2012-09-30

EXCEPTION 20: LONNIE & THE LEGENDS - BABY, WITHOUT YOU


Long time without an Exception in the blog. Even when I have this section as one of the most important. Well. This time, I upload a beautiful song. There are some songs I see as total-song: when lyrics and music are perfectly linked, when one is complementary of the other, making a global, and compact thing. There are songs that have compiled inside a shoot of feelings: Shame, laugh, love, melancholy, happy, hope. All of them at the same time. You can feel what you want listening some songs. This is the magic of the music. Each of us has his own view of the song, but everyone love it in his own way.

Lonnie & The Legends was a Country & Western band from Silmar (California). They recorded this song in March, 1966, as the B side of a 45. A-side song is "I cried".Led by Lonnie Grah (guitar andsinger), had as members her mother Nancy Grah (singer), and Donna Grah (singer). Occasionally, other musicians included Kenny Ray on bass and Gene Gunnels on drums.

Lonnie & The Legends recorded a previous 45, where they included two wild instrumentals surf-rock "Penguin walk"(A side), and "Crazy Penguin"(B side) (1964).

ENJOY!!



Interview to Gene Gunnels

LET'S TWIST OCTOBER!


Hi, folks!
It seems I am adictive to devote each month to a dance, but I do not know how long it can be. There are a lot of dancing styles, or mini-dancing styles during the sixties, such as madison, go-go, twist, and more, that I have notice. Nevertheless, the Twist had its glory days in 1962, reaching an unexpected popularity all over the world. Since Spain was a recipient for all styles during these years, including the Twist, we have here infinite twisters singing their own songs. This is also the heritage we can not forget. Then, my proposal for this month is the Twist. ENJOY!

2012-09-23

LOS TONKS - PENNY LANE

Los Tonks, from Barcelona, has only two EPs, both recorded in 1967. Enjoy!

LOS SIREX - TWIST AND SHOUT


Los Sirex again. Now performing "Twist and Shout". Enjoy!


LOS JAVALOYAS - OBLADI, OBLADA

Los Javaloyas again. This time covering this famous Beatles' hit in Spanish. Enjoy!

DUO CRAMER - SHE LOVES YOU

Duo Cramer started at the end of 1961, under the shadow of "El Dúo Dinámico", and others Spanish duos (Duo Juvent's , Duo Cramer, Duo Rubam, Duo Radiant's). They only has 8 songs in two Eps. Enjoy!


LOS MUSTANG - UN BILLETE COMPRÓ

Los Mustang were the 1st Spanish band in covering The Beatles. Enjoy!


2012-09-18

LOS GRATSONS - AQUELLA NOCHE FUE reloaded


Los Gratsons, from Barcelona, were playing from 1962 to 1964. Members: JORGE VILA (singer), Ramón (guitar), Carlos, (piano & sax), Tony, (bass); and Jorge (drums). Enjoy this cover of "A Hard Day's Night".

LOS SUPERSÓNICOS - OH, MI VIDA!

Los Supersónicos, from Venezuela, was a pop rock band that covered a lot of Beatles' hits. Enjoy!
Website.

2012-09-16

LOS SHAKERS - YO GRITO TU NOMBRE

Los Shakers (Spain), again, now with this excellent cover. Enjoy!

LOS HURACANES- MY SWEET LOVE

Los Huracanes again. This pop-rock Spanish band is one of my favourites. Enjoy this cover, although it is not strictly from The Baetles.

LOS FLIPPERS - SARGENTO FLIPPERS

Los Flippers, or The Flippers, from Colombia, again. Enjoy this cover!

LOS AMPEX - I FEEL FINE



Los Ampex,  or The Ampex, was a beat band from Bogotá (Colombia), with a short career (1965-1967). Along wiht Los Speakers, Los Flippers, Los Yetis, and Los Young Beats, they were very popular in these years. Banded by Oscar Lasprilla (guitar, voice), Yamel Uribe (bass, voice), Oscar Ceballos (drums), and Jaime Rodriguez (rythm guitar, voice). They only have two Lp, and an Ep. This time let us listen this cover from their 1st LP: Colección Infierno A Go-Go. After their disbanding, Oscar Lasprilla and Yamel Uribe, along with Roberto Fiorilli (drummer), and Fernando Cordoba (guitarist), both ex-members of Los Young Beats, decided to follow their music career in a new psychedelic band: The Time Machine (1967).

English bio


LA LUPE - TWIST & SHOUT


La Lupe (Could you have a doubt on it?), performing "Twist & Shout". What a voice!

LOS DIABLOS NEGROS - LO TENDRÁS, AMOR


Los Diablos Negros again. This time performing "From me to you". Enjoy!

ASFALTO - DAY TRIPPER


The fabulous Asfalto again. From their LP "Homenaje a Los Beatles". Enjoy!!!

WALDO DE LOS RÍOS - OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA


Waldo de los Ríos (7 September 1934 – 28 March 1977) was an Argentine composer, conductor and arranger. De los Rios was born as Osvaldo Nicholas Ferrara in Buenos Aires into a musical family; his father was a musician and his mother a well known folk singer; he studied composition and arranging at the National Conservatory of Music under Alberto Ginastera and Teodoro Fuchs. He was inspired by an eclectic range of music and formed a musical group called "The Waldos" which crossed folk music with electronic sounds. De los Rios turned to work in cinema and film sound tracks where his compositions were heard in the 1967 film Pampa Salvaje, for which he received a prestigious award from the Argentine Cinemagraphic Association. He relocated to the USA in 1958 and then to Spain in 1962. He is best remembered for his ability to transform European classical music into pop music. His 1971 arrangement of Mozart's Symphony No. 40, recorded with the Manuel de Falla orchestra, reached the top spot in the Dutch charts and scored a top 10 hit in several other European countries. In 1970, prior to this success, Waldo de los Rios had already climbed the charts around Europe and America with Ludwig van Beethoven's Ode To Joy, which he arranged and conducted for Miguel RíosIn 1971, he arranged and conducted the Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, "En un mundo nuevo" for Karina. The song landed a respectable second position and hit the charts in several European countries. A victim of an acute depression while working on "Don Juan Tenorio", de los Rios committed suicide in Madrid in 1977. All his records were released under the Hispa-Vox Label. His first recordings were made with his folk group "Los Waldos". During late 60s and mid 70s he made several arrangements for many Spanish and international famous artists such as: RaphaelMari TriniAlberto CortezFacundo CabralTony LandaJeanette DimechMiguel RíosLos PekenikesMaria OstizKarinaPaloma San BasilioLos Payos, etc.

Discography:
  • "Los Waldos", 1965 (With "Los Waldos")
  • "Waldo de los Rios en Europa", 1965 (With "Los Waldos")
  • "España Electrodinámica Vol. 1", 1966
  • "Folklore Dinámico", 1966 (With "Los Waldos")
  • "España en 3era Dimensión" 1967
  • "Suite SudAmericana - Argentina•Paraguay•Peru•Uruguay" 1968
  • "Waldo en la TVE", 1968
  • "El Sonido Mágico Vol. 1", 1969
  • "El Sonido Mágico Vol. 2", 1970
  • "Sinfonías", 1970
  • "Mozartmania", 1971
  • "Operas", 1973
  • "Navidad Con Waldo de Los Rios" 1973
  • "Sinfonías 2", 1974
  • "Oberturas", 1974
  • "Concierto Para La Guitarra Criolla", with Ernesto Bitetti, 1974
  • "Conciertos", 1976
  • "Corales", 1977 (Postum Release)

LOS BUITRES - QUE VA, DEVUÉLVETE

Los Buitres (Venezuela), again. From their 1991 LP "Historietas", totally devoted to Beatles covers. Enjoy!

LONE STAR - ELLA TE QUIERE


Pedro Gené is singing this cover in questionable taste, a little cheesy, but lovely. Enjoy!



LOS MUSTANG - CONOCERTE MEJOR


Los Mustang again. In october-1964 they recorded their most successfull EP. Including a cover of “I should have know better”; and also another cover of “A world without love", that Lennon-McCartney wrote for Peter & Gordon, where was Paul's brother-in-law. Peter Asher. Enjoy!


2012-09-15

LOS PEKENIKES - PLEASE, PLEASE ME

Los Pekenikes again. In 1964 they recorded oneof their singed songs, being mostly an intrumental band. Enjoy this cover!

LOS BUITRES - TÚ ME QUIERES MANEJAR


The Jorge Spiteri's musical career is developed in England, during the 70s. He founded the band Spiteri (1972-1976), and Mañana in early 80s. Backing to Venezuela to the presentation of Mañana, he started a new project, and banded a Revival band, not a rock band, but a sixties band devoted to The Beatles tribute. Is the year 1988, and was named Los Buitres:  Jorge Spiteri (leader, voice, keyborads, and guitar); Gustavo Aldrey (bass), Ibsen Rosales (1st guitar); and  Alejandro Pérez (drums). Enjoy!

TONY RONALD - EL COCHE GUIARÁS

Tony Ronald ever singing. This time covering "Drive my car". Enjoy!



LOS ZODIAC - AND I LOVE HER




Los Zodiac, from Miraflores (Peru), is a rock band membering by Jorge Álvarez Von Maack ("Micky"), singer, Tito Castagnola ("Goofy"), bass guitar; Horacio García Bustamante ("Gili"), guitar; Lucho León ("The Topo"), guitar; Alfredo Quevedo Zavala ("El Negro"), dancer; Lucho Perez ("El Loco"), drummer; and Luis Alva, saxophonist and musical director. Please, do not understand the Spanish Zodiacs, but the Peruvian. Enjoy this amazing cover. 


LOS DOLTONS - GIRL

Los Doltons, from Perú, covering "Girl" in Spanish, a song you can find in their 1st LP (Los Doltons 1-1965).Enjoy!

2012-09-09

LOS MANOLOS - ALL MY LOVING


Los Manolos, from Barcelona, are banded by Xavier Calero, Josep Gómez, Ramón Grau, Andreu Hernández, Joan Herrero, Rogeli Herrero, Carles Lordan, Jose L. Muñoz, Toni Pelegrín y Rafa Soriano. in 1991, they recorded the LP "Pasión condal", including a cover of "All my loving", that peaked to the 2nd song in the summer of these year. WebsiteEnjoy!




Los Manolos at Equinox (London)

THE BRISK - TODO MI AMOR


The Brisk again. Now covering "All my  loving". Enjoy!!
More at guateque.net

JOHN LENNON & BRIAN EPSTEIN IN BARCELONA (1963)

The Beatles & Brian Epstein (6th July 1964)

Sunday 28 April 1963
On this day Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr went on holiday to Santa Cruz, Tenerife, for a 12-day holiday. At the same time John Lennon accepted an offer from Brian Epstein(1935-1967)to accompany him to Barcelona, for a trip also lasting 12 days.It was just three weeks after Lennon's wife Cynthia had given birth to their son Julian.
Epstein & Lennon
I was on holiday with Brian Epstein in Spain, where the rumours went around that he and I were having a love affair. Well, it was almost a love affair, but not quite. It was never consummated. But it was a pretty intense relationship. It was my first experience with a homosexual that I was conscious was homosexual. He had admitted it to me. We had this holiday together because Cyn was pregnant, and I went to Spain and there were lots of funny stories. We used to sit in a cafe in Torremolinos looking at all the boys and I'd say, 'Do you like that one, do you like this one?' I was rather enjoying the experience, thinking like a writer all the time: I am experiencing this, you know. And while he was out on the tiles one night, or lying asleep with a hangover one afternoon, I remember playing him the song Bad To Me. That was a commissioned song, done for Billy J Kramer, who was another of Brian's singers. (John Lennon All We Are Saying, David Sheff).
The question of whether any sexual contact happened between Lennon and Epstein has been the subject of considerable speculation in the years since. Cyn was having a baby and the holiday was planned, but I wasn't going to break the holiday for a baby and that's what a bastard I was. And I just went on holiday. I watched Brian picking up the boys. I like playing a bit faggy, all that. It was enjoyable, but there were big rumours in Liverpool, it was terrible. Very embarrassing. (John Lennon, Lennon Remembers, Jann S Wenner). Paul McCartney later suggested that Lennon agreed to the holiday in order to assert his authority within The Beatles: Brian Epstein was going on holiday to Spain at the same time and he invited John along. John was a smart cookie. Brian was gay, and John saw his opportunity to impress upon Mr Epstein who was the boss of the group. I think that's why he went on holiday with Brian. And good luck to him, too - he was that kind of guy; he wanted Brian to know whom he should listen to. That was the relationship. John was very much the leader in that way, although it was never actually saidPaul McCartney,Anthology.

The Beatles knew all along that Brian was gay, although he was professional and a distinguished business man his double life wasn't always as private as he wanted it to be. There were relentless rumours that Epstein was in love with John Lennon. Although well aware of John's talent, his wittiness and good looks were intensely attractive to Brian, so much so that he wouldn't look John in the eye when speaking with him for fear he would reveal his secret. John was completely aware of Brian's feelings toward him and was sometimes teased by his mates about "Eppie's" subtle advances, and so the gossip begins...

"The Beatles were number one in Brian's life always," Sir George Martin has said, "as they were mine." However, Brians homosexuality made the devotion he had for the group a little more complex than Sir George's - "He couldnt help wanting them too." When Brian bought his flat, it was said he was planning on seducing John there, but anytime John would show up, he would always have a Beatle mate with him.The most popular rumour, that has found its own place in history, is the story of John and Eppie's affair in Barcelona, April 1963. Apparently John agreed to go with Brian to Barcelona for 10 days. The decision was made after Cynthia had given birth to their son Julian, but Cynthia wasn't aware of Brian's motives at the time. Realizing that John needed a vacation and a break away, she urged him to go and was left at home with their new born son, feeling lonely and left out.

The vacation to Barcelona was an experience for John, they went to clubs, bull fights, shopped, they would frequent sidewalk cafe's and talk about homosexuality. John asked alot of questions, wanting to know what Brian found attractive in men as they passed by, he enjoyed these talks with Brian. John was a writer, always thinking and always experiencing life to the fullest. John admitted that their relationship was almost an affair that was never consumated. Although some say it was likely they did have a physical relationship. The light hearted teasing continued until it went too far, John was under the influence of too much alcohol and proceeded to beat up a disc jockey at Paul McCartney's 21st birthday party. Brian came to the rescue and wrote a check to avoid a law suit. It has been noted that confidantes of both John Lennon and Brian Epstein say these snippets of gossip are Just myths. Perhaps a double fantasy?

Brian continued to promote the Beatles, and when "Love Me Do" and "Please Please Me" were topping the charts in November of 1963 he negotiated a booking on the "Ed Sullivan Show" for the following February. The Beatles career skyrocketed after the historical appearance, and an American tour was scheduled including a sold out concert at Shea Stadium in New York. It was dubbed the first stadium concert in Rock 'n' Roll history. The Beatles were on their way to stardom thanks to their devoted and faithful manager "Eppie."

Finally, the Spanish holiday was later dramatised in the 1991 film The Hours And Times, starring David Angus and Ian Hart as Epstein and Lennon.
Taken from The Beatles' Bible

JUNIOR - NO ME DEJES


Junior again. "No me dejes" (Don't leave me in English) is a cover of Bad to  me. I have to give some explanations here, since this sog is currently given to Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas. According with Wikipedia "Bad to Me" is a song Lennon wrote (credited to Lennon-McCartney) for while on holiday in Spain. Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas released their recording of the song in 1963 and it became their first #1 UK hit.  McCartney  was present during the recording session at Abbey Road Studios. The single would be released in the  USA the following year, and become a top-ten hit there, reaching number 9. It became the first Lennon–McCartney composition to reach the US Top 40 for an artist other than  The Beatles. This is one of many songs the Beatles never put on a main album and wrote and gave to other musicians to play. Written by The Beatles because as they were friends with other musicians under Epstein's management and gave songs as little gift to friends and as a favor to Epstein to help his other acts.
By the way, I upload two versions by The Beatles. One of them is a demo tape record, very, very rare. Enjoy!