Friday, August 21, 2026

My Confession To You

 

 

Dave Larry



My Confession to You
(Dave Larry, Barkip Music Pub.)

B'n KC 102-B
1963

 

Cash Box, March 30, 1963

  

*

The tiny B'n KC (meaning?) from California had only one other release (101 Dave Cullen : Bye Bye Blackbird). 

Thanks to Klepsie at 45cat, who found the following clippings in Cash Box, we know that Dave Larry was a pseudo for Dave Yates. 

 

"Dave Yates mgr. of AMCO’s one-stop has a new release on the B’nKC label, “Only A Dream” b/w “My Confession to You”. Both the lyrics and music were also written by Dave whose professional name is Dave Larry." (Cash Box, "California Clippings", 23 March 1963)

"Dave Larry paid a visit to the California Music Co., promoting his release on the B’nKC label, “Only A Dream” b/w “My Confession to You." (Cash Box, "California Clippings", 18 May 1963)


In 1956, Dave Yates joined Badger Sales which was "doing great business with pool tables, selling many for home use in blue, gold and green felt)"

Cash Box reported in June 1958, that "Dave Yates, former Badger employee is now recording on the Morocco label with a group called Buddy and The Fads."

AMCO Music & Vending, Inc. and Dave Yates appear in this Cash Box column several times in 1962, 63 and 64. 21 March 1964 issue reported their move to an "enlarged and newly decorated" HQ on Pico Boulevard. 

Manager of AMCO one-stop for several years, David Yates returned to Badger Sales in 1965.  

 *

Note: In late 1962, AMCO Music and Vending Company, Inc. was established in Los Angeles as a subsidiary of an Illinois corporation known as AMCO Industries. This was the Southern California and Arizona distributor for Seeburg Vending equipment. Also a branch office of Amco Music and Vending was established in Phoenix, Arizona, and in conjunction with this firm, Capitol Vending Company, another independant company was establised to handle replacement of vending machines in locations as opposed to AMCO Music and Vending's main function which was to distribute equipment to operators. 

In the early sixties, Phoenix and Los Angeles were the preferred destinations for many organized crime figures who were having trouble breathing in Chicago and were seeking cleaner air.


 

 

Women Of Music Volume 25

 


 

 Women Of Music Volume 25
Grace Slick on cover

 

tracklist

Baby Doll And Her Royal Swingsters - Down By The Wood Shed.mp3
Barbara Evans - Beatnik Daddy.mp3
Barbara Hogue & The Countrymen - Specialize In Love.mp3
Betty Smith - Yeah- Baby .mp3
Betty Spears -Truck Driving Woman .mp3
Elie Marty - Leave Me Like You Found Me .mp3
Flo Fontana   Booze It Up.mp3
Grace Slick - Sally Go 'round The Roses.mp3
Jeannie Owen - Dumb Little Jeannie From Tennessee.mp3
Mari Norleen - Knock Me A Kiss.mp3
Paulette Seymour - We Gotta Have Love.mp3
Stella Della Coonts -  Keep A Walkin'.mp3 

 

 

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Scrapper Pratt's Falcons

 


 Oramell « Scrapper » Pratt
1944-2022


63 - Some Sweet Day / Guitar Man's Struggle
64 - I'll Find A Love / Always Be True 
64 - When I Saw Your Eyes / Tell Me
73 - Six Pack To Go / September In The Rain (FL-104)


Scrapper Pratt's Falcons 
file include titles in bold above








Groovy Grooves 2 Jul 2026 DL 60

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Ben Krass

 

I have only one rule here : always offer you music that meets the highest standards of good taste and quality. No exception today with Bob Krass who was certainly from the class of Mickey Katz, Jerry Lewis and other talented Jewish singers. Must be in the blood.

 

Ben Krass in 1961

 



 
Hippie Of The City
 
Yes, I want more Krass

 

Clothing tycoon turned crooner, Ben Krass was one of the owners of Krass Brothers, a store on South Street in Philadephia. Ben became a celebrity locally because of his short and bizarre commercials, like Krass in a coffin saying "If You Gotta Go, Go In A Krass Brothers Suit." 

Born in 1919, Ben died in 2004 of complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was a successful businesman with the Krass Brothers' clothing store opened in 1947, but his love for music made him found his own record label South Street Records in 1960, a short lived venture in the music biz. 

Other 45s followed  on Krass (1960), Bond (1960-1961) , Raleigh (1961) , Camelot (1961-1962), Diamond and Apex (as Bob Willow, 1962), Foxie (Camelot recordings, 1962), Diatone (as Bob Willow, 1963) and Gamble (as Bee Kays, 1967, as The Boss Man, 1968, as B. K. Marcus, 1971).

In the mid 60's he collaborated with Curtis Mayfield and he reportedly lent money to Kenneth Gamble so Gamble could pursue his own musical dreams. He co-wrote and co-produced some sides with Gamble through Kay-Bee Productions for The Knights And Arthur.

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Burn your Bra, Baby

 


Alex Houston
and
Elmer

 

Burn Your Bra, Baby

Willex Records 45-72-14
Willex Products, Inc.
Omaha, Nebraska

1972

From I've Got a Song to Write--Kent Westberry's Story: 60 Years in Country Music as a Songwriter, Singer, Record Producer, and Entertainer

I was booked on a date for a Willex party. They had all kinds of products like soap, cosmetics, and cleaners. We went over so well that Mike Peavyhouse, the head of Willex, came over and asked us to play some more shows for them. I took Dale [Dale Turner, Kent’s wife] with me on the next show and they loved us. Mike said, "How would you like to work all our shows exclusively?"  He put us on a salary of five hundred dollars a week whether we worked or not. Back then that was good money. He gave us an expense acount and a new Cadillac to drive. It was great ! […]

Then Mike Peavyhouse wanted to start a record label called Willex Records, and he wanted me to do the producing. I got back to Nashville and started the ball rolling.

Alex Houston, one of the best ventriloquists in the business (his puppet's name was "Elmer") lived next door to us at the time. Years earlier, Alex had been on the Jimmy Dean Show out of Washington, DC. Dale knew him from there. I had a great idea, I thought. Why not record Alex and Elmer the puppet? We have a unique song. Mike Peavyhouse from Willex said, "Why don't you write one about burn your bra, baby?" That whas when burn your bra was the popular thing to do. When Max D. Barnes and I were on one of the Willex shows and in our motel room, we got the guitars out and wrote "Burn Your Bra, Baby."  I cut it on Alex and Elmer. I had a song for the B side, it was "Camp Chuga Chuga." I also produced a Christmas LP on Alex and Elmer called "Here Comes Peter Cotton Claus."  (...) It was weird. In the studio I found myself talking to Elmer the puppet more than to Alex!

 

Willex ad, Record World, October 7, 1972

 

*

Some time later, Benny Johnson recorded a cover of the song issued by Wow Records, operated by William Ovilee “W. O.” White from this home at 2134 Woodard, Abilene, Texas, where he also taught piano and guitar for over 30 years.

 




Benny Johnson
Burn Your Bra, Baby
(erroneously credited to B. Johnson himself, instead of Kent Westberry)

 *

What remains to be clarified is the exact role played by Blanche Butler, Kent Westberry’s co-composer of the song. What do I know is that she had one relase on Wow : ''Boggle Man's palace" in 1970.



Monday, August 17, 2026

Women of Music Volume 24

 


    Women of Music Volume 24
Lovely Deborah Evans on cover

 tracklist 

Anita Karlsen - '57 Chevrolet.mp3
Ann Breen - Save The Last Dance For Me.mp3
Bernice Gooden - Just Wanna Be Near You.mp3
Carol & The Country Rebels -Fire Below.mp3
Darlene Gillespie - Rock-A-Billy.mp3
Deborah Evans & The Flying Lizards - Money.mp3
La Rene La Rue - Bye Bye.mp3
Norma Lyn - Whole Lot Of Shakin'.mp3
Sally Massey - Walkin After Midnight.mp3
Sharon Higgins - The Girl Who Always Does And Says She Don't.mp3
Sugar Pie DeSanto - I Want To Know.mp3
Sunny Gale - Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad.mp3 

 

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Women of Music Volume 23

 


 

Women of Music Volume 23 
Ann-Marget 
on cover

 tracklist

Ann-Margret - Dance With Me Henry.mp3          
Beti Webb - Tic Toc.mp3                        
Bonnie Tyler - Those Were The Days.mp3         
Carmen Taylor -  Ooh I.mp3                     
Cindy Carson  - Just As I Am.mp3               
Jane Morgan - Girl Named Johnny Cash.mp3       
Kathy Lee - Look At Me And Smile.mp3           
Mary Deloatch -  The New Gospel Street.mp3     
Mary Sue - Gravy.mp3                           
Paula Lamont - A Beatle Meets A Ladybug.mp3    
Sherri Gibbs & The Quovans  - Oh My Baby.mp3   
Sparkley Betty Barkley - Oh Johnny.mp3         
 

 

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Women of Music Volume 22

 


 Women of Music Volume 22

Amanda Thigpen on cover

 

 tracklist

Amanda Thigpen - My Baby Loves His Guitar Better Than Me.mp3   
Bette Midler - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.mp3                    
Betti Hart - Thank You For Coming.mp3                         
Catherine Jane - Trouble.mp3                                  
Eydie Gorme - Crazy.mp3                                       
Georgia Gibbs - Great Balls Of Fire.mp3                       
June Carter - Thirty Days.mp3                                 
Leann Rimes - Jailhouse Rock.mp3                              
Mary Saenz - My Kind Of Boy.mp3                               
Nilson Twins - Ook Ah Ga Deek.mp3                             
Polly Exley - It's Starting All Over Again.mp3                
Stephanie Iverson - Heartbreak Hotel.mp3                      
 

 

The Boys In The Band (re-up)

 

Fiona Richmond

 

From her 1973 album"Frankly Fiona" presented by Paul Raymond ("The King Of Soho").  Re-issued by Trunk Records in 2020 

All tracks composed by Anthony Newley. In "The Boys In The Band", Fiona pays tribute to each of the members of the band (no joke intended).

Full album available HERE

 

Fiona Richmond's bio
From the book "Doing Rude Things: History of the British Sex Film"

 

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Magnum Force Rockabilly

 

Magnum Force

CD published in England in 1998
35 tracks


Tracklisting and more info (date, labels) see RCS






Women Of Music Volume 12 (re-up)

 


 Women Of Music Volume 12

Sissy Spacek on cover

 

Amanda Lynn - Singin' Jambalaya.mp3                 
Ann Breen - Jambalaya (On The Bayou).mp3            
Carole King feat Slash - Locomotion (live).mp3      
Carrie Becker   Leave Me Out Of Your Plans.mp3      
Cherry Blossom - Jungle Rock.mp3                    
Donna Loren - Shakin' All Over  (live).mp3          
Heidi Hall and the Chix - Black Stretch Pants.mp3   
Joni Wallace - The Tennessee Rock And Roll.mp3      
Joy Adams - The Snorer.mp3                          
Judy MCIntyre - Slyly.mp3                           
Lois Hinds - Loving In Vain Again.mp3               
Reesa and The Rooters - Melt the Iceman.mp3         
Sissy Spacek - Honky Tonkin'.mp3                 
Wing - Dancing Queen.mp3                            
Yoko Ono - Midsummer New York.mp3                   


RCS : Avet (Lloyd Arnold) : location found

 

https://rcs-discography2.com/search.php?type=labpk&key=2684


Location : Brooklyn, New York City
Owner : Jimmy Nebb, pseud. of James Nebbergall.

 

On October 19th, 1963 CashBox announced the following:    

Morty Wax, another indie about town, reported Tony Babbie and Jimmy Nebb, Armour Recording execs, have formed a subsid label called Avet with a first issue tagged, "School Days" by Lloyd Arnold.)
The Avet label leased two tracks from Buford Cody's Memphis label.

 
 

Friday, August 7, 2026

RCS : B&D (Tommy Fisher) : location found

https://rcs-discography2.com/search.php?type=acode&key=fish6000

Location : New York City
Owner : Elmer Dade
Date : 1962 (copyright: October 20, 1961)

Source : Lancaster Eagle-Gazette from Lancaster, Ohio · March 8, 1962, page 9

Tommv Fisher : To Appear In - New York City ; 
Former L a n c a s t e r resident ; Tommy Fisher will make his debut at New York's famous "Peppermint Lounge" upon his return to that city later this month, j - The 1958 graduate of Lancaster - High School plans to make a series of personal a p p e a r a n c e s ; at New York radio stations and then tour the United States to promote his newest major record, -" "Audrey."  Flipside of the record is "Rock and Roll Robin Hood," both lyrics  he wrote while in high.school - here. ."  The son of Mr. Rollie Fisher. 411 ," E. Wheeling St.. and the late Mrs. - Fisher, he is under contract with the B. and D. Record Co., from which "Audrey" was realesed in New York recently and is expected to be released throughout the country shortly. ! Fisher explained that he owes ;.much of his success to the encourageement of friends in the local area. .  

 

 

 

Women of Music Volume 21

 


 

Lynn Roberts on cover

tracklist

Belina - An Jenem Tag (Those Were The Days).mp3                     
Brenda Burns   I'll Come Running.mp3          
Joyce Harris - Baby, Baby, Baby.mp3                                 
Judy Stone - Be My Baby.mp3                                         
Lynn Roberts - Beatnicks.mp3                                        
Madame X - Ain't Worth The Pain.mp3                                 
Mae West  - Shakin' All Over.mp3                                    
Marga Benitez - Geechie Goomie.mp3                                  
Miss Chuckle Cherry  -  S.O.S..mp3                                  
Patti Morrow - If I Could Paint A Picture As Beautiful As You.mp3   
Pony Sherrell - Jungle Ungle, Um, Bai.mp3                           
Shirley Goodman  - Tell Me So.mp3      

WoM21

 

 

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Women of Music Volume 20

 

Heather Williams on cover

tracklist

Abbie Neal & Her Ranch Girls - Newton's Law.mp3     
Babe Wayne - Dance The Whiz Wosh.mp3                
Barbara Compton - Mining Men.mp3                    
Bonnie Bombshell Lee -  My Rock And Roll Man.mp3    
Choo Choo Collins - Baby's Gone.mp3                 
Dusty Springfield - La Bamba.mp3                    
Heather Williams - Celebration.mp3                  
Lady Nell - Loving Daddy.mp3                        
Marva Allen - I'm Thru With You.mp3                 
Mona Kerry - Don't Hang Around My Door.mp3          
Peggy Phillips (& The Patterns)  - Is That So.mp3   
Tanya Day - His Lips Get In The Way.mp3             
 

WoM 20.7z        


Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Women of Music Volume 11 (re-up)

 

Women of Music

Volume 11
Meg Myles on cover 


 

Beverly White - Cling to Me, Baby                
Bunny Paul - Baby Sitter's Blues                 
Donna Loren - Shakin' All Over                   
Donna Pope - Your Love Is An Everyday Thing      
Eileen Scott - Teen Age Prayer                   
Flavia Couri with the Courettes - Hop The Twig   
Flosia Lee - Part Time Lover                     
Jeanie Lee - Tic-Toc-A-Boogie                    
Jeannie Barnes - Can't Get You Off Of My Mind    
Joan Gardner - Learning To Rock                  
Mae West -  Twist and Shout                      
Meg Myles - Thirteen Men                         
Nancy Ford - Johnny's Yo Yo                      
Nancy Sit -  Hanky Panky                         
Patti Page - Just  Because                       
Susan Cabot - O-Shoo-Bla-D (Teenage Bop)   

 

I'll Never Tell

 


 

 

Cashbox April 15, 1954


 

Mary Jane Johnson starred in the early fifties with Bob Atcher in the Faultless Starch Show, a radio program diffused on NBC.

In 1954, along with Elaine Rodgers, the Meadowlarks and the Villagers, she was on the Bill Bailey's TV Show "Town and Country Sound Parade"
 

In 1955, she was on WLWT-TV Cincinnati, soon succeeded in March by Mimi Roman. She then moved to West Coast to engage in radio-tv activities.

 You have to wait about ten years before seeing again her name on a record when two of her songs were issued on the Kapp Records album "Saturday Night at The Old Barn Dance" issued in 1965, supposed recorded live at WGN-TV in Chicago.

Monday, August 3, 2026

Sloppy Drunk Woman



 

 Norridge Mayhams and his Barbecue Boys

Vocal by Johnnie Tunsill
Vocal blues with orchestra acc.

Vocalion 03495

1937 

 
 
Early Norridge Mayhams later better known as Norris Mayhams or Norris The Troubadour, rather well-documented by enthusiasts of song-poems and other eccentricities.
 
Not much is known about the vocalist. Johnnie Tunsill (1904-1982) was a New-York entertainer during the thirties. She was a "colored" singer at the Harlem Opera House in 1931, a member of at least two Broadway musicals in 1938-1938 : "a sepia gal who can strike out some neat warbling" 
 
Nothing more is found about her, unfortunately. 
 
 

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Rattlesnake Daddy

 


 

Country/blues tune, a little bit risqué, popular with the novelty acts in the 40's and 50's. 

The 1933 release by Bill Carlisle of "Rattlesnake Daddy" is generallty credited as the very first and original version. 

Two years later bluesman Blind Boy Fuller recorded a similar song by the name of "I'm a Rattlesnakin' Daddy." Though the lyrics and melodies are different in these two songs, they share similar motifs and song structure.  

I think that the song, though previously unrecorded, widely circulated in the Piedmont region in the early 20th century,  That in no way detracts from the merits of Bill Carlisle. 

Surely, there are traces of that song of it in the archives somewhere, buried under a layer of dust... but I didn't find anything.


 

Rattlesnake Daddy

 34 versions from 1933 to the 2010s
The genre vary, the title vary, and so do publisher and composer but its the same theme.

 


Friday, July 31, 2026

Jim Dandy

 


 Jim Dandy

18 versions of the song penned by Lincoln Chase
and recorded first by Lavern Baker (Atlantic Records) 

 

 

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Gal's Night on Bop Street

 


Gal's Night on Bop Street

 

For track listing, original label & date see https://rcs-discography.com/rcs/comp.php?key=3083 

Not listed in RCS are :

1. McQuade, Betty : Tongue Tied - Astor 7014 (Australia), 1961
2. Thomas, Erlene : I Need Loving – JED International 0014, 1966
5. West, Tabby : I Can't Stop Lovin' You – Capitol 4039, 1958
9. King, Carole : Goin' Wild – ABC-Paramount 9921, 1958
13. Robin, Tina : Lady Fair – Coral 61848, 1957
15. Lou, Little Linda : Rip It Up – Epic 9712, 1964
23. Randolph, Lil : Satellite Love – Chock 103, 1958
28. Petti, Mary : Hey! Lawdy, Lawdy – RCA 7886, 1961




 

 

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

School Bus Ride

 


Sandy
Acc. by The Uniques

School Bus Ride
Swanger-Sheetz
1:55

Li-1
Released thru the Nova Laboratories
1958


Sandy Swanger
Accompanied by
The Uniques

School Bus Ride
Sheetz-Swanger-Tromp
Juanita Music Co. (BMI)
2:37

Connie 1002
1959

 


Both records are listed by Rockin' Country Style. Li track come from the Buffalo Bop 55069, also previously issued on a Bison Bop LP. Connie track come from the Collector CD 4479 where it's credited for some reasons to Sandy Swandy Swanger & The Uniques, curioulsy clocked at 1:58, but time on label is 2:37. For some reason again.

Date of the first issue come from the copyright : w & m Sandy Swanger ( Sandford Swanger ) & Ronald Sheetz . Sandford Swanger & Ronald Sheetz ; 170ct58 ; Eu546285 

Date of the second issue come from Cash Box : review from the April 4, 1959 issue. A third composer (Tromp) and the Juanita Music publishing company are added, addition which is the most common sign of a second release.

At RCS, there is no location for these labels. Unable to find a thing about Li or the Nova Laboratories, I continued researching the Connie label.

There was a previous release in January 1959 by B. L. & the Tempters (instrumental)  b/w The Tempters (vocal). The vocal side (Come On In) was written by Sam Denoff and published by Tricky Music (ASCAP), owned at the time by George Goldner. The additional composer on Connie 1002 is certainly Grace Tromp, a name associated with Tommy Vastola for one side and Morris Levy-Phil Kahl on the other. (Tico Records 282, 1956, Tico was indeed the George Goldner's latin label. 

Tricky Music was located at 1650 Broadway in New York City but later changed hands apparently and came under the control of the extremely greedy Morris Levy. 

So, yes, I have located the Connie label in New York City, but who was its owner, I'm still unsure. And on these Uniques and Sandford Swanger ? Empty-handed. But Buffalo Bop had their picture (see below)

 


 

Monday, July 27, 2026

I've Been Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart

 


 

Colin Bowles has compiled a list of 100 titles that, in his opinion, are the worst ever published. All were hits but I must say that I know only by name about a dozen of artists.  Surf music, garage music and psychedelia and other fads have stopped my musical clock for ever.

But it's always delightful to witness the demolition of false idols through humor. This book is hilarious.

See YT playlist assembled by me here or read the book here



The Flu

 

Eskew Reeder

The Flu

wr. Patterson, Khoury, Webster
Tek Publishing & Shuler Music

Instant Records #3258
1962

The Flu (take 2 & take 4)

 


Singer and pianist, Eskew Reeder, Jr. usually known by the stage name Esquerita and occasionally as S.Q. Reeder or The Magnificent Malochi, was known for his frenetic performances. He has been credited with influencing rock and roll pioneer Little Richard.

"The Magnificent Malochi", an excellent 9-pages article by Pierre Monnery & Jay Halsey was published by Blues & Rhythm #270.

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Rockin' In A Wooden Shack

 


 

 Rockin' In A Wooden Shack

Ann Brewer and the Flames

 Century Recording Corporation of Dodge City, Kansas
Master Leasing Division 
Audtion Copy
Copyright 1965

Discography:

22409 Side 1 - Walkin Down The Street  
22409 Side 2 – Rockin’ In A Wooden Shack      
22410 Side 1 - Low Down Blues              
22410 Side 2 - Frustration 
 

There was an interesting post from a member of the early Flames posted years ago to a yahoo group dedicated to the Kansas music scene.  I saved the message at the time, unfortunatly omitting the poster's name.

Yahoo has long since removed all those groups where one could exchange messages on all kinds of topics. Archive.org kept all those messages, but navigating them is quite complicated; you have to download huge files and process them in some way before you can at last access a specific group.

Here is the post :

Before there was an Ann Brewer and The Flames, there was The
Mossmen .
.. a three piece group consisting of Tom Moss on bass, his
brother Frank(?) on lead, and me on drums. Tom sang and we did a
lot of Chuck Berry covers with wailing guitar and even "steps". We
were playing the Catacombs in Lawrence when this cute little
brunette started working behind the counter upstairs at the pizza
joint. Her name was Ann Brewer and she caught Tom's eye ... as
well as other significant parts of his anatomy. He decided he had
to "get me some of that". The next thing we knew she started
showing up at rehearsals. Well, that's when Frank(?) quit. I
guess he didn't like the idea of playing backup to a GIRL. So, Tom
started playing lead, we hired a bass player named John Malone,
stuck Ann up front and changed our name to Ann Brewer and The
Flames. We played a lot of James Brown covers ... hence, "The
Flames" ... which Ann covered quite credibly.

Ann was a natural screamer. She was a true original. And a
trailblazer. To my knowledge, she broke the gender barrier for all
rock bands in this area and probably for many, many counties
around ... perhaps states. For that reason alone, she deserves to
be in some Hall Of Fame.

We never played the Kansas Circuit. The Catacombs was
our "home". But, we did play the Yuletide Tea Dances at The
Muehlebach Hotel. At one Tea, there was some showboat guy up front
dancing his ass off, doing the splits, and screaming the words to
every song Ann was singing. It was Michael "Spanky" Landis. I
guess he saw Ann and decided he had to "get me some of that" ... and
he didn't mean Ann. He became an avid groupie over in Lawrence and
we even let him sit-in a couple of times. The next thing we know,
he's holding a trumpet and fronting Spyder and The Crabs. And I've
gotta ask ... did he ever really play that trumpet? I always
thought it was just a prop to give him something to do when he
wasn't singing ... or doing the splits. I don't think I ever heard
one note come out of it.

We also played RanchMart Auditorium a couple of times. I remember
wearing a gold and pink Nehru jacket. What a world!! In the
audience was this skinny little blond-headed punk named Jimmy
McAllister.
I guess he heard us and decided he had to "get me
some of that". He didn't mean Ann, either. But, I understand he
was more impressed with our volume than anything else. He gives
the Ann Brewer group credit for inspiring him to get into the biz
and for that I will be eternally proud. Because, I was the loud
one. Everybody else had to play over me. Weren't all drummers
like that?

Post-Catacombs, we started playing the TeePee quite a bit and went
in search of another lead guitarist. One of the guys we auditioned
was this hulkingly sweet gentle giant of a kid that played just like
Frank Plas. His name? Ed Toler. I wanted to "get me some of
that". But, Ann and Tom didn't care much for him. And, despite
my adamant protestations and several adjectives referring to their
taste and intelligence, they didn't hire him. I would have loved
playing with Big Ed. That was a big missed opportunity for me.
(Sigh).

I don't remember why I left Ann Brewer. It could have had
something to do with nepotism. She married Tom Moss and started
putting the rest of her family in the band. First it was her
sister, Dede, on backup vocals. My good friend Paul Dahlstrom
took over my drumming duties for awhile, but that job eventually
fell to her brother, David. The recording of "Rockin' In A
Wooden Shack" that Bill has (thanks, Bill) was recorded in Dodge
City and Paul thinks it's David on drums. It sure isn't either of
us. I don't know what happened to any of them or even if they are
still alive. If anybody does, please pass on the info. I'd
really appreciate it.

 

 



Ann Brewer (now Crosta)  and her group, The Flames, were a Kansas rock 'n' roll band started in 1962. They performed throughout the Midwest during the sixties. Later they were based in Las Vegas and then moved on the Los Angeles. In 1973 Ann suffered a mugging resulting in damaged vocal chords and the end of her singing career. She then began to teach dancing in California. She was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Drinkin Spo-Dee-O-Dee by The Western Playboys

 


Drinkin Spo-Dee-O-Dee
(McGhee)
Vocal by Les Guthrie

Western Magic
Hit Parades Tunes

1949

A cover of the Sticks McGhee song. Not listed in Second Hand Songs 

A subsidiary of  the Swing Records Manufacturing Company, from Paris, Texas, operated by Jimmy Mercer.. In all likehood the Western Magic was a short-lived budget label.

At least two other records were issued by this label. See 45cat   Les and His Western Playboys are not related (Ohio family group led by Les Haven)

Interesting information about Jimmy Mercer and his Swing Records Company can be found at Counterfeit Records in the 1940s (and Beyond) by Allan Sutton 

I reproduce here the pertinent part of the article :

The only pressing plant operating at the time in Paris, Texas, was the Swing Record Manufacturing Company, a small start-up owned by Jimmy Mercer (née Harry Schaefer, a.k.a. Jivin’ Joe Jackson). His checkered past included a 1928 conviction for robbery and forgery, and allegedly, a 1931 arrest for passing bad checks. By the mid-1940s, Mercer had moved to Paris, where he worked at radio station KPLT, operated the Melody Lane Record Shop, and gave piano lessons. Mercer is perhaps the best-documented example of a small-time entrepreneur whose output simultaneously included original, pirated, and counterfeit records.

The October 1946 launch of Mercer’s Swing Records was well covered in the local press. The Paris News devoted a feature story to the company in November, at which time Mercer invited local artists to audition for his new Swing and Downbeat labels (the latter having no connection to DownBeat magazine). Mercer’s records were pressed on poor-quality recycled scrap and bore equally shoddy labels. He regularly solicited broken records in the local want-ads, along with “strong active women” to work the night shift at his plant. 

Although Mercer claimed to be pressing for several “well known” (but undisclosed) labels, his only confirmed connection with the established companies consisted of pirating their discs. He is known to have copied recordings from Atlantic, Cow Town, Freedom, 4 Star, Gold Star, and other labels, which he then issued on his own labels. Gold Star’s Bill Quinn sued Mercer, then settled out of court after Mercer agreed to purchase some masters from the company. Atlantic Records reportedly threatened legal action as well.

It was Mercer’s party-record pressings (some on the Zest and Zip labels, others lacking any brand name) rather than his pirating and counterfeiting activities, that eventually brought him to the attention of federal authorities. In March 1949, he was arrested and charged with delivering obscene records for shipment across state lines. He pled guilty to two counts in January 1950, and was sentenced to three years’ probation.

Mercer’s arrest marked the end of his involvement with the record business. With few other offenders apprehended, the investigation into record counterfeiting wound down in the early 1950s, causing the problem to worsen considerably. By September 1951, Billboard was reporting that one operation in the New York area, which had so far eluded all efforts at detection, was believed to be pressing more than 50,000 counterfeit discs weekly. 

 

Monday, July 20, 2026

Women Of Music volume 13

 


 

Women Of Music volume 13 

 Note : previously issued at the Groovy Grooves blog, now with a new cover


Claudine Clark  - Walkin' Through a Cemetery.mp3                           
Dorothy Donegan, - Kilroy Was Here.mp3                                     
Dot Hester- My Boyfriend's Back.mp3                                        
Elizabeth Montgomery (as Serena) -  I'll Blow You a Kiss in the Wind.mp3   
Emmylou Harris - c'est la Vie, you never can tell, .mp3                    
Frances Day (aka Gale Warning) - Heartbreak Hotel.mp3                      
Jenny Aguirre - Satellite.mp3                                              
LaVern Baker - Voodoo Voodoo.mp3                                           
Linda Leigh - The Scent.mp3                                                
Patti Page - Just  Because.mp3                                             
Pearl Bailey - I Can't Rock And Roll To Save My Soul.mp3                   
Renie Hicks & The Aztecs - Real Gone Okie.mp3                              
Sonja (and Smoke Band)  That's All Right.mp3                               
Wanda Jackson - Stupid Cupid.mp3                                           
 

 

Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Polaris Records Story

 


The Polaris Records Story

27 tracks+booklet
Bacchus Archives Records, 1991

tracklist

1 - The New Breed - Wasting My Time
2 - The New Breed - It's Love
3 - Richies Renegades - Don't Cry
4 - Richies Renegades - Baby It's Me
5 - Richies Renegades - Come Alive (Pepsi Spot)
6 - The Renegades - Waiting For You
7 - The Renegades - Tell Me What To Say
8 - The Swinging Epics - Run To Him
9 - Billy Bo And His Arrows - Voodoo Rhythm
10 - Billy Bo And His Arrows - Shuffle
11 - Billy Bo And His Arrows - Chatter
12 - The Bugs - Slide
13 - The Bugs - Pretty Girl
14 - The Bugs - Albert Albert
15 - The Bugs - Strangler In The Night
16 - Th The Bugs - Gonna Find Me A Girl
17 - The Attaras - You Got A Lot To Learn
18 - The Attaras - Blue Is The Color
19 - The Attaras - Daniel Boone
20 - The Attaras - Come On
21 - The Fantasmics - Wild One
22 - The Fantasmics - Heaven Or Hell
23 - The Devonaires - Gone Gone Gone
24 - The Devonaires - Mazzola
25 - Leigh Spear - Minnie In Her Mini-Skirt
26 - Richies Renegades - Don't Cry
27 - Richies Renegades - Baby It's Me
 

 

 

Women of Music Volume 16

 

 


 

Women of Music Volume 16
 

Cover : Genya Rayan (of Ginger & the Gingerbreads)


Barbara Evans - Beatnik Daddy.mp3                                      
Charlotte Deak Hardage  - Day After Never (The Day After Never)..mp3   
Cookie Mold (in Sheer Smegma) - I Wanna Be A Man.mp3                      
Damita Jo - Jambalaya.mp3                                     
Dusty Springfield - Can I Get A Witness.mp3                            
Goldie & the Gingerbreads - Skinny Vinnie.mp3                          
Janiva Magness - I Can Tell.mp3                                        
Marion Colby - Just Because.mp3                                        
Pauline Pinkney - Three Mountain Men.mp3                               
Penny Hardman - Oh Darling.mp3                                         
Sylvie Vartan - Elle est terrible.mp3                                  
The Singing Sisters of Syracuse - Chloe.mp3                            
Ursula Reed - Ursula's Blues.mp3     

 Note : previously issued at the Groovy Grooves blog, now with a new cover