Rosie and the Originals
Encyclopedia
Rosie & The Originals were an American
1960s group
best known for their single
, "Angel Baby
." Fronted by lead singer Rosie Hamlin, the group produced two singles (including "Angel Baby") for Highland Records
and, like many other artists
of the era
, ended up in protracted legal battles with their record label
over royalties
and credits.
the lyrics
for "Angel Baby" as a poem
when she was 14 years old, still attending Mission Bay High School in San Diego
, California
. When she was 15, she and some friends rented a recording studio
in San Marcos, California
to record
the song. The resulting record had a very simplistic sound, and, in fact, was eventually slightly damaged from excessive playing, so the group was unable to find a record label to distribute it. Finally, after taking the master
to a department store
, they convinced a manager
to play it in the listening booth of the store's music department. The song received positive reactions from teenage listeners, and a scout
from Highland Records
offered the group a recording contract
, under the condition that the company take possession of the master recording, and that David Ponci be named as the author of the song, as he was the eldest member of the group.
"Angel Baby" made its radio
debut in December 1960, before the group had even received their contract. When the contract finally came, Hamlin found that she was ineligible to collect record royalties
from the song because she was not listed as the songwriter
. This led to the group's break-up, and although Hamlin secured the copyright
to her music in 1961, decades of battles over royalties followed.
In 1961, "Angel Baby" was also released in Canada on the Zirkon label and in England on London Records. The British release slightly edited the intro.
Noah Tafolla for Brunswick Records
and toured with the label's other artists.
Hamlin and Tafolla married and had two children together, and in 1963, she retired from singing to spend time with her family.
She returned to record singles in 1969 and again in 1973, performing occasionally throughout the 1970s and 1980s and more regularly throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
In a 1969 interview with Life
magazine, John Lennon
named Hamlin as one of his favorite singers. As can be heard on circulating recordings, The Beatles
mention the song "Give Me Love" during sessions on 01/24/69. Lennon and friends can be heard in a quickly busked version of "Angel Baby," taped at his birthday in 1971. Lennon recorded a studio version of "Angel Baby
" for his 1975 Rock 'n' Roll album, but the track would go unissued until 1986's Menlove Avenue. Rosie and the Originals are referenced by Led Zeppelin
in the liner notes from their 1973 album entitled, Houses of the Holy
, following the printed lyrics of the song "D'yer Mak'er" . The quote is, "Whatever happened to Rosie and the Originals?" "Rosie" also shows up in the Led Zeppelin song, "How Many More Times."
, of the group, Expose
. In 1996, Linda Ronstadt recorded a version of "Angel Baby" for her album Dedicated to the One I Love.
In 1999, Ace Records
released The Best of Rosie & The Originals, including all the Highland tracks as well as Brunswick recordings and unreleased tracks. The following year,the label released the album Angel Baby Revisited, with previously unreleased material.
In 2002, Hamlin performed "Angel Baby" on a PBS-TV program, Red White & Rock
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
1960s group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
best known for their single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Angel Baby
Angel Baby (song)
"Angel Baby" was a 1960 single by Rosie & The Originals. The song was recorded independently on a two-track machine when lead singer Rosie Hamlin was only 15 years old. Initially unable to find a label willing to distribute the song because of its unpolished sound, the group convinced a San Diego...
." Fronted by lead singer Rosie Hamlin, the group produced two singles (including "Angel Baby") for Highland Records
Highland Records
Highland Records is a defunct record label that was based in California in the 1960s and 1970s. They often served as a starting point for young musicians who quickly moved on to other better-known labels such as Motown or Brunswick.-Client list:...
and, like many other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
of the era
Era
An era is a commonly used word for long period of time. When used in science, for example geology, eras denote clearly defined periods of time of arbitrary but well defined length, such as for example the Mesozoic era from 252 Ma–66 Ma, delimited by a start event and an end event. When used in...
, ended up in protracted legal battles with their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
over royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
and credits.
Early career
Singer Rosie Hamlin wroteSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
the lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
for "Angel Baby" as a poem
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
when she was 14 years old, still attending Mission Bay High School in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. When she was 15, she and some friends rented a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in San Marcos, California
San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...
to record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
the song. The resulting record had a very simplistic sound, and, in fact, was eventually slightly damaged from excessive playing, so the group was unable to find a record label to distribute it. Finally, after taking the master
Master recording
A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...
to a department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
, they convinced a manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
to play it in the listening booth of the store's music department. The song received positive reactions from teenage listeners, and a scout
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
from Highland Records
Highland Records
Highland Records is a defunct record label that was based in California in the 1960s and 1970s. They often served as a starting point for young musicians who quickly moved on to other better-known labels such as Motown or Brunswick.-Client list:...
offered the group a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, under the condition that the company take possession of the master recording, and that David Ponci be named as the author of the song, as he was the eldest member of the group.
"Angel Baby" made its radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
debut in December 1960, before the group had even received their contract. When the contract finally came, Hamlin found that she was ineligible to collect record royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
from the song because she was not listed as the songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. This led to the group's break-up, and although Hamlin secured the copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
to her music in 1961, decades of battles over royalties followed.
In 1961, "Angel Baby" was also released in Canada on the Zirkon label and in England on London Records. The British release slightly edited the intro.
After Highland
After leaving Highland Records, Hamlin recorded a full-length album with guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Noah Tafolla for Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
and toured with the label's other artists.
Hamlin and Tafolla married and had two children together, and in 1963, she retired from singing to spend time with her family.
She returned to record singles in 1969 and again in 1973, performing occasionally throughout the 1970s and 1980s and more regularly throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
In a 1969 interview with Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine, John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
named Hamlin as one of his favorite singers. As can be heard on circulating recordings, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
mention the song "Give Me Love" during sessions on 01/24/69. Lennon and friends can be heard in a quickly busked version of "Angel Baby," taped at his birthday in 1971. Lennon recorded a studio version of "Angel Baby
Angel Baby
Angel Baby may refer to:*"Angel Baby" , a 1960 single by Rosie and the Originals*Angel Baby , starring George Hamilton and Mercedes McCambridge*Angel Baby , starring John Lynch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
" for his 1975 Rock 'n' Roll album, but the track would go unissued until 1986's Menlove Avenue. Rosie and the Originals are referenced by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
in the liner notes from their 1973 album entitled, Houses of the Holy
Houses of the Holy
Houses of the Holy is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records on 28 March 1973. The album title is a dedication by the band to their fans who appeared at venues they dubbed "Houses of the Holy". It was the second Led Zeppelin album to not...
, following the printed lyrics of the song "D'yer Mak'er" . The quote is, "Whatever happened to Rosie and the Originals?" "Rosie" also shows up in the Led Zeppelin song, "How Many More Times."
1995-Today
In 1995, Rosie & The Originals were portrayed in the film, My Family, performing "Angel Baby." Hamlin's part was played by Jeanette JuradoJeanette Jurado
Jeanette Livier Jurado is a member of the popular girl group Exposé. She was born on November 14, 1965, in Pico Rivera, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.Jurado is a member of Exposé, along with Ann Curless and Gioia Bruno, then later Kelly Moneymaker...
, of the group, Expose
Expose
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:-Technology:* Exposé , a window management tool for Mac OS X** Exposé clone, computer software which mimics the Mac OS X feature-Music:...
. In 1996, Linda Ronstadt recorded a version of "Angel Baby" for her album Dedicated to the One I Love.
In 1999, Ace Records
Ace Records (UK)
Ace Records Ltd. was started in 1978. Initially the company only gained permission from the label based in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, but eventually also acquired the rights to publish their recordings. When Chiswick's pop side was licensed to EMI in 1984, Ace switched to more licensing...
released The Best of Rosie & The Originals, including all the Highland tracks as well as Brunswick recordings and unreleased tracks. The following year,the label released the album Angel Baby Revisited, with previously unreleased material.
In 2002, Hamlin performed "Angel Baby" on a PBS-TV program, Red White & Rock
Singles
- "Angel BabyAngel Baby (song)"Angel Baby" was a 1960 single by Rosie & The Originals. The song was recorded independently on a two-track machine when lead singer Rosie Hamlin was only 15 years old. Initially unable to find a label willing to distribute the song because of its unpolished sound, the group convinced a San Diego...
" (Highland Records, 1960) - "Why Did You Leave Me" (Highland Records, 1961)
- "Lonely Blue Nights" (Brunswick Records, 1961)
- "Lonely Blue Nights" (Highland, 1961)
- "My One and Only Love" (Globe Records, 1969)
- "You're No Good" (Wax World, 1973)
Albums
- Lonely Blue Nights (Brunswick Records, 1963)
- The Best of Rosie & the Originals (Ace Records, 1999)
- Angel Baby Revisted (Ace Records, 2000)
External links
- Official website
- Destination Doo-wop history
- [ Allmusic biography]
- Label shots & history
- Interview