Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Walking After Midnight


Sally Massey And The Rhythm Pals

Don Hecht and Alan Block, 4 Star Sales Co.

Vogue S-8159-AA
1957

"A very late cover of the hit tune by Patsy Cline.  A nice job by Miss Massey, but it arrives much too late"  Billboard 6 May 1957

In January 1957, Cline performed the song on an episode of the CBS television program, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. It garnered a strong response from viewers and was therefore rush-released as a single February 11, 1957. "Walkin' After Midnight" became Cline's first major hit single, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard country music chart and No. 12 on its pop chart.





Born in 1922, Sally Massey in her younger days used to sing on local radio stations with her sister Alice .  Sally then played guitar in the Rem Wall Band before recording for her own Sa-Ma label. She had at least two 45s on the Otsego, Michigan Vogue label in 1956 and 1957. There was also a much later single on Sims Records in 1964.

She was once married to Gilbert Jennings, a fiddler and singer.  She died at an unknown date.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Sunny Side Of The Street


Ricky Dee

Sunny Side Of The Street

Jimmy McHugh-Dorothy Fields
Shapiro & Bernstein Music BMI

Trio-Tex Records 104

Div. of G-B Recordings
Line & Phila. Rd., Easton, Penna.
G-B De Case Production
Produced by Bob Seawood



Backed by a cover of "A Thousand Miles Away" (The Heartbeats, 1957).   "Sunny Side" is also a cover.  Composed in 1930, the song was a hit for Frankie Laine in 1950.  (see Wikipedia)

Certainly related to Ricky Dee and The Embers (on Newtown Records). Same producers? Same band?  But the true identity of the vocalist remain unknown.  Curiously enough THE RICKY DEE AND EMBERS was incorporated - a rare fact at the time? - as a company on 12/17/1962 by Richard Wise, 426 Clinton Terrace, Easton, Pa.  Since there is no mention of The Embers here, should we assume that this record was done at an earlier date ?



Friday, October 9, 2015

Let's Have A Party


Susy Rose

Let's Have A Party

Sur-Speed Records
1971?

Susy Rose was seven year-old at the time of her first record (this one).  Her picture above is from the cover of a later album from the mid-seventies.  She also recorded for Rosette, Starr and Rome Records.  Originally from Prospect, Ohio, she is possibly now Sue Michael of  Worthington, Ohio.