Jill Corey – Love Me To Pieces

Here’s ONE of the songs on our play list - The Honor Roll of Hits

Norma Jean Speranza lost her mother when she was only four years old. She grew up in Avonmore, Pennsylvania where her father worked in the coal mines. She entered a local Lion’s club talent contest which resulted in her own radio show. By the age of 14, she was appearing nightly, seven nights a week, earning $5.00 a night.

Jill Corey

By the time she hit 17, Norma Jean was a local celebrity. She made a demo tape (no accompaniment other than passing trains) and somehow it reached Mitch Miller of Columbia records. He listened and was so impressed he invited her to New York.

How’s this for a “good day”? She arrived at Columbia Records, and auditioned for Mitch Miller and was signed on the spot. Miller then contacted LIFE magazine, and set up auditions for Dave Garroway and Arthur Godfrey who met with her immediately. Before she left to return home, the signing of the contracts were re-enacted for LIFE photographers. Norma Jean then flew home that night.

The next day brought calls from both Garroway and Godfrey. Norma Jean chose Garroway and appeared on his TV show for nine months.

It was Garroway who picked the name Jill Corey out of a telephone book to be Norma Jean’s “professional” name. Within six weeks of her signing, the LIFE cover came out and suddenly Jill Corey appeared to be everywhere.

After Garroway, there was the Robert Q. Lewis show, Ed Sullivan appearances and nine months as the lead singer for a little known California based show hosted by an unknown by the name of Johnny Carson. She headlined a show at the Copacabana, Las Vegas and even had her own syndicated radio and television shows. She was the lead singer for the last year of “Your Hit Parade” and even starred in a movie, called “Senior Prom”.

In 1961, she fell in love and married all-star third baseman Don Hoak, of the World Champion 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates.  When they married, Jill gave up her career to be a full time wife.

“Love Me To Pieces” was the highest charting (#11) song of the five tunes that Jill placed on the Hot 100. This has always been my favorite song by Jill and you’ll hear it on TUNEDEX MEMORIES.

LOVE ME TO PIECES by Marvin Endsley

Why don’t you love me to pieces, baby
Squeeze me ’til I’m crazy
Hold me the way you used to do
You know that my love is growin’ stronger
And I can’t wait no longer
Been saving my love just for you

Hold me, thrill me, squeeze me so tight
Miss me, kiss me, all day and night

Why don’t you love me to pieces, darlin’
No use in us quarreling
I only need your loving arms
You know that I’m plumb mad about you
I couldn’t live without you
I’m just wild about your charms

(Repeat first two verses)

Why don’t you love me to pieces, honey
Squeeze me ’til it ain’t funny
Give me the kisses that I crave
You know that I’ll never ever leave you
And I’ll never ever grieve you
You know that I want to be your slave

Play List Adds 07/08

Duprees – Around The Corner • The first effort by the group after leaving Coed for Columbia records. While only peaking at #91 on the Hot 100, it was a great song probably drowned by the British Invasion.

Falcons – The Teacher • This song hit the Hot R&B chart but should have crossed over to Pop stations. It was released on United Artists records in 1960.

Bobby Cash – I Don’t Need Your Love And Kisses • In my opinion, Ral Donner was the best Elvis sound-alike, but Bobby Cash gives him a run for his money on this 1964 King released song you should have heard.

Petula Clark – Thank You • A great 1964 song you should have heard released in England on the Pye label.

Unknowns – Melody For An Unknown Girl • This 1966 Hot 100 entry stalled at #74 for this interesting group. Mark Lindsay and Keith Allison of Paul Revere & the Raiders were joined by Steve Alaimo on this Parrot label release.

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood – Sand • Bubbled Under the Hot 100 at #107 in 1967.

Susan Jacks – All The Tea In China • A song you should have heard from 1980 on the Epic label that has the classic early 70’s Poppy Family sound.

Ivy League – That’s Why I’m Crying • A 1965 effort on Cameo from a British band we should have heard more from.

Mark Valentino – The Push And Kick • This 1962 Hot 100 entry might not have started a dance craze as big as the Twist but it still managed to climb all the way to #27.

Shirelles – Don’t Go Home • This 1967 updated version of the Playmates 1957 hit bubbled under for the group at #110

Kim Weston – A Love Like Ours • The Fabulous Flipside of “Helpless” from 1966

Crew Cuts – You’re A Star Donna Donna • A song you should have heard from this fine group on ABC-Paramount from 1963.

Chris Montez & Kathy Young – You’re The One • A song you should have heard from the Monogram label from 1964 and a great duet.

Keith – Tell It To My Face • Peaking at #37 on the Hot 100 in 1967, this was also recorded by the Hollies.

Reflections – Shabby Little Hut • This Detroit group Bubbled Under in 1965 at #121.

The Death Of Another Summer…

I recently watched a great little movie called “The Final Season”, about a High School that succumbed to a merger due to cost savings. This school happened to have a GREAT baseball team, one that won TWENTY state championships. But, in the end, they were dissolved anyway. Kind of a sign of the times for America today, light on tradition and heavy on the bottom line.

The passion and love of the game in these kids took me back to my youth, where my love of baseball began. I didn’t play on that many “organized” teams. My first was the “J.W. Porter’s” a Cleveland Class F team that played at Edgewater Park. We rode our bikes and didn’t mind the 20 minute trip. On the way home, win or lose, we hit the Royal Castle on 105th and Madison for Birch Beer and hamburgers. We played our favorite songs on the counter jukebox and enjoyed our treat for less than a quarter.

I played a lot of wiffle ball during this time as well. We’d use cut down broomstick for bats, much like stickball. The thin stick made it harder to hit fast balls, but the length really helped with those outside curve balls. Unfortunately, by using wood instead of plastic, it didn’t take long until we broke the ball and until we got a dollar together to get a new ball, we went to our old stand-by, “rubber ball against the wall”.

A square representing the strike zone was painted on the wall. We took everything seriously back then. We had leagues and even kept statistics. I was so angry with the Indians for trading my favorite player, Rocky Colavito, I became the Detroit Tigers, the team he was traded to. As I made out my lineup, I had to be conscious of those left handed batters like Norm Cash, because if a lefty came up, I had to bat left handed myself. I never hit often as a lefty, but when I did, I usually crushed it.

Those rubber balls weren’t taken for granted either. At 25 cents each, we all wanted them to last. We “broke in” a ball for a week or so, everyone needed a little pitching practice anyway. When the ball got a little softer, then it would find it’s way into real games. If you used a brand new ball, the first problem was that it FLEW if you hit it hard and in some cases, it would actually split and chunks of fresh rubber would be strewn all over the playground. I often think of those days and wonder happened to my old “league” friends. Did they make the High School team? I tried out twice and failed. I could hit with anyone, but had poor depth perception which was not good for an outfielder. This is why I love baseball so much… because I played it. Not on a computer screen or a gameboy, but outside in the sun, breeze, rain and whatever else Mother Nature threw at us. What a game…

Which brings me to this year. It’s over…. again… Whether the Indians trade C.C. Sabathia or not, the season is over. Injuries and a horrible hitting slump have robbed me and SO many other frustrated Indians fans for yet another year. I enjoy watching the kids, but I cringe at the “seasoned veterans” that management is so convinced they need. My nightly prayer is the same… Please Lord, let me live long enough to see the Indians win the World Series…

The Tymes – So Much In Love

Here’s ONE of the songs on our play list - The Honor Roll of Hits

Norm Burnett (Baritone) and George Hilliard (2nd Tenor) met at summer camp and decided to form a singing group. In 1960 they hooked up with Al Berry (1st Tenor), Donald Banks (Bass) and George Williams Jr. (lead) to form the Latineers. Philadelphia station WDAS held a talent contest in 1963 and the group was urged to audition for local label Cameo/Parkway. They were signed to Parkway records, and were renamed the Tymes. The first release was a song written by George Williams, “As We Stroll Along” which was renamed “So Much In Love” which went to number ONE in August of 1963. They hit the charts five more times for Parkway and in 1965 started their own label. Winchester. Then moved to Columbia records and had a minor hit with a cover of “People” in 1966. They stayed under the chart radar for another 8 years, but hit #12 with “You Little Trustmaker” for RCA in 1974. We lost lead singer George Williams to cancer in 2004. Listen for The Tymes on TUNEDEX MEMORIES!

As we stroll along together
Holding hands, walking all alone
So in love are we two
That we don’t know what to do
So in love (doo, so in love)
In a world of our own (doo, so in love)

As we stroll by the sea together
Under stars twinkling high above
So in love are we two
No one else but me and you
So in love (doo, so in love)
So much in love (doo, so in love)
So in love (doo, so in love)
So much in love (doo, so in love)

We stroll along together
I tell you I need you oh so much
I love, love you my darling
Can you tell it in my touch?

When we walk down the aisle together
We will vow to be together till we die
So much love have we two
Just can’t wait to say “I do”
So in love (doo, so in love)
Are you and I (doo, you and I)
So in love (doo, so in love)
Are you and I (doo, you and I)
So in love (doo, so in love)
Are you and I (doo, you and I)