Song:I Got Rhythm
Album:The Happenings/Psycle
This cover of I Got Rhythm was one of two top five hits for The Happenings. They started out in 1961 in Paterson, NJ as The Four Grads. Bob Miranda was the lead singer. Other members were David Libert, Tom Giuilano and Ralph DeVito. They were a doo wop group but to be successful in the mid-60s they had to update their sound. So they went to The Tokens and signed with their BT Puppy label. The Happenings vocal sound was still doo wop. But the arrangements, the group's look and even the name The Happenings reflected current trends. The Happenings usually recorded covers of hit songs. Miranda says this was deliberate. They wanted to take proven hits and put their spin on them. This paid off in 1966 when See You In September reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. That was a hit for The Tempos in 1959. That was on their debut album The Happenings. Their cover of the Gershwin standard I Got Rhythm also reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. It was from the album Psycle. They also had top 20 hits with covers of Go Away Little Girl and My Mammy. This Collectables CD has both albums. Libert and DeVito left The Happenings in 1968. Libert has had a long career as a manager of George Clinton and others. The Happenings recorded the 1969 album Piece Of Mind for Jubilee Records. Strangely enough, most of the songs were written by Miranda and Libert and they produced the album. I don't know why they deviated from the covers formula. But the album was unsuccessful. And after a couple more singles, The Happenings disbanded in 1972. Miranda revived The Happenings in the 90s and they tour the nostalgia circuit today. Here's The Happenings performing I Got Rhythm on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour 1967.
No comments:
Post a Comment