Song:Easier Said than Done
Album:Only Rock 'n' Roll 1955-1965
I'm sure you have all heard Easier Said Than Done as it topped the charts in 1963 and is still a staple of oldies radio. But you probably don't know anything about The Essex. The most interesting thing about The Essex is they were all active Marines when they recorded Easier Said Than Done. Guitarist Walter Vickers and drummer Rodney Taylor were stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After being transferred to Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, they formed The Essex with fellow marines Billy Hill, Rudolph Johnson and lead singer Anita Humes. Another Marine, William Linton, wrote Easier Said Than Done. A demo got them a record deal with Roulette Records. Easier Said Than Done topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. It was released as a B-side to Are You Going My Way but DJs flipped it over and the rest is history. The Essex weren't happy with the record. They thought it was too short. They recorded three albums but weren't able to score another big hit. You can get Easier Said Than Done on this various artists budget CD from Rhino. Because they were Marines, the Essex couldn't tour and then Johnson was transferred to Japan. Roulette attempted to record Anita Humes as a solo artist but that was unsuccessful. She performed occasionally until her 2010 death. Rodney Taylor was murdered in 1966. Here's a video for Easier Said Than Done by The Essex.
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