Vic Damone-An Affair To Remember

在湯姆漢克與梅格萊恩主演的老片「西雅圖夜未眠」Sleepless in Seattle (1993)裡，曾提及更老的電影「金玉盟」An Affair To Remember (1957)的故事，這一部由卡萊格倫及黛伯拉寇兒主演的經典老片裡，有一首動聽的同名插曲，在電影裡由老奶奶彈奏的片段很是感人，後來由Vic Damone演唱在熱門排行榜得過第16名。

Vic Damone (nee Vito Farinola)已於二月11日病逝於邁阿密（89歲），在去世前幾天，Vic還接到他一位老朋友的電話，這位朋友就是美國總統川普。

出生於紐約布魯克林區的Vic Damone是一位很受同期歌王Frank Sinatra推崇的歌謠演唱者，1947-1953年曾有32首暢銷曲進入熱門排行榜，其中包括1949年的冠軍曲"You're Breaking My Heart" 及"On The Street Where You Live" (#4-1956) 與"An Affair To Remember" (#16-1957)，他曾經 客串演過幾部電影，也主持過電視節目。

Vic Damone 結過五次婚，他的自傳"Singing Was The Easy Part"於2009年出版。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fssFotIANHQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NexkYhw4Hxc

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (Our Love Affair)

- words by Harold Adamson and Leo McCarey, music by Harry Warren

Our love affair is a wondrous thing

That we'll rejoice in remembering

Our love was born with our first embrace

And a page was torn out of time and space

Our love affair, may it always be

A flame to burn through eternity

So take my hand with a fervent prayer

That we may live and we may share

A love affair to remember

Tommy Roe-Dizzy

在Elton John 與Paul Simon宣告他們的告別演唱會後，另一位1960年代的知名歌手Tommy Roe也於二月8日宣佈退休。

現年75歲的Tommy Roe 1942年出生於美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大，是一位流行搖滾歌手、吉它手及作曲人，中學時代他即組過樂團，1950年代後期曾在當地俱樂部演出，樂團亦曾於Judd唱片公司錄過唱片，1960年代中期他轉往英國發展，1969年才回美國。

Tommy Roe於1962年以Sheila獲得二週冠軍而走紅，但是他1966年的Sweet Pea（#8）及Hooray For Hazel （#6）都比較偏Bubblegum Sound「泡泡糖搖滾」，製作人Steve Barri（Eve of Destruction 的製作人及作曲）希望Tommy Roe的新歌能回到Sheila那種Buddy Holly的老搖滾樂風，Barri幫Tommy Roe製作了三張單曲，前二首歌有Sheila的感覺，而第三首歌Dizzy則比較「泡泡糖搖滾」，Tommy Roe說Steve Barri喜歡Dizzy小部份，他喜歡大部份。

Freddy Weller是Tommy Roe同鄉，曾是Paul Revere 的Raiders合唱團一員，他倆一同完成Dizzy這一首歌。

Dizzy 在混音的時候 ，Steve Barri覺得少了點甚麼，他要編曲Jimmie Haskell加弦樂進去，這在當時是一個創舉 ，他回想： Dizzy的成功弦樂是主要的因素。

儘管Dizzy是一首「泡泡糖搖滾」，但成了Tommy Roe最暢銷的歌，Dizzy於1969年二月1日推出獲得第86名，但六週後爬上了熱門排行榜冠軍，而且持續四週之久。

Tommy Roe表示：我從此退出舞台上的聚光燈和訪問，再次感謝你們的支持，我愛你們，願神保佑你。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_DKiTUty0

DIZZY

Tommy Roe

(Roe/Weller)

  Dizzy

  I'm so dizzy, my head is spinnin'

  Like a whirlpool, it never ends

  And it's you, girl, makin' it spin

  You're makin' me dizzy

First time that I saw you, girl, I knew that I just had to make you mine

But it's so hard to talk to you with fellas hangin' round you all the time

I want you for my sweet pet

But you keep playin' hard to get

Goin' around in circles all the time

  Dizzy

  I'm so dizzy, my head is spinnin'

  Like a whirlpool, it never ends

  And it's you, girl, makin' it spin

  You're makin' me dizzy

I finally got to talk to you and I told you just exactly how I felt

Then I held you close to me and kissed you and my heart began to melt

Girl, you've got control of me

'Cause I'm so dizzy I can't see

I need to call a doctor for some help

  Dizzy

  I'm so dizzy, my head is spinnin'

  Like a whirlpool, it never ends

  And it's you, girl, makin' it spin

  You're makin' me dizzy

  My head is spinnin'

  Like a whirlpool, it never ends

  And it's you, girl, makin' it spin

  You're makin' me dizzy

  Oh, I'm so dizzy

  You're makin' me dizzy

  Yeah, I'm so dizzy

The Temptations-I Can't Get Next To You

The Temptations合唱團後期的團員Dennis Edwards二月2日不幸去世，出生於美國阿拉巴馬州Fairfield的他才剛過75歲生日。

Dennis Edwards曾經在Temptations合唱團的暢銷曲"Ball Of Confusion", "I Can't Get Next To You", "Cloud Nine" 及 "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"中與其它團員合唱。

Dennis Edwards 10歲時全家搬到底特律，當時就開始在the Mighty Clouds of Joy合唱團演唱福音歌曲，1961年他錄過一張單曲，是一首非宗教的歌，但因為去當兵而暫停他剛起步的歌唱事業。

1966年，Dennis Edwards被Motown唱片公司選上，他先被安排與the Contours合唱團一起唱了很短的一段時間，後來轉與The Temptations合唱團搭檔，他取代了因走紅而目空一切被開除的團員David Ruffin，但是1977年Dennis Edwards曾自己離團而去，過了三年才回團。

近年來Dennis Edwards以"Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards"之名巡迴演唱，只算是從原始Temptations合唱團分離出來的團，他曾與the Pointer Sisters合唱團的Ruth Pointer結過婚，但在一起時間很短。

1989年，Dennis Edwards與the Temptations一起進入搖滾樂名人堂。

The Temptations合唱團是歷年暢銷歌星與合唱團第21名的超級合唱團，1962-2000年的演唱事業成績優異，曾經被譽為美國最佳R&B合唱團。

"I Can't Get Next To You"是The Temptations合唱團1969年獲得二周冠軍的歌。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RfGe6MvY84

I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU

The Temptations

(Whitfield/Strong)

I can turn your gray sky blue

I could make it rain whenever I wanted to

I can build a castle from a single grain of sand

I can make a ship sail on dry land

But my life is incomplete and I'm so blue

'Cause I can't get next to you

Next to you, I just can't get next to you

I can fly like a bird in the sky

Hey, and I can buy anything that money can buy

I can turn a river into a raging fire

I could live forever if I so desired

Unimportant are all these things I can do

'Cause I can't get next to you

No matter what I do

I can turn back the hands of time

You'd better believe I can

I can make the seasons change

Just by a wave of my hand

I can change anything from old to new

The thing I want to do the most I'm unable to do

Unhappy am I with all the powers I possess

'Cause girl, you're the key to my happiness

And I, wo, I can't get next to you

(fade):

Girl, you're blowin' my mind 'cause I can't get (next to you)

Can't you see these tears I'm cryin'?  I can't get (next to you)

Girl, it's you that I need; I gotta get (next to you)

---

 [u1]

Buzz Clifford-Baby Sittin' Boogie

1961年以一首風格很特殊的歌"Baby Sittin' Boogie" (#6)成名而令人懷念的Reese "Buzz" Clifford（本名Reese Francis Clifford III），元月26日因流感併發症去世（75歲）。

Buzz Clifford出生於美國伊里諾州Berwyn，他原先想把"Baby Sittin' Boogie"放在"Driftwood" 45轉單曲小唱片的B面，但因為他們把製作人及作曲Johnny Parker兒子和女兒的童音錄在歌裡，而產生了很好的效果，反而得到很好的成績，但是接著推出"Three Little Fishes"就不行了，只得到102名。

當年屬於Teen pop-novelty singer的"Buzz" Clifford，後來一直待在流行音樂圈，他大多時間在作曲，但也曾經跟一位演員Gary Busey的樂隊一起唱過歌。

"Baby Sittin' Boogie"經後人剪了很有趣的video，讓人回憶起50與60年代那些以青少年為對象，有創意的Teen pop-novelty singers歌手。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HYh2k3bTmM

Baby Sittin' Boogie

(gggggggggggggggg da da da-da-da-da!)

My girl baby sister saw it on her block

Then I come up to join her and we start to rock

The baby hears the beat and man it is a shock

When he goes (ggggggggggggg ggggggg)

A rockin type a boogie is the kind a song

That makes this little baby wanna sing along

And though he maybe gets the tune alittle wrong

He still goes (boogie-on-na-day)

He isn't too young to really feel the beat

He rocks back and forth in his little seat

He claps both his hands and he taps his feet

And he sings (doo-doo-da-da-da-da-da)

He is a hully-gully-bouncin-baby-boy

You know the record player is his favorite toy

And dont forget hes eveybodys pride and joy

When he goes (ooo-ah-ge-he)

(Yo-a-ah-ah)

(Ladaladalada)

I know there isnt anyone to take a bet

But surely hes the youngest teenager yet

And probably the hippest of the diaper set

Cause he goes (go man, I like that!)

He strolls in his stroller with the radio on

He doesn't go to sleep until the musics gone

He imitates the singer in the group

With a low down voice (dug-a-dug-a)

And when its time to tuck him in his little bed

With all that music runnin through his sleepy head

The little fella doesnt say goodnight

Instead, but he says (boog-ooo, boog-ooo, boog-ooo

Aaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll gone!)

Hugh Masakela-Grazing In The Grass

爵士小喇叭手、歌手、作曲人Hugh Masakela元月23日於他故鄉南非約翰尼斯堡去世(78歲)，歌迷們尊稱“南非爵士樂之父”的他，為攝護腺癌所苦已長達十年。

Hugh Masakela早年因寇克道格拉斯在電影裡演的爵士著名小喇叭手Bix Beiderbecke演唱"Young Man With A Horn"所啟發，而對爵士樂發生興趣，後來他因種族隔離政策離開南非近20年，他在國外朋友的幫助下先前往英國，進入倫敦的Guildhall School of Music音樂學校，之後轉去美國，認識了以"King of Calypso"「加利梭歌曲之父」為人熟知，當年也參加民權運動，來自牙買家的名歌手Harry Belafonte，然後進了紐約的曼哈坦音樂學校，當時是1960年代初期，他學傳統小喇叭，還在 Dizzy Gillespie 與Louis Armstrong二位爵士樂名家指導之下學爵士樂，最後創造出了他自己的樂風。

Hugh Masakela先在1967年的Monterey Pop Festival 「蒙特瑞音樂節」當中演出，一年後他的"Grazing In The Grass"在美國的熱門排行榜獲得了冠軍，R&B榜則得到第4名，這曲子也成了他為人喜愛的經典之作。

Hugh Masakela後來曾在Paul Simon的專輯唱片 Graceland伴奏，並參加the Graceland-tour巡迴演唱。

Hugh Masakela的兒子Selema是個演員，也擔任體育播報員，主持電視節目。

"Grazing In The Grass"這一首歌於1969年由Friends Of Distinction合唱團填上歌詞後推出，獲得熱門排行榜第3名。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXZF60EPdM

Edwin Hawkins Singers-Oh Happy Day

以"Oh Happy Day"(#4-1969) 成名的Edwin Hawkins Singers合唱團的領隊Edwin Hawkins，元月15日因胰臟癌於加州Pleasanton家中去世(74歲)。

Edwin Hawkins出生於奧克蘭，他於1967年組成一個有46名團員的北加州青少年唱詩班the Northern California State Youth Choir之前，和家族合唱團在教堂唱聖歌，後來他們因替Pavilions唱片公司灌唱片而改名Edwin Hawkins Singers，這一個合唱團的主唱叫Dorothy Morrison，而曾經與Paul Anka搭檔，合唱(You're) Having My Baby 、I Believe There Is Nothing Stronger Than Our Love、I Don't Like To Sleep Alone、One Man Woman / One Woman Man這些名曲的Odia Coates，也是團員之一，他們也曾替Melanie獲得第6名的暢銷曲"Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)擔任和聲。

"Oh Happy Day"是the Northern California State Youth Choir在一所教堂錄的，1969年在熱門與R&B歌曲排行榜都獲得前五名，這一首歌提醒歌迷，黑人靈魂歌曲的根源是gospel福音歌曲，在多元發展的1960年代末期，激情加復古的歌聲，帶來的是情感宣洩與清新的表徵，"Oh Happy Day"在當年Grammy獎獲得最佳靈魂及福音歌曲演唱獎。

福音歌曲Gospel music 是基督教歌曲Christian music的一個分支，Billboard 雜誌目前還有Hot Gospel Songs的 25名排行榜，歌曲源自於黑奴的心聲，唱的是他們的喜、怒、哀、樂，除了"Oh Happy Day"之外，"Amazing Grace"也是大家熟悉的歌。

Edwin Hawkins於2007獲選進基督歌曲名人堂。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzj3pOdCOqU

Oh Happy Day

Edwin Hawkins Singers

Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
Oh, when He washed (When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)

Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
Oh, when He washed (When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (Oh, happy day)
Oh, it's a happy day (Oh, happy day)

He taught me how (He taught me how)
To watch and fight and pray
Watch and pray

And live rejoicing every day
Every day

Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
Oh, when He washed (When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)

He taught me how (He taught me how)
To watch and fight and pray
Watch and pray

And live rejoicing every day (Good god)
Every day

Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, it's a happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, lord (Oh, happy day)
Mmm, good God (Oh, happy day)
Oh yeah (Oh, happy day)
Mmm, oh (Oh, happy day)

Elton John-Someone Saved My Life Tonight

   從2014年12月13日開始，Billboard雜誌專輯排行榜更改統計方式，改以傳統專輯唱片＋TEA (track equivalent album)＋SEA (streaming equivalent album)的三合一專輯數量Album-equivalent unit計算，1張傳統專輯唱片=10首歌曲下載=100首歌曲串流，這個標準也獲得「美國錄音工業協會｣RIAA的認可，但Billboard雜誌也持續用原有統計方式維持Top Album Sales專輯排行榜。

根據新的方式，Taylor Swift 於2014年10月27日發行的專輯" 1989 "是第一張獲得冠軍的專輯唱片，在339,000張銷售量中有281,000張是傳統專輯唱片。另於2015年2月8日，"Now That's What I Call Music! 53"則是在Top Album Sales排行榜獲得冠軍，但卻是沒能在 Billboard 200專輯排行榜得冠軍的第一張專輯。

配合網路時代來臨，唱片排行統計方式更新是無可避免的事，因為在網路購買唱片比去唱片行買方便太多，不將TEA 、SEA列入的統計是失真的，而Eminem連續8張專輯推出即獲排行榜冠軍，連二個超級合唱團The Beatles及The Rolling Stones的紀錄都被他比下去，證明透過網路聽音樂已成主流，也證明Eminem的「痞子｣曲風大受現代年輕人歡迎。

其實Elton John的1975年專輯唱片"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy"，是Billboard雜誌專輯排行榜第一張推出當週就獲得冠軍的唱片，這一張專輯是Elton John (Captain Fantastic) 與 Bernie Taupin (the Brown Dirt Cowboy)早年音樂生涯的自傳式寫照，推出4天就賣了140萬張，且連續七周停留在冠軍位子上。在滾石雜誌的500大專輯榜上"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy"獲得158名，Elton John在滾石雜誌的500大專輯與單曲榜都有5張唱片進榜。

"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy"當中的單曲"Someone Saved My Life Tonight"於1975年7月5日推出，最高獲得熱門排行榜第4名。

Elton John 1947年出生於英國，是歷年暢銷歌星排行榜第3名的超級巨星，1994年即獲選進入搖滾樂名人堂。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw2Lptf7K0E

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

Elton John

When I think of those East End lights

Muggy nights

The curtains drawn in the little room downstairs

Prima Donna lord you really should have been there

Sitting like a princess perched in her electric chair

And it's one more beer

And I don't hear you anymore

We've all gone crazy lately

My friends out there rolling round the basement floor

And someone saved my life tonight sugar bear

You almost had your hooks in me didn't you dear

You nearly had me roped and tied

Altar-bound, hypnotized

Sweet freedom whispered in my ear

You're a butterfly

And butterflies are free to fly

Fly away, high away bye bye

I never realised the passing hours

Of evening showers

A slip noose hanging in my darkest dreams

I'm strangled by your haunted social scene

Just a pawn out-played by a dominating queen

It's four o'clock in the morning

Damn it listen to me good

I'm sleeping with myself tonight

Saved in time, thank God my music's still alive

And I would have walked head on into the deep end the river

Clinging to your stocks and bonds

Paying your H.P. demands forever

They're coming in the morning with a truck to take me home

Someone saved my life tonight, someone saved my life tonight

Someone saved my life tonight, someone saved my life tonight

Someone saved my life tonight

So save your strength and run the field you play alone