Sha Na Na/Johnny Contardo - Just Like Romeo and Juliet

[MegaSajs]

EU VOU CONHECER ELE COM CERTEZA! AMOR!

[Nemesis7293]

Johnny Contardo was HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!!

[noosmum]

@Nemesis7293 still is xx



[hidoll22]

What a great singing voice this cute has, he looks like Billy Crystal

[kb6kgx]

@hidoll22 Yes, one of those "separated at birth" things... the resemblance is amazing.

[hidoll22]

What a great singing voice this cute has

[boydweddell]

This track cane from the album Hot Sox. I had it on vinyl but it has long disappeared. Can't seem to find a copy of it anywhere. Anybody help

[kasagar]

@boydweddell Try amazon dot com, they have them new and used.......

[Tonithenightowl]

This man is over the top fantastic. I love Johnny Contardo. He and Gene Pitney were in a league of their own. It just upsets me that Johnny as a solo artist did not have the same impact as Gene. And Gene didn't have the same impact as other less talented solo artists. Go figure. Timing has a lot to do with it.

[GarthanSaal444]

The version I remember is them dressed up like Romeo and Shakespeare days. When they sang "Who who who". they would stop the song and do some ridiculous comedy skit before continuing the song again.

[doowopper1951]

Wow, seems like yesterday that they did this on their show. I even remember the woman hangin' out the window.

[chrisst41]

@doowopper1951 Jane Dulo

[MegaNothin]

For any who may be interested: Sha Na Na first released this song on the excellent 1974 LP, "Hot Sox", with Jocko Marcellino on lead vocals. They redid it the following year, with Johnny on lead vocals, and a distinctly disco-esque flavor to the instrumental track, on 1975's "Sha Na Now". This performance sounds like it falls in between the previous 2, even though it was recorded 4 or 5 years later. Johnny also hit that high note on both album versions (& a couple higher ones on "Sha Na Now").

[belladeballe]

Sha na na kicks butt!

[buddyeagle]

@belladeballe Wow! they just kick me.

[belladeballe]

@buddyeagle LOL

[wonteach]

I don't understand why Johnny Contardo never made it big as a soloist. He had one of the most beautiful voices I ever heard.

[Tonithenightowl]

@wonteach I never understood it either. Bad management? I agree, he is one of the best tenors in the business. Sometimes people get pigeoned holed and I think that's what happened to Johnny. He was considered a cover artist because he was in a cover band. He did covers better than the originals. Why it didn't work out for him solo, I will never understand. However, he is the voice of Sha na na and that's no drop on the bucket.

[Medina29able]

@Tonithenightowl Hi tonighthenightowl just read your comment that Johnny was considered a cover artist ... absolutely staggered ... fools across the pond as well as here in U.K. ...just goes to show what idiots are out there in the music industry ... a big con. We recognise quality when we hear it. Stuff 'em . MM xx

[Tonithenightowl]

@Medina29able Yes, I think that was the problem. Why he didn't go back to Broadway is beyond me. He was in Boston Broadway before SNN. Music was in a transition when he came out with his first solo album. Disco was dead, A new 80's sound was on the rise. Apparently the album did not reflect this. Did he give up too soon? Probably. This lead him to reject show biz until his fans drug him out once again. And I'm glad they did. Yes, fools bc they had a prize and didn't see it.

[Medina29able]

@Tonithenightowl Many thanks for that insight. Very interesting. Good night.

[melanie8771]

Can those pants get any tighter Johnny?

Not that I'm complaining or anything ;)

[Tonithenightowl]

Just heard the reflections do this. Johnny takes it to another level. What a voice.

[Tonithenightowl]

This man is beyond compare. Better than the original but doesn't he do that with every song he did? He's like watching a broadway production everytime he sings and moves.

[promisedeyes]

Ah... those golden oldies <3

[lensman55]

Thanque Kryste, they did it twice, as this track does full justice to the original by The Reflections. Their original studio cut was a let down, considering how they could often ( - but not always) 'Improve' on the originals they covered.

[Tonithenightowl]

JOHNNY COULD HAVE BEEN A REPLACEMENT FOR FREDDIE MERCURY WITHOUT EVEN TRYING KUDOS JOHNNY

[TheMerchantOfDeath37]

Man, I saw these guys in concert in 1977, the night Elvis died. They were amazing. Neigh, incredible.

[Tonithenightowl]

@TheMerchantOfDeath37 Wow!!! Talk about timing so to speak. Here was a band that did Elvis songs and to be at their concert on that night well, talk about sentimental. Did they know he had passed and did they make mention? I would have loved to see them back then. I'm sure it was electric to say the least. I only ever got to see them on TV. I hope you saved something from that concert lol.

[savcdosavcdo]

ok Johnny has a nice butt lol so does Danny but hey lol

[roguejulie]

@savcdosavcdo Yay for Danny's butt!!

[sweetipie1965]

I have it downloaded...I watch it every day...lol

[sweetipie1965]

Adam Lambert needs to take lessons from JC

[SkippyWalls]

No kidding! You must see You Belong To Me. Sexy!!!

[65wendym]

Every tenor needs to take lessons from JC!!!

[countryrockstar2008]

I want to see Sha Na Na! My mom was a HUGE fan of theirs since the late 60's and early 70's! RIP!

[vseas3]

I want to meet Johnny Contardo!!!!!!!!!!

[tuppy20]

Johnny was a doll then and he's a doll now. Check out his MySpace pics.

[SkippyWalls]

Thanks for the info. I never thought of myspace and all I can say is WOW!!!! He just gets better with age. Why doesn't that happen to us women?

[SkippyWalls]

I'm on it right now!! I would make a joke but some people are SO touchy, wait touch, Johnny ,another joke!! We both got thumbs down on our Johnny comments. How funny is that!!

[scorzeny45]

i heard he is heavy set now?what happened to him since the brake up

[vseas3]

I want to meet Johnny Contardo!!!!!!!!

[tuppy20]

Me too!! Would give up everything I own to meet that guy!!

[scorzeny45]

Was johnny a puerto rican or italian?

[SpiritBear12]

Does it really matter?

[immaguardian]

love the music and the group but i never ever want a love like romeo and juliet i will not commit suicide of some damn man hell no most all men are worse than hound dogs on a juicy bone they just are not worth it i do wish that true love were real but its not and never will be

[norwaymale]

Great song! I believe it is their best. I think the album is SHANANOW. I used to have the LP. Also like Flash Cadillac just as well. Some of their stuff is on CD. Johnny was fantastic. In those days, they had great singers, now days, only a few!

[floyd76]

I always listened to Sha Na Na as a kid and really enjoyed them. Until watching some of their videos on Youtube the past couple of days, I never realized how truly great they really were.

[SkippyWalls]

Nice to see "Dirty Dan " taking a bigger part.

[Msmusic53]

I think it's one of the best covers ever done period I can listen to them all day too! I think Johnny was one the very best group singers ever. He DID look more than a little like Billy Crystal; and he sounded more than little like the great and phenomenal Johnny Mathis. Johnny and the group did, I think, do a slower, more melodic, and even better version of this song. The arrangement, I recall, really show what good musicians the band was. Can anyone find ANY recordin of this?

[j20tower]

johnny's got a remarkable voice. I could listen to these guys all day.

[cevc918]

I would also buy eveything... Dreaming....

[SkippyWalls]

I agree, best ever and I too would buy every DVD probably the day they were released!!

[gnolt]

Best cover of this song ever!

[Mentallyawake568]

Bowzer!

[ShawnWolfe]

It's Adam (Ant) and Marco.

Write it on a pound note, pound note.

And Burl Ives on saxaphone.

I watched this show every Saturday night back in the '70s, it came on right before Space: 1999 and the Muppet Show.

[vlunney]

you should see clips ofhim performing now. there's one of him with bowser at mohegan and holy crap did contardo get old! he's still good but it makes you appreciate him at this time. the man had SKILLS.

[goldenoldiesPete]

Great song - incredible lead singer. 5 stars *****, and a new favorite.

[bigdaddy28638]

I wish I could find, or someone make a copy of the 45 rpm version that played on the radio in the 60's or '70s. In that version, they are backed up by a full orchestra, and in fact, the recording begins with strings, heavy drum beat and horns.

Anybody familiar with this version? It was not on the album, the above version was.

[BLP1261]

I posted a 45 of the song on the 12th of December. Nothing fancy about the video, just a picture of the Kama Sutra label on the record while the song is playing.

[bigdaddy28638]

Thanks so much. That's exactly the one I was looking for!

[fwad23]

it was sung by The Reflections.

[bikibitr]

Christa Mighty...please give us the DVDs. How much do we have to beg?

[kangadillo]

I posted a question about this last week and someone replied that there's a lot of "red tape" involved with getting license for all the songs. **sigh** I wish they'd work it out because if they did I would buy every single DVD they put out!!!!

[coyclown]

Johnny Contardo, what an incredible voice (not to mention body!). Such a cute lil' hottie he was back then! More scrumptious than any piece of bacon that Ive ever seen!

[angelsavage73]

Very good observation. Yes, he's a little older now, but still very good looking and in very good voice. Not to mention, a very nice man. I got to meet him about three months ago; I'd see him again in a heartbeat!

[4463013]

NO,THAT';S BILLY CRYSTAL

[coyclown]

LOL!!! THAT is NOT Billy Crystal. OMG Thats hilarious!

[kangadillo]

He does look like Billy Crystal, which is certainly not a bad thing. They're both cute!

[TheCelestial108]

@coyclown Yeah, I love Johhny's voice. IT is so gorgeous. I used to watch this show all the time and I always wanted him to sing! I had the biggest crush on him. :-)

[vlunney]

this song is one of my all time favorites and I'm PISSED NO CONTESTANT HAS EVER done this for American Idol!!

[almightywhitey]

We loved watching there show every week.

[snidelywhiplash]

"Bill Brasky named the band Sha-Na-Na.  They did NOT want to be called that!"

Sorry, I had to. Seriously, this is great! Did they have a show at some point? I'm clueless...

[Paulgr]

yeah and Bill Brasky is #4 in AP College Football Poll!

[rlgdguy]

There was quite a bit of talent from Sha Na Na. They all could sing pretty good. I remember watching the show and waiting for them to get through their comedy skits and just sing.

[fwad23]

This version is even better than the original Reflection's version!

[elveez54]

Better? Maybe the choreography makes it appear better but that is merely aesthetic. It rates second to the Reflections' in my book forever.

[fwad23]

I wasn't commenting on the choreography. I think that Johnny Contrado had the best Doo-Wop lead tenor voice bar none. I also love the Reflection's version.

[elveez54]

I know what you were commenting. I do agree that Contardo does have a great Doo Wop voice, he also backs up Santini's lead on their give on "Stay." Maybe we best agree to disagree to which is the better version, The Refs' or SNN's. I bought an LP called Hot Sox

which covered JLRAJ and was fast like the Refs'. The other LP SNN made in 1975 had Johnny doing a slooow melodic take on JLRAJ. :-)

[donnys1girl]

faerydancer: thanks so much for posting these Sha Na Na videos. They are really good!

[angelsavage73]

Just wondering if they ever did this song more than once on their show.  I seem to recall a version where Johnny is carried at the end of the song. Am I imagining this or was that something else I'm remembering?

[faerydancer]

They did it twice. =) You're not imagining it. It was a skit version of the song and Johnny was dressed up like Romeo and did, in fact, get carried away at the end.

[angelsavage73]

Thanks for letting me know. I was very young when the show was on and wasn't sure if I was remembering it right. And another big thank you for posting all of these for us!

[65wendym]

do a search on here under Johnny Contardo, and they have the sketch!

[donnys1girl]

Johnny has a wonderful voice.

[OboxerU]

Was that Bowzer shooting dice?

[angelsavage73]

Johnny was shooting the dice. Bowzer was in the first group with the money; he, among others, was the guy in the middle covering his ears when Johnny hit the high note at the end.

[tandybraid]

Can't wait to see both Johnny in Philly and SNN in PA and Vegas!!

[nytrayfl]

Wow! Johnny Contardo catapulted me right into adolescence following this segment of the Sha Na Na show! Thanks for the memories, Johnny, and thanks so much for the video, faerydancer.

[DanielRidener]

God! I remember when this show was on every week. What a great memory from the 70's (The show I mean) Thanks for posting this. Sha Na Na was so entertaining and talented.

[angelsavage73]

Johnny was always my favorite too. I haven't seen any of the guys in ages. What fun to watch!

[kittykat1216]

love this song!

[Genkimark]

Johnny was easily the very best vocalist in Sha Na Na. It's nice to see he is still singing, although he sure has packed on the pounds!

[lorjokr]

I've always loved Johnny best, too, but Denny and Santini were no slouches in the vocals either. I also liked Lennie a lot. They're all a very talented bunch of guys, really. About Johnny's extra pounds, I think it's safe to say most of us have added some in 30 years. I found it was just all the more to hug!

[jenbanter]

Not only can I agree that I too have gain weight in the last 30 years, but look at Jon. He had to gain weight. He could not have gotten any skinnier. He may have gotten carried away with the weight, but so have so many of us.

[sangria4]

It was great to hear him sing this last year, after not singing it for 20 years! He hit every note perfectly!