Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 29, 2019

DEAR JERRY: Forgive me for overdoing it with all my questions, but these things have been on my mind for a long time.

1. Please give me the title of a song by Hamilton Camp, popular circa 1968. It may be something like "If I Had It All," or "Without You Babe."

2. I heard a doo wop number, titled "Angel of Love," by a group identified as the Majestics. The lead singer on this track sounds exactly like Dion DiMucci of Dion & the Belmonts. Could the Majestics be Dion & the Belmonts under another name? Or perhaps Dion with another group?

3. I insist that Jackie Wilson released a version of "For Once in My Life," though it did not become a hit. A friend says no way. Who's right?
—Danny Daugherty, Henderson, Nev.

DEAR DANNY: Congratulations. Rather than overdoing it, you managed to squeeze three questions into the same amount of space many folks use for just one query.

1. Hamilton Camp, a British character actor who is better known at that craft than as a singer, had just one hit in the states and it's the one you describe: "Here's to You" (Warner Bros. 7165).

2. There is no connection between Dion DiMucci and the Majestics who made "Angel of Love." However, in case you have a copy floating around, you might be interested to know that this 1961 release (Jordan 123) is now fetching $50 to $100 on black vinyl, and $200 to $400 on gold vinyl.

3. You win! Jackie Wilson did release "For Once in My Life" (Brunswick 55392) in 1968. Though falling far behind Stevie Wonder's million-seller version, Wilson's waxing did hit the charts briefly, peaking at No. 70.


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