While I can't help Freddie's loss of memory and aging process, I can help him at the bar to remember that it twas *I* that bought the last round... everytime. He seems grateful of not missing his turn... everytime. ;-)
Here is the only bonafide data I have on the "Hey Little Cobra" saga...
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"Hey, Little Cobra" was written by Carol Conner in 1964. It has been said that she wrote "Hey, Little Cobra right after she visited Shelby American and bought a Cobra for herself.
"Hey Little Cobra was recorded and released in 1964. The artists making "Hey Little Cobra" were called "the Rip Chords", which consisted of lead singers Bruce Johnston and Terry Day (Melcher). Both played with other surf song groups like the Beach Boys as well as under many different named groups of their own.
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I beleive others passed through the ripchords band as "guests" and shared singers on occasion.
I would suggest simply calling them up and asking them about the history! I'll bet Ed has their number! And they seemed like some real friendly down to Earth guys... that's for SURE!
Just dug up some more info on the RipChords vertifying the above...
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The Rip Chords are known for their 1964 million-seller smash hit "Hey Little Cobra" and their chart hits "Three Window Coupe," "Here I Stand," "Gone," "409" and "Red Hot Roadster" from the Beach Movie "A Swingin' Simmer."
Produced by the team of Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston, the 60's Rip Chords consisted of Phil Stewart, Rich Rotkin and Arnie Marus. Ernie Bringus joined the group for a short time but all personal appearances were by Phil, Rich and Arnie.
The Rip Chords today consist of Richie Rotkin (vocals and percussion), Bob Rush (bass, vocals, musical director), Mitchell Schecter (lead guitar, vocals, vocal director), Fred Brog (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Walter Slinkard (drums, vocals) and Bobby Scammell (keyboards, vocals). Arnie Marcus (bongos, percussion, vocals) joins the guys onstage for some of the shows).
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And here is a link to the RipChords site...
http://www.ripchords.net/home_page.htm
I also discovered Carol Conner's site as well (not much of interest there)...
http://www.carolconnors.com/main.htm
And a Jan & Dean biography, but with no mention of the HLC song...
http://www.jananddean.com/bio.html
Finally, the discography of their recordings, also with no mention of HLC...
http://www.jananddean.com/disco.html
PS... I *did* happen to find a current photo of our very own Gary Osborne and his wife Sue psoing on stage at the DV-fling with the Ripchords circa June-03!
http://performanceunlimited.com/audi...s+Osbornes.JPG
/Randall