Cadillacs Meet The Orioles (Jubilee JGM-1117)

Those loveable juvenile delinquents are still at it on the cover of this Jubilee LP which was originally issued in 1960. To the modern eye their fashion sense may take on connotations which differ from the original intention of portraying rock’n’roll crazed teenage hoods, but let us refrain from going any further down that road. We shall simply pause momentarily to regret the passing of a more innocent age.

Thanks to Joan once more for the artwork, label scans and vinyl rips. This LP presents two very contrasting vocal group sounds – the early 50s sound of R&B group pioneers The Orioles and the more rock’n’roll mid 50s sound of the Cadillacs. There’s quite a lot of popping, clicking and thumping on these tracks and on “Let Me Down Easy” we are definitely on a wing and a prayer as there is considerable doubt as to whether the gramophone needle will make it to the end of the track. In the end it does, although it takes a slight diversion during the sax solo. Either that or Jimmy Wright was drunk. But that, my friends, is the REAL rock’n’roll experience!

Ripped at 192 kbps.

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1. Baby Please Don't Go / The Orioles
2. Hurry Home / The Cadillacs
3. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me / The Orioles
4. Buzz, Buzz, Buzz / The Cadillacs
5. A Kiss And A Rose / The Orioles
6. Lucy / The Cadillacs
7. Deacon Jones / The Orioles
8. It's Love / The Cadillacs
9. I Don't Want To Take a Chance / The Orioles
10. Let Me Down Easy / The Cadillacs
11. You Belong To Me / The Orioles
12. C'mon Home Baby / The Cadillacs

Boppin’! (Jubilee JGM-1118)

Another Jubilee LP from Joan – a 1960 compilation of Josie and Jubilee sides recorded between 1951 and 1956. The front cover features the same group of would-be juvenile delinquents that posed surrealistically on the front cover of Rumble, although this time round they have been joined by a cool chick. Of course the presence of the bat may indicate that they are going to play rounders, a girly game which our American cousins call baseball.

Actually Joan has emailed me to say that Jubilee produced 5 LPs which sought to cash in on the West Side Story craze with front cover pictures of JD shenanigans. Where’s Offissah Krupke when you need him?

This compilation reaches further back than Rumble. The album was originally to feature two sides by The Marylanders (credited on the cover) but for some unknown reason these sides were replaced by two from The Teardrops. A bebopwino honourable mention to Deke Watson, whose “Why Does A Drink Make You Think?” is reminiscent of the low life tales of Mr. Bear. There is some surface noise on many of these recordings

Ripped at 192 kbps.

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Boppin' (Mega)

Joan has included a folder of label scans which include the “lost” tracks by The Marylanders. Thanks Joan!

1. Let Me Bang Your Box / The Toppers (1954)
2. I Miss You So / The Orioles (1951)
3. Red Light Green Light / The Coney Island Kids (1956)
4. Brown Gal / Deke Watson & The Brown Dots (1954)
5. Blue Moon / The Emanons (1956)
6. My Heart / The Teardrops (1955)
7. Moonlight Beach / The Coney Island Kids (1955)
8. In The Mission Of St Augustine / The Orioles (1953)
9. You're Laughing Cause I'm Crying / The Toppers (1954)
10. Wish I Had My Baby / The Emanons 1956)
11. Why Does a Drink Make You Think? / Deke Watson & The Brown Dots (1954)
12. Ooh Baby / The Teardrops (1955)

Rumble (Jubilee JGM-1114)

Thanks to Joan for the sounds, label scans (a folder of which is included in the download) and eye-watering LP cover. This LP was released in November 1959 as Jubilee JGM-1114. I have no idea if the remarkable cover is the original cover or not. It’s hard to make out what the exotically attired “teenagers” are actually doing in that photo. They may be simulating a “rumble” which is American for a bout of fisticuffs. Alternatively they may be auditioning for the Village People.

Although this is a Jubilee release, these Bop-Chords, Love-Notes, Channels and Continentals sides are gathered from the Bobby Robinson group of labels. The Channels and Continentals sides were originally released on Whirlin’ Disc in 1956 – 1957. This label was jointly owned by Bobby Robinson and Jubilee’s Jerry Blaine. They were subsequently re-released on Port between 1959 and 1961. The Bop-Chords and Love-Notes sides were originally released on Danny Robinson’s Holiday Records in 1956 and 1957.

This classic doowop is fine, fine music though. Ripped by Joan from vintage 45s, so some surface noise is present, but it’s not very intrusive.

Ripped at 192 kbps (converted from m4a).

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Rumble (Mega)

1. Castle In The Sky / The Bop-Chords
2. The Gleam In Your Eyes / The Channels
3. Fine Fine Frame / The Continentals
4. If I Could Make You Mine / The Love-Notes
5. Picture Of Love / The Continentals
6. Tonight / The Love-Notes
7. When I Woke Up This Morning / The Bop-Chords
8. Dear Lord / The Continentals
9. Now You Know / The Channels
10. United / The Love-Notes
11. The Closer You Are / The Channels
12. I Really Love Her So / The Bop-Chords

Calvin Boze and his All-Stars - Havin' A Ball

Trumpeter and vocalist Calvin Boze cut over 30 sides for Aladdin between 1949 and 1952. His singing voice bore a remarkable similarity to that of Louis Jordan and much of the material he recorded was also very similar to that recorded by Jordan in the mid to late 1940s. So the sides presented in this late 1980s album on the Moonshine label are lively and raucous jump blues steeped in a party atmosphere usually very similar to Jordan’s major hit “Saturday Night Fish Fry”. There’s plenty of booting tenor sax solos courtesy of Maxwell Davis.

The album was mastered from vintage 78 rpm discs so there is plenty of surface noise on some sides. Joan K has come through yet again with some label scans, of both 78 rpm and 45 rpm versions of Calvin’s biggest hit “Safronia B”. There is also a scan of a rare deejay white label promo. Thanks Joan!

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1. Safronia B
2. Angel City Blues
3. Working With My Baby
4. Satisfied
5. Waiting And Drinking
6. You're Tops With Me
7. Slippin' And Slidin'
8. I Can't Stop Crying
9. I've Got News For You
10. Keep Your Nose Out Of My Business
11. Lizzy Lou (parts 1 & 2)
12. Shamrock
13. Havin' A Ball (Having A Time)
14. Looped
15. I'm Gonna Steam Off The Stamp
16. Fishtail
17. Beale Street On A Saturday Night

Gone All Stars (featuring Buddy Lucas) - Dancin': Bandstand EP … plus 7 - 11

Now here’s a real rarity from Joan – the Gone All Stars on an EP and their 1958 hit single “7 – 11” b/w “Down Yonder Rock”.

The Gone All Stars were the studio band fronted by tenor sax player Buddy Lucas which gradually replaced Jimmy Wright as the backing musicians on many recording sessions for the George Goldner group of labels, including sides by artists such as The Dubs, The Imperials and The Chantels. Buddy Lucas recorded a series of singles for Jubilee around 1951, as well as acting as studio bandleader, before moving to RCA Victor for a year where he had releases on both RCA and its subsidiary Groove. In 1955 Buddy moved to Savoy where he provided studio backing for big name artists like Larry Darnell, Big Maybelle, Annie Laurie and Hal Singer.

These tracks are ripped from original 1950s vinyl, so there is some surface noise. But, as we all say, that IS rock’n’roll! Anyway where else are you going to hear these tracks? Thanks again Joan!

Ripped at 192 kbps (converted from m4a format).

Download from here:

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1. 7 - 11
2. Down Yonder Rock
3. Hoppin' Bop
4. Gone Stroll
5. Gee Gee Walk
6. Charlypso End

Elmore James - I Need You

Thanks to Joan for this item from her collection – an Elmore James compilation on the Sphere Sound label.

Founded in 1965, Sphere Sound was a subsidiary of Bell records. It leased tracks from New York labels such as Fire/Fury and Herald/Ember for re-release on singles and LPs. These Elmore James tracks were leased from the Bobby Robinson labels for which James had recorded between 1959 and 1963. This LP was released in 1966, although some of the tracks were previously released on 45 rpm Sphere Sound singles in 1965.

As can be seen from the details of first release in the track list, many of these tracks were being released for the first time on this album. All tracks were recorded between 1959 and 1961 with the exception of “Make My Dreams Come True” which had been recorded in 1953 for Flair but was re-released by Bobby Robinson on his Fire label in 1960.

There are some label scans accompanying the tracks, including a re-release on Enjoy of Fire 504.

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OR

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1. Make My Dreams Come True (Flair 1031, 1954; Fire 1011, 1960)
2. Got To Move (NYC 1961, this LP)
3. I Need You Baby (NYC 1960, this LP and Sphere Sound 708)
4. Something Inside Me (NYC 1960, this LP and Sphere Sound 713)
5. Look On Yonder Wall (New Orleans 1961, Fire 504, 1962)
6. Shake Your Money Maker (New Orleans 1961, Fire 504, 1962)
7. Strange Angels (NYC 1960, this LP )
8. Early One Morning (NYC 1960, this LP)
9. She Done Moved (Instr.) (NYC 1960, this LP and Sphere Sound 713)
10. Baby Please Set A Date (NYC 1959, this LP)

Bobby Day - Rockin' With Robin

A Joan K post in response to an appeal in the comments section!

Bobby Day was a founder member of vocal group The Hollywood Flames which was formed in 1949. They spent most of the 1950s jumping from label to label until they had recorded for just about everyone on the West Coast, and also went through a bewildering series of personnel changes.

In late 1957 The Flames had a smash hit on Ebb with “Buzz Buzz Buzz” and just as that record was entering the charts they recorded “Little Bitty Pretty One” (written by Bobby Day) as Bobby Day and The Satellites for Leon Rene’s Class records. Unfortunately for Bobby the record was quickly covered by The Lamplighters (doing business as Thurston Harris and The Sharps) on Aladdin and it was their version which had the pop and R&B success while Bobby Day’s original failed to chart. It’s a cutthroat business, and if you ain’t first you’re last.

Class persevered with Bobby and were rewarded when he had a massive pop and R&B hit with “Rockin’ Robin”. There is a God after all.

Bobby went on to become one half of Bob & Earl on the hit “Gee Whiz”, but had been replaced by another Bobby (Relf) by the time “Harlem Shuffle” came along.

This LP was issued in 1958. It’s a mix of R&B, rock and roll, and slightly cloying pop as Class sought to keep Bobby in the charts. The sound quality on these tracks is good, except for track 4 which has loads of clicking and popping . Joan once again provides us not only with sounds but also label scans.

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1. Rockin' Robin
2. Darling If I Had You
3. Sweet Little Thing
4. Saving My Life For You
5. Little Turtle Dove
6. Over And Over
7. Little Bitty Pretty One
8. Come Seven
9. Honeysuckle Baby
10. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano
11. Beep Beep Beep
12. So Long Baby

And now for a selection from the folder of Joan’s label scans:

Lost Dreams: The New Orleans Vocal Groups

Lew Chudd’s Los Angeles based indy label Imperial had a strong presence in New Orleans from 1949 onwards when Dave Bartholomew became local A&R man and artists such as Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis and Sugarboy Crawford were signed.

This 1987 EMI vinyl album gathers sides recorded by New Orleans vocal groups for Imperial mostly between 1952 and 1956. There’s some fine rockin’ rhythm ‘n’ blues here so grab these swingin’ sounds!

I posted this LP on Rockhall many months ago but I’ve re-upped it with a new back cover scan plus label scans of vintage Imperial 45s by Joan K. Thanks again Joan.

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Download from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/117335087/Lost_Dreams_The_New_Orleans_Vocal_Groups.rar

Extra link for rapidshare haters:

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1. Drunk Drunk Drunk / The Kidds
2. Why Fool Yourself / Bernie Williams
3. Bluesy Me / Dave Collins & The Scrubs
4. Lost Dreams / The Dukes
5. Sunny Side Of The Street / The Bees
6. Eternally Yours / The Barons
7. Cotton Picking Hands / The Dukes
8. Later, Baby / Fat Man Matthews & The Four Kittens
9. Boom Boom / The Barons
10. Teardrop Eyes / The Dukes
11. Ain't Gonna Do It / The Pelicans
12. Shake The Dice / The Barons
13. Darling, Please / The Bees
14. Last Ride / The Dukes

The Midnighters - Their Greatest Hits

This the third of the albums that Joan sent recently. A 1956 Federal compilation of Midnighters tracks, including some early stuff recorded when they were The Royals. This is definitely not the sweet, romantic doowop of the last few posts. Sleazy lee-rics, shrieking sax breaks and clanging electric guitar are on offer. Vintage bebopwino music!

These sides were ripped from original 45rpm singles and consequently there is rather a lot of surface noise present. But we don’t mind, do we? Originally ripped by Joan to m4a format, subsequently converted to mp3, so there are 2 download links to let you opt for the format of your choice. As ever, Joan has supplied label shots of the original discs. Thanks again Joan!

Download m4a version from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/117223249/Midnighters_Their_Greatest_Hits_m4a.rar

Download mp3 version from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/117220737/Midnighters_Their_Greatest_Hits.rar

Password on both versions is greaseyspoon.

1. Work With Me Annie
2. Moonrise
3. Sexy Ways
4. Get It
5. Switchie Witchie
6. It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)
7. Annie Had A Baby
8. She's The One
9. Annie's Aunt Fannie
10. Crazy Lovin' (Stay With Me)
11. Henry's Got Flat Feet
12. Tore Up Over You

The Dubs Meet The Shells

Thanks once more to Joan K for this post of a 1962 Josie album, plus additional label shots. Romantic dreamy doowop and an oh-so-cool cover. What more could you want?

Ripped from vinyl at 128 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

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1. Could This Be Magic / The Dubs
2. Wisdom Of A Fool / The Dubs
3. Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely / The Dubs
4. Blue Velvet / The Dubs
5. Your Very First Love / The Dubs
6. This I Swear / The Dubs
7. Baby Oh Baby / The Shells
8. Our Wedding Day / The Shells
9. What's In An Angels Eyes / The Shells
10. Baby, Walk On In / The Shells
11. Sweetest One / The Shells
12. Deep In My Heart / The Shells