The Story of Pye Records
Jim Irvin, Sequel Records, 1998
"AY-YI-YI, THE BEAT IS CRAZY!" Sucu Sucu, an insanely catchy samba novelty, was a chart sensation in the autumn of 1961. The forgotten theme to a forgotten TV series, Top Secret, the tune was so popular in that season that no fewer than five rival versions fought for supremacy on the Hit Parade. Bandleader Laurie Johnsons sold best and made the Top 10. His recording sounds like a particularly daft bit of hokum these days, and, like all the other versions, has long lain undisturbed in its grave.
Total word count of piece: 12973
Best Databases: RBP is Runner-up in Best Niche category
Video: Johnny Marr talks about Rock's Backpages
RBP on Spotify: The genius of Judee Sill
RBP Album Club in Chicago, June 30th: Paul Yamada and Liam (Plush) Hayes celebrate a Curtis Mayfield classic
Essential Listening: Roy Trakin meets the Replacements in '87
Essential Reading: Andrew Smith's history of the first dotcom boom
RBP Album Club, July 11th: Nick Hornby and Nick Coleman celebrate Southside Johnny's debut
Join the Facebook group now