Rocky Sharpe

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Rocky Sharpe (born Robert Podsiadly, 26 November 1952) is an English rock/pop singer who, with Rocky Sharpe and the Replays, first found fame in the late 1970s. The usual line-up of the group was Sharpe, Helen Highwater (real name: Helen Blizard), Johnny Stud (Sharpe's brother Jan Podsiadly) and Eric Rondo (Mike Vernon). An earlier incarnation of the group, Rocky Sharpe and the Razors, included Den Hegarty, Rita Ray and Nigel Trubridge who later formed Darts.

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s from musical styles such as gospel, jump blues, jazz, boogie woogie, and rhythm and blues, along with country music. While elements of what was to become rock and roll can be heard in blues records from the 1920s and in country records of the 1930s, the genre did not acquire its name until 1954.

Denis "Den" Hegarty is a rock and roll, doo-wop and a cappella singer, television presenter, and psychology lecturer.

Darts (band) British band

Darts was a nine-piece British doo-wop revival band that achieved chart success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The popular London-based band had a number of UK top 20 hits including three successive number twos with revivals of early US rock and roll and R&B songs.

Contents

History

In 1978, the group enjoyed its first commercial success with "Rama Lama Ding Dong", a cover version of the Edsels' original hit, [1] which reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. [2] More chart success quickly followed with another single, "Imagination", which reached number 39 in 1979. [2] After this, success was more difficult to find, and Sharpe found greater success in touring than in the charts.

Cover version later version of a song already established with a different earlier performer

In popular music, a cover version, cover song, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by someone other than the original artist or composer of a previously recorded, commercially released song.

The Edsels were an American doo-wop group active during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The name of the group was originally The Essos, after the oil company, but was changed to match the new Ford automobile, the Edsel. They recorded over 25 songs and had multiple performances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The Edsels were one of the few doo-wop groups to sign with a major record label, as most groups of that era found success with small independent labels; before their national hit "Rama Lama Ding Dong", songs like "What Brought Us Together", "Bone Shaker Joe" and "Do You Love Me" helped the group land a major recording contract with Capitol Records in 1961.

UK Singles Chart British singles sales chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-selling singles in the United Kingdom, based upon physical sales, paid-for downloads and streaming. The Official Chart, broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and MTV, is the UK music industry's recognised official measure of singles and albums popularity because it is the most comprehensive research panel of its kind, today surveying over 15,000 retailers and digital services daily, capturing 99.9% of all singles consumed in Britain across the week, and over 98% of albums. To be eligible for the chart, a single is currently defined by the Official Charts Company (OCC) as either a 'single bundle' having no more than four tracks and not lasting longer than 25 minutes or one digital audio track not longer than 15 minutes with a minimum sale price of 40 pence. The rules have changed many times as technology has developed, the most notable being the inclusion of digital downloads in 2005 and streaming in July 2014.

In 1982, Sharpe had another major hit. "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)", a cover version of Ernie Maresca's 1962 hit, reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. [2] Although he never had another hit as big again, Sharpe retained a fan following and his music remained widely available. The group's last chart single was "If You Wanna Be Happy", which reached UK chart position 46 in 1983. [2]

"Shout! Shout! " is a song written by Ernie Maresca and Thomas F. Bogdany, and originally recorded by Maresca in 1962. The single was released on Edward Kassner's fledgling Seville Records label. It also appeared on Maresca's similarly titled album which was issued the same year.

Ernest Peter "Ernie" Maresca was an American singer, songwriter and record company executive, best known for writing or co-writing some of Dion's biggest hits, including "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer".

In the music industry, the top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "contemporary hit radio" is also a radio format. Frequent variants of the Top 40 are the Top 10, Top 20, Top 30, Top 50, Top 75, Top 100 and Top 200.

Sharpe was forced to retire from the business in the late 1980s after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He lived with his wife Paulina until late 2013, when he became a full-time resident at the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home (QAHH) in Worthing. [3]

Multiple sclerosis disease that damages the myelin sheaths around nerve axons

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, resulting in a range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems. Specific symptoms can include double vision, blindness in one eye, muscle weakness, trouble with sensation, or trouble with coordination. MS takes several forms, with new symptoms either occurring in isolated attacks or building up over time. Between attacks, symptoms may disappear completely; however, permanent neurological problems often remain, especially as the disease advances.

Worthing Town & Borough in England

Worthing is a large seaside town in England, and district with borough status in West Sussex. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, 10 miles (16 km) west of Brighton, and 18 miles (29 km) east of the county town of Chichester. With an estimated population of 104,600 and an area of 12.5 square miles (32.37 km2) the borough is the second largest component of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation, which makes it part of the 15th most populous urban area in the United Kingdom. Since 2010 northern parts of the borough, including the Worthing Downland Estate, have formed part of the South Downs National Park.

Discography

Rocky Sharpe and the Replays

Vinyl LPs

  • RAMA LAMA (1979)
  • ROCK-IT TO MARS (1980)
  • LET'S GO (1981) (same as Shout! Shout!)
  • SHOUT! SHOUT! (1981) (Let's Go re-release)
  • STOP! PLEASE STOP! (1983)
  • COME ON LET'S GO (1981) (compilation)
  • GRANDES ÉXITOS Vol. 1 (1982) (compilation)
  • ROCKY SHARPE COLLECTION (1990) (double) (compilation)

Cassette Tapes

  • RAMA LAMA
  • ROCK-IT TO MARS
  • LET'S GO (same as Shout! Shout!)
  • SHOUT! SHOUT! (Let's Go re-release)
  • STOP! PLEASE STOP!
  • COME ON LET'S GO
  • THE FABULOUS
  • GRANDES ÉXITOS Vol. 1
  • THE GREATEST HITS (2 Tapes)
  • COLLECTION (2 tapes)
  • ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS
  • ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS (& Others)
  • MAX MIX (Rocky Sharpe & The Replays & Others)

7" Singles

  • A Teenager in Love / You've Gone Away* (1980)
  • Clap Your Hands* / Twenty-Four Hours* (1982)
  • Come on Let's Go / Heart (1981)
  • Come on Let's Go / Please Don't Say Goodbye* (1981)
  • Get A Job / She Don't Want Me Now (1981)
  • Heart / Mary Won't You Marry Me* (1982)
  • Heart / Choo-Choo Valentine (1982)
  • Heartaches / Choo-Choo Valentine (1980)
  • I Knew From The Start / Love Will Make You Fail in School (1979)
  • If You Wanna Be Happy / If You Know How To Rock And Roll (You'll Never Be Alone) * (1983)
  • Imagination / Got It Made* (1979)
  • La Bamba (Single version)* / Take My Hand* (1984)
  • Love Will Make You Fail in School / A Girl Like You* (1979)
  • Love Will Make You Fail in School / Oop Doop Doop (parts 1 & 2)
  • Martian Hop / A Fool in Love With You* (1980)
  • Never / A Girl Like You* (1979)
  • Never / Got It Made* (1979)
  • Never / Never (1979)
  • Never / Oop Doop Doop (parts 1 & 2) (1979)
  • Never Be Anyone Else But You / Paradise Lost* (1981)
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong (Ultimate Remix)* / Imagination (1990)
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong (Single version)* / When The Chips Are Down* (1978)
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong / I Really Love You (1979)
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong / Oop Doop Doop (1982?)
  • Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) / Come on Let's Go (1982)
  • Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) / Hey! Hey! Good Lookin'* (1982)
  • Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) / Too Much Monkey Business (1982)
  • Stop! Please Stop! / A Little Dab'll Do Ya (1983)
  • You're The One / Choo-Choo Valentine (1980)
  • Rocky Sharpe Collection MEDLEY* / Rocky Sharpe Collection MEDLEY* (1991)
  • The Rocky Sharpe Megamix* / White Christmas* (1990)
  • BONNIE TYLER: My Guns Are Loaded / ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS: Rama Lama Ding Dong* (1979)

Song TITLES with * not released on LP ALBUMS (but all present on different CDs) – “Clap Your Hands” was included on the Mexican LP release of ROCK-IT TO MARS—PICTURE DISCS-- (7")

  • If You Wanna Be Happy / If You Know How To Rock And Roll (You'll Never Be Alone)*
  • Shout! Shout! / Hey! Hey! Good Lookin'*

7" EPs (4 songs)

  • Rama Lama Ding Dong (Single version)* * / A Lover's Question / Imagination / Got It Made*
  • White Christmas* / Christmas Tears Will Fall* / Have A Good New Year* / Happy New Year*
  • Rocky Sharpe & The Replays A Capella *
  • ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS: Rama Lama Ding Dong* / Tick Tock // CASABLANCA MOVIE SOUNDTRACK: As Time Goes By / OLIVER ONIONS: Bulldozer—10” Records--
  • Devil Or Angel / Tonight (Could Be The Night) / Fools Fall In Love / Since I Don't Have You (1979)

12" Maxi-Singles

  • Rama Lama Ding Dong / I Really Love You
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong (Single version)* / Imagination / Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) / Heart
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong (Ultimate Remix) / Rama Lama Ding Dong / Imagination / Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)

CD Singles

  • Rama Lama Ding Dong (Ultimate Remix) * / Rama Lama Ding Dong / Imagination / Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)
  • The Rocky Sharpe Megamix (Radio) * / The Rocky Sharpe Megamix* / White Christmas

Compact Discs (1990–2013)

  • RAMA LAMA
  • RAMA LAMA (+ Bonus Tracks)
  • ROCK-IT TO MARS (+ Bonus Tracks)
  • SHOUT! SHOUT! (+ Bonus Tracks)
  • STOP! PLEASE STOP!
  • THE FABULOUS ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS
  • ROCKY SHARPE COLLECTION
  • THE GREATEST HITS (2 Discs)
  • ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS [Castle Masters Collection] (16 Tracks)
  • ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS (14 Tracks)
  • LOOKING FOR AN ECHO: THE BEST OF ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS (2 editions) (feat. several previously unreleased songs)
  • IF YOU WANNA BE HAPPY (feat. several previously unreleased songs)

Rocky Sharpe & the Razors (1975)

PLUS

+ Solo recordings, Various Artist releases, Backing vocals for other artists, Bootlegs, TV appearances, Test pressings, etc.

UK Chart Success

DateSongPeakWeeks on Chart
16.12.1978Rama Lama Ding Dong1710
24.03.1979Imagination396
25.08.1979Love Will Make You Fail in School604
09.02.1980Martian Hop554
17.04.1982Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)199
07.08.1982Clap Your Hands543
12.02.1983If You Wanna Be Happy467

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References

  1. ↑ "Ace Records". Acerecords.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19 ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 494. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ "QAHH receives a rama-lama-ding-dong donation!" . Retrieved 13 May 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
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