“That’s life,” Frank Sinatra swung. Who wrote that song? Kelly Gordon and Dean Kay. Never heard of them, did you? Gordon was not exactly your Tin Pan Alley denizen. Born in Frankfurt, Kentucky (November 19, 1932-August 1, 1981), he had some “teen idol” years in the early 60’s and then tried for some blue-eyed soul. His most famous song was first recorded by Marion Montgomery and O.C. Smith before Frank made it his own in 1966.
Back in 1962, he issued his first Mercury single, “I Can’t Face The Day” b/w his own composition, “I’m Goin' Home.” The following year, he wrote and recorded “A Phonograph Record,” which was arranged by Dave Gates. He was the title character in a “Burke’s Law” TV episode called “Who Killed Billy Jo?” He sang a song called “Tears, Tears” which you’ll find below.
The photo above is from that "Burke's Law" episode. It does look like he could be swingin' a version of "That's Life," but on the episode he played a teen idol. "Tears Tears" was the B-side to his “Let Me Tell Ya Jack.” Mercury thought enough of Kelly Gordon to have Shorty Rogers work as the arranger on both cuts. "Tears Tears" had a credit on the label: “as sung by KELLY GORDON in Four Star TV “Burke’s Law.” His last single for Mercury was “You’re a Star Now.”
In 1969, half a decade away from his Mercury teen-idol days, Kelly managed to get a deal with Capitol for an album called “Defunked.” It messed with country and blue-eyed soul. The single handed to disc jockeys was a cover version of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” b/w, yes, “That’s Life.” In the summer of 1969, Capitol released another single from the album, “Some Old Funky Blues Thang.”
And what Kelly Lee Gordon did in the 70’s…is not on record. Tears, tears. And for a guy to have written such a famous Sinatra song and be so unknown… “That’s Life.”
Kelly Gordon TEARS TEARS Instant download or listen on line, no ads, no pop-ups, no Zinfart password.
According to Wikipedia, Gordon's was the first recording of "He Ain't Heavy", not a cover. The Hollies and Neil Diamond subsequently covered the song and both had hits with it. As for kelly's later career, as a Capitoi A&R man he produced Bobbie Gentry's early recordings including "ode to Billie Joe". Bobbie also duetted with him on one track of his own album.
ReplyDeleteBobbie's arranger, Jimmie Haskell, tells the rest of the story: "Kelly eventually fell in love with Bobbie and left his wife and kids in San Diego and moved in with her. After awhile, she got tired of him and kicked him out. A few years later she heard he was dying of cancer. Bobbie invited Kelly back to her spare house behind her house, and she took care of him until he died."
Ill folks and tears indeed.
Thanks, Rod!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about blogs is they're sort of living fact-blobs, and information can be added (or subtracted or revised). That's what "comments" are for.
It looks like somebody might want to consider researching this guy for a book or a movie.
Not sure who Rod is, but he is all wrong. First off when my dad found Bobbie she was a true hill billy. Hairy legs, no since of grace in her walk, so my mom Peggy showed her how to shave her legs and walk the walk. After my dad helped her write Ode to Billy Jo and got her started on her career, they had an affair and it did tear my family apart. the News papers wrote " now we know what went off the talahachy bridge, referring to my mom , sister and I. No things did not work out with them and when my dad got cancer it was Connie Stevens that let my dad stay at her house on the beach in Malibu and he soon moved back in with us and it was my mom that let her insurance pay for him until his death. So not sure who Rod is, but he don't know Sh*t.
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Michael G.
Come to find out my dad did stay at Bobbies back house for a week and then moved to the house in Malibu. Asked mom about the Bobbie kicking him out thing and that got under her skin. What happened was my mom was in Mexico getting the divorce done quickly to save my dads career and Bobbie was performing in Tahoe. My dad was supposed to go but had us kids. Well after calling Carol Friedgood and asking her to watch us, which she said no, he proceeded to call Bobbie and tell her. That caused a big fight and my dad choose us kids over Bobbie. To say the least, Bobbie did not like children. I had to sit outside her front door by her gold fish pond for a half hour because she didn't want me to come in her house. She was a cold and mean to me and I was like eight yrs old. Mom also added that they made her sit in the studio to make sure Bobbie only showed a particular angle of her face because her nose was so big. LOL I think she married the owner of the club in Tahoe where she performed.
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Michael G.
It's so funny to me that after she pitted her self against my sister Tammy and I and lost (ie got dumped),she grabs the next available guy and marries him. Such a hicker billy move. The sad thing is my dad found a true hill billy girl and groomed her, helped her write and finish Od to Billy Jo( let her claim it as all her own) promoted, produced her, only to find out how truly shallow she was. He wrote a song about her before he died called "I bought the shoes that walked out on me" Some day we might release these final ten songs or so to the public.
ReplyDeleteHa Ha Ha. If you want the real story on Bobbie Gentry and Kelly Gordon ask the family. My dad stayed at Bobbies back house for one week. Moved in with my mom and me and my mother Peggy Gordon put him on her insurance policy and cared for him until he died. Remove this false story or face a being sued for libel.
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Michael Gordon
Would like to discuss Michael's comments with him privately. Please email me at the address listed on the Stacy's Music Row Report contact page.
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