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.

Showing posts with label organ combos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organ combos. Show all posts

Tuesday, 26 November 2019

Dame Dreaming With Bill Doggett (King LP 532)























Side 1:
01) Sweet Lorraine
02) Diane
03) Dinah
04) Ramona
05) Cherry
06) Cynthia

Side 2:
01) Jeannie
02) Tangerine
03) Nancy
04) Estrellita
05) Laura
06) Marcheta






Originally issued in April 1957. All tracks with the exception of "Sweet Lorraine" were recorded over two days in December 1956 for this LP. The 12th track from that '56 session was the uproarious "Ram-Bunk-Shush" which was hardly a good fit for an album which some might call "dreamy" others "romantic" and yet others "kitsch." Even if you do find the accumulation of slow tracks a bit too sickly sweet, there are still good moments featuring Clifford Scott and Billy Butler.

This is a "reconstruction" using artwork from the internet and adapted artwork from the CD issue of this album. Download for your listening and dancing (slow) pleasure!

Fax on The Trax

Sweet Lorraine - recorded in Cincinnati, December 15th, 1953. Personnel - Percy France (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Jerry Lane (guitar); Clarence Mack (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

Single release:

Sweet Lorraine / Tailor Made - King 4720 - June 1954

Laura; Diane; Cynthia; Nancy; Marcheta - recorded in Cincinnati, December 20th, 1956. Personnel - Clifford Scott (alto sax, tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

Ramona; Tangerine; Dinah; Cherry; Estrellita; Jeannine - recorded in Cincinnati, December 21st, 1956. Personnel as above.

The above 11 tracks were first issued on this LP. The 12 tracks on this LP were also released on 3 EPs - Dame Dreaming With Bill Doggett Volumes 1,2, and 3.

Saturday, 23 November 2019

Dance Awhile With Doggett (King LP 585)





















Side 1:
01) Flying Home
02) Misty Moon
03) Bone Tones
04) Tailor Made
05) Chelsea Bridge
06) The Kid from Franklin Street

Side 2:
01) Pied Piper of Islip
02) Passion Flower
03) The Song Is Ended
04) Autumn Dreams
05) How Could You?
06) Smoochie






A "reconstruction" of King LP 585 using artwork from the internet and rips from my own collection. This LP was originally released in May 1958.

Once more we're raking through the bargain browser filled with King LPs and here's the "Honky Tonk" man himself, Bill Doggett. Three of the tracks are by the early 1950s combo lineup with Percy France on tenor sax while the rest date from 1957 and 1958 and feature the "classic" lineup with Clifford Scott on tenor sax and Billy Butler on guitar.

This LP feels more like a jazz album than an out and out R&B collection, so I'm not sure how much dancing it inspired. It certainly wouldn' have attracted the rock and roll crowd, that's for sure, but the jazzy vibe would probably have appealed to the adult listener. Clifford Scott swaps his axe for a flute on some tracks and there's space for Billy Butler to showcase his guitar skills. It's a collection that grows on you, as I have found over the years.

Track Info

Tailor Made; The Song Is Ended - recorded Cincinnati, December 15th, 1953. Personnel - Percy France (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Jerry Lane (guitar); Clarence Mack (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums).

Single releases:

It's A Dream / The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On) - King 4702 - March 1954

Sweet Lorraine / Tailor Made - King 4720 - June 1954

Misty Moon - recorded Cincinnati, August 23rd, 1955. Personnel - Percy France (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums).

Single release:

Honey Boy / Misty Moon - King 4838 - October 1955

Flying Home; Smoochie - recorded New York, October 7th, 1957. Personnel - Clifford Scott (tenor sax, flute); Thomas "Beans" Bowles (baritone sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Carl Pruitt (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums).

Single releases:

Flying Home / Hippy Dippy - King 5096 - January 1958

Smoochie / Big Boy - King 5339 - April 1960

How Could You; Pied Piper Of Islip; The Kid From Franklin Street - recorded Cincinnati, February 26th - 28th 1958. Personnel - Lawrence "Tricky" Lofton (trombone); Clifford Scott (tenor sax, flute); Thomas "Beans" Bowles (baritone sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwin Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums).

Single releases:

Blues For Handy / How Could You - King 5130 - April 1958

Pied Piper From Islip; The Kid From Franklin Street - both first issued on this LP.

Autumn Leaves; Chelsea Bridge; Passion Flower; Bone Tones - recorded Cincinnati, March 4th 1958. Personnel - Lawrence "Tricky" Lofton (trombone); Clifford Scott (tenor sax, flute); Thomas "Beans" Bowles (baritone sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwin Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums).

These tracks first released on this LP.

Mo' King LPs on the way!
 

Friday, 27 September 2019

Doc Bagby / Luis Rivera - Battle Of The Organs





















Side 1 (Doc Bagby):
01) Hay Ride
02) Soft One
03) Grinding
04) Deep Purple
05) I Want A Little Girl
06) Memories Of You

Side 2 (Luis Rivera):
01) Tangerine
02) Fat Stocking
03) Heavy Hips
04) Bobby Sox
05) Manhattan
06) Milamo Blues





1980s Sing reissue of King LP 631 which was originally issued in 1959. Four of the six Doc Bagby tracks were originally issued on King singles in 1955 while the two remaining solo tracks made their first appearance on this LP. Of the featured Luis Rivera tracks five were originally released on Federal singles in 1955, while one track received its first release on this LP.

At the time these recordings were made Doc Bagby was a member of the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio. The four "Doc Bagby Quartet" sides (Grinding, Hay Ride, Soft One, I Want A Little Girl) were cut at a Lockjaw Davis Trio session on April 20th 1955, with guitarist Clifford Bush stepping in to make the trio a quartet. The two unreleased solo tracks were cut at a Lockjaw Davis Trio session on August 16th, 1955.

For more tracks from these Lockjaw Davis sessions and lots more info on Lockjaw see these posts on the blog -


Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Modern Jazz Expressions



New Mega links have been added to the above posts.

Harold "Doc" Bagby was a native of Philadelphia who started his musical career at the age of fifteen when he took piano lessons at Central High School with one of his classmates being Bill Doggett. In the 1930s he was leading his own small groups around Philly and went on to lead a big band. After war service he returned to Philly but the economic climate was not condusive to keeping a big band going and Doc soon found himself leading a "cocktail combo" in the lounges of the Philadelphia area.

When the New York record label Gotham relocated to Philadelphia in 1948, Doc was appointed its musical director, arranging and playing on numerous R&B and Gospel sessions from the late 1940s into the 1950s. The first recordings on which he was named artist were released on Gotham in 1952 /53. On these sides he played organ and was accompanied by guitarist Billy Butler but it must be said that it's difficult to get excited by these tracks.

In 1954 Doc teamed up with jazz tenor sax man Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and drummer Charlie Rice to form a successful sax / organ / drums trio which was an early template for what later became known as "Soul Jazz." In 1956 Doc split from the Lockjaw combo and was signed by Okeh with whom he recorded R&B sides up until early 1958.

The success of Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk" in 1956 set off a craze for R&B based instrumentals. Doc's Okeh sides featured Mickey "Guitar" Baker and occasionally Everett Barksdale or Billy Muir on guitar and tenor saxes by Seldon Powell and Ellworth Gooding. "Dumplin's" was a hit for Bagby in 1957, climbing not only the R&B chart but also reaching the lower end of the pop chart. A follow up LP "Honky Tonk In Silk" also sold well. Doc played organ on Sil Austin's big instrumental hit "Slow Walk" which reached number 17 on the pop charts in November 1956 and also on Austin's Wing LP "Slow Walk Rock" the cover of which informed the public that this was "an album for 'hip dancers'."


Calling hipsters everywhere - Doc's in the house

The success of "Dumplin's" led to appearances in Rock 'n' Roll stage shows including with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Clovers and Chuck Berry. In the late '50s and early '60s Doc recorded a series of singles for a variety of small labels, all in an R&B / Rock 'n' Roll style. The Jasmine 2CD set "Smooth Organ, Groove Organ" devotes its second disc to 24 of these small label sides. The first disc has 24 sides from Gotham, King and Okeh. Excellent notes by Bob Fisher. Recommended!


Doc's last single seems to have been a 1966 release on the Newark label - "I'll Always Be In Love With You" / "These Foolish Things" by Doc Bagby and his Organ Trio. There were a couple of LPs in the mid to late '60s - "A Place In The Sun"- The Doc Bagby Hammond Organ Trio (Current S/475) and "The Hits Of The Drifters" - Doc Bagby at The Hammond Organ (Power S 9008).

Doc Bagby died in New York in September 1970 at the comparatively young age of 51.

Information on Luis Rivera is harder to come by, however the sleevenotes of his 1961 Imperial LP "Filet Of Soul" can be found in a review posted on the "Fat Sound" blog here:

https://fatsound.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/filet-of-soul-by-luis-rivera-review/

The post includes a link to a YouTube video which has excerpts of all the LP tracks. Luis was born in San Antonio, Texas, spent most of his early life in Ohio, was a captain in the US Army Air Force, and after the war he studied psychology at the University of Miami. He gave up a position as a clinical psychologist to follow a musical career, starting out with the band of Ivory Joe Hunter, then joining the Roy Milton band when they came through Texas. He accompanied the band to Los Angeles which became his home base.

Luis had a short spell with the Flip Phillips Quintet and then worked with Billie Holiday for two and a half years including tours to Europe and Asia. There was also work as a session musician around LA, including a 1951 /52 session with Joe Houston for Modern,  an Earl Bostic session for King in June 1953, a Linda Hopkins session for Federal in February 1954, and a Linda Hayes session for Hollywood and King in January 1955.

The sides on this LP which were recorded in November and December 1954 were Luis's first releases under his own name. His next release was the "Filet Of Soul" Imperial LP which was recorded in December 1960 and January 1961.

 Billboard, 20th March 1961

The "Filet Of Soul" sleevenotes finish with the information that "Luis may be currently heard at one of Los Angeles' main jazz spots, Dynamite Jackson's Lounge."

Another jazz organist at Dynamite Jackson's

Luis's last recording as named artist was for a Cash LP CLP-1002) sometime in the early 1960s - "Las Vegas" and thereafter the trail fades ...

Vegas, Baby! Vegas!

It's safe to assume that as Luis was a war veteran he is probably no longer an active musician at least here on Earth, for he may well be playing the eternal gig in God's own organ lounge in the sky.

Original Issue Of The Trax on "Battle Of The Organs"

Doc Bagby Quartet: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax); Harry "Doc" Bagby (organ); Clifford Bush (guitar); Charlie Rice (drums).

Grinding / Hayride - Doc Bagby Quartet - King 4804 - released June 1955

I Want A Little Girl / Soft One - Doc Bagby Quartet - King 4823 - released September 1955

Doc Bagby solo tracks "Deep Purple" and "Memories Of You" first released on King LP 631 in 1959.

Luis Rivera: on "Tangerine" "Fat Stocking" "Milano Blues" - Bill Gaither (tenor sax); Luis Rivera (organ); Ulysses Livingstone (guitar); Gene Wright (bass); Albert Bartee (drums).
On "Bobby Sox" "Manhattan" " Heavy Hips" - Calvin Ponder replaces Gene Wright on bass; add Don Johnson on tumba.

Tangerine / Fat Stockin' - Luis Rivera - Federal 12207 - released January 1955

Heavy Hips / Ruby - Luis Rivera - Federal 12211 - released February 1955

Bobby Sox / Manhattan - Luis Rivera - Federal 12226 - released July 1955

Milano Blues first released on King LP 631 in 1959.

Four Luis Rivera singles were released on Federal. The single not listed above was -

Don't Take Your Love from Me / Please Be Kind - Federal 12215- released April 1955.

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Bill Doggett - Doggett Beat For Dancing Feet


Side 1:
01. Soft
02. And The Angels Sing
03. Ding Dong
04. Honey
05. Easy
06. Hammer Head

Side 2:
01. Ram-Bunk-Shush
02. Chloe
03. Hot Ginger
04. King Bee
05. What A Difference A Day Made
06. Shindig


1988 reissue of King LP 557 which was originally released in December 1957. The album was highly rated in the Billboard review section, scoring 83.

"This is Doggett's seventh package for the label. It has the striding rhythm and beat for which he's noted, and will sell to his fans. Tunes are a combination of standards and material derived from the jazz-rock and roll fields. Included are "And the Angels Sing," "Honey," "Hammer Head" and "Chloe." (Billboard 9th December 1957)

A 1959 reissue of the LP on King had the title "The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet" on the disc labels, which perhaps explains the discrepancy between the album cover and the disc labels on this Sing issue!

Details of recording dates and personnel are on the back cover of the LP, so I'll add original release dates to the information:

"And The Angels Sing" released on King 4690 (b/w "Eventide") in January 1954.

"Easy" released on King 4711 (b/w "There's No You") in May 1954.

"Honey" released on King 4738 (b/w "The Nearness Of You") in August 1954.

"King Bee" released on King 4769 (b/w "My Reverie") in February 1955.

"What A Difference A Day Made" released on King 4936 (b/w "Stella By Starlight") in June 1956.

"Ram-Bunk-Shush" released on King 5020 (b/w "Blue Largo") in January 1957.

"Chloe" released on King 5044 (b/w "Number Three") in April 1957.

"Ding Dong" released on King 5058 (b/w "Cling To Me") in May 1957.

"Shindig" / "Hammer Head" released on King 5070 in July 1957.

"Soft" / "Hot Ginger" released on King 5080 in September 1957.

Bill Doggett was a piano player, bandleader and arranger who took up the Hammond Organ while playing with Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five in the late 1940s. Doggett's predecessor in the Jordan band, Wild Bill Davis, had made the same change. Other pianists who made the change from piano to organ in the early 1950s included Milt Buckner and Doc Bagby. In 1951 Bill Doggett left the Tympany Five. In the same year his organ playing was featured prominently on the Ella Fitzgerald version of "Smooth Sailing." In 1952 he was on a small group session for Royal Roost with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on tenor sax, Oscar Pettiford on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums. A further Lockjaw Davis session for Royal Roost in the same year saw Doggett replaced by Billy Taylor on organ.

His first session for King was with a trio in January 1952, accompanied by Jimmy Candy on guitar and an unknown drummer. At the end of October 1952 Bill was back at King with a group which set the pattern for the combo recordings he would make for the company until May 1960. The band was now a five piece which included Percy France on tenor sax and Shep Shepherd on drums. In August 1955 the guitar spot was filled by Billy Butler and in January 1956 Clifford Scott took over on tenor sax from Percy France.

The Doggett - Scott - Butler - Shepherd quartet was the basis of the combo for the the following years when they were a big R&B act, thanks to the huge 1956 hit "Honky Tonk" which became the top selling R&B instrumental record of all time. The bass spot was usually occupied by either Edwyn Conley or Carl Pruitt. Other hits in the wake of "Honky Tonk" were "Slow Walk," "Ram Bunk Shush," "Soft," "Smokie Part 2," "Rainbow Riot" and "Hold It." The King years were productive, to say the least, with a slew of regular single releases, EPs and LPs.

This LP was posted on the blog back around 2008. For this post I have added new cover and label scans, boosted the volume levels and replaced the original noisy rip of "Soft" with a much cleaner rip. Enjoy groovin' to the cool sounds of Bill Doggett, R&B fans!

Saturday, 30 September 2017

Bill Doggett - Gon' Doggett














































Side One:
01. Honky Tonk Part 1
02. Honky Tonk Part 2
03. Big Boy
04. Slidin'
05. Buttered Popcorn
06. Backwoods
07. Slow Walk

Side Two:
08. Quaker City
09. Night Train
10. Ram-Bunk-Shush
11. Peacock Alley
12. Hold It
13. Rainbow Riot Parts 1 & 2

Download here

I thought I'd keep the organ combo vibe going with this LP which I recently picked up second hand in a shop in Glasgow's newest hipster quarter, Strathbungo. Over the years I've acquired a few Bill Doggett albums on vinyl and CD and I have to say that I've usually had mixed feelings about Bill's music having found some of it a bit too "poppy" not to say downright schmalzy, especially the tracks that featured a flute. However, I'm absolutely delighted with this LP. The compiler, Danny Adler, has done a stand up job on this collection which is a fine selection of red hot organ / sax / guitar combo rhythm 'n' blues.

On these tracks Bill's organ stays mainly in the background, working with drummer Shep Shepherd and bassist Edwyn Conley to provide great backing to the outstanding Clifford Scott and Billy Butler on tenor sax and electric guitar respectively.The tracks were recorded for King Records over a period of almost five years, so there is some variation in personnel. Full details of who was on what track plus original release details are listed below.

It's all killer, no filler. Download for that authentic funky R&B club experience.

Recording and original release details:

"Quaker City", recorded in Cincinnati on March 23rd 1955. Personnel: Frank Heppinstall (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Al Lucas (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 4808 (b/w "True Blue") in June 1955.

"Honky Tonk Parts 1 & 2" was recorded in NYC on June 16th 1956. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Carl Pruitt (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as a two parter on single King 4950 in July 1956.

"Peacock Alley", recorded in Cincinnati on October 12th 1956. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); John Faire (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 5001 (B Side of "Honky Tonk Vocal Version") in December 1956.

"Big Boy" and "Slow Walk", recorded in Cincinnati on October 29th 1956. Personnel as on "Peacock Alley" plus Tommy Brown (maracas, claves)

"Slow Walk" released as single King 5000 (b/w "Hand In Hand") in November 1956.

"Big Boy" released as single King 5339 (b/w "Smoochie") in April 1960.

"Ram-Bunk-Shush", recorded in Cincinnati on December 21st 1956. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 5020 (b/w "Blue Largo") in January 1957.

"Hold It", recorded in Cincinnati on June 17th 1958. Personnel: Lawrence "Tricky" Lofton (trombone); Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Floyd "Candy" Johnson (tenors and baritone saxes); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Shep Shepherd (drums)

First released as single King 5149 (b/w "Birdie") in September 1958.

"Rainbow Riot", recorded in NYC on September 23rd, 1958. Personnel as on "Hold It" except Carl Pruitt replaces Edwyn Conley on bass.

First released as a two parter on single King 5159 in November 1958.

"Backwoods", recorded in Cincinnati on April 10th 1959. Personnel: Glenn Childers (trombone); Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Floyd "Candy" Johnson (baritone sax); Ray Felder (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ); Billy Butler (guitar); Edwyn Conley (bass); Calvin Shields (drums)

A six minute version was released in 1959 on King LP 667 "On Tour." The track was called "Backwards" on the front and back covers, but "Backwoods" on the disc label. A three minute version was released on the single King 5319 (B Side of "Raw Turkey") in February 1960. Title on single was "Back Woods."


"Slidin'" was recorded in Cincinnati on August 19th 1959. Personnel as for "Backwoods" but trombone out.

"Slidin'" was released on single King 5419 (B Side of "Afternoon Jump") in November 1960.

"Buttered Popcorn" was recorded in Cincinnati on May 24th 1960. Personnel: Clifford Scott, Ray Felder (tenor saxes); Floyd "Candy" Johnson (baritone sax); Bill Doggett (organ);
Billy Butler (guitar); Bill Wills (bass) Alvin Johnson (drums)

"Buttered Popcorn" was released on single King 5364 (B Side of "The Slush") in June 1960.

"Night Train" was recorded in Cincinnati on December 12th 1959. Personnel: Clifford Scott (tenor sax); Candy "Floyd" Johnson (baritone sax); Ray Felder (tenor sax); Bill Doggett (organ ); Billy Butler (guitar); David Horine (bass); Calvin Shields (drums)

"Night Train" was recorded as a two parter, with both parts featuring on the 1960 LP "Back Again With More Bill Doggett" (King LP 723) and on the similarly titled 1960 King EP (King KSS-7-723).

A two parter single "Night Train Parts 1 and 2" was released on King 5878 in April 1964.

Elsewhere on the blog:


"Hot Doggett" LP donated by anonymous donor. Posted here:


Some Bill Dogget CD covers, including 2 which reproduce original 50s artwork:




Mo' King Records reissue vinyl in the pipeline. Stay tuned, you rockin' rhythm fans.

Saturday, 23 September 2017

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Eddie Davis ... Uptown



































































Side One:
01. Mean To Me
02. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
03. This Can't Be Love
04. All Of You
05. If I Were A Bell

Side Two:
01. Night And Day
02. Together
03. Smooth-Ride
04. Yesterdays
05. There's A Small Hotel
06. The Happy Whistler



Originally released as King LP 606 in November 1958.

The return of Be Bop Wino after a much longer than anticipated absence! My apologies for such a long hiatus in posting - I guess I've managed to miss out the whole summer. When I last posted the summer solstice was upon us, the days were long and I was looking forward to a trip to Hamburg. Mission accomplished and a big shout out to two local bars - The Holsten Schwemme in St. Pauli and the Bergkate Gaststätte in Altona. Real pubs, friendly barflies, and not a tourist in sight (apart from my good self and my mates). Scots and Germans definitely make for a good drinking combination, especially if it involves Glaswegians and Hamburgers.

Now autumn is upon us and as we say in Glasgow "the nights are fair drawin' in," so what better way to spend some of the long dark nights than spreading the word on the bop to all and sundry. And let us also note in passing that this post marks the TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF BE BOP WINO.

So enough gabbin' and let's get down to business with this 1980s Swingtime reissue of another Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis album from King, "Uptown" from 1958. It's a seamless continuation of my previous post "Modern Jazz Expressions" which was originally issued in 1956, as "Uptown" contains tracks from the same 1955 sessions as well as from a later 1958 session on which Shirley Scott was the featured organist.

All tracks on Side A were recorded in June 1958 by The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Quartet (Eddie Davis on tenor sax, Shirley Scott on organ, Bill Pemberton on bass, Arthur Edgehill on drums) and these tracks were first issued on King LP 606.

The tracks on Side B were recorded by The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio in 1955 and 1956. Original issue of tracks recorded by first lineup of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio (Eddie Davis on tenor sax, Doc Bagby on organ and Charlie Rice on drums) in April and August 1955:

"Smooth-Ride," Yesterdays," "There's A Small Hotel," "Night And Day" were first issued on King LP 606. "Together" was issued on King 4863 b/w "Foggy Day" in December 1955.

"The Happy Whistler" which was recorded in July 1956 with Shirley Scott replacing Doc Bagby was issued on King 4966 b/w "Teach Me Tonight" in September 1956.

The arrival of Shirley Scott as featured organist in the Eddie Davis group was the beginning of a successful partnership which lasted until 1960. The group expanded to a quintet for further King sessions in January and February 1957. In the autumn of 1957 Eddie rejoined the Count Basie Orchestra and played on what has been described as "the last great Count Basie album" - "The Atomic Mr. Basie" on Roulette. Two contrasting performances by Eddie on the Atomic album are well worth catching on YouTube - the uptempo "Whirly-Bird" and the slow, moody "After Supper."

In December 1957 Eddie reunited with Shirley Scott for the Roulette LP "Count Basie Presents Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman." In early 1958 the Eddie Davis group recorded more sides for Roulette and Roost. On June 14th 1958 they were back at King for the sides featured on Side One of "Downtown" and shortly afterwards (June 20th) the group started their fruitful spell at Prestige with the classic soul jazz LP "The Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis Cookbook" which was subsequently reissued as the "The Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis Cookbook Vol. 1" when 2 additional volumes appeared.

The Davis / Scott group's last recordings for Prestige were held on April 12th 1960. Eddie then formed a quintet with fellow "tough tenor" Johnny Griffin which had LPs on Prestige, Milestone and Jazzland.

And so with "Lockjaw" an established soul jazz legend, and bearing in mind that on this blog the 1960s haven't happened yet, Be Bop Wino leaves its readers to investigate for themselves the rest of his career which included another spell with Basie and a long recording career both as leader and sideman which lasted until 1985. Eddie Davis passed away in 1986.

Wednesday, 21 June 2017

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Modern Jazz Expressions













































Side 1:
01. Dizzy Atmosphere
02. It's The Talk Of The Town
03. Leaping On Lenox
04. This Is Always
05. Bean-O
06. I'll Remember April

Side 2:
01. Moonlight In Vermont
02. Johnny Come Lately
03. You Go To My Head
04. Foggy Day
05. Tenderly
06. The Way You Look Tonight

Download from here:



This LP was originally released as King LP 395-506 in 1956:


The LP was re-released in 1960 as "Modern Jazz by Eddie Davis" with a new front cover similar to that used on this 1988 Sing issue.

Original issue on singles of the tracks  from "Modern Jazz Expressions":

Bean-O / This Is Always (King 4801) - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio - May 1955

Punch / It's The Talk Of The Town (King 4813) - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio - July 1955

Together / Foggy Day (King 4863) - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio - December 1955

Scatter / The Way You Look Tonight (King 4904) - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio - March 1956

Tenderly / Dizzy Atmosphere (King 4928) - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Trio - June 1956

"Leaping On Lenox," "I'll Remember April," "Moonlight In Vermont," "You Go To My Head" and "Johnny Come Lately" first issued on "Modern Jazz Expressions."

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (the nickname came from the way he blew his sax) was born in New York City in 1921. His sax style was what was known as "mainstream", i.e. rooted in the big band swing era yet he played in varied settings, starting with big bands in the early to mid 1940s, especially with Cootie Williams and also in brief stints with Lucky Millinder and Andy Kirk. His first recordings with his own small group were made in May 1946 for Haven. In December 1946 his group recorded with bopper Fats Navarro for Savoy.

Further Eddie Davis small group recordings were made for Apollo in April 1947 and Lenox sometime in 1947 / 48. Somewhat surrealistically some of Eddie's Lenox sides turned up years later under the pseudonym Hen Gates on "rock and roll" compilations issued by the budget Plymouth label.

In 1948 (possibly during the AFM recording ban) Eddie cut four sides for Bob Shad's "Sittin' In With" label. In 1949 Eddie was involved in several R&B leaning sessions: with blues shouter Carl "King Karl" Davis for National; with Jesse Stone ("Cole Slaw") for Victor; with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson for King; and under his own name ("Mountain Oysters") with Bill Doggett also for King.

Eddie's next few recording sessions in 1950-51 were more on the jazz side with live sessions at Birdland being recorded with Gene Parrish, Miles Davis and Slim Gaillard. In October 1951 he was on a session with trombonist Benny Green for Prestige and both artists featured shortly afterwards on a live recording by a group led by Sonny Criss at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

In 1952 Eddie joined the reformed Count Basie big band. A 78 rpm single release of "Paradise Squat" (Mercury 89104) featuring hot soloing by Eddie became a big hit for the Count whose use of the organ rather than the piano pointed the way for future Lockjaw releases.

Eddie's stay with Basie lasted into early 1953 (he would return in 1957) but even before splitting from the Basie outfit Lockjaw started recording with small groups which featured the organ - with Bill Doggett and then with Billy Taylor, both for Roost. Further sessions for Roost in 1953 and 1954 featured Eddie Bonnemere on piano and Charlie Rice on drums with some very tasty sax by Eddie.

In 1954 the Eddie Davis Trio lineup of Eddie on sax, Doc Bagby on organ and Charlie Rice on drums came together, recording "Just Too Marvelous" / "Heartaches" for Roost and sometime in the spring of 1954 the trio plus Sonny Stitt were recorded live at Birdland. Sessions for King commenced on April 11th 1955, with further sessions on April 19th and April 20th. Further King sessions were held in August 1955 and February 1956.

As can be seen from the release details above, these sessions resulted in a string of singles as well as this LP. The singles were reviewed in the R&B section of Billboard, so despite the album title "Modern Jazz Expressions" it is obvious that these sides were aimed at the jukebox crowd who liked to hear some good hot blowing (with the occasional ballad) on mostly easily recognizable standards.

When the next King session was held in July 1956 there was a change in personnel with Shirley Scott replacing Doc Bagby on organ. This was the start of a fruitful collaboration which would last until 1960, but that is a tale for our next post on Be Bop Wino.

Sunday, 20 September 2009

Hot Cinders! Blazing R&B Instros From King & Federal

Be Bop Wino proudly presents another compilation in association with our good friends over at Rocker Stomp – the home of rock ‘n’ roll web compilations.

It’s quite a while since I’ve done this sort of thing and I’ve been mulling over several ideas for comps. For this one I took as my inspiration the Ace (UK) CD “Honky Tonk! The King & Federal R&B Instrumentals”. I realised I had more than enough tracks on vinyl to get an unofficial Volume 2 together, so here it is. All ripped from well used vinyl at 320 kbps with the occasional scratch, click and thump to help you dear listeners experience that genuine 1950s sound.

Although the collection is subtitled “Blazing Instros”, there are in fact quite a few slow burners here as I’ve tried to vary the pace. I think that’s important as listening to 25 frantic honkers and squealers one after the other can be kind of daunting to say the least.

So sit back, imagine you’re in your favourite tavern some time in the early 1960s and the jukebox is particularly well stocked with the kind of platters that get the punters shufflin’ round the dance floor. There’s plenty of tenor sax, piano, Hammond organ and electric guitar to get the joint a-rockin’ and a-swayin’. It’s blues time, so hoist a beer or two, let your Uncle Boogiewoody drop the coins into the slot and swing baby swing!

Ripped from vinyl at 320kbps.

Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?co3ti64g8kb1jjw

or here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/1450488331/Hot%20Cinders!.rar

The Tracks:

1. Nervous Man Nervous - Big Jay McNeely
2. Special Delivery Stomp - Earl Bostic
3. Jump And Grunt - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
4. Chica Boo - Lloyd Glenn
5. The Greasy Spoon - Hank Marr
6. Mellow Blues pt 2 - Sonny Thompson
7. Let's Move - Sonny Thompson
8. Hammer Head - Bill Doggett
9. Tonk Game - Hank Marr
10 Heavy Juice - Tiny Bradshaw
11. Hot Cinders - Big Jay McNeely
12. September Song - Earl Bostic
13. Tenderly - Lynn Hope
14. Gum Shoe - Sonny Thompson
15. Heavy Sugar - Lucky Millinder
16. Side Tracked - Freddy King
17. Walkin' With Mr Lee - Johnny Pate
18. Doodle Bug - James Brown
19. Big Boy - Bill Jennings
20. Shindig - Bill Doggett
21. Hold It - James Brown
22. 3-D - Big Jay McNeely
23. Bear Cat Blues - Bull Moose Jackson
24. What's New - Bill Jennings
25. Big Jay Shuffle - Big Jay McNeely

Big Jay McNeely:
Big Jay Shuffle: Federal 12102, recorded Hollywood, August 26th, 1952
Nervous Man Nervous: Federal 12141, recorded Hollywood, June 23rd, 1953
3-D: Federal 12151, recorded Hollywood, June 23rd, 1953
Hot Cinders: Federal 12179, recorded Cincinnati, January 8th, 1954

Earl Bostic:
September Song: King LP547, recorded Los Angeles, February 28th, 1957
Special Delivery Stomp: King LP583, recorded Los Angeles, January 30th, 1958

Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson:
Jump and Grunt: King 4396, recorded New York, May 22nd, 1950

Lloyd Glenn:
Chica Boo: Swing Time 254, King 15042, recorded Los Angeles, November 9th, 1950

Hank Marr:
Tonk Game: Federal 12400, 12507, recorded Cincinnati, December 10th, 1960
The Greasy Spoon: Federal 12508, recorded Cincinnati, June 26th, 1963

Sonny Thompson:
Mellow Blues, pt. 2: King 4488, recorded New York City, April 11th, 1951
Let’s Move: King 4657, recorded Cincinnati, July 23rd, 1953
Gum Shoe, King 5055, recorded New York City, October 11th, 1956

Bill Doggett:
Hammer Head: King 5070, recorded New York City, May 9th, 1957
Shindig: King 5070, recorded Chicago, July 17th, 1957

Tiny Bradshaw:
Heavy Juice: King 4621, recorded Cincinnati, January 19th, 1953

Lynn Hope:
Tenderly: King 5336, recorded Cincinnati, March 4th, 1960

Lucky Millinder:
Heavy Sugar: King 4557, recorded New York City, June 25th, 1952

Freddy King:
Side Tracked: Federal 12462, recorded Cincinnati, April 5th, 1961

Johnny Pate:
Walkin’ With Mr Lee: Federal 12314, recorded Chicago, December 13th, 1957

James Brown:
Doodle Bug: Federal 12360 credited to J.C. (James) Davis, recorded New York City, January 30th, 1959
Hold It: King 5438, recorded Los Angeles, October 4th, 1960

Bill Jennings:
What’s New: King 4735, recorded Cincinnati, July 8th, 1954
Big Boy: King 4760, recorded Cincinnati, October, 1954

Bull Moose Jackson:
Bear Cat Blues: King 4551, recorded New York City, February 6th, 1952

Who else is playing on these solid senders?

The Sonny Thompson band has three credited tracks but Sonny was also an important A&R man and arranger at King Records. Sonny plays piano on the Bull Moose Jackson track “Bear Cat Blues” and provides the backing for Freddy King on “Side Tracked.” The Sonny Thompson band features David Brooks on tenor sax on “Let’s Move.” On “Gum Shoe” David Brooks is joined by King Curtis on tenor sax.

Throughout his career as a bandleader, alto sax maestro Earl Bostic featured the cream of R&B and jazz musicians in his band line ups, including John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Count Hastings, Rene Hall, Gene Redd, Mickey Baker, Mario Delagarde, and Barney Kessell. On “Special Delivery Stomp” Earl Palmer is on drums. Earl Bostic recorded at least three versions of “September Song” during his career. The version here probably dates from 1959, although it could be the 1957 version. I’m not going to try my luck by attempting to say who actually plays on the track.

The Bill Doggett line ups on “Hammer Head” and “Shindig” have the classic “Honky Tonk” duo of Billy Butler on guitar and Clifford Scott on tenor sax. Johnny Pate plays bass on “Shindig”. Pate arranged many of the Impressions sessions in the 1960s but back in the 1950s he had his own little group which veered between R&B and jazz. His cover version of Lee Allen’s “Walkin’ With Mr Lee” has heavy interplay between tenor saxman Edwin Johnson and organist Claude Jones. Bill Doggett backs guitarist Bill Jennings on “Big Boy.” On the dreamy “What’s New” backing is provided by Jennings’ own group, although minus band regular Leo Parker. Jennings played on many Willis Jackson sessions on King and Prestige in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Time for honourable mentions to uncredited sax players on the comp. Buddy Tate is on Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson’s “Jump and Grunt” and Red Prysock is the featured player on Tiny Bradshaw’s “Heavy Juice.” The frantic riffing on many of Big Jay McNeely’s Federal sides would have dissolved into chaos if it wasn’t for the almost uncanny understanding between Big Jay on tenor and his brother Bob on baritone sax. J.C. Davis is the tenor sax player in James Brown’s band on “Hold It.” He had several instrumental releases under his own name on Chess / Argo as well as leading the road band for Etta James. “Doodle Bug” was released on Federal under J.C. Davis’ name, with James Brown’s role limited to playing the organ and contributing an occasional yelp.

Gettin’ near the end now! Count Hastings is on tenor sax along with Hal Clark on big band leader Lucky Millinder’s “Heavy Sugar.” Organist Hank Marr’s band at various times included Freddy King and Rusty Bryant, but neither is present on “Tonk Game” or “The Greasy Spoon.” In fact I haven’t a clue as to who is on these tracks. Lloyd Glenn’s big 1950 hit “Chica Boo” was recorded for Swing Time Records. This recording seems to have resurfaced on several labels including King and Specialty. The recording features pianist Lloyd’s long-time collaborators Billy Hadnott (bass) and Bob Harvey (drums) as well as bongo player Earl Burton. Hadnott and Harvey were both present when Glenn re-recorded “Chica Boo” for Aladdin, and you can find that version on the blog if you use the search box. Lastly, Lynn Hope’s 1960 re-recording of his old 1950 hit on Premium, “Tenderly” has long time Earl Bostic alumnus Gene Redd on vibes helping to re-create that wonderful overheated “exotic” sound which Hope and Bostic exploited so well throughout the 1950’s.

Thursday, 2 October 2008

Bill Doggett - Hot Doggett (King LP 514)

Many thanks to the anonymous donor who sent in this original 1956 Bill Doggett LP. These tracks are from the pre- Clifford Scott line up which features Percy France on tenor sax. There are some tremendous tunes on this album, especially those in which the tenor sax and guitar (Billy Butler) are given space to trade licks. The download includes the back cover and liner notes. Boss stuff!

Ripped from vinyl at 192 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?l32h509jn77u6rc

1. High Heels
2. Honey Boy
3. True Blue
4. Wild Oats
5. Gumbo
6. Squashy
7. Percy Speaks
8. Oof!
9. Shove Off
10. Quaker City
11. Who's Who
12. Early Bird