Show And Tell by Al Wilson

Album: Show And Tell (1973)

Charted: 1

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Songfacts®:

This song finds Wilson baring his soul to prove how much he loves his lady. Show and Tell might be just a game for some, but it's his way of saying "I love you."
Wilson is a soul singer and drummer who was a member of The Rollers in the early '60s before going solo. His first solo hit was "The Snake" in 1968. His other hits were "La La Peace Song" and "I've Got a Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)."
This was written and produced by Jerry Fuller, who also wrote Rick Nelson's "Travelin' Man" and a few hits for Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, including "Young Girl."
Johnny Mathis originally recorded this in 1973 but his version flopped. Later that year, Wilson recorded it with a stronger bass line and more powerful vocals, and it became a hit. When Jerry Fuller brought Wilson in to record the song, he offered to play the Mathis version for him, but Wilson refused.
On the 2002 "Forbidden Girlfriend" episode of Malcolm In The Middle, a naked Hal (Bryan Cranston) sings along to Wilson's version.

Comments: 9

David Joel Stephens from Philadelphia, PaI will never forget the first time I heard this song in 2005. I'm walking into the studio at 6th and Market Street in Philadelphia on a Tuesday, which is when I would handle all the production and voice-overs for my very dear friend, Jerry Blavat, otherwise known as "The Geator with the Heater". He's doing a taping for his show, The Rock-N-Roll Rhythm & Blues Express", which we would edit that day to be sent over to WXPN for the broadcast the following Saturday. Upon sitting down with my coffee in the production studio, I hear the last 30 seconds of "Don't Play That Song (You Lied) by Aretha Franklin. He hits the mic button and says..."Since you lied to your lady, maybe you need to play a little game to get your lady back. Games? Now WHAT game could you possibly slide on the side to the one you love so she's sure you mean business? Maaaaaan, c'mon now, let Al tell ya all about it. Mr. Wilson sir, WOULD YOU PLEASE? " Now, Blavat of course, being an absolute master of "hitting the post" finishes his talk-up just as Al slides into the first verse. As I'm caught up in my first taste of this Soul classic, Jerry takes off his cans, walks into the production studio and says... "Yeah, Joel, MY MAN! Would you just...just listen to this mother f--ker! I'm telling ya, this right here, is the real deal. Aint no lyin' anywhere on this single-groove wax when you pour your heart out to your lady like THIS! Always remember, when a song is good, it's ALWAYS good. You can't shine s--t, so appreciate the good ones my brother. And this bass line? Fuh-geta-bahhht-it!" Jerry had a way of selling a song unlike any other guy I've ever known. I must have played this track 100 times that day... I couldn't get it out of my head. So many great memories, that I will forever cherish, in the 23 years that I had the privilege of working side-by-side, with TRULY, one of the Greatest DJ's, entertainers, and above all else, very dear friends, that I will ever have the pleasure of knowing. R.I.P. Jerry. You will be so very missed by so so many - Until we meet again my friend...

Jerry "The Geator" Blavat
7/3/1940 -1/20/2023
Hotskel from Philadelphia, Pa.CKLW broke this one. By the time it entered the Billboard chart on October 14, 1973, it was less than a week away from reaching #1 at CKLW on October 30th, in its 7th charted week on The Big 30, since Billboard was post dated by 11 days. I remember buying the single at a record store outside Philly. It was #1 at CK and the store received a single copy. Nobody in the store ever heard of the song, but a couple of months later couldn't keep it in stock. Also the lyrics are wrong. "These are the hands that can't help reaching for you If you're anywhere inside (anywhere inside)" It should be anywhere IN SIGHT.
S. Scagnetti from Studio City, CaDoes anyone know who’s playin the tubs on this track?
Mike from South CarolinaI KNEW that had to be Jameson laying down that bass line. His stuff is iconic.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 9th 1974, Al Wilson performed "Show and Tell" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Four months earlier on October 14th, 1973 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at #96; and on January 13th, 1974 it peaked at #1 (for 1 week) and spent 22 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 7 of those 22 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
It reached #10 on Billboard's R&B Singles and #3 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary tracks charts...
Was composed by Jerry Fuller; he wrote another record that reached #1; Ricky Nelson's "Travelin' Man" in 1961; and also composed three songs for Gary Puckett & the Union Gap that made the Top 10 ("Young Girl" made #2, "Lady Willpower" also made #2, and "Over You" at #7...
R.I.P. Mr. Wilson, born Allen LaMar Wilson, (1939 - 2008).
Sante from Windsor, OnThe reason this song became a hit is because famous "Motown Bassist" James Jamerson layed down a fantastic bassline on this song.
Alene from L.a., CaLook Him up again- he was actually in the business for a long time and had many hits of various degrees of success.
Malinda from Bay Area, Cacool ol jam forgot who sang it.... one hit wonder type of stuff I guess.... thanks for helping me get this solved!

Good Job!

Malinda
Farrah from Elon, NcThis song is fabulous!! Al Wilson sings this with such feeling.

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