The Irishman, Johnny Williams

I am very excited whenever I can land a copy of another Johnny Williams Tin Pan Alley release. I find that most of his records have at least one side which is entertainingly ridiculous in one way or another. He doesn't appear to have worked for the label for very long, and I love his records so much that I'm already dreading the day when I realize that there may be no more new-to-me Johnny Williams records left to hear for the first time. 

Today's presentation - hot off the eBay marketplace and into my turntable - is no exception to what I just wrote: 

I hope that the song-poet behind "The Irishman" appreciated what he or she received. Hard to say what that writer might have expected, since the entire lyric is only eight lines long. The folks at Tin Pan Alley did their best to stretch it into roughly 90 seconds of music, via a lot of drumming and a guitar solo. In this way, it's much like one of my two favorite Johnny Williams' singles, "Chinkerincky". 

If anything, "The Irishman has even fewer lyrics than that classic, but Johnny Williams gives it his all, with an appropriately, and typically ridiculous vocal performance. I am not disappointed. 

Download: Johnny Williams - The Irishman

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On the flip side is a real surprise. It's called "Shut Your Eyes and Court Her Again", and it's a tender lyric encouraging the practice of imagining one's lover as she was when you were newly in love. I found these words quite effective and touching. AND, it may be the only song poem I've ever heard to contain the word "bosom". 

Johnny Williams was, to my ears, not really capable of singing a slow and soft song with any technical skill, and I've mostly found his performances on such material to be anywhere from incompetent to cringeworthy. And he's not "good" here, either, but he sells it about as well as he was able, given those limitations, and at a certain level, he connects with the sweetness of the lyrics. 

And hey, doesn't the band sound, as heard here, seem to predict the 1960's sound of Sterling Records? That's kind of interesting, too. 

Download: Johnny Williams - Shut Your Eyes and Court Her Again

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Johnny Williams and His Hot Spot

First off, I must acknowledge that I've taken more time than usual (maybe than ever) between posts. I only posted twice in July. I'm hoping to not have this happen again.

 I have now returned to correcting/updating formerly broken links, and in my reverse chronological order pattern, I have now repaired posts from September of 2012, including a nearly unique Halmark entry - featuring a guitar and vocal specialty on one side! - a clever and funny Gene Marshall record, an early Real Pros 45 featuring their one-man-band performer on one side and Rodd Keith on the other, and another Rodd Keith record (as Rod Rogers), on the tiny Lutone label.

 And NOW!!!!

I may have mentioned a few times - such as every time I post one of his records - how much I love Johnny Williams and his decidedly unprofessional, off the cuff sounding and barely in control vocal style. So every time I manage to put my hands on one of his records, it's a sure bet that it will end up here within a few days or weeks.

And while today's offering is not perhaps among his masterpieces, it's close enough. As you can see above, it's got a superbly catchy titled, "I've Got a Hot Spot In My Heart For You", and it's got everything I could want from Johnny - a hyperactive guitar intro, a fun, bouncy backing, simple, but effective lyrics and a highly energized vocal from the lead singer, who as usual sounds like a 70 year old man who is missing some of his teeth.

 I really have to wonder what Tin Pan Alley was thinking in employing this guy, and putting him in front of almost comically revved up backing. What's more, I would love to know what the customers thought, upon hearing Mr. Williams' interpretation of their lyrical submissions.

On the other hand, it's true that Tin Pan Alley generally did a better job of superficially capturing the trends of the day in real time than most song-poem labels, and that by this point (this record is from around 1959) some rock and roll was getting fairly silly and at times frantic - this record does capture a bit of the energy of a record like "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" - if little of the talent or quality. But even compared with the hit records I'm thinking of, this is just over-the-top weird and ridiculous. And man, do I love it. 

Download: Johnny Williams - I've Got a Hot Spot In My Heart For You
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As I've also said before, I do not, however, believe that Johnny Williams was a singer capable of effectively putting forward a vocal on a ballad and/or on material requiring sensitive feelings. And that's what we have on the flip side "You Went Away". He is, typically, completely over his head. Also, what is that groaning sound that recurs at several points here - it sounds sort of like the bass, or its amp, is malfunctioning. Any guesses?

 Download: Johnny Williams - You Went Away
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He's Starvin' To Death!

Happy Leap Year Day!

First, I want to mention to those who went to my previous post within a day of it being posted, that I didn't have the links to the repaired posts up until this error was pointed out to me by reader "reservatory", and I am very thankful for having had that pointed out. The post has been working since then. 

Next, I am happy to announce that I have corrected yet another month of previously broken links, in this case, November of 2013. That month included a most excellent Tin Pan Alley record about dancing dishes, a befuddling release from Halmark, a typically incompetent entry from the folks at Noval Records, and an equally typically wonderful release from Rodd Keith during his Film City days. Enjoy!

And just before getting to today's most wonderful feature, here's another song-poem ad courtesy of Brian:

And I chose that one on purpose, because today, I am again featuring what I think of as the golden age of Tin Pan Alley song-poems, and a ridiculous singer that I just wish I had more records by, Johnny Williams.

How could anyone resist a record called "I'm Starvin' to Death? And seeing as how the usually over-the-top Johnny Williams is the artist, I was expecting something very special, and I wasn't disappointed.

The folks at the song-poem website has this release pegged to 1962, presumably because of an ad somewhere in a trade paper from that year, and that certainly sounds about right, or as close as one could come to judging when this absolutely off-kilter release might be from.

I know we're in for a fun time with that rollicking piano intro, and the Johnny comes in, offering his emotion-laden, about to go off-the-rails interpretation of the lyrics and tun. And what lyrics! There are a lot of highlights here, but the peak has to be the bridge ("if only someone loved me, I'm quite sure I wouldn't mind"), and particularly the last line of that bridge, heard for the first time at 1:09. This is a masterwork of ridiculousness.

Download: Johnny Williams - I'm Starvin' to Death
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Now, for all the ways I love Johnny Williams' upbeat releases - and I've written this before - he was not suited to slow numbers, because he really wasn't a singer, as much as what used to be called a "Personality".

"Cross the Raging River" is not an interesting song, lyrically or musically, regardless of the singer, but this again plays up his absolute lack of ability to appropriate deliver this sort of material.

Download: Johnny Williams - Cross the Raging River
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Some Records Just Demand to Be Shared Immediately!

First, I want to thank stalwart reader and frequent offer of comments Sammy Reed, who made sure to alert me to a sale for a well known song-poem earlier today. I actually saw it before I saw his note, and gobbled it up, but I am much appreciative. Speaking of Sammy, he has moved his "Music from the World of the Strange and Bizarre" to a new address. I have changed the link (to the right and down a bit). There's not much there yet, but I'm sure it will be rockin' and rollin' soon. 

And now, on with the countdown. 

~~

And speaking thereof, WE HAVE A WINNER!!! 

This is my favorite new-to-me record that I've heard in I-Don't-Know-How-Long - at least six months, maybe more than nine. 

And I'm not surprised at all. When I saw Johnny Williams' name on the auction for this record, I knew I had to go all out to get it, as the only other Johnny Williams song-poem I've ever heard is one of my favorites of all time, "Somebody Fiddle, I'm Burning" / "Darling, I'm So Blue", which you can hear here. 

Today's record is equally ridiculous, in an entirely different way, but it has the added feature of having some truly wonderful lyrics, a truly lovely, if offbeat, set of words celebrating being the parent of a young child - 3 years old, from what is said in those lyrics. 

The child is nicknamed "Chinkerincky" by the parent, and that is the name of the song. The setting, as you'll hear, is quite idiosyncratic, and pretty out-there for a 1960 song poem (that's the year the lyric was copyrighted). I have to wonder if the song-poet approved of the percussion heavy arrangement, but it sure works for me. And the lyrics are nothing short of adorable. They make me very nostalgic for the days when my girls were that age. This is a wonderful record. 

Download:: Johnny Williams - Chinkerincky

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On the flip side, we have the evidence that was quite clear from Johnny Williams' three upbeat songs - he wasn't really much of a singer. While his enthusiasm got him through the three songs I've mentioned so far, "That Hula-Hula", required style and finesse, neither of which appear to have been in his wheelhouse. 

It's not much of a song, either, and by the end of the record, the guitars are noticeably - ridiculously - out of tune with each other. Ah, well, rare indeed is the song-poem record containing two winners. 

Download: Johnny Williams - That Hula-Hula

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Ridiculously Short AND... Just Plain Ridiculous

Before I share my Tin Pan Alley find for this week, I wanted to pass along a new posting of both sides of a very nice late-period TPA single, recently purchased and posted to youtube by Sammy Reed. You can find both sides of that record here and here.

 

And now, for a very special episode of "The Wonderful and the Obscure"!:

 

 



Okay, I love this record. I do believe that of all of the song-poems I've heard for the first time this year, this is my favorite. I'm intrigued by the stylings of the singer, Johnny Williams, and now wish to find copies of the other half-dozen or so records he made for Tin Pan Alley in the late '50's and early '60's. I love every one of the record's 164 seconds.

 

And while two minutes and 44 seconds may sound like the length of a typical song-poem, the missing information is that this is the total length of BOTH sides of this record added together. Aside from the albums released by Star-Crest and George Liberace, both of which tended towards raw demo versions of songs, I can't think of another release I've seen containing two songs of 82 seconds each.

 

None of that would matter if the contents of these sides weren't outstanding - unique - deeply odd - with performances which are captivating in an decidedly off-kilter way. Let's start with the intriguingly titled "Somebody Fiddle! I'm Burning!" 

 

From the opening countrified instrumental, you'll know something special is happening. And then Johnny Williams comes in, and any suspicions that you had that he might be a moonlighting professional singer go right out the window. He sounds more like crazy ol' Ed at the Senior Center on talent night. And you're never going to improve on the opening lines:

 

I believe in Roman Nero

He has always been my hero

 

HA HA HA!!!

 

If anyone asks me why I collect song-poems, I now have another example to share with them. This is gold.

 

Download: Johnny Williams: Somebody Fiddle! I'm Burning!

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On the flip side, "Darling, I'm So Blue", is a much more conventional song, but it still has that rollicking sound, and another winning, heartfelt and deeply amateurish vocal from Johnny Williams.
 

Download: Johnny Williams: Darling, I'm So Blue

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