The Yank

Actually, it's not a theory at all, in the 1st chapter (maybe even on the 1st page) of the book "Louie, Louie", Richard Berry admits to using the opening riff of "El Loco Cha Cha" for "Louie, Louie". I'll admit that the lyrics of "Havana Moon" probably also influenced Richard also.

Richard Berry borrowed the intro of this and used it for "Louie, Louie" -

The Drifters performing "At The Club" live-

I'm not going to speculate on this. Let's face it, "Just Say The Word" was a B side, and the record wasn't a hit. If it was a big seller, I'm sure there would have been lawsuits. Leiber and Stoller probably saw Ray wasn't getting any pushback from Don Robey and Duke and probably wanted a piece of the action. In their book "Hound Dog", Leiber and Stoller don't mention this record causing any problems when they started negotiating with Nesuhi Ertegun when he was negotiating with them to come to Atlantic.

If you skip the remakes, that's actually a pretty solid album. Here's another fine track from the album -

Here's a better picture of the Frankie Marshall - I don't know the exact month it was released but, as I said before it was reviewed in June, 1955 in Billboard.

Ray Charles recorded "I Got A Woman" in November of 1954. The Frankie Marshall 45 was reviewed in Billboard in June of 1955. California based Leiber and Stoller didn't begin their association with Atlantic until 1955 so I doubt if they were sitting in their offices when Ray recorded "I Got A Woman". Here's an article from November, 1955-

Ray Charles song is said to be based on -

Currently up for auction on a well known site, this is an almost carbon copy -

This sounds like it may have been the "inspiration" for Venicia Wilson's "This Time I'm Loving You" -

Two additions- 1) Astors- "In The Twilight Zone" - 236 pounds 2) Jimmy James- "This Heart Of Mine" - 387 pounds

This early version of "He Who Picks A Rose" isn't an exact copy but comes awfully close to ....

The group as Nuns (!) on an episode of "Tarzan" -

The group's 1st 45 on Motown -

Cool Yuletide ad from '62 promoting one of the group's early releases -

Canadian releases-

Great unreleased track -

I've got a feeling that Solid Hitbound productions got ahead of themselves when they ran the ad. Would still like to know if anything was cut on Sherry.

Sheet music for the group's 2nd single when they were still known as the Jayhawks -

While looking for something else, I came across this old ad in an issue of Record World from July, 1967. I'm assuming Sherry is Scherrie Payne, Freda's sister and future member of the Glass House and the Supremes. Does anyone know if she cut any tracks while she was with Groovesville/ Revilot/ Solid Hit ?

Paris was Ekundayo Paris aka Mr. Tears

According to discogs, the original 45 has the following matrix info- A side matrix - T-136-P-P- B side matrix- T-137-P-P- Most of the lookalike 45's I've seen are white label promos.

The album version clocks in at 3:30 - should be the same longer version -