Thursday, December 30, 2010

Daddy Rollin' Stone




Recorded in New York, September 22,1953

OTIS BLACKWELL: vocal

Accompaniment by:
Big AI Sears-tenor sax
Frank Signorelli-piano
Tony Gottuso-guitar
Frank Carroll-bass
David 'Panama' Francis-drums

Information above from the Otis Blackwell discography



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Swingin' Santa


Sandy Baron

Swingin' Santa


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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Unemployment


Steve and The Holidays

Unemployment

Dandy 101





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Monday, December 27, 2010

I'm A Bop


Lona Parr

I'm A Bop

Mystic 500


From LP White Label 8885 "Rare Rockin' Girls".

Almost certainly the only release on this California label, not related to any other labels by the same name.



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This Is Saturday Night


Lacy Kirk

This Is Saturday Night

Karl 3022

1961



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Happy New Year Baby

Jo-Ann Campbell

Happy New Year Baby

Gone 5049

"Miss Campbell warbles the melody with appeal. Chorus and mild rock backing assist nicely. Chick is stating that it’s been a year she won’t forget"

(Billboard, Dec. 8, 1958)


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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Santa Claus Rock And Roll

Kathy and Jimmy Zee




Santa Claus Rock And Roll

Willett 121


This is Kathy Zee and brother Jimmy.

Kathy Zee was born Kathleen Ann Zaleski in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, in 1946. She started her musical career early, at the age of four. Brother Jimmy already was singing at benefits and talent shows, and Kathy thought she would like to be part of the action. Jimmy happened to be singing at a benefit show for the Leukemia foundation at a local high school, and she saw her chance. She was in the typical "Four Year Old" mode, carrying on about wanting to sing at the show. Mom and the organizers gave in and she went on to sing "Some Of These Days". The crowd loved her and the Harmony Wildcats (Kathy and Jimmy) were born. The played local benefit shows, record hops, talent contests, radio and TV,and were regulars on the Eva Jackson and Virginia O'Donnell show. Kathy Zee was the youngest mandolin player in Pittsburgh, at four years old! Kathy had a manager by the name of Elmer Willett, and he assisted her with a voice coach and was instrumental in getting a record deal with Laurie records, which released her first record "Buzzin" in the US....

More on Kathy Zee HERE or HERE




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Saturday, December 18, 2010

You Tell Her, I Stutter

Jimmy Lee Prow




You Tell Her, I Stutter

King 4929



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Stutterin' Johnny


The Drivers




Stutterin' Johnny




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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Goody, Goody Good!


Fran Gold




Goody, Goody Good!

Tin Pan Alley 218



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Monday, December 13, 2010

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Television


Donna Dee





Television

Counsel 1014

1964

The flip "Nobody's Gonna Hurt You" can be heard at YouTube HERE


TRight : Tony Sepe (then casino manager in Las Vegas)
with (left) an unidentified performer
Las Vegas, 1956

Counsel Records was owned by Italian-born Anthony "Tony" Sepe, a record mogul, composer and producer, He was also the owner of the small independent labels like Laurel Records (1959-1961) and Domain Records.





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Friday, December 10, 2010

Little Eeefin Annie

Joe Perkins



Little Eeefin Annie

Sound Stage 7







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Stuttering Blues

"The Five Scamps"
This photo hangs in the Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum
on 18th and Vine, Kansas City, MO
(left to right) Wyatt Griffith, Art Jackson, Frank Martin,
Earl Garnett and Ed Fountaine
Picture credit : portlandjazz.com




Stuttering Blues

Columbia unissued
Recorded on March 22, 1951 at Kansas City's Damon Recording Studios



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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Rockin' Boogie Shuffle



The Morrison Sisters
(Mary, Jayne and Suzanne)




The Rockin' Boogie Shuffle

Deed Records

1956



Billboard, March 29, 1947

The Morrison Sisters started their singing career on Continental Records with " His Feet To Big For De Bed" at the ages of 8,10 and 12, and had two records on Deed in 1956 and four on Decca between 1956 and 1958.



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Saturday, December 4, 2010

We Love Them All

Here’s a record with a built-in human interest story. While most teenage Beatle Fans have been swooning over pin-ups of their shaggy-haired idols, Shelley Hutchings, 12 years old and Kim Stardtler, 13 years old of La Crosse, Wisconsin, have put their sentiments to music in a catchy new song called, « WE LOVE THEM ALL. »
While camped out on a summer night in the back yard and inspired as they listened to Beatle hits on a portable, the girls composed the song, « WE LOVE THEM ALL. »
After due encouragement from local D.J.’s and musicians, the girls decided to put their Beatle tribute on record. Give it a spin and win the hearts of Beatle Fans young and old.
They are backed by the Jim and Chuck Trio of La Crosse, Wisconsin : Jim Burkhart, lead guitar ; Chuck Hall, rhythm guitar, and Tom Eisenman, drums.


(From the back of the picture sleeve)



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Friday, December 3, 2010

Real Gone Baby

Alvis (Eddie) Edwards

Real Gone Baby

1959


I'm sure you all know this (GREAT) record which has found its way on at least five compilations. This record is listed by Terry Gordon' Rockin' Country Style, but no location given.

My research regarding this record has leaded me to the conclusion that the most probable recording location was Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico.

Eddie Edwards was in The Raiders, the backing band of Tommy Sands and recorded at least one session with them in July 1958 ("Blue Ribbon Baby", Capitol Records).

Hal Blaine, the well known drummer and session musician, recalls in his autobiography Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew :

Eddie Edwards was from San Saba, Texas, famous for its shell pecans. Eddie was the comedian of the group (The Raiders) . He was also a great rhythm guitar player, but it took me the longest time to get used to his snuff spiting. Eddie was featured on songs like « Who Wears Short Shorts ». Audiences loved his antics.


There is an astonishing similarity between the music backing of "Real Gone Baby" and of Sonee West "Rock-Ola Ruby", recorded three years earlier by... Norman Petty.

I assume that's Buddy Smith on lead guitar on both of these records. ?





You can listen to the Enall flip side, "I Wake Up Crying", at YouTube, posted by Harry (Barrett), from Wichita Falls I think, who says :

I played music with eddie back in 1959..he played with a few bands back east... Then he toured with tommy sands as his lead guitar. Sure would like to know what happened to him. Leave a comment if you have any info.



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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Coal Mine


Mike Shaw

Coal Mine

1960
The record can also be found on Gone 5098 (January '61)





Mike Shaw had also "O Bee O By O Baby O/My Friend" issued on Regal 7507, a label owned by Stanley Kahan (credited as the co-writer of "Coal Mine").


Label picture credit : Rockin' Country Style

I wonder if this is the same Mike Shaw on the Miami-located Perfect Records in 1956. It's quite possible, as Billboard reported (June 2, 1958 issue) that
(Miami) Local hotel owner Stanley Kahan, who wrote « Girl With the Golden Braids », recently purchased a piece of George Goldner’s new label, Regal Records. Kahan plans to hold some local sessions with Miami talent – including the Coralairs – in the near future.
Anyway, if you want to exercise your own judgment, both sides of the Perfect single can be found here :

Everybody's Twist 'n'



Big John Watson

Everybody's Twist 'n'

Mobile, Alabama, Capa Records was headed by Dr James Whiting, who also practiced medicine.


Billboard, June 23, 1962


From the Big John Watson obituary published in the Press-Register on October 1, 2010 :
Johnny Watson, a widely known Nashville recording artist and entertainer also known as "Big John Watson" has departed this world to play music and entertain on the grandest of all Grand Stages. Johnny played music and entertained audiences throughout the Southeast panhandle for several decades. Johnny was also known over the years as proprietor of many known popular night spots here on the Gulf Coast. In the 1960's, Johnny was approached by a well known recording label "Capa Records" and was signed on to a contract deal which produced several popular recordings known widely in Europe. A couple of these recordings had more recently made it into North America on different variety albums. Johnny went on to serve his country in the Korean War and received honorable decorations. He also served his community by working at both the city and county police departments. [...]



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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Handy Andy

Patti Mack

Handy Andy

1961?


Out of Mobile, Alabama, this Cinema label had only a few releases. Label owner was probably Jimmie Rogers who wrote the song and also owned the slightly bigger Astro label.

The late Jimmie Otto Rogers was the son of Jesse Rodgers an artist on the RCA Victor Bluebird label in the early forties,know also as "Ranger Joe" a #1 TV show produced out of Philadelphia in the early 50's and 60's. Jimmie's dad Jesse was also the cousin of the Famous Blue Yodeller the late Jimmie Rodgers.

He wrote many songs, some under the Jimmie Rogers Ainsworth alias, some in collaboration with Earl Lee (also known as Luke McDaniel), notably "Midnight Shift" (recorded by Buddy Holly), "Rock and Roll Angel" (recorded by Ray Smith on Sun) and "Foxy Dan" (Luke McDaniel).




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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Oh, Anna Lee!


Bill (Ramblin' Man) Foster

Oh, Anna Lee!

Virgelle

Seattle, Washington


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Saturday, November 20, 2010

The Hunch

First pressing?
no mention of producers and distributor

Second pressing?
producers : Johnny Power - Trade Martin
Distr. by Triodex Incorporated


Mad Mike & The Maniacs

The Hunch

from... 1961!

Warren Nichols - lead guitar
Jimmy Lurschner - bass
Mad Mike" Porcelli - guitar and vocal
Bobby Columbo - drums
Doug Neale - sax



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Friday, November 19, 2010

Roll Over Beethoven

Fox and the Raiders Roll Over Beethoven Disaster DR-140
Chuck Berry cover out of Indianola, Mississippi .

Thursday, November 18, 2010

I'm Walkin'


Clara Ann Fowler (born November 8, 1927), known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records. Her nickname is The Singin' Rage.

I'm Walkin'

Rec. 17 November 1961 Bradley Film & Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashvile 3, TN

Producer: Shelby Singleton, Jr.



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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Thirty Days


Ernest Tubb

Thirty Days



Rec. 26 October 1955 [19:30-23:30]
Bradley Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville 3, TN

Billy Byrd [gt],
Dickie Harris [steel],
Jack Drake [bass),
Farris Coursey or Buddy Harman[drums],
Tommy Jackson [fiddle],
Owen Bradley [bass].

Producer: Paul Cohen)


Label picture credit : Terry Gordon (Rockin' Country Style)
Session information : Praguefrank




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Monday, November 15, 2010

The Metal Monster


Jerry Clayton

The Metal Monster

One of the three Jerry Clayton records listed by the Rockin' Country Style discography. Surprisingly, "The Metal Monster" seems to have been never compiled?

All his sides (on Uptown Rhythm, Big "I" and K-Ark) were written by Ivan (Glenn) Washabaugh.


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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Rocking Chair


Bill Bryan and the Gold Tones

Rocking Chair

Pike Records

Produced by Hart & Flowers



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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Show Your Love


Betty Jayne and the Teenettes

Show Your Love


Carellen Records




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Friday, November 12, 2010

Crazy Maisie

Vinnie Rome and the Rainbeaus

Crazy Maisie

Apt 25035

Vinnie Rome is Vince Ferrizzi, from Philadelphia who is the composer and lead singer of both songs. The Rainbeaus was Johnny Krill, Ron Vitello, Tony Seferrretti, Rich Bruno, Don Danielli. (information received in comment from diana).

Not to be confused with Vinnie Rome (r.n. Vincent Montenegro) who recorded for Fargo, Decanter and other labels.



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Thursday, November 11, 2010

You're Much Too Pretty For Me


Eddie Curtis

You're Much Too Pretty For Me


I'm giving up trying to figure out which Eddie Curtis is this Eddie Curtis. Because I've found so much confusing information during my research.

Gee (54), Okeh (55), Atco (56), Bear Cat (60), Parkway (61), Decca (61-62), Jell (65), Josie (66), Todd, Raftis and ABC are labels who released Eddie Curtis records. But it's quite possible that there is at least two or three different Eddie Curtisses!



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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Folsom Prison Blues


The Country Boys
Mike Wright, Mike Petry

Universal Promotions Recording
Ninth And Pacific St. Omaha, Nebraska

Folsom Prison Blues
(Johnny Cash)


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Monday, November 8, 2010

I Believe You Cared


I Believe You Cared

This is the top side of Ralph Jerome's second release on K.P. Records. The flip is the more rocking "Rockhouse" (the Roy Orbison song).

Ralph Jerome was born in 1940 in Brooklyn N.Y. His band was The Plaids (Bass John Weegar - Guitar John Morrison - Drums Denny Spampinato - Guitar Ralph Jerome). The group was together from 1958 - 1962 They traveled and played all thru Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virgina.



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Sunday, November 7, 2010

Marvin Fields : Love Me


Marvin Fields
a.k.a. Marvin Benefield
a.k.a. Vince Everett

Love Me


According to the artist himself, this was his first record :
Following graduation, I went to work for Square D Company in Atlanta as an electrical products assembler. After winning the singing contest at the East Point City Auditorium, I was able to make a local recording, produced by Ray Stevens, from which I made an appearance at Avondale High School in 1960. This is where I met my first wife and we married in 1961. I was then given the opportunity to record on ABC Paramount records in 1962, 1963, and 1964, by a fellow I had met on the Georgia Jubilee by the name of Felton Jarvis. Felton chose the name Vince Everett as my stage name, which was the name of Elvis’s character in “Jailhouse Rock”. “Such A Night” was the most popular recording that we made. On the Paramount recordings, I had the opportunity to work with some of the best talent in the music industry, such as Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph, Jerry Reed, Ray Stevens and the Jordanaires. These experiences are among some of my fondest memories.
An earlier Vince Everett release (Town label #1964 : Buttercup / The Lane of No Return) isn't by the same artist, in my opinion. But he is likely the same Vince Everett who recorded for the Washington, D.C. Saga label in 1959. Both labels (Town and Saga) were almost certainly owned by Jack Gale.


SEE Vince Everett discography at Rockin' Country Style

Label picture credit : Terry Gordon


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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

N-A-C-L (Sodium Chloride)


This is Tony Moon, later member of Dante and the Evergreens on Madison, and then Nashville record producer. Pan World Records was owned by Aki Aleong.


Saturday, October 30, 2010

My Girl Sue



The Thunderbolts, high school students from the Carroll-Kemper High School (Iowa) recorded an album (acetate) at the Sears Recording Studios in Omaha, Nebraska.

Only two songs from this album were released : 'My Girl Sue' and 'I Wanna See You Again' as a 45 single for The Fabulous Thunderbolts (Poverty 1072, '65)).

They were inducted in the Iowa Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

This groups first job was at the Carroll grade school, their only problem was they had no name. When they were about to take the stage, a bolt of lightning struck close to the school and the Thunderbolts were born.



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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Doctor Rock


THE WILD BEES
Doctor Rock……………............................………….77
RCA VICTOR 7275 –The Wild Bees, a new girls’ group,
handle this wacky novelty with spirit as they sing
about a dancing cha-cha-ing medico. Listenable
wax that with exposure has a chance. (World, ASCAP)

(Billboard, June 3, 1958)




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