These are the artists, Mark, who need and deserve the spotlight you're giving them! Nicely done! I remember her name, and likely had a single or two, even her "Laughter." In '74, I was 19, and at the U. of Houston's radio station as Music Director, with a daily, 3-hour on-air shift. We played "softer" stuff, and of the two, 'twas Neil's who'd-a fit our format more readily.
I can't speak directly to that Neil phone call to Elton about Lea's version, but I can verify how artists and labels, both, loathed having battling singles (of the same song) on the chart at the same time! They would do whatever it took (even pulling superstar strings!) to avoid that, and rush-release a single, if need be! Bottom line, it was never anything against Lea, personally...in fact, if I had a guess, I'd guess that her name never came up....it was just, "Elton, SOMEONE has a single already released! Quick, call MCA!" or words to that effect!
Sometime in the past month, I've written about a similar dynamic (with another song and a couple artists), but, of course, I can't remember who!
I CAN tell you, from my talking with Stephen Michael Schwartz (and a couple of his 20 articles on FR&B), once a song is published (as Sedaka's and Cody's had been at the time), it's fair game to be recorded...by anyone!
That's what led Stephen to be the first, ever, to record Ned Doheny's "Get It Up For Love" two years before even Ned recorded it! Stephen and producer David Kershenbaum found it at Warner Music Publishing, and he was given sheet music (for the session players) and an acetate so he could play it at home to learn the guitar parts and melody. Following Stephen, Johnny Rivers recorded a cover in '74, and David Cassidy followed the next year! Both HAD to have listened to Stephen's first recording to learn it!
Thanks for all the background on that Brad! I imagine being an artist who hadn't had a hit in ages, Sedaka was desperate to get his version in the charts.
I remember you telling me Stephen Michael Schwartz recorded "Get It Up For Love" but I didn't know some of the other covers. Cool!
Oh, yeah…..Sedaka. I forgot. Yes, his “Laughter in the Rain” was famously positioned to be his carefully-orchestrated comeback (as it, indeed, became)! I remember it quite well….the trades were covering it, because Rocket and MCA were touting it as a “Comeback.”
Even at the end of Captain & Tenille’s ‘75 #1 Grammy Record of the Year, “Love Will Keep Us Together,” Toni sings on the fade-out, “Sedaka is back” a couple times!!
You betcha, Mark! In fact, here it all is...literal rock'n'roll history where I bring the receipts! I prove in 2 or 3 ways the order of recording of the "Get It Up For Love" covers, INCLUDING the recording of my '75 interview with David Cassidy, where we audibly prove the order! I also show label dates that help prove the order! Many websites STILL say David's was the first recording....el wrong-o!
The only site that has it correct is SecondHandSongs, and I provide the link. Although, I think they have Rivers out of place, but I was happy to correct them!
Stephen's story of Kershenbaum driving him around to all the Hollywood publishing offices was amazing! You and I will never know that experience and feeling! Enjoy! It's one that's in the Top 5 of articles I'm exceedingly proud of, FR&B!
Interesting piece ME. I didn't know the Lea Roberts version and I agree that it's a good one. I can understand, within the timeframe, why Sedaka won though
These are the artists, Mark, who need and deserve the spotlight you're giving them! Nicely done! I remember her name, and likely had a single or two, even her "Laughter." In '74, I was 19, and at the U. of Houston's radio station as Music Director, with a daily, 3-hour on-air shift. We played "softer" stuff, and of the two, 'twas Neil's who'd-a fit our format more readily.
I can't speak directly to that Neil phone call to Elton about Lea's version, but I can verify how artists and labels, both, loathed having battling singles (of the same song) on the chart at the same time! They would do whatever it took (even pulling superstar strings!) to avoid that, and rush-release a single, if need be! Bottom line, it was never anything against Lea, personally...in fact, if I had a guess, I'd guess that her name never came up....it was just, "Elton, SOMEONE has a single already released! Quick, call MCA!" or words to that effect!
Sometime in the past month, I've written about a similar dynamic (with another song and a couple artists), but, of course, I can't remember who!
I CAN tell you, from my talking with Stephen Michael Schwartz (and a couple of his 20 articles on FR&B), once a song is published (as Sedaka's and Cody's had been at the time), it's fair game to be recorded...by anyone!
That's what led Stephen to be the first, ever, to record Ned Doheny's "Get It Up For Love" two years before even Ned recorded it! Stephen and producer David Kershenbaum found it at Warner Music Publishing, and he was given sheet music (for the session players) and an acetate so he could play it at home to learn the guitar parts and melody. Following Stephen, Johnny Rivers recorded a cover in '74, and David Cassidy followed the next year! Both HAD to have listened to Stephen's first recording to learn it!
Thanks for all the background on that Brad! I imagine being an artist who hadn't had a hit in ages, Sedaka was desperate to get his version in the charts.
I remember you telling me Stephen Michael Schwartz recorded "Get It Up For Love" but I didn't know some of the other covers. Cool!
Oh, yeah…..Sedaka. I forgot. Yes, his “Laughter in the Rain” was famously positioned to be his carefully-orchestrated comeback (as it, indeed, became)! I remember it quite well….the trades were covering it, because Rocket and MCA were touting it as a “Comeback.”
Even at the end of Captain & Tenille’s ‘75 #1 Grammy Record of the Year, “Love Will Keep Us Together,” Toni sings on the fade-out, “Sedaka is back” a couple times!!
You betcha, Mark! In fact, here it all is...literal rock'n'roll history where I bring the receipts! I prove in 2 or 3 ways the order of recording of the "Get It Up For Love" covers, INCLUDING the recording of my '75 interview with David Cassidy, where we audibly prove the order! I also show label dates that help prove the order! Many websites STILL say David's was the first recording....el wrong-o!
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/inside-tracks-3-ned-doheny-get-it?utm_source=publication-search
The only site that has it correct is SecondHandSongs, and I provide the link. Although, I think they have Rivers out of place, but I was happy to correct them!
Stephen's story of Kershenbaum driving him around to all the Hollywood publishing offices was amazing! You and I will never know that experience and feeling! Enjoy! It's one that's in the Top 5 of articles I'm exceedingly proud of, FR&B!
Brilliantly written as ever with such brilliant research.
Thanks Jon!
I really enjoyed this piece. Thank you for introducing me to this incredible singer.
You're welcome!
She had some really good songs.
I loved Lea Robert's!
How is it I've never heard this version before?! What a soulful interpretation! So much better than Sedaka's take on it.
I was blown away when first hearing her version!
Interesting piece ME. I didn't know the Lea Roberts version and I agree that it's a good one. I can understand, within the timeframe, why Sedaka won though
Sadly, I can too.