Thread by @GrantMcPheeFilm

Thanks for all the interest about my 'Lord Rockingham' tweet.I dug up a little more that led to all sorts of strange musical twists thanks to 'Google'. I've always been fascinated by those in music who were perhaps not The Beatles but contributed more than they are credited for-

-He's certainly one of the interesting shadowplayers but leads to many others – naughty and nice.I thought I'd highlight some of those related connections who helped (or hindered) music from the background.

Long before Creation there were attempts by British independent labels to take on the majors – Immediate being one of the most rebellious – but a couple of years earlier there was Island.

Chris Blackwell started Island by importing Jamaican records into the UK. By 62 CB believed there may be an opportunity to expand by also recording and releasing his records there.He was quickly told by EVERYONE that the establishment would never allow this.Except for one person?

You guessed it- Lord Rockingham. CB, LR and Chris Peers got around the 'cartel' by forming a production company – CPR – that would manage, record, promote and produce artists themselves but licence them to a major. One of their first hits was My Boy Lollipop by Millie.

The song however was not written by them.Its origins are a little murky,to say the least. It was written as My Girl Lollypop by Robert Spencer of the Doo-Wop group– Cadillacs
At this same time,a 14 year old singer,Barbie Gaye was heard singing on a street corner by Corky Vastola

Those who have watched Goodfellas will probably be aware that anyone called Corky is likely to have, at least an acquaintance with organised crime, and this Corky was no exception. He 'persuaded' Barbie that he was going to be her manager so required a 'hit' song. Enter: Lollipop

Barbie proved to be an exceptional performer. She was given the simple instruction to change the gender of the song but she then herself added the 'whoas', 'I love ya's', extended lines to the extent the band changed their rhythm to follow her – the shuffle, a precursor to Ska

The record would find its way to Jamaica, where it was a Sound System hit and eventually to Chris Blackwell. Unfortunately the song credits did not reflect her significant contributions, or originally even poor old Robert Spencer's.

Like many songs of the 50's it fell foul to organised crime and the infamous Morris Levy - “a notorious crook who swindled artists out of their owed royalties.”.Levy 'decided' to take the writing credit.Terrible, but he does though have a later link to a Beatles holy grail record

Levy 'owned' Chuck Berry's publishing and when John Lennon used a Berry line in 'Come Together', rather than going to court they came to an agreement that John would record 3 'Levy' songs on his next album. This was the genesis of 'Rock 'n' Roll'.

Lennon boldly reneged on the deal, and for someone who was probably more used to depositing 'offenders' in concrete Lennon got away lightly with only an unsanctioned release - by Levy – of early mixes of RnR, titled 'Roots', a remarkably rare record.

In a perfect world there would be some amazing,circular fact that links Lennon to HR involving the Beatles Decca audition but there's not. It's just fun connected stories that hopefully highlight the great work by people like Barbie that goes unnoticed due to sharks like Levy