FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 26, 2018

DEAR JERRY: There is one weird record in my collection I'd like to ask about. The title is "Will You Love Me in Heaven" by Ral Donner (Gone 5121), at least that's what it says on the label. When playing it I discovered that song is actually by an unidentified girl group. Who are they? The other side, "She's Everything (I Wanted You to Be)," is definitely by Ral Donner. What happened here?
—George Lester, Milwaukee

DEAR GEORGE: The mysterious group on "Will You Love Me in Heaven" is the Delvets (a.k.a. Delvetts). Ral Donner's "She's Everything (I Wanted You to Be)" came out in December 1961, and the intended Delvets version of "Will You Love Me in Heaven" was issued in February, 1962 (End 1107).

Ral's recording of "Will You Love Me in Heaven" came out in March 1962, backed with "(What A Sad Way) to Love Someone" (Gone 5125).

DEAR JERRY: At a flea market, I bought a box of homemade music cassettes. They were marked only with the artist, and one is by Julie London, but other than her name there is no other information. On it, Julie London has some wonderful jazz accompaniment, especially great is the sax player. The only song I recognized is the last one, "In the Still of the Night." From what I've told you, do you know the album title, who plays the sax, and perhaps correct names of the other songs?
—Arthur Wynn, Reno, Nev.

DEAR ARTHUR: Originally issued in 1966, the LP is "All Through the Night (Julie London Sings the Choicest of Cole Porter, With the Bud Shank Quintet)" (Liberty LRP-3434/LST-7434). As credited in the subtitle, Bud Shank is the alto saxophone maestro on these jazzy tracks:

1. I've Got You Under My Skin
2. You Do Something to Me
3. Get Out of Town
4. All Through the Night
5. So in Love
6. At Long Last Love
7. Easy to Love
8. My Heart Belongs to Daddy
9. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
10. In the Still of the Night

DEAR JERRY: I know "The Long and Winding Road" was the last hit single for Beatles as a group. But I don't know in which order the four members had their first hit as a solo artist. Please tell me?
—Jeff Beecher, Connellsville, Pa.

DEAR JEFF: By the end of July 1970, "The Long and Winding Road" had dropped from the U.S. charts. However, one year earlier, in July 1969, "Give Peace a Chance," by the Plastic Ono Band (with John Lennon), became a hit and was thus the first non-Beatles hit by one of the Fab Four. In February 1970, "Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" came out, and was technically the first hit single by John, and the first solo hit by any of the four. The first hits for the other members were: "Beaucoups of Blues" (Ringo Starr, November 1970); "My Sweet Lord" (George Harrison, November 1970), and "Another Day" (Paul McCartney, March 1971).

DEAR JERRY: Before he became known as Randy Travis, did Randy Traywick have any chart records?
—Virginia Crawford, Greenville, N.C.

DEAR VIRGINIA: Yes! In early 1979, before taking the stage name of Travis, Randy Traywick barely charted with "She's My Woman" (Paula 431). About seven years later, he had the first of 15 No. 1 hits, "On the Other Hand." You may already know, Randy is also a North Carolinian, from Marshville, a bit southeast of Charlotte.