Thursday, December 5, 2013

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 2, 2013


DEAR JERRY: I recently came across a record credited to "Candy Moore, 'Chris' of The Lucy Show." The label even has a photo of her on both sides. The songs are "It's Your Turn Now" and "Living Stone" (Sable 45-101).

I have not seen that TV show, but on this record Candy Moore sounds very young.

When did this come out and how old was she at the time? Did Miss Moore make other records?
—Charles Golden, St. Louis


DEAR CHARLES: Candy Moore was 16 in 1962 when she recorded those two tunes for Sable.

Around the same time, she was chosen to play Chris Carmichael, Lucille Ball's daughter, but by then she was a seasoned actress.

Moore made her television debut in 1959 on "One Step Beyond," followed by parts in numerous popular shows, including "Rawhide"; "Leave It to Beaver"; "The Loretta Young Show"; "Wagon Train"; "My Three Sons"; and 10 episodes of "The Donna Reed Show."

Surprisingly, in 1962 Candy could be seen on Monday night's "Lucy Show" (CBS) then on Wednesday that same week on "The Donna Reed Show" (ABC). That's when you know you've got a really good agent.

Still, Moore is best remembered for the 39 episodes she did with mega star Lucille Ball.

Perhaps because she was so busy with her acting, Candy didn't have time for recordings. Whatever the reason, "It's Your Turn Now" is both her first and her last record.

Of special note is the custom sleeve for that single, with a huge photo of Candy on the front and a brief show-biz bio on the back.

This picture sleeve alone has sold for over $300, though the record without the sleeve can be had for $15 to $25.

Oh yeah, you know the 1979 quadruple platinum "Candy-O" album by the Cars? Remember the beautiful Vargas girl on the cover?

The real live model that Vargas used for his drawing of Candy-O was none other than Candy Moore, by then a fully developed woman of 32.



DEAR JERRY: I noticed that your recent column about telephone numbers in song titles contained just three that are numerals only: "634-5789" (Wilson Pickett), "777-9311" (Time), and "853-5937" (Squeeze).

Now I'd like to extend this fun topic to other popular songs of the 20th century with titles having only numbers.

I'll bet there are more than just those three.
—Mio Matsuo, Honolulu


DEAR MIO: A worthy challenge indeed, but while retaining the spirit of your question I'm going to fudge just a bit and include a few that have something other than numerals in the title, such as a symbol or a sign. Two examples are "8 x 10," the dimensions of a photograph, and "10 x 10," a math sign to multiply 10 times 10.

For songs recorded by more than one artist, we'll use the primary one. When the same title appears more than once, they are not the same song.

This previously unpublished list is grouped by decade and then chronological:

1950: "3 x 7 = 21" (Jewel King); 1952: "5-10-15" (Stash Carter); 1954: "21" (Spiders); 1955: "531" (Dreamers); 1957: "1492" (Betty Johnson); 1958: "7-11" (Gone All Stars)

1962: "409" (Beach Boys); 1963: "8 x 10" (Bill Anderson); 1964: "20-75" (Willie Mitchell); 1964: "5-4-3-2-1" (Manfred Mann); 1965: "1-2-3" (Len Barry); 1966: "634-5789" (Wilson Pickett); 1967: "39-21-46" (Showmen); 1967: "98.6" (Keith); 1968: "1941" (Tom Northcott); 1969: "30-60-90" (Willie Mitchell)

1970: "1984" (Spirit); 1971: "1-2-3-4" (Lucky Peterson); 1975: "'39" (Queen); 1978: "5.7.0.5." (City Boy); 1979: "5:15" (Who)

1980: "99" (Toto); 1981: "14k" (Teena Marie); 1981: "1959" (John Anderson); 1982: "777-9311" (Time); 1982: "1999" (Prince); 1983: "1990" (Dr. America); 1984: "10 x 10" (Marilyn Scott); 1984: "10-9-8" (Face to Face); 1984: "17" (Rick James); 1984: "1984" (Craig Dillingham); 1984: "99 1/2" (Carol Lynn Townes); 1985 20/20" (George Benson); 1985: "19" (Paul Hardcastle); 1986: "1982" (Randy Travis); 1987: "6" (Madhouse); 1987: "7-11" (Ramsey Lewis); 1987: "853-5937" (Squeeze); 1988: "1-2-3" (Gloria Estefan); 1989: "24/7" (Dino)

1990: "1-2-3" (Chimes); 1993: "7" (Prince); 1993: "69" (Father MC); 1996: "1969" (Keith Stegall); 1996: "1979" (Smashing Pumpkins); 1997: "4,3,2,1" (LL Cool J); 1998: "24/7" (24/7); 1998: "26?" (Wilkinsons); 1998: "357" (Cam'ron); 1999: "1*2*3" (Amyth); 1999: "24/7" (Kevon Edmonds); 1999: "4,5,6" (Solé); 1999: "808" (Blaque)

All of these are single releases. If album cuts were included, there would be many, many more.


IZ ZAT SO? Dealing with so many numbers this week brings to mind what I believe to be the longest string of consecutive numbers found in any recording — and it was even a Top 15 hit.

And since we are now in December, this trivia tidbit is even more appropriate.

According to Stan Freberg's 1953 "Christmas Dragnet" (a.k.a. "Yulenet"), the 13-digit penal code for not believing in Santa Claus is "4096325-096704."

Break that law and the next knock on your door will likely be that of the BAU (Behavior Analysis Unit) from Quantico.


Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column.  Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368  E-mail: jpo@olympus.net   Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com

All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition. 

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