Tuesday, October 2, 2012

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TAMS!

SPEAKING OF AUNT WANDA . .

As I mentioned in my previous post; I was given my aunt's collection of records one summer, and the only regret I ever heard voiced about it didn't come from her - it came from her husband, Larry.

Apparently, among the several 45's and LP records she'd given me; there were a few that he held near and dear to his heart.  One I overheard him mention that he would've liked to keep was The Righteous Brothers' album, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and the other was The Tams' album, "Presenting The Tams."


Of course, the 1964 album contained their big, top 10 recording, "What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am?)" which was to be their highest charting U.S. single.

TO LISTEN TO "WHAT KIND OF FOOL (DO YOU THINK I AM)" click on this link:

Other great tracks from this album are, "You Lied To Your Daddy," "Riding For A Fall," "Laugh It Off," "You Might As Well Forget Him," and "So Close To Me"

TO LISTEN TO "YOU LIED TO YOUR DADDY" click on this link:

TO LISTEN TO "RIDING FOR ALL FALL" click on this link:

TO LISTEN TO "LAUGH IT OFF" click on link:

TO LISTEN TO "YOU MIGHT AS WELL FORGET HIM" click on link:


TO LISTEN TO "SO CLOSE TO ME" click on this link:


B U T . . .

Amongst the 45's my aunt gave me, I found what I believe to be the best Tams record ever:

'UNTIE ME'



TO LISTEN TO "UNTIE ME" click on this link:

"Untie Me" rose to #12 on the R&B Charts in 1962.

It was written by Joe South who went on to be a very successful songwriter and recording artist. 

JOE SOUTH

He wrote "Down In The Boondocks" & "I Knew You When" - both hits for Billy Joe Royal in 1965.  "Hush," a top 10 hit for Deep Purple in 1968. 

He had a big year in 1969 with "Games People Play," "Don't It Make You Want to Go Home," and "Walk A Mile In My Shoes," and he wrote his most successful composition in 1971, "Rose Garden," for Lynn Anderson. 

Ironically, I just discovered that Joe South died September 5th, 2012.  He was 72.


Getting back to The Tams . .


They also charted on the U.S. Pop Charts in 1964 with, "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me," (#41) and in 1968 they had a Billboard R&B hit (#26) with, "Be Young, Be Foolish & Be Happy," but not much happened after that . . until, much to their surprise, "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart in September of 1971 due to its enormous popularity in the UK's 'Northern Soul' movement.

TO LISTEN TO "HEY GIRL DON'T BOTHER ME" click on this link"

The Tams are also one of the most popular groups in the Carolina Beach Music scene.

Check them out - performing live in Charleston, S.C., in 2008.


The Tams . . formed in 1960, from Atlanta Georgia; and still rockin' today!





1 comment:

  1. Interesting musings. I've read it all, waiting on the next installment. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete