Happiness Is Here - Groovesville or Topper

[Mick Holdsworth]

I'm sure this info is out there somewhere, but I'm trying to find out if "Happiness Is Here" was a Groovesville recording, later used by Dave Hamilton / Topper, or was it the other way around.

Thanks

Edited September 6, 2020 by Mick Holdsworth
Typo

[Gilly]

Written by George McGregor, who freelanced as well as a session drummer, ive always thought it was for Dave Hamilton. I did get a backing track to this song on a acetate from Dave's on one of my visits.

[Mick Holdsworth]

Thanks Gilly, so it may be down to whoever George McGregor was working for at the time.

[Gilly]

I think a lot of these guys would write songs then push them around the city to generate any interest in the hope that someone might do a deal in someway 

[The Yank]

According  the book "Groovesville USA",  George McGregor used United Sound Studios  for his work with Tobi Lark.

[Mike]

reposted this as was posted under a test account

  

8 hours ago, Mick Holdsworth said:

I'm sure this info is out there somewhere, but I'm trying to find out if "Happiness Is Here" was a Groovesville recording, later used by Dave Hamilton / Topper, or was it the other way around.

Thanks

 

some background shows here on Rob Moss's GEORGE McGREGOR - Detroit's busiest drummer feature

 

Quote

I also did a couple of my things on Barbara Mercer over at Golden World too. Mr. Wingate gave me that chance. I wrote 'Happiness is here' on her and 'Just penciled in.' They didn't like 'Happiness' is here' when it was finished so I bought the track from Mr. Wingate for $500 and later, when Dave Hamilton got some investment on his label, did it on Tobi Lark. General Motors were interested in the track. They were thinking of using it on a Chevy commercial but it didn't happen....

full article here

 

[Mick Holdsworth]

Thanks Mike, with the following from George  . . .

"I also did a couple of my things on Barbara Mercer over at Golden World too. Mr. Wingate gave me that chance. I wrote 'Happiness is here' on her and 'Just penciled in.' They didn't like 'Happiness' is here' when it was finished so I bought the track from Mr. Wingate for $500 and later, when Dave Hamilton got some investment on his label, did it on Tobi Lark. General Motors were interested in the track. They were thinking of using it on a Chevy commercial but it didn't happen.... "

. . . it must have been a Groovesville track then.

Thanks folks.

Sorry, meant to say it must have been a Golden World / Ed Wigate Track then.

Edited September 7, 2020 by Mick Holdsworth
Typo

[Wheelsville1]

19 hours ago, Mick Holdsworth said:

I'm sure this info is out there somewhere, but I'm trying to find out if "Happiness Is Here" was a Groovesville recording, later used by Dave Hamilton / Topper, or was it the other way around.

Thanks

 

10 hours ago, Mick Holdsworth said:

Thanks Mike, with the following from George  . . .

"I also did a couple of my things on Barbara Mercer over at Golden World too. Mr. Wingate gave me that chance. I wrote 'Happiness is here' on her and 'Just penciled in.' They didn't like 'Happiness' is here' when it was finished so I bought the track from Mr. Wingate for $500 and later, when Dave Hamilton got some investment on his label, did it on Tobi Lark. General Motors were interested in the track. They were thinking of using it on a Chevy commercial but it didn't happen.... "

. . . it must have been a Groovesville track then.

Thanks folks.

 

If George bought the track from Ed Wingate,then surley it must be Myto Music rather than Groovesville. Chris. 

[Chalky]

Has anyone checked the sleeve notes for the Dave Hamilton cds? @Ady Croasdell

[Mick Holdsworth]

2 hours ago, Wheelsville1 said:

 

If George bought the track from Ed Wingate,then surley it must be Myto Music rather than Groovesville. Chris. 

Yes, it was a typo on my behalf, I meant to say Golden World, not Groovesville.

[Mick Holdsworth]

2 hours ago, Chalky said:

Has anyone checked the sleeve notes for the Dave Hamilton cds? @Ady Croasdell

I've only been able to check the opening lines for Detroit Dancers V1, which are on the Ace website. They do not help with individual tracks, but the detailed notes inside may help. Alas don't have a copy.

See Ady can help.

[Chalky]

9 hours ago, Wheelsville1 said:

 

If George bought the track from Ed Wingate,then surley it must be Myto Music rather than Groovesville. Chris. 

But if it wasn’t  recorded on an artist (bit confusing the pencilled her in bit) or released it then maybe it wouldn't have any publishing at that time?

Edited September 7, 2020 by Chalky

[Rick Cooper]

12 hours ago, Mick Holdsworth said:

I've only been able to check the opening lines for Detroit Dancers V1, which are on the Ace website. They do not help with individual tracks, but the detailed notes inside may help. Alas don't have a copy.

See Ady can help.

Sleeve notes here for Tobi Lark

Sorry about sideways view , not sure why.

[Simon T]

19 minutes ago, Rick Cooper said:

Sleeve notes here for Tobi Lark

Sorry about sideways view , not sure why.

 

[Mick Holdsworth]

Interesting, still not 100 pecent of the timeline, but it looks like the origin of the song is through George M at Golden World.  (This may only be the music track if Barbara Mercer was "Just penciled in"). Golden World didn't like it and sold it to George.

(Before he "later" took it to Dave Hamilton, George could have gone to United Sound and recorded vocals with Barbara Mecer, if they wern't already pre recorded at GW).
I emphasize "Could Have". He also could have taken it to other places too.

Dave H than recorded Tobi Lark vocals. and then finished it at United Sound.

So although Barbara could have recorded her vocals after United finished the Tobi Lark session, it seems more likely the recording came to United before Dave H got it, and they recorded Barbaras vocals (if they wern't already pre-recorded at Golden World) and for whatever reason never did any more with it, paving the way for George to go to Dave Hamilton.

[Wheelsville1]

1 hour ago, Mick Holdsworth said:

Interesting, still not 100 pecent of the timeline, but it looks like the origin of the song is through George M at Golden World.  (This may only be the music track if Barbara Mercer was "Just penciled in"). Golden World didn't like it and sold it to George.

(Before he "later" took it to Dave Hamilton, George could have gone to United Sound and recorded vocals with Barbara Mecer, if they wern't already pre recorded at GW).
I emphasize "Could Have". He also could have taken it to other places too.

Dave H than recorded Tobi Lark vocals. and then finished it at United Sound.

So although Barbara could have recorded her vocals after United finished the Tobi Lark session, it seems more likely the recording came to United before Dave H got it, and they recorded Barbaras vocals (if they wern't already pre-recorded at Golden World) and for whatever reason never did any more with it, paving the way for George to go to Dave Hamilton.

Personaly i think Barbara recorded the song first,Ed wingate didn't like the song and as chalky said it was proberly not registerd with BMI hence there was no publishing on it,unlike My Dear Heart which when it was released by Shawn Robinson was credited to Myto Music. Chris. 

[Dysonsoul]

I have the 10" acetate of this , which was part of Gillys collection that i bought from him - it is credited to and written as Tobie Lark. 

[Gilly]

Written, credited, and BMI to George, maybe another case of the dodgy world of music