Alvin "Red" Tyler And The Gyros - Rockin' & Rollin'

Side One:
01. Classy Lassie
02. Hey Hey Baby Come Home - Albert Scott
03. Double Whammy
04. Can't Let You Go I Love You So - Albert Scott
05. Tonking
06. Lonely For You
07. Happy Sax

Side Two:
01. Snake Eyes
02. Dippy
03. Doing The Rock And Roll - Calvin Spears
04. Peanut Vendor
05. Drag Race
06. Long Ride
07. Walk On

Alvin "Red" Tyler (Mega)

 Alvin "Red" Tyler (Zippy)

If you've been paying attention during our recent New Orleans series of posts AND if you've therefore been reading the "Fax On The Trax" sections in each post, you'll have noticed one name that turns up on many recordings, that of Alvin "Red" Tyler who featured as baritone saxophonist (and occasionally tenor saxman) on sides by (among others) Little Richard and Fats Domino.

So in late 1959 / early 1960 Johnny Vincent, head of Ace Records asked Alvin to record an instrumental LP which was released as Ace 1006 with the title "Rockin' And Rollin' With Red Tyler And The Gyros." This UK Ace issue is substantially the same album, with one track being omitted, "Junk Village." However three vocal recordings featuring Alvin as backing musician were added - two sides by Albert Scott and one by Calvin Spears.

In 1962 "Rockin' and Rollin'" was reissued on Ace 1021 as a twist album - "Twistin' With Mr. Sax." The cover was almost identical as were the tracks, all of which had been renamed by having the word "twist" added to their original titles. Gotta love that unashamed exploitation.

So let's dig a little deeper. Firstly, the vocal tracks. Albert Scott was a singer / guitarist who had two singles issued on Johnny Vincent labels. "I'm So Glad You're Mine" / "I Feel So Good" was issued on Ace 533 in August 1957. Neither of these sides had Red Tyler, but of more interest to us is Vin 1005 "Hey Hey Baby Come Home" / "Can't Let You Go I Love You So" which was issued in 1958 and which provides the Albert Scott sides on this collection. Personnel on the tracks - Albert Scott (vocal, guitar) with Lee Allen and Alvin "Red" Tyler (saxes); probably James Booker (piano); Roland Cook (bass); Charles Smith (drums).

Calvin Spears had one release on Vin - Vin 1020 "Doing The Rock and Roll" / "Come On Home" released in December 1959. Personnel: Calvin Spears (vocal) with Melvin Lastie (trumpet); Lee Allen (tenor sax); Alvin "Red" Tyler (baritone sax); James Booker (piano); Roy Montrell (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); June Gardner (drums).

The Alvin "Red" Tyler tracks. In February 1959 "Snake Eyes" / "Walk On" was issued on Ace 556, credited to Alvin "Red" Tyler. Possible personnel - Lee Allen (tenor sax); Alvin "Red" Tyler (tenor sax, baritone sax); Allen Toussaint (piano); "Mac" Rebennack (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums). Probably recorded in late 1958.

In December 1959 "Happy Sax" / "Junk Village" was released on Ace 576, credited to Red Tyler And The Gyros. Recorded on August 10th, 1959 in New Orleans. Probable personnel - Melvin Lastie (trumpet); Alvin "Red" Tyler and Lee Allen (tenor and baritone saxes); James "Little" Booker (piano, organ); Roy Montrell (guitar); Frank Fields (bass); Albert "June" Gardner (drums). It is possible that Allen Toussaint is the pianist on both tracks and that James Booker played organ on "Junk Village."

Some time in late 1959 or early 1960 Alvin Tyler recorded the remaining tracks on this LP (and also on the original Ace 1006 issue). In an interview with Jeff Hanusch for the Westside CD "Simply 'Red'" he said that the musicians on these tracks (which were probably recorded in one, or two sessions at the most) were as follows - Alvin "Red" Tyler (tenor, baritone sax); Justin Adams (guitar); Allen Toussaint (piano); Frank Fields (bass); June Gardner (drums). Tracks recorded - Tonking, Classy Lassie, Lonely For You, Double Whammy, Dippy, Drag Race, Long Ride, Peanut Vendor, and the unreleased "Hey Mama."

The album was mostly a bit of a knock off and sometimes has that feel, but it does kind of grow on you. "Peanut Vendor" is especially good.

Original tracklist for Ace 1006 was -

Side 1:

1. Junk Village

2. Tonking

3. Classy Lassie

4. Lonely For You

5. Double Whammy

6. Snake Eyes

Side 2:

1. Happy Sax

2. Dippy

3. Drag Race

4. Long Ride

5. Peanut Vendor

6. Walk On

Included in the download is a folder of "Easter Eggs" which may be of some assistance to those who like to reconstitute original 1950s / 1960s LPs!

CD to look out for - Westside WESM 529 - "Simply Red." This has all the tracks from the original LP plus a few alternates. Issued shortly after Alvin passed away, so his interview with Jeff Hannusch is of special interest.

John Broven's sleevenotes on the LP (from an earlier interview with Alvin) are also very interesting.

Huey "Piano" Smith - Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu

Side A:
01. Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu Pt 1 - Huey Smith and The Clowns
02. Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu Pt 2 - Huey Smith and The Clowns
03. Little Chickee Wah Wah - Huey And Jerry
04. Little Liza Jane - Huey Smith and his Rhythm Aces
05. Just A Lonely Clown - Huey Smith and His Clowns
06. Hush Your Mouth - Bobby Marchan with Huey Smith & his Band
07. Don't You Know Yockomo - Huey "Piano" Smith with his Clowns

Side B:
01. High Blood Pressure - Huey (Piano) Smith And The Clowns
02. Don't You Just Know It - Huey (Piano) Smith And The Clowns
03. Well I'll Be John Brown - Huey "Piano" Smith with his Clowns
04. Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas And The Sinus Blues - Huey Smith
05. Dearest Darling (You're The One) - Huey Smith
06. She Got Low Down - Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns
07. Second Line - Huey & Curley

Rockin' Pneumonia (Mega)

Rockin' Pneumonia (Zippy)

Huey "Piano" Smith's 1950's hits embodied the very spirit of New Orleans R&B / rock 'n' roll - infectious, danceable, exuding a party atmosphere. Juke box classics guaranteed to get the good times rolling. His first solo recordings for Savoy, made in 1953, were mediocre to say the least. OK they were awful, poorly sung by Huey, dirges that should have been a whole lot better than they turned out to be. Yet a few years later he was churning out great New Orleans R&B for Johnny Vincent's Ace label. How come?

Well for a start he turned over singing duties to a vocal group of shifting personnel called The Clowns whose unison chanting of the novelty / nursery rhyme lyrics accompanied by rhythmomatic handclapping always got the party going. Then there was the addition of lead vocalist Bobby Marchan, indefatigable leader of a troupe of female impersonators. And of course there was a red hot backing band, with Huey on piano and another shifting population of top New Orleans musicians which usually featured such as Red Tyler, Lee Allen, Roland Cook, Earl King and Hungry Williams.

So be prepared to party hearty as you listen to this early Ace (UK) compilation of some (but not quite all) of Huey's top sides. I've changed some of the song titles to their original titles on single. I've also added the proper artist credits as they appeared on those singles sixty years ago. Full details below.

Here Come The Fax On The Trax ...

Little Liza Jane recorded in New Orleans, 1956. Personnel:

Huey Smith and his Rhythm Aces: Lee Allen (tenor sax); Red Tyler (baritone sax); Huey Smith (piano); Earl King and/or Mac Rebennack (guitar); Roland Cook (bass); probably Earl Palmer (drums).

Original release: Everybody's Whalin' / Little Liza Jane - Huey Smith and His Rhythm Aces, on Ace 521 in November 1956.

Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu, Parts 1 and 2, and "Just A Lonely Clown" recorded in Jackson, Mississippi, 1957. Personnel: 

Huey Smith (piano); Lee Allen and Red Tyler (saxes); Earl King (guitar); with unknown piano, bass, drums. The Clowns (vocals) - Bobby Marchan, Johnny Williams, Sid Raphael, Gerri Hall, Eugene Francis.

Original releases: Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu Parts 1 and 2 - Huey Smith and The Clowns, on Ace 530 in June 1957.

Just A Lonely Clown / Free Single And Disengaged - Huey Smith and His Clowns, on Ace 538 in October 1957.

Little Chickee Wah Wah recorded in New Orleans in 1957. Personnel:

Huey Smith (piano, vocal); Mac Rebennack (guitar); Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums); Gerri Hall (vocal); unknown bass.

Original release: Little Chickee Wah Wah / I Think You Jiving Me - Huey And Jerry, on Vin 1000 in 1958.

High Blood Pressure and Don't You Just Know It were recorded in New Orleans in December 1957. Personnel:

Huey (Piano) Smith and the Clowns : Lee Allen, Robert Parker (tenor saxes); Red Tyler (baritone sax); Huey Smith (piano); Earl King (guitar); Roland Cook (bass) Charles "Hungry" Williams (drums); The Clowns : Bobby Marchan (lead vocal) with possibly same personnel as on Rockin Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu.

Original release: High Blood Pressure / Don't You Just Know It - Huey (Piano) Smith And The Clowns, on Ace 545 in January 1958.

Hush Your Mouth and Well I'll Be John Brown were recorded in New Orleans in 1957. Session credited to Bobby Marchan and The Clowns. "Well I'll Be John Brown" credited to Huey Smith on its original release. Personnel:

Bobby Marchan (vocal); Alvin "Red" Tyler (tenor sax); Huey Smith (piano) with unknown tenor and baritone saxes, bass, drums and unknown vocal group.

Original release: see below

Don't You Know Yockomo recorded in New Orleans in 1958. Personnel:

Bobby Marchan (lead vocal); Gerri Hall (vocal); Huey Smith (piano); The Clowns (vocal group - probably the same as on Rocking Pneumonia) with rest of instrumental group probably similar to High Blood Pressure session.

Original release: Don't You Know Yockomo / Well I'll Be John Brown - Huey "Piano" Smith with his Clowns, on Ace 553 in November 1958.

Hush Your Mouth / Quit My Job - Bobby Marchan with Huey Smith & his Band, on Ace 595 in June 1960

Dearest Darling (You're The One) and Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas And The Sinus Blues recorded in New Orleans in 1959. Personnel:

Bobby Marchan (vocal); Huey Smith (piano) with similar personnel to "Don't You Know Yockomo" session.

Original release: Dearest Darling (You're The One) / Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas And The Sinus Blues - Huey Smith, on Ace 571 in September 1959.

She Got Low Down recorded in New Orleans in 1961. Personnel:

Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns: Lee Allen and Alvin "Red" Tyler (tenor saxes); Huey Smith (piano); with unknown bass and drums; Curley Moore, Billy Brooks, Gerri Hall (vocal group).

Original release - She Got Low Down / Mean, Mean Man - Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns, on Ace 638 in November 1961.

Second Line recorded in New Orleans, circa 1963-64. Personnel:

Huey Smith (piano, vocal); Curley Moore (vocal); rest unknown.

Original release: At The Mardi Gras / Second Line - Huey & Curley, on Ace 671 X in 1964

Elsewhere On The Blog

Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns - Having A Good Time (Ace LP 1004)

Originally posted in August 2008, this was a reconstitution by Joan of an LP originally issued in 1959. Joan used rips from 45 rpm singles and EPs to put the LP "back together" and also provided some scans of original Ace label singles. I recently re-upped the LP in answer to a request and improved the tagging and boosted the volume slightly.

From The CD Collection:

Westside CD WESM 516 issued in 1997

24-track collection of Huey's biggies on Ace released on Westside, who issued a whole lotta Ace goodies back in the late 1990's. Volume 2 did appear but by that time I reckoned I had all the Huey I needed. If you come across this CD going second hand for a reasonable price then you're sorted for Huey and his Clowns.

 

Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns - Having A Good Time (Ace LP 1004)

Joan K has provided these rips from 1950s vinyl and a folder of label scans.

In the post “The Roots Of Rock ‘N Roll”, a 2LP set of Savoy sides, the first solo recordings of Huey ‘Piano’ Smith were included. Recorded in June 1953, they were pretty dreadful. So how come Huey Smith started making some of the best ever New Orleans R&B / Rock ‘n’ Roll recordings just three years later?

Huey Smith’s first recordings were actually made for Imperial in 1951 when he was part of a small group which included guitarist Eddie Jones who would soon become famous as Guitar Slim. In truth these Imperial recordings were no great shakes either. Both musicians’ fortunes changed when they met Johnny Vincent who was a talent scout for Specialty Records. Guitar Slim was the first to benefit as Johnny split him from Huey and teamed him up with the Lloyd Lambert band plus Ray Charles on piano to record the hit “The Things I Used To Do”.

Meanwhile Huey had recruited Earl King as replacement guitarist and singer. With Huey on piano, Earl recorded some sides for Specialty and then for Johnny Vincent’s new label, Ace. Huey also recorded an uncredited B side for Eddie Bo (“We Like Mambo”) on Ace and in 1956 recorded his first solo single for Ace, “Little Liza Jane” / “”Everybody’s Whalin’”. With these sides Huey established the formula which would bring him chart success: simple lyrics, catchy choruses and an insistent dance beat. Ensemble vocals helped disguise Huey’s own rather weak vocal contributions.

Bobby Marchan was recruited to Huey’s group which was by now called The Clowns and in 1957 they recorded the massive hit “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”. More hits which followed the same formula ensued: “High Blood Pressure”, “Don’t You Just Know It” and “Don’t You Know Jockomo”. The LP “Having A Good Time” was released in 1959.

Joan’s rips are from 1950s vinyl with some surface noise, and, yes, the occasional sound of the needle hitting the shiny wax disc. Moments in time captured forever. Thanks Joan!

Download from here:

Having A Good Time (Mega)

Having A Good Time (Zippy)

1. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu
2. Little Chickee Wah Wah
3. Little Liza Jane
4. Just a Lonely Clown
5. Hush Your Mouth
6. Don't You Know Yockomo
7. Havin' A Good Time
8. Don't You Just Know It
9. Well I'll Be John Brown
10. Everybody's Whalin'
11. High Blood Pressure
12. We Like Birdland