By Bob Berry

A dear friend of mine is celebrating a birthday this weekend, and this happens to be one of her favorite songs.

Mine, too. Pretty much since the first time I heard it.

Johnny Rivers wrote it, and cut it live with the Wrecking Crew trio of Hal Blaine on drums, Joe Osborne on bass and Larry Knechtel on keyboards. Then, the real genius moment happened, and The Blossoms overdubbed an unmistakable-and unforgettable, backup vocals:

“Do-doo-doo-wah shoo-be-doo-be…”

Jenni, the spotlight is on you and Jim. Enjoy Slow Dance Number One for Sunday Brunch on Keener.

By Bob Berry

It was a perfectly timed TV show.

The British Invasion was happening, Motown was beginning it’s great run, and within the year the West Coast was more than just The Beach Boys, with Sonny and Cher plus The Byrds leading the way.

It was Shindig!, and we dug it!

It was TV that had the hits, just like turning on Keener. No more waiting for the spinning plates guy to vacate the stage, there was host Jimmy O’Neill and here comes the Righteous Brothers, Herman’s Hermits, Marvin Gaye, Del Shannon and even The Beatles!

Throw in the greatest house band in history, The Shindogs, including Glen Campbell, James Burton, Larry Knechtel and Ray Pohlman.  Mix in The Blossoms, with Darlene Love and Co. adding world-class backup harmonies. And then put dancers, The Shindiggers on the set, and Shindig! was Must-See TV 30 years before NBC thought of it!

Shindig debuted on ABC Television on September 16, 1964. And you had to watch, to be cool in school.

By Bob Berry

Darlene Love, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Legend.

Lead singer on “He’s A Rebel” the song that defines Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound”. Lead singer on the greatest Christmas record of all-time, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”; whose show-stopping annual appearances on Letterman every year, proved it still is.   As a member of The Blossoms, sang back-up for everyone from Sam Cooke, Shelly Fabares and Johnny Rivers to Frank Sinatra and The Righteous Brothers.

Turns out Darlene Love was an idol of a “Miami” Steve Van Zandt, who about 30 years ago promised Darlene they would make an album together. And then stuff happened.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band on tour. Playing Silvio Dante in The Sopranos. “Lilyhammer”. Radio Shows. Reuniting The Rascals and producing their Broadway show “Once Upon A Dream“.

Well, “stuff’ finally got cleared out. Friends like Bruce, Jimmy Webb and Linda Perry wrote songs, musicians came together, and Darlene’s new album, “Introducing Darlene Love” goes on sale September 18. And with the help of friends like Bill Murray, Paul Schaffer, Joan Jett, Bruce, Steve and a cast of thousands, the first video,  “Forbidden Nights”, was released this week.

“Love” It.

By Bob Berry

I had about an hour drive on I-75 last night, and after selecting a CD for the ride (and playing it at a far too loud volume), came to this conclusion:

It had been too doggone long, since I had played or heard, Marvin Gaye’s “doggone” song, and the other early 60’s classics. Hits like “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, “Pride and Joy”, “Hitchhike”, “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “You’re A Wonderful One”, Marvin’s first hit duet, “It Takes Two”, with the great Kim Weston, and, yes, the Smokey Robinson written and produced “I’ll Be Doggone”.

Remarkable songs, sometimes over-looked in the rightful appreciation of  “What’s Going On” and on through to  “Sexual Healing”. But take another listen to the early Marvin Gaye “songbook”. From his use of his three-octave range, through the evolution of The Funk Brothers, to working with Motown’s writer/producers Mickey Stevenson, Holland-Dozier-Holland and Smokey; the results that came out of the”Snakepit”, were fabulous!

Conclusion?  ANY Marvin is great Marvin. And maybe better, live. Check out Marvin’s medley on 1964’s “The T.A.M.I. Show”, with Darlene Love and The Blossoms and the “Wrecking Crew” house band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpnf82hD5Ic