FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2006

DEAR JERRY: I was one of several who wrote to you a few years ago wanting to know the name of the recording played so often at sporting events.

You correctly identified the music as “Rock and Roll Part 2,” by Gary Glitter.

End of story, right?

Wrong! Now I hear “Rock and Roll Part 2” is not being played anymore because Glitter was recently arrested.

Too many entertainers to mention have had run-ins with the law but I don't recall any being banned like this. Aren't guys like Michael Jackson still being played by radio stations everywhere?

Does this make any sense?
—Marilyn Berg, Sheffield, Ala.

DEAR MARILYN: What makes some sense to one person may make none to another, but some folks obviously think not playing “Rock and Roll Part 2” is a prudent solution.

This ban is not limited to just certain venues, as the entire National Football League recently ordered all NFL stadiums not to play “Rock and Roll Part 2.”

Interestingly, I have heard nothing about a ban on “Rock and Roll Part 1.”

This came about after Gary Glitter was convicted of molesting underage girls in Vietnam — convicted being the key word.

As for Michael Jackson, the important difference is that a jury found him not guilty.

I believe the reality of this situation is that very few in a stadium crowd who clap, stomp, chant “Hey Hey,” and celebrate along with “Rock and Roll Part 2” can name neither its title nor the artist, therefore decreasing somewhat the degree of sense in the decision to ban it.

There could, however, be a small royalty for Gary as part of a blanket ASCAP or BMI license that allows the individual stadiums to select tunes from a master list licensed by the leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.)

DEAR JERRY: In late 1957, while on leave from our army base in Germany, I went with a buddy to Copenhagen, Denmark.

While there, we frequently heard a song on the juke boxes titled “Halo of Love,” by Nick Noble.

In nearly 50 years since, I have never once heard it again.

Perhaps you can tell me the details I need to find a copy.
—C.J. McKee, Frostproof, Fla.

DEAR C.J.: Since your memory is perfect regarding the artist and title, and even the time — October 31, 1957 is the date of issue — all that's left for me to add is the label and selection number (Mercury 71223), B-side (“Sweet Treat”), and that the orchestra and chorus is conducted by Carl Stevens.

Though “Halo of Love” did not chart in the U.S., Nick Noble did have four Top 40 hits in the mid-'50s, the most memorable being “To You, My Love” (Mercury 70821).

You'll be pleased to know “Halo of Love,” and with it fond memories of two soldiers on leave in Copenhagen, can often be found on eBay for under ten bucks.

My guess is that you don't get a whole lot of frost down there where you live.

DEAR JERRY: You did an informative history of Richard Berry's “Louie Louie” a few years ago, but I have a question that is more about Berry than his most famous song.

Since I never heard of him until “Louie Louie” became popular, might that be his first record?
—Ross Natali, Lancaster, Pa.

DEAR ROSS: Not even close, because Richard Berry began recording in 1952, five years before waxing his signature song, “Louie Louie.”

Only about half of the two dozen pre-Louie singles are as by Richard Berry, the others being credited to various groups. Among those names are the Five Hollywood Blue Jays, the Flairs, the Hunters, and the Five Hearts.

Those of us in southern California in the late '50s heard Richard Berry on the radio with “Louie Louie” — six years before the Kingsmen's No. 1 hit — and even more so on “Have Love, Will Travel,” but these tunes did not get much attention elsewhere.

Hard as it is to believe, nothing credited to either him or any of those groups charted nationally.

IZ ZAT SO? Ironically, Richard Berry's first appearance on a hit record is as the uncredited voice of “Henry,” on Etta James' first and biggest hit, “The Wallflower” (a.k.a. “Roll with Me Henry”).

Though practically a duet, “The Wallflower” is credited only to Etta James and the Peaches (Modern 947).

Perhaps Modern regarded Berry as one of the Peaches.

This No. 1 R&B hit even spawned a No. 1 Pop cover by Georgia Gibbs (Mercury 70572), with the slightly modified title, “Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower).”