The "Insane World Of Mike Sain" airs every Wednesday at 9:00 AM Eastern Time on WPON-AM 1460 Detroit. Today's show was in honor of former WPON station manager Marie Fotion whose birthday is today. This morning's songs all either had "Marie" or "Birthday" in the title or are some of her favorites.
- Birthday - The Beatles - 1968
- Marie - Four Tunes - 1953
- Moon River - Andy Williams - 1962 (by request)
- Moon River - Mrs. Miller - 1966
- Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka - 1962 (by request)
- Lonesome Town - Ricky Nelson - 1958
- Birthday Party - Pixies Three - 1963 (by request)
- My Marie - Engelbert Humperdinck - 1970
- You're A Heartbreaker - Elvis Presley - 1955
- Happy Birthday Blues - Kathy Young With The Innocents - 1961
- A Toast To Your Birthday - The Shells - 1962 (by request)
- Happy Birthday Baby - Claudine Clark - 1964
- Oh Marie - Sal Mineo - 1957
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Notes:
- The Beatles' noncharting "Birthday" was recorded on their White Album in 1968. "Birthday" later became a Top 40 hit for Underground Sunshine in 1969.
- The Four Tunes were an R&B group from the early-mid 1950s consisting of William Best, James Nabble, James Gordon, and Danny Owens. The Four Tunes debuted on the charts with a swingy version of "Marie" in 1953. "Marie" dates back to at least 1929 when Rudy Valee first charted with this song. Many others have also had hits with this song including Nat Shilkret (1929), Franklyn Baur (1929), Tommy Dorsey (1937, 1938), and the Bachelors (1965). Dorsey's version topped the charts in 1937.
- Andy William's noncharting "Moon River," which is from the movie, "Breakfast At Tiffany's," was included on his 1962 album, "Moon River And Other Great Movie Themes" (Columbia CL1809), and it became his signature song. "Moon River" was previously a chart hit in 1961 for both Jerry Butler and Henry Mancini.
- Mrs. Miller was a tone deaf "singer" who performed ear-splitting pseudo operatic parodies of various well-known songs, her best known number being her one chart hit, "Downtown/A Lover's Concerto" (1966). "Moon River" was included on her 1966 album "Will Success Spoil Mrs. Miller?" (Capitol T-2579).
- "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" (1962) is one of many hits for Neil Sedaka who has a long and distinguished career as a singer, songwriter, and pianist.
- Ricky Nelson had a long music and show business career which began as a child on his parents' radio show in 1949. He had a long string of hits from 1957-1973 and Lonesome Town (1958) dates from his early days as a teen idol. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987.
- "Birthday Party" was the chart debut song for the Pixies Three in 1963. This trio was formed in 1957 in Hanover, PA, and all three members ranged in age from 14-16. One member, Debbie Swisher, replaced Peggy Santiglia as lead singer of the Angels from 1967-1968. "Birthday Party" by the Pixies Three is included on the CD, Early Girls, Vol. 3.
- "My Marie" (1970) was one in a long string of hits starting in 1967 for Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, India). His best known songs include "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)" (1967) and "After The Lovin'" (1977). Engelbert Humperdinck's hits continued through 1983 on the Pop/Rock, Country, and Adult Contemporary charts.
- Elvis Presley was the number one artist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. His best known songs include "Heartbreak Hotel" (1956), "Love Me Tender" (1956), and "Jailhouse Rock" (1957). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Presley's noncharting "You're A Heartbreaker" was released in 1955 as a single (Sun 215 b/w "Milkcow Blues Boogie").
- The Innocents were a pop trio with several chart hits in the early 1960s, some of which included Kathy Young for whom they provided backup. Kathy Young and the Innocents are best remembered for "A Thousand Stars" which was their chart debut song in 1960. Their other hits include "Happy Birthday Blues" (1961) as heard today and "Magic Is the Night" (1961). Young later recorded both solo and with Chris Montez.
- The Shells were a doo-wop group from Brooklyn led by Nathaniel ("Little Nate") Bouknight. They are best remembered for their one hit, "Baby Oh Baby" (1961). Their noncharting "A Toast To Your Birthday" was released as a single in 1962 (Johnson 120).
- Claudine Clark is best remembered for her one chart hit, "Party Lights" (1962). Her noncharting "Happy Birthday Baby" was included on her 1964 album, "Party Lights" (Chancellor CHL-5029).
- Sal Mineo was a teen idol and Broadway/movie actor. He appeared in "Rebel Without A Cause" and had several chart hits from 1957-1958. His noncharting "Oh Marie" was included on his 1957 album, "Sal" (Epic LN 3405). This song is sung mostly in English with the introduction in Italian.
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