SATURDAY'S SINGLES : RICK NELSON & THE STONE CANYON BAND and JOHN FRED & HIS PLAYBOY BAND

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Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles, a Birthday edition. First up on our calendar of cake is singer-songwriter and actor, Rick Nelson, who would have turned 81 years old today. He died in a plane crash in 1985, age 45. "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson And The Stone Canyon Band was released in 1972 on Decca. The song, the title track from Rick's 27th album, reached #6 in Australia, South Africa, and the Hot 100, #3 on the Cash Box, and #1 in Canada and Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. It's B-side, "So Long Mama" also comes from the Garden Party album, which is considered Rick's country-rock record. The song written and produced by Rick was inspired by a October 5, 1971 concert at Madison Square Gardens, which Rick may have been booed by the audience. Other accounts say the fans were booing police action near the back of the crowd.

Rick Nelson – guitar, lead vocals
Allen Kemp – lead guitar, background vocals
Tom Brumley – steel guitar
Stephen A. Love – bass, background vocals
Patrick Shanahan – drums
Don Nelson – wood flute

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Our second Birthday comes to us via Baton Rouge born  blue-eyed soul, swamp pop, rock and roll, and R&B performer, John Fred, who would have celebrated his 80th. John died in 2005, age 63 from complications after a receiving a kidney transplant. His best known song, "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred And His Playboy Band, was released October 1967 on Paula Records , was written and produced by John and his saxophonist, Andrew Bernard. The tune was from their third album, Agnes English, and peaked at #1 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, the Cash Box, and the Hot 100. The song's title is a  play on words of The Beatles'  "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." It's flip side is "When The Lights Go Out", also from Agnes English.

Baritone Saxophone – Andrew Bernard
Bass – Harold Cowart
Guitar – Jimmy O'Rourke
Organ – Tommy DeGeneres
Percussion – Joe Miceli
Producer – Andrew Bernard, John Fred
Trumpet – Charlie Spinosa, Ronnie Goodson
Vocals – John Fred

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