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