Lost RADIO Gem: "Street Corner Serenade" - Wet Willie (1978)


"I still think about those happy days and our street corner serenade."
--> Wet Willie <--

Lost "Radio" Gem:...a single that may have charted, but deserved better.

Wet Willie, for better or worse, has been cataloged under the Southern Rock flagship...but they had a decidedly different way of delivering the noise.

Led by Jimmy Hall's solid blue-eyed vocals and tight sax/harp play, Wet Willie brought a unique funkiness to the genre.

Never heavy on the guitar, (ala Skynyrd, Outlaws)...Wet Willie were more a of southern Southside Johnny and were always under-appreciated.
Wet Willie
When..."Manorisms" (1978)...was recorded, Wet Willie had mostly left the SR genre behind for a more soulful rock presence and it turned out to be their best album since their definitive "Keep On Smiling" (1974).

Lost Radio Gem: "Street Corner Serenade" (#30 BB charts)...is a simple, catchy, roll down your window feel good jam. It has a "Boys Are Back In Town" vibe without the thunder...but with the same...summer's here... attitude. Vocals and harmonies are perfect.

Have you heard this gem?


Down on the corner back in my home town
Me and the fellows used to gather round
We sang a song with a happy beat
I can still hear that harmony
When we sang de de de de de Whoa
De de de de de whoa yea yea
De de de de de whoa
De de de de de whoa

Guido he's the one who sang down low
Crazy Johnny was our baritone
I'm the one who took the lead
And little Jackie made our song complete
When he sang de de de de de whoa
Made me feel alright
De de de de de whoa yea yea
De de de de de whoa
Come on sing it now
De de de de de whoa
And then we sang ahhhhhh oww
Ah ha haaaaaa oww woo hoo ah oww

I still think about those happy days
And our street corner serenade
Maybe someday we'll get together again
Down on the corner me and my old friends
We'll sing de de de de de whoa
Feel alright de de de de de whoa
We could sing all night
De de de de de whoa
Come and sing it with me
De de de de de whoa
De de de de de whoa

Good stuff!

Casey Chambers
Follow me on --> Twitter & Facebook

Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow.That was 39 years ago and it took me back! Beautiful melody. One of my favoite all time songs. It feels real good..
April 14, 2017 at 10:06 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow! That song is 39 years old. It took me back. It feels real good. Beautiful melody.
April 14, 2017 at 10:08 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortunately, time and puberty wouldn't let her wait
Read more

Interview:--> Terry Kirkman (The Association)

Image
"...Not only learned to think, but to care.  Not only learned to think, but to dare." ~ The Association ~  With one of the most bad-ass songs about the herb that no one was quite sure about, yet everyone understood...to the anti-war homage that was both beautiful and pointed... The Association . From gentle psych pop spinneries that tease the mind...to the lush vocal and instrumental arrangements that melt the heart... The Association. The Association were all of these and none of these. Lead by co-founder Terry Kirkman, it was never an "either/or" about the music.  No pigeonhole here.  It was simply "all" about the music.  And having at least 3 of the most radio-played songs in history...I'd say The Association were on to something. TERRY KIRKMAN INTERVIEW  01/26/2015 Casey Chambers:  In the summer of '67, The Association had the opportunity to perform at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival.  How cool was that? Terry Kirkma
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Chambers:  Well, this is the 35th anniversary of you
Read more