Joan Selects, Volume 19 - Joan Gets Silly

And now the end is near … Joan regales us with 31 tracks of rock and roll weirdness ranging from our rousingly raucous blog theme tune, “Bebop Wino," to an incredible demolition of “Unchained Melody.” Food, nonsense lyrics, cod exotica, clothes, and the good lord alone knows what else are thrown into the mix in the frantic quest for that potential motherlode, the novelty hit. Pin back your ears and switch your brains into neutral as Joan takes us on a tour of trash. Over to you, Joanie!

As the Joan Selects series nears the grand finale, Volume 19 takes a light and frivolous look at the world of music in the1950's with some of the fun songs that were issued. Leading off is “Purple Stew”, a record credited in bold type to Thurston Harris, but in actuality, Rufus Hunter and the Masters, released on Los Angeles's Aladdin label. “Unchained Melody” by Vito and the Salutations, is an up-tempo doowop send up of one of those recurring syrupy 1950's ballads. It truthfully never sounded better. It was featured in the film "Goodfellas".

Mr. Rhythm, Andre Williams, from Detroit Michigan, contributes to Joan Selects Volume 19, with a nonsensical monologue, "Pass The Biscuits, Please" for the Fortune label. The Chips "Rubber Biscuit" often imitated, was one of those vocal workout songs that groups could show off in sing-offs. There's another later in this volume "Shombalor" by Sherrif and the Revels. An interesting aspect of the Marquees’ "Hey Little Schoolgirl" is that the session (both sides) was directed by one Ellas McDaniels, better known as Bo Diddley.

Some say that “Silly Dilly” by the Pentagons, is the worst doowop record ever recorded. I like it and therefore am including it here for your judgment. Little Anthony and the Imperials "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop" is very typical of the amazing vocal range of lead singer "Little Anthony" Gourdine. Richard Berry's original version of “Louie Louie” is the fountainhead from which all versions of this song derive. I still like his the best. Berry recorded this for Los Angeles's Flip Label.

A couple of songs here in Joan Selects, Volume 19 feature the song within a song device: “Dedicated (To the Songs I Love)” by the Three Friends and Nino and the Ebbtides: "Jukebox Saturday Night" - I have also included the Belmonts’ fabulous tribute to doowop music called "Street Corner Symphony".

The Spaniels sort of combined adages into a doowop song, in their "Play It Cool", using advertising of wines/cigarettes, etc. to make a funny medley. Other nonsensical subject matters are dealt with on this compilation: myth and lore in both “Rip Van Winkle” by The Devotions and in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by the Monotones, “Western Movies” - the Olympics, and of course the Cello's “Be Bop Mouse”. Joan hasn't totally lost it in this set of selections, just having some fun with some light and meaningless 1950's nonsense. What's your favorite?
Thanks again Joan for this unforgettable mix!

Ripped from vinyl except for one very scratched record which had to be replaced quickly from a bootleg CD. Can you spot which track? And thanks to Joan not only for these sounds but also for the folder of 27 label shots.

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Joan Selects Volume 19

01 Rufus Hunter and the Masters - Purple Stew - Aladdin 45-3440
02 The Halos - Nag - 7 Arts S 709
03 Vito and the Salutations - Unchained Melody - Herald H-583
04 Andre Williams - Pass The Biscuits Please - Fortune 839X
05 The Lamplighters - Be Bop Wino - Federal 45-12152
06 The Chips - Rubber Biscuit - Josie 45-803
07 The Marcels - Friendly Loans - Colpix CP 651
08 The Marquees - Hey Little School Girl - Okeh 4-7096
09 The Pentagons - Silly Dilly - Specialty 644
10 The Imperials - Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop - End 1060
11 Richard Berry and the Pharoes - Louie, Louie - Flip 45-321
12 The Chalets - Fat - Fat - Fat! Mom - Mi - O - True-Lite 1001
13 The Chandeliers - Dancing In The Congo - Angle Tone 529-3
14 The Monotones - The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow - Argo 5321
15 The Spaniels - Play It Cool - Vee Jay VJ-1116
16 The Stereos - I Really Love You - Cub K9095
17 The Fascinators - Fried Chicken & Macaroni - Capitol 45-CL-15062
18 The Three Friends - Dedicated (To The Songs I Love) - Imperial X5763
19 The Cellos - The Be-Bop Mouse - Apollo 516-45
20 The Belmonts – Street Corner Symphony
21 Sheriff and the Revels - Shomblor - Vee Jay VJ 306
22 Rick and The Keens - Peanuts - Le Cam 721
23 12 Year Old Richard Lanham - On Your Radio - Acme 45-A-712
24 The Devotions - Rip Van Winkle - Roulette R-4541
25 Nino and The Ebb Tides - Jukebox Saturday Night - Madison M166
26 The Olympics - Western Movies - Demon FF-1508
27 The Delroys - Bermuda Shorts - Apollo 514
28 The Dandeliers - Chop Chop Boom - States 147
29 The Savoys - Yacka Hoom Boom - Combo 75
30 The Capris - Morse Code Of Love - Ambient Sound 02697
31 The Visuals - The Submarine Race - Popular #115

Joan Selects, Volume 18 – Joan’s New Orleans Jazz Fest Special

(This post originally appeared on the old Bebopwino on April 3rd 2009.) The best yet! I’m not going to say anything except that this selection had me bouncing around the house and almost weeping with pleasure as rhythmic delight after rhythmic delight boomed out of my hi-fi. Over to Joan:

It is one of those unintended confluences that Joan Selects, Volume 18 - Joan's Jazz Fest Special appears just several weeks from the start of the 40th annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival www.nojazzfest.com/. You can thank your blog host for the great timing for this post.

All the music in Joan Selects - Volume 18, emanates from the musical gold-mine that is New Orleans. In fact most all the selections here-in presented were recorded at the legendary J & M recording studios under the astute and gifted direction of Cosimo Matassa.

America's sweethearts, Shirley and Lee lead off Volume 18, with a song that's been recorded in various forms by a whole host of artists, Let The Good Times Roll (Laisse Les Bons Temps Rouler) for the Mesners’ Aladdin record company.

A New Orleans slant on an old 1930's blues theme Stagger Lee, is provided by Archibald (Leon Gross) for Lou Chudd's Imperial Label. Imperial and Aladdin made heavy use of New Orleans artists through out the late 1940's and 1950's.

James "Sugarboy" Crawford, with Snooks Eaglin on guitar, provides one of two Mardi Gras standards - "Jock-A-Mo", recorded for the Checker Label. Producer and band leader Dave Bartholomew, in addition to the other artists he produced and orchestrated, chipped in with occasional recordings of his own - two of which are presented here: "Who Drank My Beer While I Was In The Rear" on Imperial and the privately recorded "Good Jax Boogie" actually an early 1950's advertisement for the Jackson Brewery's main beer: Jax Beer.

The luminary Roland Byrd, more commonly known as Professor Longhair is rep-resented by three selections, here spanning from the earliest for the Mercury recording label: "Bald Head", to the other of the Mardi Gras staples herein presented "Going To The Mardi Gras" and finally the amazingly complex hand stretching piano workout from Professor Longhair, on the Watch Label, "Big Chief, Parts One and Two".

The immensely gifted Aaron Neville is included here with a magical ballad "Every Day" recorded on the Minit Label. Neville's vocal dexterity must be heard to be believed, as he closes out Jazz Fest annually with Amazing Grace.

Several (certainly not enough, in my estimation) zydeco selections are included in volume 18, Clifton Chenier's "Ay-Tete-Fee" (Et Petite Fille) from Art Rupe's Specialty marque is a hard moving accordion based beauty of a song, and from Louisiana's home grown Goldband label comes Cleveland Crochet with "Sugarbee" featuring the vocals of Jay Stutes.

Speaking of vocals New Orleans balladeer Johnny Adams is also a mandatory Volume 18 selection, with his huge hit: "I Won't Cry". New Orleans Doo Wop groups - Chuck Carbo and the Spiders, Bobby Mitchell and The Toppers, and the Pelicans are included (all from the Imperial label).

And of course, Antoine “Fats” Domino, who embodies New Orleans and the 9th Ward, where he continued to live right up until Hurricane Katrina, is represented with one of his major Imperial hits: "I'm Walkin".

Hope that these representative 33 cuts impart some sense of the gifted and multi-talented musicians from New Orleans = The Music City!
Thank you, Joan, for an outstanding selection of New Orleans music and also for a folder of 31 (!) label scans.

Ripped from vinyl at mostly 128 kbps.

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01 Shirley and Lee - Let The Good Times Roll - Aladdin 45-3325
02 Huey Smith and the Clowns - Having A Good Time - Ace 548
03 Earl King - Those Lonely, Lonely Nights - Ace 509
04 Archibald - Stack-a-Lee, Pts. 1 & 2 - Imperial x5358
05 Sugarboy - Jock-A-Mo - Checker 787
06 Wee Willie Wayne - Travellin' Mood - Imperial X5355
07 Paul Gayten - The Music Goes Around and Around - Argo 5257
08 The Hawkettes - Mardi Gras Mambo - Chess 1591
09 Dave Bartholomew - Who Drank My Beer While I Was In the Rear - Imperial 5210
10 Bobby Mitchell and the Toppers - 4 - 11 = 44 - Imperial 45-4250
11 Roy Byrd - Bald Head - Mercury 8175-X45
12 Eddie Bo - We Like Mambo - Ace 515
13 Larry Darnell - For You My Love - Regal 3240 (11/1949)
14 Fats Domino - I'm Walkin' - Imperial 5428
15 Chris Kenner - Sick and Tired - Imperial X5448
16 Jewel King - 3 x 7 = 21 - Imperial 5055 (3/1950)
17 Professor Longhair - Going to The Mardi Gras - Ron 329
18 Dave Bartholomew - Good Jax Boogie - JAX 1-2
19 Johnny Fuller - Sister Jenny - Imperial X5382
20 Frankie Ford - Roberta - Ace 554
21 The Spiders - Witchcraft - Imperial X5366
22 Aaron Neville - Every Day - Minit 612
23 Bobby Charles - Put Your Arms Around Me Honey - Chess 1647
24 Clifton Chenier - Ay-Tete-Fee - Specialty XSP-552-45
25 Johnny Adams - I Won't Cry - Ric 961 RIC
26 Smiley Lewis - Shame, Shame, Shame - Imperial X5418
27 Roland Cook - I've Got A Girl -
29 The Pelicans - Chimes - Imperial x5307
30 Lee Allen - Rockin' At Cosimo's - Aladdin 45-3334
31 Cleveland Crochet - Sugarbee - Goldband S-1055
32 Rod Bernard - This Should Go On Forever - Jin 45-101
33 Professor Longhair - Big Chief 1 and 2 - Watch 45-1900

Joan Selects, Volume 17 – Joanie

We’re at volume 17 of Joan’s unmissable series of vinyl rips, with doowop once more to the fore. Joan promised 20 volumes, so the end of “Joan Selects” is looming on the horizon. My own personal favourite from this selection has to be “Ooo Wee Baby” by the Ivy Tones, but move over Rover, let Joanie take over:

The Joan Selects series visits the world of rare and unreleased group harmonies one final time. Highlights in this volume include the exceedingly rare "Sitting By My Window" by the Five Tinos, one of a very precious few doo wop groups recorded by Sun Records, the other of more widespread note being the Prisonaires. Both the Diadems and the El Capris records emanate from the late 1950s from the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania music scene while from across the state, the unbelievably smooth and polished Lee Andrews and the Hearts recorded "Show Me The Meringue" for the Philadelphia based Gotham label.

Bill Gordon and the Colonials "Two Loves Have I' Served as one of the very first singles to be issued on George Goldner’s Gee Label, and saw the label with a very uncommon yellow and green color format. Much more common for the Gee Label was the red paper with black print. The legendary Bobby Mansfield and the Wrens are represented here with the unreleased "Wreckless". The Maples (Blue Lake), the Cabineers (Prestige) and the four Shades of Rhythm (Old Swingmaster) harken back to the early days of group harmony as can clearly be heard on the tracks.

The Jets "Gomen Nasai" a highly polished and well produced effort, was released by the Mesner Brothers on the short lived Aladdin subsidary 7 - 11. Of special note in this volume is an acapella masterpiece by Leroy Griffin and the Nutmegs called "Down In Mexico", not to be missed.
Thank you Joan for yet another outstanding collection!

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01 The Tops - An Innocent Kiss - Singular 712
02 The El Capris - Dance All Night - Fee Bee FB-216
03 The Re-vels - False Alarm. - Chess 1708
04 Lee Andrews and the Hearts - Show Me The Meringue - Gotham G-318
05 The Minors - Jerry - Celeste 3007
06 The Crescents - Everybody Knew But Me - JoYce 102
07 Bill "Bass" Gordon and His Colonials - Two Loves Have I - Gee GG-12
08 The Five Discs - Never Let You Go - Cheer 1000
09 Richie and the Royals - And When I'm Near You - Rello RST-1
10 The Superiors - Don't Say Goodbye - Main Line M-104B
11 The Diadems - Why Don't You Believe Me - Star 514
12 The Five Tinos - Sitting By My Window - Sun 222
13 The Jets - Gomen Nasai- 1953 - 7-11 2102
14 The Victorians - Please Say You Do - Selma 1002
15 The Gaynotes - Plea Of Love - Zynn 504
16 The Wrens - Wreckless Rama (unreleased)
17 The Tempotones - Ride Along - Acme 713
18 The Rockers - Count Every Star - Carter 3029
19 The Versatiles - Cold feet
20 The Bay Bops - Joanie - Coral 61975
21 The Nutmegs - Down In Mexico - Relic 528A
22 The Orchids - Oh Why - King 45-4661
23 The Ivy Tones - Ooo Wee Baby - RT 105
24 The Five Echoes - Tastee Freeze - Veel Jay VJ 156
25 The Keystoners - Magic kiss - G&M 102
26 The Cabineers - Whirlpool - Abbey 3003 (1949)
27 The Maples - I Must Forget You - Blue Lake 111
28 The Jets - Drag It Home Baby - 1953 - Rainbow 201
29 The Victorians - Heartbreaking Moon - Saxony 103
30 The Four Shades Of Rhythm - Baby I'm Gone - Old Swingmaster 13

Joan Selects, Volume 16 - More Answers and Sequels

Joan presents a follow-up to her previous volume on answer records (Volume 12), or is this an answer compilation to the previous answer compilation? Send your answers via the comments section, please. And it’s over to Joan …

Volume 16 of the Joan Selects series represents a second and final visit to the world of sequels and answer songs. There were several long sequences that at the time seemed to extend for years - the "Annie-Henry" series, a good natured banter between Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and Etta James and Her Peaches, not visited here, and the "Daughter" sequence, which is sampled in this Joan Selects. It was instigated by Ruth Brown with her giant R&B hit for Atlantic in the early '50s with "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" - The size of sales of this record kicked off a sequence of "answer songs" from the likes of Wynonie Harris and the Five Keys, both represented here.

The theme of sexual prowess was the veiled subject matter of the Dominoes when they recorded Sixty Minute Man for Cincinnati's Federal Records in 1951, and then saw various of the early 1950's doo wop groups chime in with their sequels - one of which (The Du-Droppers - I Can't Do Sixty No More for Bobby Robinson's Red Robin marque) is included here along with the original Dominoes recording.

Some very interesting "follow-ups" or sequels are included here ..., most of which sold poorly. It's worth noting that several of the noted blues men of the 1940's (Lonnie Johnson) and 1950's (Slim Harpo and Big John Greer) got into the act, and are represented here. Several high quality doo wop originals and follow-ups are here as well - "Everybody's Laughing" by Vee-Jay's Spaniels and "I Laughed" by the Jesters, and The Genie's "Who's That Knocking" and the answer "It's Me Knocking" by Jeanie and Her Boyfriends. The Bobbettes are here twice as they answered Chris Kenner's early 1960's New Orleans hit "I Like It Like That, Part 1" with their own "I Don't Like It Like That" and they "answered" their own biggest hit "Mr. Lee" with "I Shot Mr Lee".
Ripped from crackling vinyl at various bitrates. Password = greaseyspoon.

The download includes thirty label shots to die for. Thanks for everything Joan!

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Joan Selects Volume 16 - More Answers And Sequels


01 Little Caesar and the Romans - Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me Of You) - Del-Fi 4158
02 Little Caesar and the Romans - Memories of Those Oldies But Goodies - Del-Fi 4166
03 Slim Harpo - I'm A King Bee - Excello 45-2113
04 Slim Harpo - Little Queen Bee - Excello 45-2246
05 Billy Ward & The Dominoes - Sixty Minute Man - Federal 45-12022-AA
06 The Du Droppers - I Can't Do Sixty No More - Red Robin 108-X45
07 Hank Ballard and the Midnighters - Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go - King 45-5400
08 Hank Ballard and the Midnighters - Let's Go Again (Where We Went Last Night) - King 45-5459
09 The Silhouettes - Get A Job - Junior 391
10 The Heartbeats - I Found A Job - Roulette R-4054
11 The Miracles - Got A Job - End E-1016
12 Ruth Brown - Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Atlantic 45-986
13 The Five Keys - Mama, Your Daughter's Told A Lie On Me - Aladdin - 3175
14 Wynonie Harris - Mama, Your Daughter's Done Lied On Me - King
15 J B Lenoir - What About Your Daughter - Checker 874
16 The Spaniels - Everybody's Laughing - Vee Jay VJ 246
17 The Jesters - I Laughed - Cyclone 5011B
18 Chris Kenner - I Like It Like That, Part 1 - Instant VR-3229
19 The Bobettes - I Don't Like It Like That - Gone 5112
20 Lonnie Johnson - Tomorrow Night - King 45-4758
21 Lonnie Johnson - Will You Remember (The Answer to "Tomorrow Night") - Rama RR-14
22 Chuck Berry - Maybelline - Chess 1604
23 Big John Greer - Come Back Maybelline – Groove 46-0119
24 Johnny Otis - Willie and the Hand Jive - Capitol F3966
25 Johnny Otis - Hand Jive One More Time -
26 The Tune Weavers - Happy, Happy Birthday Baby - Casa Grande 4037-45
27 The Tune Weavers - My Congratulations Baby - Casa Grande 3038
28 The Tune Weavers - Congratulations On Your Birthday - Checker 1007
29 The Orioles - Crying In The Chapel - Jubilee 45-5122
30 Sonny Till & The Orioles - Back To The Chapel - Charlie Parker 213
31 The Capris - There's a Moon Out Tonight - Trommers TR-101
32 The Capris - There's A Moon Out Again - Ambient Sound 02697
33 The Safaris - Image Of A Girl - Eldo 101
34 The Safaris - My Image Of A Girl Was You -
35 The Earls - Remember Then - Old Town 1130
36 The Earls - Remember Me Baby - Old Town 1181
37 The Genies - Who's That Knocking - Shad 5002
38 Jeanie and Her Boyfriends – It’s Me Knocking - Warwick 508
39 The Bobettes - Mr. Lee - Atlantic 45-1144
40 The Bobettes - I Shot Mr. Lee - Triple-X 104

Lionel Hampton - Live in Paris (2LP set)

My thanks go to a donor from Switzerland who ripped this rare 2LP set of a Lionel Hampton concert at the Olympia in Paris.

Although the inside of the gatefold sleeve states that this album was recorded at the Olympia in 1961, it is in fact a recording of a 1956 concert at the world famous Paris venue. The tracks were recorded on the 28th and 30th of January. The band personnel includes Eddie Chamblee and Rickey Brauer on tenor saxes and Curtis Lowe on baritone sax.

For the most part this is red hot raucous stuff played to a wildly enthusiastic audience. It’s just the kind of thing that used to get certain jazz critics shaking their heads and muttering in disapproval at such disorderly goings on at a jazz concert, but it’s also the kind of music that is the very essence of Be Bop Wino. One thought that occurred to me while listening was – “with music like this already in existence, why did they bother inventing rock and roll?” Keep on boogying!

Ripped from vinyl at 128 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon. Sleeve scans included.

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Many thanks again to our anonymous donor!

1. Albuquerque
2. Paulette's Boogie
3. Panama
4. Gladys
5. Flying At The Olympia
6. Memories Of You
7. Halleluia
8. Battle Of The Saxes
9. One O'Clock Jump
10. The Rice
11. Blues For Sacha
12. Where Or When
13. Patricia's Boogie
14. Perdido
15. Drums Fight
16. Rocking At The Olympia
17. Blues One
18. Clopin Clopant
19. 10 Rue Caumartin
20. Hey Ba Ba Re Bop

Wynonie Harris - Playful Baby

Released in 1986, this was the third Wynonie Harris LP to be issued on Route 66. It follows the pattern of “Oh Babe!” with the first half devoted to mid 1940s sides released on Apollo and Aladdin, and the second half given over to King sides from the late 1940s and early 1950s.

This LP was released in a gatefold sleeve which had the complete text and photos from a Wynonie Harris interview for TAN magazine in 1954. There is also a memoir by Velda Shannon who knew Wynonie from the late 1920s in Omaha until his final years in 1960s Los Angeles.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

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Playful Baby (Mega)

The Tracks:

with Oscar Pettiford and his All Stars, Los Angeles, September 1945:

1. I Gotta Lyin' Woman (Apollo 387)

with Johnnie Alston and his All Stars, Los Angeles, December 1945:

2. Playful Baby (Apollo 372)

with Oscar Pettiford and his All Stars, Los Angeles, September 1945:

3. Rebecca's Blues (Apollo 387)

with Johnnie Alston and his All Stars, Los Angeles, December 1945:

4. Take Me Out Of The Rain (Apollo 381)

with Oscar Pettiford and his All Stars, Los Angeles, September 1945:

5. Everybody's Boogie (Apollo 378)

with Johnnie Alston and his All Stars, Los Angeles, December 1945:

6. Papa Tree Top (Apollo 372)

with the Hot Lips Page Band, Cincinnati, December 1947:

7. Lollipop Mama (King 4226)

Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris and his All-Stars, New York City, July 1947:

8. Ghost Of A Chance (Aladdin, 196)

with the Todd Rhodes Orchestra, Cincinnati, January 1952:

9. Married Women - Stay Married (King 4526)

with the Lucky Millinder Orchestra, New York City, June 1952:

10. Do It Again, Please (King 4555)

with the Sonny Thompson band, New York City, October 1950:

11. Triflin' Woman (King 4415)

with the Lucky Millinder Orchestra, New York City, June 1952:

12. Night Train (King 4555)

with the Sonny Thompson band, Cincinnati, November 1952:

13. Bring It Back (King 4593)

Wynonie Harris, New York City, September 1953:

14. Nearer My Love To Thee (King 4668)

with the Sonny Thompson band, Cincinnati, November 1954:

15. Git With The Grits (King 4814)
16. Good Mambo Tonight (King 4774)

Wynonie Harris - Oh Babe!

No R&B blog can be complete unless it takes a look at the works of Wynonie Harris, blues shouter extraordinaire. A guy who lived the life portrayed in so many of his songs – booze, broads, partying, gambling, more booze, more partying and so on. His series of hard rocking, salacious sides recorded for King in the late 1940s and early 1950s are among the greatest R&B records ever recorded and were an important step in the evolution of early rock and roll.

Wynonie was born in 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His showbiz career started with spots as a dancer (with dance partner Velda Shannon as seen on the front cover photo of this LP) and MC in local theatres and clubs. Omaha is only two hundred miles from Kansas City and it was to the booming music scene of KC that Wynonie made several trips. There he heard two leather-lunged blues shouters, Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner and decided to take up singing the blues.

In 1940 Wynonie relocated to Los Angeles where the Central Avenue scene was taking off. He became established at the Club Alabam as MC and singer. In 1944 he got his big break when Lucky Millinder invited him to join his band as replacement vocalist for Trevor Bacon who was leaving to join the new Tab Smith outfit. Now Wynonie was fronting one of the leading big bands in the country at venues such as The Apollo Theatre and The Savoy Ballroom. He made his recording debut for Decca on the Millinder sides “Hurry Hurry Baby” and “Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well?” The latter was a huge hit in June 1945, reaching number one and spending twenty weeks in the race chart.

Just as “Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well?” was racing up the charts, Wynonie made his solo recording debut for the new Los Angeles based indie label Philo (which would later become Aladdin), backed by a small band (including bebop trumpeter Howard McGhee) organised by Johnny Otis. “Around The Clock Blues” saw some good sales locally and was covered by Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner, among others. It was a big influence on the later rock and roll hits “Rock Around The Clock” and “Reelin’ and Rockin’.”

Wynonie spent the rest of 1945 recording four sessions for Apollo, backed by bands led by Illinois Jacquet, Jack McVea, Oscar Pettiford and Johnnie Alston. Two of the recordings broke into the race chart in 1946: “Wynonie’s Blues” and “Playful Baby”, reaching number three and number two respectively.

There was a session for Lionel Hampton’s Hamp-Tone label at the end of 1945 or beginning of 1946 which included a two part version of “Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop!” with backing from Hampton sidemen including Arnett Cobb, Joe Morris and Milt Buckner. A few months later Wynonie cut a session in Nashville for the new Bullet label. Sun Ra made his recording debut at this session.

In late 1946 Wynonie signed for Aladdin, recording three sessions for the label between November 1946 and July 1947. None of the records released on Aladdin saw chart action and Wynonie’s contract was not renewed, even though he had failed to record sixteen sides as called for in the original contract. Although he was still a popular live performer, Wynonie’s chart career had flatlined and drastic action was needed to revive it. This was soon forthcoming – he relocated to New York (where he would stay until 1964), he got himself a new agent (Jimmy Evans), and most importantly of all he signed a contract with King Records.

Wynonie began recording for King in December 1947, cutting four sessions as the company stockpiled sides to see them through a looming AFM strike. It was at the fourth of these sessions on December 28th that Wynonie recorded two sides which would restore his chart fortunes – “Good Rockin’ Tonight” and “Lollipop Mama.”

“Good Rockin’ Tonight” was a rocked-up cover of Roy Brown’s chart hit. It went on to easily outsell the original, becoming Wynonie’s biggest hit by reaching the number one spot and spending twenty five weeks on the chart in mid 1948. Of course to many fans of early rock and roll this is the holy grail – the record that launched dozens of R&B discs with “rock” or “rockin’” in the title and which was eventually covered by Elvis at Sun. It also kicked off the most successful spell of Wynonie’s career – he had a total of thirteen R&B chart hits on King between 1948 and 1952.

Backed by musicians usually drawn from the bands of Lucky Millinder, Todd Rhodes and Sonny Thompson, these King sides blasted forth from the juke boxes and into the charts. Sex and booze were the staple subject matter with a little gambling on the side. There was good natured innuendo aplenty in sides like “I Want My Fanny Brown”, “Sittin’ On It All The Time,” “I Like My Baby’s Pudding,” and “Lovin’ Machine.” Let the good times roll and to hell with the consequences was the message that Wynonie proclaimed.

Then suddenly the success wasn’t there any more. His last chart hit was “Lovin’ Machine” in early 1952. Record sales fell, Wynonie was slipping down the concert bills and venues were getting smaller. He was still turning out some great records at King all the way through to late 1954. “Keep On Churnin’,” “Night Train,” “Greyhound,” “Rot Gut,” “Quiet Whiskey,” “Down Boy Down,” “Shake That Thing,” “Git To Gittin, Baby,” and “Git With The Grits” are all brilliant R&B stompers, but they weren’t what was selling to the younger fans who now preferred the vocal group sound.

Wynonie’s contract with King ended in 1954. In 1956 he recorded some sides for the Atlantic subsidiary Atco, including the Leiber-Stoller song “Destination Love”, but nobody was buying. In 1957 he cut a few more sides for King that went nowhere. In 1960 and early 1961 he recorded for Roulette. These sides were mostly bowdlerised versions of some of his old R&B hits, aimed at the rock and roll crowd, but who the hell was gonna buy? Three sides cut for Chess in 1964 remained unreleased during Wynonie’s lifetime. And that was it as far as recording was concerned.

He was never a man to save for a rainy day and as his star dimmed, he scratched a living running clubs, promoting musicians and tending bar. In 1963 he returned to LA for a residency at the Hideaway Club and stayed out West for what remained of his life. He ran clubs and did a little illegal bookmaking on the side. It all ended with his death in June 1969 from cancer of the oesophagus.

The suddenness of Wynonie’s fall from the top was surprising. The contrast with the later careers of his fellow blues shouters Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing and Jimmy Witherspoon is startling. Within a few years Wynonie was a forgotten figure while his three rivals enjoyed careers which extended over decades. In his superb book “Rock Mr. Blues: the life and music of Wynonie Harris”, Tony Colllins points out that while Turner, Rushing and Witherspoon found an audience among jazz fans, Wynonie was being promoted as a potential rock and roll singer, a move which with hindsight seems to have been misguided to say the least. Through most of his career Wynonie had worked alongside top jazz musicians (look at the backing bands back in 1945 and 1946, especially) and surely he could have recorded in that style again.

As it was, Wynonie’s reputation gradually revived as interest in real rhythm and blues grew again in the 1970s and 1980s. But of course the man himself was in no position to benefit when his records were re-released, but perhaps, leaning against the bar in the great after hours joint in the sky, he was able to raise his glass to his new fans down below.

“Oh Babe!” released on Route 66 in 1982. Liner notes include a memoir by Wynonie’s lifelong friend Preston Love.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

The tracks:

with Johnny Otis’ All Stars, Los Angeles July 1945:

1. Around The Clock parts 1 & 2 (Philo 103)
2. Cock-A-Doodle-Doo (Philo 104)
3. Yonder Goes My Baby (Philo 104)

with Oscar Pettiford and his All Stars, Los Angeles, September 1945:

4. Time To Change Your Town (Apollo 378)

Wynonie “Mr Blues” Harris and his All Stars, New York City 1947:

5. Hard Ridin' Mama (Aladdin 208)
6. You Got To Get Yourself A Job, Girl (Aladdin 208)

Wynonie (Mr. Blues) Harris, Nashville, March/April 1946:

7. My Baby's Barrel House (Bullet 252)

with Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra, New York City, October 1950:

8. Oh Babe! (King 4418)

with the Todd Rhodes Orchestra, Cincinnati, July 1951:

9. Luscious Woman (King 4485)

with the Sonny Thompson band, Cincinnati, November 1952:

10. Bad News Baby (There'll Be No Rockin' Tonight) (King 4593)

New York City, May 1950:

11. Stormy Night Blues (King 4378)

New York City, September 1953:

12. Down Boy Down (King 4685)

with the Sonny Thompson band, Cincinnati, November 1954:

13. Git To Gittin' Baby (King 4774)

with the Sonny Thompson band, Cincinnati April 1954:

14. Don't Take My Whiskey Away From Me (King 4724)
15. I Get A Thrill (King 4724)

Download from here:

Oh Babe! (Mega)

Recommended purchases:



“Rock Mr Blues: the life and music of Wynonie Harris” by Tony Collins, Big Nickel, 1995.



Wynonie Harris – Rockin’ The Blues (Proper 4CD set). A superb collection which covers all of Wynonie’s pre-King sides, plus his King recordings up until late 1950. The accompanying booklet has in depth notes by Joop Visser.



Wynonie Harris – Lovin’ Machine (Ace CDCHD 843): a selection of King sides from 1951 to 1957. Essential rockin’ stuff from the master tapes.



Wynonie Harris – Women, Whiskey & Fish Tails (Ace CDCHD457): more King sides from mainly 1953 and 1954. Includes “Greyhound” and “Shake That Thing.”