Does anyone else have a similar turning point ?

A public information film telling all you housewives to put that security chain on when answering a knock in the afternoon, because who might it be? …

“is it a smooth cool conman who will take you in outside the FRONT DOO-OOER!?”
“Or a mad mad axeman with an evil grin outside the FRONT DOOERRR?”

.. I’m sure this film had been used, probably since the mid sixties, until just before Shakey’s hit! Either way, this is the version I knew the song from.

I have to say plenty of Shaky’s originals were stronger than his covers: You Drive Me Crazy, Give Me Your Heart Tonight (already flagged by Conrad), A Love Worth Waiting For. An NYE party 3 or 4 years back was greatly enlivened in the early hours by the ’84 Greatest Hits set.

Was this the one where he semi-Anted in the video? Jumped into a party scene through a window or some such?

PS A pedant adds, it’s Shaky, not Shakey isn’t it? Unless he’s the same bloke behind some of Neil Young’s more half-arsed work. Which is about as likely as him being the same Michael Barrett who presented Nationwide.

On which note, before I evoke the spirit of Stuart Maconie too strongly, I’ll take my leave… only to add

re 36: That’ll be Back To The Sixties by Tight Fit, before they morphed from faceless boom-clack medley pirates into a trio who once made a single better than anything on Led Zeppelin III.

And, likewise, I didn’t know a bunch of the Beatles songs on the Stars On 45 45 when it came out (I was 16), which suggested that these Dutch interlopers were genuine fans passing on the information. So I tip my hat.

Also love the suggestion of Stars On 45 Vol 2 that Abba were second in line to the throne.

Whats that 60s megamix that they ALWAYS play at weddings etc that lasts about 20 minutes that goes from Black is Black to Bend Me Shape Me to (i think) You Really Got Me? I have never heard Black is Black in any other context to this godawful medley….

I’ve always liked this tune and so went to my pile of 78s and found Frankie’s take on it, together with 45s of Jim Lowe’s and Shaky’s, and played them in succession…and if anything I liked it even more. Jim Lowe’s version majors on piano, while Frankie Vaughan’s majors on just about everything – there’s a piano in there too, but also a big band (we’re at the extreme tail end of the big band era – and the beginnings of rock – in ’56) and a sax solo. It’s vigorous, it grabs the listener’s attention and makes them want to hear it again and check it all out a second time. Shaky’s version is as one might expect more modern but respectful and in the spirit of the song. But Frankie’s is still my favourite, so I must be careful not to break that 78. I think 4 is a bit low – a six from me, with maybe another six for Jim Lowe’s version and an eight for Frankie.

In Who’s Who in Popular Music, the author credits Shaky (born Michael Barratt) with ‘an uncanny ability to make old hits his very own’ and I suppose that’s **almost** true. But this one **really** belongs to Frankie Vaughan

He’s certainly credited w/ the song on the b-side. “Have pity on the boy” or something like it.

7 for me.

“Stars Over 45″. You gotta laugh.

Edit – just seen Vinyl Scot’s post. You’ve got to be quick on here…

I think there was also (shades of Holly and the Ivys) an act calling themselves Santa Claus and the Christmas trees doing a festive one too.Don’t know if it made the charts though.

I am very taken with the reading that “squeaky clean” Shaky wants in on this world of kinky psychedelic sex, but no one has invited him.

Also – This Year’s Blonde – Platinum Pop (46), which I think was a Blondie one, and the Beach Boys’ imaginatively titled “Beach Boys Medley” which hit 47

I’m sure there was a Shadows one as well, but I can’t remember what it was called – “Hot Licks” perhaps. I’m also pretty sure the Hysterics one was just laughter to the tune of Jingle Bells, so not really a medley.

I’m quite surprised that I’m finding nothing to say about this rather poor run of #1s – I was only twenty at this point, and thought I could give you a few years yet. I’ll continue to lurk and see if things change.

There’s only one “secret” drinker I know in Eastbourne – The Hartington, a gay bar, which is usually full of straight birds searching for a fun night out without the threat of their knickers being disturbed. Nice girls.

I’ve lost count of the number of “secret” late night drinking places I knew in and around Soho that were ruined once they got mentioned in I.D or The Face. Kiss of death that was.

Starsound – Stars on 45 (2)
Bill Haley & His Comets – Haley’s Golden Medley (50)
Splodgenessabounds – Cowpunk Medlum (69)
Starsound – Stars on 45 Volume 2 (2)
Gidea Park – Beach Boy Gold (11)
Tight Fit – Back to the Sixties (4)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hooked on Classics (2)
Lobo – The Caribbean Disco Show (8)
Startrax – Startrax Club Disco (18)
Enigma – I Love Music (25)
The Hollies – Hollidaze (28)
Gidea Park – Seasons of Gold (28)
Portsmouth Sinfonia – Classical Muddley (38)
Ivor Biggun & The D Cups – Bras on 45 (50)
Starsound – Stars on 45 Volume 3 (17)
Tight Fit – Back to the Sixties Part 2 (33)
Starturn on 45 Pints – Starturn on 45 Pints (45)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hooked on Can Can (47)
The Barron Knights – Blackboard Jumble (52)
Chas & Dave – Stars Over 45 (21)
Holly & the Ivys – Christmas on 45 (40)
Trini Lopez – Trini Trax (59)

In addition, I have my suspicions that these titles may also be medleys;

Mojo – Dance On (70)
Headbangers – Status Rock (60)
Gary Glitter – All That Glitters (48)
Hysterics – Jingle Bells (Laughing All The Way) (44)

“When I said Joe sent me, someone laffed out loud behind the Green Door, nya ha HAAA!”

.. worth 5 points on it’s own!