*** NEW DAILY FEATURE *** The Song of The Day... The Snow Report Way ! Day #195 ~ Since Saturday is the unofficial end of the Rock Week (as Sunday will always be dedicated to Jazz), well return to 1970 one last time (for now...) with two more one-hit-wonders, or as I just prefer: Wonderful Hits ! Returning to Box #1 of 45rpms, Todays first song is, Are You Ready (canción de Pacific Gas & Electric)- not the one from Grand Funk, but Pacific Gas And Electric. Pacific Gas & Electric was a Rock blues band formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwarz (formerly of The James Gang - Band and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook (musician), previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the bands performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records. Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready, in 1970. The title track, the Gospel music-tinged Are You Ready? reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. They released five albums and disbanded in 1973. Tom Marshall later suffered deteriorating health and personal circumstances, being homeless since the 1980s. Frank Petricca became a commodity broker. Charlie Allen died in 1990, aged 48. Todays second song is from The Pipkins, a short-lived novelty duo, best known for the Hit single Gimme Dat Ding (written by Albert Hammond-Legend and Mike Hazlewood), which reached #6 in the UK Singles Charts and #9 on the US Billboard Hot 200 chart in 1970. They were Roger Greenaway, best known as a member of several songwriting teams, and Tony Burrows, a singer who had fronted several groups (often simultaneously) such as Edison Lighthouse (remember Love Grows ? also from 1970- theres another for the future), The Flower Pot Men, White Plains (remember the Hit My Baby Loves Lovin from 1970 ?), The First Class Band and Brotherhood of Man. According to the CD booklet for The Sweet And The Pipkins, Gimme Dat Ding is considered the first Rap record. The Pipkins also released two follow-ups as singles, Yakety Yak and Are You Cooking, Goose?, but without success. Sunny Honey Girl was a Billboard top 20 Hit for Cliff Richard in 1971. youtu.be/UiZg82R89Qc
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 13:11:36 +0000
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