By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 01:52 pm:

One for Bobby Eli

This was one of the first "big" rare records on the northern scene. Albeit probably on the British label.

Any clues as to the studio/address that this would be recorded...or where most Cameo Parkway recordings were made?

By Eli (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 02:03 pm:

Hi David,

It was recorded at the Cameo /Parkway studio at 309 s. Broad st. in Philly the future home of PIR!! That was the year that C/P moved from 1405 Locust st. which was just on block away.
The studio there was crude by comparison but they recorded tons of the early stuff there including The Twist!!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 02:07 pm:

Was Arctic also on Broad Street?

Was there a particular area of Philly where studios were based?

How many would you reckon in the 60's?

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170 - 195.153.219.170) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 08:09 pm:

Wow David! This was a question I could nearly answer! I have even knocked on the front door of this building in my quest for information about The Formations and Leon Huff. If I am not mistaken across the road is a theatre and the pavement is covered with acknowledgements of famous Philly people who have contributed to the cities music business. I remember sitting in a small cafe one day just feeling the vibes of the city. Even I had flash backs and wondered who may have been doing the same 20 or 30 years ago before or after a session at some recording studio. I wonder how Chubby Checkers name came about? I heard it was something to do with Fats Domino.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80 - 64.115.26.80) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 10:28 pm:

Carl:
Chubby Checker (real name Ernest Evans) got his stage name from Roberta "Bobbie" Clark, who was at that time the wife of American Bandstand's Dick Clark. She was at the Cameo/Parkway studios when he recorded his first single "The Class" & she told Dick that Ernest looked like a smaller version of Fats Domino, "..like a little chubby checker.."(this according to Dick Clark's book "Rock Roll & Remember" and God knows how many rock documentaries). Thus, Chubby Checker was born.
Regards,
KevGo

By mhc (172.135.199.78 - 172.135.199.78) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 11:14 pm:

I remember seeing Chubby C. doing that song on some teen shows; doesn't he pronounce it "At the disc-o-tay! Hey hey hey..", and isn't that deeply incorrect? Anyway, a friend of mine told me that Chubby likes to drive his own tour bus himself. In his underwear! Yikes.

By Mark Speck (64.158.97.49 - 64.158.97.49) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 12:19 am:

Yes, he pronounces it 'disc-o-tay' on that song.

I prefer "Everything's Wrong" and "You Just Don't Know" to "At the Discotheque".

Best,

Mark

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 03:28 am:

Possibly because -

"At the Discotheque - heck, heck, heck!"

- doesn't quite have the same ring to it?

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.12 - 195.219.7.12) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 07:59 am:

Ive got the Everythings wrong on a u.k.demo,and have always loved it,as well as the flip.cum-a-la-be-stay.But Discotheque for me brings back so many early days on the scene,1971 and hiding in another room as our kid and his mates would slap me and tell me to beat it as they would then spin sounds that they had just aquired.(I.E.)C.Checker,discotey,the stomping Isleys import of Take some time out for love,She blew a good thing,Baby reconsider etc.Our kids collection would be locked in a case and I only discovered one time trying to get at them that he and his mate had talcum powder lightly over the case.I only fluffed by chance.That saved me from a slap or two.But,come along,along with me,to a place just down the street.Magic,sounds the scene lived on.MEL.

By David Meikle (213.122.48.91 - 213.122.48.91) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 08:26 am:

Nice one Mel.

When I first heard "Discotheque" in the Wheel it blew my mind....and everybody else's.

The Wheel was the perfect environment for hearing these records. Dungeon like, the sounds were fresh, everyone was caught up in this new thing that was still to be named Northern Soul.

Some people will shake their heads at this but I can assure you that Frankie Valli's "You're ready now" sounded amazing in that environment.

A similar venue was Catacomb's in Wolverhampton. Funnily enough where I first heard "You just don't know". Unbelievable record...in that environment...and one that I still enjoy today.

Main point here is records can sound less impressive in the home etc. You need the dark atmosphere, the strangers in the club that you have "everything" in common with.

And finally, I feel that the big venues have less atmosphere (they're still good though when they're busy), but give me a smaller venue with low ceilings, dark walls, cavern like interior, Alexander Patton on the turntables...and you've got heaven right here on earth.

That was the Twisted Wheel.

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 09:28 am:

KevGo - thank you, I knew it was something to do with a game.

David, that Franki Valli track, superb.

By Flynny (213.122.204.249 - 213.122.204.249) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 01:00 pm:

My fav C.Checker track is "You better believe it, baby" on Parkway from '64...a great mid-tempo clip-cloppy number that doesn't get much needle time at the clubs.

By biggray (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 01:11 pm:

What ever happened to Jimmy Bishop,what did he do when Arctic records was folded!!

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.78 - 195.219.7.78) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 02:16 pm:

David,a truer word was never said,regards some sounds turning out to be utter garbage once you sat down and played them at home.Although it didnt happen too often.Frankie Valli sounds a stormer these days.I Recently pulled out some forgotten sides of mine to play and after being in my boxes so long,all blew me away.(i.e.)Billys Bag,Bobby Hebb(sounds faster),Paul Mauriet,Mickey Lee Lane-Shaggy Dog,P.Scott,J.J.Benson,soulshake,Niki Hoeky,Thats the tune,P.J.Proby,Romeny Carr,Bingo,Errol Dixon,Roy Handy,Tony and Tandy,Ebony and the Keys,Paul Humphreys and his cool aid chemists(etc)And thats just a few forgotten one time all-nighter gems from an era that seems to be in the twi-light zone.(there,the astors).FLYNNY,nice item of chubbys you mentioned there,another one in my cases.What about Chubbys unissued test pressing of you cant lose something that you never had.Although mid-tempo,not bad.(Pete Lawson loved this)

By Flynny (213.1.136.125 - 213.1.136.125) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 02:33 pm:

Which Errol Dixon track, Mel...love his one on Oriole UK, "Give me more time"...Jamaican soul time!
Also love that unissued Chubby track...finally reached vinyl via a 100 Club anniversary 45...speaking if which it's anniversary time there this very Saturday...don't expect any contributions from me this Sunday! :-)

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.84 - 195.219.7.84) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 03:09 pm:

Flynny,the Errol Dixon track was called I Want and came out I think on 3 LABELS.One is The Rainbow LABEL.cant think off hand the other 2.Jamaica soultime indeed,I Still love it every time I spin my Jackie Edwards on english,and have you heard his Island album with original recordings of spencer davis material etc.Im a bit partial to some good old uptempo Ska.(wheres my air-wear).mel.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 05:37 pm:

Good ol' Ska? Mel - you should pay me a visit at the Trojan Records BB

http://www.earboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=84

By KevGo (64.115.26.80 - 64.115.26.80) on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 11:24 am:

Big Gray:
In regards to Jimmy Bishop, I believe he later joined Gamble & Huff at PIR because, according to Teddy Pendergrass' autobiography, there's a photo of him with Teddy and Jimmy was described as PIR's Executive Vice President. Bobby Eli would know better than anyone.
Regards,
KevGo

By eli (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 12:14 pm:

David,
The studios at the time were Sigma (1968-present) at 212 n. 12th st. formerly Reco Art
1958-1964 (originally at 1305 Market st., 1955-1958) and Sound Plus 1964 - 1967, Virtue, 1962- 1992 at 1618 N. Broad st., (it is now a vacant lot
919 (Jamie Records studio) 1966-1973 at 919 N. Broad st., previously 1330 Girard ave., (around the corner) atop the old Jamie/ Guyden branch)
Future Gold,( Jesse James) 1971- 1979 at 19th and Cheltenham ave., Alpha International, 1977- 1988 at 2001 Moyamensing,the old Sound Plus at 623 Harbison ave., 1959-1964., Harold B. Robinson , 6600 n. Broad st., 1959-1964.

As for Jimmy Bishop, after his stint at PIR, he went to EMI music where he embezzled several million dollars and was incarcerated, after which he became road manager for the Tempts. no one has seen hide nor hair of him for years. Hmmm... I wonder why??

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 12:49 pm:

Thanks for providing this info Bobby.

I will keep a note of it thanks.

David

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 01:35 pm:

Re: Jimmy Bishop. Perhaps Paulie 3 Shoes ( over there ) could enlighten us.

By Andy Rix (195.93.34.13 - 195.93.34.13) on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 02:22 pm:

With regard to the unreleased Chubby track 'you can't lose something you never had' ...listen to it again & think Jimmy Radcliffe ... i think it was a demo intended for Chubby but I don't believe that he's the singer
Opinions please

By Paulie over here (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Monday, September 16, 2002 - 03:13 pm:

Hey youse guise, its Paulie (over here)

Uh, I know dat Jimmy Bishop guy was originally from dis place called Yip...yip.. s**t I cant even say it Yipsilanti???? sounds like a town of Italians wit' Russian in 'em, huh?? Ya t'ink?
Anyways, he come to Philly in early 1963 to get a radio job on dis station wdas an'he met dis guy Weldon Mc..mc...dis Irish guy??I tink..wassat Vito??he aint Irish, mcdougal, den hes a Scotts man, anyways,dey start a company called Dyno...dyno?? uh!! dynodynamic to perduce deese songs an dey found a group from Hawaii?? I tink called da Volcanos..watsat Vito?? dere from Philly?? I taught dey wuz from Hawaii..Volcanos ..
anyways dey went to my cousins place, Virtue yaknow a real good paison kinda looked like dat tv detective Cannon!! Den dey get dis dame Barbara mason an' dey get sum big rekkids an's**t
He started a company wit sum penguins on it called Arc...arc.. uh arctic an' dey had sum rekkids dat was real rare.
Jimmy started messin wit Barbara an' he already had a wife named Louie Williams-Bishop from da radio stashun an' s**t and it got ugly, so heden left to go to L.a. to be wit, EMI musik and da rest I had mentiones earlier, and I tink he was in witness protection after dat!!
But like I says, I don't know nuttin!!!

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.88 - 195.219.7.88) on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 10:38 am:

Andy,you may have a point with the c.checker,but I Will have to listen to it a couple of more times.Jimmy Radcliffe,another great artist.Apart from his Long after tonight etc.his track of my ship is coming in and also his l.p.track of I Believe Im Loving you,totally superb.A Mate of mine has got a acetate of a nice track by Jimmy which is very early and the vocals are remarkable.MEL.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.105 - 195.219.7.105) on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 03:14 pm:

Andy,I Agree with you entirely about the Acetate not being Chubby after all.And the more I listen to it,the voice is beginning to sound like my mates acetate of his unknown Jimmy Radcliffe.Mind you,the acetate takes some listening to,as being so early,Jimmy Radcliffe was the least person I Would of thought of,then again,my opinion dosent mean much.MEL.