Saturday, February 05, 2011

Dennis Yost And The Classics IV

初次認識Dennis Yost And The Classics IV這支樂隊組合，是約於上世紀1973年時份，筆者的一位弟弟從同學家中借來數張外語唱片，其中之一就是他們於1969年灌錄的《Traces》長壽唱片。聽畢這唱片後，筆者除被Dennis Yost他那獨特的柔軟嗓子深深吸引外，其收錄的眾多慢板抒情歌曲，日後每當思緒低落之際，它們往往就成了筆者抒憂解愁的最佳良伴。






















出生於美國密歇根州底特律市 (Detroit)的Dennis Yost，本是五十年代末佛羅里達州傑克遜維爾市 (Jacksonville)內一支名為The Echoes樂隊的成員，六十年代中The Echoes拆夥後，Dennis Yost加入了另一支名為Leroy & The Moments的組合，成員包括了James Cobb Jr.、Wally Eaton及Joe Wilson，樂隊名字被改為The Classics。1966年，他們簽約Capitol Records公司，灌錄了首張的單曲唱片《Pollyanna．Cry Baby》；其後，基於一支來自紐約市布魯克林區 (Brooklyn)的同名合唱團威脅採取法律行動下，他們再把樂隊的名字改為The Classics IV。1967年1月，第二張的單曲唱片《Little Darling．Nothing To Lose》出版後，他們把發展基地移往喬治亞州的亞特蘭大市 (Atlanta)；同年夏季，樂隊轉投Liberty Records公司旗下的Imperial Records，加盟後灌錄的首張單曲唱片《Spooky．Poor People》於9月間面世，主打歌的"Spooky"經全國各地眾多電台熱播後，曾攀上美國Billboard Hot 100流行榜的第3位及英國樂壇流行榜的第46<位，銷量超越百多萬張。1968年，樂隊引進了Kim Venable作為鼓手以讓Dennis Yost可全身投入其台前主唱角色，James Cobb也轉向專注於幕後的编寫歌曲工作，由Auburn Burrell替代他的主音結他手位置，Dean Daughtry則替補離隊的和音結他兼鍵琴手Joe Wilson，組合亦改稱為Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost；雖然他們灌錄的第二張長壽唱片《Mamas And Papas．Soul Train》於推出後的市場反應欠佳，惟其內的"Stormy"改以《Stormy．24 Hours Of Loneliness》這單曲唱片形式面世後，卻突然廣受樂迷歡迎，並於年終時段登上流行榜的第5位。1969年3月，他們演譯的一首情歌"Traces"剛推出後，火速升上流行榜的第2位，而其收錄的單曲唱片《Traces．Mary, Mary Row Your Boat》與上述《Stormy．24 Hours Of Loneliness》那張的各自銷量，同樣都是超過百多萬之作，加上另一首的"Everyday with Your Girl"亦能擠身流行榜的第19位，成績可算是極為理想；同年5月，樂隊管理層在以Bill Gilmore替補了因遇上車禍受傷的低音結他手Wally Eaton之餘，更招攬了一位新成員English White出任色士風手、及繼後於七十年代初，再一次把組合名字改成為Dennis Yost And The Classics IV。

經歷了1970與1971這兩年絕不如意的灌唱成績後，樂隊於1972年轉投另一唱片陣營的MGM South Records公司，灌錄了三張單曲及一張長壽唱片，分別是《What Am I Crying For?．All In Your Mind》、《Rosanna．One Man Show》、《Make Me Believe It．Save The Sunlight》及《What Am I Crying For?．Rosanna．Make Me Believe It》，但只有"What Am I Crying For?"這歌曾登進流行榜的第39位。1974年，一路以來支撐着樂隊背後的兩位重要製作骨幹Buddy Buie及James Cobb Jr.，連同和音結他兼鍵琴手Dean Daughtry，宣佈離隊並加入了往常與他們有着密切關係的Atlanta Rhythm Section樂隊。

Dennis Yost，這位曾被稱譽為一位經典的歌手及Southern Soft Rock類型格調歌曲的創造者，儘管昔日的長期合作夥伴離他而去，惟他於1975年約滿MGM South Records後，仍秉承一貫以演譯抒情風格歌曲為主的路線，以個人獨唱方式或沿用原有組合名義，延續其演唱事業生涯至新的世紀。1993年，他憑着過往傑出的歌唱成就，獲登上喬治亞州的音樂名人殿堂內。2001年，他成功渡過了一項咽喉手術後，聲線得以完全康復，也令他能以原本的音調唱出所有他從前曾演譯的歌曲。2006年7月11日，他在家中從樓梯跌下，腦部遭受嚴重的創傷；為援助他與其妻應付有關的醫療開支，一班昔日五十至七十年代的樂界同業及藝人，於2007年3月27日在俄亥俄州 (Ohio) 辛辛那提市 (Cincinnati)籌辦了一場為他個人募款的音樂會活動，雖然這場盛會最終並不能如預期般可令他及其妻受惠，然而能有機會與眾多老朋友相聚重逢，對他來說實是一巨大的鼓舞。

2008年12月7日，Dennis Yost因呼吸衰竭(Respiratory Failure)離世，終年六十五，R.I.P.。

如今，Dennis Yost他那美妙的歌聲，他柔柔演繹的"Traces"、"Mr. Blue"、"Stormy"、"Our Day Will Come"、"Everyday with You Girl"、"Something I'll Remember"、"Sunny"、"Nobody Loves You But Me"，還有很多、很多，仍深深陶醉於筆者的腦海中.....

Spooky                (Imperial Records - 1968／LP-12371)


Side 1
  1. Daydream Believer    (John Stewart)
  2. You Are My Sunshine    (Jimmy Davis/Charles Mitchell)
  3. The Letter    (Wayne Carson Thompson)
  4. By the Time I Get To Phoenix    (Jim Webb)
  5. Going Out of My Head    (Teddy Randazzo．Bob Weinstein)
  6. Mary, Mary Row Your Boat    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
Side 2
  1. Bus Stop    (Graham Gouldman)
  2. Just Between You And Me    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  3. Poor People    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  4. Book A Trip    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  5. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
Vocals ： Dennis Yost
Lead Guitar ： James R. Cobb Jr.
Rhythm Guitar／Keyboards ： Joe Wilson／Dean Daughtry
Bass ： Wally Eaton
Drums ： Dennis Yost／Kim Venable

"Daydream Believer" + "The Letter"


"Mary, Mary Row Your Boat"


"Spooky"


Mamas And Papas．Soul Train        (Imperial Records - 1968／LP-12407)


Side 1
  1. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  2. Bed of Roses    (J. Adkins．Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  3. Strange Changes    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  4. Ladies Man    (Buddy Buie．J. Adkins)
  5. Waves    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
Side 2
  1. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  2. Mama's And Papa's    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  3. Pity The Fool    (<Buddy Buie．Bobby Goldsboro)
  4. It Ain't Necessarily So    (George Gershwin．Ira Gershwin)
  5. 24 Hours of Loneliness    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  6. The Girl from Ipanema  (Garota De Ipanema)    (Antonio Carlos Jobim．Norman Gimbel．Vinicius De Moraes)
Vocals ： Dennis Yost
Lead Guitar ： Auburn Burrell
Rhythm Guitar／Keyboards ：Dean Daughtry
Bass ： Wally Eaton
Drums ： Kim Venable

"Soul Train"


"Strange Changes"


"Waves"


"Stormy"


"Mama's And Papa's"


"24 Hours of Loneliness"


Traces                (Imperial Records - 1969／LP-12429)


Side 1
  1. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Mr. Blue    (Adain Lane．Deirdre O'Neill．DeWayne Blackwell．Mick Creedon)
  3. Sunny    (Bobby Hebb)
  4. Free    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
Side 2
  1. Something I'll Remember    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Our Day Will Come    (Mort Garson．Bob Hilliard)
  3. Rainy Day    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Traffic Jam    (Tommy Roe．Mac Davis)
  5. Sentimental Lady    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Nobody Loves You But Me    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
Vocals ： Dennis Yost
Lead Guitar ： Auburn Burrell
Rhythm Guitar／Keyboards ： Dean Daughtry
Bass ： Wally Eaton
Drums ： Kim Venable

"Everyday With You Girl"


"Mr. Blue"


"Sunny"


"Free"


"Traces"


"Something I'll Remember"


"Our Day Will Come"


"Rainy Day"


"Traffic Jam"


"Sentimental Lady"


"Nobody Loves You But Me"


Golden Greats．Volume 1       (Imperial Records - 1969／LP-16000)


Side 1
  1. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  3. 24 Hours of Loneliness    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Mary, Mary Row Your Boat    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Something I'll Remember     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Change Of Heart    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
Side 2
  1. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  3. Sunny    (Bobby Hebb)
  4. Strange Changes    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Waves    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

Midnight              (Liberty Records - 1970／35.077)


Side 1
  1. Midnight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  2. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Traffic Jam    (Tommy Roe．Mac Davis)
  4. Something I'll Remember     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Sunny    (Bobby Hebb)
  6. Mr. Blue    (Adain Lane．Deirdre O'Neill．DeWayne Blackwell．Mick Creedon)
Side 2
  1. Change Of Heart   (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)    
  2. The Comic     (Jack Z. Elliott．Larry Kusik．Eddie Snyder)
  3. Rainy Day    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Free    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Sentimental Lady    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Nobody Loves You But Me    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
"Midnight"


Song             (Liberty Records - 1970／LST-11003)


Side 1
  1. Where Did All the Good Times Go    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. The Comic    (Jack Z. Elliott．Larry Kusik．Eddie Snyder)
  3. Cherryhill Park    (Billy Gilmore．Robert Nix)
  4. Pick Up the Pieces    (Billy Gilmore．Robert Nix)
  5. We Miss You    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. God Knows I Love Her    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
Side 2
  1. Midnight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)．Emory Gordy)
  2. Most of All    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Ain't It The Truth     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. The Funniest Thing     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Nobody Loves You But Me    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

Stormy          (Sunset Records - 1971／SUS-5323)


Side 1
  1. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Book A Trip    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Pity the Fool    (Buddy Buie．Bobby Goldsboro)
  4. Just Between You and Me    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Mary, Mary Row Your Boat    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
Side 2
  1. 24 Hours of Loneliness    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Bed of Roses    (J. Adkins．Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Strange Changes    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Ladies Man     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Mama's And Papa's    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

What Am I Crying For?．Rosanna．Make Me Believe It      (MGM South - 1972／MSH-702)


Side 1
  1. Make Me Believe It    (Maurice Williams)
  2. Save The Sunlight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  3. Sweet Surrender    (David Gates)
  4. All In Your Mind    (Buddy Buie．Robert Nix)
  5. Rosanna    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
Side 2
  1. Help Me Help Myself    (Teddy Randazzo．Bob Weinstein)
  2. The Days Of Our Lives    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Robert Nix．Barry Bailey)
  3. It Never Rains In Southern California    (Albert Hammond．Mike Hazelwood)
  4. One Man Show    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. What Am I Crying For?    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

The Very Best Of The Classics IV        (United Artists Records - 1975／LA446．EMI Records - 1988／CDP-7-91472-2  (CD))


Side 1
  1. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  2. Mary, Mary Row Your Boat    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  3. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  4. Change Of Heart    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  5. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
Side 2
  1. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. 24 Hours of Loneliness    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Something I'll Remember    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Sunny    (Bobby Hebb)

Greatest Hits            (EMI／Capitol Records - 1992／57402)


  1. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  2. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  3. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  5. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Change Of Heart    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  7. Midnight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  8. The Funniest Thing    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  9. Where Did All the Good Times Go    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  10. Mama's And Papa's     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

The Best of Dennis Yost & The Classics IV  (Taragon Records - 2002／TAR-1091)


  1. Pollyanna    (Joe South)
  2. Cry Baby    (James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Dancing By Myself    (Buddy Buie)
  4. Laugh It Off    (Ray Whitley)
  5. Little Darlin’    (Maurice Williams)
  6. Nothing To Lose     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  7. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James R. Cobb Jr.)
  8. Poor People    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  9. Just Between You And Me    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  10. Book A Trip    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  11. Mary, Mary Row Your Boat    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  12. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  13. Strange Changes    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  14. Mama's And Papa's    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  15. Waves    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  16. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  17. 24 Hours of Loneliness    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  18. Pity The Fool    (Buddy Buie．Bobby Goldsboro)
  19. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  20. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  21. Something I'll Remember     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  22. Change Of Heart     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  23. Midnight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  24. The Funniest Thing    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  25. Where Did All the Good Times Go    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  26. Cherryhill Park    (Billy Gilmore．Robert Nix)
  27. It’s Time For Love     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
"Pollyanna"


Atmospherics 1966-1975：A Complete Career Collection        (Raven Records - 2002／RVCD134)

  1. Pollyanna    (Joe South)
  2. Little Darlin’    (Maurice Williams)
  3. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Strange Changes    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  7. 24 Hours of Loneliness    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  8. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  9. Mary, Mary Row Your Boat    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  10. Traffic Jam    (Tommy Roe．Mac Davis)
  11. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  12. Mama's And Papa's    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  13. Pity The Fool    (Buddy Buie．Bobby Goldsboro)
  14. Bed of Roses    (J. Adkins．Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  15. Change Of Heart    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  16. Rainy Day    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  17. Midnight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  18. The Funniest Thing    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  19. Where Did All the Good Times Go    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  20. Most Of All    (James Cobb Jr.)
  21. Cherryhill Park    (Billy Gilmore．Robert Nix)
  22. Ain't It The Truth     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  23. Nobody Loves You But Me    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  24. What Am I Crying For?   (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  25. Rosanna    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  26. All In Your Mind    (Buddy Buie．Robert Nix)
  27. The Days Of Our Lives    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Robert Nix．Barry Bailey)
  28. Sweet Surrender    (David Gates)
  29. My First Day Without Her    (Jim Weatherly)

Greatest Hits            (Collectibles Records - 2003／COL 9309)

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  1. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  2. Soul Train    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  5. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  6. Change Of Heart    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  7. Midnight    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  8. The Funniest Thing    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  9. Where Did All the Good Times Go    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  10. Mama's And Papa's     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

A New Horizon        (Alpha Omega Records - 2011／AO-01091*885767881013)


  1. A New Horizon    (Joe Sadler)
  2. Everyday With You Girl    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  3. Stormy    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  4. What Am I Crying For?    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  5. Unchain My Heart    (Teddy Powell．Bobby Sharp)
  6. Teenage Lovers    (Jess McEntyre)
  7. All In Your Mind    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  8. Change Of Heart     (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)
  9. Traces    (Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.．Emory Gordy)
  10. Spooky    (Mike Shapiro Jr.．Harry Middlebrook．Buddy Buie．James Cobb Jr.)

相關網站：

Official Website Of The Classics IV
The Classics IV 英文維基百科網站
AMG The Classics IV Biography
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