SATURDAY'S SINGLES : BROOK BENTON and THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS

[maggot]

Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles, a Birthday edition. First up, we remember R&B/Soul singer-songwriter and actor, Brook Benton, on what would have been his 89th Birthday. He passed away in 1988, age 56, from pneumonia. To honor his legacy, we find ourselves spinning "The Boll Weevil Song". The song was released in 1961 on Mercury Records and produced by Shelby Singleton. It peaked at #2 on the Hot 100, #2 on the Cash Box, #2 on the R&B charts, #1 on the Adult Contemporary, and #30 n the UK. The tune from his album, The Boll Weevil Song and 11 Other Great Hits, tells the tongue in cheek tale of a boll weevil set out to get the farmer's crop. It's B-side is "Your Eyes".

Vocals - Brook Benton

Orchestrations - Stan Applebaum

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Our second Birthday celebration is that of, singer and actress Cass Elliot, of The Mamas And The Papas. Today would have been her 79th Birthday. She passed away in 1974, age 32, from heart failure. With her in mind, we shine a light on the 1966 Dunhill release, "Dancing Bear" from The Mamas And The Papas' self titled album. It was produced by Lou Adler and features the instrumental "John's Music Box" on the flip side. "Dancing Bear" reached #51 on the Hot 100 and #36 on the Cash Box.

Denny Doherty - vocals
Cass Elliot - vocals
John Phillips - vocals, guitar
Michelle Phillips - vocals
Jill Gibson - vocals
Hal Blaine - drums
Larry Knechtel - organ, piano
Joe Osborn - bass guitar
"Doctor" Eric Hord - guitar
Tommy Tedesco - guitar
P. F. Sloan - guitar
Peter Pilafian - electric violin

Lou Adler - producer
Dayton "Bones" Howe - engineer
Henry Lewy - engineer
Bowen David - assistant engineer

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