the roulette story

like any red-blooded american male for months i was searching in vain for a remastered version of marilyn chambers's 1977 disco single "benihana." finally, i found one. although you can easily find an mp3 online which is ripped from the original vinyl 45 single there's only one remastered version on an import, out-of-print, 3-CD box set from 1998 called the roulette story. naturally, like any red-blooded american male, i purchased one. (and they ain't cheap, mary!) while marilyn's single is definitely a highlight (you can hear it here), i was treated to a slew of absolutely wonderful tracks from the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s. although i consider myself a connoisseur of pop, many of these tracks i had never heard before. 

roulette records was truly one of the first independent record labels and signed a variety of artists in many genre: tommy james & the shondells, count basie, tito puente, dinah washington, sarah vaughn, and the three degrees. the label scored five #1 singles during the early years of rock 'n' roll, including "party doll" by buddy knox and "honeycomb" by jimmie rodgers (see below). the label also was a front business for the infamous genovese crime family and was notorious for not paying their artists on time, or at all, or any royalties.

one of the most famous and covered pop oldies of all time is "honeycomb." but the adorable 24-year-old jimmie rodgers is the only one to take it to the #1 spot on the billboard hot 100. here he is performing the tune on "the ed sullivan show." try getting this one out of your head.

if this song, "i'm gonna love you too," sounds a lot like buddy holly that's cause it is. the hullaballoos, with their dyed-blonde haircuts, were one of the first british invasion groups and were more popular in the u.s. than in their homeland. this was their biggest hit (#56 on the hot 100 in 1965), which they performed on "hullabaloo" (no relation). that's mr. perpetual tan himself, george hamilton, introducing them.

one of the most influential '60s garage rock bands was the cleveland band the choir. two of the members, david smalley and jim bofanti, went on to form the raspberries with eric carmen. the choir's best-known tune was this amazing 1966 song, "it's cold outside," which i embarrassed to say i had never heard before the roulette story. so glad i discovered it now.