SATURDAY'S SINGLES : THE RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO and THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND

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Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles. First up under our needle is "Hang On Sloopy" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio. Ramsey Lewis, the jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality was born May 27, 1935 in Chicago to parents Ramsey Lewis Sr. and Pauline Lewis. His Father was a church choir director and Jr. started piano lessons at age 4. Those lessons paid of and by the time he was 21 he had released his debut record. He passed away just last year on September 12, 2022 in his sleep at age 87. Today would have been his 88th Birthday. His version of "Hang On Sloopy" was released in 1965 on the Cadet label and produced by Esmond Edwards. It peaked at #18 on the Adult Contemporary charts, #11 on the Hot 100, and #6 on the R&B charts. It's parent album is Hang On Ramsey! , a live album, recorded October 14-17, 1965 at the Lighthouse Café, Hermosa Beach, in California. The B-side to "Sloopy" is "Movin' Easy", from the same LP.

Ramsey Lewis - piano
Eldee Young - bass
Isaac "Redd" Holt - drums

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Today also marks 6 years since the untimely death of vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist, Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. He was born December 8, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee to parents, Geraldine Robbins Allman and and Willis Turner Allman. His Father, an Army Veteran was shot and killed by a hitchhiker he had offered a ride to. Consequently, Gregg and his Brother Duane, were raised by their Mom who never remarried and became a CPA to support the children. Gregg passed away May 27, 2017,  from liver cancer, age 69. Today we are spinning "Jessica". The single was released in December 1973 on Capricorn Records and produced by The Allman Brothers Band and Johnny Sandlin. It reached #68 on the  Canadian Adult Contemporary charts, #65 on the Hot 100, #35 on the Canadian Singles chart, #29 in the Netherlands on on Billboard's Easy Listening survey. It's flip side is  "Come and Go Blues" and both songs hail from the ABB's 4th album, Brothers And Sisters. Our copy of that album is signed by our good friend, Les Dudek, who performs on "Jessica" and   "Ramblin' Man".

Richard Betts – lead guitar
Gregg Allman – organ
Lamar Williams – bass
Chuck Leavell – piano and electric piano
Les Dudek – acoustic guitar
Butch Trucks – drums, tympani and percussion
Jaimoe – drums and congas

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