Dion DiMucci about the release of his 'lost' 1965 album "Kickin' Child"- exclusive interview*

I'm all over this, going to order ASA$. Post a pic of the back cover of that picture sleeve if you can!

 

The sleeve correctly credits Robert Mersey with production, the label says Tom Wilson.

 

These are stereo mixes, by the way.

 

Taste the rainbow.

 

The other night I was watching "Peggy Sue Got Married", a film I've always liked very much. I remember it came out not too long after "Back to the Future" and there was a feeling of "didn't we just see this movie?" in the public but the films are very different and charming in their own ways.

Anyway, after fainting at her class reunion she finds herself back in high school in the 50's. One scene early in the film shows Peggy Sue and her sister watching "American Bandstand", and who is performing? Why, it's Dion singing "Teenager in Love", and oh, isn't he dreamy?

"Peggy Sue Got Married" was released in 1986. We are about as far away from the release of this film as the film was from Dion appearing on "American Bandstand". If Peggy Sue woke up found herself 30 years into the future rather than the past she could also find Dion, still making exciting new music (and releasing the occasionally wicked awesome archival product). She could see him playing live, promoting his newest record on 'Late Night with Conan'. He's still dreamy. He is still in great shape, healthy, vibrant, strong, and still singing amazingly great.

"The one constant through all the years has been Dion. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But Dion has marked the time. This man, this music, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again...especially if we keep buying new Dion product. Yes, Ray....people will come."

 

Mr. Socko: Hey Zodiac! Let's kill some time while we wait for this release by ranking our Top 10….naw, better make it 20 Dion tracks! What do you say?

Me: I say...okay! But… it's gonna be tough!

1. Abraham Martin & John
2. Donna the Prima Donna
3. Spoonful
4. The Dolphins
5. Center of My Life
6. The Thunderer
7. The Truth Will Set You Free
8. King of The New York Streets
9. Little Diane
10. No One Knows
11. Sanctuary
12. Soft Parade of Years
13. I Wonder Why
14. I Let My Baby Do That
15. Your Own Back Yard
16. Make the Woman Love Me
17. The Wanderer
18. Now
19. Born to Cry
20. Hug my Radiator

You know, until attempting to make this list I never really contemplated what my favorite Dion song is. And I’m not sure I can really make that distinction but I’ll give it to ‘Abe’, as that was kinda the doorway in. I love all these songs. And even more that I couldn’t list. Like “Tennessee Madonna”.

 

Gotta have these on my list:

Ruby Baby
Can't We Be Sweethearts
This Little Girl

 

I continue to spin the new 45 over and over again. In between I listen to "The Road I'm On", "Live at Bitter End", "Tank Full of Blues", "Heroes" (which I haven't played all that much since it's release). Some day we'll start a Dion album-by-album thread and have lively discussions about the merits of each song. And then I'll wake up.

My Dion vinyl collection ends at "Yo Frankie". 1989. Everything that's come after is lost in the digital cess pool. Nearly 30 years of releases lost in jewel case hell. Not that I dislike CDs, but these albums would be so much more substantial in 12X12 format. Like "Dream on Fire" from 1992. That album is pretty much forgotten. Not even listed in Dion's Wikipedia discography. Hmm...neither is "Heroes" and "Little Kings Live" for that matter. Someone needs to tidy that page up. I would but I don't know how.

I'm certainly glad this new release is coming out on vinyl. It's the way this music was meant to be heard. I'm not sure how much interest we can generate for Dion vinyl reissues of his 90's-00's stuff (I mean, listen to the crickets in this thread) but albums like "Deja Nu" and "Son of Skip James" would be absolute dynamite on vinyl.

Alas... such a campaign will likely never happen.

Things we NEED on vinyl:

Dream on Fire
Rock and Roll Christmas
& Little Kings Live in NY
Deja Nu
New Masters
Chapel of Ave Maria/Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart - single (talk about lost!)
Live in New York 1987
Bronx in Blue
Son of Skip James
Heroes - Giants of Early Guitar Rock
Tank Full of Blues
New York Is My Home
Visionary Heart/I've Been Watching - single (exclusive b-side)

And what about a "King of the New York Streets" vinyl boxed set?

I'm asking for too much now. I'm sorry.

 

Well, if we are asking for stuff, The Zodiac...
Paging Mr. Rob Santos!

FANTASY
Dion: The Complete Columbia Singles [recorded 1962-1966] [28 songs-78:42]
Ruby Baby 2:38 #2
He'll Only Hurt You 2:29
Perchè T'amo [He’ll Only Hurt You; Italian] 2:29
This Little Girl 2:37 #21
The Loneliest Man in the World 3:15
Be Careful of Stones That You Throw 2:50 #31
I Can't Believe (That You Don't Love Me Anymore) 2:29
Donna the Prima Donna 2:53 #6
Donna, la Prima Donna [Italian] 2:41
You're Mine 2:36
Drip Drop 2:36 #6
No One’s Waiting for Me 2:16
(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man 2:39 #113
The Road I'm On (Gloria) 3:45
Johnny B. Goode 2:56 #71
Chicago Blues 3:08
Unloved, Unwanted Me 2:12
Sweet, Sweet Baby 2:23
Kickin' Child 3:01
Spoonful 2:31
Tomorrow Won't Bring the Rain 2:48
You Move Me Babe 2:22
Time in My Heart for You 2:44
Wake Up Baby 3:16
Two Ton Feather 3:16
So Much Younger 3:07
I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound 2:59
Southern Train 3:46

and...

FANTASY
Dion: The Complete Columbia Masters [recorded 1962-1966] [59 songs-166:34 plus 7 alternates-20:00 plus seventeen previously unissued songs; should fit on four compact discs]
12/1962-10/1963:
He'll Only Hurt You 2:29
Perchè T'amo [He’ll Only Hurt You; Italian] 2:29
Ruby Baby [alternate take] 2:27
Ruby Baby 2:38
The End of the World 3:08
Go Away Little Girl 2:08
Gonna Make It Alone 2:34
Fever 3:07
My Mammy 2:47
Will Love Ever Come My Way 2:30
You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It) 2:43
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You 2:47
The Loneliest Man in the World 3:15
Unloved, Unwanted Me 2:12
This Little Girl 2:37
Be Careful of Stones That You Throw 2:50
I Can't Believe (That You Don't Love Me Anymore) 2:29
A Sunday Kind of Love 2:50
Sweet, Sweet Baby 2:23
You're Mine 2:36
Can't We Be Sweethearts 2:23
This Little Girl of Mine 2:49
Flim Flam 2:58
Troubled Mind 2:46
Oh Happy Day 2:30
Donna 2:39
Donna the Prima Donna 2:53
Donna, la Prima Donna [Italian] 2:41
Swinging Street 2:16 available on a ROIO CD
Drip Drop 2:36
No One’s Waiting for Me 2:16
Baby, Please Don't Go 2:21
900 Miles 3:37
Work Song 3:15
1/1964-6/1964:
Too Much Monkey Business 2:25
(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man 2:39
Katie Mae 2:46
The Road I'm On (Gloria) 3:45
Southern Train 3:46
Don't Start Me Talkin' 2:36
You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover 2:39
Johnny B. Goode 2:56
Chicago Blues 3:08
Sweet Papa Di 2:52
3/1965-3/1966:
Kickin' Child [alternate version] 3:13
Kickin' Child [single version] 3:01
Drop Down Baby 3:07
Spoonful 2:31
The Seventh Son 3:33
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue 3:35
Baby, I'm in the Mood for You 2:38
Knowing I Won't Go Back There 2:58
My Love 2:08
Time in My Heart for You 2:44
Tomorrow Won't Bring the Rain 2:48
Two Ton Feather [alternate version] 2:55
Now 2:45
You Move Me Babe 2:22
So Much Younger 3:07
All I Want to Do is Live My Life 3:30
All I Want to Do is Live My Life [Wanderers version] ?:??
I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound [original mix] 2:52
I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound [single mix] 2:59
Wake Up Baby 3:16
Farewell 3:29
Two Ton Feather [single version] 3:16
previously unissued Columbia masters: [information courtesy of Mr. Andrew Sandoval from an old post]
If I Had a Hammer
I Got a Woman
Baker Shop Blues
High Heel Sneakers
I’ve Been Treated Wrong
C.C. Rider
You Better Watch Yourself (Sonny Boy)
I Just Want to Make Love to You
I Ain’t for It
I Believe I’ll Make a Change
My Babe
Kind Hearted Woman
The Devil’s Got My Woman
Down in the Bottom
Maybelline
Dyin’ in the End
Bright Lights

 

Nice!

The Complete Laurie Singles collection released by our friends at Real Gone is a winner with fantastic sound. A Columbia Collection to compliment it would be THE BOMB! All original mono single mixes!

 

I want everything Columbia has in the vaults. Unheard titles like "Bright Lights", "Hi-Heeled Sneakers", 'Dying in the End"..... let's pray that "Kickin' Child" sells enough to get the suits interested!

 

Indeed, check the revised post above

 

TWO versions of "Too Much Monkey Business"!

 

The new version of "Too Much Monkey Business" on the 45 fits in with the style of the other "Dion & The Wanderers" type recordings we have heard. It's kinda like Dylan's "Obviously Five Believers" in vibe and tempo.

 

WOW, I wish it was on the CD. Let us hope it is included on the Columbia boxed set someday...

 

Notice the backing band. This is not 1963 as stated, btw. The track is, the mimed performance is not. If only Dick let them mime "Kickin Child" instead!

 

1970 single. Also appeared on 1975's (mostly) Phil Spector produced "Born to Be With You".

Dion has some interesting Spector stories.

 

Hey Zodiac!
Where's "Runaround Sue" on your list?! You're too young to have such a significant lapse of memory!

A number of years ago my local oldies station had listeners vote for their favorite all-time oldies and compiled a list of the top 500. For the Memorial Day weekend, I believe (as in the Indy 500.) "Runaround Sue" was Number One on the list! I think maybe some Dion obsessive stuffed the ballot box. Have you ever lived in Cincinnati?

 

No, never lived in Cincy. Maybe I should if thats where the Dion fans are clustered.

I do love Sue. I suppose I should have included it. We'll swap it with "Radiator". He has so many great songs its hard to narrow it down.

 

Your daily dose of Dion DiMucci.

 

Here's my dilemma - Amazon has the better prices....and free shipping... BUT...as of today they still don't have an estimated date of arrival.

I could order direct from Norton, sure... but then I gotta wait for it to get here....unless I splurge for the $8 priority shipping.

Decisions decisions. I guess the right thing is to buy direct from Norton to show my support for them and Dion.

 

Okay, so what's the release date of the album? I'll buy it and the single directly from Norton.