ON A CAROUSEL: I got a nice e-mail from Jerry Powell, who fronts the beach music outfit The Carnival Band, providing me with a background on that contingent as well as the story of "Merry-Go-Round", currently #10 on my blog chart, which apparently didn't see the light of day for over 45 years.
 |
| Promo photo for "Merry-Go-Round" by Jerry Powell and the Carnival Band, the current top 10 blog song that was over 45 years in the making. |
If you listen to the song, which he wrote in the mid 1970's, in a then contemporary soul and R&B style, you'd swear that the lead vocals by Dave Sandy are very similar to that of The Stylistics' Russell Tompkins Jr. It is definitely probable that the Carnival Band modeled themselves after groups like The Stylistics, as the group was formed back in 1973. Made up of veteran musicians from the Mobile Alabama area and still based there, they played the Myrtle Beach circuit, playing 4- and 5-star hotels along the Grand Strand, when they had room in their touring schedule. "We normally worked hotel lounges six days a week. We were very dedicated and fortunately we signed 2 1/2 years' worth of contracts", Powell explains. "It was amazing and my first exposure to passion the beach music demographic had for entertainment and music. Seemed like we got a standing ovation about every night with whatever we did so there was a lifelong bond established".
Much of the material were covers by R&B bands such as The Stylistics. The band wanted to continue to play the Myrtle Beach circuit, but their schedule was so much packed closer to home that there was no room on their calendar to continue.
By the mid-1970's, then, Powell started writing songs, as well as producing music for local labels such as MINIT and Instant, out of New Orleans. While no hits came out of that period, he did have some success as a producer, and wound up as a staff writer for Tree Publishing, a major company in Nashville.
Powell intentionally wrote it in that Stylistics mode, originally for his bass player John, as he had that falsetto voice that Tompkins possessed. The band was based near Muscle Shoals, home of the famed Sound Studio there (famously referenced by Lynyrd Skynyrd in "Sweet Home Alabama"), which Powell had some connections to. Powell sent a tape there. "Shortly after that, I received a call from (prooducers) Jimmy Johnson and Roger Hawkins at Muscle Shoals Sound. They were impressed and wanted to produce us, so we went up to record", Powell states, sometime around 1977.
While Johnson and Hawkins were impressed, they actually sped up the recording and had Dave Sandy sing it instead of their bass player John, because at the increased tempo, Sandy's voice was a natural fit. The producers had several hits in that period with the Sanford-Townshend Band, Bob Seger, and Dr. Hook, so the prospects were great with "Merry-Go-Round". But another group that the Muscle Shoals Sound recorded at the time, were Lynyrd Skynyrd, with the Street Survivors album. Sadly, the night that Powell and the Carnival Band were to record "Merry-Go-Round", the tragic plane crash occurred that killed several members of Skynyrd, and as such the song was delayed several days.
When the song was finally finished, they shopped it to several major labels, and while the suits loved the song, they couldn't get a deal due to issues beyond the band's control. Thus, "Merry-Go-Round" never got released.
Fast forward over forty years, and producer Jimmy Johnson had passed away. But during his final years, he would often call Powell to tell him that it was a shame the song never got released. Johnson loved the song as did everyone else from that region. After Johnson passed, Powell called Malaco Records (which in the late 1980's bought much of the catalog from the Nashville publishing company), and eventually got the song released finally! Powell added some finishing touches to the song, including a couple vocal and guitar parts, and it finally saw the light of day.
Thanks to DJs such as Pat Gwinn, who played the song on his beach music shows, the song landed on many beach music charts last year and is still going strong this summer as well.
Dave Sandy, the main vocalist on "Merry-Go-Round", also has an interesting story. He was originally from Detroit and was a member of The Royaltones which for years was Del Shannon's ("Runaway," "Keep Searchin'", et al). The Royaltones had a couple of hits in their own right, such as 1958's "Poor Boy", and "Flamingo Express" three years later. The band also included Dennis Coffey, later known for early 1970's instrumentals such as "Scorpio" and "Taurus". Sandy actually sang vocal parts on some of Shannon's hits.
A big "thank you" once again to Jerry Powell for sharing this (he had originally written this for Pat Gwinn, but I thought I'd share this with my readers). To be honest, I thought this was a newly recorded song, but the history, background and time period of when it was actually recorded makes this much more interesting.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S CHART: We are at the halfway point in the Summer of 2022 (already?) and it's time to check out the leaders in this year's "song of the summer" contest. This is a survey to determine what would be my summer song of 2022 and is based on chart performance from mid-May to mid-September. Thus, it is determined from my SNS 100 from May 15 to September 11. Billboard magazine has been doing this since the Hot 100's inception in 1958, although their tracking period is much less: Memorial Day to Labor Day, but it's the same concept.
 |
| Beach music singer-songwriter Deb Browning has the top two summer songs during the midway point of the SNS "Song of the Summer" contest. |
So far, it appears to be a Deb Browning summer. "Take Me By the Hand", which is a duet with The Six Piece Suits, and "3 More Minutes" are 1-2 at the halfway point. Both songs have been in the top 10 during the entire tracking period, and collectively spent four weeks at number one. Billboard's front-runner is Harry Styles' "As it Was", which makes sense since it's been at or very near the top of the Hot 100 the entire period as well. But Styles is a contender on my blog as well. It has logged two weeks atop the SNS 100, including this week, and is ranked #5 in the mid-summer listing, and no doubt will move up.
Here are my current top 20 "songs of the summer" at the midway point:
1. Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits, "Take Me By the Hand"
2. Deb Browning, "3 More Minutes"
3. My Morning Jacket, "In Color"
4. Curtis Harding, "I Won't Let You Down"
5. Harry Styles, "As It Was"
6. Lesa Hudson, "Sunny Days"
7. Tim Izzard, "Glam Rock Star (Tribute)"
8. The Black Keys, "Wild Child"
9. Train, "AM Gold"
10. LP, "Angels
11. The War on Drugs, "Change"\
12. bebadoobee, "Talk"
13. My Chemical Romance, "The Foundations of Decay"
14. Jerry Powell & the Carnival Band ft. Dave Sandy, "Merry-Go-Round"
15. Lesa Hudson, "Breathless"
16. The Main Event Band ft. Sharon Woodruff, "Poor Side of Town"
17. Florence + the Machine - "My Love"
18, Rick Strickland, "Dream Come True"
19. Anna Lavigne - "Lavender Days"
20. Hegazy, "Do You Want Me Now"
Of course, a lot can happen in the next couple of months. Kate Bush's "Running Up that Hill" is currently #23 on the listing, and the Carolina Coast Band's "The Thing About You" is #41, but both songs are very strong right now, while some of the above songs are almost off the SNS 100.
MORE STYLES-LISTICS: As mentioned above, Harry Styles spends a second week at the top of my blog chart with "As It Was", as it also is still atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a tenth week. Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" moves into the runner-up position, as the song is still strong (#4 on the Hot 100) and moving up all radio formats, showing enormous staying power. The two songs have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack, so it's possible they could be 1-2 (in either order) for weeks to come.
Beach music takes the next four positions. The Carolina Coast Band featuring Rhonda McDaniel move 6-3 with "The Thing About You", while Deb Browning's former #1 "3 More Minutes" is still a strong #4. "Poor Side of Town" by The Main Event Band featuring Sharon Woodruff, is pushed back to #5, but is still bulleting and a strong contender. Browning's duet with Six Piece Suits, "Take Me By the Hand" moves back up a notch to #6.
Lizzo, still #2 on the Hot 100 with "About Damn Time" advances to #8 here, while Fitz and the Tantrums, which just completed their tour, move 15-9 with "Sway". This is the band's 21st top 10 blog song (including a Fitz solo effort) and cements their stature as the blog era's most successful act. The up-tempo song still has a shot to be their 13th #1 as well.
The top echelon is very strong, thus songs moving up in the teens, such as Maneskin, Orbis Max, and Vance Joy (Impact award) can't move up any appreciable amount. The Main Event Band has a second top 20, as last year's "Hello Stranger" moves 22-20 to join "Poor Side of Town".
Prime Movers in the middle of the chart include Rick Strickland's "Sandy", which is starting to pick up steam (37-25), Einstein's Dad "White Shoulders..." (41-27), St. Paul & the Broken Bones' "Minotaur" (40-29) and the Mover of the Week, last week's debut, The AZIZ Project's "Thought I Was Falling in Love" (71-38).
While Harry Styles is sitting on the top of the chart, his follow-up is already moving up national charts (and John Hook's Beach Music Top 40), "Late Night Talking", garnering Top Debut honors at #73. Like the prior song, this one is well produced with a full sound, with some 80's overtones like its predecessor, but much more soulful. Styles sings with increased emotion, and the beat is bouncier (which explains its beach music chart presence. This is another big hit, which in my opinion is much needed. Perhaps the presence of "Like It Was", well as the Lizzo and Kate Bush hits signals a return to more qualify pop records. While Styles has had some resistance to his prior singles (no doubt due to him being a part of the boy band One Direction), the barriers have been knocked down.
My blog has always been a combination of songs by established artists, hit records, as well as obscure indie artists. Much of my discoveries have been through going to local festivals or taverns to hear regional music, or of Facebook friends who are musicians posting some songs of them (or friends) performing. But there seems to be a drought lately as I haven't been out and about too much. In a search for something fresh coming out of New Jersey, I found a website jerseyindie.com. It has a list of many indie Jersey bands and artists ranging from alternative to singer-songwriter, punk, surf, emo, soul, you name it. Randomly, I picked out one band, called Isn't It Always, and added the song "Rock Star". I think I struck gold on the first shot, as this band sings with emotion, with a stripped-down, but well produced guitar-oriented indie/alternative music. If radio stations such as FM 106.3 were still around, you'd hear songs like this being played. I love this song and it should go way up the chart. If I ever give Pat Gwinn the go ahead to do a radio show based on my chart, I could see this band breaking through.
Next is the latest from The Beths, "Silence is Golden". Not the Tremeloes/Four Seasons song from the 60's, but an original from the New Zealand quartet. This is a nice, driving, indie-pop-punk orientated assault that is a nice rocking song, one which is needed these days. The band has had several mid-charting songs here, but never getting higher than #43. This has a chance to be their biggest one here, if given time.
Alice Merton is noted for her big (#2) blog and alternative hit "No Roots" from a few years back. She returns with "Same Team". A bouncy, bass-fueled beat lays the groundwork for her appealing, heartfelt vocals. Should top last year's "Vertigo".
Next is "Knock You Out",a rather easy-going song by a band called Brown the Couscous, and the latest from Brandi Carlile, "You and Me on the Rocks", some singer-songwriter heaven on this one.
SUPREME IMPALA?: The final debut is "Turn Up the Sunshine" by the very unusual paring of Motown legend Diana Ross, with Tame Impala. It is from the movie Minions 2: the Rise of Gru. I get the impression that Gen Zers have no idea who Ms. Ross is; and Millennials probably know her as actress Tracee Ellis Ross's mom. Gen Xers know her solo stuff like "Upside Down" or "I'm Coming Out". Of course, we Boomers know her as the frontwoman of The Supremes and her subsequent solo career. The song, rather a funky one is one of two songs from movies on my countdown, the other being Lady Gaga's "Hold My Hand", from Top Gun: Maverick. Backing Ms. Ross is Tame Impala, a fave alternative band that found some commercial success last time out. The song sort of reminds me of another kid's movie song from a couple years back, "Super Cool" by Beck and Robyn, from The Lego Movie 2. This is basically a "fun song" that melds vocals of all concerned. Good for several spins.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
July 17, 2022 (week ending July 23)
|
This
Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Harry's House (2 weeks at #1) |
15 |
|
2 |
3 |
6 |
|
|
3 |
6 |
Carolina Coast Band ft Rhonda McDaniel - The Thing About You |
5 |
|
4 |
2 |
11 |
|
|
5 |
4 |
8 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
18 |
|
|
7 |
5 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
10 |
7 |
|
|
9 |
15 |
5 |
|
|
10 |
9 |
Jerry Powell and The Carnival Band ft. Dave Sandy - Merry-Go-Round |
10 |
|
11 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
12 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
13 |
14 |
8 |
|
|
14 |
18 |
6 |
|
|
15 |
20 |
8 |
|
|
16 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  "Clarity" Album: In Our Own Sweet Time |
13 |
|
17 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
18 |
16 |
11 |
|
|
19 |
13 |
9 |
|
|
20 |
22 |
9 |
|
|
21 |
23 |
6 |
|
|
22 |
25 |
4 |
|
|
23 |
24 |
11 |
|
|
24 |
17 |
14 |
|
|
25 |
37 |
7 |
|
|
26 |
26 |
15 |
|
|
27 |
41 |
3 |
|
|
28 |
19 |
11 |
|
|
29 |
40 |
5 |
|
|
30 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
31 |
38 |
4 |
|
|
32 |
30 |
8 |
|
|
33 |
35 |
8 |
|
|
34 |
39 |
7 |
|
|
35 |
43 |
Winnetka Bowling League & The Knocks - I Like
to Hide in the Bathroom at Parties |
7 |
|
36 |
44 |
6 |
|
|
37 |
27 |
15 |
|
|
38 |
71 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "Thought I Was Falling In Love" Album: 15 Days of Summer (EP) |
2 |
|
39 |
32 |
18 |
|
|
40 |
36 |
25 |
|
|
41 |
33 |
9 |
|
|
42 |
42 |
10 |
|
|
43 |
48 |
9 |
|
|
44 |
45 |
13 |
|
|
45 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
46 |
29 |
14 |
|
|
47 |
34 |
19 |
|
|
48 |
54 |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - In My '64 |
4 |
|
49 |
62 |
3 |
|
|
50 |
61 |
4 |
|
|
51 |
31 |
17 |
|
|
52 |
53 |
8 |
|
|
53 |
59 |
4 |
|
|
54 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
79 |
2 |
|
|
56 |
63 |
5 |
|
|
57 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
58 |
55 |
7 |
|
|
59 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
60 |
68 |
5 |
|
|
61 |
49 |
31 |
|
|
62 |
70 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
46 |
14 |
|
|
64 |
47 |
22 |
|
|
65 |
86 |
4 |
|
|
66 |
51 |
8 |
|
|
67 |
57 |
14 |
|
|
68 |
76 |
4 |
|
|
69 |
84 |
3 |
|
|
70 |
75 |
6 |
|
|
71 |
50 |
10 |
|
|
72 |
82 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: Harry's House |
1 |
|
74 |
56 |
18 |
|
|
75 |
58 |
16 |
|
|
76 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
81 |
5 |
|
|
78 |
90 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
66 |
16 |
|
|
80 |
74 |
19 |
|
|
81 |
65 |
13 |
|
|
82 |
67 |
20 |
|
|
83 |
89 |
3 |
|
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
85 |
64 |
11 |
|
|
86 |
94 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
73 |
16 |
|
|
88 |
78 |
10 |
|
|
89 |
97 |
2 |
|
|
90 |
77 |
19 |
|
|
91 |
85 |
12 |
|
|
92 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
93 |
92 |
45 |
|
|
94 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
95 |
80 |
21 |
|
|
96 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
97 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
98 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
99 |
83 |
16 |
|
|
100 |
102 |
1 |
Tremors:
101. Carolina Blue Dots - "I'm In Love With You"
102. Meghan Trainor ft. Teddy Swims, "Bad For Me"
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week. ●
Songs with
25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲ Songs with 50 or more plays.
Tremors:
Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS
100.
11
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