Smokey Places - The Corsairs

[cynthia6637]

FANTASTIC SONG, GREAT CHA CHA DANCE WITH THIS SONG!

[MarionLefty]

When I finally got my own juke box, this was one of the first 45 rmp records I went searching for. Back in the day, I would stop in the pizza place on Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg after school and play this tune. Its sort of a "best kept secret" - not many folks are familiar with it -- but when I listen to it I am back to another time/another place. Great sound!

[Poetiqmaster]

Peace and God's Blessings to all You Tubers....Smoky Places by the Corsairs = Classic!!!! Be Faithful and Blessed/Uno

[Brooklyn50s]

OMG! I used to hear this song at a dance that me and my High School friends went to every Sunday afternoon when I was 16 years old. I haven't heard it in decades. What a find! Thank you for posting this great song! What memories of dancing with girls when we first discovered love.

[rrclow]

A great song but this version's stereo uploaded was botched. The swinging from side to side totally destroys it.

[cynthia6637]

1962, STILL IN JR HIGH SCHOOL DANCING AT ALL THE TEEN CLUBS!

FANTASTIC MEMORIES!

GREAT CLEAN FUN IN THOSE DAYS ,

YEL!

[LMHS63]

In 1962 I was 17, this song was on the AM radio, 77 ABC from NYC. I found out what love is that year. A Corsair was a model line of the infamous Edsel car. Thanks for uploading one of my favorites from the good years.

[denisjl100]

@LMHS63 only good thing about the edsel was the back seat heh heh!!!!!

[pat1947100]

I thought I was the only one who had this record in Canada. Never made the hit parade but I love it.

[chargertom]

Most young people today don't know what "love" is. They think it is lust.

[ozone8902]

Young people! Pay attention! This is how you make a love song!

[Waszma]

The lead singer has such an unusual style on this tune. It's pretty amazing....think about it, if a song writer handed you these lyrics, and you'd never heard the tune before, how would you sing it? He did a fantastic job on this song because as cojaysea keenly observed on this page "never heard anything like it". I've talked about this song to several people and the response is either "not familiar with it", or "great song". Apparently anyone who knows it, loves it.

[Eveglo1]

I am so glad that I found this. This was my mother and fathers song and I was too too young to buy it for myself, but the internet has allowed me to have it in the car, mp3 player, 3g phone, cd....

[scottybroker]

I wondered if the Drifters ever did this song.

[cojaysea]

i have loved this song for 50 years .... i still never heard anything like it

[patrickb5197]

What a great record, listen to this with earphones n dig on the bass n background vocals. Fantastic.

[mebanedeac47]

I had forgotten this one. Great vocals.

[Labaron26]

This was an era when Music was real music and not just a bunch of noise......The kids today have no idea what good music is with the junk that they have to listen to now....

[ozone8902]

@Labaron26 Amen

[cynthia6637]

GREAT song!!

For always!

These songs , you never get tired of, Or I don't!

Too many memories behind them!!

[272LBCRT25]

Wow...so THIS is that song. Never actually sat and listened to it. What a gem!!! Think i'll play it again.

[Labaron26]

The guy singing Bass in the background is my idol....what a voice..

[dennjah1]

@Labaron26 George Wooten was awesome bass singer and guitar player as well used to jam with him before he passed away.

[HoboGus]

This is such a COOL Song!!!! I remember hearing this on a jukebox in Boise, Idaho in when I was a kid in the early sixties.

[pyannaguy]

One of the most underrated great songs in the history of American pop vocals. This is epic! What an arrangement! What great singing!

[MrCharleysmom]

Always loved this song.

[brian4858]

Quality tune.......!

[ondreajt]

Jay Uzzell of the Corairs was my grandfather, affectionately referred to as "Poppy". He passed away last February on Super Bowl Sunday. He would have been so happy to know that so many people still love and appreciate his music. Thank you for remembering his contribution...

[anthonytorelli]

@ondreajt Your grandfather brought smiles and good memories to a generation with this one song. RIP Jay

[BODYMAN505]

I WILL ALWAYS HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF CRUISIN IN GOLDSBORO, N.C. IN 1961 AND HAVING SMOKY PLACES BLASTING FROM SPEAKERS OF 1958 FORD. JAYBIRD,HIS BROTHERS AND COUSIN WERE A GREAT TALENT.

[estosiesmusica]

magistral.

[anthonytorelli]

1961 and 1962 were fantastic years for music.

[19111ellyc]

@anthonytorelli I agree. This is one

[sapphiretaurus]

I've loved this song since I first heard it in January of 1996, when I was 14. To those of you lucky enough to have been around at the time to hear this wonderful music firsthand, I'm envious!

[toddwindyhill]

Late Jan/Feb 1962......on the road early and listened to this often.....memories!!

[docpete1968]

This is one of the older oldies I remember anyone out there know where they are from and who lead singer is ???

[Labaron26]

@docpete1968 Consisted of 3 Brothers and their Cousin: Jay, James, Moses Uzell...cousin- George Wooten From: La Grange, North Carolina....dont know who lead was....formally known as "The Gleems"  changed name to "Corsairs" in 1961.

[stephen1622]

Great song! I was 10 years old but remeber my brothers and sisters, who were older, having a great time!

[msi1210]

love it

[xxxdancergirlxxx]

love it memories of myrtle beach and virginia

[Labaron26]

Do Wop forever.....Wow....what an era to have lived in, and I was glad I was part of it.

[smokingolejerry]

It just don't get any better. True classic for sure.

[kdanzi22]

My first favorite song of all time. Wow the calypso was king and it had a great beat and I could dance to it :)

[mrob75]

This has to be one of my most favorite oldies! I love singing along to this!

[qb62ndmaintbn1967]

High school days in Florida. If this is not the best record of 1962, I cannot decide what else might be. Could never find this 45, so the internet age has brought it to me. Thank you.

[docpete1968]

@qb62ndmaintbn1967 1967 was a hell of a time for me most of my male buddies were drafted into the military which needed more bodies to put in the meat grinder called Vietnam I ended up enlisting in th UIS Army 2/506th Alpha Co 101st Airbourne This song and other oldies kept me sane and in touch with home get 4-5guys under an overpass from a bridge and hit some hormoney and notes What do you think ??????

[pannoni1]

@docpete1968 It shows you that 1961-62 were the calm before storm in terms of what was about to happen.

[RossM3838]

One of my all time top ten. I used to own this on a 45 but someone stepped on it. 

[TheClam88]

@qb62ndmaintbn1967 In L.A. the song came out in Sept. 1961.

[TheClam88]

@qb62ndmaintbn1967 In L.A. the sang came out in Sept / Oct 1961

[GrampieBob2]

@qb62ndmaintbn1967 I listened to this song move up the charts on WMEX and when it got up to about #6 the Duke of Earl came out and the rest is history.

[Morkoor]

this is one of the songs that puts you in a good mood

[happycompy]

I heard this in the sopranos

[AllBobsAllTheTime]

These rock'n'roll cha-chas from back then always hook me!!!

[barrygioportmorien1]

Teriffic song.

[zzzlazy1zzz]

Another great classic gem from the days of wonderful music. I heard this song again most

recently on my tv which carries XM radio featuring

all kinds of music. My favorites are the 40's-60's.

[parapharnalia]

My notes:

The Corsairs were black.

For a picture link please email me. I can't post it here, won't let me.

parapharnalia

aka Tommy the Greek

[parapharnalia]

Changing their name in 1961 to The Corsairs, they released their first single, "Time Waits" b/w "It Won't Be a Sin" on Smash Records. Switching to Tuff Records, they released "Smokey Places", which became a nationwide hit after being picked up for national distribution by Chess Records, hitting #10 R&B and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.[1]

continued..

[parapharnalia]

The Corsairs were an American doo wop ensemble from La Grange, North Carolina.

The group consisted of three brothers and their cousin. Initially they performed as The Gleems, and toured the East Coast, where they were overheard by Abner Spector.

[ivycompton]

My sister and I used to argue about whether these guys were black or white. Love the song and the voices. Stunning whatever race they are. Thanks for posting!

[oakmont9]

Song was actually banned in some towns-"too suggestive of adultery". I always found it crisp and terrific to listen to.

[TheStarshine48s]

Just love this song, oldies will never die!! beautiful music with beautiful lyrics.

[alexandria3495]

Thank you so much. I love this song.

[jbzee111]

hello malinda - remember our hiding places days & nights

[goldenlady1983]

I have been looking for this for years! I loved this 45 when I was a little girl! Thank you bunches!

[pyannaguy]

What a singer and what a song! It was early 60's - I was in 7th or 8th grade. Man, the soul!

[Abinidad2]

J Bird Uzell! Thats him singing! Wow! love this old song from the early days, the late 50's!!! I heard it when it first came out! I am so glad to hear it again!!!!

[badbob1946]

just took a guess & found this. always loved it.

[hah13]

doesn' sound Drifers to me

[serinacj]

oh my god. the corsairs!! smokey places!! are you kidding!! i think i have died and gone to heaven. just listen to the words. thank you god!!

[anthonytorelli]

WABC Silver Dollar Sound Survey for Week of 13 February 1962 - 5. Smoky Places - The Corsairs (Tuff)

[weedpatcholdies]

this was originally done by the magnolias.i sure would like to hear it.

[djez96]

my grandma talked to me about oldies. i like them and miss her.

[rdf1947]

Brings back great memories of Junior High School.

[y00sta]

i agree it could be platters or drifters, good at any rate mrwarmth

[txauburnfan]

Like boomerbev1, I was about 13 and this evoked so many romantic images about secretly stolen love. LOL Great times, and great music.

[smeisha]

I'm sooooo glad you posted this one. I couldn't remeber who the artist was. One of my favorites

[TL250Rider]

What a great song just PRICELESS.

Thank you for the listing.

God Bless

[boomerbev1]

One of my all time pre-teen age years favorites! Sounds so Drifters, but The Corsairs might have been one-hit wonders. I can't even find performance videos of them. This song evokes an imaginary love affair for me that didn't even exist, since I was about twelve when I first heard this song. It is one of my top ten ballads of all times. Reasons by EWF runs a close second!

[geena6]

What a lovely song, going straight to my favourite. 5*****. Thankyou chargertom for posting.