Beech Tree News Network

Continuing with my cover series, we next hit upon “Do Ya” is a song written by Jeff Lynne and was originally recorded by The Move.  The song became a hit for ELO (Electric Light Orchestra”.  The group, lead by Lynne, was originally a side project of The Move.  Lynne wrote the song in 1971.  It was one of two songs on the b-side of the hit “California Man”, credited to The Move.  The other was Roy Wood’s “Ella James”).  In the U.S., the b-side proved to be more popular than the A, so the song became more popular than the A.  It was also The Move’s only hit in the U.S., albeit a minor one(#93 on the Hot 100 chart).  The song was originally titled “Look Out Baby.  There’s a Plane A-Comin’(which is sung by Wood at the end of the song.  The song was included on the 2005 remastered version of the Message from the Country album.  ELO’s version was included on their 1976 album A New World Record.  The song was recorded by Ace Frehley of KISS on his 1989 solo album Trouble Walkin’, and Todd Rundgren for his band Utopia on his 1998 Japanese imported album Somewhere/Anywhere, a collection of unreleased tracks.  Rundgren also performed it live with Utopia on his 2019 DVD/CD release recorded at Chicago Theatre in 2018. 

“Wrap It Up” was recorded rather famously by Fabulous Thunderbirds and appeared in a commercial campaign.  It was first recorded, however, by Sam & Dave in 1968. The Thunderbirds version came in 1986 and was featured quite heavily on Married With Children.  I might’ve been an avid viewer of that show.  “Wrap It Up” was named by www.classicrockhistory.com as the Thunderbirds’ #1 song in their ranking of the named top 10 songs. 

Music Explosion first sang “A Little Bit Of Soul” in 1967.  It was covered by the Ramones for their 1983 album Subterranean Jungle.  The song was written in 1964 by John Carter and Ken Lewis.  The band took the song all the way to #1 in 1967.  It made them a one-hit wonder. 

“Cleveland Rocks” is a song by Ian Hunter from his 1979 album You’re Never Alone With a Schizophrenic.  The song is seen as a de facto anthem in Cleveland, Ohio.  The song was covered in 1997 by The Presidents Of The United States as the opening theme of The Drew Carey Show, which was set in Cleveland.  Only part of the song was used on the show.  Drew Carey, a native of Cleveland, can be heard saying “hey” and laughing at the end of the opening.  The song is a track on the album Cleveland Rocks: music from the Drew Carey Show as well as the bands compilation, Pure Frosting.  This version is traditionally played after a home win by either the Cleveland Guardians or Cleveland Cavaliers. It was never played for the Cleveland Browns.  Hunter’s original version would later open a Drew Carey’s “mistakes” episode.  For the final season, the song was performed in different musical styles each episode.  (www.wikipedia.com) .  Care to listen to a podcast? Why not mine? Blendertainment is available on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.