1960s, Rock

(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone

October 12, 2015

First recorded by Paul Revere & the Raiders (1965).
Also recorded by The W.C. Fields Memorial Electric String Band (1966), The Rebounds (1966), Flies (1966).
Hit versions by The Monkees (US #20 1967), The Farm (UK #57 1990), P.J. & Duncan (UK #11 1996).

From the wiki: “‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone’ was written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (‘Last Train to Clarksville’, ‘I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight’). It was first recorded in 1965 by Paul Revere & the Raiders, and first appeared on their album Midnight Ride released in May 1966.

“Early covers included recordings by The W.C. Fields Memorial Electric String Band, The Rebounds, and The Flies. ‘(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone’ is best known, though, as a hit for The Monkees (US #20). In early 1967, it became the first Monkees B-side to chart. It would later chart in the UK – twice – with cover arrangements by The Farm (1990), and a UK Top-20 hit by P.J. & Duncan (1996).”

Over You

May 10, 2015

First recorded by Aaron Neville (US #111/R&B #21 1960).
Other hit version by Paul Revere & The Raiders (US #133 1964).

Indian Reservation (Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)

November 24, 2013

First recorded (as “The Pale Faced Indian”) by Marvin Rainwater (1959).
Hit versions by Don Fardon (US #20/UK #3 1968), The Raiders (US #1 1970), 999 (UK #51 1981).
Also recorded (as “National Reservation”) by Laibach (1994).

From the wiki: “‘Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)’ was written by John D. Loudermilk, and first recorded in 1959 by Marvin Rainwater. Released as ‘The Pale Faced Indian’, Rainwater’s release stayed unnoticed.

“The song refers to the forcible removal and relocation of Five Civilized Tribes, including the Cherokee people, from the southeastern states of Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama to the southern Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. The removal of these tribes throughout the 1830s is often referred to as the ‘Trail of Tears’. The removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole came on the heels of President Andrew Jackson’s key legislation, Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Louie Louie

March 12, 2013

Written and first recorded by Richard Berry & The Pharoahs (1955).
Inspired by “El Loco Cha Cha” (Ricky Rillera & The Rhythm Rockers, ca. 1954).
Also recorded by Rockin Robin Roberts & The Wailers (1961), Paul Revere & The Raiders (US #103 1963).
Hit version by The Kingsmen (US #2 1963).

From the wiki: “By some accounts ‘Louie Louie’ is the world’s most recorded rock song with over 1,600 versions and counting (with many more amateur versions appearing regularly on YouTube and elsewhere). Richard Berry was inspired to write the song in 1955 after listening to and performing the song ‘El Loco Cha Cha’ with Ricky Rillera & The Rhythm Rockers. [Note: While the title of the song is often rendered with a comma (‘Louie, Louie’), in 1988 Berry told Esquire magazine that the correct title of the song was ‘Louie Louie’, with no comma.]

“Berry released his version in April 1957, originally as a B-side, with his backing band The Pharaohs. It became a regional hit on the West Coast, particularly in San Francisco. When the group toured the Pacific Northwest, other local R&B bands began to play the song, increasing its popularity. The track was then re-released as an A-side. However, the single never charted on Billboard’s national R&B or Pop music charts even though Berry’s label reported that the single had sold 40,000 copies. After a series of unsuccessful follow-ups, Berry sold his portion of publishing and songwriting rights for $750 to the head of Flip Records in 1959.

Tagged: Paul Revere & The Raiders