Thanks, Guan. Great point about giving credit where credit is due, Sou. Thanks for singling out the sax for me 2:00. We lay people need help. It doesn't matter which version is better. The Rivileer's offers a polished loveliness . Kathy's offers raw teenage longing and uncertainty. Her 14 y.o.alleged "off-key, annoying" voice is the very part that works for me. She REALLY is appealing to the stars about her first love as all teenage girls have done from the beginning of time.
every time i hear kathy young do this song on public television, I cant help but think she needs to give credit to the Rivileers. Then I think better yet, public television should get the remaining Rivileers to do the song. RIP to the deceased Rivileer.
I like the orignal better than Kathy Youngs version I had no idea intill just a few minutes ago that some else wrote and did this song first. The original thousand stars the voice is smoother plus that bass being played on the track really sets the song off.
What intrigues me with this version is how the sax works itself into the song at 2:00. He seems to be playing a different melody but it weaves seamlessly into the main melody! There must be some kind of terminology for this type of music melding. Amazing how one can come up with this transition "on the fly" so to speak.
Saw in my Top 40 book that The Rivileers did this song six years before Kathy Young, and I just had to hear it. Without folks like guanajuato I would've been left high and dry. Thanks so much for posting it!
Anyone remember Jocko's weekly TV dance show at the Mosque Theatre on Broad Street in Newark? I remember walking by as he was leaving in his chauffer driven Buick. I remember his girl or wife was blond. Was it Dagmar?
I've found the original. With no respect to Kathy Young, this is the version I heard played by Jocko.! If you don't know who he was, you don't know the origin of Rock & Roll. This song was early Fifties New York R&B. Alan Freed, you rock! But you weren't the first!
I grew up a little too far upstate to get Jocko on WCBS unless the weather conditions were *just right* (and I forget now what that required). But wow, you made me remember the small brown radio at the head of my bead, dim light, round dial, and me turning the knob ever so slightly (squealing static) to try try try to pull in the rock and roll from NYC. Wow, thanks for the memory. Great the times I could get it...and try to stay awake long into the night to listen...
I had the pleasure of working with Gene Pearson the lead singer of the Rivileers in the 1980s. He was a NYC Transit police officer. He was really a great guy. He has since passed away. He told me he wrote the song in 1952 when he was 17. The Rivileers version is without a doubt the best version.
I love this. It's the original. Hubby & I went steady with theses song. Goes back to the early 50;s Thank you for posting it.
joromeyers1 3 months ago
Thanks, Guan. Great point about giving credit where credit is due, Sou. Thanks for singling out the sax for me 2:00. We lay people need help. It doesn't matter which version is better. The Rivileer's offers a polished loveliness . Kathy's offers raw teenage longing and uncertainty. Her 14 y.o.alleged "off-key, annoying" voice is the very part that works for me. She REALLY is appealing to the stars about her first love as all teenage girls have done from the beginning of time.
duvessa2003 6 months ago
every time i hear kathy young do this song on public television, I cant help but think she needs to give credit to the Rivileers. Then I think better yet, public television should get the remaining Rivileers to do the song. RIP to the deceased Rivileer.
souljahtite17 10 months ago
I like the orignal better than Kathy Youngs version I had no idea intill just a few minutes ago that some else wrote and did this song first. The original thousand stars the voice is smoother plus that bass being played on the track really sets the song off.
redd5674 1 year ago
What intrigues me with this version is how the sax works itself into the song at 2:00. He seems to be playing a different melody but it weaves seamlessly into the main melody! There must be some kind of terminology for this type of music melding. Amazing how one can come up with this transition "on the fly" so to speak.
newjerseybt 1 year ago
Like the Negro ball players of the first half of the 20th Century, groups like the Rivileers have disappeared into the dust-bin of history. So sad!
XSkycop 1 year ago
At least this version has a bass (instrument, not voice) on it. I wish Kathy Young's version did--then it would be perfect!
FourHbcaps 1 year ago
A favorite that was played at any house party in the '50s that had it going on!
Played often on the afternoon Doo Wop request show with Dr. Jive on WWRL.
VideoalAZ 1 year ago
If you live in NY you have to know jocko is
crusher1944 1 year ago
Saw in my Top 40 book that The Rivileers did this song six years before Kathy Young, and I just had to hear it. Without folks like guanajuato I would've been left high and dry. Thanks so much for posting it!
rb62470 1 year ago
@rb62470 glad you enjoyed it=]
guanajuato1987 1 year ago
if you like this check out one of their other songs
"Carolynn" GREAT !!!!!!!!
ERIK VON
rocknroll1955 1 year ago
Doo Wop for ever
arthur1920 1 year ago
Anyone remember Jocko's weekly TV dance show at the Mosque Theatre on Broad Street in Newark? I remember walking by as he was leaving in his chauffer driven Buick. I remember his girl or wife was blond. Was it Dagmar?
ibethebaron 2 years ago
This KILLS Kathy Young's off-key annoying version.
rnross 2 years ago
Wow I remember this song. My parents use to dance to this. what a great song!
ScarletFever24 2 years ago
I've found the original. With no respect to Kathy Young, this is the version I heard played by Jocko.! If you don't know who he was, you don't know the origin of Rock & Roll. This song was early Fifties New York R&B. Alan Freed, you rock! But you weren't the first!
XSkycop 2 years ago
I grew up a little too far upstate to get Jocko on WCBS unless the weather conditions were *just right* (and I forget now what that required). But wow, you made me remember the small brown radio at the head of my bead, dim light, round dial, and me turning the knob ever so slightly (squealing static) to try try try to pull in the rock and roll from NYC. Wow, thanks for the memory. Great the times I could get it...and try to stay awake long into the night to listen...
AireMom1 2 years ago
I had the pleasure of working with Gene Pearson the lead singer of the Rivileers in the 1980s. He was a NYC Transit police officer. He was really a great guy. He has since passed away. He told me he wrote the song in 1952 when he was 17. The Rivileers version is without a doubt the best version.
superspeedG 3 years ago 7
is that pic from the peterson museum show/lowrider exhibit?
i've got a pic of the pontiac in the background from there
46lowrider 3 years ago
GREAT SONG ... N TIGHT PIC ... THANKS
mijaoldies 3 years ago