With its' epic, sweeping production (I especially love the fuzz guitar and massive drums) one would think there would be more known info about this duo. Leads me to believe (and I may be very wrong) that this is either a new York or L.A studio concoction.
Anyone know any more about them?
from 1965...
DIANE & ANNITA - ALL CRIED OUT
10 comments:
Great track! Those verses wouldn't sound out of place on Loretta Lynn's "Van Lear Rose" album, either.
I'm guessing this was recorded in NYC, since producer/arranger Tommy Kaye used to be an A&R guy at Scepter Records.
Since Wand/Scepter records was NYC based, I would be willing to bet the artists were NYC based as well.
They're the same duo that did the original on "Groovy Kind of Love" yes?
Hey Derek..
I think I've gotcha on this one.
Diane Hall & Annita Ray were originally the Bookends, who worked with Ray Anthony in the late 50's/early 60's.
Hold onto your hat, cause here's clip of the duo in action, and you're not gonna wanna believe it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTLBDA2aswc
Annita put out a solo album in 1962[?]....there are several releases by Ray Anthony and the Bookends/Bookend Revue....but I doubt if Diane and Annita sing on them all, cause they obviously went off in a hipper direction at some point.
ana...
Great record, thanks for posting. I just bought a nice M- copy on Gemm Music. Do you have their other record "One By One"?
WOW, Ana...I wonder how they went from so square to so hip??????
The duo were legit (as in real people). They were Diane Hall and Annita Ray, both of whom were Ray Anthony's original Bookends from 1960 into 1961. I don't know too much more about Diane Hall, but Annita had roots going back into the 1950's, ...October, 1956 to be exact, when she made a featured appearance in the movie SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROCK. The movie also featured Fats Domino and Big Joe Turner. In the movie, Annita performed "On A Saturday Night", but it doesn't seem to have been issued on record. However, she did have at least three separate record releases prior to joining Anthony's Bookends Revue in 1960. There was one release each on the Zephyr, Dream, and Jamie labels, from 1957 thru 1959. Following her departure from the Bookends, Annita once again went solo, recording for the AVA and Choreo labels, both of which were related somehow. On the AVA label, she also released one album, SLOW GLOW. It was in 1964 that she re-teamed with Diane Hall as Diane & Annita for two releases, the first being "One By One" written by Artie Wayne who coached the girls when they recorded his song. I've since posted it on YouTube, along with pictures of the girls from their Bookends days so you can see who's singing what parts.
Regarding "Groovy Kind Of Love", their original take on it was issued only in France on EP. To me, it sounds nothing like either of them, especially Annita who has a distinctive vocal presence. (check YouTube for "One By One"). I'd sooner believe it was the song's writers performing "Groovy...", Carol Bayer-Sager and Toni Wine.
Fred Clemens
Annita Ray also recorded a one-off novelty single with Eden Ahbez, the writer of "Nature Boy," in 1956. It was titled "Frankie's Song" b/w "Elvis Presley Blues." The A-side was about "A boy from Hoboken" (Frank Sinatra, obviously), which Ray delivers with her alto swoon. Both sides are amazing, so drippy with celebrity ooze, they'd have made Andy Warhol blush.
My father, JACK LUND, played trombone with Ray Anthony. Used to be Ray Anthony and His Orchestra. Later on, the Bookends were added. I have a couple of great photos of the whole group. They spent a fair amount of time touring, including to South America. Vegas was a returning spot for a lot of musicians in the day, but L.A. saw their likes as well.
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