Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Bip Bam

In May 1953 Clyde McPhatter left The Dominoes (he either walked out or he was fired depending on who you believe) and started to get a new backing group together. They were signed by Atlantic president Ahmet Ertegun and had their first recording session on June 29th. McPhatter was unhappy with the results (of the 4 tracks recorded only “Lucille” was ever released) and recruited a new Drifters line up, which consisted of Bubba Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney and Willie Ferbee. This line up entered the recording studio on August 9th, and from the four tracks recorded, “Money Honey” was chosen as the group’s first single. Success came quickly with this first disc climbing to the top of the R&B charts and establishing Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters as the number one R&B vocal group for the rest of their short career together.

The breakup started in May 1954 when McPhatter was drafted into the Armed Forces. Towards the end of 1954 the parting of the ways was formally announced and the last Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters single, “Whatcha’ Gonna Do”/ “Gone” was released in February 1955. The continuing but separate stories of Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters will feature on future posts on this blog. Once more I can highly recommend Unca Marvy’s R&B pages for the Drifters story in detail.

This 1984 UK issued LP on Edsel features informative liner notes by Colin Escott. And once more I am indebted to Joan K for providing the period cover scans and label shots, a folder of which is featured in the download.

Ripped from vinyl at 320kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download link here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/85778020/Bip_Bam.rar

1. Money Honey
2. Let The Boogie Woogie Roll
3. Don't Dog Me
4. Gone
5. Such A Night
6. Lucille
7. Warm Your Heart
8. The Way I Feel
9. Bip Bam
10. Honey Love
11. Whatcha' Gonna Do
12. If I Didn't Love You Like I Do
13. There You Go
14. Try Try Baby
15. Everyone's Laughing
16. Three Thirty Three

A Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters album, “Rock & Roll” (Atlantic 8003) was released by Atlantic in 1956. The tracks were a mixture of McPhatter solo and McPhatter with the Drifters. There is also a cover scan of an EP (Atlantic EP534) from the 1950s (year unknown), plus various label shots from the folder of Joan’s scans.

Billy Ward & The Dominoes - 14 Hits

This is the third posting on the blog of Dominoes’ Federal/King material, so there is some duplication of tracks, but enough new stuff to merit the effort of downloading. In addition there is a folder chock full of Joan K’s cover scans and label shots included in the download, so come on and grab it.

This compilation is a quick chronological journey through The Dominoes’ time at Federal/King, though to call all of these 14 tracks “hits” is surely stretching the truth somewhat. The full Dominoes story is over on Unca Marvy’s (Marv Goldberg) R&B pages so there’s no point in me trying to rehash the whole story here. It’s a somewhat bewildering tale of personnel changes and personality clashes (mostly caused by Billy Ward’s inflexible disciplining of group members and failure to reward them financially). The group’s initial stay with Federal/King lasted from 1950 to 1955 and was followed by spells with Jubilee, Decca and Liberty as Ward sought to move away from the world of R&B into the pop sphere. He succeeded at Liberty with the huge hit “Stardust”.

The final two tracks are real oddities. They were recorded in 1965 for King but are almost unrecognisable as Dominoes tracks, especially when you compare them to The Dominoes in their early 1950s pomp when they were led by Clyde McPhatter, or even by his successor Jackie Wilson.

Ripped from vinyl at 320kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

https://rapidshare.com/files/3388159747/Billy_Ward___The_Dominoes_14_Hits.rar

1. Sixty Minute Man
2. I Am With You
3. That's What You're Doing To Me
4. Have Mercy Baby
5. I'd Be Satisfied
6. The Bells
7. Pedal Pushin' Papa
8. These Foolish Things
9. Can't Do Sixty No More
10. Rags To Riches
11. Ringing In A Brand New Year
12. Over The Rainbow
13. O Holy Night
14. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

Dominoes EPs (dates unknown) and labelshots - courtesy of Joan K

Otis Williams And His Charms - 16 Original Greatest Hits

This is an album I have already posted twice on rockhall – the second time with an improved front cover scan. This time I’ve added a folder of Joan K’s remarkable cover scans – 1 album cover, 3 EP covers, 1 EP label shot and eight 45rpm single label shots – all in DeLuxe sleeves.

I’ve had a read at Unca Marvy’s article on The Charms (see links panel on right side of page) and if you want the full lowdown on this group get yourself over there. Find out about their first recording for Rockin’ in 1953 – “Heaven Only Knows” which was used by King (after they’d taken over Rockin’) to reactivate the DeLuxe label, the big 1954 hit “Hearts Of Stone”, the big split when Otis Williams left the group, the two versions of The Charms, further hits ("Ling Ting Tong", "Gum Drop", "Ivory Tower"), who recorded what (Otis Williams and his Charms, The Charms, Otis Williams' New Group), and the rest of the story (including The Escos). There’s also a full discography.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download link -

http://www80.zippyshare.com/v/OyOMGnZK/file.html

1. Heaven Only Knows
2. Hearts Of Stone
3. Two Hearts
4. Ling Ting Tong
5. Bazoom (I Need Your Love)
6. Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)
7. Whadaya Want?
8. Gum Drop
9. Ivory Tower
10. In Paradise
11. Save Me Save Me
12. That's Your Mistake
13. United
14. Could This Be Magic
15. Little Turtle Dove
16. Panic

Two Charms LPs were released by DeLuxe in the 1950s – “Otis Williams And The Charms Sing Their All-Time Hits” (DeLuxe 570) in early 1957, plus “This Is Otis Williams” in 1959. You’ll find a scan 0f DeLuxe 570 below.

Three Charms EPs were released by DeLuxe in the 1950s. Below you’ll find scans of “Hits By The Charms” (DeLuxe 357) from 1955 and two versions of “The Charms Volume 2” (Deluxe 364) also from 1955. There’s also a sample of the 45rpm label shots included in Joan K's folder of scans.

Ruth Brown - Rock & Roll (Atlantic 8004)

This is a 1957 album from Atlantic which includes most of Ruth Brown’s biggest hits.

These are vinyl rips by Joan K complete with the atmospheric ‘noise’, so once again it’s like popping round to your friend’s house to listen to a few discs being spun on the gramophone. The download includes a folder of Joan's label shots, EP covers and one of those wonderful Atlantic singles still in its original sleeve. The download scans are more numerous and larger than can be shown here. A visual treat!

Converted to 192 kbps mp3s from m4a files.

Download link –

Ruth Brown Rock & Roll (Mega)


1. Lucky Lips
2. As Long As I'm Moving
3. Wild Wild Young Men
4. Daddy Daddy
5. Mambo Baby
6. Teardrops From My Eyes
7. Hello Little Boy
8. Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean
9. 5-10-15 Hours
10. It's Love Baby
11. Sentimental Journey
12. Old Man River
13. So Long
14. Oh What a Dream

The Dominoes Featuring Clyde McPhatter

1977 Gusto LP focussing on Clyde McPhatter’s years with the Dominoes (1950-1953). The first 9 tracks have lead vocals by McPhatter, while in the second 9 he features on backing vocals. I wonder if it was this version of “Harbor Lights” that Elvis had heard before he recorded his own version of the track at Sun. McPhatter’s lead vocals on the slow numbers are among the most haunting you’ll ever hear.

Ripped from vinyl at 320kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YHFYCLZ6

1. No Says My Heart
2. Do Something For Me
3. Harbor Lights
4. That's What You're Doing To Me
5. I Can't Escape From You
6. Don't Leave Me This Way
7. Deep Sea Blues
8. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano
9. Yours Forever
10. Chicken Blues
11. Weeping Willow Blues
12. Heart To Heart *
13. The Deacon Moves In *
14. Love Love Love
15. Pedal Pushin' Papa
16. No Room
17.I Ain't Gonna Cry For You
18. I'm Lonely

* = with Little Esther

This album is still available in the UK as an imported CD. Get it from Amazon.

The Dominoes - Have Mercy Baby

Link:

Have Mercy Baby (Mega) 

Updated version of this post is here:

https://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-dominoes-have-mercy-baby.html 

This is a 1985 Charly LP of Dominoes’ King/Federal sides recorded between 1950 and 1955. Billy Ward’s Dominoes were the first vocal group to bring a gospel sound to the R&B charts thanks to the spectacular lead vocals of Clyde McPhatter. In doing so they became progenitors of soul and rock’n’roll. Indeed “That’s What You’re Doing To Me” (May 1951) is a candidate for the first real rock’n’roll record.

“Sixty Minute Man” (lead vocal – Bill Brown) was the first R&B vocal group recording to enter the pop charts (1951). A boastful novelty tribute to physical stamina, it featured the line “I rock ‘em, roll ‘em all night long” and helped to fix the phrase “rock and roll” in the public mind.

In the spring of 1953 Clyde McPhatter left the Dominoes and went on to form the Drifters on Atlantic Records. His replacement was the equally (or even more?) talented Jackie Wilson but his only top ten R&B hit with the group was “Rags To Riches”. Ward changed the style of the Dominoes away from rockers and early soul and more towards sentimental ballads, achieving pop success with “St. Therese Of The Roses” in 1956, and further success after the departure of Jackie Wilson with “Stardust” and “Deep Purple”.

The liner notes by Bill Millar are well worth reading for a history of the Dominoes.

1. Chicken Blues
2. Do Something For Me *
3. Weeping Willow Blues *
4. Sixty Minute Man
5. That's What You're Doing To Me *
6. I Am With You *
7. Don't Leave Me This Way *
8. Have Mercy Baby *
9. Pedal Pushin' Papa
10. I'd Be Satisfied *
11. The Bells *
12. I Ain't Gonna Cry For You
13. You Can't Keep A Good Man Down **
14. My Baby's 3-D
15. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town **
16. If I Never Get To Heaven

* lead vocal – Clyde McPhatter
** lead vocal – Jackie Wilson

Dexter Gordon & Wardell Gray - The Hunt

Many thanks to Billy K for sending this Savoy Jazz double LP to post here.

Each of the four tracks occupied one side of the original album. They are jam sessions, principally tenor sax battles between Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, recorded live in front of an audience at the Brown Bomber, Los Angeles, in July 1947. Other musicians on the sessions include Howard McGhee, Trummy Young, Sonny Criss, Barney Kessel and Hampton Hawes.

Billy K has included scans of the album art, featuring an essay by Ross Russell which wonderfully evokes the Central Avenue scene in Los Angeles and the arrival of bebop on the West Coast.

The original rip from vinyl is in m4a format (160 kbps) and can be downloaded from Billy K's link here:

link deleted by mediafire

I used the freeware program Any Audio Converter to produce an mp3 version (192 kbps ) which you can download from here:

http://www17.zippyshare.com/v/27721171/file.html

1. Disorder At The Border
2. Cherokee
3. Byas-a-Drink
4. The Hunt

The King Cole Trio - Trio Days

Early Nat “King” Cole Trio sides recorded for Decca in late 1940 and early 1941. The line up is Nat “King” Cole – piano and lead vocals, Oscar Moore – guitar and ensemble vocals, Wesley Prince – bass and ensemble vocals.

These are mostly jazzy, jivey numbers with plenty of instrumentals, ensemble vocals and hepcat lyrics. The early version of “Sweet Lorraine” hints at the future career of Cole as a peerless ballad singer.

This was a 1984 LP in the Charly jazz subsidiary Affinity’s “Big Band Bounce & Boogie” series although what this album has to do with big bands (or boogie) defeats me. I guess it has got plenty bounce, though!

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download link:

https://www49.zippyshare.com/v/RfuzkA6G/file.html

1. Honeysuckle Rose
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. This Side Up
4. Gone With The Draft
5. Call The Police
6. That Ain't Right
7. Are You Fer It?
8. Hit That Jive Jack
9. Early Morning Blues
10. Babs
11. Scotchin' With Soda
12. Slow Down
13. I Like To Riff
14. This Will Make You Laugh
15. Hit The Ramp
16. Stop, The Red Light's On

Please note: this LP was re-upped in June 2016 in a new post with more information here:

https://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-nat-king-cole-trio-trio-days.html
 

Big Jay McNeely - Big "J" In 3-D (King LP 650)

The Big Jay saga continues with this album (originally released in 1956 as Federal 395) of 12 of his sides recorded for Federal from August 1952 to April 1954. "The Goof", "3D" and "Nervous Man Nervous" are among the wildest tracks he ever recorded. "Mule Milk" is almost as wild but has crowd noises overdubbed in attempt to recreate the crazed atmosphere of Big Jay's live concerts.

By the time this album was released, Big Jay had been away from Federal for one and a half years, had recorded briefly for Veejay in 1955 and had laid down a complete session at Atlantic which was never released. Tastes in R&B and Rock'n'Roll were changing. Sax fans now preferred the smoother stylings of Earl Bostic, and the teenage audience who had made up so much of Big Jay's fan base were turning to vocal groups such as The Penguins, The Clovers, The Drifters and The Platters. Our hero's career appeared to be taking a nosedive. Could he survive or was he doomed to be yesterday's news like Wynonie Harris, Amos Milburn, Roy Milton and so many other one-time R&B heroes?

I have included the album art from both the CD and the Sing 1980s reissue vinyl LP. The front cover for the CD is a repro of the original 1956 vinyl release. The front cover for the 1988 Sing vinyl LP differs from the original. The back cover for the CD has a tracklist and no notes. The back cover of the Sing LP reproduces the original liner notes (which amazingly try to sell Big Jay as a jazz musician) and adds a tracklist, session details and a photograph. In other words if you're burning a CD copy for your collection, it's best to use the CD front cover and the LP back cover.

Ripped from vinyl at 320kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/54447498/Big_J_In_3-D.rar

1. The Goof
2. Ice Water
3. Big Jay Shuffle
4. Rock Candy
5. Whipped Cream
6. Hot Cinders
7. 3-D
8. Hardtack
9. Nervous Man Nervous
10. Mule Milk
11. Let's Work
12. Beachcomber

Big John Greer - R&B In New York City

Big band veteran tenor sax man John Greer issued a series of sides for RCA Victor subsidiaries Vic and Groove which were an odd mixture of rocking R&B and sickly sweet ballads. Despite his prowess as a horn player, on most of these sides Greer confined himself to vocalising while the rocking sax breaks were left to Budd Johnson, Big Al Sears and Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor.

Sides on this comp recorded between 1951 and 1955. The only substantial hit was “Got You On My Mind” which was a blatant Ivory Joe Hunter rip-off.

Ripped from the 1988 Official LP at 320 kbps.

Download link here:

http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/OuBdX17M/file.html


More detailed Big John Greer post here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/big-john-greer-r-b-in-new-york-city.html


1. Woman Is A Five Letter Word
2. Tell Me So
3. Got You On My Mind
4. Let Me Hold You
5. You Played On My Piano
6. Lonesome And Blue
7. I Need You
8. I'll Never Let You Go
9. I'm The Fat Man
10. Beginning To Miss You
11. Rhythm In The Breeze
12. Drinkin' Fool
13. Getting Mighty Lonesome For You
14. Too Long
15. Come Back Maybelline
16. Night Crawlin'