Since we're on the subject of Eli Oberstein's Record Corp. of America, here's a Tops in Pops (or, An Hour of Tops and Pops) from that budget operation--one which I somehow hadn't yet featured. I've had this one for, gosh... 25 years now? I think this is one of the thrift finds that started me on my fake-hit addiction, so it's kind of a milestone. Or the purchasing of it was, at least. Two interesting things about this particular cover: 1) Royale forget to fill in the title strip area with titles, and 2) there's some faint ink script that says, "Darling--One (something) day, and every other day--you have all my love. James. Feb. 14, 1956." A Valentine's gift!
I wish I could make out the second word, but the ink is just too faded. I tried everything--resizing, increasing the contrast and saturation, messing with color filters, etc.--but no go. No type or amount of photo enhancing cracked the mystery of that second word. But we have the gist of the message.
So, I did a couple searches and only found only one source (rateyourmusic) which says anything about Eli Oberstein's use (specifically, on the Royale label) of European musicians on the cheap "to back up American performers," though I could swear I once read a piece which claimed Oberstein did this specifically for his fake-hit compilations, and because he didn't have to pay royalties for the backings. It would help a lot if I could find solid documentation for this, since my memory, like anyone's, often gets things wrong. Memories love to malfunction. I'd hate to think I've been hosting an urban legend. Then again, what else is cyberspace for, if not unsubstantiated claims?
Whoever did the instrumental backgrounds on these--they did well. The singers are all solid, too. I'm guessing this is late 1955 or early 1956 (the "Feb. 14, 1956" helps in that regard), since these are all late-1955 hits. Five are rock and roll numbers from that fabled period when the "pop" cover versions were outselling the originals--hence, Daddy-O copies the Fontane Sisters (and not Bonnie Lou), I Hear You Knockin' is an imitation of Gale Storm (not Smiley Lewis), At My Front Door copies Pat Boone (not the El Dorados), and My Boy--Flat Top copies the Dorothy Collins pop version of Boyd Bennett's hit. However, Only You does seem to be a copy of the Platters, even if the high voice sounds female here (at least to my ears). Memories Are Made of This is, of course, an imitation of Dean Martin; It's Almost Tomorrow, of Jo Stafford; Band of Gold, of Don Cherry; Love and Marriage, of Dinah Shore (I'm fairly shore, er, sure); Sixteen Tons, of Tennessee Ernie Ford; Autumn Leaves, of Roger Williams; and He, of Al Hibbler(?). Not sure about Hibbler. While he was the one who hit it big with the number, this singer doesn't seem to be trying to emulate Al. I guess only He knows who was being copied here. (Cha-dunk; crash!)
Enjoy, and I promise to do a Sunday morning post next, um, Sunday morning. I.e., a gospel post.
This is not an hour's worth of "pops," of course. It's not even a half hour, in fact. I trust no one sued over the misleading title. Oh, and notice the amusing title correlation in the line-up: I Hear You Knockin'/At My Front Door.
DOWNLOAD: An Hour of Tops in Pops--Royale Dance Orch. and Singers (Probably 1955)
Memories Are Made of This
Daddy-O
It's Almost Tomorrow
Band of Gold
Love and Marriage
Sixteen Tons
I Hear You Knockin'
At My Front Door
Only You
My Boy--Flat Top
Autumn Leaves
He
An Hour (not) of Tops in Pops--Royale 1389N; late 1955 or early 1956
(Banner should read, "Compiled According to Radio, Record and Music Surveys.")
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