Monday, October 18, 2010

Sandy Nelson - Not Just A Drummer Boy (1961-1962)

Sandy Nelson was the biggest -- and one of the few -- star drummers of the late '50s and early '60s era in which instrumental rock was at its peak. He landed two Top Ten hits, "Teen Beat" (1959) and "Let There Be Drums" (1961), which surrounded his Gene Krupa-inspired solos with cool, mean guitar licks that were forerunners of the surf sound. Nelson had only one other Top 40 hit, "Drums Are My Beat" (1962). He ground out a quick series of instrumental albums in the early '60s -- eight within 18 months, as a matter of fact -- with several other top Hollywood rock and pop session musicians. Nelson was not that great a drummer, although he was good. His principal importance is that he found a place for drum rock solos in hit instrumental singles, and the more reckless elements of his style no doubt influenced other musicians, such as surf drummers and, later, Keith Moon.

Nelson started to play rock & roll as a teenager in Los Angeles in the 1950s, forming a group that included Jan Berry, Dean Torrence, and Bruce Johnston, all of whom would be important to the surf and hot rod scenes a few years down the line. By the late '50s he was playing sessions, including drums on the Teddy Bears' chart-topper "To Know Him Is to Love Him." After his "Teen Beat" became a hit for Original Sound in 1959, he signed with Imperial as a solo artist, and continued to work as a session musician. For instance, he's heard on Gene Vincent records of the time, as well as the Hollywood Argyles' big hit "Alley Oop," on which he also did some screams. Nelson's numerous solo albums, despite the assistance of top fellow sessioneers like Steve Douglas (sax), Ernie Freeman (piano), and Rene Hall (guitar), had a lot of basic and unimaginative instrumental rock, whether original material or covers of well-known hits of the day. As with Duane Eddy's recordings, however, these simple albums might have helped inspire aspiring musicians as things to play along and learn with, if nothing else.

Near the end of 1963, Nelson was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that necessitated amputation of his right foot and part of his leg. Nonetheless, he managed to resume his drumming career and continued to churn out albums, as well as some singles.

1961 LP Let There Be Drums (US Imperial LP-12080)
  1. Sandy Nelson - Slippin' and Slidin'
  2. Sandy Nelson - Tequila
  3. Sandy Nelson - My Girl Josephine
  4. Sandy Nelson - Big Noise From Winnetka
  5. Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums
  6. 0Sandy Nelson - Bouncy
  7. Sandy Nelson - Birth Of The Beat
  8. Sandy Nelson - Quite A Beat
  9. Sandy Nelson - Get With It
If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.
1962 LP Drums Are My Beat (US Imperial LP-12083)
  1. Sandy Nelson - Drum Roll 9
  2. Sandy Nelson - My Blue Heaven
  3. Sandy Nelson - Hawaiian War Chant
  4. Sandy Nelson - Twisted
  5. Sandy Nelson - Caravan
  6. Sandy Nelson - Drums Are My Beat
  7. Sandy Nelson - Day Drumming
  8. Sandy Nelson - Drum Stomp
  9. Sandy Nelson - Hum Drum
  10. Sandy Nelson - Topsy
  11. Sandy Nelson - The City
If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Tijd voor Teenagers! (1962-1964) [Re-up on request]

After a little time for my own, I'm back. Some of you asked me to re-up the three Dutch LP's of 'Tijd voor Teenagers'. So here we go. Tijd voor Teenagers (Time For Teenagers) was the first music program on Dutch radio especially for teenagers. It started in 1959. Young radio producer Co de Kloet would like to air a program with only pop records. His chef brought it to VARA broadcast president Jan Broeksz. He didn't like the idea in the first place, but his program director stood for the young program maker and suggested with a wink: "let the punk take its course." From that moment on, every Friday afternoon Dutch teenagers had their own radio program with 'one hour' of pop music. One condition was however provided by Broeksz: the presenter had to educate the youth sometimes about the "alarming level" of some songs! In addition, the broadcast of advertising was absolutely forbidden. The program quickly became a success with the young audience and the presentation was the first two years in the hands of the first real 'Dutch disc-jockey' Dick Duster (aka Dick van 't Sant). Herman Stok -- later also presenter of the Dutch TV program 'Top of Flop' (Juke Box Jury) -- succeeded him in 1961. By the success of the program -- and the impact it had for selling records -- Philips decided in 1962 to release a sampler under the name 'Tijd Voor Teenagers.' And also the following years they released two LP's with various Dutch teenage stars. Because of time limits, Philips added just short versions of the songs, but I provide you of the full tracks. The recordings are special gems these days, but here they are and they give a good overview of Dutch pop music in the early sixties. If you like original Dutch LP's on CD... Go here: http://www.fonos.nl

1962 LP Tijd Voor Teenagers (Philips P 600.369)

01. Willeke Alberti - De Winter Was Lang
02. Rob de Nijs - Loop Naar De Maan
03. Trea Dobbs - Tennessee Waltz
04. Johnny Lion - Loddy-Lo
05. Anneke Grönloh - Rozen Hebben Doornen
06. The Sunbeams - Saturday Night
07. Ria Valk - De Jodeltwist
08. Blue Diamonds - He! Ba-Be-Re-Bop
09. Jumping Jewels - Irish Washer Woman
10. Don Mercedes - (You're The) Devil In Disguise
11. Karin Kent - Halleluja I Love Him So
12. The Spiders - Oze-Wieze-Woze
13. Wanda - Wow Wou Wee
14. René & His Alligators - Counter Point
15. Johnny Lion - Let's Make A Habbit Of This
16. Anneke Grönloh - Cimeroni
17. Don Mercedes - Willie And The Handjive
18. Willeke Alberti - Spiegelbeeld
19. The Telstars - He's Your Lover
20. Trea Dobbs - Parel Van De zuidzee
21. Rob de Nijs - Wit Satijn
22. The Explosions - Harem.mp3
23. Johnny & His Cellar Rockers - Close Your Eyes
24. The Fouryo's - Tot Zondagavond, Mary
25. The Blue Diamonds - Rag Mop
26. Ria Valk - Lasso-Lilly
27. Jerry Rix - I'm Watching My Watch
28. The Lords - The Lord's Night Out

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.
1963 LP Tijd voor Teenagers 2 (Philips P 600.701)

01. Rob de Nijs - Ritme Van De Regen
02. Anneke Grönloh - Paradiso
03. Blue Diamonds - Ev'rybody Loves Saturday Nights
04. Willeke Alberti - Nee Jongen, Ik Trouw Niet Met Jou
05. Johnny Lion - Blame It On The Bossanova
06. Ria Valk - Wini-Wini
07. René & His Alligators - Telstar
08. Fouryo's - Loop De Loop.mp3
09. Marijke Hofland - Bobby's Schat
10. Carlo - Selene
11. Anneke Grönloh - Het Leven Kan Mooi Zijn
12. Jumping Jewels - Africa
13. Johnny Lion - Count On Me
14. Anneke Grönloh - Soerabaja
15. Rob de Nijs - How Do You Do It
16. Fouryo's - Walk Like A Man
17. Blue Diamonds - Alice In Wonderland
18. Willeke Alberti - Perché Perché
19. Jumping Jewels - Wild Geese
20. Trea Dobbs - Casanova Bacia Me
21. Don Mercedes - This Little Girl
22. Wanda - De Loco-motion
23. Carlo - Giovane, Giovane
24. Explosions - Long Long Ago

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.

1964 LP Tijd voor Teenagers 3 (Philips PL 12.946)

01. Willeke Alberti - De Winter Was Lang
02. Rob de Nijs - Loop Naar De Maan
03. Trea Dobbs - Tennessee Waltz
04. Johnny Lion - Loddy-Lo
05. Anneke Grönloh - Rozen Hebben Doornen
06. Sunbeams - Saturday Night
07. Ria Valk - De Jodeltwist
08. Blue Diamonds - He! Ba-Be-Re-Bop
09. Jumping Jewels - Irish Washer Woman
10. Don Mercedes - (You're The) Devil In Disguise
11. Karin Kent - Halleluja I Love Him So
12. Spiders - Oze-Wieze-Woze
13. Wanda - Wow Wou Wee
14. René & His Alligators - Counter Point
15. Johnny Lion - Let's Make A Habbit Of This
16. Anneke Grönloh - Cimeroni
17. Don Mercedes - Willie And The Handjive
18. Willeke Alberti - Spiegelbeeld
19. Telstars - He's Your Lover
20. Trea Dobbs - Parel Van De zuidzee
21. Rob de Nijs - Wit Satijn
22. Explosions - Harem
23. Johnny & His Cellar Rockers - Close Your Eyes
24. Fouryo's - Tot Zondagavond, Mary
25. Blue Diamonds - Rag Mop
26. Ria Valk - Lasso-Lilly
27. Jerry Rix - I'm Watching My Watch
28. Lords - The Lord's Night Out

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.

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