The Two Sides of Carmen Taylor

 

The daughter of a Philadelphian bandleader and a Cuban dancer, Carmen Taylor was born in Cuba ca. 1928. She came to the United States of America at age two, began singing at age three. She sang with musicians like Tito Puente and Duke Ellington.  As Elen Madera, she had an international hit with the song "Pepito,"  

She was also a prolific songwriter, and her repertoire included Clyde McPhatter's "Seven Days," as well as the Clovers' "Little Mama." 

There was never, as far as I know, any Carmen Taylor biography published, in print or on internet, a compilation of her songs neither.

Early in June 1974, bride of a day, Carmen Taylor (Carmen Griffith) was gunned down by her ex-convict husband at Fifth and Market Streets in San Francisco.

A talented woman whose life remains a mystery.

tracklist

1 - Can't Understand It (Mercury, 1951)
2 - Lovin Daddy (Atlantic, 1953)
3 - Ding Dong (Atlantic, 1953)
4 - Mama Me And Johnny Free (Atlantic, 1953)
5 - Big Mamou Daddy (Atlantic, 1953)
6 – Freddie (Atlantic, 1954)
7 - Ooh I (Atlantic, 1954)
8 - No More No Less (Guyden, 1954)
9 - The Bride Should Have Been Me (Okeh, 1955)
10 - Teenage Ball (Apollo, 1956)
11 - Oh Please (Apollo, 1956)
12 - So What (King, 1957)
13 - Love Me Baby (Teen Time, 1962)
14 - You're Puttin' Me On (Kama Sutra, 1965)
15 - Hey Son (aka My Son) (Kama Sutra, 1965)
16 - Willie B (EL Toro, 1959)

As Elen Madera : 

17 – Pepito (Decca, 1960)
18 - El-Chipi-Chipi (Decca, 1960)
19 - Otra Vez (Decca, 1960)
20 - Callate Corazón (Decca, 1960)
21 – Florecita (Decca, 1960)
22 - Quisiera Saber (Decca, 1960)
23 - Pu-Chung Ga (Decca, 1960)
24 – Tu Eres Todo  (Columbia, 1961)
25 - Canto Karabali (Columbia, 1961)
26 - Mi Cumbia Son (Decca, 1967)

If you have any information or missing songs not listed above (a total of some 60 songs were released), feel free to leave a comment.

Carmen or Elena

Rock-Ola Ruby

 

Sweet Rockin' Sonny West

(booklet incl.)

 

Be Bop Boogie

 

Collectables (US) CD. Compilation from the vaults of Oak Records (North Carolina) previously issued by Krazy Kat in England. Notes by Philip J. Tricker.

See listing here

Let's Boogie

 

Lightnin' Hopkins : All the Classics 1946-1951

 

JSP 5-cd boxset issued in 2003 (as time flies!) (for details, see Discogs)

Disc A

Disc B

Disc C

Disc D

Disc E

Hank Williams : Hillbilly Hero

 

Proper Records 4-cd boxset. For details see discogs

Move It On Over

Vintage RCA Rockabilly '56-'59

 

tracklist

1 - Joe Clay - Duck Tail
2 - Joe Clay - Sixteen Chicks
3 - Joe Clay - Doggone It
4 - Joe Clay - Goodbye Goodbye
5 - Joe Clay - Slipping Out And Sneaking In
6 - Joe Clay - Get On The Right Track
7 - Joe Clay - You Look That Good To Me
8 - Joe Clay - Cracker Jack
9 - Joe Clay - Did You Mean Jelly Bean (What You Said Cabbage Head)
10 - Ric Cartey - Ooh-Eee
11 - Ric Cartey - Heart Throb
12 - Ric Cartey - I Wancha To Know
13 - Ric Cartey - Let Me Tell You About Love
14 - Ric Cartey - Born To Love One Woman
15 - Ric Cartey - Mellow Down Easy
16 - Ric Cartey - My Babe
17 - Homer & Jethro - Two Tone Shoes
18 - Pee Wee King - Catty Town
19 - David Houston - Sugar Sweet
20 - Tommy Blake & The Rhythm Rebels - Honky Tonk Mind (Woman I Need)
21 - Tommy Blake & The Rhythm Rebels - All Night Long
22 - Martha Carson - Now Stop
23 - Janis Martin  - Love Me To Pieces
24 - Janis Martin  - Two Long Years
25 - Janis Martin  - All Right Baby
26 - Dave Rich - Chicken House
27 - The Sprouts  - Teen Billy Baby
28 - Milton Allen - Don't Bug Me Baby
29 - Morgan Twins* - Let's Get Goin'
30 - Jimmy Dell - Rainbow Doll
31 - Gordon Terry - It Ain't Right
32 - Roy Orbison - Almost Eighteen
33 - Hoyt Johnson - Little Boy Blue

Booklet included

Get Hot Or Go Home

 

Rockin' At The Drive-In

 

tracklist :

1 - The Beavers - Rockin' At The Drive-In - Capitol (1968)
2 - Sammy Gowan - Kissin' At The Drive-In - United Artists (1958)
3 - Mickey Gilley - Drive-In Movie - Khoury's (1959)
4 - Eddie Cochran - Drive In Show - Liberty (1957)
5 - The Aquatones - The Drive-In - Fargo (1959)
6 - The Academics - Drive-In Movie - Elmont (1958)
7 - Cookie Roberts - Draggin' The Drive-In's - Eric (1962)
8 - Gary Shelton  - Kissin' At The Drive-In - Mercury (1958)
9 - Ron Hargrave - Drive-In Movie - Cub (1959)
10 - Ted Harris - Little Drive-In - Columbia (1960)
11 - Mack Vickery - Drive-In - Sun unissued (1957)
12 - Morgan Twins - Sittin' In The Drive-In - Peak (1959)
13 - The Beach Boys - Drive-In - Capitol (1964)
14 - Mark Valentino - Jivin' At The Drive-In - Swan (1963)
15 - Cardigan Brothers - Let's Go To The Movies - Chairman (1962)
16 - Clay Cole - Queen Of The Movies - Imperial (1961)
17 - Sonny Knight - Teenage Party - GoGo (50s)
18 - Troy Ferguson  - At The Jamboree - Flame (50s)
19 - Rickey Martin  - Boppin' At The High School Hop - Tops LP (1957)
20 - Jerry Lee Lewis - Milkshake Mademoiselle - Sun
21 - Ronnie Dove - Lover Boy - Dove (1959)
22 - Harold Dorman - Soda Pop Baby - Rita unissued
23 - Jackie Blanchard - The King Of Hearts - Mida (1959)
24 - Connie Francis - Playin' Games - MGM (1962)
25 - Freddy Dame - After School - Nic-Nac (1962)
26 - Autrey Inman - Remember The Night - RCA (1956)
27 - Robert Luke Harsman - Girl Of My Dreams - Guyden (1959)
28 - Buddy Love - Ummm, Kiss Me Goodnight - Crest (1958)

*

Hep Cats from Big Spring

 

Texas Rock 'n' Roll from the 50's and 60's. Twenty tracks (of which fifteen are unissued or alternate takes)

01 - Move Mama - Ben Hall
02 - Be Bop Ball - Ben Hall
03 - Blue Days- Black Nights - Ben Hall
04 - Honey You Talk Too Much - Orville Fox & Harmony Masters
05 - Silly Sally - Sammy Lara & Skytones
06 - Little Girl - Sammy Lara & Skytones
07 - Tell Me - The Regals
08 - Waitin' On The Steps At School - The Regals
09 - Lover's Regret - The Classics
10 - Hep Cat - The Teen Kings
11 - Some Sweet Day - David Box & Ravens
12 - That's All I Want From You - David Box & Ravens
13 - I Do The Best I Can - David Box & Ravens
14 - Waitin' (Don't Wait Too Long) - David Box & Ravens
15 - Guitar Hop - Larry Welborn
16 - It's Gonna Happen - Bob Osburn
17 - Heart Thief - Bob Osburn
18 - Too Young To Love - Don Nicholas & Four Teens
19 - Goin' Back To Louisiana - Bob Osburn
20 - Bark Like A Dog - Bobby Allison

Move Mama + booklet

New Jersey Burners

 

Krazy Kat 7442

Doug Sahm : the definitive early doug Sahm

 

 

Crazy Crazy Feelin'

The Preachers Moanin'

 

Let's Go Arrow

 

In praise of the "Almost"

 

Why in praise of the almost ? Firstly, I'm fascinated by what is so close and yet sometimes inaccessible. Secondly, I lack inspiration today.

Almost - Not Quite - So Close

tracklist

Dipper's Quintet - It's Almost Christmas                                                                 
Ernest Tubb - Almost to Tulsa                                                                     
Gene Summers - Almost 12 O'Clock                                                                   
Gordon Terry - Almost Alone                                                                     
Jean Robinson- School Is Almost Over                                                               
Jim Busby - Not Quite in Nashville                                                                   
Joe South - She's Almost You                                                                       
Millie Asher - I Almost Laughed Today                                                                
Ral Donner - So Close To Heaven                                                                      
Robert Wagner - Almost Eighteen                                                                      
The Astronauts - Almost Grown                                                                      
The Corsairs - It's Almost Sunday Morning 

Having Fun With Elvis On Stage

 

 Having Fun With Elvis On Stage

Issued first on the Boxcar label (Parker's own label) this 1974 album made entirely of Elvis’s between-song banter and on-stage jokes didn’t exactly set his fanbase alight, but the ever-resourceful Colonel was always cooking up new ways to seek out the dollar…  See more info :  Vintage Rock (July 19, 2022)

According to the James L. Dickerson book Colonel Tom Parker: The Curious Life of Elvis Presley's Eccentric Manager, Colonel Parker made another one of his strange agreements with RCA. Under this agreement, RCA agreed to distribute an album entitled Having Fun on Stage with Elvis, recorded for Parker's Boxcar Enterprises label. The contract called for an advance of $100,000, payable to Parker, and a fifty-cent per album royalty. Apparently, Elvis did not receive any of the advance. With those agreements, Colonel Parker treated Elvis as if he was already dead and gone—and as if he had no heirs who could benefit from his estate. 

Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks : The Roulette Years

 

Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks : The Roulette Years

 

 

Sequel Records (1994)

This is probably the Hawkins CD most worth hunting down for Band fans. It has everything on the Rhino album (except for cut 18, which is a track recorded in 1970). The two-CD set contains a lot of stuff with Levon drumming, and a fair bit of stuff with Robbie and Rick, and several songs with Garth and Richard too. Altogether there are six songs that feature the complete Band lineup backing Hawkins. Three of the songs are shelved recordings from the early 60's with the young Levon singing lead and Robbie and Rick on instruments (along with saxman Jerry Penfund), including an engaging version of "Further on up the Road". Quite a few of the songs have the complete Band/Hawks lineup in place (with one interesting substitution: Roy Buchanan plays bass and Rick Danko is on Rhythm guitar on versions of "Bo Diddley" and the version of "Who Do You Love?" that appears also on the Across the Great Divide box set). Garth Hudson contribute a few things to several cuts on this compilation (he is not playing on the Rhino collection), including a wild series of organ fills to "Bossman" in which you can hear intimations of the Garthhood to come. The CD pair contains a complete record of all the participants in the recording sessions Hawkins played in while with Roulette from 1958 to 1963.

The compilation includes "Suzie-Q", a good, but not great, cover of Ronnie's cousin Dale's hit, the Helm/Robertson/Danko/Penfound song "What a Party", "There's a Screw Loose" (there sure is, this track is worth the CD price), and "Kansas City" by Rockin' Ronald, although Ronnie says it's not him singing on that one.

From https://theband.hiof.no/albums/roulette_years.html


CD 1

Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Ruby Baby
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Forty Days
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Horace
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – One Of These Days
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – What 'Cha Gonna Do (When The Creek Runs Dry)
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Wild Little Willy
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Mary Lou
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Oh Sugar
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Odessa
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Need Your Lovin'
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – My Girl Is Red Hot
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Hayride
Jimmy Ray Paulman And The Hawks – C-Riff Rock
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Baby Jean
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Southern Love
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Someone Like You
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Hey Boba Lou
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Love Me Like You Can
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – You Cheated You Lied
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Dreams Do Come True
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Lonely Hours
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Clara
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Honey Don't
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Sick & Tired
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Ballad Of Caryl Chessman
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Summertime
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – You Know I Love You

CD 2

Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Sexy Ways
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Come Love
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Searchin'
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Honey Love
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – I Feel Good
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Susie Q
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Matchbox
Levon Helm And The Hawks – What A Party
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Bo Diddley
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Who Do You Love?
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Bossman
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – High Blood Pressure
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – There's A Screw Loose
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Arkansas
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Mojo Man
Levon Helm And The Hawks – Further On Up The Road
Levon Helm And The Hawks – Nineteen Years Old
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Kathy Jean
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Mojo Man (Alternate Take)
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Sexy Ways (Alternate Take)
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Ruby Baby (Alternate Take)
Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks – Forty Days (Alternate Take)
Jimmy Ray Paulman And The Hawks – Hayride (Demo)
Jimmy Ray Paulman And The Hawks – Light In The Window (Demo)
Fred Carter, Jr. And The Hawks – My Heart Cries (Demo)
Fred Carter, Jr. And The Hawks – Look For Me (Demo)
Fred Carter, Jr. And The Hawks – Love It Up (Demo)
Unknown – Your Love Is What I Need (Demo)
Rockin' Ronald & The Rebels – Kansas City (Rockin' Ronald)

Roy Buchanan - Early Years 1957-1962

 

Roy Buchanan (1957)

 

Roy Buchanan - After Hours: Early Years 1957-1962 Recordings 

Leroy "Roy" Buchanan (1939– 988) was an American guitarist and blues musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan worked as a sideman and as a solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career and two later solo albums that made it to the Billboard chart. He never achieved stardom, but is considered a highly influential guitar player. Guitar Player praised him as having one of the "50 Greatest Tones of All Time." He appeared on the PBS music program Austin City Limits in 1977 [Wikipedia]

This 2-CD edition contains Roy Buchanan's earliest works, taped between 1957 and 1962, including a couple of singles released under his own name, plus a bunch of seminal collaborations as a session man and guitar player.

CD 1

01. Pretty Please (2:23)
02. My Babe (Dale Hawkins) (2:27)
03. Wild Guy (Freddy Cannon) (2:27)
04. Buttercup (Bob Luman) (2:09)
05. Route 66 (Paul Curry) (2:39)
06. The Kick Step (Perry Mates) (2:28)
07. Twin Exhaust (The Secrets) (1:57)
08. Cha Cha Chu (Jerry Hawkins) (2:55)
09. It'll Be My First Time (Merle Kilgore) (2:29)
10. He Will Come Back To Me (Alis Lesley) (2:17)
11. The Jam Pt. 1 (Bobby Gregg & His Friends) (2:26)
12. The Jam Pt. 2 (Bobby Gregg & His Friends) (2:24)
13. When The Saint's Go Twistin'... (Danny & The Juniors) (2:12)
14. Ruby Bay (Cody Brennan & The Temps) (2:12)
15. The Shuffle (Bobby & The Temps) (2:26)
16. Gotta Go (Perry Mates) (2:32)
17. Potato Peeler (Bobby Gregg) (2:34)
18. Need Your Lovin' (Jerry Hawkins) (2:13)
19. Hot Toddy (The Secrets) (2:13)
20. My Baby Walkes All Over Me (Bob Luman) (2:06)
21. My Blue Heaven (Freddy Cannon) (2:38)
22. After Hours (2:32)

CD 2

01. Mule Train Stomp (2:24)
02. Teen Queen Of The Week (Freddy Cannon) (2:09)
03. I Got A Heart (Jerry Hawkins) (2:26)
04. I Take A Trip To The Moon (Merle Kilgore) (2:03)
05. Mary Lou (Bobby & The Temps) (2:19)
06. I Want To Love You (Dale Hawkins) (2:18)
07. Take My Heart (Dale Hawkins) (2:10)
08. Grandma's House (Dale Hawkins) (2:20)
09. Wild, Wild World (Dale Hawkins) (1:47)
10. Someday One Day (Dale Hawkins) (2:25)
11. Dreamy Doll (Bob Luman) (2:11)
12. Honeysuckle Rose (Paul Curry) (2:12)
13. The Twist/Mother's Club Twist (Danny & The Juniors) (4:45)
14. Shake The Hand Of A Fool (Cody Brennan & The Temps) (2:36)
15. Blue Skies (Freddy Cannon) (2:40)
16. Swing, Daddy Swing (Jerry Hawkins) (2:34)
17. Lonely Nights (Jerry Hawkins) (2:18)
18. Lucky Johnny (Jerry Hawkins) (1:59)
19. Am I The One (Cody Brennan & The Temps) (2:07)
20. Class Of 59 (Bob Luman) (1:54)
21. The Blacksmith Blues (Freddy Cannon) (2:39)
22. Whiskers (2:13)

CD1+2+booklet

 

Eddie con Los Shades

 

This is Arhoolie CD #9038, re-issue of material recorded in 1961 by Freddy Fender (as Eddie Con Los Shades) and originally issued as Ideal Records LP #109.

01.Mi Nena
02.Que Mala
03.Lucy, Lucy
04.Dime Si Me Vas A Ver
05.No Esta Aqui
06.Acapulco Rock
07.Desde Que Conosco
08.No La Vuelve A Ver
09.Que Soledad
10.Tequilita Rock
11.No Quiero Nada Con Tu Amor
12.Dices Que Me Quieres 

es aqui

 

 

The Trademarks on Skilite

 

The Trademarks

Proud Mary
Come On Up

Skilite Records (1970)

Two covers by this Carolina (I assume) band recorded at Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. No info.

50,000,000 Dylan fans can be wrong

 

A.M. Moodz - 'Look at Me'
Beach Boys -The Times They Are a-Changin'
Bobby The Poet - White Christmas
Bowser and Blue-Polka Dot Undies
Cher - Like A Rolling Stone
Christopher Guest - Those Fabulous Sixties
Dick Libertini - Well, it Ain't
Hugh Laurie - Protest Song
Jeff Klepper - Cantillation Row
John Lennon - Serve Yourself
Magnet & Gemma Hayes - Lay Lady Lay
Mouse & The Traps - A Public Execution
Simon & Garfunkel - A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)
Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You
Syd Barrett - Bob Dylan Blues
The Byrds - Lay Lady Lay
The Chipmunks - Mr. Tambourine Man
The Connor Party - Everybody Must Stay Home
Weird Al Yankovic - Bob
William Shatner - Mr Tambourine Man

*

50,000,000 Dylan fans can be wrong

A Smorgasbord Of Delicatessen

 

tracklist : 

Ann Jones - A Big Fat Gal Like Me
Brenda Cheryl - Somebody's Knockin'
David Tanny - Britney Spears' Boobs
Dick Cooper - I Saw Momma Spanking Santa Claus
Freddy The Flea - Shall We Walk Or Take A Dog
Jackie Powers - New River Train (Sahara)
Jackie Powers - Lonesome Heebie Jeebies
Jackie Powers - New River Train (Star)
Jackie Powers & The Intruders - Heebee Jeebee Blues
Judy Cross - Duck Walk
Kenneth Young & The English Muffins -(Mrs. Green's) Ugly Daughter
Louise Brown - Son In Law
Lynn Marshall - I'm A Fool To Care
Me And The Other Guys - Skinny Minnie
Merv Griffin - The Screamin' Meemies From Planet  X
Nan Wynn - Vingo Jingo
Nat The Cat - If You Ever Loved A Woman
Neva Small - Shh, I'm Watching The Movie
Pat Garvis - Turn The Lights Down Low
Pearl Reaves And The Concords - I'm Not Ashamed
Pott Folse - Forty-Nine Women
Roscoe & His Green Men - Skinny Louise
Shawn Robinson - Feeling Low Blues
Sue Rose - I'm So Sad
Suzie Lawrence - Money Honey
The Dynels - C'mon Little Darlin'
The Echoettes - Sears Roebuck Catalog
The Triads - Bacon Fat
The Ward Darby Band - Truck Driving Women (Turn Me On)
Yodelin' Shorty - The Crazy Laughing Blues
                                   
 A Smorgasbord Of Delicatessen

 

Gene Stanton And The Satellites

 

Gene Stanton And The Satellites

Honeybee
 Blues With A Beat..(Carroll Reeves) 
Publisher : Lake Erie Music BMI 
A-A Double Records 45-101

 

King custom press, presumably from 1955. Not listed at the Dan DeClark's Ohio River Valley discography

No info about the artists, but probably from Cleveland (Ohio) where Lake Erie Music, the publisher, was based, owned by Kenny Bass.

 

Auctioneer Lover

 

 Wendy Powers

Auctioneer Lover

J. Dell, Bel-Air Music BMI
Keen Records
1958

Wendy Powers was Maria Jovan, also known as Maria Dell, Maria Del Vecchio.
Maria Jovan.  As Jovan Dell, she recorded one single for Bally Records in 1957. Wife of Nick Jovan (Nicholas James Jovan), a publicity man for a Chicago movie house and songwriter turned publisher and disk producer.  Nick Jovan got his first taste of the business as writer of "City of Angels," a moderate hit on Bally. Owned two publishing companies : Bel-Aire Music and Bon Bon Music.

Wendy Powers

George Wallace The Man

 

J. R. Williams

George Wallace The Man
Funky
 
Boll Weevil Records BW-101

1975

A veteran of many Nashville bands, Jimmy R. Williams played the percussion for Mel Tillis and the Statesiders, tenure with Tex Ritter and The Boll Weevils, not only J.R. writes his own material and arrangements, but surprises audiences everywhere with this versatility on many instruments . . .

Usually backed by The Boll Weevils, The band included Cary Cabe on lead guitar, Bill Farrar (bass), Roy Peterman (steel guitar), Timmy Snyder (drums), and J. R. Williams on banjo, fiddle, saxophone and guitar(!)

Boll Weevil was J.R. Williams' own label based in Tennessee (Nashville and Hendersonville)

https://www.45cat.com/label/bollweevil
https://www.discogs.com/fr/label/836626-Boll-Weevil-Records

I Like God's Style

 

Isabel Baker
I Like God's Style

Romco LP HF-101
1965

Sixteen-year old Isabel Baker made this album thanks to the support of her parents, who were evangelists based in Garden Grove, Calif. Album recorded at the studios of High Fidelity Recording, Kansas City.

More info : https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Isabel_Baker_How_her_one_and_only_album_sells_for_200_plus/63354/p1/

We Want to See The Monkey

 

 Uncle Rude

Shvengitz Records

101

We Want to See The Monkey

wr. Kenny Fine, Orange Bear Music
produced by Walt Kahn
1972
 

Uncle Rude is Kenny Fine.

Ken remembers growing up surrounded by artists in his family. Most were entertainers in some way, always trying to find that balance between art and business. He was primarily a piano player, who then studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy in the early 1970s. He recalled finding a Moog IIIc in the school's Music department, where students were using it to record compositions. And as an undergrad he had access.  Ken was already fascinated with, as he put it, "the crazy electronic stuff". He became influenced by many electronic artists and their music of the day, including Isao Tomita's Snowflakes are Dancing.

Upon graduation from music school in roughly 1973, he ended up working at an electronics company called Components in Minneapolis, and that's when he started to go out and visit synthesizer factories like Moog and EML. He visited the Moog factory in Buffalo, and it was around this time that he realized he really wanted to sell synthesizers. He began speaking with others in the synthesizer industry like ARP owner Alan R. Perlman (Ken recalls having an ARP synthesizer back then) and this solidified his resolve to get into the business. And after only a year in Minneapolis, he moved back to PA to get to work on that plan.

Vibronic

Finding himself back in PA, he soon found his 23-year-old-self with a new bank loan and a new business partner - Marc Paterka. They had met at the electronic store in Minneapolis, and at the time Marc was a church organist who had been playing in a lot of big cathedrals at the time.

Opening that store in their first location was a busy but fun time. Ken recalls the "high" he felt when buying all those amazing synthesizers for the store. The direct access to a wide variety of rather rare keyboards got him started doing Moog rentals sessions for studios like Sigma Sound, who were always looking for the latest sounds for their R&B artists. And soon the store expanded to offer Moog service and modifications.
 

 

On Kenny Fine & Vibronic Music Service see:

https://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/2012/09/vibronic-music-service-what-combination.html

https://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/2012/09/vibronic-music-systems-synthesizers-ad_10.html

Honey Bee

 

Shirley Goodman

Honey Bee

Imperial unissued

Teacher Teach Me

    

 Billy J

Teacher Teach Me
B. Jones, dessa Music (BMI)

dessa record co. 
dR-1107
Produced by Bill Jones

Rte 1, Box 280
Odessa, Texas
(915) 563-1679

The flip side is "After This Next Fight"  listed by the Vietnam Was Song Project

Garage rock, soldier's perspective, religion
Please god help me I'm overseas surrounded by the enemy
Back home my dad is a drunk - help my mum, that's all I ask

Billy J is Bill Jones I guess. This 1970 release was followed by two other records on the same label also produced by Bill Jones, one by Tennia Wade and the other by Lonnie Bray in 1971.

There were further releases on Dessa, years later, when Bill Jones was associated in Nashville with Royce Clark, a freelance producer who worked for Shelby Singleton. By then the label, located in Tennessee, is listed separately by 45cat.      A Lubbock native, Royce Clark, had records on the Amarillo-based Veeda Records in the early sixties before moving to Nashville in 1966.

 

Steve Marks - Charlie Brown + 3

 

 Broadway EP 163
Vocals and Orchestra by Popular Artists

Vic Corwin - The Children's Marching Song
Jack Richards - Hawaiian Wedding Song
Steve Marks - Charlie Brown
Ce Ci Julian - Tall Paul

 

Payola

 

Ben Took and The Investas
Payola
Dart 125 (1959)

Sarcastic rocker about payola. Lyrics written by Bill Camfield & Dave Naugle, music by  Bill Smith & Georges Campbell. Bill Camfield (1929-1991) & Dave Naugle were both with KFJZ, Fort Worth. Bill was "Icky Twerp" on "Slam Bang Theater" while Dave Naugle was a broadcaster in the same station, doing some skits sometimes with "Icky Twerp". David Naugle (1923-2002) was the first to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the Fort Worth-Dallas area on KFJZ 1270-AM radio Dec. 7, 1941, as an 18-year-old intern. 

In 1959, Major Bill Smith set up the LeCam record label and production company in Fort Worth with George Campbell; the name derived from that of Smith's wife Letitia, and Campbell, a songwriter, arranger, pianist, and bandleader in Fort-Worth for over 50 years.

Cash Box, December 26, 1959

Dick Clark, a payola survivor
"Payola ? What is it ?"

 

 

 

Mary Dean

 

Mary Dean aka : Mary Dean Lauria, Mary Dean Moss. 

Mary Dean, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Dean appeared in the popular early television series “Dragnet,” “Cisco Kid,” “Life of Riley” and “Space Patrol.” She also did voices for animated films, including “Fritz the Cat” and “Heavy Traffic.” Dean became popular as a television show host on such programs as “The NBC Home Show,” “What’s the Name of That Song,” “Time It” and “Jean and Dean.”

Multifaceted actress, singer, lyricist and impresario . Mary Dean's career goes back to the year 1937 when she was featured in A Damsel in Distress, a RKO Pictures movie starring Fred Astaire. She was one of the singing Madrigal Sisters.  Two clips from the movie can be seen here and here.

From 1956 to 1963, all songs she wrote were in association with Mary D'Angelo Salerno, a pianist and composer, born in Buffalo in 1924. The two operated Gold Band (or Goldband) Music Pub. from 1240 Hill Drive, Los Angeles.  Later, as manager, she was the agent of, among others, The Green Beats and The Bishops and discovered the group the Cowsills. In 1966, she was with Sidewalk Records in charge of artists relation and music publishing when Mike Curb formed the label.

Among the other artists who recorded her songs : Skip Battyn, The Cowsills, Cher ( “Half-Breed,” (a 1973 major hit) , Chaka Khan, Gordon McRae.. .. .

She died of emphysema on Dec. 19, 1995  in Toluca Lake (California), age 72.

 Tracklist

1 - Dave Sterling - I Wanna Be Loved (Rev, 1957)
2 - Dave Sterling - You're Here (Rev, 1957)
3 - The Gimicks - (Get Off My Tail You) Sneaky Snail  (Ensign, 1958)
4 - The Gimicks - Sneaky Snail. (Ensign, 1958)
5 - The Passions -  Nervous About Sally (Dore, 1958)
6 - The Green Beans - (Don't give me no) friction (Mercury, 1965)
6 - The Passions - Tango Of Love (Dore, 1958
7 - The Playboys _Charge it (Crystalette, 1958)
8 - Johnny Stark - Broken Heart (Pop, 1959)
9 - Mickey Frey with Sandy Stanton's Panics - Cool Cool That Motor Down (Fable, 1959)
10 - Mickey Frey with Sandy Stanton's Panics - Just For You (Fable, 1959)
11 - The Blockbusters - Boogie Bop (Crystalette, 1959)
12 - The Cruisers - I Said Hear (Arch, 1959)
13 - The Knight Beats - Going To Town (Crystalette, 1959)
14 - The Knight Beats - Naughty Rooster (Crystalette, 1959)
15 - The Mary D's   - BRRR Um!  (First President, 1960)
16 - Rick Gambino - Love Me Just The Same (Sutter, 1961)
17 - The Twintonettes - Billy Boy (Titan, 1961)
18 - The Twintonettes - School bells - Wedding bells (Titan, 1961)
19 - Cindy & Sue - You Forgot To Return My Heart (Era, 1962)
20 - The Petticoats - Surfin' Sally (Challenge, 1963)
21 - Barbara English - (You Got Me) Sittin' In The Corner (Aurora, 1965)
22 - Dick and Dee Dee  - Heartbeats ((Decca LP Wild, Wild Winter, 1965))
23 - Jackie and Gayle - Our Love's Gonna Snowball (Decca LP Wild, Wild Winter), 1965)
24 - The Bishops - Out Of Sight  (Capitol, 1965)
25 - The Bishops – They Can’t Make Me Stop Loving You” (Capitol) 1965
27 - The Green Beans - Superstition (Mercury, 1965)
28 - The Supremes - Little Bright Star (Motown, 1965)
29 - Vicki Britton   Hatful Of Nickels (Bell, 1974)
30 - Vicki Lawrence - Mama's Gonna Make It All Better (Bell, 1974)
 

TV-Radio-Life, March 2, 1956

Je vous salue Mary

Ultra Rare Fortune & Hi-Q

 

Compiled by the late Rockin' Gypsy at the end of the last century.

Fortune Records was formed by composer-lyricist Devora Brown and her husband Jack in Detroit.  Devora came to Detroit from Cleveland, Ohio and was introduced to Jack Brown through a blind date set up by a friend. Devora was already writing poems and songs, even though Jack was working as an accountant at the time, he liked her songs and encouraged her to send them to a few music publishers. By this time Devora married Jack Brown, and in 1947 after little response from other publishers they decided to start a publishing company and record the songs themselves.

Read more

Tracklist

1. Ferris Wilder And His Band - It's Al Your Fault
2. Jimmy Gartin And His Swingers - Honey Won't You Love Me
3. Eddie Jackson And His Swingers - Rock And Roll Baby
4. Terrigan Brothers And The Swingers - Hi Ho Little Girl
5. Pete Debree And The Wanderers Vd. Jimmy Franklin - Long Tall Lou
6. Dell Vaughn With The Fortunaires - Rock The Universe
7. Johnny Powers And His Rockets - Honey Let's Go
8. Bobby Bernell - Move Over Big Dog
9. Shorty Frog And His Space Cats - Sheddin' Tears Over You
10. Pete Debree And The Wanderers Vd. Jimmy Franklin - Hey Mr. Presley
11. Country Bill Hicks And His Southerners - Blue Flame
12. Patty Lynn - Same Old Blues
13. Kenny Layne And His Bull Dogs - Froggie Went A Courtin'
14. Jim Meyers & Tex Regan And His Happy Highway Gang - Drunk Man's Wiggle
15. Ellis Kirk And His Town And Country Boys - Sweetie Pie
16. Jim Meyers & Tex Reagan With J.M. And His Gems - Pretty Baby Rock
17. Hunt Sisters And Marie With Ken Hall - Elvis Is Rockin' Again
18. Eddie Stapleton - Well I'm Weak
19. Al Burnette And His Southern Swingers - Humpty Dumpty
20. Terrigan Brothers With The Sterlings - Little Love
21. Forest Rye - Wild Cat Boogie
22. Jim Meyers And Tex Regan - After Tomorrow
23. Eddie Jackson - Blues I Can't Hide
24. Johnny Powers And His Rockets - Your Love
25. Hunt Sisters - I'm Not Gonna Take It Anymore
26. Jim Meyers And His Happy Highway Gang - Ding Dong Mama From Tennessee
27. Ruffus Shoffner And Joyce Songer - It Always Happens To Me
28. Slim Williams With The Sons Of The Praire - Tennessee Avenue
29. Shorty Frogg And His Space Cats - I'm Glad You Didn't Say Goodbye
30. Kenny Layne And His Bull Dogs - Columbus Stockade Blues

Get it

 

It's Been Nice (Goodnight)

Gene Vincent :   It's Been Nice (Goodnight) (12 outtakes)

It's Been Nice (Goodnight) has been composed by Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus and first recorded in 1959 in UK by Marty Wilde. Gene Vincent recorded the song in January 1961, first available (take 13) on disc only two years later, in March 1963, when the album The Crazy Beat Of Gene Vincent was issued in the UK.

Quoting "Race With The Devil", book by Susan Vanhecke (good book) : 

The new year of 1961 found Gene in Hollywood again. Gene arrived at the Capitol studios in January for the first of two days of recording, though this time with no Blue Caps, no Eddie, no Jerry, not even Ken Nelson. Producer Karl Engerman teamed him up with the Jimmy Haskell Orchestra and its chorus, with Scotty Turner (*) on lead guitar, to explore a pop sound more in line with what other chart-toppers – Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vee, and Neil Sedaka – were churning out.  Turner was given the responsability of choosing the material, and he met with Gene in his hotel room to sort through the options. Gene really seemed to like « If You Want My Lovin’, » which Turner has penned with John Marascalco. But in rehearsals, most all of the other songs didn’t seem so spark much enthusiasm from Gene.  It seemed he was just loafing his way through. Turner became concerned. He was elated, however, when Gene entered into the studio and that red light went on. Gene let it all go, and delivered. They were able to get eight tunes in the can at the end of the two days.        

 (*) Scotty Turner, A.K.A. Graham Turbull. Record producer, musician and composer born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Ccame to the US in 1952. B.A., B.Sc., University of Dubuque (Iowa (1955), postgrad, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Tex. (1956-57). Member British Empire Games Track Team (1954), All Canadian Track Team (1950-56).
Lead guitarist and writer for Tommy Sands and The Raiders (1957-60), Guy Mitchell (1960-61), Eddie Fisher (1961-63).
 

Oh, Oh Lolita

 

Tony And Paul

OH , OH LOLITA
w & m Stuart Wiener , Irving Berger & Mike Richards . Wemar Music 

Brunswick 9-55106
1958

Beatles sound-a-like from1958 when The Beatles were still The Quarrymen in Liverpool. The song was also recorded about the same time by The Cadillacs on Josie Records ("Peek-A-Boo" flip, Billboard, Oct. 27, 1958). I can't find anything on Tony and Paul, unless they were indeed The Teardrops (Tony and Paul Ciaurella) who also recorded for Josie in 1959, but this Brunswick 45 is not listed in their discographies. See :

http://whitedoowopcollector.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-teardropsrendezvous-dot-records.html
http://doo-wop.blogg.org/teardrops-2-c33181259

Surely, some doo wop aficionado should be able to tell . . 

 

Cash Box, November 29, 1958

Weeping Mary

 

The Sensational Chariots

Weeping Mary - part I

Weeping Mary - part II

Cha-Wee CW-9268 (1968)

Written by the Rev. Glen Squires (1933-2011), published by Mary Hill Music,  company owned by Frank Virtue (named after his wife). Philadelphia label. The group had at least another record on the same label, see 45cat

 

The Flattops on Beat!

 

 

 

The Flattops on Beat!

MS-581
ZTSP 27462 Roland Rock (Williams)
ZTSP 27463 Don't Look Back Mother Drac (Williams)

MS-582
ZTSP 27472 Too Much Slack In The Sack (Ferlaine & Whitaker)
ZTSP 27473 Flattop Special (Williams)

Produced and/or published by McFazwith & Smith, Inc.  Phila, PA.

Roland Rock is about the horror-movie host “Roland” featured on the weekly WCAU-TV' Shock Theater (1957-58) played by John Zacherle. 

Too Muck Slack is a rocker about the sack dress look composed by two members of WCAU-TV' art department. John Ferlaine and John Whitaker.  George Pincus, president of Gil Music Corporation, acquired the publishing right to this song which was spotted in Philadelphia by Irwin Pincus. (Cash Box, May 3, 1958). The three other songs composed by one Williams.

The flips of the above two songs are instrumentals with wailin' sax. All songs today are credited at BMI to Edward R. White and Typort Music (originally owned by Jim Tyson & Jerry Rappoport).

No info about the band line-up.  I'm curious about the ungoogleable McFazwith. Is this a private joke, a typo ? or what ?

Hop A Long Wong

 

Hop A Long Wong     

I'm Gonnna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

Goody Goody

Decca Records (1957)

First issued on the elusing Amusing label

Amusing Records ad, Billboard September 19, 1957

Cash Box, October 19, 1957

Not too difficult to find the answer. Hop A Long Wong was Joe Schuster, who again used the same nickname the following year, in 1958. But these songs remained probably unissued. ["We hear there is bidding on the novelty master “I Kissed A Girl and Made Her Cry” b/w “Elephant Rock” by Hop- A-Long Wong. Joe Schuster is the artist." Cash Box, April 12, 1958]

Joseph Schuster, composer, author, vaudeville artist and music publisher (with ASCAP since 1928). Born in New York in 1896. Joe Schuster began his theatrical career as a songwriter and author of special material. His tunes include "I Love My Baby", "Dance of the Paper Dolls", "Hold Me", "Shanty Town, "Go Home and Tell Your Mother" and many others. In 1930 he went into vaudeville with ex-fireman Johnny Tucker as the Delivery Boys.

Joe Schuster died in June 1959 of an intestinal hernia at Trafalgar Hospital in New York.