Be Bop Wino Wailin' The Blues

I thought I’d try my hand at putting together some short compilations ripped from vinyl of the kinds of music that get covered here on Be Bop Wino, so here’s the first in what I hope will be a series. I was determined to keep the number of tracks down to sixteen per volume in an attempt to revive the lost art of compiling an LP, but faced with some mighty fine blues I ended up with eighteen tracks. But I’m not gonna do a Joan – there won’t be thirty or forty tracks on these collections! Famous last words.

So we kick off with the blues, and Be Bop Wino tours the South – beginning with Sam Phillip’s studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where he recorded blues artists for release on Modern / RPM out of LA , Chess in Chicago and of course for his own Sun label. Howlin’ Wolf, Rosco Gordon, Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, Doctor Ross (the harmonica boss!) and one man band Joe Hill Louis were just some of the talents who graced the studio at 706 Union Avenue.

Jackson, Mississippi was the home of Lillian McMurray’s Trumpet label where the recording careers of the second Sonny Boy Williamson (William Miller) and Elmore James kicked off. Sonny Boy’s “Mighty Long Time” was the B side of his classic “Nine Below Zero.” Another label which originated in Memphis was Duke, founded by James Mattis, but in 1952 it was taken over by the Houston based owner of Peacock, Don Robey, and its operation moved to Texas. Duke remained an outlet for musicians from Memphis, including Bobby Bland, Johnny Ace and Junior Parker. The latter had made his first recordings in Memphis under the supervision of Ike Turner for Modern / RPM, but found greater success with Sun (“Feelin’ Good” and “Mystery Train”) before moving on to Duke.

Colourful entrepreneur Don Robey founded his Peacock label in Houston in 1949 initially to record blues guitarist / singer Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown who was being managed by Robey. In this collection there are three early Peacock recordings, by Lavada Durst (Dr. Hepcat), New Orleans guitarist Edgar Blanchard and Houston bass player Donald “Silver” Cooks. Blanchard and Cooks are backed by Blanchard’s band The Gondoliers. The harmonica on these two tracks is played by the legendary Papa Lightfoot out of Natchez, Mississippi.

Hillbilly musician Eddie Shuler formed Goldband Records in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1951. The label had a strong country / Cajun / rockabilly roster, but Eddie started recording R&B artists like Boozo Chavis and Classie Ballou in the mid fifties. Lee Baker Junior, better known as Guitar Junior was Goldband’s most successful blues artist hitting it big with his first release in 1957, “Family Rules.” Guitar Junior eventually moved to Chicago, changed his name to Lonnie Brooks, and enjoyed a successful “second” blues career.

The only track recorded for a major label here is the unreleased “Sober” by Piano Red. The track was recorded for RCA in Atlanta with backing provided by Clyde “Blow Top” Lynn’s band. Born in 1911 in Hampton, Georgia, as Willie Perryman, Piano Red’s recording career started in 1936. In the 1950s he had an unlikely career boost when he released a series of raucous (and salacious) R&B pounders like “Rockin’ With Red” and “Right String Baby But The Wrong Yo Yo” which attracted a whole new audience of young rock ‘n rollers.

Many southern artists migrated to the Northern cities. John Lee Hooker is always associated with Detroit and Chicago of course became home to many southern blues musicians. Chi-Town’s Chess Records (and its Checker subsidiary) had a fantastic array of blues talent – Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Rogers, these are just a handful of names from dozens. Magic Sam (Sam Maghett) belonged to the generation which succeeded that of Muddy and his cohorts. In 1957 he started recording for the small Cobra label, with “All Your Love” (recorded under the supervision of Willie Dixon) being the most successful of four singles he released in 1957 / 1958.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

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1. She May Be Yours (But She Comes To See Me Sometime) / Joe Hill Louis
- Sun 178, 1953

2. Downtown Boogie / Doctor Ross
- unissued Sun Studios recording, early 1950s

3. I'm Gonna Forget About You / Ike Turner
- unissued Sun Studios recording, 1953

4. Mighty Long Time / Sonny Boy Williamson (II)
- Trumpet 166, 1951

5. That's Alright / Junior Parker
- Duke 168, 1957

6. Hattie Green / Lavada Durst
- Peacock 1509, 1950

7. Creole Gal Blues / Edgar Blanchard
- Peacock 1514, 1950

8. Mr Ticket Agent / Silver Cooks
- Peacock 1510, 1950

9. There Better Be No Feet (In Them Shoes) / Junior Parker
- Duke 147, 1955

10. Everything's Going To Be Alright / Little Walter
- Checker 930, 1959

11. Chocolate Drop / Howlin' Wolf
- unissued Sun Studios recording, 1951/52

12. Decorate The Counter / Rosco Gordon
- unissued Sun Studios recording, 1952

13. Sober / Piano Red
- unissued RCA recording, 1953

14. Movin' On Down The Line / John Lee Hooker
- unissued United Sound Studios recording 1948-52

15. All Your Love / Magic Sam
- Cobra 5013, 1957

16. Roll Roll Roll / Guitar Junior
- Goldband 1068, 1958

17. Diggin' My Potatoes / Washboard Sam
- Chess 1545, 1953

18. Blue Midnight / Little Walter
- Checker 955, 1960 (recorded 1952)

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.

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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.

Return of The Boogster?

Dammit, looks like I'm back. I have an archive of old posts up until April 2009. I've found out how to use this import / export thing and so selected old posts (vinyl only) will start to appear here. Non- vinyl will not appear again. Some posts will be revamped, especially those which could do with new LP cover scans. It will be a while before anything new appears as I am still determined to have that much needed rest. I need to re-engage with reality. There is life beyond music, you know!

The blog may go invitation only. I'll warn you in advance. In the meantime enjoy those old posts and the comments too!

Farewell to Be Bop Wino

It lasted almost 2 years and got nearly 890,000 hits. On the 18th September, 2009, the Bebopwino blog was taken down by Blogger on receipt of a complaint. This was, I think, the third complaint received about the blog content. The takedown notification did not specify which post or posts were the subject of the complaint, so we'll never know what provoked Blogger to deliver the coup de grace.

I would like to thank all those who dropped by, and especially those who took the trouble to comment on the posts. Sometimes the comments were far more interesting than my semi-literate ramblings.

Of course I must give a huge thank you to those who contributed sights and sounds to the blog. Thank you for the effort and care you put into bringing rare and forgotten music to the rockin' nation. A very, very special thank you goes to Joan whose "Joan Selects" series of vinyl rips was such a sensational hit with you blogsters. Joan's support and encouragement was simply beyond value in keeping the blog going and in taking it to a level which I never anticipated when I started out back in 2007.

On looking back over the history of the blog, I would probably have done things a bit differently if I had known back then what I know now. I would probably have stuck to a strictly vinyl policy and perhaps put a time bar on the links. Towards the end I was getting a bit worried about the sheer accumulation of material that was available on the blog. The revival of formerly out of print CDs as mp3 downloads from the likes of Amazon also made monitoring the "no in-print albums" policy harder and there were definitely a few things which had become commercially available again lurking way back in the blog.

The purpose of the blog was to help promote interest in a kind of music which simply doesn't receive the kind of media coverage it deserves. I believe that responsible music blogs can be an effective way of promoting "niche" music. It's interesting that among the supporters of Be Bop Wino were musicians, deejays and music retailers. For me that's a strong indication that responsible music blogs can increase sales of CDs, mp3s and concert tickets.

As for a possible return of Be Bop Wino - well, you never know! But for now I'm gonna have a rest from blogging. Keep tuning in to Uncle Gil, Red Neckerson, The Hound, Big Rock Candy Mountain, Rocker Stomp, and the many others who promote the cause of real rhythm 'n' blues and rock 'n' roll. When you download don't forget to say "thank you", you naughty kids!

Illinois Jacquet & Lester Young - Battle Of The Saxes (Aladdin LP 701)

No, I don’t actually have this 10” LP released on Aladdin in 1951 lying on my record shelves. Joan sent me a scan of the cover many months ago (it was first used on a Jazz Greats post on Lester Young, link removed), and having all the required tracks scattered around on various reissue albums, I thought it would be a bit of fun to reconstitute the original issue and give Joan’s scan the setting it deserves.

Although numbered 701, this LP may not have been the first to be issued on Aladdin, the honour possibly going to “Party After Hours” (LP 703), a compilation of tracks by Amos Milburn, Wynonie Harris, Velma Nelson and Crown Prince Waterford.

The 33⅓ rpm vinyl long playing record was a format that was less than three years old when this disc was issued and the paltry (to modern ears) 21 minutes of music contained therein should be seen as a major improvement over the usual 3 – 4 minutes contained on each side of a 10” 78 rpm shellac disc, a format which had been around since 1901. To be accurate, the longest playing time squeezed on to a 10” 78 rpm disc was six minutes on each side – Rossini on one side and Verdi on the flip side – on Sterno 5022. Doubtless it was a big hit on tavern juke boxes.

If this collection had been released just a few years previously (when the music on it was actually recorded and first released as singles), it would have been in the form of an album – a “book” containing 4 separate 78 rpm discs, each in its own sleeve. The advent of the lightweight vinyl long playing disc meant that multi track collections would inevitably increase in popularity.

None of the music here was recorded specifically for the LP. “Flying Home”, recorded in July 1945, was the first single release on Philo, the original name of what was to become the Aladdin label. The other three Illinois Jacquet tracks all date from 1947. “D.B. Blues” and “Lester Blows Again” were recorded in late 1945, and “On The Sunny Side Of The Street” and “Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid” are from an October 1946 session.

Nowadays we’re used to buying mid-priced 4 or 5 CD sets with over a hundred tracks and more than 5 hours of music. We can download tracks by the hundred or even the thousand, if we so wish. Yet is this necessarily a good thing? How many of the tracks on our hard disks or compact discs are listened to more than once? Back in the early fifties when buying a collection of 8 or 10 tracks was still a novelty, you can bet that each and every track in people’s small record collections (whether on a 45 or on an LP) would be played over and over again, and probably valued more.

Ripped at 256 or 320 kbps. Surface noise audible, especially on the Lester Young sides.

Thanks to Joan for cover scans. Password is, as ever, greaseyspoon

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Battle Of The Saxes (Mega)

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Battle Of The Saxes (Zippy)

1. Flying Home - Illinois Jacquet
2. Blow Illinois Blow - Illinois Jacquet
3. Goofin' Off - Illinois Jacquet
4. Illinois Blows The Blues - Illinois Jacquet
5. D.B. Blues - Lester Young
6. Lester Blows Again - Lester Young
7. On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Lester Young
8. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid - Lester Young

Second issue of this LP:


Some Aladdin EPs:

Morris Lane - Tenor Saxsation

This is yet another LP which has languished on my shelves for many years. I’ve been a fan of honkin’ tenor sax for nearly thirty years and when I bought this 1988 Official album I was anticipating a honk fest. Only the first six tracks are jump blues blasters, while the rest of the album consists of organ backed swing standards, so my initial response to the LP was one of disappointment. A couple of decades down the line I can now better appreciate the artistry that is contained in this excellent collection.

Perhaps Morris Lane is best remembered today for his spell in the Lionel Hampton band in 1947 when he and Johnny Sparrow manned the tenor saxes. But before that, in September 1946, Lane had taken part in a recording session for Savoy as part of a group called the Bebop Boys, who included Sonny Stitt, Fats Navarro, Bud Powell and Kenny Clarke. The tracks from that session are available on the Proper 4CD set “Sonny Stitt: Sax O’ Bebop.” In January 1947, Lane returned to the Savoy studio and recorded the fiery “Luke The Spook” b/w “Down The Lane.”

In 1951 Lane recorded a couple of jumping sides for Apollo which were released on Apollo single 808: “Blue Jeans” and “B.O. Plenty’s Return.” Later in 1951 Lane recorded several fine jump sides for Bobby Robinson’s new label Robin. “Bobby’s Boogie” and “Ghost Town” were in fact the first sides released on Robinson’s label.

In February and May 1952, Lane recorded two sessions for Coral, backed by a quartet led by organist Bill Doggett. This was a change of sound from the first six tracks on this collection, with swing era standards featuring prominently on releases aimed at the late night smooch crowd. “Moon Ray” in particular is a haunting performance, right up there with Earl Bostic’s “Serenade”, in my opinion. There’s also a beautiful treatment of “Stairway To The Stars” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So” starts off by quoting Jimmy Forrest’s “Night Train.”

In December 1952, billed as “Morris Lane & His Magic Saxophone”, Lane recorded four sides for the tiny Scooter label in the same vein as his Coral material. This time Billy Taylor was on organ while Art Blakey was on drums. “Poinciana” and “Blues In The Night” are particularly fine efforts.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps

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Tenor Saxsation (Mega)


1. Bobby's Boogie
2. Ghost Town
3. Luke The Spook
4. Down The Lane
5. Blue Jeans
6. B.O. Plenty's Return
7. Midnight Sun
8. Pale Moon (An Indian Love Song)
9. Moon Ray
10. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
11. It Ain't Necessarily So
12. Stairway To The Stars
13. Poinciana
14. Blues In The Night
15. Twilight Time
16. Everything I Have Is Yours

Joan Selects - Volume 15 – Joan’s A Rockin’ Little Angel

The second volume of rockabilly / rock ‘n’ roll in Joan’s series of vintage vinyl rips contains a mixture of the obscure and the well known. I am delighted to see Carl Perkins’ “Dixie Fried” included. This paean to booze and a certain razor wielding good old boy was the record that made me realize that rock ‘n’ roll wasn’t just music for love struck teenagers. I like to think that real rock ‘n’ roll is for adults as it often concerns itself with what some people may call the seamier aspects of life. But enough of my musings, let’s go over to Joan for a few pointers as to what’s in store on this excellent selection:

Joan Selects, Volume 15 - Joan returns to basic rock and roll for these 35 selections. Among the noteworthy high points is an early Roy Orbison when he was under contract to Sam Phillip's Sun Records company. Also under contract to Sun at the same time, were Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis - what an unbelievable stable of talent, not to mention a whole raft of second echelon artists of outstanding abilities.

Janis Martin was billed as the female Elvis, and was under contact to RCA Victor at the same time as Elvis, and there are pictures circulating of Janis and Elvis together. One of Janis' singles interestingly, was her remake of Roy Orbison's “Ooby Dooby”. Janis was one of a precious few female rockers from the 1950's. Another is represented here on volume 15 - the legendary Wanda Jackson, with her "I Gotta Know”, an interesting hybrid combining rock-a-billy and country.

Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones struck the charts with a huge teen hit, "Black Slacks". "Boppin' Rock Boogie" was their follow up, and in all respects as much of a rocker too. Several cuts (3 to be exact) are by one of the giants of rock-a-billy, Carl Perkins, including Dixie Fried, by special request to our estimable blog host Boogiewood. In this collector's opinion, "Put Your Cat Clothes On" is one of the great 1950's rock anthems. From 1950 and on New York City's Crest Label, comes a favorite - by Cliff Martin and his Cliff Dwellers - "I Heard the Juke Box Playing", which evokes images of another and more innocent (in some ways) and simpler time, just at the start of the rock and roll era.

An oft proclaimed Elvis imitator, Ral Donner, is represented here with his biggest hit for George Goldner's Gone record label, "You Don't Know What You Got (Until You Lose It)" - Donner had one other top forty hit, "The Girl Of My Best Friend". There was enough by Donner to compile an album for the Gone label.
Ripped from vinyl at bit rates mostly around 128 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

30 label shots in glorious bebopwinocolor are included. Thanks for another great collection, Joan.
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Joan Selects Volume 15 (Zippy)

01 Roy Orbison - Rockhouse - Sun 251
02 Janis Martin -Will You Willyum - RCA Victor 47-6491
03 John D Loudermilk - Language Of Love - RCA Victor 47-7938
04 The Roclking Chairs - A Kiss Is A Kiss - Recorte 45-402
05 Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones - Boppin Rock Boogie - ABC-Paramount 45-9837
06 Jack Scott and the Chantones - Leroy - Carlton 462
07 Joe Therrian & the Rockets - Hey Babe! Let's Go Downtown - Brunswick 9-55005
08 The Dusters - Rock' At The Hop - Cupid 5003
09 Wanda Jackson - I Gotta Know - Capitol 3485
10 The Rock-A-Teens - Woo-Hoo - Roulette R-4192
11 Jimmy Edwards - Love Bug Crawl - Mercury 71209x45 (10.2.57)
12 Jimmie Dee and the Offbeats - Henrietta - Dot 45-15664
13 Bobby Vee and the Shadows - Suzie Baby - Liberty F-55208
14 The El-Derocks - Hound Dog Blues - Sapphire 1004
15 Carl Perkins - Dixie Fried - Sun 249
16 Ronnie Self - Bop-A-Lena - Columbia 4-41101
17 Bill Parsons - The All American Boy - Fraternity F-835
18 Buddy Knox and the Rhythm Orchids - Party Doll - Roulette R-4002
19 Link Wray and the Raymen - Rumble - Cadence 1347
20 Blue Knights - Who Me - J and J 100-B
21 Roy Orbison - Domino - Sun Album cut only
22 Robin Luke - Susie Darling - Dot 45-15781
23 Terry Noland - Hypnotized - Brunswick 55010
24 Gene Pitney - (I Wanna) Love My Life Away - Musicor MU 1002
25 Cliff Martin & his Cliff Dwellers - I Heard The Juke Box Playing - Crest 45-503
26 Carl Perkins - Put Your Cat Clothes On - Sun Album cut only
27 Sherry Davis - Just A Little Bit -
28 Ray Campi - Loretta
29 Rusty York - Sugaree - Chess 1730
30 Carl Perkins - Tennessee - Sun Album cut only
31 Benny Joy - I'm Gonna Move -
32 Ral Donner - You Don't Know What You've Got - Gone 5108
33 Ray Smith - Rockin' Little Angel - Judd 1016
34 Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps - Lotta Lovin' - Capitol F3763
35 Jack Huddle - Starlight - Kapp DJK-207X

Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People

This is a 1987 reissue on Polygram of an LP which was originally released on Mercury (MG-20424) in 1959. Recorded in one session in New York City in February 1959, this album of sentimental ballads with orchestral and vocal chorus accompaniment represented a change of sound for R&B tenor sax man Sil Austin. This may not be to the taste of those of you who lapped up his booting tenor on "Everything's Shakin'" and on the Tiny Bradshaw compilations, but it certainly attracted attention at the time it was originally released – enough to persuade Mercury to issue more albums in the same vein, and to propel “Danny Boy” into the pop charts.

It’s time for a confession from this fan of honkin’ tenor sax – “Danny Boy” chokes me up every time I listen to it. The string accompaniment is relatively restrained and Sil Austin puts in a ballad performance that is for the ages. So download, and if you have tears to shed, be prepared to shed them as you listen to “Danny Boy”.

The original 1959 release of this album had twelve tracks with the running order as follows:

SIDE-A

A-1 Danny Boy
A-2 Sweet Slumber
A-3 Summertime
A-4 I'll Walk Alone
A-5 My Foolish Heart
A-6 Call Me

SIDE-B
B-1 Ruby
B-2 I Can't Get Started
B-3 My Mother's Eyes
B-4 Prisoner Of Love
B-5 It's The Talk Of The Town
B-6 Stardust

This re-release has only ten tracks in the following order:

1. Danny Boy
2. Prisoner Of Love
3. Summertime
4. I Can't Get Started With You
5. My Foolish Heart
6. Call Me
7. Ruby
8. My Mother's Eyes
9. Sweet Slumber
10. It's The Talk Of The Town

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

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Joan Selects, Volume 14 - Rarities and Collectables

So fine, so rare. And it’s over to Joan for some words of wisdom on these discs:

Joan Selects Volume 14 is a return to group harmony sides. In this set is an early Little Richard as he fronted the Duces of Rhythm for Don Robie's Peacock record label, for "Ain't That Good News". This is one of four singles Little Richard (Richard Penniman) cut for Robie, one additional in the Duces of Rhythm and two as single artist Little Richard Penniman.

"The Mystery Man" by Scotty Mann and the Masters evokes comparisons to all of the "Sixty Minute Man" ilk of songs of the early 1950's and was also recorded for Don Robie's Houston based Peacock record company. Robie also issued many R&B andBlues sides on the Peacock subsidiary Duke, including Johnny Ace and Bobby Bland.

Hot Dog Dooley Wah by the Pyramids on the Shell marque is actually the "B" side of a fair sized hit for the Pyramids, a song called "Ankle Bracelet".

One of my favorite Doo-Wop harmony sings is in this set, on the Chess label, a song called "Show Me the Way" by the Five Notes. Recorded in 1955. The Five Notes (the Notes) later showed up on the Josie record label with a lovely ballad called "You Are So Beautiful", Josie 784.

The Rocketeers recorded "They Turned The Party Out at Bessie's House" for the small Los Angeles record label, MJC in 1958. Previously, the Rocketeers recorded "Hey Rube" for the Los Angeles based Modern label in 1955 (see Joan Selects Volume 2, cut 22). The Five Blue Note's "You Gotta Go, Baby" was recorded for the Chance label subsidiary, Sabre (#108) in 1954 and was one of two by this very high quality/tight harmony Chicago group for the Sabre marque , the other is "My Gal Is Gone" on Sabre 103.

The Littlebeats was Mercury Records attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers success, by featuring a pre-adolescent lead. A listen to the Five Blind Boys of Montana with their "Brother Bill" will give great credence to the link between gospel harmonies and Doo-Wop. This one is in all aspects except subject matter a gospel recording. This was issued in the 1970's on one of the West coast oldies reissue labels.

Thank you so much, Joan – for the rips, the label art and the info.

Ripped from vinyl. Password = greaseyspoon

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01- The Twilighters - Please Tell Me You Are Mine - Marshall 702
02 - Scotty Mann and the Masters - The Mystery Man - Peacock 5-1665
03 - The Duces Of Rhythm - Ain't That Good News - Peacock 5-1616
04 - The Sounds - Anything For You - Modern 45x981
05 - The Playboys - So Good - Tetra 4447
06 - The Keynotes - Really Wish You Were Here - Apollo 493
07 - The Chanters - I Love You - Combo 92
08 - The Pyramids - Hot Dog Dooley Wah - Shell 45-711
09 - The Five Notes - Show Me The Way - Chess 1614
10 - The Performers - I'll Make You Understand - Tip Top 402
11 - The Royals - Fifth Street Blues - Federal 12088 (1952)
12 - The Five Crowns - Good Luck Darlin' - Old Town 777 (Unreleased)
13 - The Neons - My Chickadee - Tetra 4449
14 - The Quotations - Imagination - Verve VK 10245
15 - The Orlandos - Cloudburst - Cindy C-3006
16 - The Five Echoes - Why, Oh Why - Sabre 111
17 - The Ramblers - Come On Back - Trumpet 102
18 - Miriam Grate and the Dovers - Devil You May Be - New Horizon 501
19 - The Rocketeers - They Turned the Party Out At Bessie's House - M.J.C. 50T-45
20 - The Dappers - Bop Bop Bu - Rainbow 45-373
21 - The Five Blue Notes - You Gotta To Go, Baby - Sabre 108
22 - The Versatiles - Lundee Dundee - Ro-Cal 1002A
23 - The Quinns - Oh Starlight -Cyclone 111
24 - The Five Chances - California - Atomic 2494
25 - The Little Beats - Someone For Me - Mercury 71155
26 - The Five Blind Boys of Montana - Brother Bill - Vintage Records 1000
27 - The Wheels - My Hearts Desire - Premium 405-45
28 - The Whispers - Are You Sorry - Gotham G-7-312
29 - The Ideals - Knee Socks - Checker 920
30 - The Packards - Ladise - Pla-Bac P.B. 1068

Joe Liggins - The Honeydripper

1945 was a transitional year in R&B history. Big band records and releases on the major labels still featured prominently on the charts, but independent labels were starting to make inroads. The top selling R&B record of the year was Joe Liggins’ “The Honeydripper” on Leon René’s Exclusive label. The success of this record embodied several trends that would dominate R&B in the next few years: the rise of small jump bands in the wake of the success of Louis Jordan (the year’s top selling R&B artist); the challenge of new independent labels to the dominance of the major labels; and the development of Los Angeles as a major R&B recording centre.

Joe Liggins was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1915. His family emigrated to San Diego, California in 1932. For much of the 1930’s Joe played trumpet and wrote arrangements for a variety of local bands in the San Diego area, but in 1939 he moved to Los Angeles to further his musical career. He played in a quartet with Illinois Jacquet and then with the bands of Cee Pee Johnson and Sammy Franklin. The latter band featured Joe’s composition “The Honeydripper” in its stage act. When Franklin refused to finance a recording of “The Honeydripper”, Joe formed his own small group, The Honeydrippers, with himself on piano, “Little” Willie Jackson and James Jackson on saxes, and Eddie Davis on bass.

By now “The Honeydripper” was a 15 minute long riffer which closed the Liggins’ band’s act every night. Leon René, owner of Exclusive and Excelsior Records heard it, liked it and got the band into the studio in April 1945. The number was released as a two parter and by the end of 1946 had shifted an estimated two million units and inspired a string of cover versions by artists including Roosevelt Sykes, Cab Calloway and Jimmie Lunceford. Two other big hits were also recorded at that session: “Left A Good Deal In Mobile” on which the band backed Duke Ellington vocalist Herb Jeffries, and “I Got A Right To Cry” which was another hit for Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers.

Released in 1988, this Mr R&B LP was the second Joe Liggins compilation on that label. The music is a mix of instrumental shuffles, some of Joe’s more romantic song compositions, a bit of jive, and in “Yvette” and “Lonesome Guitar” a couple of instrumentals that sound like background music from a film noir. These sides were recorded for Exclusive between 1945 and 1949.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

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1. The Honeydripper Part 1
2. The Honeydripper Part 2
3. Left A Good Deal In Mobile (v – Herb Jeffries)
4. Key Jam
5. How Come
6. Apple Of My Eye
7. Doddle-Do-Da-Deet
8. Yvette
9. Drippers' Boogie Part 1
10. Drippers' Boogie Part 2
11. Lonesome Guitar
12. You Ain't Goin' To Heaven No How
13. Three O'Clock Jump Part 1
14. Three O'Clock Jump Part 2
15. Some Of These Days
16. Ruth