Be Bop Wino Pages

Joan Selects - the complete Joan Selects Collection

Big Ten Inchers - 78rpm rips by El Enmascarado


Attention Mac Users!

Mac users have been experiencing problems in unpacking the WinRAR archives used on this blog. Two solutions have been suggested.

1. Use The Unarchiver - www.theunarchiver.com - see comments on Little Esther Bad Baad Girl post for details.

2. Use Keka - http://www.kekaosx.com/en/ - see comments on Johnny Otis Presents post.

Sunday 31 May 2020

Count Basie and his Orchestra - One o'Clock Jump

























Side 1:
01) Going To Chicago Blues
02) You Betcha My Life
03) Down, Down, Down
04) Tune Town Shuffle
05) I'm Tired Of Waiting For You
06) One-Two-Three-O'Lairy
07) Basie Boogie
08) Fancy Meeting You

Side 2:
01) Digging For Dex
02) My Old Flame
03) Fiesta In Blue
04) Tom Thumb
05) Take Me Back, Baby
06) King Joe (Part I)
07) King Joe (Part II)

Side 3:
01) Moon Nocturne
02) Something New
03) I Struck A Match In The Dark
04) Platterbrains
05) All Of Me
06) Feather Merchant
07) Down For Double

Side 4:
01) More Than You Know
02) Harvard Blues
03) Coming-Out Party
04) One O'Clock Jump
05) Blue Shadows And White Gardenias
06) 'Ay Now
07) Basie Blues






We step back a couple of years from the previous post of early Savoy sides which were mainly recorded in 1944. This time we're having a look at the Count Basie recordings for Columbia / Okeh in 1941-1942. For a selection of 1930s Basie recordings for Decca, see this post -

https://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2019/01/count-basie-and-his-orchestra-swingin.html

By the time of the recordings on this 2LP set, the Basie band could no longer boast the twin tenor sax threat of Herschel Evans and Lester Young, but their replacements, Buddy Tate and Don Byas, grace the set with numerous excellent solos. The gatefold cover on this set not only has recording and release details, but also lists the solos on each track, so you can follow who exactly is playing what.

Like most of the big swing bands of the time, whether in a dance hall or a theatre, the Basie band would play a set which called for some romantic (or soppy) balladeering which perhaps hasn't worn well with age. Alto sax man Earl Warren warbles in the style of the day on numbers like "Fancy Meeting You" and "I Struck A Match In The Dark" while by way of contrast Jimmy Rushing's timeless blues shouting on numbers such as "Going To Chicago Blues" and "Take Me Back, Baby" has worn much better.

Albert McCarthy's book "Big Band Jazz" has an amusing story about "I Struck A Match In The Dark" which was something of a hit for the band and was a big set piece in their live performances. The lights would be turned down, Earl Warren would step forward to the microphone, sing the opening line, and strike a match. One time at the Apollo, drummer Jo Jones, fed up with the whole farago, soaked the matches in water and the audience in the darkened theatre was treated to the frantic sound of match after match being struck in vain.

A noted feature of this collection is the guest appearance by Paul Robeson on the two part tribute to heavyweight champ Joe Louis, "King Joe." His operatic style is an unusual addition to big band swing.

The big bands were the "nurseries" for a generation of musicians who would go on to feature in small group jazz, bebop, and rhythm and blues through the late 1940s and 1950s. In the Basie group we have Buddy Tate, Don Byas, Tab Smith, Earl Warren and Jimmy Rushing, all of whom would remain substantial names after big band swing ceased to be the most popular style of music. Don Byas in particular was an important participant in the New York club scene from 1943 to 1946 and went on to record some excellent small group sides for the Savoy label. That could be our next post!

Elsewhere On The Blog:


Friday 29 May 2020

The Changing Face Of Harlem (The Savoy Sessions)























Side 1:
01) Twilight In Teheran - Buck Ram All-Stars
02) Morning Mist - Buck Ram All-Stars
03) Swing Street - Buck Ram All-Stars
04) Ram Session - Buck Ram All-Stars
05) Ooh-Wee - Pete Brown Quintette
06) Bellevue For You - Pete Brown Quintette
07) Pete Brown's Boogie - Pete Brown Quintette
08) Moppin' The Blues - Pete Brown Quintette

Side 2:
01) Dance Of The Tambourine - Hot Lips Page & His Hot Seven
02) Uncle Sam's Blues - Hot Lips Page & His Hot Seven
03) Pagin' Mr Page - Hot Lips Page & His Hot Seven
04) I Keep Rollin' On - Hot Lips Page & His Hot Seven
05) I Got What It Takes - Hot Lips Page Band
06) Good For Stompin' - Hot Lips Page Band
07) Lip's Blues - Hot Lips Page Band
08) Blooey - Hot Lips Page Band

Side 3:
01) Honeysuckle Rose - Ben Webster
02) I Surrender Dear - Ben Webster
03) Blue Skies - Ben Webster
04) Run Down - Herbie Fields
05) Nuts To Notes - Herbie Fields
06) Groovin' With Grimes - Tiny Grimes
07) I'll Always Love You Just The Same - Tiny Grimes
08) Romance Without Finance - Tiny Grimes

Side 4:
01) Bye Bye - Miss Rhapsody
02) My Lucky Day - Miss Rhapsody
03) Hey Lawdy Mama - Miss Rhapsody
04) Groovin' The Blues - Miss Rhapsody
05) Smack That Mess - Joe Gregory
06) Dee Dee's Dance - Clyde Hart
07) Little Benny - Clyde Hart
08) Shoot The Arrow To Me Cupid - Joe Gregory






Founded by local entrepreneur Herman Lubinsky in Newark, New Jersey, in 1942, Savoy Records went on to become one of the USA's most important labels in jazz and R&B. The label didn't really take off until mid 1944 when it started recording musicians from the vibrant club scene in NYC, both from Harlem and 52nd Street. Savoy was one of a number of small labels in the New York area which picked up on the changes taking place in jazz at that time with other examples being Keynote, Blue Note, Beacon, Manor and National.

This two LP set compiles sides mostly recorded in 1944 with the exception of some Herbie Fields sides from May 1945. The dominant style is small group swing with only the faintest hint of the be bop to come with Charlie Parker's appearance on a couple of the Tiny Grimes tracks.

The full line ups on these tracks can be found in the session details on the back cover of this set and fans of R&B or to be more precise, the area where jazz and R&B intersect will be familiar with quite a few of the names including Tiny Grimes, Earl Bostic, Ike Quebec, Ben Webster, Slam Stewart, Hot Lips Page, Don Byas, Jack "The Bear" Parker, heck just read it for yourselves.

Dan Morgenstern's terrific notes both set the scene and provide a running commentary on the tracks and are a model for what such an essay should be. He calls the music here "Harlem jump" which sums it up admirably. These tracks are contemporaneous with the rise to immense popularity of Louis Jordan's brand of jump blues and while they differ slightly from Jordan's style they encapsulate the music scene which would soon give rise to be bop, dynamic small group swing based jazz, and eventually to rhythm and blues.

I've been fascinated for many years by the Savoy Record label, ever since I acquired the cassette "Jumpin' at The Savoy" from the New Musical Express back in the early 1980s. Indeed that cassette was the first music I posted on Be Bop Wino back in September 2007. Follow the trail - there's a working Megaupload link on the post!

Over the years Savoy has featured on numerous posts on the blog, with the most recent example perhaps being a cross-blog collaboration on posting the complete "Savoy Roots Of Rock'n Roll" series. I have a few sets from the "Savoy Sessions" series which concentrates on the jazz side of the label, so you can expect more of these to appear on the blog along with other material from the New York scene of the 1940s.


Billboard, 19th August 1944

Original Issues:

Buck Ram's All Stars:

Swing Street / Twilight In Teheran - Buck Ram's All Stars - Savoy 572 - February 1946

Morning Mist first released on this LP. 

Ram Session first released on LP Savoy MG 9030 "Jam Session At Savoy" in 1953.

Pete Brown Quintette:

Pete Brown's Boogie / Bellevue For You - Pete Brown Quintette - Savoy 522 - August 1944

Ooh-Wee / Moppin' The Blues - Pete Brown Quintette - Savoy 523 - November 1944

Hot Lips Page: 

Uncle Sam Blues / Paging Mr. Page - "Hot Lips" Page's Swing Seven - Savoy 520 - August 1944

Dance Of The Tambourine / I Keep Rollin' On - "Hot Lips" Page's Hot Seven - Savoy 521 - August 1944

Lips Blues / I Got What It Takes - Hot Lips Page and Orchestra (?) - Savoy 529 - (?) 1944 (?)

"Lips Blues" rereleased as "Double-Trouble Blues" on Savoy 700

"Blooey"; "Good For Stompin'" - first released on this LP.

Ben Webster

"Honeysuckle Rose"; "I Surrender Dear"; "Blues Skies" are unissued alternate takes.

I Surrender Dear / Blues Skies - Ben Webster Quartet - Savoy 505 - (?) 1944.

Honeysuckle Rose / Kat's Fur - Ben Webster Quartet - Savoy 506 - (?) 1944

The released versions are on the Savoy 2LP set "The Tenor Sax Album" which will be posted on the blog.

Herbie Fields

Run Down / Camp Meeting - Herbie Fields Hot Seven - Savoy 591 - February 1946

Nuts To Notes first issued on this LP.

Tiny Grimes

Groovin' With Grimes first released on this LP

I'll Always Love You Just The Same; Romance Without Finance are alternate takes of sides released on Savoy 526 (b/w Tiny's Tempo) and Savoy 532 (b/w Red Cross) respectively.

Miss Rhapsody

Bye Bye Baby / My Lucky Day - Rhapsody with June Cole's Orchestra - Savoy 5510 - August 1944

Hey Lawdy Mama / Groovin The Blues - Rhapsody with June Cole's Orchestra - Savoy 5511 - November 1944

Clyde Hart

Smack That Mess / Shoot The Arrow To Me Cupid - Joe Gregory - Savoy 542 - possibly unreleased?

Dee Dee's Dance / Little Benny - Clyde Hart's Hot Seven - Savoy 598 -  May 1946

Elsewhere On The Web

Small Independent Rockin' 45rpm Labels by Apesville has recently completed a project to compile a complete collection of Savoy singles. Start here and work your way through an absolutely gobsmacking series of posts. Sheer heaven for fans of Savoy.

Wednesday 27 May 2020

The 5 Satins Sing (Ember ELP 100)






















Side One:
01) I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)
02) Our Anniversary
03) Wish I Had My Baby
04) Wonderful Girl
05) Sugar
06) I'll Get Along
07) Again

Side Two:
01) To The Aisle
02) Pretty Baby
03) Our Love Is Forever
04) Oh Happy Day
05) Jones Girl
06) Weeping Willow
07) Moonlight & I





Here's another contribution from Marv -the first ever LP released by Ember (a co-label of Herald) in December 1957, and not surprisingly it's a collection of their best selling vocal group of the time, The Five Satins, whose "I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)" was not only a big R&B hit but also a pop hit in the late summer / early autumn of 1956. A year later the group had another major R&B / pop hit with "To The Aisle."

The LP contains both sides of the first five singles by The Five Satins on Ember plus four additional sides to give what was then a whopping 14 tracks. Plenty of bang for your buck! Some of the tracks have a very professional production while others have what may be called a rather more primitive sound. I prefer the el primitivo approach!

There's no Unca Marvy link for the background on this particular vocal group but here's a couple of links for you to peruse -




Original Single Issues:

In The Still Of The Nite / The Jones Girl - Standord XEP-200 - April 1956. The disc was leased to Ember / Herald for national distribution and issued in June 1956 as "I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Nite)" / "The Jones Girl" (Ember E-1005). Subsequent Ember repressings reverted to the Standord title "In The Still Of The Nite."

Wonderful Girl / Weeping Willow - Ember E-1008 - October 1956

Oh Happy Day / Our Love Is Forever - Ember E-1014 - March 1957

To The Aisle / Wish I Had My Baby - Ember E-1019 - June 1957

Our Anniversary / Pretty Baby (That's Why I Sing) - Ember E-1025 - October 1957

Sugar; I'll Get Along; Again; Moonlight & I - first released on this LP, December 1957.

Thanks again, Marv.

Saturday 23 May 2020

Rock'N' Roll Versus Rhythm And Blues (Dooto LP DL 223)






















Side 1:
01) Wet Back Hop - Chuck Higgins
02) Tonky Honk - Chuck Higgins
03) Fools Are Getting Scarcer - Roy Milton
04) I Can't Go On - Roy Milton
05) Oh Yeah - Chuck Higgins
06) Don't You Know I Love You - Chuck Higgins (Vocal by Frank Dunn)

Side 2:
01) Reelin' And Rockin' - Roy Milton
02) Nothing Left - Roy Milton
03) The Itch - Chuck Higgins
04) Looking For My Baby - Chuck Higgins
05) Baby I'm Gone - Roy Milton
06) Cry Some Baby - Roy Milton






12 Hits! Battle of the Bands! Chuck Higgins versus Roy Milton! Released in 1956, this 12 tracker is an irresistible collection for fans of West Coast Honk and West Coast Jump. Brought to you by regular contributor Marv, these waxings encapsulate the two generations of  Los Angeles R&B: the jump blues of the 1940s and the R&B / rock and roll of the 1950s.

Roy Milton, of course had been enjoying hit record success since 1946 when his "Milton's Boogie" and "R.M. Blues" soared towards the top of what was then called the Race Music charts. These discs were released on Art Rupe's Juke Box label which soon became Specialty. Roy had a total of 19 R&B chart hits for the label, his last "biggie" being "Night And Day" in 1952.

Roy's last session for Specialty was in October 1953, although that label still issued his material into 1955. His next recording session was for Dootone when he laid down the tracks on this LP in April or early May 1955. By then Roy's jazz, swing and boogie based form of R&B was decidedly old fashioned but the tracks here are all good, with "(You Got Me) Reelin' And Rockin'" and "Baby I'm Gone" rocking along nicely.

 The Cash Box, 21st May 1955

If Roy's spectacular record sales were long gone by 1955, Chuck Higgins was still hanging in there as regards West Coast teen appeal in the same year when he recorded a session for Dootone. His big success had come early in his recording career in 1952 with "Pachuco Hop" / "Motorhead Baby" on Combo which was a strong seller on The Coast. For the next few years he label hopped around LA diskeries with sessions for John Dolphin, Aladdin and Specialty.

Unlike Roy Milton, Chuck's popularity remained entirely local to the LA area. However, the good will he had built up among LA's Mexican R&B followers with "Pachuco Hop" was thrown away with the release on Dootone of the spectacularly badly named "Wet Back Hop." Ouch.

Setting aside that dreadful faux pas, the Higgins sides here are good strong mid '50s R&B with great guitar work by Jimmy Nolen who manages to sound like T-Bone Walker on "Don't You Know I Love You" and like Chuck Berry on "Looking For My Baby."

The Story Behind The Tracks:

Roy Milton - all sides recorded in Los Angeles circa April 1955. Personnel: Roy Milton (drums, vocals) with - Charles Gillum (trumpet); Jackie Kelso (alto sax); Eddie Taylor (tenor sax); Floyd Turnham (baritone sax); Camille Howard (piano); Jimmie Davis (guitar); Lawrence Kato (bass).

Fools Are Getting Scarcer / I Can't Go On - Dootone 363 - May 1955

You Got Me Reeling And Rocking / Nothing Left - Dootone 369 - July 1955

Cry Some Baby / Baby I'm Gone - Dootone 398 - July 1956

Chuck Higgins - all sides recorded in Los Angeles on an unknown date in 1955. Personnel: Chuck Higgins (vocal, tenor sax); with - Danny Crisp (trombone); Kenny Battle (tenor sax, baritone sax); Frank Dunn (vocal, piano); Jimmy Nolen (guitar); Roy "Candy" Johnson (bass) James Lee (drums)

Here I'm Is / Tonky Honk - Dootone 361 - April 1955

Wetback Hop / Don't You Know I Love You Baby - Dootone 370 - August 1955

Looking For My Baby / Eye Ballin' - Dootone 376 - November 1955

The Itch / Gambling Woman - Dootone 387 - March 1956

Oh Yeah / I Need Your Love - Dootone 396 - June 1956

Information from 45cat.com, bsnpubs.com, and The Cash Box. Album art adapted from discogs.com. Sound files from Marv.

You Gotta Buy These:

For Dootone sounds straight from the master recordings, Ace (UK) is your one stop shop. If you liked this album, then these fine platters will get your toes a tappin' -

 Dootone Rock'n' Rhythm and Blues (Ace CDCHD 839)

Well, it's pretty obvious where they got the idea for the cover from! This CD could be regarded as a greatly expanded version of the LP on this blog post. But not quite, as it doesn't have "Oh Yeah" by Chuck Higgins. Every other track on the LP is present on this 28 tracker which features more Roy Milton and Chuck Higgins, Mickey Champion (backed by Roy Milton), Lorenzo Holden, Ernie Freeman, Helen Humes, Claude McLin and Joe Houston. A must buy.

Honk! Honk! Honk! (Ace CDCHD 781)

"Oh Yeah" is on this one. I've sung the praises of this one many times before. 30 sides mainly from Combo but with a smattering of Dootone sides. Features Joe Houston, Chuck Higgins, Roy Milton, Jack McVea, Lorenzo Holden, Louise Beatty and other cool West Coast cats. Be there or be square. Capiche?

Many thanks to Marv for sending in this Dooto LP. I'm gone man, solid gone.

Thursday 21 May 2020

Panama Francis All-Stars 1949






















Side 1:
01) Jitterbug Jump (unreleased)
02) Honey Blues - Gotham 243
03) The Crackerjack - Gotham 225
04) Panama's Jump (unreleased title)
05) Peach Tree Shuffle - Gotham 225
06) Satchel Shuffle - Gotham 214
07) Pussycats At Midnight - Gotham 214
08) Out Of Nowhere (unreleased take)

Side 2:
01) Jitterbug Jump (unreleased take)
02) Honey Blues (unreleased take)
03) The Crackerjack (unreleased take)
04) Panama's Jump (unreleased title)
05) Satchel Shuffle (unreleased take)
06) Out Of Nowhere (unreleased take)
07) Scrambled Eggs - Gotham 243






This LP was originally posted back in 2008 but the post remained "unre-upped" after the first takedown of the blog so here it is with all new complete artwork and a little bit of additional incomplete information on the first release of the tracks.

The notes on the back cover are very comprehensive and are a must read on the background of Panama Francis. Anyway here's what I wrote on the original post _

This Krazy Kat LP (KK 813) from 1987 collects tracks recorded by drummer Panama Francis and a small band for Gotham Records over two sessions in 1949. Panama Francis had played in the bands of Roy Eldridge, Lucky Millinder and Cab Calloway. A small unit of the Lucky Millinder group recorded for Queen (King subsidiary) under the name of Panama Francis and his Miamians while Millinder was under contract to Decca (other Millinder sessions were recorded for Queen by a group led by Bullmoose Jackson). Panama led his own group for a short time before joining the Willie Bryant band and then moving on to the Cab Calloway outfit.

It was while he was with Calloway that he recorded his first session for Gotham in 1948, leading a small group of musicians from the Calloway band under the name of the Panama Francis All-Stars. In the 1949 New York City sessions featured here, Panama led a different group of musicians which probably had Danny Turner on soprano, alto and baritone saxes, George Kelly on tenor sax, Doc Bagby on piano and Herb Gordy on bass.

The music is that mixture of jazz and early R&B which is the very stuff of the bebopwino blog. Only six of these sides were ever released, on 3 Gotham singles. The final track, “Scrambled Eggs”, is a real oddity. It is a take of “Jitterbug Jump” with loads of added echo and dubbed on sax and organ. To my ears it sounds ghastly, while the original undubbed track is a fine piece of sax-led proto-R&B.

Panama Francis, of course, went on to become one of the top session musicians in New York, playing on many R&B and Rock’n’Roll hit recordings.

Original Releases:

Satchel Shuffle / Pussy Cats At Midnight - Panama Francis and His All Stars - Gotham 214 - 1950

The Crackerjack / Peach Tree Shuffle - Panama Francis and Orchestra - Gotham 225 - July 1950

Billboard 1st July 1950

Scrambled Eggs / Honey Blues - Panama Francis All-Stars - Gotham 243 - 1950

You can listen to "Stompin' With Panama" which was recorded for Gotham with musicians from the Cab Calloway band in 1948 or early 1949 on the Internet Archive here:



Mucho rockin' rhythm to come on Be Bop Wino!

Tuesday 19 May 2020

Rare Blues Girls From King (re-up, new scans)





















Side 1:
01) He's Gone - Dorothy Ellis
02) Grandpa Can Boogie Too - Lil Greenwood
03) Portrait Of A Faded Love - Earl Bostic & His Orchestra
04) Please Be Good To Me - Duke Hampton & His Orchestra
05) Climb The Wall - Fluffy Hunter
06) You're Gonna Suffer Baby - Roy Milton & His Orchestra
07) I Need You Now - Sarah McLawler
08) I Dreamed The Blues - Gene Redd & His Orchestra

Side 2:
01) No More In Life - Bill Doggett Trio
02) Undecided - Marion Abernathy
03) I'm On The Outside Looking In - Flo Garvin
04) Let Me Keep You Warm - Flo Garvin
05) You Can't Have Me Now - Lorraine Lester
06) It's A Sad, Sad Feeling - Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra
07) Slowly Going Out Of My Mind - Dorothy Ellis
08) Please Be True - Sugar Pie






This LP has been posted a couple of times already, firstly in 2008 and then re-upped in 2015. However, this is the first time that it has appeared with scans of the complete front and back covers, and with disc labels added in too. Sorry about the 12 year wait.

My brief description on the November 2015 re-up post:

"Great King / Federal comp of 1950s chantoozie sides featuring some stompers and some tear stained ballads. All backed by some of the greatest jump and jazz bands of the time, including the Johnny Otis band (anonymously), Earl Bostic, Hot Lips Page, Bill Doggett, Jimmy Coe, Buddy Banks, Lucky Millinder, Roy Milton and Sonny Thompson."

Release Info:

He's Gone / Slowly Going Out Of Your Mind - Dorothy Ellis - Federal 12062 - April 1952

Grandpa Can Boogie Too / Never Again - Lil Greenwood - Federal 12093 - August 1952

Portrait Of a Faded Love / Seven Steps - Earl Bostic And His Orchestra - King 4387 - July 1950

Please Be Good To Me / The Push - Duke Hampton and His Orchestra - King 4625 - June 1953

Climb The Wall / To Say I Love You - Fluffy Hunter - Federal 12161 - December 1953

One Zippy Zam / You're Gonna Suffer Baby - Roy Milton And His Orchestra - King 4993 - December 1956

Love Sweet Love / I Need You Now - Sarah McLawler - King 4513 - March 1952

I Dreamed The Blues / In The Redd - Gene Redd - Federal 12119 - January 1953

Real Gone Mambo / No More In Life - Bill Doggett Trio - King 4617 - April 1953

Honey, Honey, Honey / Undecided - Marion Abernathy - King 4205 - February 1948

Let Me Keep You Warm / I'm On The Outside Looking In - Flo Garvin - King 4518 - April 1952

Trying So Hard To Forget / You Can't Have Me Now - Lorriane Lester with Steve Pulliam And Orchestra - February 1960

It's A Sad, Sad Feeling / Ow! - Lucky Millinder And His Orchestra - King 4292 - April 1955

Please Be True / I'm So Lonely - Sugar Pie / Hank and Sugar Pie - Federal 12217 - April 1955

Saturday 16 May 2020

Julia Lee - Tonight's The Night






















Side 1:
01) Snatch And Grab It
02) I Didn't Like It The First Time
03) Come On Over To My House
04) That's What I Like
05) Knock Me A Kiss
06) King Size Papa - Julia Lee
07) Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff
08) Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got

Side 2:
01) My Man Stands Out
02) Tonight's The Night
03) Don't Come Too Soon
04) All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes
05) Mama Don't Allow
06) Trouble In Mind
07) Take It Or Leave It
08) Last Call For Alcohol






As promised - more Julia Lee. This 1980s Charly collection includes 3 tracks which were hitherto unreleased - a cover of Louis Jordan's "Knock Me A Kiss" and 2 rather more salacious tracks, "Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff" and "All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes".

The latter two tracks are good listens but perhaps the jukebox operators were heeding the warning that accompanied the Billboard review of "My Man Stands Out" / "Don't Come Too Soon" (see below) and Capitol decided to hold back on the double entendre stuff.

In a way it's a shame that Julia came to be associated almost exclusively with such material as she was a fine performer not only in the classic Kansas City blues vein, but could also put ballads and pop material across. See her performance of "Trouble In Mind" for proof of her blues credentials.

Anyway, that's all I've got of Julia on vinyl, so download and enjoy before we move on to fresh fields.

Original Release Info (tracks listed in recording order):

Come On Over To My House / Trouble In Mind - Capitol 10030, part of Capitol Album "The History Of Jazz (Volume II) - The Golden Era" - Capitol CE-17 - Released in October 1945.

Gotta Gimme Watcha Got / Lies - Capitol 308 - Released in September 1946 - #3 Most-Played Juke Box Race Records, November 30th, 1946.

(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It / I Was Wrong - Capitol 40028 - Released in August 1947 - #1 Most-Played Juke Box Race Records, December 6th, 1947.

Mama Don't Allow It / Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) - Capitol 1589 - Released in July 1951.

Knock Me a Kiss - first released on this LP.

The Glory Of Love / Take It Or Leave It - Capitol 57- 70006 - Released in May 1949.

King Size Papa / When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) - Capitol 40082 - Released in January 1948. #1 Most-Played Juke Box Race Records in April 1948.

That's What I Like / Crazy World - Capitol 15060 - Released in April 1948.  #6 Most-Played Juke Box Race Records in May 1948.

I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) / Sit Down And Drink It Over - Capitol 15367 - Released in February 1949. #4 Most-Played Juke Box Race Records April 9th, 1949.

Tonight's The Night / After Hours Waltz - Capitol 57-70013 - Released in July 1949.

My Man Stands Out / Don't Come Too Soon - Capitol 1111 - Released in July 1950.

Billboard, July 29th, 1950
Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff - first released on this LP.

All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes - first released on this LP.

Goin' To Chicago Blues / Last Call (For Alcohol) - Capitol 2203 - Released in August 1952.

Release information from Billboard, 45worlds.com and Discogs.com. More thrushes and bloozy chantoozies in the next post.

Thursday 14 May 2020

Julia Lee - Party Time (Capitol LP T-228)






















Side 1:
01) King Size Papa
02) Snatch and Grab It
03) You Ain't Got It No More
04) Tell Me Daddy
05) Last Call For Alcohol
06) I Was Wrong

Side 2:
01) Tonight's The Night
02) I Didn't Like It The First Time
03) Ain't It A Crime
04) Don't Save It Too Long
05) After Hours Waltz
06) My Man Stands Out






Many thanks to Marv for sending in this reconstituted 1955 Julia Lee Capitol LP. "Party Time" was first issued as a 10 inch LP (Capitol H228) in 1950. The 1980s brought a Pathe Marconi reissue of "Party Time" plus two more compilations of Julia's Capitol sides on Charly: "Tonight's The Night" and "Of Lions And Lambs" so no R&B revival party was complete without a few "naughty" tracks by Miss Lee and of course the hipper pubs would signal last orders with "Last Call For Alcohol."

It was quite the comeback for Julia Lee, but unfortunately she was not around to enjoy it, having died of a heart attack in Kansas City in 1958. Her career was remarkably long lived, starting during the roaring days of KC jazz. Her first recordings were made as pianist / vocalist with her brother George Lee's band back in the late 1920s. Stardom came late to Julia, when she hit the R&B charts with a series of suggestive songs in the late 1940s on the Capitol label.

Her first big success was in 1947 with "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It" which was followed by "King Size Papa" in early 1948. What was noteworthy was that due to the salacious content of these discs, success was achieved without the support of radio play, but was rather due to jukebox plays and word of mouth. Of course to the pure all things are pure and the classic format of Miss Lee's discs included a brief intro which would set the song in a pefectly innocent context so that whatever followed was all in the mind of the listener.

There'll be more Julia Lee in the next post but in the meantime welcome to the world of king size papas and men who stand out! Thanks to Marv!

Naughty Original Issues:

All discs by "Julia Lee And Her Boyfriends"

(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It / I Was Wrong - Capitol 40028 - August 1947

King Size Papa / When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) - Capitol 40082 - January 1948

Tell Me, Daddy / (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Capitol 15144 - July 1948

I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) / Sit Down And Drink It Over - Capitol 15367 - February 1949

Tonight's The Night / After Hours Waltz - Capitol 57-70013 - July 1949

Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) / You Ain't Got It No More - Capitol 57-70031 - September 1949

Don't Save It Too Long (The Money Song) / Ain't It A Crime? - Capitol 838 - February 1950

My Man Stands Out / Don't Come Too Soon - Capitol 1111 - July 1950

Goin' To Chicago Blues / Last Call (For Alcohol) - Capitol 2203 - August 1952

Issue information from 45worlds.com. Artwork from various sales sites and Discogs.com. Sounds from Marv.

Monday 11 May 2020

Jimmy Wright - Let's Go Crazy Crazy Baby





















Side 1:
01) Let's Go Crazy Crazy Baby
02) Jimmy's Boogie
03) Sailin' Low
04) I'm In The Mood To Be Loved
05) Huggy Jump
06) Blow Jimmy Blow
07) Up And Over The Hill

Side 2:
01) Scotch Mist
02) Sad Strings
03) Porkey Pine
04) Huggy Hop
05) Pig Pen
06) Slow Down Baby
07) Shufflin'
08) Boogie Tonight




In response to a re-up request, here's an (almost) all new presentation of the Jimmy Wright Saxophonograph LP "Let's Go Crazy Crazy Baby." I originally posted this back in November 2008 but both the Be Bop Wino blog and myself have come a long way since then, so this time round you get the complete artwork of the gatefold sleeve plus label shots. Back in 2008 I hadn't learned how to scan complete LP covers, so at long last here is the full monty.

I've also researched the background of the original issue of these sides and come up with additional info which I don't think is quite complete, so if anyone can add more details via the comments section or the blog email I would be very grateful.

Recently I've been digging the 1940s / 1950s West Coast scene as regards jazz, R&B and Rock 'n' Roll, so this re-up was an especially pleasurable task. The tale of white LA drummer Jimmy Wright, his cohort, guitarist Porkey Harris, and their integrated R&B groups is told in Ken Mills' fascinating sleevenotes based on interviews he conducted with Jimmy in the 1980s. Sadly Jimmy died after being involved in a truck crash in the early 1990s, just a few years after the issue of this LP in 1987.

So, my rocking chums, download the package and listen while luxuriating in tales of car clubs, John Dolphin, Hunter Hancock and Huggy Boy and that marvellous Los Angeles R&B / rock'n'roll scene of the 1950s.

 Original Issues:

01) Let's Go Crazy Crazy Baby - Cash 1001
02) Jimmy's Boogie - Cash 1001
03) Sailin' Low - John Dolphin recording, release details unknown
04) I'm In The Mood To Be Loved - Meteor 5011
05) Huggy Jump - Red Label J-444
06) Blow Jimmy Blow - Lucky 007
07) Up And Over The Hill - John Dolphin recording, release details unknown
08) Scotch Mist - Meteor 5007
09) Sad Strings - Octive 2301
10) Porkey Pine - Meteor 5007
11) Huggy Hop - Red Label J-444
12) Pig Pen - Crystalette 716
13) Slow Down Baby - Meteor 5011
14) Shufflin' - unissued demo
15) Boogie Tonight - Octive recording, release details unkown

In Detail:

Porkey Pine / Scotch Mist - Jimmy Wright And His Orchestra - Meteor 5007 - June 1953

Billboard 6th June 1953


She Rocks / Sad Strings - Jimmy Wrieght Rhythm Makers (Porky Silvers, Guitar) - Octive 2301 - 1953

I'm In The Mood To Be Loved / Slow Down Baby - Jimmy Wright & Orch. Vocal Merry Dee - Meteor 5011 - September 1953

The Cash Box 19th September 1953

Huggy Jump / Huggy Hop - Jimmy Wright and His Orchestra - Red Label J-444 - 1954

Fillmore Street Blues (Roland Mitchell and His Band) / Blow Jimmie Blow (Jimmie Wright and His Band) - Lucky 007 - 1954

Let's Go Crazy, Crazy Baby / Jimmy's Boogie - Jimmy Wright Orchestra - Cash 1001 - March 1955

 Billboard, 19th March 1955


Porkypine / Pig Pen - Porky Harris And His Fantabulous 5 - Crystalette 716 - April 1958

Note: Ace CDCHD 1215 "Toast Of The Coast" contains two unissued instrumentals , "Pot Holder" and "Hollywood Hop" credited to Porkey Harris & The Sophisti-Cats. These were due to be released on Cash around July 1955 but never were. A shame, because they are fine recordings.


Coming up next on Be Bop Wino, more from Marv.