The most successful jukebox operation I’ve seen was in a diner somewhere up in the gold country towards Sacramento. It simply had a page of about 10 to 20 songs from each year from around 1960 to the present. They were either the best selling songs from the year, or someone s opinion of the best songs for each year. Everyone could find something they liked. The owners resisted the urge to put on what they wanted to hear.

Now for me: I thought the ones through 1970 were good, for some reason 1971 was missing, and the ones past that seemed to based more on the performer s reputation for drug use than the music. But then, I m an old fa*t who just bought a new needle for his 35 year old record changer. It came today and sounds great.

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.

quote:

Originally posted by Kayleigh
Dear Ort. Thanks for getting back on the Contrasts record. And if you keep talking about dancing I will be doing "The Jerk" soon, and by the way that’s the name of soul classic by The Larks.
Update. That’s it Ort., I fold. I found nothing on The Villagers or The Will-O-Bees even though they sound familiar.
The Spellbinders caught my interest as they were produced by the great Van McCoy "The Hustle"
I"m out of the game.

Kayleigh,
Don’t fold up yet!
The Villagers were a group from Birmingham who recorded three singles for FAME and ATCO. The one I mentioned received considerable airplay here (both sides) in 1966 or 1967. "Laugh It Off" had been previously performed by Atlanta’s great soul group The Tams.
The Will-O-Bees is on DATE and was produced (if I remember correctly) by Bill Traut out of Chicago. They, too, had several other singles… I own at least two more.
The Spellbinders had five singles and an album: absolutely amazing stuff. Yes, the late, great Van McCoy was their mentor.
By the way, I’m really glad to see that someone else knows "The Jerk" by The Larks, who originally recorded as Don Julian And The Meadowlarks for DOOTONE about 1955. I think they’re still together in Los Angeles.
Why didn’t someone do a one-off single "The Lark" and call themselves The Jerks?
Now it is I who fold up, if only temporarily. – Remember, if a topic becomes funny enough to morph a bit as this one has, off topic or no, it’s still worthy of consideration.
Signing Off, Ort. Carlton in 30601-Central.

Dearfolk,
Do I have any requests either to add some new tunes to the jukebox – or to shut up?
As y’all can imagine, I’ve come up with a few more obscure goodies….
Almost Quiescently, Ort. Carlton in Everyone But Me’s Studying For Finals Athens, Georgia.

Dearfolk,
Okay, I’ve been quiescent for several daze. It’s time to change the records again.
Five that charted, at least to some extent:
1) Brooklyn Roads – Neil Diamond.
2) Soul Coaxing (Ame Caline) – Raymond Lefevre Orchestra.
3) Two-Ten, Six-Eighteen (Does Anyone Know My Name?) – Jimmie Rodgers.
4) Oh Yeah – The Shadows Of Knight.
5) Candy – The Astors.
Five that didn’t chart, made the bottom rungs, or the Bubbling Under The Hot 100 chart:
1) If My World Falls Through – The Rose Garden Featuring Deanna De Rose (spelling of first name optional).
2) Girls Are Made For Loving – Eliot Small.
3) Painter Man – The Creation.
4) Chove Chuva – Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66.
5) Pepperman – Arnim-Hamilton.
This thread has been a tremendous thinking exercise for me. No notes have been consulted; no boxes or piles of 45s pawed through… besides, I don’t own all of these I’ve posted; just a decent many of them.
Now it’s back to food and other obsessions.
Spinningly, Ort. Carlton in 30601-land.

Hello All,
I’ve spoken on this before, but sonny makes me think or re-think.
I was at a place in Va. Beach where there was a free jukebox. The
kids went crazy on it, but actually no one was listening, or barely listening
to it. That was good.
But, like Sonny, I agree I would like to be at a place where I can really
hear the song I’ve played and don’t mind paying, if I can hear them.
So many places have a purposely bad sad system, or turned down system,
that the jukebox is worthless. We may be a minority, but some of us
love music, good, quality sound music while we eat or drink.
Nevertheless, it was fun watching the kids at the Purple Dog, Va. Beach,
punching in free tunes, even if the sound wasn’t good.
It’s a matter of setting.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.

quote:

Originally posted by Sonny Funzio

Oldies:
There’s a Moon Out Tonight – Capris

Sonny,
You’ve got gooooood taste. I’ve got it on OLD TOWN on both the blue and multi-color labels. What a great record!
Now you’ve gotme thinking about obscure doo-wop and ’50’s goodies.
Fascinatored, Ort. Carlton in Street-Corner Hot-Dog-Stand-But-Not-Harmony Athens, Georgia.

Thanx Ort! Yeah, I’m a big fan of oldies and doo-wop. Generally if I can dance to it … I’ll give it at least an 80.

quote:

Originally posted by drsmoke02

Should I keep it free?

drsmoke02, to get back to part of your question … I absolutely, positively would *not* keep it free … I know I’m swimmin against the current here but bear with me.

When I go to a bar (or restaurant) it’s a huge bummer to order a beer, put some music on the jukebox … and then two hours later when it comes time to leave I still haven’t heard my selections because a couple people punched in 20 songs apiece because there were 40 free credits available.

It wouldn’t be so bad if it turned out that those choices were generally music I don’t mind hearing, but too often it ends up being songs or bands I either have heard way too much of, or just cant stand to begin with … music is central to why I go to an establishment … I can not deal with "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" by Toby Keith followed by two hours of Anita Baker punctuated by select cuts from Megadeth.

True, even when the jukebox requires money, occasionally it still happens … but nowhere near as frequently as when selections are free.

Having a good selection of music does help. But in the end, it’s nice if more folks get to hear a few selections they’ve made themselves.

I would, however, be generous with the number of songs you get for the money. I spend a lot of money in jukeboxes and really don’t mind payin as long as the music is decent and I can actually hear the song’s I’ve played.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while. It’s hard to do just five… but here goes:
Walking After Midnight…Patsy Cline
When a Man Loves A Woman…Percy Sledge
Just a Sittin and a Rockin…June Christy
Satin Doll…Duke Ellington
Flip Flop and Fly…Big Joe Turner

There are so many more. Many nights we don’t turn on the TV after the local news. We play music and read.

This took a LONG time to decide…

1 Johnny Cash – Sunday Morning Coming Down
2 Willie Nelson – Look What Thoughts Will Do
3 Hank Williams Jr – Family Tradition
4 Lynyrd Skynyrd – Tuesday’s Gone
5 Bob Seger – Shame On The Moon

quote:

Originally posted by prisonchef

close on that one but no seeeeegar!!!
the best happy trails is by quicksilver messenger service.
opps there’s a few more to add to the list.
bears
shady groves
and last but not least
what about me
oh man brings back memories of wonderful thai and vietnamese food[:o)]

Quicksilver Messenger Service was my favorite band of the ’70s! You have great taste in music (he said modestly).

close on that one but no seeeeegar!!!
the best happy trails is by quicksilver messenger service.
opps there’s a few more to add to the list.
bears
shady groves
and last but not least
what about me
oh man brings back memories of wonderful thai and vietnamese food[:o)]

My final selection would be "Happy Trails" by Roy Rogers. It’s a great song for closure.[;)]
http://www.royrogers.com/happy_trails-index.html

Dearfolk,
Okay — five more that charted:
1) You – The Aquatones.
2) Our Winter Love – Bill Pursell. (That’s for you, Kayleigh.)
3) The River Is Wide – The Forum.
4) Hot Smoke & Sasafrass – The Bubble Puppy. (One of the greatest underplayed psych artifacts of all!)
5) Mr. Dieingly Sad – The Critters.
And five more that didn’t (or barely did):
1) I Can’t Let Maggie Go – The Honeybus.
2) I’ll Come Running – Lulu.
3) A Ritual Melody – The Black River Circus.
4) Getting To Know You – Sajid Khan. (Yes, I have it – on a STOCK copy! AND his other single!! AND his LP!!! All well used.)
5) I’ve Been Watching You/Six O’Clock In The Morning (You’re Gone) – The Feminine Complex.
Next I smugly sit here and listen to all y’all fall out of your chairs. Oh, tee hee… I haven’t had this much fun in A-while.
Folks, the Kellerbier at Copper Creek was good food for thought.
Dead Soberly, Ort. Carlton in Lovely Athens, Georgia.

quote:

Originally posted by drsmoke02
I have a recording of a farting contest in some English pub,unfortunatly it’s not on 45!

Drsmoke,
I think there have been several of those over time; they just weren’t credited as such.
Fortunately most groups (or persons) who produce such are just a passing… er, fancy.
Not Breaking Records, Ort. Carlton, here.

quote:

Originally posted by Kayleigh

And here is my prediction of "Ort.Carlton’s List" …
Joy….Apollo 100
Topsy Pt.2..Cozy Cole
Hot Butter…Popcorn
Asia Minor…Kokomo
I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman…Whistling Jack Smith
Apricot Brandy….Rhinoceros
Nut Rocker…B.Bumble and the Stingers
Music to Watch Girls By…The Bob Crewe Generation
Comin’ in the Back Door….Baja Marimba Band
Blues’ Theme….Davie Allan
Classical Gas…Mason Williams

Kayleigh,
I’m not a big user of profanity in any form (it implies a lack of imagination), but I gotta say it… damn, you’re good! – I can’t improve on those without digging down into the Bubbling Unders and/or the Bottom 100.
Bless your heart!
Honoredly, Ort. Carlton in The Usual Place.