Thursday, December 5, 2013

Snake In The Grass



Jimmy Carroll and The Boy Friends 
-
Snake In The Grass

James Carroll-Gary Wright
Elysian Music Corp. BMI
Produced and directed By Ralph and Sid Glaser
Arranged And Conducted by Gary Randy

Glaser Hollywood GH-1000

November 1960


Possibly the same Jimmy Carroll who recorded "Big Green Car" on Fascination


Glaser Hollywod, divison of Elysian Music Corp New York City, was owned by Ralph and Sid Glaser.   This short-lived label had few releases in 1960-1961 (see discography below).  The label main musical talent was arranger and conductor Gary Randy, also known as Gary Harrison, Harry Nivens, Harry Nivins, Harry E. Nivens and Harry Edward Nivens.

Harry Nivens was from Detroit.  He managed The Royal Holidays, The Royaltones and Melrose Baggy  (real name: David R. Sanderson, a former member of The Royaltones). 
The earliest mention of Harry Nivens is found is in a book published in 1951 "A Salute to the Chaplain; a Day With a Far East Command Hospital Chaplain" :

The two pianists are Sgt. Harry Nivens, a patient, and Red Cross worker Virginia Kershaw of Fort Payne, Ala. The coffee hour group, including Chaplain Ellenberg, really loosen up and hit the rafters with some old song favorites under the spell of the two talented keyboard artists.
Sergeant Nivens, from Detroit, who has served with the 24th Infantry Division, is an up-and-coming song writer who supplied the music for one of the Occupation's hit shows, "Opportunity Knocks." Some of his songs have been recorded by Columbia Records. Harry plays the Hammond organ sometimes for the chaplain at his services. His is a very cheerful disposition, and he's good medicine for his fellow patients. The chaplain speaks highly of Harry.
Among the various Harry Nivens contributions to Detroit music (as writer, arranger and/or producer) :
  • Sandy Evans on Drummond
  • The Monitors on Circus
  • The Royal Holidays on Penthouse
  • Marco Hammon on D-Town
  • Johnny Cruise on Jaro
  • Cally Dodd on Calico
  • The Towers on Stuart
  • Don McKenzie on Ridge
  • Johnnie Mae Matthews on Reel (and Sue)


Glaser Hollywood discography

PM-1000 (Also on Rose-C 3342)
Linda Chanfer
Exactly Like You / My Own Angel Love

GH-1000
Jimmy Carroll & The Boy Friends
Snake In The Grass / Shy Boy

GH-2000
Bruce Lenox
Seventeen Years / Youthful Desire

GH-3000
Becky Baines
All Of My Life / Loved

Monday, December 2, 2013

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby


(Popular Artist)

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby
Sylvia-Lopez

EP 4 Hits 351

Brooklyn, N.Y.

1957


A cover of the Tune Weavers song (a hit on Checker Records, but first issued on Casa Grande). 

EP Records was owned and operated by Frank Gould and Montgomery Delaney. The firm was located at 51 Neck Road, Brooklyn, as was Zebra Records, another of their label.

For examples of EP 4 Hits company sleeves, see http://45-sleeves.com/USA/ep/ep-us.htm



Sunday, December 1, 2013

Let's Make A Little Motion


Evelyn Freeman And The Exciting Voices

Let's Make A Little Motion
Roberts, Freeman
Morrisania Music ASCAP

Dot 15726

March 1958   


Bandleader, music composer and musician Evelyn Freeman Roberts was born on February 13, 1919,  Roberts grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and performed music at local social events with "The Freeman Family," a group that included her brother, Ernie, and father.   She also began performing locally in a classical ensemble. Roberts skipped school one day to watch Duke Ellington at Cleveland's Palace Theater and met Ellington after the performance. His music made a huge impact on Roberts, who decided at that moment that she wanted to be a bandleader. She was a bright student, and graduated ahead of her grade in 1936...  more :   http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/evelyn-freeman-roberts-41