BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO by NEIL SEDAKA, LENNY WELCH (and others)

"Breaking Up is Hard to Do" is Neil Sedaka's signature song,  

A young Neil Sedaka performs the original

Originally recorded in the early 60s and re-recorded in 1975 when he was suffering a fall in popularity. He dramatically slowed the song down to a ballad which assisted the resurgenge of his career (and was a distinct improvement in my humble opinion). 

However, 5 years earlier, US crooner Lenny Welch covered the song in a similar, relaxed version. Welch apparently approached Sedaka asking him if he had any songs that would suit his style of singing and Neil, after giving the matter some thought, re-wrote the song for him.

Lenny Welch with his original slower version

The song has also been covered by Little Eva, the Partridge Family and the Carpenters amongst others. 

David Cassidy and the Partridge Family

My favourite? It might surprise you, but I always thought David Cassidy had an excellent voice suited to the uptempo style of the song, so it's TPF from 1972 for me.

POSITIVITY by STEVIE WONDER

Stevie Wonder's "A Time to Love" album was released in 2005 to mixed reviews and featured the single "Positivity" 

This track featured a lady on vocals with him, namely Aisha Morris, who just happens to be his daughter. She is the very same daughter he sang about on "Isn't She Lovely?" back in 1976 (lyric is "life is Aisha, the meaning of her name"). Aisha is now 49 years old!

UNCHAINED MELODY by ROY HAMILTON

Continuing the gone far too soon theme, we come to Rodothas (Roy) Hamilton. 

Live on Ed Mathews Hit Parade Show

With a golden, classical style voice resembling deep, dark molasses, Roy was Epic Records' no.1 star in the mid to late 50s. "You'll Never Walk Alone" and this wonderful version of "Unchained Melody" were their first ever US R&B chart toppers in 1954 and 55. 

His version of Unchained Melody was a hit long before the accepted definitive version by the Righteous Brothers in 1965 while the song is one of the most recorded and performed songs of all time.

Roy died aged 40 in July 1969 from a cerebral hemorrhage after being in a coma for more than a week. Elvis Presley sent Roy's wife, Myrna, a rose every day Hamilton was in hospital and upon his passing he sent Myrna flowers for the following six months. 

Roy and Elvis

Roy was in severe debt at his death and the "King", who considered Roy to be one of his greatest influences, even settled outstanding funeral costs and medical bills.

The studio version

I CRIED by TAMMI TERRELL

Best known for her 7 hit collaborations with Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell had an earlier successful solo career in her own right. This song was recorded when she was still a teenager under her earlier stage name of Tammy Montgomery. 

Born Thomasina Montgomery in Philadelphia, she was named after her father Thomas, a barbershop owner and local politician. Her mother Jennie was an actress.

After years suffering from headaches, one evening in 1967 she actually collapsed on stage into Marvin's arms and after 8 unsuccessful operations for a diagnosed brain tumour, passed away in 1970 aged only 24. 

There have often been rumours that in the latter days she was so ill that her vocals had to be touched up by using Valerie Simpson (of Ashford and Simpson - Solid fame) to help out.

Marvin, who was totally besotted with her although insisted their relationship was no more than platonic, never got over her passing and his legendary "What's Going On?" album of 1971 was in part a reaction to her death. 

At her funeral her mother banned all Motown personnel from attending in protest at their ignorance towards her treatment by Temptations singer David Ruffin, who abused her while in a relationship. All except Marvin that was.

EVERYDAY by SLADE

"Everyday" was something of a strange choice as a Slade single being it was not as "gung-ho" as previous releases, but it was a hit reaching no.3 in the UK charts.

Released as the 2nd single from the album Old, New, Borrowed and Blue, the idea for "Everyday" came out of an evening at Jim Lea's house where he was entertaining friends. Responding to the question of how he wrote songs, he said "easy, anyone can do it" and each person then attempted to come up with their idea for a song, there and then on the spot. 

Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill and Don Powell

Lea's wife Louise came up with an idea, which formed the basis of the song's verse. Lea later developed her idea further to become a Slade song. Once he had finished the music and some more of the lyrics, Noddy Holder finished the final lyrics off and "Everyday" was born! Initially Louise was not given a credit for her part in the songs' creation, but eventually this omission was rectified.

As an interesting snippet, at the time of recording of the song, lead guitarist Dave Hill was abroad on honeymoon so Lea actually played the guitar solo himself.

The Video Game Made Me Do It!

20 years ago on 25th June 2003, Two American step-brothers, Joshua and William Buckner (16 and 14 respectively), shot at vehicles on Interstate 40 in Tennessee with a .22 calibre rifle, killing a 45-year-old man and wounding a 19‑year‑old woman. 

The boys both claimed they had been bored and decided to mimic their favourite video game Grand Theft Auto III.

The families of the two victims subsequently sued the boys, their parents, Rockstar Games who created the game, Take-Two Interactive who published it, Wal-Mart who sold it to them, and Sony Computer Entertainment America who manufactured the PlayStation 2 console they played it on.

The Telcan - the First Home Video Recorder

60 years ago on 24th June 1963, long before video systems Betamax and VHS, the first home video recorder was demonstrated at the BBC’s Alexandra Palace studios in London.

Designed by Norman Rutherford and Michael Turner and manufactured by the Nottingham Electric Valve Company, the Telcan was a reel-to-reel tape recorder capable of recording only 20 minutes of video on either side of the tape. It only worked in monochrome and was very expensive. 

Surprisingly it was not a commercial success.

Further reading :https://www.inventricity.com/telcan-first-home-video-recorder