From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Mon Jan 28, 2002 1:18 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Jack Scott JACK SCOTT (By Shaun Mather) Born Jack Scafone, Jr., 28 January 1936, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Canadian-born Jack Scott, the mean old grizzly bear, grew up near Detroit. He developed a love for country music and joined his first band, the Southern Drifters in 1954. His first record came out on the ABC Paramount label and immediately featured his heavily acoustic sound together with one of rock's greatest bass slapping on Baby, She's Gone. A move to the Carlton label saw him strike gold with the double-sided gem of My True Love and Leroy. The top side was a delightful ballad, whilst Leroy was a pounding rocker with lyrics that offered more than love and angst. His output for Carlton continued in the same vein with his sound augmented by some great backing vocals by the Chantones. Personal favourites are the driving Goodbye Baby and The Way I Walk. A move to Top Rank saw more success, but the sound had been watered down a touch. What in the World's Come Over You (# 5) and Burning Bridges (# 3) were massive hits in 1960, both numbers benefiting from Scott's strong, clean vocal delivery. In 1961, he signed with Capitol Records and continued in the same vein, with Strange Desire and One Of These Days (both 1961) being standouts. Next came RCA's Groove subsidiary for whom he cut one of the greatest Christmas double headers, with 1963's There's Trouble Brewin' and Jingle Bell Slide. The mid-60's saw to great singles on Groove, Wiggle On Out and Flakey John. Country singles have appeared sporadically, including the hit single You're Just Gettin' Better for Dot. Nine top 40 US hits and a handful in the UK do little justice to a man who should have been massive. I saw him in the early 90's with the Class Of '58 and he was brilliant. When I saw him with his own American band at Hemsby last year, it was virtually a perfect show. I rate it as the best show I have ever seen except for Jerry Lee's 65th birthday show in Memphis. Recommended listening; The Way I Walk - Rollercoaster. The Capitol Collector's Series 1959 - 62. - Top Rank-Capitol. Scott On Groove - Bear Family. Great Scott - Star-Club Records.