It was on this day in 1956 that “The Girl Can’t Help It” starring Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell and Edmund O’Brien opened in theaters.
The movie was originally conceived as a way to build Mansfield’s celebrity, but it took on a life of its own and became a rallying point for young people, helping propel rock and roll into its unofficial “first Golden Age.” The unintended result has been called the “most potent” celebration of rock music ever captured on film. No doubt the cameos by Fats Domino, The Platters, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Julie London and Ray Anthony helped with that.
The film was based on “Do Re Mi”, a short story by Garson Kanin. After seeing the adapted screenplay, Kanin did not approve of the new take on his story and requested his name be removed from the credits. Subsequently, director Frank Tashlin came up with the new title, The Girl Can’t Help It.
FUN FACT: The film the heavily inspired young, pre-Beatle John Lennon to be a rocker. The impact was so significant that, 12 years later, the Beatles took a break from recording “Birthday” to watch the film premiere on British television (Lennon had seen it in theaters).
The Girl Can’t Help It is the title song to the film, and was written by Bobby Troup. Little Richard recorded it and it was released in 1956. Fats Domino was originally supposed to record the song for the film, but the sessions fell through. The song has been covered by The Everly Brothers, The Animals, Led Zeppelin, and many others.
In the US, the song peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard Top 100 singles chart and No. 7 on the R&B Best Sellers Chart.
Songfacts.com sums up the song in this way:
“The Girl Can’t Help It” is about a young woman so attractive that she unwittingly captures the attention of every guy she passes. In addition to her siren-like sex appeal, there’s a distinctly incendiary element to her superpowers. She turns bread to toast with a wink of an eye and makes “beefsteak become well done” with a smile. She can’t be held responsible for the potentially dangerous effects of her fiery presence. The poor girl just can’t help it.
I hope you don’t mind if I focus on a hometown hero that often gets overlooked. Today Marshall Crenshaw celebrates birthday 72. He was born in Detroit, Michigan and was raised in the suburb of Berkley. A radio buddy of mine went to high school with him.
He had hit songs with “Cynical Girl” and “Whenever You’re On My Mind” in the early 80’s. He has said that Buddy Holly was an influence, and early on he was often said to look like him. Perhaps that is why he was cast as Buddy Holly in the movie La Bamba?
Crenshaw was also co-writer of one of the Gin Blossom’s big hits, “Til I Hear It From You.”
Robert Gordon recorded one of his songs in 1981 – “Someday, Someway.” His version went to number 76 on the chart. Crenshaw recorded the song himself in 1982. He released it and it reached number 36 on the Billboard Top 40 Hit chart. It would be his only Top 40 song. Both versions saw early success on New York radio, though Crenshaw’s rendition saw greater success nationally.
Crenshaw wrote the song while he was in New York where he played John Lennon in the musical Beatlemania. He says, “I wrote ‘Someday, Someway’ and five or six of the other tunes on my first album. I wrote those in my hotel room. That was my next move in life, to be a recording artist. I actually had a sense of artistic direction and off I went.”
Someday, Someway was inspired by Gene Vincent’s song “Lotta Lovin’.” Crenshaw said, “I wanted to take the beat and atmosphere of a 1950s Rock and Roll record that I loved … and build something around that. I came up with the music first for ‘Someday’ and dug that it was kind of hypnotic, very spare and succinct.”
Let’s celebrate his birthday with his biggest song –
Welcome to Round #2 of the 2021 Song Draft hosted by Hans and Slice the Life. Round #1 was full of great songs from different eras and genres. I have really enjoyed reading the posts from the other participants.
My first pick was kind of obscure, so for pick #2, I chose something that many will be familiar with. If I am being honest, it’s a guilty pleasure for me. It is one that always has me singing along with. My second pick is East Bound and Down from Jerry Reed.
Jerry Reed Hubbard
Jerry Reed Hubbard was born in Atlanta, Georgia on March 20, 1937. By the time he was in high school he was writing songs and singing them. At 18 years old, he was signed to a record deal at Capitol Records by publisher and record producer Bill Lowery. He was being promoted as a “teen sensation” after recording some rockabilly songs in 1956. His label mate, Gene Vincent helped him get some notoriety as a song writer when he recorded Jerry’s song “Crazy Legs” in 1958.
In 1967, he reached #57 on the country charts with “Guitar Man,” which Elvis Presley recorded (and I have blogged about here: https://nostalgicitalian.com/2019/09/10/tune-tuesday-guitar-man/ ). In the 70’s he had hits with “Amos Moses,” and “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.” He continued to record throughout the 70’s and also began to act with his buddy, Burt Reynolds. Films included WW and the Dixie Dancekings, and Gator. Then came 1977 ….
Movie Music
Jerry Reed played Burt Reynolds sidekick, Snowman, in the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit. I had the chance to interview Jerry a few years before he passed away. One of the things we talked about what the movie and, of course, the music for the movie. The story behind the song, as Jerry told me, goes like this:
Hal Needham, the director of Smokey & the Bandit, told Jerry “We need a song for the movie.” Jerry said he was driving home that night and thinking. He said he started singing, “East Bound and Down. Loaded up and trucking…” He said he had the entire chorus of the song in his head by the time he got home. He said he called Dick Feller, a producer at his publishing company and said “Here’s the chorus (and he sang it to him. Write me two quick verses to go with it.” Within two hours, Feller had them done.
Jerry grabbed his tape recorder and then made a demo of the song to play for Needham. He said Needham loved the song and wanted the tape so he could use it in the film. Jerry told him, “That’s just the demo! You can’t use that in the film. I gotta go into the studio and cut it.”
Jerry also cut “West Bound and Down” for the film. It is the song that plays as Snowman and Bandit begin their trek, and it basically the same song with a few lines/words changed.
The song was released on August 1, 1977 and spent 16 weeks on the charts. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Featured on background vocals is Gordon Stoker of Elvis’ back up group, The Jordanaires.
There have been many cover versions of the song including covers by Tonic, The Road Hammers, Supersuckers, Aaron Tippin, Dave Dudley, and Midland. None of them quite capture the “feel” of the original.
East Bound and Down
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’ We gonna do what they say can’t be done We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there I’m east bound, just watch ol’ “Bandit” run
Keep your foot hard on the pedal Son, never mind them brakes Let it all hang out ’cause we got a run to make The boys are thirsty in Atlanta And there’s beer in Texarkana And we’ll bring it back no matter what it takes
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’ We gonna do what they say can’t be done We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there I’m east bound, just watch ol’ “Bandit” run
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’ We gonna do what they say can’t be done We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there I’m east bound, just watch ol’ “Bandit” run
Ol’ Smokey’s got them ears on He’s hot on your trail And he ain’t gonna rest ’til you’re in jail So you got to dodge ’em and you got to duck ’em You got to keep that diesel truckin’ Just put that hammer down and give it hell
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin’ We gonna do what they say can’t be done We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there I’m east bound, just watch ol’ “Bandit” run
For comparison, here is West Bound and Down. Note the different musical arrangement. I like the addition of the strings and brass to this version.
On this day in 1942, Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs launched Capitol Records in the United States. Wallichs was the man who invented the art of record promotion by sending copies of new releases to disc jockeys. It wasn’t until 13 years later, in 1955, that the now famous Capitol Records building was built.
The first artist to record at Capitol was Martha Tilton in April of 1942. She recorded the song “Moon Dreams”
Capitol Records was home to some of the biggest musical artists in history! Here are just a few:
Nat King Cole –
(Mona Lisa, A Blossom Fell, Answer Me My Love, Unforgettable)
Louis Prima and Keely Smith –
(Just a Gigolo, Old Black Magic, Jump Jive & Wail, What is This Thing Called Love)
Peggy Lee –
(‘Deed I Do, Fever, Big Spender)
Dean Martin –
(That’s Amore, Return To Me, On An Evening in Roma)
Frank Sinatra –
(One For My Baby, I Get a Kick Out of You, Love & Marriage, All The Way, Young At Heart)
The Beach Boys –
(Help Me Rhonda, Fun Fun Fun, Surfin’ USA)
The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney –
(TOO many to list!)
Stan Freberg –
St. George and the Dragonet, Yellow Rose of Texas, Heartbreak Hotel, The Great Pretender)
The Bee Gees, Garth Brooks, The Letterman, Jerry Lewis, Heart, Al Martino, Johnny Mercer, The Steve Miller Band, Katy Perry, Sammy Davis Jr., Tennessee Ernie Ford, Gene Vincent, Bob Seger …. The list goes on and on!
So many amazing singers and talents sang in the Capitol Records studios. Happy Birthday!!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 