Visual Sound: Issue 35

Written By Mike Greenblatt

Connie Francis
“Where The Boys Are”

Connie Francis was born 87 years ago in Newark. Long retired now, her career was astounding by anyone’s standards. She was the #1 female vocalist during the ‘50s and ‘60s with record sales estimated at over 200 million. Beloved internationally, she recorded in 15 languages. She was the first woman to hit #1 on the Billboard charts (1960’s “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”), and had a whopping 53 career hit singles. We wrote about her tragic life in the 3/23/23 “History” section and it garnered the most comments of any story we ever wrote (40).

 

Joe Tex and Bettye LaVette
“Show Me”

This rare 1970 clip has  our very own Essex County legend, Bettye LaVette, dueting with the late Joe Tex [1935-1982] in 1970. Tex wrote it for his 1967 album of the same name. It’s been covered since by The Foundations, Lulu, Barbara Mandrell, Eddie & The Hot Rods, The Commitments, Tom Jones and many others.

 
 

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Unicorn151 aka Killa Kherk Cobain
“100K in L.A. (Adderall Mimosas)”

His was one of the most popular segments in The Jersey Sound documentary. A pioneer of the “Jersey Club” genre, this Newark/East Orange rapper is a total delight, spewing out the good vibes and funky backbeats with a nod of his dreadlocked head. Dude can do no wrong!

 

Overkill
“Hello From The Gutter”

It’s hard to believe that Overkill—one of the greatest metal bands of all-time—came roaring out of Old Bridge Township in Middlesex County 45 years ago. And they’re still going strong. This is from their third album, Under The Influence, in 1988. The band formed when bassist DD Verni put an ad in the Aquarian Weekly looking for a singer and Bobby Blitz—who can be seen in The Jersey Sound documentary—answered it.

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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Visual Sound: Issue 34