Saddened to learn of the passing of ex-baseball player Willie Mays, aged 93.  He was featured in the Joe Tex song “I’m A Man”, b-side to S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song) on Dial.

Any other songs featuring sporting heroes? I can think of basketball player Moses Malone in Pieces of a Dream’s Fo-Fi-Fo and a few that feature Muhammad Ali (Alvin Cash, Matt Covington etc).

 

Soft spot for this Boston Celtics celebration.

 

 

Willie Mays  and O J Simpson mentioned on Bill Moss' " Sock it to 'em Soul Brother"

 

 

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Owd Codger

8 minutes ago, Owd Codger said:

Willie Mays mentioned on Bill Moss' " Sock it to 'em Soul Brother"

Memories by the score with this one... On Pama of course !

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Tlscapital

1:58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFZqB3ABfJ8

There’s a rare and superb tune by Paul Kelly “the upset” that I believe is about a boxer of the day?

 

42 minutes ago, Dobber said:

There’s a rare and superb tune by Paul Kelly “the upset” that I believe is about a boxer of the day?

Not mentioning that Sonny Liston fight per se but that Cassius Clay yield as 'THE UPSET' before winning the fight for title, theme, lyric and charismatic imprint.  

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Tlscapital

Willie Mays, mentioned in the brilliant "Under the Street Lamp" Exits and Joe Bataan 👍 

Kev

Here is Paul Kelly's "The Upset".  Great tune, from a great talent, which I had not heard before, so thank-you.

Btw on the Pieces of a Dream song Fo-Fi-Fo (4-5-4), Moses Malone is talking to Dr J  - who I now discover is Julius Erving, another basketball player. 

1 hour ago, Kesalocasoul said:

Here is Paul Kelly's "The Upset".  Great tune, from a great talent, which I had not heard before, so thank-you.

Btw on the Pieces of a Dream song Fo-Fi-Fo (4-5-4), Moses Malone is talking to Dr J  - who I now discover is Julius Erving, another basketball player. 

Very rare piece,cracking b side too!

certainly a  £700/1k record

Patti Drew did “ The mighty O.J.” on Innovation II/UK Contempo. Not one of her best, sadly 

Edited June 20, 20241 yr by Nickinstoke

I have a Philadelphia flyers flyers version of 'aint no stopping us now' on Philadelphia international, different lyrics members the team, that were in the play offs that year, mentioned in the lyrics. Conna find a YouTube 

Popcorn Wylie’s Move over Babe on Carla.  I understand it’s a celebration of Hank (Henry) Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs in Major League Baseball.  

Also Emile Griffiths was a pro boxer - hence his Going Going Gone on Tangerine, a great record.  I read that he killed an opponent in the ring and was never able to come to terms with it.  

Lovely item on the label indeed. Shame about the tune though  that is...

Edited June 21, 20241 yr by Tlscapital

Thank you for this.  Mercifully there is an instrumental version too - which still names the sporting hero Henry "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron in the title.  Country soul reminiscent of Roy C's Honeydrippers/J Hines and the Boys etc.

 

On 20/06/2024 at 12:00, Geeselad said:

I have a Philadelphia flyers flyers version of 'aint no stopping us now' on Philadelphia international, different lyrics members the team, that were in the play offs that year, mentioned in the lyrics. Conna find a YouTube 

It was the Phillies not the flyers

( ice hockey) Here's a clip

https://youtu.be/pjMFdNN2ZEs?si=GdSOekz6O6sPzIWH

 

This has had dancefloor interest in the past....

 

parlaiment street, Nottingham.  

    good pedigree on this tune,  sadly Joe was a better boxer than singer