James Radcliffe (November 18, 1936 – July 27, 1973)
was an American soul singer, composer, arranger, conductor and record producer.
Biography
James Radcliffe was born in New York City. He released such singles as "My Ship is Coming In", a song composed by his writing partner
Joey Brooks (later of "
You Light Up My Life" fame), was later covered by
The Walker Brothers
The Walker Brothers were an American pop group of the 1960s and 1970s which included Noel Scott Engel (eventually known professionally as Scott Walker), John Walker (born John Joseph Maus, but using the name Walker since his teens) and Gary Le ...
as a pop music hit, and also wrote several songs featured in the children's TV show ''
The Banana Splits
''The Banana Splits'' is an American television variety show produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and featuring the Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four costumed animal characters in red marching band hats with yellow plumes. ...
''. He will be probably best remembered for his recording of "Long After Tonight Is All Over" (written by
Burt Bacharach and
Hal David
Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He grew up in New York City. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick.
Early life
David ...
) which became famous as one of the "3 before 8" songs that was played at the
Wigan Casino
The Wigan Casino was a nightclub in Wigan, England. Operating between 1973 and 1981, it became known as a primary venue for Northern soul music. It carried forward the legacy created by clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester, the Chateau ...
all-nighters, the
Northern soul venue. The song was a minor hit in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
in 1965, reaching #40.
The popularity of "Long After Tonight Is All Over" led to a promotional tour in support of the record, wherein Radcliffe was featured in the British music press (''
Record Mirror
''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the '' NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in '' ...
'', ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'') and appeared on numerous radio and televisions shows including
"Ready, Steady, Go!" with
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
"Time Is On My Side",
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhyt ...
"Tired Of Waiting For You",
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers are an American musical duo originally formed by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield but now comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group with Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Lo ...
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" Del Shannon
Charles Weedon Westover (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990), better known by his stage name Del Shannon, was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known for his 1961 number-one ''Billboard'' hit "Runaway". In 1999, he was induc ...
"Keep Searching" (January 15, 1965) and ''
Thank Your Lucky Stars''; the ABC ''Lucky Stars Special Presents Cilla Black'' with
Cilla Black,
The Riot Squad
The Riot Squad were a pop group from London, initially managed and produced by Larry Page and later, for their reunion, by Joe Meek.
The band was formed in late 1964 by Ron Ryan (guitar), Graham Bonney (vocals), Bob Evans (saxophone), Mark Ste ...
,
The Hollies
The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...
,
The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four-piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label: " Hippy Hippy Shake", " Good Golly Miss Molly", and " You're No Good", issued in 1964. Subsequent singles released tha ...
,
Del Shannon
Charles Weedon Westover (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990), better known by his stage name Del Shannon, was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known for his 1961 number-one ''Billboard'' hit "Runaway". In 1999, he was induc ...
and
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka (born July 30, 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including " Diana", " Lonely Boy", " Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". Anka also ...
(January 23, 1965); and ''The
Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews, (19 December 1922 – 5 November 1987) was an Irish radio and television presenter, employed primarily in the United Kingdom from the 1950s to the 1980s. From 1960 to 1964 he chaired the Radio Éireann Authority (now the RTÉ ...
Show''.
Radcliffe did not live long enough to see this recording achieve cult status. Long plagued by a weight problem, he had a
kidney
The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blo ...
removed in 1973 and developed further complications with his remaining one. He died in hospital the same year on July 27 (two months before Wigan Casino opened its doors on September 23), leaving his wife, Judy, and two sons, Christopher and William.
[Last FM]
"Jimmy Radcliffe's Biography"
''Last FM''. Retrieved 08 February 2017.
Career as vocalist
During his tenure as one of New York City's most successful
session vocalists, Radcliffe's voice was the first to sing future hit songs like "
This Diamond Ring "This Diamond Ring" is a 1965 song written by Al Kooper, Bob Brass and Irwin Levine. The original demo was sung by Jimmy Radcliffe. It was first released as a single by Sammy Ambrose on Musicor #1061, then by Gary Lewis & the Playboys on Liberty ...
" (
Al Kooper
Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt; February 5, 1944) is a retired American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears, although he did not stay with the group long enough to share its popularity. ...
, Bobby Brass, Irwin Levine) and "
Pretty Flamingo
"Pretty Flamingo" is a song written by Mark Barkan, which became a hit in 1966 when Manfred Mann's recording of it was released as a single. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 5 May 1966. Manfred Mann's recording was a minor ...
" (
Mark Barkan
Mark may refer to:
Currency
* Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic
* Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927
* Fin ...
), and contribute to the session releases by The Definitive Rock Chorale's "Variations on a Theme Called Hanky Panky" produced by
Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise Greenwich (October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009) was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Maybe I Know", "Then He Kissed Me", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", ...
and
Mike Rashkow.
Radcliffe's vocal abilities earned him the distinction of being referred to as "The Soul of The
Brill Building
The Brill Building is an office building at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, just north of Times Square and further uptown from the historic musical Tin Pan Alley neighborhood. It was built in 1931 as t ...
Sound".
Burt Bacharach and
Hal David
Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He grew up in New York City. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick.
Early life
David ...
had him record songs for
Gene Pitney, as would Ellie Greenwich and Tony Powers.
Gloria Shayne enlisted his help to get
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) was an American musician, actor, and author with a career that spanned more than six decades.
Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own rad ...
and
Arthur Prysock
Arthur Prysock Jr. (January 1, 1924 According to his obituary in ''The New York Times'', "his heavy, deep voice projected a calm, reassuring virility."
Life and career
Prysock was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Many sources give his bir ...
covers.
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Lyricist Jerome Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933) were American songwriting and record producing partners. They found success as the writers of such crossover hit songs as " Hound Dog" ( ...
,
Scott English
Sheldon David "Scott" English (January 10, 1937 – November 16, 2018) was an American songwriter, arranger and record producer. He is best known as the co-writer of "Brandy" which he wrote with Richard Kerr. This song became a No. 1 hit fo ...
and
Claus Ogerman
Claus Ogerman (born Klaus Ogermann; 29 April 1930 – 8 March 2016) was a German arranger, conductor, and composer best known for his work with Billie Holiday, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank Sinatra, Michael Brecker, and Diana Krall.
Life and wor ...
were among his clients.
To supplement his income, he hired out as a backing vocalist, and recorded with
Doris Troy
Doris Troy (born Doris Elaine Higginsen; January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, known to her many fans as "Mama Soul". Her biggest hit was " Just One Look", a top 10 hit in 1963.
Life and career
She ...
,
Dee Dee Warwick
Delia Juanita Warrick (September 25, 1942 – October 18, 2008), known professionally as Dee Dee Warwick, was an American soul singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she was the sister of singer Dionne Warwick, the niece of Cissy Houston, and a ...
,
Cissy Houston,
Melba Moore
Beatrice Melba Hill or Beatrice Melba Smith (sources differ) (born October 29, 1945), known by her stage name Melba Moore, is an American singer and actress.
Biography Early life and education
Moore was born Beatrice Melba Hill or Beatrice Melba ...
,
Toni Wine
Toni Wine (born June 4, 1947 in Washington Heights, New York City, United States) is an American pop music songwriter, who wrote songs for such artists as The Mindbenders (" A Groovy Kind of Love"), Tony Orlando and Dawn (" Candida"), and Checkm ...
, Jean Thomas and Barbara Jean English doing sessions for groups such as
The Drifters
The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, formed in ...
. Radcliffe,
Dionne Warwick, and
Dee Dee Warwick
Delia Juanita Warrick (September 25, 1942 – October 18, 2008), known professionally as Dee Dee Warwick, was an American soul singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she was the sister of singer Dionne Warwick, the niece of Cissy Houston, and a ...
provided backing vocals on The Drifters "
Sweets for My Sweet
"Sweets for My Sweet" is a song written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, originally recorded by American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group the Drifters.
The Drifters version
The group's first single featuring Charlie Thoma ...
" recording, (1961).
Singer-songwriter
Sherman Edwards
Sherman Edwards (April 3, 1919 – March 30, 1981) was an American composer, jazz pianist, and songwriter, best known for his songs from the 1969 Broadway musical ''1776'' and the 1972 film adaptation.
Early life
Edwards was born in the East ...
recorded the original vocal demos of his songs for the planned musical
"1776", but by late 1968 Edwards had also enlisted Jimmy Radcliffe ("Mama Look Sharp", "Is Anybody There"),
Bernie Knee ("Mama Look Sharp", "Is Anybody There"), Ann Gilbert ("He Plays The Violin", "Yours, Yours, Yours") to record stylize
demo versionsthat might also impact the
pop chart
A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of recorded music according to certain criteria during a given period. Many different criteria are used in worldwide charts, often in combination. These include re ...
s.
"1776" went on to become a 1969
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
-winning
Broadway show
Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...
that inspired a 1972
feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...
.
Another instance of Jimmy Radcliffe's involvement with Broadway bound
musicals were his vocal demos of the
Bob James and
Jack O'Brien song
"Take My Hand"an
"Stars Of Glory"for the now notorious 1972 theatrical production of ''
The Selling of the President
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'', based upon the best-selling book by author
Joe McGinniss
Joseph Ralph McGinniss Sr. (December 9, 1942 – March 10, 2014) was an American non-fiction writer and novelist.
The author of twelve books, he first came to prominence with the best-selling ''The Selling of the President 1968'' which describe ...
.
In August 1963, while preparing to work with the record producer,
Bert Berns
Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include " Twist and Shout", " Piec ...
, on his third release on Musicor Records, Radcliffe attended a session at Chess Studios, produced by Berns, where three of his co-compositions were being recorded by Tammy Montgomery: "This Time Tomorrow", "I Can't Hold It In Any More" and "I've Got Nothing To Say But Goodbye". "This Time Tomorrow" would be issued as the
B-side of Montgomery's
Chess
Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...
/
Checker single, "If I Would Marry You." Radcliffe recorded with Montgomery a
duet version of
If I Would Marry You" more than three years before her name change to
Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye.
...
and pairing with
Marvin Gaye at
Motown. The unreleased duet, and the other two unreleased songs from the sessions, were released on ''Come on And See Me'', a
double
A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another.
Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to:
Film and television
* Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character
* ...
collection of Terrell's recordings.
One
Bert Berns
Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include " Twist and Shout", " Piec ...
, Carl Spencer and Jimmy Radcliffe collaboration that did make the pop charts in 1963 was the song "My Block", recorded by
The Chiffons
:''The Chiffons also briefly recorded under the name The Four Pennies; for the British band of the latter name see The Four Pennies.''
The Chiffons are an American girl group originating from the Bronx, a borough of New York City, in 1960.
Hist ...
. "She's Got Everything" recorded by
The Essex, and produced by
Henry Glover
Henry Bernard Glover (May 21, 1921 – April 7, 1991) was an American songwriter, arranger, record producer and trumpet player. In the music industry of the time, Glover was one of the most successful and influential black executives. He gain ...
, as a follow-up to their million-seller "
Easier Said Than Done" also charted at #56 and inspired recordings by singers
Maxine Brown,
Sugar Pie DeSanto
Sugar Pie DeSanto (born Peylia Marsema Balinton, October 16, 1935) is an American R&B singer and dancer, whose career in music flourished in the 1950s and 1960s.
Early life
DeSanto was born to an African-American mother, who was a concert pianis ...
and
Barbara George
Barbara George (16 August 1942 – 10 August 2006) was an American R&B singer and songwriter.
Biography
Born Barbara Ann Smith at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, she was raised in the 9th ward New Orleans, and began si ...
.
Career as composer and producer
In 1964, after a meeting with
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
, in a Harlem
supper club
A supper club is a traditional dining establishment that also functions as a social club. The term may describe different establishments depending on the region, but in general, supper clubs tend to present themselves as having a high-class image ...
, Radcliffe was inspired and composed his ballad of
freedom and
equality
Equality may refer to:
Society
* Political equality, in which all members of a society are of equal standing
** Consociationalism, in which an ethnically, religiously, or linguistically divided state functions by cooperation of each group's elit ...
Stand Up. Unreleased at the time, until the 2008 issue
Where There Smoke There's Fire', the track featured Radcliffe playing the
vibes. Radcliffe was self-taught on the guitar, piano,
bass, vibes and drums, preferring to write using his
Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 174616 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, and e ...
acoustic guitar because of its portability.
Beginning in 1965, Radcliffe was the first African-American performing artist to write, produce and sing commercial
jingles
A jingle is a short song or tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. Jingles are a form of sound branding. A jingle contains one or more hooks and meaning that explicitly promote the product or service being advertised, usually t ...
for the advertising industry. By the time of his death om 1973, he had worked on over two hundred television and radio commercials.
Steve Karmen remembered Radcliffe in the advertising industry: "Typically, Jim would be called to come to the studio at a designated time, in most cases not even being told the name of the product he was to sing about, then be given about five minutes to learn a song that he had never seen before that moment, and was then expected to deliver the 'soul' version of the commercial".
A few of Radcliffe's best known commercials are the 1969–70 Pontiac, "breakaway in a wide tracking Pontiac", the 30-second commercial was expanded for general release to try to capitalize on its popularity and was released as "Breakaway" by the Steve Karmen Big Band featuring Jimmy Radcliffe; the soul version of
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hambur ...
(1971); and the
Clio Award-winning "
Polaroid
Polaroid may refer to:
* Polaroid Corporation, an American company known for its instant film and cameras
* Polaroid camera, a brand of instant camera formerly produced by Polaroid Corporation
* Polaroid film, instant film, and photographs
* Polar ...
Gives It To You Now" (1971).
The summer of 2011 has seen the rise of two campaigns: the first, to make the Radcliffe-Diamond song "You're The Salt Of The Earth Pal" the advertising "sound brand identity" theme for
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
's Tourism Bureau in Utah and the second, to have Jimmy's "
I'm Gonna Find a Cave" song accepted as the international "
Man cave
A man cave
or manspace,
and less commonly a manland or mantuary is a male retreat
or sanctuary
in a home, such as a specially equipped garage,
spare bedroom,
media room,
den,
basement,
or tree house.
The term "man cave" is a metaphor describ ...
s" Anthem.
Radcliffe's recordings have appeared in films such as
Radley Metzger
Radley Metzger (also known as Radley Henry Metzger, Radley H. Metzger and by the pseudonyms, "Jake Barnes", "Erich Farina" and "Henry Paris") (January 21, 1929 – March 31, 2017) was an American pioneering filmmaker and film distributor, mos ...
's 1967's
Carmen Baby', Allen Funt's ''
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?
''What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?'' is a 1970 American hidden-camera style reality film directed by '' Candid Camera'' creator Allen Funt. In the film, Funt secretly records people's reactions to unexpected encounters with nudity or sexualit ...
'' (1970),
Gerald Potterton's
Tiki Tiki' (1971) wherein he was backed by
Cissy Houston,
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
's mother on a
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
recording. "
Eve's Bayou
''Eve's Bayou'' is a 1997 American Southern Gothic drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this film. Samuel L. Jackson served as a producer, and starred in the film with Lisa Nicole Carson, Jurnee Smo ...
" (1997), ''
The Tenants'' starring
Snoop Dogg and
Dylan McDermott
Dylan McDermott (born Mark Anthony McDermott; October 26, 1961) is an American actor. He is known for his role as lawyer and law firm head Bobby Donnell on the legal drama series ''The Practice'', which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best ...
(2005), the 2006 romantic drama ''
Something New'' starring
Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa McCoy Lathan (born September 19, 1971) is an American actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan. Her career began after she appeared in the shows ''In the House'', '' Family Matters'', ''NYPD Blue ...
and
Simon Baker
Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor in television and film, as well as a director. He is known for his lead roles in the CBS television series ''The Mentalist'' as Patrick Jane and ''The Guardian'' as Nicholas Fallin ...
and 2010's ''
Soulboy
Soulboys (sometimes spelled soul boys) were a working class English youth subculture of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and fans of American soul and funk music. The subculture emerged in North-West England as northern soul event attendees began ...
'' a film about
Northern soul.
Jimmy's recording of "
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ''The Sound of Music.'' It is sung at the close of the first act by the Mother Abbess. It is themed as an inspirational piece, to encourage people to take every s ...
" was showcased on the premiere episode of "
Hard Knocks In Season - The Indianapolis Colts" on November 17, 2021. It would be the longest use of a song in the sixteen season history of the
Emmy winning series.
A part of Radcliffe's career often overlooked was his work as a songwriter, record producer and live performing artist. During his 14 years as a
Brill Building
The Brill Building is an office building at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, just north of Times Square and further uptown from the historic musical Tin Pan Alley neighborhood. It was built in 1931 as t ...
,
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley was a collection of music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street ...
songwriter, his songs were recorded by numerous recording artists in varying styles of music. In the early 1960s, Radcliffe was recognized for his 'message songs' about growing, striving and surviving the realities of living in Harlem. The poignant evocative storytelling of songs like "Three Rooms With Running Water", "My Block", "Deep in the Heart of Harlem" and "Stand Up" spoke about personal and social issues. By the later 1960s his live performances, in Greenwich Village, Amiri Baraka's Sister Kimako Baraka's Club CASBAH, and guest appearances on television including like "Inside Bedford Stuyvesant" with such friends as Richie Havens and poet Saundra Sharp, included protest sonsuch as like and "Insults" dealing with institutionalized social injustice and racism combined with songs about Love.
Aretha Franklin's first credit as a record producer was with Radcliffe on "Black Pride" the theme to Jesse Jackson's (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) S.C.L.C. Black Expo '71. This history was largely overshadowed by the controversy over the suspension of Jesse Jackson by The S.C.L.C. director Ralph Abernathy over financial irregularities associated with the EXPO and Jackson's public resignation from S.C.L.C.'s Operation Breadbasket and the formation of his own Rainbow/PUSH, Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) i
December 1971
Selected writing credits
* The Andrews Sisters, "All The Colors of the Rainbow", ''Great Performers'' LP Dot Records-#25807, 1967
* Ray Charles, "Show Me The Sunshine", ''Love Country Style'' LP ABC-#707, 1970
* Robert Goulet, "If There's A Way", Columbia single #44100, 1967
* Johnny Mathis, , ''Sings The Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert'' LP 1970 Columbia-#G-30350
* Aretha Franklin, "Pullin'",
Spirit In The Dark' LP Atlantic-#SD8265, 1970
* Carolyn Franklin, "Right On", ''Chain Reaction'' LP RCA Records-#LSP-4317, 1970
* Etta James, , Argo Single#5437 was the B-side to "Pushover", 1963
* Lou Rawls, ,
Something Stirring In My Soul, ''Carryin' On'' LP Capitol Records-#ST2632, 1966
* Eric Burdon & The Animals, "It's Been A Long Time Comin'", ''Eric Is Here'' LP 1967 MGM
* Clyde McPhatter,
Deep In The Heart Of Harlem, "Three Rooms With Running Water", "My Block", "A Suburban Town", ''Coney Island'' Mercury LP-#20902 & SR-60902, 1964
* Jackie Wilson, "Soulville"
Higher And Higher' LP Brunswick Records-#BL754130, 1967
The Fairest Of Them All Brunswick single#55300, 1966
* Matt Monro, "Fourth Blue Monday", Capitol single#P-2058, 1967
*
The Chiffons
:''The Chiffons also briefly recorded under the name The Four Pennies; for the British band of the latter name see The Four Pennies.''
The Chiffons are an American girl group originating from the Bronx, a borough of New York City, in 1960.
Hist ...
,
My Block, #67 (as The Four Pennies) on Rust Single#5071, 1963
* Patti Page, "Pretty Boy Lonely", #98 Columbia single#4-42671, 1963
* Marlena Shaw,
Nothing But Tears, ''Out of a Different Bag'' LP Cadet Records-#LPS-803, 1967
* Clara Ward
"If You Wanna Change The World" "Soul And Inspiration" LP Capitol #ST-126 Prod. David Axelrod (musician), David Axelrod, Arr. & Cond. H.B. Barnum, 1969
* The Clovers, "Sweet Side of a Soulful Woman" Josie Single#997, 1968
* Connie Francis,
* Esther Phillips, , Atlantic single#2570, 1966
* Jimmy Witherspoon, , ''HUHN!'' LP 1970 Bluesway Records-#BLS-6040
* Johnny Maestro, , Buddah single #201, 1970
* Nancy Wilson (jazz singer), Nancy Wilson, "I'm Your Special Fool", ''Nancy'' LP Capitol Records-#ST-148, 1969
*
The Essex,
She's Got Everything, #58 Roulett single#4530 1963
* Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra, "But Not Today", ''A Man Could Get Killed'', Decca DL-74750 (1966) and ''Strangers in the Night'', Decca DL-74795 (1966)
* Chet Baker, "But Not Today", ''Mariachi Brass – Double Shout'' World Pacific-#1852, 1967
* Johnny Nash, "How Do I Say I Love You", ''Studio Time'' LP ABC Records-#ABCS-383, 1961
* Tammy Montgomery (later
Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye.
...
)
"This Time Tomorrow"Checker single#1072, 1964
* The Hour Glass, The Hourglass (aka The Allman Bros),
Nothing But Tears, ''The Hour Glass'' LP Liberty Records-#56002, 1967
*
The Banana Splits
''The Banana Splits'' is an American television variety show produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and featuring the Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four costumed animal characters in red marching band hats with yellow plumes. ...
, "Adam Had'em", "
I'm Gonna Find a Cave" "Don' Go Away Go-Go Girl" "The Show Must Go On", "Soul", ''We're The Banana Splits'' LP Decca DL-75075, 1968
* Harlem Globetrotters (TV series), The Harlem Globetrotters (cartoon television series)
* The Fourmost, "My Block", ''First And Foremost'' LP Parlophone PMC 1259, Produced by George Martin, 1965
* Tom Jones (singer), Tom Jones, "It's Been A Long Time Comin'", ''A-Tom-Ic Jones'' LP Decca Records-#SKL-4743, 1966
* Helen Shapiro,
Forget About The Bad Things, Columbia single#DB7810, 1966
* Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, "Three Rooms With Running Water", Parolophone single#R5259 (UK) Amy single#930 (US), 1965
*
Gene Pitney, "Lyda Sue, Wha'dya Do", ''Meets The Fair Ladies of Folkland'' LP Musicor-#MM2007, 1964
* Billy Lee Riley, "I'm Gonna Find A Cave", Crescendo single#371, 1966
* Bobby Lewis, "Intermission", Beltone single#B2035, 1963
* Adam Wade (singer), Adam Wade, "It's Been A Long Time Comin'" Epic single#5-9771, 1965 and "A Man Alone" Epic single#5-10112,
* Gloria Lynne, "Speaking of Happiness", "Love Child" and "Livin' The Life of Love"
* Lou Monte, "All for the Kids", RCA single#47-9405, 1967
* Vaughn Meader, "The Elephant Song", MGM single#K-13169, 1963
*
Arthur Prysock
Arthur Prysock Jr. (January 1, 1924 According to his obituary in ''The New York Times'', "his heavy, deep voice projected a calm, reassuring virility."
Life and career
Prysock was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Many sources give his bir ...
, "Don't You Ever Feel Sorry", ''In A Mood'' LP 1966 Old Town Records-#2010
* P. J. Proby, "I Love Therefore I Am", Liberty Records EP-#LEP2229, 1965
* Julie London, "Treat Me Good", ''With Body And Soul'' LP 1967 Liberty Records-#3514
* Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters, "The Truth Hurts (But Not As Much as You Lies)", ''Cry Baby And 11 Other Hits'' LP United Artists-#UAL3305, 1963 and Veep single#1252, 1967
* Miki Dallon,
I'm Gonna Find A Cave, Strike single#306 (Spain) Picture Sleeve RCA single#3-10163, 1966
* The Sorrows, "I'm Gonna Find A Cave",
Take A Heart' CD, 2000
* Gina Sicilia
Try Me,
Allow Me To Confess' CD Swing Nation, 2007
* Girl Trouble (band), Girl Trouble, "Gonna Find A Cave", Sub Pop 200, 1988
* Mr. T Experience, "Don't Go Away Go-Go Girl",
Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood' CD
* Kristina Train, "If You Want Me", ''Spilt Milk (Kristina Train album), Split Milk'' CD 2009 Blue Note
Rattlin BoneSpeaking Of Happiness (2010)
Radcliffe's songs have appeared in films and television dating back to 1965's Anthony Perkins thriller
The Fool Killer', ''A Man Could Get Killed'', which featured "Strangers in the Night" and as the main themes, ''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour'' (1968–70), ''Harlem Globetrotters (TV series), The Harlem Globetrotters'' (1970–72), ''Seven (1995 film), Se7en'' (1995), ''U Turn (1997 film), U Turn'' (1997),
La Bande Du Drugstore' (2002) featuring "Try Me", ''Third Watch'' (1999–2005), ''Sleeper Cell (TV series), Sleeper Cell'' (2005–06), 2017 Academy Award-nominated film Lion (2016 film), ''Lion'' (2016). and Amazon Studios "The Man In The High Castle".
As a record producer Radcliffe produced the original demo of the song "It's My Party (Lesley Gore song), It's My Party".
Chachacharming.com
While acting as A&R director of Musicor Records he signed The Intruders (music group), The Intruders who released the single "But You Belong To Me" b/w "Jack Be Nimble" and pop group The Critters, producing the latter's first release "Georgianna" b/w "I'm Gonna Give" in 1964 before they moved over to Kapp Records. Also in 1964, Radcliffe produced a record for the soul group The Relatives that featured the song "Hadn't Been For Baby", which he co-wrote with Billy Edd Wheeler. Radcliffe was also label-mate Gene Pitney's recording manager. Having met years earlier, before either had signed to Aaron Schroeder's publishing company, Radcliffe helped manage which songs Pitney would record, and directed his recording sessions.
Radcliffe co-produced, with John H. Hammond, John Hammond, Pat Lundy's album ''Soul Aint Nothin' But The Blues'' (1967) on Columbia Records and much of the material used on Carolyn Franklin, first three albums for RCA Records. Radcliffe and Aretha Franklin co-produced the theme , for the Jesse Jackson organized Southern Christian Leadership Conference, S.C.L.C. Black Expo in New York City in 1971.
Discography
Contemporary releases
Musicor Records
* "Twist Calypso" (Phil Stern, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "Don't Look My Way" (Phil Stern, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single# MU-1016, Produced by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, 1962
* "(There Goes) The Forgotten Man" (Hal David, Burt Bacharach) / "An Awful Lot of Cryin'" (Buddy Kaye, Phil Springer) Single# MU1024, Side 'A' Produced by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, arranged & conducted by Burt Bacharach, Side 'B' Produced by Bert Berns
Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include " Twist and Shout", " Piec ...
. 1962
* "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" (Mack Gordan, Alfred Newman) / "Moment of Weakness" (Oramay Diamond, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single# MU-1033, Produced by Bert Berns
Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include " Twist and Shout", " Piec ...
. 1963
* "Long After Tonight Is All Over" (Hal David, Burt Bacharach) / "What I Want I Can Never Have" (Gloria Shayne) Single# MU1042, Produced by Bert Berns
Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include " Twist and Shout", " Piec ...
. Charted #40 UK Singles Chart (Issued on Stateside Records #374)
Aurora Records
* "My Ship Is Comin' In" (Joey Brooks) / "Goin' Where The Lovin' Is" (Joey Brooks, Aaron Schroeder) Single# 154, Produced by Joey Brooks for Past, Present & Future Productions. 1965
Shout Records
* "Lucky Old Sun" (Haven Gillespie, Beasley Smith) / "So Deep" (Bob Brass, Joey Brooks) Single#202, Produced by Buddy Scott, Jimmy Radcliffe and Wally Gold for Past, Present & Future Productions. Arranged & conducted by Bert Decoteaux. 1966
United Artists
The Steve Karmen Big Band featuring Jimmy Radcliffe
* "Breakaway" (Steve Karmen) / "Breakaway" Part 2 (Steve Karmen) Single# 50451 Produced & arranged by Steve Karmen. 1968
RCA Records
* "Funky Bottom Congregation" (Thommy Kaye) / "Lay A Little Lovin' On Me" (Buddy Scott, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single# 74-0138, Produced, arranged and conducted by Jimmy Radcliffe for Super Baby Cakes Productions. 1969
Selected discography of uncredited releases
Tollie Records
* The B.R.A.T.T.S. (The Brotherhood for the R-establishment of American Top Ten Supremacy)
(Arthur Korb) / "Jealous Kind of Woman" (Carl Spencer) Single#9024, Produced by Wally Gold for Past, Present And Future Productions, Arranged & conducted by Bob Halley. Vocals: Carl Spencer & Jimmy Radcliffe 1964
Musicor Records
* Joey Brooks
"Cry, Cry, Cry" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "A Girl Wants To Believe" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single #MU1037, Produced by Brooks/Radcliffe, arranged & conducted by Garry Sherman. Lead Vocals: Joey Brooks, Backing Vocals: Jimmy Radcliffe. 1964
Fontana Records (UK)
* The Mixture
"One By One" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "Monkey Jazz" (Joey Brooks, Jimmy Radcliffe) Single#TF-640, Produced and arranged by Jimmy Radcliffe & Joey Brooks for Past, Present and Future Productions. Lead Vocals & Scat singing, Scat by Jimmy Radcliffe, Backing Vocals by Joey Brooks 1965
Decca Records (UK)
* Joey Brooks And The Baroque Folk
"I Ain't Blaming You" (Joey Brooks, Al Stillman) / (Joey Brooks, Wally Gold, Aaron Schroeder)
Single # F12328, Produced and arranged by Joey Brooks, Lead Vocal: Joey Brooks, Backing Vocal & Acoustic Guitar: Jimmy Radcliffe. January 1966.
Rust Records
* Carl Spencer
"Cover Girl" (Carl Spencer, Al Cleveland) / "Progress" (Bob Halley, Carl Spencer) Single#5104, Produced and arranged by Bob Halley for Alice in Wonderland Productions. Side 'B' = Lead Vocal: Carl Spencer, Backing Vocal: Jimmy Radcliffe. 1966
Parrot Records
* The Daily News
"I'm In The Mood" (S. Barnes, J.J. Jackson) / "The Groove" (Holt, Holt, Ealey, Paris) Single#327, Produced by Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise Greenwich (October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009) was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Maybe I Know", "Then He Kissed Me", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", ...
and Mike Rashkow for Pineywood Productions Inc., Horns arranged by Meco Monardo. Side 'A'= Lead Vocal: Frankie Paris, Counter Lead Vocal: Jimmy Radcliffe. 1968
Philips Records
* The Definitive Rock Chorale
"Variations On A Theme Called Hanky Panky" (Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry) / "Picture Postcard World" (Paul Levinson) Single#40529, Produced by Mike Rashkow and Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise Greenwich (October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009) was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Maybe I Know", "Then He Kissed Me", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", ...
for Pineywood Productions Inc. Side 'A' arranged by Sammy Lowe, Side 'B' arranged By Paul Lewshen. Lead & Backing Vocals: Johnny Cymbal, Michael Rashkow Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise Greenwich (October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009) was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Maybe I Know", "Then He Kissed Me", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", ...
, Ron Dante, Toni Wine
Toni Wine (born June 4, 1947 in Washington Heights, New York City, United States) is an American pop music songwriter, who wrote songs for such artists as The Mindbenders (" A Groovy Kind of Love"), Tony Orlando and Dawn (" Candida"), and Checkm ...
, Lesley Miller, Billy Carr, Tommy West (producer), Tommy West (Picardo), Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli, Jimmy Radcliffe. 1968
Kirshner Records
* Harlem Globetrotters (TV series)#Non-album singles .281971.29, The Globetrotters
"Duke of Earl" (Gene Chandler, Earl Edwards, Bernice Williams) / "Everybody's Got Hot Pants (Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield) Single#63-5012, Produced by Jimmy Radcliffe & Wally Gold, arranged By Jimmy Radcliffe. Lead & Backing Vocals: Jimmy Radcliffe. Music Supervisor: Don Kirshner 1971
"Everybody Needs Love" (Phil Stern, Jimmy Radcliffe) / "ESP" (Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield) Single#63-5016, Side 'A' Produced by Jimmy Radcliffe & Wally Gold, arranged by Jimmy Radcliffe. Lead & Backing Vocal: Jimmy Radcliffe. Side 'B' Produced by Jeff Barry (Unknown Non-Radcliffe Vocal). Music Supervisor: Don Kirshner 1971
Selected discography of recent releases
"Eve's Bayou – The Collection"
1997 Film Soundtrack featuring: Erykah Badu, Ray Charles, Etta James, Louis Armstrong & Velma Middleton, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Johnny Ace, Sugar Boy Crawford, Geno Delafose, Jimmy Radcliffe and a score by Terence Blanchard.
* " Something New" (2006) Film Soundtrack CD featuring: Rosey, Me'shell Ndege'Ocello, Mobb Deep, Van Hunt, R. Luna and the Co-Stars, Wayne Wonder & Demolition, Morello (band), Morello, Sheila Skipworth, Jimmy Radcliffe and a score by Wendy Melvoin & Lisa Coleman (musician), Lisa Coleman.
Where There's Smoke There's Fire"
(2008) a 16 track CD encompassing alternate takes some of Radcliffe's best known work, demos with 12 previously unreleased recordings.
"Super Baby Cakes – Jimmy Radcliffe & Friends"
(2009) CD Each selection of this collection was either written, produced, arranged or performed by the prolific behind the scenes New York City super talent Jimmy Radcliffe. Included are recordings from Pat Lundy, Irene Reid, Barbara Jean English, The Relatives, The Silent Glo, The Money Clips, and Diamond Neval.
* Tammi Terrell]
"Come On And See Me – The Complete Solo Collection"
(2010) 2 CD, 50 Track release featuring all of Tammi's solo recordings before and after she signed to Motown. This collection includes the previously unreleased Tammy Montgomery & Jimmy Radcliffe Duet on "If I Would Marry You".
Bibliography
* Pruter, Robert, editor (1993). ''Blackwell Guide to Soul Recordings.'' Oxford: Basil Blackwell Ltd.
*
*
*
References
Other sources
There's That Beat Magazine, Issue # 8, July 2008
''Billboard Magazine'': March 24, 1962
* ''Billboard'', September 22, 1962
(There Goes) The Forgotten Man – Review
''Billboard'', August 3, 1963
* ''Billboard'', November 28, 196
(Long After Tonight Is All Over)
* ''Billboard'', January 16, 196
(Gene Pitney's Recording Manager)
* ''Billboard'', July 31, 196
("My Ship Is Comin'" In Review)
* ''Billboard'', September 2, 196
"Liscris Productions"
* ''Billboard'', October 21, 196
("Soul Ain't Nothing But The Blues" Single Review)
* ''Jet Magazine'', February 11, 197
(Performing at Kimako Baraka's Club CASBAH)
* ''Billboard'', May 8, 197
(Globetrotters "Duke Of EarL")
* ''Billboard'', June 30, 197
(Working With Carolyn Franklin)
External links
Myspace Page
Facebook Page
– a comprehensive site, dedicated to Ogerman
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radcliffe, Jimmy
1936 births
1973 deaths
American soul singers
Record producers from New York (state)
Songwriters from New York (state)
Place of death missing
Northern soul musicians
20th-century American singers
20th-century American businesspeople
20th-century American male singers
American male songwriters