the original lead singer and drummer with Rare Earth. His new album is titled It Is What It Is, and what a treat to hear his strong vocals again. He hasn't lost his touch at all, as you heard on the song Do You Wanna Rock. He sure did! I'm always pleased to help you discover something new by a classic heritage artist!

Hello to Maureen in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who was a first time caller to the Listener Line. It was my pleasure to play her two requests, Celebration by Kool and the Gang and also Ooby Dooby by Roy Orbison.  If you'd like to hear a song, be sure to let me know. Either click the Email Your Request button on the left side of any page of the new website or call the Listener Line at 206-339-0709 to record your request message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to long time listener, Bruce Toews in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If your birthday is coming up soon, please let me know so that the listeners and I can celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. 

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing one of the early Girl Groups. It's The Exciters with Tell Him. It's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents two of the greatest folk/pop singers of the 1960s, Simon and Garfunkel. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Homeward Bound or Sound Of Silence. I'll play the winner during next week's show.

Be sure to listen to this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast for the week of May 24th 

And check out this week's Top 5 Countdown from 1965 

Take care and have a great week.

Bye for now.

Michael

Simon and Garfunkel - Voice Your Choice

Simon and Garfunkel, two names synonymous with the folk-rock era of the 1960s, were from New York City. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel first recorded as Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had a song hit #49 on the charts, Hey, Schoolgirl. The duo split in 1964, with Paul Simon off on a solo career in England, while Art Garfunkel went to graduate school. They reunited in 1965 and were signed to Columbia Records and their first single under the Simon And Garfunkel banner, The Sounds Of Silence, shot straight to the top of the charts and also became their very first Gold record.

Between 1965 and 1982, they had 8 Top Ten hits and 4 Gold Records. This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Simon and Garfunkel with two of their well known and loved songs. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Homeward Bound or Sound Of Silence. I'll play the winning song during the 3rd hour of next week's show.

The Exciters - Tell Him - Song of the Week

Here's a great clip from the original Scopitone era by an early Girl Group. It's The Exciters with Tell Him. It's our SOng of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies May 17th to May 23rd, 2015

May 17th, 2015 to May 23rd, 2015

It was great to be back home just in time for this week's show. I was back east in Gatineau, Quebec, visiting my mom who was celebrating her 95th birthday. She had a bad fall Easter weekend and lost her balance getting up from the table. She's been in the hospital since then. The complication is she has osteoporosis and had two fractures in her spine as a result of the fall. She has to wear a brace for her back and for the first time, a walker to get around. She's mending but slowly. But is was wonderful to be with her to celebrate her milestone birthday.

Speaking of on the mend, our love and best wishes go out to Fay Greenwood in Langley, British Columbia, who is recovering at home after surgery on her broken arm while away on vacation. All the listeners and Chat Room regulars are cheering for you, Fay. Get better soon.

The 18th Anniversary Contest continues with the next winner to be announced on the show May 31st. Enter the contest now. Click the Contest ad on the left side.

Apart from my mom, Kathleen, and her 95th birthday, I'd also like to wish Cora Quinn in Peoria, Illinois a very Happy Birthday. Thanks to California Barb for the tip-off and the request to play Birthday Party by the Pixies Three for Cora. If your birthday is coming up soon, please let me know so that the listeners and I can celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is also paying tribute to the late B.B. King with a great live from Montreaux performance of The Thrill Is Gone. It's our Song of the Week. R.I.P. B.B. King!

Voice Your Choice presents soul singer Joe Simon with two of his hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Power Of Love or Drowning In A Sea Of Love. I'll play the winner during next week's show.

Be sure to listen to this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast for the week of May 17th.

And check out this week's Top 5 Countdown from 1960.

Take care and have a great week.


Bye for now.
Michael

Joe Simon - Voice Your Choice

The name Joe Simon may not be a household name to you, but boy, did he ever have a great career. He was born September 2, 1943 in Simmesport, Louisiana and moved to Oakland, California in 1959. He was a member of a group called the Golden Tones and they recorded for Hush Records but without any charted hits.

However that all changed when he went solo. Between 1966 and 1975, he appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 charts a total of 31 times including 3 Gold Records.

Treasure Island Oldies presents Joe Simon on Voice Your Choice. Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Power Of Love or Drowning In A Sea Of Love. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone - Song of the Week

As part of the Treasure Island Oldies tribute to the late B.B. King who passed away last week at age 89, the Treasure Island Oldies Blog is pleased to play his signature song for you.

Here's B.B. "Blues Boy" King in a live performance from 1993 at Montreaux and The Thrill Is Gone. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

R.I.P. Blues Boy

Michael

The Shirelles - Mama Said - Song of the Week

The Shirelles, one of the early Girl Groups, had many hit singles during their heydey. In celebration of Mother's Day, it's only fitting we feature them with a very appropriate song.

Here's The Shirelles with Mama Said. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael

The Young Rascals - Voice Your Choice

The Young Rascals were a "Blue-eyed Soul" group from New York City and the original group consisted of Felix Cavaliere (vocals and organ), Gene Cornish (vocals and guitar) who was actually from Toronto, Eddie Brigati (vocals, percussion) and Dino Danelli (drums). Felix, Gene and Eddie had all been members of Joey Dee and The Starliters (The Peppermint Twist). Gene was a recognized guitarist from Toronto.The famous Sid Bernstein signed them to Atlantic Records and their debut single, I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore became a minor hit, peaking at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. But that was just the beginning.

Between 1966 and 1971, they had 18 singles on the charts including 5 Top Ten hits and 3 Gold Records. In 1968 they removed "Young" and re-named themselves The Rascals. They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights The Young Rascals with two of their early hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either A Girl Like You or You Better Run. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Treasure Island Oldies Update for the week of May 10, 2015

May 10th, 2015 to May 16th, 2015

I'd like to begin this week's Update with my thanks and appreciation for all the feedback received on the brand new website. The comments have ranged from how the new site is nice and airy, breezy and light to how easy it is to navigate. And while there is no more palm tree, there is still a tropical feel to the colours and style of the logo, etc.  I have passed on your kind comments and compliments to Eddy Fisher, our Webmaster here on the Island and Eddy thanks you as well. As I mentioned last week, every effort has been made to have all links function without issue. However, if you do come across any links that don't work for you, please be sure to let us know. Send an email to me michael@treasureislandoldies.com. Thanks very much.

I'd also like to thank you for your requests I received for our Annual Mother's Day Special. It was great to hear from long time regulars as well as listeners getting in touch for the first time, including Bob in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you would like to hear a song on the show, whether it is for a specific show special or just a regular week, be sure to get in touch. The new site has easy contact points on the left side of every page for an email request as well as the phone number to call for the Listener Line.

I'd like to wish Toni Howerton in Middletown, Ohio a very Happy Birthday. If your birthday is coming up soon, please let me know so that the listeners and I can celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. 

Get better soon wishes go out to Fay Greenwood. While on vacation she fell and broke her arm and upon returning home, she went straight to the hospital and had surgery. Here's to a speedy recovery Fay, and all kinds of good wishes going out to you from the Treasure Island Oldies listeners, and the the regulars in the Chat Room, the Nuts on the Hut. And thanks to Matt for keeping me up to date with Fay's situation.


The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is also celebrating Mother's Day with The Shirelles and Mama Said. it's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents the Young Rascals with two of their early hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either A Girl Like You or You Better Run. I'll play the winner during next week's show.

Be sure to listen to this week's Podcast of the Rock and Roll News for the week of May 10th.
And check out this week's Top 5 Countdown from 1959.

Take care and have a great week.


Bye for now.
Michael

Treasure Island Oldies New Website To Celebrate 18th Anniversary

It's the 18th Anniversary of Treasure Island Oldies and we're celebrating with the launch of our brand new website. It's a brand new look and feel and we're confident you're really going to like it. Many thanks to my webmaster, Eddy Fisher, for the tireless effort to create this new website.

Enjoy the easy to navigate new pages and design. Click on the new logo above.

Happy 18th Anniversary!

Michael

R & B Soul Singer Ben E. King Has Died

Ben E. King, a soul singer and songwriter best known for his 1961 hit “Stand by Me” and who sang several other songs that became radio staples, including “Spanish Harlem” and “Save the Last Dance for Me,” died April 30 in Teaneck, N.J., where he lived. He was 76.

His publicist, Phil Brown, confirmed the death to news organizations, but other details were not immediately available.

Mr. King recorded his first hits in the late 1950s as a member of the Drifters, singing the lead vocal on “There Goes My Baby,” “This Magic Moment” and “Save the Last Dance for Me,” that last of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart.

After leaving the group in 1960 in a dispute over money, he changed his name from Benjamin Nelson to Ben E. King while establishing a solo career. He had a Top 10 hit with the Latin-flavored ballad “Spanish Harlem” (1961), followed later the same year by “Stand by Me,” which also reached the Top 10. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. 122 among the 500 greatest songs of all time.

The song was largely written Mr. King, although other songwriters — including the celebrated tunesmiths Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller — received writing credits. “Stand by Me” became one of the most widely recorded songs of the 20th century and reached the pop charts no fewer than nine times by various artists.

 In 1986, Mr. King’s original version became a hit for a second time when it was featured in Rob Reiner’s coming-of-age film set in the early 1960s, also called “Stand by Me.”

The song opens with a quiet simplicity, as an acoustic bass plays the melody over light percussion accompaniment. Mr. King then comes in, singing the song’s wistful opening lines in his slightly raspy baritone voice:
When the night has come,
And the land is dark, and
The moon is the only light we’ll see.
No, I won’t be afraid, no, I won’t be afraid








 

The Kingsmen's Jack Ely Has Died At Age 71

Jack Ely sang the lead vocal on one of Rock's all time greatest hits, Louie Louie. He would later insist that as a 19-year-old singing “Louie Louie” in one take in a Portland, Ore., studio in 1963, he had followed the original lyrics faithfully. But, he admitted, the braces on his teeth had just been tightened, and he was howling to be heard over the band, with his head tilted awkwardly at a 45-degree angle at a single microphone dangling from the ceiling to simulate a live concert.

Which may explain why what originated innocently as a lovesick sailor’s calypso lament to a bartender named Louie morphed into the incoherent, three-chord garage-band cult classic by the Kingsmen that sold millions of copies, spawned countless cover versions and variations, was banned in Indiana, prompted the F.B.I. to investigate whether the song was secretly obscene, provoked a legal battle and became what Frank Zappa called “an archetypal American musical icon.”

For Mr. Ely, the 2-minute-42-second demo recording turned out to be a one-hit wonder. He was bounced from the group, which he helped found in 1959, after the drummer, Lynn Easton, decided he wanted to be the lead singer instead.

Mr. Ely died on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 71 at his home in Redmond, Ore. His son Sean said that Mr. Ely was a Christian Scientist and had not sought treatment, but that he believed the cause was skin cancer.