(1) The Orlons, R&B (… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named 'The Orlons':
(1) The Orlons, R&B (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S)
(2) The Orlons, Surf Rock (Haifa, Israel)
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(1) The Orlons consisted of lead singer Rosetta Hightower, Shirley Brickley, Marlena Davis, and Stephen Caldwell.
Before they became the Orlons, they were an all-girl quintet called Audrey and the Teenettes. They formed in the late 1950s in junior high school and consisted of Hightower, Davis, and three Brickley sisters: Shirley, Jean, and Audrey. However, after the Brickleys' mother did not permit 13-year-old Audrey to sing in certain clubs with the group, she and Jean quit, making the group a trio.
In high school, the group's three remaining members discovered fellow student Stephen Caldwell, who was lead singer of a local group called the Romeos. Impressed by him, they invited him to join the group in 1960 and named themselves the Orlons as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the friendly rivalry they had with a popular group at their high school, the Cashmeres.[1] (Orlon was a synthetic fibre widely used around that time.)
A high school friend, Dovells lead singer Len Barry, encouraged them to audition for Cameo Records at the turn of the decade. The group took his advice in the fall of 1961, but were rejected at first, although the record label eventually signed the group after two more auditions. Cameo executive Dave Appell appointed Hightower as the lead singer, and began writing songs for them.
Before rising to fame with their first national hit, "The Wah-Watusi," the group provided back-up vocals for Dee Dee Sharp's hits "Mashed Potato Time" and "Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes)." They recorded their own cover versions of those songs for their debut album, The Wah-Watusi.
Davis and Caldwell quit the group in 1964, and were replaced by Sandy Person for about a year. A short-lived stint by Yvonne Young was followed by original Teenette, Audrey Brickley, Shirley's sister. By then, the group's popularity had waned in the United States due to misdirection of their record company, Cameo Records. They continued to perform into the late 1960s with success in the UK. They disbanded in 1968 after Hightower decided to stay in England after a tour. Hightower had (and still has) a successful career as a soloist and as an in-demand session singer, backing Joe Cocker, John Holt and other popular artists. She married record producer Ian Green.
In later years, Davis married and found work as an executive secretary, while Caldwell became president of the bus drivers' trade union in Philadelphia and served on the Philadelphia Board of Education for 25 years. In 1988, Caldwell and Davis re-formed the group with two new members and performed live on the oldies circuit until Davis's death in 1993.
On October 13, 1977, Shirley Brickley was shot to death by an intruder in her home in Philadelphia. Davis lost a battle with lung cancer on February 27, 1993 (age 48). Audrey Brickley died of acute respiratory distress syndrome on July 3, 2005 (aged 58). Steve and Jean Brickley still perform as The Orlons with two cousins.
(2) The Orions (from Haifa, Israel) play high energy instrumental surf rock'n'roll, dance or die!
Band members:
• David Miretski - Guitar
• Itai Alzaradel - Guitar
• 'Mediterranean Buddha' Ezra - Bass
• Guy Offenbach - Drums
Listen to The Orions: http://theorions.bandcamp.com/
The Orions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orionsband
Not Me
The Orlons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya-Da-da-da-da-dat-dat-dat-dat-dat
Well it's down in California where the orange trees grow
Oh California
And there's a pretty little girl that he used to know
Oh California
Oh California
She said Come on over daddy lets have some fun
Oh California
He said, I heard about your husband is he back from the gym?
She said, Come on over daddy don't you worry bout him
Not me, no not me - I aint no boxer
A not me, a no not me
Now he's down in Alabama where they say you were
Oh Alabama
Where they dance all around until they have a ball
Oh Alabama
Where we saw down in the village they were gathered around
Oh Alabama
And then they looked at him, they called him Cat the Clown
Oh Alabama
He said Now wait a minute Buster, you didn't call me right
They said What you're tryin' to do, boy is start a little fight?
Not me Not me, no not me
I ain't no boxer
Not me, no not me, not me, no not me,
Well now he's back in Virginia back in his home town
Oh Virginia
A where he's got a reputation from a miles around
Oh Virginia
Yeah, and never no more will he ever roam
Oh Virginia
You know he's stickin' right there a to his happy home
Oh Virginia
Oh well a fella walked up to him he said lets make a trip
He said You better shut-up before I bust you in your lip
Not me, not me, no not me
He ain't got to go nowhere!
Uh-huh, not my baby!
You know you been hurt out there on that road!
Yep, keep it comin'!
The Orlons' song "Not Me" is a narrative about a man who travels from California to Alabama and back to Virginia while seeing different women along the way. The melody is upbeat and catchy, but the lyrics tell a story about navigating through different relationships in different parts of the country. The man seems to be constantly pursued by women who want to have a good time with him, but he is also being warned about potential danger in each place he goes.
The first verse deals with his time in California, where he used to know a pretty little girl. She invites him over for some fun, and when he asks about her husband, she brushes him off, saying not to worry about him. The second verse takes place in Alabama, where he is called Cat the Clown by the people in the village. When he tries to correct them, they become confrontational, and he has to back down. Finally, in Virginia, he is approached by a man who wants to make a trip with him, but the man warns him to shut up before he gets punched.
Overall, "Not Me" shows how even though this man is constantly on the move, he is still being pursued by women and getting into tricky situations. However, he also has some awareness of when to back down and avoid conflict. The song is a fun story about traveling and romance, but it also has a cautionary tone about being careful who you trust.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya-Da-da-da-da-dat, dat-dat-dat-dat,
Ya-Da-da-da-da-dat-dat-dat-dat-dat
Repetitive, enthusiastic sounds introducing the song with no clear meaning
Well it's down in California where the orange trees grow
Oh California
And there's a pretty little girl that he used to know
Oh California
The song sets the stage for California, where the singer meets a beautiful woman he had a history with.
Well he called me everyday about a quarter to one
Oh California
She said Come on over daddy lets have some fun
Oh California
The singer and the woman in California are constantly communicating with each other, planning their rendezvous through their phone calls.
He said, I heard about your husband is he back from the gym?
She said, Come on over daddy don't you worry bout him
Not me, no not me - I aint no boxer
A not me, a no not me
The artist expresses his concern about the woman's husband possibly discovering their affair, but the woman assures him not to worry. The artist then claims he's not the type to start a physical fight.
Now he's down in Alabama where they say you were
Oh Alabama
Where they dance all around until they have a ball
Oh Alabama
Where we saw down in the village they were gathered around
Oh Alabama
And then they looked at him, they called him Cat the Clown
Oh Alabama
The song now shifts to Alabama, where the artist faces ridicule and judgement from the locals. He's given the nickname Cat the Clown as a result.
He said Now wait a minute Buster, you didn't call me right
They said What you're tryin' to do, boy is start a little fight?
Not me Not me, no not me
I ain't no boxer
The singer gets into a confrontation with the locals, but he denies wanting to start a fight. He insists he's not the type of person to resort to violence.
Well now he's back in Virginia back in his home town
Oh Virginia
A where he's got a reputation from a miles around
Oh Virginia
Yeah, and never no more will he ever roam
Oh Virginia
You know he's stickin' right there a to his happy home
Oh Virginia
The singer returns to Virginia, where he's known by many and has a good reputation. He decides to stay in Virginia and be content with his current life.
Oh well a fella walked up to him he said lets make a trip
He said You better shut-up before I bust you in your lip
Not me, not me, no not me
As the song ends, the artist is confronted yet again, but he refuses to engage in a fight and remains non-violent.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Frank Joseph Guida, Gary L. Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glenn Schkeeper
One of the greatest female groups of all time !!!!!
Miyuki Shijisha
As a British teen I really loved the Orlons, even got a real signed photo sent to me...amazing sound.
sparkescadman
This will cure the saddest mood- the beat and perfect singing nail you from the first note!
Savadorason1
-Killer confidence & exuberance to a rockin' beat, 1 of the best!!!
Alan Fryett
Love all the songs of the Orlons with Rosetta Hightower
William Macleod
Thought it was Dee Dee Sharp!
itimesdigital
That song is amazing!
John R Pully
Love the Orlons
701CPD Cook
Wow! Summer of '63 - I was ten years old, and I probably hadn't heard this song in 50 years, but I remember that great kick-ass beat, lead singer, and sax. Not as well-known (or played) as "Wah Watusi" or "South Street," still a snappy, happy rocker from the Orlons.
David Maslow
Yes!