Beech Tree News Network

Somedays you don’t want to get out of bed.  Let’s get under the covers.  Our first cover is “Rainy Night in Georgia”.  See what I did there with the under the covers? “Rainy Night in Georgia” was written by Tony Joe White in 1967 and popularized by R&B vocalist Brook Benton in 1970.  It was originally released by White on his 1969 album called Continued, on Monument Records, shortly before Benton’s hit single was issued. 

After several years without a major hit, Benton had signed to a new record label, Cotillion Records (a subsidiary of Atlantic Records) by label A&R chief and producer Jerry Wexler.  Benton recorded the song in November ’69 with arranger/producer Arif Mardin at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. 

The song has been covered by Ray Charles, Otis Rush, George Benson, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Conway Twitty, among others.  Benton’s version topped Billboard Best Selling Soul chart, reached #4 on Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. 

“Everyday People” was originally a song by Sly & The Family Stone off their 1969 album Stand.  The song was #5 on Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 songs of 1969.  The song hit #1 in the U.S., #2 in Canada, #10 in New Zealand and #36 in the U.K. singles charts.  Soul singer Billy Paul(1970’s Ebony Woman album), Joan Jett (1983’s Album), and numerous others. 

“Sugar Sugar” was first performed by The Archies in 1969.  The song was written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim.  It was originally recorded by the cartoon band The Archies.  This version reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 and remained there for four weeks.  It also reached #1 on the U.K. chart in the same year for eight weeks.  The song became a hit again in 1970when Wilson Pickett’s version was listed on music charts.  The song was featured in The Wonder Years episode Double Double Date and was later used in a fantasy sequence in the Simpsons episode “Boy-Scoutz in the Hood”.  The song has also been featured in various films such as Now and Then (1995), A Very Brady Sequel(1996), The Sandlot 2(2005), The Magic Roundabout(2005), Bee Movie(2007), and 2012’s The Campaign. 

The song appears in a 2020 Applebee’s commercial.  The song was covered by Josie and the Pussycats in the Riverdale episode “Chapter Two: A Touch of Evil. 

Wilson Pickett’s 1970 version reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  It also reached #4 on the R&B chart.  Pickett’s recording was later used in the 1997 film The Ice Storm.  (en.wikipedia.org)