Los Norte Americanos - Tijuana Beatles

I have a fascination for the influx of Latin music in the 1960s. I have quite a few records which embrace this new feel which came over to the UK with the advent of long haul flights and the start of the world getting smaller. These new rhythms really affected people and in a rush to acommodate the public's desire for this strange new sound not only did Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass make big but many albums took existing well known tunes and Tijuana'd them up. This is how oddities like this came to be, Tijuana Beatles. Yes, The Beatles, Latin brass style. Produced by the famous Jack Dorsey this album contains both Lennon/McCartney and original compositions. In fact half the album is original but what better way to sell your record than a cute girl and some Beatles tunes? One last thing, we've already learned that Nico Gomez was actually a Belgian chap, how Latin are M. Huckbridge and A. Sherman I wonder? Anyhoo, blurb time:

"Whatever the musical mood may be you can rely on the Tijuana Sound to add that something extra- and in this case  the extra enjoyment comes through teaming Beatle songs with Tijuana treatment. 

It's a happy musical marriage that just can't fail. The Beatles after all write great songs and the musicians who create the Tijuana sound are equally great at interpreting them in their own stylised fashion.
So far as material is concerned the tracks range far and wide over Beatle songs that have soared into hit parade charts all over the world. From one of the earliest-"All My Loving" right through to "Get Back""Ballad Of John And Yoko" and their very latest hit "Something".

Beatles apart there are a couple of original compositions specially written to explore the musical magic of Tijuana, the sound that has become a world-wide favourite. One thing's for certain; whether you're Beatle fan or Tijuana fan your ears and senses are in line for the kind of musical treat you'll want to repeat."

Side 1

Something (Lennon, McCartney)
When I'm 64 (Lennon, McCartney)
Ballad Of John And Yoko (Lennon, McCartney)
Tijuana Soul (M. Huckbridge, A. Sherman)
Enchiladas (M. Huckbridge, A. Sherman)
Cuba Libre (M. Huckbridge, A. Sherman)

Side 2

Get Back (Lennon, McCartney)
Hey Jude (Lennon, McCartney)
Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da (Lennon, McCartney)
Tijuana Burro (M. Huckbridge, A. Sherman)
Tequila For Two (M. Huckbridge, A. Sherman)
All My Loving (Lennon, McCartney)

Marble Arch MALS 1190 (p) 1969

Everlasting Love

Everlasting Love (Cason/Gayden) - The Love Affair
c/w Gone Are The Songs Of Yesterday (Goodband/Tait)

1967

Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden wrote this oft recorded song and first had a hit in 1967 with Robert Knight. The Love Afair released theirs late the same year, appearing on the christmas Top Of The Pops that year and reaching #1 in January 1968.

Steve Ellis, Rex Brayley, Lynton Guest, Maurice Bacon and Mick Jackson were 'The Love Affair' during this period - although I'm not sure who's in the line up below from 1993.


This has the A and B sides so start half way through if you want 'Gone are the songs of yesterday'

Abraham, Martin and John

Abraham, Martin and John (D. Holler) - Marvin Gaye
c/w How Can I Forget (Whitfield/Strong)

1969

Written by Dick Holler (Snoopy Vs The Red Baron) about the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy. Originally performed by Dion (Runaround Sue), Marvin Gaye took this version to No. 9 in the U.K.

He Ain't Heavy . . . . He's My Brother

He Ain't Heavy . . . . He's My Brother (Russell/Scott) - The Hollies
c/w 'Cos You Like To love Me (Hicks)

1969

Number 3 hit in the UK for this band from Manchester who continue to record and perform today.
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Johnny Scott and produced by Ron Richards.



Listen to "'Cos You Like To Love Me" on Last FM.

The Look Of Love

The Look Of Love (Bacharach/David) - Gladys Knight and the Pips
c/w You're My Everything (Whitfield/Penzabene/Grant)

1968

You may have noticed I get quite excited about Bacharach and David tunes, and here's one of the best. Motown again with Gladys Knight and her 'Pips' singing this classic song from the film 'Casino Royale' (remember Herb Alpert from earlier?) their own way.

The 'Pips' were all relatives of Gladys' and named after cousin Scottie 'Pip' Pippin, but several personnel changes led to the eventual renaming Gladys Knight and the Pips. You see. it's not as bad as it seems, Gladys was a 'Pip' too, and Pip is a perfectly reasonable name for a group. . . .

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town

Ruby, Don't Take You Love To Town (Tillis) - Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
c/w Girl Get A Hold Of Yourself (Rogers)

1969

Woah, what have we here? A number one in the UK in 1969 (NME chart, No.2 o the BBC) this is the tale of a disabled soldier begging his lover not to leave him for another, able bodied man - complete with killing fantasies; "If I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground."

Yeah, I can see that being a hit.

To top it off it's based on real experiences! Mel Tillis, the author of this tune, had neighbours where he had served in the second world war, was injured and sent to England to recuperate where he met and married his nurse. After moving to Florida he had to make repeat visits to hospital which is when she would see another man!

More like a rap story ,"Yo b#tch ho, I bus' a cap in yo ass - if only I could get my AK!"
Or something. . . .




I quite like the 'b' side and listen to 'Girl, Get A Hold Of Yourself' on Last FM here

Green Green Grass Of Home

Green Green Grass Of Home (Putman) - Tom Jones
c/w Promise Her Anything (Bacharach & David)
1966

a 1966 UK No.1, Tom tells the story of a man rturning home after some time away, but turns when it is revealed he is dreaming while in prison and is. in reality. awaiting execution.




I personally prefer the 'B' Side, 'Promise Her Anything'.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Crewe, Gaudio) - Andy Williams
c/w You Are Where Everything Is (De Caro)
1967

Howard Andrew "Paul" Williams released his version of this song in 1967.

And I LOVE it!!

Move Over Darling

Move Over Darling (Melcher, Kanter, Lubin) - Doris Day
c/w Twinkle Lullaby
1963
Music from the film of the same name, in itself a revision of 'Something's Got To Give' where tragically Marilyn Monroe died during filming ans a remake of the 1940 comedy 'My Favourite Wife'.

Rainy Day Women Nos. 12 & 35

Rainy Day Women Nos. 12 & 35 - Bob Dylan
c/w Pledging My Time
1966

Opening track from 1966's Blonde On Blonde album.

Wikipedia has this to say:

"The song is essentially a simple blues chord progression in the musical key of F. The parts played by the trombone, tuba, piano, bass, drums, and tambourine remain practically the same in all of the verses, but Dylan's harmonica playing and vocal performance are both wildly varied, and generally not in the same key as other instruments. There can also be heard much laughter and shouting in the background, mixed down to a low volume level, and Dylan himself laughs several times during his vocal delivery."

I need not say more!

My Guy

My Guy (Robinson) - Mary Wells
c/w 1. You Lost The Sweetest Boy (Holland-Dozier-Holland) 2. Two Lovers (Robinson)
1964

Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, music from The Funk Brothers and backing vocals from The Andantes - Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, Mary took this straight to No. 1.
Apart from duets this was Mary's last recording for motown, taking an option not to renew her contract after her twenty-first birthday she left for 20th Century Fox but never had the same success.

You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)

You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) (Bacharach, David) - Dionne Warwick
c/w A House Is Not A Home (Bacharach, David)
1964

Only reaching No. 20 on the UK chart after 'Walk On By' made No. 8 earlier this year, a double Bacharach and David offering surely deserving better?

Marie Dionne Warrick worked with B&D on many singles, too many to go into here, and all of them classics.



Listen to 'A House Is Not A Home' on Last FM

I'm A Believer

I'm A Believer (Diamond) - The Monkees
c/w (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone (Boyce, Hart)
1966

Neil Diamond penned this UK No.1 for The Monkees, sung By Micky Dolenz.

Together with Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork they were formed to be the band in the T.V. series of the same name. The world's first manufactured boy band, they eventually took control of their own output through the band, even making the seminal movie 'Head'.



This video put together for '(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone' features plenty of cool sixties fashions and clips:

Casino Royale

Casino Royale (Bacharach, David) - Herb Alpert
c/w The Wall Street Rag (Coleman) 1967

Title theme to the original James Bond film 'Casino Royale' starring David Niven and Peter Sellers (among many others) and another great tune from Bacharach and David peformed by Herbert Alpert and The Tijuana Brass.

Herb has had 5 No.1's, 28 albums in the Billboard charts, 15 gold albums, 14 platinum albums and 8 Grammy awards. He has sold in excess of 72 MILLION albums worldwide!

He was the 'A' in A&M Records and is now an abstract expressionist painter.





Listen to a sample of 'The Wall Street Rag' on Last FM

Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday

Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday (Miller, Wells) - Stevie Wonder
c/w I'd Be Fool Right Now (Cosby, May, Wonder) 1969

Stevland Hardaway Judkins, later Morris, had early success with the likes of this 1969 hit which made no.2 in the UK charts.

Going on to become one of the greatest recording artists ever, this was part of the bridging era between 'Little Stevie Wonder' and the artist we all now know.

Sadly this is not the original cover.

Distant Drums

Distant Drums (Walker) - Jim Reeves
c/w Old Tigue (M&R Burke, Reeves) 1966


Jim Reeves' only UK no.1, charting sadly two years after his death in a plane crash in 1964. Written by Cindy Walker.



My grandparents used to play his music but this was always my favourite, originally because of my love of drums but is's also a beautiful song.




This video takes a bit to get going I'm afraid. Amateurs.

It's Not Unusual

It's Not Unusual (Mills, Reed) - Tom Jones
c/w ToWait For Love (Is To Waste Your Life Away)(Bacharach, David) 1965
I love this record! Jones' second Decca single after 'Chills and Fever' and a smash no.1 in the UK and no.10 in the US. Even better is that the b side is a Bacharach and David tune which is also brilliant!


Backed by 'The Ivy League' and recorded near me in West Hampstead it took Jones far beyond the Valleys of Wales and into stardom!



Listen to To Wait For Love on last FM

Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings

Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings (Newbury) - Tom Jones
c/w I'll Never Let You Go (Mills) 1967


Taken from the album 'The Green Green Grass Of Home' which I used to own on vinyl too!





Listen to
I'll Never Let You Go
on Last FM