Song:Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie
Album:Hard To Find 45s on CD Vol. 12: 60s & 70s Pop Classics
Here's a song about food that was a top ten pop hit in 1967. How appropriate for the US Thanksgiving. It was the one big hit for Jay & The Techniques and the song most folks will remember. They were from Allentown, PA led by lead singer Jay Proctor. Other members were singer George "Lucky" Lloyd, guitarist Dante Dancho, bassist Chuck Crowl and drummer Karl Landis. They entered a Battle Of The Bands contest in Allentown. They didn't win but they signed with Mercury Records producer Jerry Ross. Among other things, he produced Bobby Hebb's smash hit Sunny. According to Proctor, they were in the studio and he was given the lyrics to Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie. He couldn't believe they wanted him to sing a song about fruit. At first he refused to sing it. But he changed his mind. The song was rejected by Bobby Hebb. Proctor's great vocals helped and the song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. The follow up single Keep The Ball Rollin' reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. A couple of other singles charted but Jay & The Techniques only made one album and then were forgotten. Jay Proctor is still around. He released a solo CD in 2006. RPM Records released an excellent Jay & The Techniques comp last year. But I think most folks only want the two hits and you can both of them on this various artists comp from Eric Records. Eric is a good reissue label. They use original masters on their CDs. Here's Jay Proctor performing Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie on the 1999 PBS special Rock 'N' Roll Graffiti. Thanks to The Standard Report at Regent University for the info about the formation of Jay & The Techniques.
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