Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Nov 26, 2023
Linda Gertz, a singer/songwriter from Brooklyn, New York made her one and only appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 in January of 1959 at the tender age of 17.
In November 1961 she had regional success in the New York area with an answer record to a song that had gone to #1 nationwide …
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Gertz’ Billboard’s appearance, under her stage name Linda Laurie, was actually a novelty record, titled “Ambrose (Part Five).” It was an odd tale about a girl walking through a dark subway tunnel with her boyfriend Ambrose, who implores her to “just keep walking.”
In the early 60s Linda Laurie relocated to the West Coast and wrote a number of songs for other artists, including Bobby Vinton, Sonny and Cher, Nancy Sinatra (with father Frank) and Love Unlimited.
Her biggest hit as a songwriter came with “Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress),” which went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Helen Reddy in late 1973.
Before venturing west Laurie ended up in a New York studio recording an answer record to a song that had made it to the top of charts. That #1 record was Dion’s “Runaround Sue” and was penned by him and Ernie Maresca.
Dion and Maresca also co-wrote the answer record, along with Rosalyn Greenberg and Gene & Victoria Schwartz.
Singing back up on the answer tune was the same group that backed Dion on “Runaround Sue,” the Del-Satins.
Sometimes referenced as a rebuttal, here’s Linda Laurie and the Del-Satins telling us what it’s like being a “Stay-At-Home Sue,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube video of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1gklzaXYhs
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
