By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:28 am: |
I was just rereading through the Blue-eyed soul thread (before it got de-railed) and it's sequel; and I can't quite believe that Jimmy Beaumont was only mentioned ONCE (thanks Lynn!), and kind of in passing too! The man has respect from Doo-Wop collectors as one of the greatest (THE greatest??) white voices ever for his work with the wonderful Skyliners. Soul fans should check out some of his later solo material too. Here in London on the "mod" scene, his double header on Bang (also released here on the London label)- "I Never Loved Her Anyway/You Got Too Much Going For You" is worshipped. 2 brilliant big city soul ballads- (production by Mike Lewis/Stuart Wisner of another good ItalianAmerican (I think!) vocal group- The Concords) and the vocal performances by Jimmy are unbelievable.
I think what knocks me out is that most times when white artists try and "get soulful" they miss the point in focussing only on drawing out the syllables/screaming and hollering (ie. the appalling Janis Joplin for one)/sounding "passionate"......all that melisma. It often just sounds like a joke (and of course black artists can fall into this trap too- am I the only one here who can't stand Lorraine Ellison on "Stay With Me Baby"?? I have to admit Linda Jones often irritates me too- not always tho'!) And of course the other scenario is they just sound tinny/flat/lacklustre/no balls! But when Jimmy sings he doesn't need to "try" atall- like the best singers every word/syllable is embued with total emotion and expression. He's ace!!
You can hear "You Got Too Much" on the Goldmine CD- "FloorPackin" (a really well chosen Northern CD- though I don't know what went wrong with the sound quality on the Natural 4); just wait till his voice combines with the backing vocalists on the chorus! If you're sitting down (grasping the sides of the armchair) you'll have to stand up. If you're standing up (either on tiptoes, or pacing around slightly) you'll have to sit down. And you also need at least one Skyliners CD.
I didn't really post this for responses- just wanted to spread some love!
Yan
P.S Actually though- Mel: you mentioned in one of your posts on the Blue-eyed thread that the Salvadores (of "Stick By Me Baby" fame)were white. This somewhat knocked me for six! Are you sure?? How do you know this?? Obviously the people behind the music (Jo Armstead and Chuck Handy) are black- but you reckon the group themselves weren't? I'm suprised I've never heard this fact on the Northern scene as the track is a legend. Please tell me more!
By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:50 am: |
The Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You" is one of my all-time favourite doo wop records. Not in the least "Northern" but a spine-tingling record that's so beautiful, it makes me go weak at the knees.
By Lynn Bruce (65.60.200.153) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:21 am: |
Yan&Ritchie,AMEN!! This I Swear,and Since I Don't Have You, should be included in the great love songs of the ages.
If there was a C.D.entitled"MUSIC TO CONCEIVE CHILDREN BY"---those songs would be at the top.LOL
Lynn
By Nish (170.224.224.38) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:27 am: |
Jimmy Beaumont is a hometown hero in Pittsburgh. I love the Skyliners. I love "I'd Die..." just a beautiful song. They have a great soulful song called "I Could Have Loved You So Well," on which his vocal is as soulful as anybody's.
And while mentioning Jimmy, we can't forget the late great Janet Vogel, who had a fantastic voice that defined so many Skyliners' songs. That ending on "Since I Don't Have You..." is gorgeous. Her leads on "I Can Dream, Can't I" and "Our Love Will Last" are terrific.
By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:35 pm: |
OK guys,
"Music to conceive children by" ...is there any new music like that out there? What music are younger people doing that to?
By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:37 pm: |
p.s. Glad to see Jimmy Beaumont on a PBS doo-wop special on which he nailed all the high notes on that song ...
By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.68) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 01:11 pm: |
Yan,
its what I have always been told in the past that the Salvadores are a white group.As 'stick by me baby'was the first ever track I danced to at the casino many years ago.
It may well be wrong,can anyone clarify please?
mel.
By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 01:43 pm: |
Sue,
I also saw Jimmy & the Skyliners on PBS. He can still sing his b**t off.
By dvdmike (12.84.13.198) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 06:35 pm: |
"Since I Don't Have You" was written by the group and produced and arranged by bandleader Lennie Martin. The session was recorded at Capitol Studios in NYC on December 3, 1958 and released as Calico single 103 the day after Christmas. The record peaked at #12 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot R&B Sides chart.
By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 07:00 pm: |
- cheers Mike!
...so can anyone out there put me and Mel out of our misery re. The Salvadors? Who were they, and so forth?? Maybe we need a new thread.....
By StingBeeLee (68.43.129.202) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:51 pm: |
I agree with the Skyliners being soulful. I heard "I'd die" a couple of years ago when a station was doing a "top ten during the week of" and played "I'd die". I spent years looking for the record and got a scratchy 45, but I picked up a 2 CD greatest hits and boy, can they sing! "I'd Die" is just a fantastic record, the way the harmonies start and stop and Jimmy doing swoops and singing on top of the harmonies. I heard they played the Apollo regularly. I think I'll play "I'd Die" tonight.
By Sue (152.163.213.61) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:55 pm: |
Talk about chart position and the definition of a hit ...
How could the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You" only reach #12 on the Hot 100?? I'd like to see what those 11 singles are that kept it from the top spot -- somehow I doubt that they're all eternal classics ...
By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:05 am: |
Nish-
...apparently the incredible ending of "Since I Don't Have You" wasn't originally planned; but Janet kept singing just for herself, even though she thought the tape had stopped. Thankfully it hadn't!!
Sue-
...double amen! It did reach #7 on Cashbox tho'; if you're interested (and even if you're not!); here's the top 10 for that week (Marv Johnson's Come To Me was #30)-
1 COME SOFTLY TO ME-Fleetwoods-Dolphin
2 A FOOL SUCH AS I-Elvis Presley-RCA Victor
3 PINK SHOE LACES-Dodie Stevens-Crystalette
4 VENUS- Frankie Avalon-Chancellor 1031
5 THE HAPPY ORGAN-Dave �Baby� Cortez-Clock
6 SORRY (I Ran All The Way Home)-Impalas-Cub
7 SINCE I DON�T HAVE YOU-Skyliners-Calico
8 I NEED YOUR LOVE TONIGHT-Elvis Presley-RCA
9 TURN ME LOOSE-Fabian-Chancellor
10 GUITAR BOOGIE SHUFFLE-Virtues-Hunt
Everyone-
....all you fanatic Skyliners fans (of which I'm one), do try and hear those solo 6Ts Jimmy Beaumont sides I mentioned. They're interesting because he's moved away from his wonderful Clyde McPhatter tenor, to a deeper Big-City Soul voice. They're also just great.
By Sue (64.12.103.48) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:53 am: |
"Pink Shoe Laces"!!! I rest my case ...thanks for the research, Yan.
By dvdmike (12.84.7.175) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:56 am: |
Anyone have any history on "Pink Shoe Laces"? Was that cut in L.A.?
By Sue (64.12.103.48) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 11:09 am: |
and the connection to Soulful Detroit is ...?
(Jimmy B from Pittsburgh is welcome anytime) ...
By Nish (66.119.33.135) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 11:42 am: |
SD connection - I actually think "I'd Die" was issued on Motown... is this my imagination?