Prowlin' WIth Matt The Cat

Friday Night Cat Fight - The Robins - The R&B Profile Podcast

2009-11-06T16:47:00.002-05:00

The Robins

R&B Profile

This week, I'm dedicating the entire podcast to one of the most influential and yet underrated R&B vocal groups of all time, The Robins. The pinnacle of West Coast Doo Wop, The Robins were discovered by Johnny Otis, when they entered a talent contest at his Barrelhouse Night Club in Watts in 1949. They recorded for a variety of labels over the course of the next 12 years. I present to you the highlights of a long career in R&B, including the stories behind the story on this great vocal group.

In 1960, Wanda Jackson did a great cover of the Robins 1954 classic, "Riot In Cell Block #9". Listen to the show and then decide for yourself which one you truly DIG the MOST!

Click Here To Listen to The Podcast

Death By Teenage! Songs of Teenage Tragedy FNCF Podcast - 10/30/09

2009-10-30T10:43:00.001-04:00

Death By Teenage - Teen Tragedy Songs From The 50s and 60s!

Death By Teenage was a feature that I used to run every Halloween night on my old XM Radio Show, "The Night Prowl". Each year, I examined this sub-genre of rock n' roll chart phenomenon. Most of these songs were huge records and the writers and artists just kept pumping them out. It wasn't enough that many of these songs featured love tortured teens dying in car crashes, no no, they soon added plane crashes, train crashes, shark encounters and even lightning strikes. All of these teens share one comonality, they all suffered "DEATH BY TEENAGE!"

So let's listen to some of the greatest, melodramatic teenage tragedy songs ever recorded. You'll here 2 by Ray Peterson and Dickey Lee. Songs by The Shangri-Las, Cathy Carroll and Johnny Cymbal will also be featured.

Then, vote for your all-time favorite teenage tragedy tune. Vote for "Other", if yours is not listed and tell us why you voted in the "comments" section.

Get ready to cry until you laugh...it's "Death By Teenage!"

Click HERE to HEAR Podcast

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast - Halloween 2 (Drac, Frank, Wolfie & The Mummy)

2009-10-23T12:45:00.001-04:00

HALLOWEEN 2

Pop Culture Monsters (Drac, Frank, Wolfie & Mummy)

We celebrate part 2 of my 3 part podcast series on Halloween with many of the monsters and creatures you know from pop culture. We'll hear rare songs about Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman and The Mummy. You'll hear ghoulishly groovy tunes from The Hollywood Flames, The Edgar Winter Group, John Zacherle and The Calvanes.

Vote for your favorite version of the classic, "I Put A Spell On You" and don't miss next week's final part in the series, "Death By Teenage".

Click Here To Listen To The Podcast

Friday Night Cat Fight - Halloween 1 (Creatures & Monsters) - 10/16/2009

2009-10-16T13:34:00.002-04:00

It Was A Graveyard Smash...

HALLOWEEN 1

Creature & Monster Songs

Welcome to part one of my three part Halloween series of themed podcasts. We begin this very popular theme with songs about creatures and monsters. You'll hear frightful favorites from The Jayhawks, Dave Edmunds, John Zacherle and Bo Diddley. Plus, a never before heard interview that I did with the now late great Bobby "Boris" Pickett. I was only 15 years old when I got the chance to interview him and he was a true gentleman.

VOTE for your favorite version of the Halloween classic "Monster Mash" and get ready for more tricks and treats on next week's show.

Click HERE for the Fright Night Cat Fight

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast on "Airplane Songs" - 10/9/09

2009-10-09T13:36:00.002-04:00

Oh babe, I hate to go...

Airplane Songs

The Friday Night Cat Fight takes to the friendly skies this week for songs about airplanes and flying. So check your "vector" and get on-board, it just might be a bumpy ride. We'll hear classics from Roger Miller, Ray & Bob, The Steve Miller Band and many other tunes of turbulence in the sky.

Vote for your favorite version of "Leaving On A Jet Plane". Will it be Peter, Paul & Mary's #1 hit interpretation of John Denver's tune OR John Denver's 1969 version that appeared on his first record? You decide and please, keep your seatbelts fastened while in your seat and thank you for not smoking.

Click HERE To Listen To The FNCF Podcast

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast on "Chicken" Songs (Little Red Rooster)

2009-10-02T14:18:00.003-04:00

Chicken Baby Chicken...

Bird Songs Part 2

Chicken Songs

The "bird" theme continues on this week's Podcast with songs about "Chickens". These songs are about chickens as birds, as food and also the dance. You'll hear groovy tunes by Cab Calloway, Amos Milburn, Lighnin' Slim and The Rolling Stones.

This week's Cat Fight is between Howlin' Wolf and Sam Cooke over the classic blues tune, "The (Little) Red Rooster". Dig on the show and then vote for your favorite version below.

Click Here To Listen To the FNCF Podcast

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast on "Bird" songs - "Birdland"

2009-09-25T12:52:00.002-04:00

We like Birdland...

BIRD SONGS

This week's Friday Night Cat Fight is truly for the birds! I'm featuring a full hour of songs about "birds". You'll hear classic tunes from Les Paul & Mary Ford, The Beatles, Ersel Hickey, Leonard Cohen and many more. However, there will be NO songs about chickens or songs that refer to airplanes as "birds".

Vote for your favorite version of "We Like Birdland" as Huey Smith battles Chubby Checker on this week's "world famous" Cat Fight!

Click HERE To Listen to The Friday Night Cat Fight

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast on B. B. King! - 9/18/09

2009-09-18T13:32:00.002-04:00

B. B. King

Happy 84th Birthday!

B.B. King just celebrated his 84th birthday on Wednesday, September 16th and this week I'm honoring "The King Of The Blues" with a full podcast featuring his music. I'm focusing on his entire career to demonstrate the various "periods" that B. B. has been through musically. From his strong beginnings right out of the gate on RPM Records in the early 1950s to his incredible live performance at Chicago's Regal Theater. His huge pop crossover breakthrough in 1970 to his duets with U2 and Eric Clapton. I will also feature his most recent work, "One Kind Favor", which came out in 2008.

This week's Cat Fight is between the birthday boy and Howard Tate. Listen to both versions of "Ain't Nobody Home" before you voice your choice and vote for your favorite.

Here's to the legendary B. B. King rolling on strong for many more years to come!

Click Here To Listen To The Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

R.I.P - Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary Dies At 72

2009-09-17T12:56:00.003-04:00

Mary Travers

1936 - 2009

Last night, September 16th, Mary Travers of the 1960s folk revival powerhouse, Peter, Paul & Mary lost her long battle with Leukemia. She was 72 and passed away near her Connecticut home. Travers possessed one of the most distinctive female voices of the 1960s. Sometimes you couldn't tell Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey's vocals apart, but you always heard Mary. She not only added sex appeal to the '60 folk movement (Joan Baez didn't hurt either), but her voice sweetened the three-part harmony that made her group famous.

Their interpretations of other people's songs; "Blowing In The Wind" (Dylan), "Early Morning Rain" (Lightfoot), "If I Had A Hammer" (Seger) and the #1 pop smash "Leaving On A Jet Plane" (Denver) defined folk music in the 1960s. Their original songs, such as "Stewball", "Day Is Done" and "Puff The Magic Dragon" have become folk standards. Generally praised for remaining more "true" to the folk movement than many of their contemporaries (Dylan), Peter, Paul & Mary still managed to sell millions of records for Warner Brothers. They were also not above a sonic "poke" at their peers. In the Paul Stookey original, "I Dig Rock And Roll Music", the group shows that they can sing in any style and even make fun of The Mamas & The Papas and Donovan while doing so.

Peter, Paul & Mary were also passionate civil rights activists, having participated in the 1963 March On Washington, where they sang "Blowing In The Wind" and "If I Had A Hammer".

Mary's lead vocal on the classic "500 Miles" gets me every time. I can hear the sorrow and the longing in her voice. You can tell that songs touched her very deeply and she projected that depth in her desire just to be "home" and safe.

The real topper though will always be "Leaving On A Jet Plane". John Denver wrote one amazing tune, but it was Mary Travers' lead that made that song an instant classic. I remember being introduced to that song while at summer camp in VT when I was seven years old. All the girls from the girls' side of the lake would gather around the campfire and sing "Jet Plane". Needless to say, that sound and image have remained in my mind ever since. The music of Peter, Paul & Mary is dyed in the fabric of American Popular Music and it's always sad when we loose someone special. Mary Travers was someone very special. Rest in peace, Mary. I hope you made your connection and got to where you were going.

-Matt The Cat

PS- Dig this great clip of Peter, Paul & Mary performing "Leaving On A Jet Plane" with the song's author, John Denver in 1969, the year it topped the charts.

Friday Night Cat Fight - Summer Obit Tributes - 9/11/09

2009-09-11T14:24:00.003-04:00

...Remind Me Of You

Summer

Obit

Tribute Show

This week, The Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast focuses on those who left us during the past couple of months. I've prepared little 2 song tributes to Billy Lee Riley, Johnny Carter, Sam Butera, Koko Taylor, Ellie Greenwich and Les Paul. You can read my written obits for all these great artist by clicking on my "Prowlin' With Matt The Cat" Blog.

Since we're saying goodbye to some "oldies but goodies", I decided to feature the classic tune from 1961 as this week's Cat Fight. Please decide whether you're in the West Coast camp with Little Caesar & The Romans or the East Coast brigade with Nino & The Ebb Tides and then vote at FridayNightCatFight.com.

Friday Night Cat Fight - Work Songs For Labor Day - 9/4/09

2009-09-04T11:10:00.002-04:00

...see you when the summer's through

Work Songs

Well, it's Labor Day Weekend again and with summer at an end and work about to pick up, I thought I'd give you a glimpse of some of the jobs out there that might be harder and more uncomfortable than yours (that is if you are currently working). The feature this week is on "Work Songs" and man we've got 'em. We'll go from working in a coal mine and working on a chain gang to just trying to find a job and just getting by. We'll hear from The Isley Brothers, Nina Simone, Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris and many more. Lee Dorsey even gets 2 songs in this week's show!

Since September is here, I thought we'd vote on your favorite version of "See You In September". Listen to the songs on the podcast and vote for the one you truly dig the most.

And...um...don't work too hard, baby!

Click Here To Listen To The Friday Night Cat Fight

Friday Night Cat Fight Goes BACK TO SCHOOL!

2009-08-28T13:06:00.001-04:00

Summer's Gone...

Back To School Songs

Well, summer's gone and no songbirds are singing...time to get BACK TO SCHOOL! This week all the songs featured in the podcast relate to either going back to school or STAYING in school, because baby you know it's cool to stay in school!

You'll hear some classic tunes from Timmie "Oh Yeah" Rogers, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, James Brown and a lot more.

School just wouldn't be school without a little "Hanky Panky" and so this week's Friday Night Cat Fight will put The Raindrops original version of the song up against Tommy James & The Shondells chart-topper. Also this week, we honor the passing of songwriter Ellie Greenwich and doo wop tenor man Johnny Carter.

So listen, vote and STAY IN SCHOOL!

Click HERE To HEAR The Friday Night Cat Fight

Johnny Carter (The Flamingos, The Dells) Dies at 74!

2009-08-27T14:57:00.003-04:00

Johnny Carter

1935 - 2009

Tenor Johnny Carter was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame twice. He was a member of two of the most important rhythm & blues groups of all time; The Flamingos and The Dells and both groups rightfully grace the storied Hall.

John Edward Carter was raised on Chicago's South Side and that's where he met Jake and Zeke Carey and along with Paul Wilson and Earl Lewis formed The Flamingos back in 1952. The Careys had just relocated from Baltimore and the new group decided to call themselves The Swallows. They quickly changed their name when they learned of another group using the same name (King Recording artists). Looking to choose another bird name (bird names were all the rage with every young R&B group wanting to sound like The Orioles or The Ravens), they settled on The Flamingos.

Lewis was soon replaced by the amazing Sollie McElroy and the group was off and running, recording for the Chance label. Our boy, Johnny Carter wrote the classic doo wop tune, "Golden Teardrops" and his tenor voice echoes in the background as Sollie McElroy handles the lead. "Golden Teardrops" is considered by many to be doo wop at its finest. It just might be "the perfect record". It was the Flamingos third release for Chance Records. Johnny Carter sang lead on only a few tunes and for my money, you can't beat his voice on "Listen To My Plea" from 1954.

Chance was not capable of giving the group the success that they so rightfully deserved and so they left the label in late 1954 and signed to Chicago disc jockey, Al Benson's Parrot label. They also had a new member as Sollie McElroy departed and was replaced by Nate Nelson. Nelson and Carter sang together on their last release for Parrot, their version of the much covered "Ko Ko Mo".

The Flamingos signed with Chess Records' subsidiary, Checker and in February of 1956 scored the hit they'd been waiting for when "I'll Be Home" shot to #5 on the Billboard R&B Charts. In late 1956, Johnny Carter was called up for military duty and left the group. When he was released from service in 1958, he returned home only to find that he had been replaced in The Flamingos by Terry Johnson. In 1960, he joined another great Chicago group, The Dells. They had just lost Johnny Funches on lead tenor and the sweet voice of Johnny Carter fit right in.

Carter toured and recorded with The Dells for almost fifty years and enjoyed their great success in the late 1960s with chart-topping remakes of "Stay In My Corner" and "Oh, What A Night". He only recently took a leave from the group when his cancer was diagnosed during the summer of 2008.

Johnny Carter, one of the greatest R&B tenors of all-time passed away late Thursday, August 20th, 2009 of lung cancer. He was 74 and the last living member of the Flamingos' original line-up.

R.I.P. - Ellie Greenwich Dies At 68!

2009-08-26T14:29:00.002-04:00

Ellie Greenwich

1940 - 2009

One of rock n' roll's greatest songwriters has passed on at the age of 68. Brooklyn born, Ellie Greenwich died in New York on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 of a heart attack, after being checking in to St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital a few days earlier for pneumonia. She wrote some of rock's most memorable songs with and without her former husband, Jeff Barry. Her song credits include "Leader Of The Pack", a smash for the Shangri-Las, "Chapel Of Love" for the Dixie Cups and several mega hits for producer Phil Spector including "Be My Baby", "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".

Ellie also produced some of Neil Diamond's early recording such as "Cherry Cherry" and "Kentucky Woman" and is credited with helping Diamond move from being known only as a songwriter to being taken seriously as a vocalist.

For me, Ellie Greenwich was more than just a great songwriter, because I'm one of the people who LOVED her voice and phrasing. She recorded several great songs with Jeff Barry under the group name, The Raindrops like "The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget" and "What A Guy". The flipside of their minor 1963 hit, "That Boy John" contained the original version of "Hanky Panky", which would become the springboard hit for Tommy James & The Shondells a few years later. As a solo singer, Ellie touches my heart every time I hear her sweet voice croon, "You Don't Know", a true, underrated classic from 1965. It's a song I play on the radio every chance I get, just so more people can hear it.

In later years, her songs have been featured in several Broadway shows and the musical "Leader Of The Pack" won a Tony Award for Best Musical in 1985.

Ellie Greenwich was one of those artists who didn't make a large splash as a headliner, but without her songs and production in the background, rock n' roll wouldn't have been as sweet and we wouldn't have so many great songs to sing along to.

The Friday Night Cat Fight - Songs About Cadillacs - 8/21/09

2009-08-21T13:44:00.002-04:00

Women Want Cadillacs, They Don't Want No Man...

Cadillac Songs

This week, I'm adding luxury, class and style to the typical car-themed show by dedicated the entire program to songs about Cadillacs. No other car in American Popular Culture has been more sought after and no other car let's everyone else around you know that you've made it to the "big time". You left town in your daddy's old Ford, but you return in a brand new Cadillac.

You're gonna hear songs from Bo Diddley, The Ravens, Larry Dowd, Bruce Springsteen and Dizzy Gillespie just to show the variety of styles features on this week's podcast.

Then, vote for your favorite version of the classic, "Brand New Cadillac" as The Clash take on Vince Taylor.

So get into your Caddy and go...on with the show!

Click HERE To Listen To The Friday Night Cat Fight

Friday Night Cat Fight - 8/14/09

2009-08-14T14:14:00.001-04:00

Draggin' The Strip...

Drag Racing Songs

Rev up those engines and prepare to burn some rubber as we dedicate an entire Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast to songs about drag racin'. I've left out some of the ol' standbys since you can still hear those all over the radio in favor of some of the lesser heard draggin' tunes. Of course Jan & Dean and the Beach Boys will make an appearance, but we'll also hear from Wally George, Leon Smith and The Hubcaps as well.

You'll get a chance to vote for your favorite version of the ultimate drag racing song, "Hot Rod Lincoln". So fire up those hopped up motors and get ready to burn your ears for that quarter mile on The Friday Night Cat Fight Show.

Click HERE To HEAR The Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

Les Paul Dies at 94

2009-08-13T12:55:00.005-04:00

Les Paul

1915 - 2009

Les Paul, a true, undisputed musical genius passed away at 94 after complications from pneumonia in White Plains, NY. Paul will forever be remembered as a technological pioneer in the realm of electric guitar development and sound recording as well as a great pop artist in his own right. Les Paul's contribution to the foundation of rock n' roll can hardly be fully measured. He developed the first solid-bodied electric guitar in the mid-1940s, that would become a rock standard in the mid-1950s. He pioneered multi-track recording as well, which gave artists the ability to experiment on recordings. Imagine how limited The Beatles or Pink Floyd would have been without the freedom of overdubs and multi-tracking? They and countless others owe a bit of gratitude to Mr. Paul.

During the 1950s, Les Paul with his wife and singing partner Mary Ford scored many hit records on Capitol. They had a signature sound with Mary's double-tracked vocals and Les' soaring, multi-tracked guitar. Les never quit innovating and through the years, he continually updated his signature "Les Paul" guitar for Gibson Guitars. Sometimes using the word "legend" to describe someone feels thin or flat, but it was and is a perfect way to refer to Les Paul. He was and is a legend and he continued to play live gigs right up to his August 13, 2009 death.

This past November, my wife Kelly surprised me with a birthday trip to Cleveland, OH, The Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame AND the American Music Masters concert tribute to Les Paul. Guitar gods from Billy Gibbons to James Burton showed up to pay tribute to the "Wizard Of Waukesha, WI". Les closed down the show with presence, humor and some great guitar playing. It was a night that I'll never forget. I never got to see Les' weekly live gig in Manhattan, so I am very fortunate that my wife made sure I got to see and hear the great Les Paul before he died.

So please take a moment today or over the next couple of days and put on some great guitar music. Even if it's not a Les Paul record that you put on, listen for Les' influence, because baby, it's in there!

Billy Lee Riley Dies At 75 - R.I.P.

2009-08-06T12:41:00.002-04:00

Billy Lee Riley

1933 - 2009

On Sunday Morning, August 3rd, 2009 rockabilly and Sun Records legend Billy Lee Riley passed away from cancer of the colon. He was 75 years old and the epitome of what it means to be a rock n' roller. Born into a large, poor family in Pocahontas, Arkansas on October 5, 1933, Billy Riley spent his whole life working hard to make that dollar. He began playing in various country bands after being discharged from the Military in 1954. He was a part of the famed Dixie Ramblers which also included future Sun Records engineer, producer and artist Jack Clement.

In 1956, Riley found himself on Sun Records as owner Sam Phillips reissued a song Riley had cut for the legendary Fernwood label, "Trouble Bound". Sam placed "Rock With Me Baby" on the flip side and Sun Records 245 was issued in May of 1956. Sam then released the immortal "Flying Saucers Rock n' Roll", which will still burn your ears when you hear it today. By this time, Billy Riley and his band had evolved into the Sun Records house band, playing on records by Jerry Lee Lewis (including "Great Balls Of Fire") and Sonny Burgess And The Pacers' "Thunderbird" and "Itchy".

Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men cut the definitive version of Billy "The Kid" Emerson's "Red Hot", but Sam Phillips failed to put any money behind it and opted to promote "Great Balls Of Fire" instead. "Red Hot" is definitely one of the greatest rock n' roll songs of all-time as it defines the rockabilly sub-genre with all of it's wild and crazy, guitar-driven stomp. It's no wonder that Billy Riley felt shafted that Sam refused to promote what would become a Sun Records classic. 52 years later, we all know who laid that sound down and I have no doubt that Billy Lee Riley will be remembered FOREVER for his contributions to rock n' roll.

Billy Riley was laid to rest in Newport, AR on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009. His longtime friends and fellow rockabilly legends Sonny Burgess, James Van Eaton and Roland Janes attended the small ceremony.

Many of Billy Riley's contemporaries will pay tribute to him with a benefit concert for his family on August 30th at 1pm at The Silver Moon Club in Newport, AR. Performing at the show will be: Sonny Burgess and Pacers, WS Holland and band, Carl Mann, Ace Cannon and band, Dale Hawkins, Teddy Riedel, Larry Donn, Travis Wammack, Smoochy Smith, JM Vaneaton and many more. If you would live to make a donation to Billy's widow, please click HERE for more information.

Lloyd Price - The Matt The Cat Interview!

2009-07-24T10:46:00.004-04:00

Mr. Personality

Lloyd Price

The Matt The Cat Interview

In his new book, Lloyd Price makes a convincing claim to be "The TRUE King Of The '50s". After all, he was the cat who helped integrate the races when both black and white kids were dancing to and buying his 1952 smash, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy". He was the first teenager to sell over a million copies of a record. He was barely in his 20s when he started his own record label. He was one of the first artists to get a lucrative deal from a record label and he dominated the pop and R&B charts at the end of the decade with "Stagger Lee", "Personality" and "I'm Gonna Get Married". And now for the first time, Lloyd Price tells his OWN story in his OWN words to me, Matt The Cat.

This is the uncut, unadulterated, unabridged Lloyd Price interview, complete with his insight, his stories and his music. Lloyd talks about his entire career, from helping to invent rock n' roll with "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" to staging one of the biggest sporting events in history with "The Rumble In The Jungle". It's all here for you to enjoy.

At the end of the program, we'll have a traditional Friday Night Cat Fight and a chance for YOU to VOTE for the TRUE KING of the '50s!

Click Here To Hear Lloyd Price w/ Matt The Cat

Cherry Pie Goes To M & J and "Letters" on This Week's Show.

2009-07-17T13:25:00.001-04:00

"Cherry Pie" is sweet for Marvin & Johnny!

"Cherry Pie "

Marvin & Johnny : 58 Votes

Skip & Flip : 22 Votes

I hope you enjoyed my Cat Fight R&B Spotlight on Marvin & Johnny. They didn't seem to have any trouble beating out Skip & Flip for the "Cherry Pie" glory.

The Friday Night Cat Fight honors the summertime tradition of letter writing. Yes, before email, paging, texting and tweets, the only way to tell someone the feelings deep in your heart was to hand write them a letter. Even today, there is no more genuine way to communicate than letter writing.

This week's crop of themed tunes focuses on the joys and heartbreaks around the receiving and sending of letters. Ruth Brown, Little Willie John, Buddy Holly and many more are featured on this week's show.

Plus, vote for your favorite version of “Write Me A Letter”. So here's hoping that the mailman brings you no more blues.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

Surfaris Top Instrumentals; Marvin Phillips Profiled on Cat Fight!

2009-07-10T15:25:00.003-04:00

Surfari's DON'T "Wipe Out"!

"Greatest Surf Instrumental Of All-Time"

Surfaris - "Wipe Out" : 28 Votes

Ventures - "Walk-Don't Run" : 27 Votes

We've got another real close call this week on The Friday Night Cat Fight. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, The Surfaris don't pull off a decisive win as The Ventures are right on their backs as the Prowlers vote for their favorite Surf Instrumental of ALL-Time. The Chantay's "Pipeline" came in third with 12 votes, while Dick Dale & The Del-Tones racked up 10 votes for "Misirlou". Check the "Comments" section by clicking HERE to see what other surf songs the Prowlers voted for.

This week, the Cat Fight breaks new ground as I spend an entire show on the underrated R&B stylings of MARVIN PHILLIPS!

I cover Marvin's entire career from his early days with Richard Lewis and Big Jay McNeely to his breakthrough with Jesse Belvin as Jesse & Marvin (1952) and the formation of Marvin & Johnny. You'll learn which "Johnny" is on which recording and also get to hear some of Marvin's solo material as well as vote for your favorite version of the classic, "Cherry Pie". This format should remind you a lot of how my old "Harlem" show used to sound on XM's 50s Channel, so I hope you enjoy it!

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

Bird's The Word & The Instrumental Side O' Surfin' For July 4th!

2009-07-02T11:20:00.001-04:00

Trashmen: Bird's STILL The WORD!

"Surfin' Bird "

Trashmen : 65 Votes

The Ramones : 6 Votes

The original "Surfin' Bird" is still THE WORD as a great majority of Prowlers voted for The Trashmen last week.

This week, those BITCHIN' surf tunes continue as I feature a full show on SURF INSTRUMENTALS. This time, you'll have the chance to VOTE for your favorite SURF INSTRUMENTS. Choose one of the 9 choices that I have posted OR if your favorite isn't listed, then vote for "OTHER" and list it in the comments section of the page.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

The Robins Take "White Cliffs", Surf Music: Vocals This Week on FNCF!

2009-06-26T15:05:00.002-04:00

Robins Fly Over White Cliffs Of Dover

"The White Cliffs Of Dover'"

Robins : 55 Votes

Blue Jays : 39 Votes

More Prowlers seemed to prefer the Robin' uptempo take on the WWII classic, "White Cliffs Of Dover" over the Blue Jays mellow version. Since bluebirds are a North American bird and can't fly over the real White Cliffs of Dover in England, maybe Robins can now fly over them?

This week, we get back to our Summer Theme on the FNCF with the first of 2 shows dedicated to Surf Music. This week's show is all about the vocal side of Surf Music, featuring tunes from The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, The Fantastic Baggys and The Honeys as well as a Cat Fight between The Trashmen and The Ramones over the classic, "Surfin' Bird".

These bitchin' tunes are BOSS!

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

Ruby Is Queen & Doo Wop Returns To Cat Fight!

2009-06-12T15:53:00.001-04:00

Ruby Is Queen Of Summer Love!

"My Summer Love '"

Ruby & The Romantics : 66 Votes

The Tymes : 19 Votes

Ruby proves that she is the queen of summer love as she wins the final "Summer Song" Friday Night Cat Fight. It looks like Sam Cooke has pulled ahead with 3 votes over Billy Stewart over "Summertime" from 3 weeks ago. The Marcels are just one vote behind Billy. This is the closest Cat Fight yet and it still rages on.

This week's Friday Night Cat Fight returns to the bread and butter that made my XM programs so successful; Doo wop. I'm featuring an hour of “ultra” rare doo wop records. How rare, you ask? Well, these records are SO RARE that none of them were EVER played on my old radio programs. I intentionally stayed away from the ol' Night Prowl Show favorites. So if you were a big fan of the old show, you'll be hearing a lot of “new” stuff on this week's Cat Fight.

Whether you call this music doo wop or vocal group harmony, you're sure to dig this extra heapin' helpin' of smooth harmony sounds. You will also get to vote on the doo wop classic, “White Cliffs Of Dover.” I'm presenting 2 versions that never got airplay on the old show. So sit back, relax and pretend like it was 2006 and all is well with the world.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

Eddie Is Summertime King, Part 3 This Week!

2009-06-05T15:02:00.001-04:00

Eddie is KING of SUMMER!

"Summertime Blues'"

Eddie Cochran : 84 Votes

Blue Cheer : 5 Votes

The Who : 2 Votes

Eddie Cochran racked up the votes as many suspected that he would. I thought he'd win, but I had no idea that it would be THIS much of a landslide. WOW! Eddie got 93% of the vote and showed the others who has the REAL "Summertime Blues".

The Cat Fight from 2 weeks ago over the tune "Summertime" is still too close to call. At this writing, Sam Cooke has snuck a one vote lead, but it's still anyone's Cat Fight as both Billy Steward and The Marcels are right up there.

I conclude my 3 part series on summer songs with the most eclectic show yet. Where else can you hear the world's greatest Gospel singer singing a secular song right next to Elvis Costello, The Holidays, Fountains Of Wayne and The Videls? Only on the “World Famous” Friday Night Cat Fight!

Plus, listen to and vote for your all-time favorite version of the song “My Summer Love.” It's summertime, summertime, and we're feelin' the burn on the Friday Night Cat Fight Show.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!