Today's Song of the Day sets the wayback machine to 1955 for a taste of Doo Wop, the music of street corners and school stairways. The Rainbows came from Washington D.C., a hotbed of Doo Wop activity. They recorded a handful of singles with the original lineup, all with girl's names in the title. The first and best, was "Mary Lee" which was a sloppy but energetic "love letter" wishing that that Mary Lee would "come back to me." The vocals aren't always in tune, but they are enthusiastic. The backing is simple. Drum, bass, a little guitar and a very predominant piano. The piano intro, which seems to be airlifted in from another tune, puts me in mind of the famous episode of the Honeymooners where Ralph Kramden competes on "Name That Tune" practicing for the show with Ed Norton who starts every song with the piano intro from "Swanee River." Later lineups of the Rainbows featured the great soul singer Don Covay and Motown's Marvin Gaye!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Song of the Day-Mary Lee
Today's Song of the Day sets the wayback machine to 1955 for a taste of Doo Wop, the music of street corners and school stairways. The Rainbows came from Washington D.C., a hotbed of Doo Wop activity. They recorded a handful of singles with the original lineup, all with girl's names in the title. The first and best, was "Mary Lee" which was a sloppy but energetic "love letter" wishing that that Mary Lee would "come back to me." The vocals aren't always in tune, but they are enthusiastic. The backing is simple. Drum, bass, a little guitar and a very predominant piano. The piano intro, which seems to be airlifted in from another tune, puts me in mind of the famous episode of the Honeymooners where Ralph Kramden competes on "Name That Tune" practicing for the show with Ed Norton who starts every song with the piano intro from "Swanee River." Later lineups of the Rainbows featured the great soul singer Don Covay and Motown's Marvin Gaye!
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