Beech Tree News Network

This week, I have another installment of information from the AXS tv show Vinyl Obsession.  The Temptations Sing Smokey is the second studio album by The Temptations for the Motown label, released on the Gordy Records subsidiary in 1965.  As its name implies, it is composed entirely of songs written and produced by Smokey Robinson and several other members of the Miracles as well.  The album was created to capitalize on their #1 smash “My Girl”.

This next fact has to do with the classic song “Superstition”.  Stevie wrote that song, that was included in his 15th album Talking Book, It has often been reported that “Superstition” emerged from an impromptu jam by Wonder and the late Jeff Beck, with Beck at a drum kit and Wonder at a clavinet keyboard.  But Wonder clarified that a rough track of the song was already complete when he first played it for Beck at the studio. (www.google.com) 

Curtis Mayfield’s classic song “Pusherman” from his 3rd studio album Superfly is widely sampled, from rappers Ice-T to Eminem”.  Another nugget from the tv show Vinyl Obsession: “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley and his Comets was actually the first Happy Days theme song for the shows first season.  

“Happy Days” was first recorded in 1974 by Jim Haas with a group of other session singers for the first two seasons.  These versions were only used during the closing credits of seasons one and two, with an updated take on “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets used as the opening theme.  “Happy Days” was re-recorded by Pratt & McClain at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles in December 1975 with different lyrics for both the opening and closing credits for seasons 3-10.  

Pratt & McClain’s album version of the song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the Easy Listening chart and #31 on the UK Singles Chart.  In Canada, “Happy Days” reached #3.  Pratt & McClain are Truett Pratt and Jerry McClain, and later Bobby Arvon(1983-84 TV only).  Australian band Silver Studs did a rendition of the theme for their debut album.  It became their biggest hit in Australia, reaching #4 in June 1976.  In 2014, a re-recording of the song was used in commercials for Target.  An instrumental version of the song plays in the background of some of the “Cooking With Sara: Flash games.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane as much as I enjoyed researching it.  Below are links to my podcast, Blendertainment.  

https://open.spotify.com/show/61yTPt9wXdz37DZTbPUs16?si=w5jHghPVRmaTaP5Z...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blendertainment/id1541097172