MARK DINNING - 2/1 : Teen Angel

 

 

MARK DINNING (1933-1986)

原名字 Max Edward Dinning, 1933年生於 Oklahoma 奧哈拉荷馬州 Manchester 曼徹斯特市, 自幼與家人從原居地 Kansas 堪薩斯州, 遷移至 Tennessee 田納西州 Nashville 納殊維爾附近的一個農場長大。

 

 

THE DINNING SISTERS

是四十年代的女子三人組合, 由 Jean, Virginia 和 Lucille Dinning 姊妹组成,  Max 是 Dinning 家中九個孩子的老么, 自幼受音樂薰淘, 参加教堂詩歌班, 繼而步姊姊的後塵, 同以鄉謠音樂為事業, 跟隨姊姊到不同場合参予演唱。

 

1957年, 與 Every Brothers 同加入 Acuff-Rose Music 歌曲出版公司, 與監製 Wesley Rose 簽約成為公司旗下的創作歌手, 改以藝名 Mark Dinning 踏入美國流行歌曲樂壇。同年, 個人首張單曲細唱片由 M-G-M 美高梅唱片公司印製, "When You're Tired Of Breaking Other Hearts" 和 B-面的 "School Fool"。

 

Mark 1959年錄製的單曲細唱片, "Teen Angel" 與B-面 "Bye Now Baby" 两曲同是姊姊 Jean 和丈夫 Red Surrey 的作品, 和唱歌手 Alex Murray, 十月面世之後, 由於歌曲内容是青少年的愛情悲劇, 被傳媒評為對年青人有不良影響, 各電台亦拒絕播放。雖然遭受排斥, 歌曲能登上 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 榜第五十位, 至翌年二月登上榜首和 "R&B 藍調節奏" 榜第五位; 在英國雖然被 BBC 廣播公司禁播, 仍可登 UK Single Chart 第三十七位。

 

Mark Dinning 在流行樂壇的生命短促, 由於早年酗酒成癮, 令致經常失場與爽約, 這是理所當然不被主辦機構邀請在台上演出, 失去很多面對樂迷的機會之外, 更漸漸從演唱台上淡出。一曲 "Teen Angle" 的成功, 隨後再沒有突破, 亦由於多年來仍沉溺在酒精而引致健康問題。1986年三月, 在 Missouri 密蘇里州 Jefferson City 家中, 因心臟病發離世, 終年五十二歲。 

 

TEEN ANGEL - Mark Dinning 1959

Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back

Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And am I still your own true love?

What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight

Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And am I still your own true love?

 

Just sweet sixteen, and now you're gone
They've taken you away
I'll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today

Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And he is still your own true love?

Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please

 

"TEEN ANGEL" 在流行樂壇成為悲情的少年歌曲系列之一; 內容描述少男和女友同駕車漫遊, 當汽車正跨越火車路軌時, 因機件固障無法前行而停在路軌上, 少男着女友走出車外之後, 她未及回頭已眼看火車迎面而至, 男友在車內與火車相撞而命喪, 女孩因逃避不及亦告受傷入院。當她在醫院接受治理, 才知道愛人已不幸離世, 凝望着仍牢牢套在指上, 男友的定情信物, 一枚他的高校指環, 傷心欲絕, 在歌詞中, 盡顯哀痛 "我不能再親吻你, 他們今天把你下葬了" .... 最後的呼喚 "少年天使, 回答我, 求求你 !"

 

COVER VERSIONS

1960 - Garry Mills

1962 - Robbins and Paxton, Dickey Lee
1964 - Jimmy Velvet
 

1969 - Sha Na Na (Woodstock Day 3 - Sunday, August 17, 1969)
1974 - Wednesday
1975 - The Rockin' Devils
1976 - Brian Protheroe
1978 - Leroy Van Dyke
1979 - Cruisers
1999 - Orion
2001 - Brothers
2016 - Candace

DANISH - Min engel - Jes Halding
              Kirsten Vaupel - 1977
DUTCH - Teen Angel - Co de Kloet
             Harry Bliek - 1960

 

DION AND THE BELMONTS VERSION
 

TEEN ANGEL - Dion and The Belmonts - 1958
Written by Dion DiMucci

Teen Angel, Angel Divine
Teen Angel, Angel of Mine
How I love you
How I need you
For my own

Teen Angel, Open your heart
Teen Angel, we'll never part
How I long
How I yearn
For you my dear
For you my dear

Hold me baby
Never let me go
Tell me you love me
Tell me that it's so

We'll be together
Forever and ever
On earth and
in heaven above

Teen Angel, Angel Divine
Teen Angel, Angel of Mine
Our love is young
Now we are one
Teen Angel…

 

DONOVAN VERSION
 

TEEN ANGEL - Donovan - 1968  

Written by Donovan

All the boys in the neighborhood
Would love you if they could
But I'm easy But I'm easy But I'm easy.

Now that you're in demand
Handle it if you can
'Cause it's easy 'Cause it's easy 'Cause it's easy.

I'll take you anywhere,
Buy ribbons for your hair.
You need me anyway
And you know what I'm going to do.

Now the boys as you look about
May be funny to work out
But I'm easy But I'm easy But I'm easy.

Mark Dinning 在流行樂壇三十年, 有記載共錄製三張專輯, 三十一張單曲細唱片, 除了 "Teen Angel" 登榜首之外, 另有三首能打進流行榜百名之内而已; 1960年, 不被唱片監製看重, 放在唱片 B-面的歌曲 "The World Is Getting Smaller" 與及A-面主打的 "She Cried on My Shoulder" 同樣不被注目, 在歐美的流行榜上全無踪影。

 

ALBUM 專輯唱片
1960 - Wanderin'
          Teen Angel
1984 - 40 Years Of Love Song

   

SINGLES 單曲唱片
1957 - When You're Tired Of Breaking Other Hearts / School Fool
          Shameful Ways / A Million Years Ago
1958 - The Blackeyed Gypsy / Secretly In Love With You       
          Do You Know (There's Someone Who Loves You)
1959 - Cutie Cutie / A Life Of Love
          Teen Angel / Bye Now Baby - U.S. Hot 100 (No.1) U.S. R&B (No.5)
1960 - She Cried On My Shoulder / The World Is Getting Smaller      
          A Star Is Born (A Love Has Died) / You Win Again - U.S. Hot 100 (No.68)
          The Lovin' Touch / Come Back To Me (My Love) U.S. Hot 100 (No.84)
          You Thrill Me (Through And Through) / A Life Of Love

          I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry / Too Young To Die

          I Lost / The Blackeyed Gypsy

1961 - Another Lonely Girl / Can't Forget               
          Top Forty, News, Weather And Sports - U.S. Hot 100 (No.81)
          In A Matter Of Moments / What Will My Mary Say
          Lonely Isnad / Turn Me On
1962 - All Of This For Sally / The Pickup       
          I Catch Myself Cryin' / She's Changed   
1963 - The Twelfth Of Never / Somebody Catch Me Kissin' Mary
1964 - Joey / January        
          Should We Do It / Call Her Your Sweetheart
1965 - Dial Al 1-4883 / I'm Glad We Fell In Love
1966 - There Stands A Lady / The Last Rose   
          He Reminds Me Of Me / Run Opie Run
1967 - It's Such A Pretty World Today / Atlanata Georgia Stray   
          Hangin' On / Maggie (I Wish We'd Never Met)      
1968 - Throw A Little Love My Way / A Dissatisfied Man       
          Las Que Llegaron Al Hit Parade Vol. 1 - Johnny Tillotson, Tommy Edwards, Mark Dinning
1969 - Lemon Yellow / How Little Men Care
1977 - Little Darlin' / Teen Angel
1986 - Teen Angel / Corrine Corinna