SATURDAY'S SINGLES : LOOKING GLASS and DIANA ROSS AND LIONEL RICHIE

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Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles. First our way back machine takes us to this day in 1948 when New York native and future lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the band Looking Glass, Elliot Lure was born. Happy 74th Birthday Elliot ! With him in mind, we spotlight the group's most popular song, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)". The tune,  written by Elliot, was released May 18, 1972 on the Epic label and produced by Mike Gershman, Bob Liftin and the band. It peaked at #71 in the UK, #14 in South Africa, #10 in Australia, #7 Easy Listening, #5 in New Zealand, #1 in Canada, the Cash Box, and the Hot 100. The track, hailing from their self titled debut, is about a barmaid named Brandy who serves a hundred sailors a day, but pines for the one sailor who loved the sea more than she, has been covered by many, including Ray Conniff, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kenny Chesney, and Local H. It saw a resurgence in popularity in 2017, after being used in the film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. It is usually backed with "One By One" but our copy has   "Golden Rainbow" and both tracks are from the same album. 

Elliot Lurie—Guitars, vocals
Larry Gonsky—Keyboards, vocals
Peter Sweval—Bass, vocals, cowbell
Jeff Grob—Drum kit
Larry Fallon—Horns arrangements

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Our second Saturday's Single topped the charts on this day in 1981. "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie was released June 26, 1981 on the Motown label and was written and produced by Richie. It was the title track and theme for the film of the same name,  directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and starring Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, and Tom Cruise. It reached #24 in Italy, #10 in the Netherlands, #9 in Ireland, #9 in Norway, #7 in the UK, #6 in Switzerland, #5 in Sweden, #4 on the Dutch Top 40, #3 in New Zealand, and #1 in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the Adult Contemporary charts, the Hot Soul Singles survey, the Cash Box, and the Hot 100. It has been called the greatest duet of all time and has been covered by Luther Vandross with Mariah Carey,  Shania Twain, and Kenny Rogers. Our copy has an instrumental version on the B-side. 

Lionel Richie – lead vocals, vocal arrangements
Diana Ross – lead vocals
Reginald "Sonny" Burke – Fender Rhodes
Barnaby Finch – acoustic piano
Paul Jackson Jr. – electric guitar, acoustic guitar solo
Fred Tackett – guitar
Nathan East – bass guitar
Rick Shlosser – drums
Gene Page – horn, rhythm and string arrangements
Harry Bluestone – concertmaster

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