Donnie Elbert, You can push it or pull it/Lily Lou

111 | 24 December 2023

Donnie Elbert | Rebeat/Copyright Control

Singer, song writer and record company executive Donnie Elbert was born in New Orleans on May 25, 1936 and moved with his family to Buffalo, New York when he was three. He learned guitar and piano when a child and formed a doo wop group, The Vibraharps, with friends Danny Cannon, Charles Hargro, Donald Simmons, and perhaps Douglas Gibson, in 1955. In 1957 he left the group to go solo, signed with Deluxe, and his debut recording for them, “What Can I Do”, reached no. 12 on the R&B chart. In 1960 he was called up and served in the U. S. Army.

As a song writer he had to sue to get song writing credit for Darrel Banks’ “Open the door to your heart” which Banks had claimed as his own work.

From 1966 to 1969 he lived in the UK and a record he made for Decca’s Deram label, “Without You” had a rock steady beat and topped the Jamaican charts. In 1969 he returned to New York and had a number of hits with All Platinum Records and his update of “Where Did Our Love Go” reached the UK top 10.

In the 1980s he ceased recording and performing and took an executive position with Polygram Canada. Donnie Elbert died after a massive stroke in Philadelphia on January 26, 1989.

“You can push it (Your red wagon)” Gateway 761/748, 1964. UK Sue WI 396, 10 September 1965.

Chart Position: Did not chart.

Collection of Martin Whitell

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Harold Betters, Do anything you wanna

113 | 24 December 2023

Harold Betters | Penn State University | 14572

Trombone player Harold Betters is a jazz legend who was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1928 and raised in Pittsburgh. He was one of seven children in a musical family in Connellsville. His parents owned the nightspot Betters’ Grill and Hotel, his older brother Jim was a trumpeter and his younger brother Jerry sang and played drums. 

Betters studied music education at Acatha College before being called into the U. S. Army during World War II. After war service he studied at the Brooklyn Conservatory for one year. After moving to Boston in 1952 he toured with the bands of Dick Gregory and Ray Charles.

Harold Betters died on October 11, 2020.

“Do Anything You Wanna”, Gateway 747, 1964, UK Sue WI 378, May 1965.

Chart Position: U.S. Hot 100 No. 74, late 1964.

Donnie Elbert, Little piece of leather/Do whatcha wanna

118 | 24 December 2023

Donnie Elbert | Last FM | 14511

Donnie Elbert was born in New Orleans in 1936 and died in 1989. Between those years he made a string of records, usually featuring his amazing falsetto voice. His first record as a solo singer was 1957’s “What can I do” for Deluxe records. He recorded “A little piece of leather” for Gateway in 1965. It flopped in America but when picked up by UK Sue became a hit. He re-recorded the song for All Platinum and that version was released on London American. Because of the success here, he came on a tour in 1966 and liked the place so much he stayed in the UK for four years, recording for Decca’s Deram label. Back in America, he recorded for All Platinum and for Avco Embassy Records. He then became director of Artists and Repertoire for Polygram Canada and died of a stroke aged 52.

“A little Piece of Leather”, Gateway 757, 1965, UK Sue WI 377, June 1965.

Chart Position: did not chart in US. Re-release charted in UK, reaching no 27 in the UK pop chart in 1972.

Collection of Martin Whitell

There is a photo of a test pressing of this single on the Test Disks page.