In a June Substack tribute to Cynthia Weil’s legacy, Dan Epstein of “Jagged Time Lapse” observed that the “modern pop songbook would be significantly slimmer and less life-affirming without their work”. The ‘their’ referring, of course, to her husband and songwriting partner Barry Mann. From their early Brill Building output which included “Uptown” (The Crystals), “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (The Righteous Brothers), and “Walking In The Rain” (The Ronettes), to the chart-topping 80s classics of “Don’t Know Much” (Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville) and “Here You Come Again” (Dolly Parton), Cynthia Weil’s contributions to popular music were indeed affirming. This week’s Deeper Roots pays due respect to Cynthia, who was married to Barry Mann for almost 62 years, and was lyricist to his music. Their contributions to the sound of rock and roll and pop music in the 1960s rivaled luminaries like Burt Bacharach, Carole King and Neil Diamond.
No.
1
Artist
Title
Album
Buy
2
Jay & the Americans
Only in America
Red, White & Rock Disc 2
3
The Drifters
On Broadway
Red, White & Rock Disc 2
4
Arthur Alexander
Where Have You Been
The Greatest Hits
5
Tony Orlando
Bless You
Halfway To Paradise: The Epic Records Story
6
The Cinderellas
Please Don't Wake Me
The Brill Building Sound [Disc 3]
7
The Crystals
Uptown
Back to Mono (1958-1969) Disc 1
8
The Crystals
He's Sure the Boy I Love
Back to Mono (1958-1969) Disc 1
9
The Ronettes
Walking in the Rain
The Best of the Ronettes
10
The Ronettes
You Baby
The Best of the Ronettes
11
The Lovin' Spoonful
You Baby
Greatest Hits [Buddha]
12
Shelley Fabares
Johnny Loves Me
The Brill Building Sound [Disc 3]
13
The Righteous Brothers
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
The Very Best of the Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody
14
The Righteous Brothers
(You're My) Soul and Inspiration
The Very Best of the Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody
15
The Animals
We Gotta Get Out of This Place
The Singles Plus Disc 1
16
The Vogues
Magic Town
Greatest Hits
17
Scott Walker
Angelica
Scott
18
Max Frost & The Troopers
Shape of Things to Come
Shape of Things to Come – Single
19
Mark Lindsay/Paul Revere
Kicks
Red, White & Rock Disc 3
20
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Hungry
Time-Life Classic Rock: 1964 – The Beat Goes On
21
Mama Cass Elliot
Make Your Own Kind Of Music
Creeque Alley: The History Of The Mamas & The Papas [Disc 2]
22
Mama Cass Elliot
It's Getting Better
Creeque Alley: The History Of The Mamas & The Papas [Disc 2]