BARRY LEVINE: These classics even I can sing in the shower

There’s one nice thing about being an oldies’ fanatic – you can sing in the shower without getting negative feedback. Nobody tells you to shut up. Nobody tells you that you sound like a dog howling at a full moon.

Listed below are the first two lines of 12 of my favorite shower songs.

See how many you can recognize. Hint: All were major hits and most peaked in the Top 10.

1) “Fe fe fi fi for for fum, I smell smoke in the auditorium.”

2) “My love must be a kind of blind love, I can’t see anyone but you.”

3) “Ooh, sugar pie, honey bunch, You know that I love you.”

4) “The night was clear and the moon was yellow, And the leaves came tumbling down.”

5) “Sunshine, blue skies, please go away. My girl has found another and gone away.”

6) “Born on a mountain top in Tennessee, Greenest state in the land of the free.”

7) “I don’t like you, but I love you, Seems that I’m always thinkin’ of you.”

8) “”Hello darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again.”

9) “Hello again, hello. Just called to say hello.”

10) “You know I can be found, sitting home all alone.”

11) “If you love me please don’t tease. If I can hold then let me squeeze. My heart goes round and round my love comes a tumblin’ down.”

12) “Tonight you’re mine completely. You give your love so sweetly.”

AND THE ANSWERS ARE:

1) “Charlie Brown” by The Coasters.

Written by legends Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, “Charlie Brown” peaked at No. 2 during the spring of 1959. This was one of three Top 10 hits for The Coasters in 1959. The others were “Poison Ivy” and “Along Came Jones.”

2) “I Only Have Eyes for You”by The Flamingos.

The song was written for the film “Dames” in 1934 and was introduced by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. The Flamingos had a Top 12 hit with the song in 1959. This was the Doo-Wop group’s only Top 25 hit. The Lettermen in 1966 and Art Garfunkel in 1975 also had hits with the song.

3) “I Can’t Help Myself” by the Four Tops.

This was a No. 1 hit for the quartet during the summer of 1965 and one of Motown’s most recognizable songs from the 1960s. This was the first of two No. 1 hits by the Four Tops. The other was “Reach Out I’ll Be There” in 1966.

4) “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price.

The popular folk song was first published in 1911 and was first recorded in 1923 by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians. Lloyd Price’s version reached No. 1 in 1959 and remained on top of the charts for four weeks. Price’s version was the only one to climb to the top during the modern rock ‘n’ roll era. He had two other Top 5 hits: No. 2 “Personality” and No. 3 “I’m Gonna Get Married” in 1959.

5) “I Wish It Would Rain” by The Temptations.

With the great David Ruffin in the lead, “I Wish It Would Rain” climbed to No. 4 in February 1968. Norman Whitfield, Barrett “Money” Strong and Roger Penzabene wrote the soulful song. The group had four No. 1 hits during their glittering career: “My Girl” in 1964, “I Can’t Get Next To You” in 1969, “Just My Imagination” in 1970 and “Papa was a Rolling Stone” in 1972.

6) “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” by Bill Hayes.

The song was introduced on ABC’s television series “Disneyland.” In the premiere episode on Oct. 27, 1954, Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett, was shown performing the song in front of a log cabin. Bill Hayes’ version was No. 1 for five weeks in the spring of 1955.

7) “You Really Got a Hold on Me” by The Miracles.

The Miracles’ lead singer, Smokey Robinson, wrote this song while thinking about Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me.” The song peaked at No. 8 in 1962 and it was one of the group’s four Top 10 hits. Although having a plethora of chart hits during their long career, The Miracles only had one No. 1 hit: “Tears of a Clown” in 1970.

8) “Sounds of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel.

Paul Simon wrote the song during a period off several months spanning 1963 to 1964. The tune topped the charts for two weeks in January 1966 and propelled the duo to rock stardom. The dynamic pair had two other No.1 smashes: “Mrs. Robinson” in 1968 and “Bridge over Troubled Water” in 1970.

9) “Hello, Again” by Neil Diamond.

Written by Neil Diamond and Alan Lindgre for the 1980 remake of “The Jazz Singer” in which Diamond starred, the song reached No. 6 on the charts in 1981. The song is considered Diamond’s signature late-career ballad. This was one of Diamond’s 15 Top 10 hits.

10) “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley

The hit was written by Otis Blackwell and was the first tune that Presley’s song publishers, Hill and Range, brought to him to record. Presley recorded the song in July 1956 during an exhaustive recording session at RCA studios in New York City, and it was released later that year. “Don’t Be Cruel” was one of Presley’s 11 No. 1 hits from 1956 to 1958.

11) “Breathless” by Jerry Lee Lewis.

Another song written by Otis Blackwell, “Breathless” peaked at No. 7 in 1958. It was the third Top 10 hit for Lewis, following “Whole Lotta Shaking Goin On” in 1956 and “Great Balls of Fire” in 1957. They were Lewis’ only Top 10 hits.

12) “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles.

The song hit the top of the charts in 1960 and was The Shirelles first No. 1 hit, The tune is also notable for being the first song by a black all-girl group to reach No. 1. It was written by the renowned songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The Shirelles had one other No. 1 hit: “Soldier Boy” in 1962.

This week in rock history: Aretha Franklin released “Respect” on April 29, 1967. The song became her signature tune and won two Grammy Awards in 1968 for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording and Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female. … The Young Rascals enjoyed the first of 14 Top 40 hits when “Good Lovin” reached No. 1 on April 30, 1966. … Leonard Chess signed Chuck Berry to a recording contract on May 1, 1955, after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters. Most of Berry’s hit records were recorded for Chess between 1955 and 1966, including “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “School Days,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Johnny B. Goode.” … Ben E. King left The Drifters on May 2, 1960, and signed a solo contract with Atco Records. King was the lead singer on such Drifters’ hits as “There Goes My Baby,” “Save The Last Dance For Me” and “This Magic Moment.” … The Beach Boys’ “Surfin U.S.A.” LP debuted on the album chart on May 4, 1963, where it enjoyed a 78-week stay and peaked at No. 2. … The Shirelles were presented a Gold record for “Soldier Boy” on May 5, 1962. The song was recorded in one take and originally was intended as an album filler. It was their second million-seller, following their first No. 1 hit, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”

Barry “The Old Rocker” Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].