Let's not exhaust this space to quibble over whether the mere existence and propagation of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is warranted or not. And we shall similarly pay minimal heed to the immutable truth that Paul Simon is in said Rock Hall not once but twice (as a solo performer and as half of Simon and Garfunkel), which to some may indicate he's been inducted either one too many times or two too many times. All that concerns this author is that as long as they let Rhymin' Simon in, those doors should open even wider to accommodate his late-'50s/early-'60s rockin' incarnations Jerry Landis, True Taylor, and Tico and the Triumphs.
It may be difficult to reconcile that the very same person who composed "A Simple Desultory Philippic" could also give birth to "Get Up and Do the Wobble," but one doesn't require a postage stamp contest à la Elvis to determine which manifestation of the singer and songwriter in question the typical Ichiban reader and listener would favor. So now that your preference has been duly presupposed, please enjoy this guaranteed Garfunkel-free trio of top teen tunes from the days when Paul Simon resided on the greaseball side of Music Town (all songs YouTube).
True Taylor — "True or False" (Big, 1958)
Here Paul yelps a rockabilly bopper that alternately could have been titled "Blue Moon of Kew Gardens."
Tico and the Triumphs — "Motorcycle" (Amy, 1961, Billboard No. 99)
Simon's sonata for the 'Sicle Set puts the "J.D." in early Jan and Dean.
Jerry Landis — "The Lone Teen Ranger" (Amy, 1962, Billboard No. 97)
His "Western Movies"-referencing dum-dum doo-wop ditty exposes a different kind of Olympics doping.
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Monday, August 29, 2011
Jerry Landis Belongs in the Hall of Fame
Posted by Gaylord Fields at 8:45 PM
Labels: Gaylord Fields, YouTube
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5 Comments:
GG The artist known as Jerry Landis has always been in the real hall of fame, the one in our hearts. The fact that he is not in any OTHER hall proves that he is in a rarified league of superlative sensations. He is the #1 superduperstar I would most like to meet, now that I've met Neil Sedaka...and you. Love your latest, Mims
Mimsy Baby,
Thanks for the kind words about my little tribute to Jerry Landis. Coming from an ace girl reporter such as yourself, that is high praise indeed! And when can we expect to read about your encounter with "dadgum Neil Sedacky"? Did you ask him about his (shirtless!) star turn in the movie Playgirl Killer?
I ignore the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", and have since day one. They put people in there who have never played it,and the musicians who deserve to be included are ignored! It's really just a dewy pile of dog turds, IMHO.
@ Tom Stein:
To be fair, on Day One, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Little Richard were inducted. I think your beef is more with Day Seven Thousand and One.
Great Post! It will never stop bugging me that Link Wray, of all people, was never inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame, and the only way you can contact them is via snail mail! Shows you where their heads are at!
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