A group whose sound and songs were more pop than soul, Jay & the Techniques earned some points for the playful, joyous "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie," which was their lone Top 10 R&B and pop hit in 1967 on Smash.[1]
Career
The band was best known for its Top 10 debut single, "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", which was released in 1967 and reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] The track was arranged by Joe Renzetti, and written by Maurice Irby, Jr. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] Although this song served as the band's primary hit, the group also captured various chart positions with "Keep the Ball Rolling" (#14) and "Strawberry Shortcake". "Keep the Ball Rolling" also notched up sales in excess of a million copies, to secure a second gold disc for this group.[3]
However, its position on the 1960s pop charts declined after "Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music" was released. Jay & the Techniques made their final effort with its R&B hit, "Number Onderful", but after that, the group disbanded.
In 1996, Mercury Records released a compilation album of the band's hits entitled The Best of Jay & the Techniques.
Original band members
Jay Proctor: Lead vocalist and primary founder of the group
George "Lucky" Lloyd: Second vocalist
Dante Dancho: Lead guitar
Chuck Crowl: Bass guitar
Karl Landis (Lippowitsch): Drums (was replaced by Paul Coles, Jr.)
Ronnie Goosley: Saxophone
Jon Walsh: Trumpet (was replaced by Danny Altieri)
Keep The Ball Rollin'
Jay & The Techniques Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin' baby
Right into my heart
How can you ask me to try
And get by with just one little kiss (one little kiss)
When you light the fire in my heart
And ev'ry part of me is burning for you
You got to put your lips closer to mine (closer to mine)
Girl, you got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
You got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
Keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin' baby
Right into my heart
Half of a loaf isn't better than none (Half of a loaf isn't better)
when I'm starvin' for you (when I'm starvin' for you)
Don't hold me tight if ev'ry night we stop at two (don't stop, keep the ball rollin')
If you want me there when you call
Then girl, it's all or nothing next time you do
You got to put your lips closer to mine (closer to mine)
Girl, you got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
You got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
Come on, baby
Keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin' baby, right into my heart
Keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin' baby
Right into my heart
The lyrics to Jay & The Techniques's "Keep The Ball Rollin'" are all about spreading love and affection. The song urges the person being addressed to kiss and make out more passionately, to keep the flames of love burning bright. The song starts with the line "Keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin', girl, the name of the game is love." The analogy of the "ball rolling" relates to keeping the fire of love flickering, similar to how one needs to keep a ball in motion.
The second verse refers to the emotional craving for a deeper relationship, wherein just one kiss isn't enough. The lyrics, "How can you ask me to try / And get by with just one little kiss" reflect this. The singers then implore their partner to "put your lips closer to mine," in the hopes that such intimacy will yield a much-needed second helping of affection.
The chorus continues the theme of keeping love alive and rolling by encouraging the listeners to "keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin', girl, the name of the game is love." The song concludes with a final plea to keep things going and keep the romance alive, with the lines, "Come on, baby, keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin', girl, the name of the game is love."
Line by Line Meaning
Keep the ball rollin', keep the ball rollin'
Don't stop the momentum, don't let things fizzle out
Girl, the name of the game is love
We're playing the game of love and we need to keep going
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
Get ready, get set, let's start kissing
And just keep the ball rollin' baby
Right into my heart
Keep up the kissing and love will go straight into my heart
How can you ask me to try
And get by with just one little kiss (one little kiss)
You want me to get by with just one kiss? That's not enough for me
The kissin' you do, I need a second helping to
Need a second helping, need a second helping to
Your kisses are so good that I need more than one
When you light the fire in my heart
And ev'ry part of me is burning for you
Your love ignites a passion in me that I feel throughout my whole body
You got to put your lips closer to mine (closer to mine)
Girl, you got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
You got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
You need to get closer to me and we need to continue with the kissing
Half of a loaf isn't better than none (Half of a loaf isn't better)
when I'm starvin' for you (when I'm starvin' for you)
Don't hold me tight if ev'ry night we stop at two (don't stop, keep the ball rollin')
If you want me there when you call
Then girl, it's all or nothing next time you do
I need all of your love and attention, not just a little bit here and there
Come on, baby
Let's keep going, don't stop now
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Denny Randell, Sandy Linzer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ripsnortinroy
Keep the ball rollin'
Keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin', baby, right into my heart
How can you ask me to try and get by with just one little kiss
(One little kiss)
Kissing you do, I need a second helpin' too
(Need a second helpin', need a second helpin' too)
When you light the fire in my heart
And every part of me is burning for you
You've got to put your lips closer to mine
(Closer to mine)
Girl, you got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
You got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
Keep the ball rollin'
Keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin', baby, right into my heart
Half of a loaf isn't better than none when I'm starvin' for you
(When I'm starvin' for you)
Don't hold me tight if every night we stop at two
(Don't stop, keep the ball rollin')
If you want me there when you call
Then girl, it's all or nothing
Next time you do
You go to put your lips closer to mine
(Closer to mine)
Girl you got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
You got to follow it through
(You got to follow it through)
Come on honey and keep the ball rollin'
Keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin', baby, right into my heart
Yeah
Keep the ball rollin'
Keep the ball rollin'
Girl, the name of the game is love
On your mark, get set, let the kissin' start
And just keep the ball rollin', baby, right into my heart
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Sandy Linzer / Denny Randell
@karenwilkerson582
I fell in love with this song in elementary school π!! Still loving it now 50 some years later πβ€οΈ1/19/21 β€οΈ
@marthahorton-uq7wu
I love this song it's about someone I π
@lb1262dt
Me too!!π. Elementary School.π«. And Loved it, Ever Since.βπβ€οΈβ€οΈππ.
@SubwayFan65
I just love this song so much. Thank You! I wish they played music like this today. So upbeat, so soothing. :-)
@MSA942
I was ten years old and was already a music lover when this song was out. Living just a few miles from Allentown Pa. where Jay and The Techniques came from. They were every local young musicians inspiration. Till this I still love the late 60"s music especially anything with horns. Great Song!
@davidpanetta6400
I totally agree with you. Any song with a brass section always gets charged up. There were a lot of groups back then that turned out a lot of great hits. Then Chicago came along and knocked the ball out of the park!
@ginaannd.3700
Recently heard this after many many years! Wow did it bring back childhood memories! So joyful. Would like to buy the album to play whenever I want some happiness.
@milablk
This is feel good music, makes me smile and long for the good old days. Thank you Jay
@rgreene152
You took the words out of my mouth!!
@maureenmcgovern6119
They actually came to my High School to perform. They were excellent!