Sunday 17 May 2020

Bobby Sheen born 17 May 1941


Bobby Sheen (May 17, 1941 – November 23, 2000) was an American rhythm and blues singer. Though he made a handful of records under his given name, singer Bobby Sheen was far better known to audiences as Bob B. Soxx, the nominal leader of the Blue Jeans, themselves a studio creation of the legendary pop producer and svengali Phil Spector.

Born Robert Joseph Sheen in St. Louis, Missouri, Sheen was raised
The Ding Dongs
in West Hollywood, CA. A tall young man who dressed his hair in a fashionable pompadour, he sang in a high voice heavily influenced by Clyde McPhatter, who was the Drifters' first important lead singer in the early 50s. Sheen recorded with Robins, The Ding Dongs,  and the Loveables before making his solo debut with the Liberty Records single "How Many Nights." In 1962, Sheen hooked up with Spector through a recommendation from Lester Sill, a prominent Hollywood music business figure who had just gone into partnership with the 21-year-old producer to form the Philles label.

Spector was also briefly employed as head of A & R for Liberty Records, and his first venture with Sheen was a single for that label titled 'How Many Days', a copy of McPhatter's solo records, recorded in New York. A few months later Spector moved his recording operation to Los Angeles, where he booked time at a studio, Gold Star, located at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vine Street. The site of many hit recordings, Gold Star was noted for its exceptionally resonant echo chamber, located in the bathroom. It also employed a young engineer, Larry Levine, who was eager to collaborate in Spector's more unorthodox notions. Their first session together produced 'He's A Rebel', released under the name of the Crystals, even though all the singing was done by session singers - one of whom was Sheen.


                               

It was at a second Gold Star session, in the autumn of 1962, that Sheen found himself singing the lead part on a version of 'Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah', a children's song from a 1940 Walt Disney film, 'Song of the South', which Spector had re-styled. At the session, 
Spector had assembled three guitarists, three bass players, at least two pianists, four saxophonists, a drummer and a percussionist. Levine spent almost three hours trying vainly to capture the correct sound balance on the studio's primitive three-track desk.  In frustration, he turned off all the microphones. One by one he turned them back on, until Spector shouted: 'That's it! That's the sound!'

However, one microphone had been inadvertently left off, and the distant, metallic sound of Billy Strange's electric guitar solo leaking into the microphones of the other musicians became the signature. A top 10 hit over the Christmas of 1962, it helped prepare the way for the records by the Crystals and the Ronettes which established Philles as the last great phenomenon before the arrival of the Beatles ended pop's age of innocence.

With Darlene Love and Fanita James, two session singers who collaborated as the Blue Jeans, Sheen released two more Bob B Soxx singles in 1963, 'Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart?' and 'Not Too Young To Get Married', on both of which Love sang the lead part - as she had, uncredited, on 'He's A Rebel' and the Crystals' next hit, 'He's Sure The Boy I Love’. When neither Bob B Soxx follow-up matched the success of 'Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah', Spector turned his interest elsewhere.

But the group's final appearance, as contributors to the producer's legendary 'Christmas Album', also permitted Sheen his finest hour, delivering a soaring lead vocal on a magnificently thunderous arrangement of 'The Bells Of St Mary's'. In 1966 Sheen signed a contract with Capitol , releasing the single "Dr. Love" under his own name. Neither "Dr. Love" nor its follow-up, "Something New to Do," enjoyed any real commercial success, although both were later revived on the Northern soul club circuit.

He would later join Bobby Nunn's group of The Coasters and recorded an album with the group called Coasting in 1979, which was released on Sheen's own record label, Salsa Picante Records. When Bobby Nunn died in 1986, Nunn's group of The Coasters still toured with Sheen and Billy Richards, Jr. as members.

Bobby Nunn´s Coasters in Germany 1982
(Nunn, Richards, Sheen; and top left unknown).

Sheen died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, California on November 23, 2000, at the age of 59. His son Charles has become the custodian of his father’s legacy.

(Edited  from Soulwalking & AllMusic)

12 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “The Bobby Sheen Anthology 1958-1975” go here:

https://pixeldrain.com/u/nrowcfuX

1. DR LOVE - Bobby Sheen
2. I MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT - Bobby Sheen
3. SWEET, SWEET LOVE - Bobby Sheen
4. SOMETHING NEW TO DO - Bobby Sheen
5. ZIP-A-DEE DOO-DAH - Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans
6. JUST LIKE THAT - The Robins
7. HOW MANY NIGHTS (HOW MANY DAYS) - Bobby Sheen
8. HOW MANY MORE TIMES - The Robins
9. THE BELLS OF ST MARY - Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans
10. BABY I'LL COME RIGHT AWAY - Bobby Sheen
11. A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME - The Robins
12. MY SHOES KEEP WALKING BACK TO YOU - Bobby Sheen
13. THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER - The Robins
14. THE SHELTER OF YOUR ARMS - Bobby Sheen
15. COME ON AND LOVE ME - Bobby Sheen
16. LIVE WIRE SUZIE-The Robins
17. LOVE STEALING - Bobby Sheen
18. I WANT YOU FOR MY SWEETHEART - Bobby Sheen
19. DON'T MAKE ME DO WRONG - Bobby Sheen
20. DING DONG (SAW WOOD MOUNTAIN) - The Ding Dongs
21. DON'T PASS ME BY - Bobby Sheen
22. MAGIC OF A DREAM - The Robins
23. SHE TAUGHT ME WHAT LOVE REALLY IS - Bobby Sheen
24. PAYBACK - Bobby Sheen

Bobby Sheen laboured long and hard in the music biz, amassing a tremendous body of work that went mostly unheard during his lifetime. His one moment in the Top 10 sun occurred under a pseudonym, and most casual fans would be hard pressed to recognise his name. Ace is proud to remedy that situation with this sweeping survey of Sheen's recordings covering 18 years and a stunning variety of styles. Whether a solo artist or group frontman, whether doo wop or disco, soul or pop, Bobby Sheen delivered the goods.

The earliest tracks here were cut by Sheen as the lead vocalist of the Robins, the doo wop group he joined as a 16 year-old in 1958. By 1962 he was recording for producer Phil Spector, and we are proud to be able to include the Wall Of Sound classics 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' and 'The Bells Of St Mary", released as by Bob B Soxx & the Blue Jeans. Turning solo, Bobby joined Capitol Records in 1966, debuting with 'Dr Love', which became a Northern Soul favourite. A later stint at Warners yielded another dance floor-filler, 'Something new To Do'.

The performances collected here are proof that Bobby was a singer who deserved a much higher profile than he achieved. Despite his great looks, obvious talent and strong music business connections, he never registered a hit record in his own name. This CD redresses the balance and proves that all Bobby lacked was good luck.
Tracks 20 and 22 are previously unissued. All tracks are in mono, except 2, 4, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22-24 in stereo.

A big thank you to 45to80 for the album and active link.

Bob Mac said...

Thank you.

pedro B said...

Thanks for Mister Dr Love personal favorite

puw said...

Hi Bob, is this still available please?

boppinbob said...

Yep. It surely is....
https://www.upload.ee/files/12791127/Bobby_Sheen_-_Anthology.rar.html

puw said...

Thanks Bob.

For anyone who lists/tags like this;

01 Bobby Sheen - Dr. Love
02 Bobby Sheen - I May Not Be What You Want
03 Bobby Sheen - Sweet, Sweet Love
04 Bobby Sheen - Something New To Do
05 Bobby Sheen - Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (as Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans)
06 Bobby Sheen - Just Like That (as The Robins)
07 Bobby Sheen - How Many Nights (How Many Days)
08 Bobby Sheen - How Many More Times (as The Robins)
09 Bobby Sheen - The Bells Of St. Mary (as Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans)
10 Bobby Sheen - Baby I'll Come Right Away
11 Bobby Sheen - A Little Bird Told Me (as The Robins)
12 Bobby Sheen - My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You
13 Bobby Sheen - The White Cliffs Of Dover (as The Robins)
14 Bobby Sheen - The Shelter Of Your Arms
15 Bobby Sheen - Come On And Love Me
16 Bobby Sheen - Live Wire Suzie (as The Robins)
17 Bobby Sheen - Love Stealing
18 Bobby Sheen - I Want You For My Sweetheart
19 Bobby Sheen - Don't Make Me Do Wrong
20 Bobby Sheen - Ding Dong (saw Wood Mountain) (as The Ding Dongs)
21 Bobby Sheen - Don't Pass Me By
22 Bobby Sheen - Magic Of A Dream (as The Robins)
23 Bobby Sheen - She Taught Me What Love Really Is
24 Bobby Sheen - Payback

boppinbob said...

Hi puw, Please don't shoot me ...I'm only the messenger. The mp3 tags are as I got them. I only added the track number in the title for running order. :-) Bob

puw said...

Bob, that wasn't my intention. I'm a bit OCD for these things lol, and most label sites etc (not your blog) for me have the tracks arse about face lol. I'm just offering an alternative for other folks after I've got them in an 'alternative' format :).

I'm just looking to help out, add value and be a part of your blog where I can .......... if that's ok with you please?

When it comes to tagging, it takes me hours m8, to find the composers and the original 45 or LP details per track on compilations, with artwork per 45 if I can find. I guess it replaces my old collecting habits of being able to pour over a full sized album cover lol.

Anyway, if you're happy for me to add bits like this as I make or find etc, then I will do, but if you'd prefer I don't, no problem either way :)

I fully understand the hours it takes you to package, upload and post etc, so as part of the community if I can help I'm happy to with details :)

boppinbob said...

Hello puw, Sorry I took it the wrong way. I blame it on the the seemingly endless lock down that's making me jittery!!. At present I am looking forward to my jab as I am on the "Over 60's and at Risk" list.

Of course any help will be greatly appreciated. Regards, Bob.

Pete Cost said...

Oh no, another dead pixeldrain link...
Sorry to bother you with this, Bob...

boppinbob said...

Hello Pete, The pixeldrain linlk is dead but if you read down through the comments you'll find this one.... https://www.upload.ee/files/12791127/Bobby_Sheen_-_Anthology.rar.html
is alive and well.

I have noticed you've commented on a lot of dead links. Please remember I don't pay for any storage except for my OpenDrive mp3 players. Therefore as a free user any link given is only valid for 30 days minimum. I have taken note of your "wants" and when I find them I will repost, but you'll have to be patient as others are in the queue and I only limit myself to a few hours web time a day. Regards, Bob

Pete Cost said...

Thanks so much, Bob!
I totally understand about dead links. In my experience, Mediafire keeps files like... forever? Just yesterday I downloaded an LP using a 2011 Mediafire link :)
On the other hand, if you need something commercial that can save your uploads for eternity plus a day, I will gladly chip in.
I feel I owe it to you for everything you're doing here - we all do.