The Door To Yesterday. Nol. 5, No. 17 Alan Warner 2020.

 

the door to yesterday. otis redding. eddie cochran. vol. 5 no. 17

 

Back in the days when 45’s were the dominant force in record buying,

chart watching was among my favorite pastimes. 


Being British and living in the UK until 1976, 

I’d compare chart entries each week in the UK’s 

New Musical Express with the Billboard Hot 100. 


What always fascinated me were American-produced recordings 

which ended up having greater success in the UK than in their native land.


For instance, Sonny James’ self-penned 1956 country hit 

THE CAT CAME BACK never crossed over to Billboard’s Hot 100, but 

in the UK, it reached a very respectable #30 chart success later that year.


An even more spectacular example was soul titan Jackie Wilson’s 1957 

minor Hot 100 hit REET PETITE (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) 

(written by Berry Gordy Jr. & Roquel Billy Davis) which climbed to UK #6 in late ’57 

but then 29 years after that in December ‘86, it catapulted to UK’s #1 spot after

the track was used in an animated video of plasticine figures that had become 

wildly popular on TV.    


Over the years, there have been many other instances where American  

recordings (singles and album tracks) have enjoyed more success in the UK. 


Below is a list of just 26 of them…


THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN 

(Eddie Cochran/Bob Cochran)

by Eddie Cochran

Pro: Eddie Cochran & Jerry Capehart 

(Liberty: 1960)

https://youtu.be/nxj--MkqACY 

Both Jerry Allison & Sonny Curtis of The Crickets were also on the session. 

Released in the year that Eddie died while on tour in the UK, 

THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN hit #1 there in June 1960 

but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.


JUNGLE ROCK 

(Hank Mizell/Ralph Simonton)

by Hank Mizell 

(Eko: 1958) 

https://youtu.be/HUi7DaldSpA 

An obscure rockabilly single unearthed and released by Charly Records

in the UK in ’76 where it rocketed up to #3.


TAKE ME TO THE MARDI GRAS 

(Paul Simon)

by Paul Simon

Pro: Paul Simon

Co-Pro: The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section 

(Columbia: 1973) 

https://youtu.be/7Ii4SAs5Y7k 

Featured on Paul’s album “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon”, 

this single climbed to #7 on the UK chart in July ’73. 


MY GIRL 

(William Robinson/Ronald White)

by Otis Redding

Pro: Jim Stewart

Engineer: Tom Dowd 

(Volt: 1965) 

https://youtu.be/tjDwzDyULvI  

The Temptations’ original recording charted in the UK in ’65, but so 

did this version by Otis Redding (from his album “Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul”) 

which climbed to #11 on the UK singles chart in January ’66.

 

BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE 

(Ivy Hunter/Beatrice Verdi)

by The Isley Brothers

Pro: Ivy Hunter 

(Tamla: 1967) 

https://youtu.be/3O8vfFN0EuE 

The Isleys had more success in the UK with two of their Motown tracks 

namely BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE (#5 over there in ’69) and also 

PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE (#13 there the same year).


THERE’S A GHOST IN MY HOUSE 

(Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland/R. Dean Taylor)

by R. Dean Taylor

Pro: Holland & Dozier 

(V.I.P.: 1966) 

https://youtu.be/m6sGAycOGfM 

Reached #3 in the UK in June ’74.


IT’S WONDERFUL (To Be Loved By You) 

(James Dean/William Weatherspoon)

by Jimmy Ruffin 

(Soul: 1968) 

https://youtu.be/Nxe5eMdkj_M 

From Jimmy’s second Motown album ‘Ruff’n Ready’, 

this single climbed to #6 in the UK in November ’70.


TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN 

(Eugene Record/Barbara Acklin)

by The Chi-Lites

Pro: Eugene Record

Arr: Eugene Record & Sonny Sanders

Dir: Quinton Joseph 

(Brunswick: 1974) 

https://youtu.be/RzVv7YluJi0 

Issued as a B-side here but as an A-side in the UK, 

it reached #10 there in November ’74.


DR. BEAT 

(Enrique Garcia)

by Miami Sound Machine

Pro: Emilio Estefan 

(Epic: 1984) 

https://youtu.be/aSa3tx42g_E 

Group was led by Gloria Estefan which she founded with her husband Emilio. 

DR. BEAT didn’t make the Hot 100 but in the UK, it hit #6 in September ’84.


LOCO IN ACAPULCO 

(Phil Collins/Lamont Dozier)

by The Four Tops

Pro: Phil Collins & Lamont Dozier 

(Arista: 1989) 

https://youtu.be/SQyu9vfW9Bk 

Reached #7 in the UK in January ’89. F

Featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 film “Buster” 

which starred Phil Collins.


MY OLD PIANO 

(Bernard Edwards/Nile Rodgers)

by Diana Ross

Pro & Arr: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers 

(Motown: 1980) 

https://youtu.be/drf7t2DIn4w 

Chic founders Bernard & Nile struck worldwide gold in 1980

for Miss Ross with their composition “Upside Down”. 

MY OLD PIANO followed in the UK, hitting #5 that October.


THE PRICE OF LOVE 

(Don Everly/Phil Everly)

by The Everly Brothers

Pro: Dick Glasser 

(Warner Bros: 1965) 

https://youtu.be/xLmVln8A95U 

The Everlys always enjoyed a large UK fanbase 

and this 45 made it up to #2 there in June ’65.


THE NIGHT 

(Bob Gaudio/Al Ruzicka)

by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Pro: Bob Gaudio 

(MoWest: 1972) 

https://youtu.be/YUq1uPL6V4A 

A track from Frankie & The Seasons’ album “Chameleon”. 

It reached #7 in the UK in May ’75.


HERE COME THE GIRLS 

(Allen Toussaint)

by Ernie K-Doe

Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn

Arr: Allen Toussaint 

(Janus: 1971) 

https://youtu.be/tZvFo6_jvP0 

After being featured in a UK TV commercial, 

this single was revived and settled at #43 on the local chart in 2007.


BREAKIN’ DOWN THE WALLS OF HEARTACHE 

(Sandy Linzer & Denny Randell)

by Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon

Pro: Denny Randell & Sandy Linzer

Arr & Cond: Charles Calello 

(Epic:1968) 

https://youtu.be/I29K-gRUJM8 

This New York soul group enjoyed greater success in the UK where this single 

(originally credited to just ‘The Bandwagon’) reached #4 in November ’68.


DON’T EVER CHANGE 

(Gerry Goffin/Carole King)

by The Crickets

Pro: Snuff Garrett 

(Liberty: 1962) 

https://youtu.be/NUhBzUYOXFY  

This post-Buddy Holly line-up included Jerry Naylor, Sonny Curtis, Jerry Allison and Glen D. Hardin. They toured the UK in ’62 and this single hit #5 there in August that year.


THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ 

(Bob Dylan)

by Bob Dylan

Pro: Tom Wilson 

(Columbia: 1964) 

https://youtu.be/90WD_ats6eE 

The title song from Bob Dylan’s second charted album. 

Released as a single in the UK, it rose to #9 in there in April ’65.


MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME 

(Gus Kahn/Walter Donaldson)

by Nina Simone 

(Bethlehem: 1959) 

https://youtu.be/zcCt9zEXncc 

Issued by in the UK in late ’87 when it reached #5 

on the local chart, propelled there by its use in a TV commercial.


LET THERE BE LOVE 

(Lionel Rand/Ian Grant)

by Nat King Cole & The George Shearing Quintet

String Choir Cond: Ralph Carmichael 

(Capitol: 1962) 

https://youtu.be/kWIQGrhRbLc

Culled from the Lee Gillette/Tom Morgan-produced LP 

“Nat King Cole Plays, The George Shearing Quintet Plays”. 

The single reached #11 in the UK in August ’62.


YES MY DARLING DAUGHTER 

(Jack Lawrence)

by Eydie Gormé

Arr & Cond: Don Costa 

(Columbia: 1962) 

https://youtu.be/r3TEJEPCdv8 

This song was copyrighted in 1939 and was a hit parade success in ’41 

for both Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (with Marion Hutton) and for Dinah Shore. 

Eydie’s revival didn’t ring many cash registers here in ’62 but in the UK, her single 

reached #10 in July ’62.


NOBODY NEEDS YOUR LOVE 

(Randy Newman)

by Gene Pitney

Pro: Gene Pitney

Arr: Garry Sherman 

(Musicor: 1966) 

https://youtu.be/tp6mhB9o0oI 

Singer/songwriter Gene Pitney was particularly popular with audiences 

in Britain where he regularly promoted his releases. This track was not issued 

as a single here but released as a 45 on EMI’s UK Stateside label 

and it hit UK #2 in July ’66.


I WILL 

(Dick Glasser)

by Ruby Winters

An S.J. Production

Pro: Stan Shulman & Dean Mathis 

(Polydor: 1973) 

https://youtu.be/WOb_TeF2YnM 

Song was initially successful here by both Vic Dana and Dean Martin 

and a cover by Billy Fury was a Top Ten UK success in ’64. In '77,

 a remix of Ruby’s earlier version climbed to UK#4 in December.


GIVE ME YOUR WORD 

(George Wyle/Irving Taylor)

by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Pro: Lee Gillette

Orchestra conducted by Billy May 

(Capitol: 1954) 

https://youtu.be/Or22VCozQAY 

Released here as the B side of Tennessee’s 1954 hit RIVER OF NO RETURN 

which he sang on the soundtrack of the 1954 Robert Mitchum/Marilyn Monroe  

movie of that name. GIVE ME YOUR WORD hit #1 in the UK in March ’55.


KISS 

(Haven Gillespie/Lionel Newman)

by Dean Martin

Orch cond: Dick Stabile 

(Capitol: 1953) 

https://youtu.be/et2h-MpUpH4 

Song sung by Marilyn Monroe in her 1953 movie “Niagara”. 

Dean’s single version reached UK #5 in ’53.


WAND’RIN’ STAR 

(Alan Jay Lerner/Frederik Loewe)

by Lee Marvin

Pro: Tom Mack 

(Paramount: 1969) 

https://youtu.be/_45hjRhdu4k 

From the soundtrack of the ’59 film musical “Paint Your Wagon” 

in which Lee starred with Clint Eastwood and Jean Seberg. 

Surprising many chart analysts, ‘Wand’rin’ Star’ made it 

all the way to #1 in the UK in March 1970.


MEAN, MEAN MAN 

(Wanda Jackson)

by Wanda Jackson

Pro: Ken Nelson 

(Capitol: 1958) 

https://youtu.be/uWUbq0nD24E 

To end this selection, here’s rockabilly favorite Wanda Jackson 

and a song included on her “Rockin’ With Wanda” album. 

Her single registered at #40 in the UK in early ’61.


As in all my postings, the recordings listed and 

referenced above are in no way intended as definitive collections.


Please send any comments or suggestions to

 thedoortoyesterday@gmail.com


Rock on. 


Alan Warner 


© Alan Warner, 2020. 

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express 

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