Monday, October 11, 2010

It Came From 1960! (Part Two) "A Rockin' Good Way" (To Mess Around And Fall in Love) Dinah Washington and Brook Benton

One of the great rhythm and blues duets ever!  Dinah Washington and Brook Benton did a couple great ones, including thier biggest hit as a duo,"Baby, You've Got What It Takes". In 1960, they followed up that hit with this one, which went to Number One on the Billboard R &B Charts in June of 1960, as well as a top ten overall Billboard hit.

Dinah Washington (1934-1963)--who could be a bit of a "hand-full" with producers and agents--at first didn't want to team with Benton. According to the JazzWax website she wanted to remain a solo performer, having paid her dues since she was teenager. But her manager convinced her to give a duet the chance.

 The banter on this recording--about Benton coming in on her spot in the song, and Dinah's playful replies--definately show they have a chemistry, don't you think?


 




   

 

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20 comments:

  1. According to legend, Dinah Washington took a .45 out of her brastrap and shot a former boyfriend from the stage - she'd seen him with another woman. Gotta love that tale....

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  2. Gunplay?! Wow! Talk about giving it you audience a memorable "moment" at the show.

    I hadn't heard that story, Will, but I know Dinah had the reputation for being a diva.

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  3. Blimey what a nutter....surely that isn't true Astra?

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  4. I don't know the song Doug, but I liked the sound. I have obviously heard of both of these artists seperately before, but was not familiar with their catalogue....this one has a similar feeling to Jamaican Blue Beat and Ska records of that time I think....I love the homemade sounding rhythm section here.......another good choice Doug, thanks for posting it.

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  5. It's got me doing the Hully Gully in my seat here as I replay the song Doug......I like it .......a cool song indeed!

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  6. I think there's an Jamaican beat in there, AA. You find that infectious feeling in several songs of the classic R&B period, including those of Sam Cooke, another great soul performer taken from the scene all too young. Glad you enjoyed this one.

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  7. Me too when I got that tune on the disc, AA.

    *Blogger makes note: check out the term "Hully Gully". Sounds like it may have a Welsh origin.* ;-)

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  8. Think I found the Welsh connection Doug viz:-

    "Tim Morgan sang different lyrics to the song "Peanut Butter" as well, however, only mentioning the Skippy"

    More here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hully_Gully

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  9. Another confirmation of the Afro-Welsh roots of modern dance music, AA!

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  10. thanks Doug, this is a great song I hadn't heard in ages. I had this song on a compilation LP I had in the 80s ( I wonder where it is?)

    also had another great DW song (TV is the thing) on a jazz compilation. She had a quirky voice

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  11. thanks Doug, this is a great song I hadn't heard in ages. I had this song on a compilation LP I had in the 80s ( I wonder where it is?)

    also had another great DW song (TV is the thing) on a jazz compilation. She had a quirky voice

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  12. sorry for the double post. browsing by mobile never seems to work smoothly!

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  13. One can't sit still and listen to this, movement kicks in. :-)

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  14. Thanks for stopping by Mary Ellen. I'll try to keep up the quality through the week.

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  15. Yes she did, Ian. It's almost impossible to mix her distinct voice up with other singers.
    I'll have to try and find that other song. "Blue Gardenia"--a slower, jazzy tune--is one of favorite Dinah Washington solos.

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  16. No problem Ian. Always just glad to have you leave a comment--or two :-)

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  17. I can't either, Cassandra. A "rockin' good way" for all concerned I'd say.

    I imagine this song got a lot of play in the dance clubs of that day.

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  18. There may be just a slight touch of innuendo happening on this song :-)

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  19. Love that tune. What a hoot! Thanks Ian.

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