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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