I remember this was a huge hit in Philly area when I was growing up. I was surprised to see ithat the highest it got twas # 55 nationally. Was it bigger in other regiona as well?
I remember this was a huge hit in Philly area when I was growing up. I was surprised to see ithat the highest it got twas # 55 nationally. Was it bigger in other regiona as well?
When I used to live in Camden, N.J., I used to listen to Harvey Holiday's Sunday night oldies show form 7-12. This was in the late 70's thru the time he left WDAS. He also was big on B-sides. I still remember him playing "Would I Love You" by the Miracles. A GREAT song.
And I remember Choosy Beggar by the Miracles getting play.
Ahhh, another homie! Hello Lockhartgary! I remember listening to Harvey Holiday too on Sundays. Just a few hours ago I was watching an interview of Jerry Blavats and Hy-Lit.
They were big into B-sides. I remember the Supremes "Going Down for the Third Time and David Ruffin's "Statue of A Fool" being played like they were national hits!
"Statue of a Fool" is another great song. When Butterball did his oldies CD series, that was one of the songs that was chosen.
When Butterball did his Sunday night oldies broadcast live from the Ritz, I was often in attendance till they changed venues. The fact that I was not a good dancer did not deter me; the music he played was what drew me in!
Anyone ever see Hy Lits tv show on UHF? I distinctly remember him having Brenda Holloway on.
Here's a three page list of radio survey chart positions for First I Look At The Purse. I lived in Allentown at the time, 50 miles north of Philly, so I listened to a lot of Philly radio and it was a big song there. Some samples of local chart positions - #5 in Los Angeles, #3 in Baltimore, #14 in Cleveland, #13 in Wilmington, etc. At the bottom of each page you can click on "Next Page" or "Previous Page."
http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa//cha...srt1=chartweek
Here's Choosey Beggar - http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa//cha...php?hsid=52266
Here's Going Down For The Third Time - http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa//cha...php?hsid=43168
Enjoy the site!
Oldies
The song was very popular with me... but not many others in the UK. It was the first of my treasured records I ever sold, and I didn't have that many when my friend Arthur, who was working and earning, unlike school pupil me, tempted me with 10 shillings and sixpence in UK old money. That would be 52 and a half pence in decimal currency, or 69 cents [[based on the current UK-US conversion rate).
I've never tired of the tune...
When I first saw the "First I Look at the Purse" title to this thread, I immediately thought of this Nicholas Brothers video in which the poster, docludi, merged the brothers' "Stormy Weather" performance with the Contours song. Great song; great choreography, and a great edit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaJUMWbsck0
It's one of my favorite Contours tunes. Atypical for a Smoke tune, methinks.
My favorite Contours song as well....great all around!
Darin
Thanks Oldies! It was the most popular song at our weekly high school dance for weeks for some line dance that everybody did!
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