Joan Spins Again! Volume 4

Side 1

1 Come On Little Baby - The Kings

2 Every Night About This Time - The Sophomores

3 It's Too Late Now - The Cufflinks

4 Never - The Dundees

5 Tree In The Meadow - The Carnations

6 Tomorrow Night - The Serenaders

7 Until You - The Delmonicos

8 4 O’clock In The Morning - The Tornadoes

9 Girl Friend – The Five Scalders

Side 2

1 Why Go On Pretending - The Haven Knights

2 I'm In Love - The Velvet Angels

3 Here I Am Broken Hearted - The Roomates

4 Nellie - The Invictas

5 I Love You Really I Do - The Tantones

6 Juke Box Rock 'n' Roll - The Marigolds

7 I've Been Dreaming - The Rogues

8 Crying My Heart Out - The Masters

9 Blue Island - The Rannels

Number four in Joan’s new series, and perhaps the best yet? Over to Joan –

In this volume there’s something for everyone. The Cufflinks from South Central Los Angeles, of "Guided Missile" fame show that they have mastery of the slow ballad as well. The extremely scarce and collectible "Never" by the Dundees, has namesake Carlyle Dundee on lead. Very few of these have ever surfaced, and most collectors have never even seen it over the last 30 years.

"Tree in the Meadow" is a dreamy early 1950's  ballad from the Derby record company. The Serenaders’ rendition  of Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night" is a most credible send-up, incidentally is also extremely scarce on Detroit's J.V.B. label.

The Five Scalders, also from Detroit are represented here on Volume Four with Girl Friend on Detroit's Drummond marque.  The Tornadoes on Chicago's legendary Chess label, are one of just a few doo wop groups on Chess (other than the Moonglows and Flamingoes), with their "Four O'Clock In The Morning".

Johnny Bragg takes the lead on the Marigolds up tempo "Juke Box Rock 'N' Roll". Bragg had his singing roots in the legendary Sun records Prisonaires vocal group, where he was lead harmony. Also in Volume 4 an interesting acapella issue with "I'm In Love" by the Velvet Angels, who by all accounts were the reformed Diablos several years after the original Nolan Strong and the Diablos disbanded. Rumor has it that Nolan Strong was in the harmony on this one, but not as lead vocalist.

Boogiewoody takes you through Joan’s platters that matter and tells you why this is one hell of a comp:

“Come On Little Baby” by The Kings is a breathless rush of 1950s adrenalin complete with searing sax that lasts about ten seconds then we’re straight into the kind of vocal group track that Joan knows I love – a 1950s reworking of a sophisticated ballad – “Every Night About this Time” which is an old Ink Spots number, here given the dreamy treatment by The Sophomores. And we’re gonna stay in dreamland for the next few tracks, so close your eyes and relax baby ‘cos here come The Cufflinks on Dootsie Williams’ Dooto label with a slab of pure 1950s longing – “It’s Too Late Now.” Yeah, she wants you back but you’ve found somebody else so you can tell her you’re through – or are you?

The slow numbers continue with “Never” which may be the ultimate “we’re through” song in which a terrific lead vocal by Carlyle Dundee soars triumphantly over an out of tune piano. We’re stayin’ sentimental with “Tree In The Meadow” by The Carnations which comes with an Ink Spots style guitar intro and there’s no “so long and get lost baby” sentiments here – just a plain and simple “I’ll Love You Forever.”

And now for an over the top vocal group version of “Tomorrow Night” a song which was a huge hit for Lonnie Johnson in 1948 and that was kind of unlikely ‘cos Lonnie was an innovative blues guitarist and vocalist and “Tomorrow Night” was a piece of Tin Pan Alley pop written in 1939. And I simply don’t know what to make of this out to lunch version by The Serenaders, whomsoever they might have been … I think I like it. Judge for yourselves.

Things sure liven up with an obviously worn to a frazzle disc of “Until You” by The Delmonicos, who kind of remind me of Dion and the Belmonts. Go for it, guys! And then …

OMG as they say – “Four O’clock In the Morning” by The Tornadoes which featured in an earlier Be Bop Wino post of Chess doo wop sides. A post which staggered drunkenly from weepy disc to weepy disc as your lovelorn blog host sought solace in a bottle of 12 year old Scotch while lying on the floor by the turntable … and here we are once more, with yours truly having gone through the complete loved and lost cycle again since that last post and now Joan comes up with this one! I ain’t gonna make it to the end of this comp I tells ya …

Phew, things speed up a bit now with “Girl Friend” which is a basic piece of teen pop with a great sax player on there in among the generic infantile lyrics. Second half coming up …

More sentimental teen type stuff from The Haven Knights but these guys have class. And now here’s some pure vocal joy – a brilliant acapella performance from The Velvet Angels with “I’m In Love.” There’s a definite heavy gospel influence on this one. And here’s where the art of the compilation kicks in as Joan keeps it unaccompanied with The Roomates showing off their chops on “Here I Am Broken Hearted.” The lyrics might seem trite but what a performance!

And now for a full yackety sax driven R&B performance of “Nellie” by The Invictas which shifts the mood nicely and we stay up tempo with the Tantones and their slightly weird falsetto lead vocal on another R&B stomper – “I Love You Really I Do.” This is deep doo wop and I love it!

Right, it’s time for a one hundred per cent stone classic piece of  rockin’ rhythm and blues. Yes, it’s The Marigolds led by the incomparable Johnny Bragg on a genuine blaster “Juke Box Rock ‘n’ Roll.” There are no words to describe the sheer genius of this one.

Gettin’ near the end and the scene shifts to a public toilet where we find The Rogues plus rhythm and sax squeezed into a cubicle with a microphone as they frantically belt out “I’ve Been Dreaming.” All good things must indeed come to an end so how does Joan bring this work of art to a close? Well, there’s a big, big sentimental ending with “Crying My Heart Out” by the solid gone The Masters. Can’t top that? Oh yes you can, if you’re as deeply into this kind of music as Joan is. “Blue Island” by The Rannels evokes a whole lost era of rock ‘n’ roll and r&b in a couple of minutes of sheer artistry. And that’s it folks. A long lost decade summed up in eighteen obscure and semi obscure records. That’s what I call a compilation!

Ripped in various bit rates.

Joan Spins Again - Volume 4 (Mega)

 01 - The Kings - Come On Little Baby - 1958 - Jalo 203

 02 - The Sophomores - Every Night About This Time - 1956 - Dawn 216

 03 - The Cufflinks -  It'S Too Late Now 1957 - Dooto 422

 04 - The Dundees - Never – 1954 - Space 201

 05 - The Carnations - Tree In The Meadow - 1952 Derby 789

 06 - The Serenaders - Tomorrow Night - 1952 JVB 2001 

 07 - The Delmonicos - Until You – 1964 - Musictone 6122

 08 - The Tornadoes - 4 O'Clock In The Morning - 1956 - Chess 1649

 09 - The Five Scalders - Girl Friend – 1956 - Drummond 4-3001

 10 - The Haven Knights - Why Go On Pretending – 1957 - Atlas 1092

 11 - The Velvet Angels - I'm In Love – 1964 - Medieval 201 (The Diablos, acapella)

 12 - The Roomates - Here Am I Broken Hearted - Unreleased

 13 - The Invictas - Nellie – 1959 - Jack Bee 1003

 14 - The Tantones - I love you really I do – 1956 - Lamp 2002

 15 - The Marigolds - Juke Box Rock 'n' Roll – 1956 - Excello 2091

 16 - The Rogues - I've Been Dreamin - 1958 - Old Town 1056

 17 - The Masters - Crying My Heart Out - 1958 Le Sage 713

 18 - The Rannels - Blue Island – 1963 - Boss 2122

With thanks to Joan.

South of the Orient / Later – Tiny Bradshaw, His Piano and Band (King 4664 Dee Jay Special)

Both sides were recorded in Cincinnati on July 29th, 1953. Personnel: Bill Hardman (tp); Andrew Penn (tb); Sil Austin, Rufus Gore (ts); Jimmy Robinson (p); Sam Jones (b); Philip Paul (d)

The record was released in October, 1953. Sil Austin made his recording debut for the Bradshaw band at this session, having replaced Red Prysock who left earlier in the year to start a successful solo career. Thanks are due to El Enmascarado for unearthing this 78 rpm disc.

Listen to "South Of The Orient"

Listen to "Later"

El Enmascarado comments: “South Of The Orient/Later by Tiny Bradshaw is on a white label promo/DJ copy. Although it looked pristine and pretty much unplayed, it had more surface grit than I expected. That might possibly have something to do with the disc seeming to be made out of vinyl rather than shellac.

South Of The Orient is kind of Afro/Exotica with a mambo beat. It's mostly piano bass and drums, although the horns play quietly in a few spots.

Later is a more straight ahead jump number. The drummer plays brushes rather than sticks, which tend to give it a lighter feel.”

This disc was released after Tiny Bradshaw had enjoyed two substantial instrumental R&B chart hits in 1953 – “Soft” and “Heavy Juice.” Unfortunately “South Of The Orient” failed to live up to the success of the two preceding Bradshaw releases. It may be that “South Of The Orient” was a little too exotic and “jazzy” for the R&B crowd.

Billboard Magazine reviewed “South Of The Orient” thus: “This Oriental flavoured effort bears a close kinship to some of the work being turned out by the bopsters today, but the pulsating tempo and the bright drum work make it a listenable hunk of wax. Good for jazz jocks.”

As for “Later” Billboard commented: “The Tiny Bradshaw ork has a happy time with this riff instrumental that is more jazz than r&b. It swings and it should please a lot of the cats.”

Here’s your chance to hear the two numbers that made it big for Tiny Bradshaw in 1953. “Soft” was released in late 1952 and peaked at number 3 in the R&B charts, spending most of spring 1953 on the best selling list. “Heavy Juice” was a smaller hit, reaching number 9 in August 1953.

Listen to "Soft"

Listen to "Heavy Juice"

Big John Greer - R & B In New York City

Side 1

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

Side 2

1 I'm The Fat Man

2 Beginning To Miss You

3 Rhythm In The Breeze

4 Drinkin' Fool

5 Getting Mighty Lonesome For You

6 Too Long

7 Come Back Maybelline

8 Night Crawlin'

This LP was originally uploaded to Be Bop Wino about 5 years ago. Ye gods, we’ve passed our 5th anniversary – 5 years of online rhythm ’n’ bluesin’ – doesn’t time fly? Back then I hadn’t worked out how to scan complete LP covers, so the accompanying scans were pretty poor. The previous post of El Enmascarado’s Big John Greer disc on Sittin’ In With gives me a good excuse to re-up this collection with all new Be Bop Wino standard cover scans and present them for your pleasure. Plus I can also include a little more info on Mr Greer. It’s still the same sound files though …

Tenor sax man and vocalist John Greer arrived in New York to join the Lucky Millinder Orchestra in 1948, on the recommendation of his former school bandmate Henry Glover. As we saw in the previous post he recorded four sides for Bobby Shad’s Sittin’ In With label before his first session on RCA Victor with Millinder which came in January 1949. Possessor of a pleasant singing voice, able to handle sweet ballads and more raucous jump material as well as being more than handy on the tenor sax, he was a natural replacement for Bull Moose Jackson, who had left the Millinder outfit to embark on a very successful solo career.

Greer’s career path closely followed that of Jackson – recording simultaneously with the Millinder band and with his own Rhythm Rockers. When Millinder left RCA in 1950, Greer continued to record for the label and its Groove R&B subsidiary until 1955. Many of his releases were ballads but they failed to bring the success that Bull Moose enjoyed with similar material in the late 1940s and early 50s. In the meantime, Greer continued to record with the Millinder band through 1950 after they had moved to King, most noticeably at a May 1950 session where he was the featured vocalist on several sides including "Let It Roll Again."

Also on King, Greer recorded with Wynonie Harris (“Oh Babe!” “Teardrops From My Eyes” and “Bloodshot Eyes”), Bull Moose Jackson (“Nosey Joe” and “Bearcat Blues”), and Annisteen Allen. His only substantial hit on RCA was “Got You On My Mind” which reached number two on the Billboard R&B chart in the spring of 1952. His contract with RCA / Groove was not renewed in 1955, and he had two sessions for King in 1956 before his recording career was brought to a premature end by what are euphemistically called “lifestyle issues” aka booze.

“R&B In New York City” was released in 1988. As well as the big hit “Got You On My Mind,” there are a few good rockers such as the raunchy “You Played On My Piano” (with Dolores Brown), “I’m The Fat Man” and “Come Back Maybelline” – a fine answer record to Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline.” Ballads predominate on this collection, but they aren’t too sickly sweet and in fact make for pleasantly relaxed listening.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

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

Recommended purchase – “I’m The Fat Man” (Rev-ola CR Band 17)

This thirty track collection compiled by Dave Penny concentrates on the swinging, jumping and rocking side of Big John Greer’s music. It includes four tracks recorded with The Du Droppers and comes with very informative notes. An excellent purchase for rockin’ R&B fans.

Tonight’s The Night / Hey Bruz – Big John Greer and his Quartet (Sittin’ In With 518)

Both sides recorded in New York City in the second half of 1948. Exact recording date, personnel and date of release are unknown.

This one-off session for Bobby Shad’s Sittin’ In With label marked the recording debut of Big John Greer. Two singles resulted from the session – “Rockin’ With Big John” / “Wine-ola” (Sittin’ In With 510) plus the featured platter on this post which we can all enjoy thanks to El Enmascarado’s work in ripping these sides from the original 78 rpm shellac disc.

Listen to "Tonight's The Night"

Listen to "Hey Bruz"

The Sittin’ In With date was something of a moonlight session for tenor sax player and vocalist Big John Greer who had arrived in New York City to join Lucky Millinder’s Orchestra as a replacement for Bull Moose Jackson who had embarked on a solo career. The Millinder outfit was under contract to RCA Victor and Greer’s first recording session with the band took place in January 1949. He sang on “Little Girl Don’t Cry” which was a number fifteen R&B hit, although it was heavily outsold by the Bull Moose Jackson version which reached number two in the charts.

Greer’s career followed a parallel path to that of his fellow saxophonist / vocalist Bull Moose Jackson when he started recording as leader of a small group called The Rhythm Rockers, which consisted of Millinder band members, in April 1949 for RCA Victor. When the Millinder band moved to King in 1950, Greer continued to record for Victor and subsequently its R&B subsidiary Groove until the mid 1950s. He recorded as a sideman for King, being on the Lucky Millinder / Wynonie Harris session which produced a storming version of Louis Prima’s “Oh Babe!” He was also on Bull Moose Jackson’s epic double entendre rocker “Nosey Joe” and recorded several sessions with fellow former Millinder vocalist Annisteen Allen.

We’ll be taking a look at Big John Greer’s output for Victor and Groove in an upcoming updated post of the “R&B In New York City” LP.

Thanks again to El Enmascarado for these rips which are in remarkably good sound quality.

Suckin' and Blowin' - Harmonica Blues

Side 1

1 Telephone Blues - George Smith

2 Keep On Doggin' Me - Sonny & Jaycee

3 East Of The Sun - Jerry McCain

4 Little Sweet Thing - Long Gone Miles

5 P.L. Blues - Papa Lightfoot

6 Love Life - George Smith

7 I'm Lonesome - Cousin Leroy

8 Blues And Misery - Ole Sonny Boy

Side 2

1 Hello Josephine - Long Gone Miles

2 Tell Me Why - Morris Bailey

3 Polly Put Your Kettle On - Sonny Boy Williamson

4 Wine-O-Wine - Jerry McCain

5 You Better Change - Ole Sonny Boy

6 Blues In The Dark - George Smith

7 Dangerous Woman - Sonny Terry

8 Mailman, Mailman - Sonny Boy Williamson

If you dug the recent Little Walter post then you’re sure to love this collection of stompers and wailers by a selection of both well known and obscure blues harp men.

This Dutch LP is probably a bootleg, date unknown. I bought it in “Southside Records” a shop about which I blogged a couple of years back. Sadly the shop is no more, having closed down last winter.

There are good sleevenotes on the back cover and I have added more notes at the end of this post. Download, wail and stomp, blues lovers. And if anyone has the lowdown on the identity of "Ole Sonny Boy" please share this valuable knowledge with the rest of us!

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

Suckin' And Blowin' (Mega)

  1 Telephone Blues - George Smith

  2 Keep On Doggin' Me - Sonny & Jaycee

  3 East Of The Sun - Jerry McCain

  4 Little Sweet Thing - Long Gone Miles

  5 P.L. Blues - Papa Lightfoot

  6 Love Life - George Smith

  7 I'm Lonesome - Cousin Leroy

  8 Blues And Misery - Ole Sonny Boy

  9 Hello Josephine - Long Gone Miles

10 Tell Me Why - Morris Bailey

11 Polly Put Your Kettle On - Sonny Boy Williamson

12 Wine-O-Wine - Jerry McCain

13 You Better Change - Ole Sonny Boy

14 Blues In The Dark - George Smith

15 Dangerous Woman - Sonny Terry

16 Mailman, Mailman - Sonny Boy Williamson

More info on the tracks:

George Smith – “Telephone Blues” and “Blues In The Dark” recorded in Kansas City in late 1954 / early 1955. Original release – RPM 434. “Love Life” recorded in Culver City, California in early 1956. Backing provided by the Maxwell Davis Orchestra:

Jake Porter (tp) Jack McVea (as) Maxwell Davis (ts) Maurice Simon (bar) Austin McCoy (p) Chuck Norris (g) Red Callender (b) Lee Young (d). Original release – RPM 456.

Sonny Terry – “Dangerous Woman” recorded in Philadelphia in early 1952. Original release on Gramercy G1005 and Josie 828.

Sonny & Jaycee = Sonny Terry and J.C Burris. “Keep On Doggin’ Me” recorded in New York in 1958, first released on Ember 1034.

Jerry McCain – “East of the Sun” and “Wine-O-Wine” were recorded in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 10th, 1953. Personnel: Jerry "Boogie" McCain (vcl,hca,tamb) acc by Bernard Williams (ts) Dave Campbell (p) Chris Collins (g) Herman Fowlkes (b) Walter McCain (d). Both sides originally released on Trumpet 217.

Long Gone Miles = Luke Miles. “Hello Josephine” and “Little Sweet Thing” were recorded in Los Angeles in 1968/9. “Long Gone” Miles on vocal, George Smith on harmonica. First release on Kent?

Papa Lightfoot – “P.L. Blues” recorded in New Orleans on November 19th, 1952. Personnel: Papa Lightfoot (hca); Tommy Ridgley (p); Edgar Blanchard (g); John 'Silver' Cooks (dr). Original release on Aladdin 3171.

Cousin Leroy = Leroy Rozier. “I’m Lonesome” recorded in New York in August 1957. Originally released on Ember E-1023. Personnel: Cousin Leroy (vcl,g) acc. by Sonny Terry (hca) Champion Jack Dupree (p) Larry Dale (b) Gene Brooks (d).

Ole Sonny Boy = Man of Mystery. Thought by some to be Papa Lightfoot, by others to be J.D. Horton. “Blues and Misery” and “You Better Change” were recorded in Nashville in 1956 and released on Excello 2086.

Morris Bailey – perhaps recorded in Nashville circa 1962. Released on Bailey 500.

Sonny Boy Williamson – “Polly Put Your Kettle On.” John Lee Williamson, usually referred to as Sonny Boy Williamson I, to avoid confusion with Rice Miller, the second “Sonny Boy Williamson” who recorded for Trumpet and then Chess in the 1950s and 60s. John Lee Williamson recorded for Bluebird and Victor from 1937 until 1947. He was murdered in June 1948. “Polly Put Your Kettle On” was recorded in Chicago on March 28th, 1947. Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson (vcl,hca) acc by Blind John Davis (p) Big Bill Broonzy (g) Willie Dixon (b) Charles "Chick" Sanders (d). Original release on Victor, Vic 20-2521.

Sonny Boy Williamson – “Mailman, Mailman.”  Real name Jeff Williamson. Originally from New Orleans, he recorded “Mailman, Mailman” in Shreveport for Ram, accompanied by guitarist James Moore. The record was released on Ram 2501 in late 1961.

J.B. Lenoir - Natural Man

Side 1

1 Natural Man

2 Don't Dog Your Woman

3 Let Me Die With The One I Love

4 Carrie Lee

5 Mama, What About Your Daughter

6 If I Give My Love To You

7 Five Years

Side 2

1 Don't Touch My Head

2 I've Been Down So Long

3 What Have I Done

4 Eisenhower Blues

5 Korea Blues

6 Everybody Wants To Know

7 I'm In Korea

1981 Italian reissue of an LP originally released as Chess LP 410 in 1970.

J.B. Lenoir – guitarist, possessor of a distinctive high pitched voice and wearer of a stylish zebra striped tailcoat. He recorded for Chicago labels JOB, Parrot, Chance and Checker, his biggest hit being “Mama Talk To Your Daughter” on Parrot 809 in 1955.

I picked up this LP second hand in the vinyl basement of Missing Records, under The Hielanman’s Umbrella. If you’re not from Glasgow you won’t have a clue what that is. This collection has been on my WMP playlist for a while now. I wasn’t overly impressed at first, but it’s grown on me. It is most definitely worth your while downloading this, oh fellow blues fans.

Download from here:

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Random Mediafire takedown alert! Try this new link instead:

Natural Man Download

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Streamed highlights:

Some of the recording dates listed below differ from the information on the back cover of the LP. I have added original release details for each track. Additional information is from the Red Saunders Foundation website and the Bruyninckx Discography.

All tracks recorded in Chicago:

Natural Man – 14th September, 1955, Chess LP410

Don't Dog Your Woman - 14th September, 1955, Chess LP410

Let Me Die With The One I Love -14th September, 1955, Checker 844

Carrie Lee – December 1950, Chess 1463

Mama, What About Your Daughter - 19th December 1956, Checker 874

If I Give My Love To You - 14th September, 1955, Checker 844

Five Years – 19th December 1956, Checker 874

Don't Touch My Head - 19th December 1956, Checker 856

I've Been Down So Long - 19th December 1956, Checker 856

What Have I Done – 4th March 1955, Parrot 814

Eisenhower Blues – March 1954, Parrot 802

Korea Blues – December 1950, Chess 1449

Everybody Wants To Know – 14th September 1955, Chess LP410

I'm In Korea – March 1954, Parrot 802

“Carrie Lee” and “Korea Blues” were purchased by Chess from JOB.

Little Walter - Confessin' The Blues

Side One

1 It Ain't Right

2 Rocker

3 I Got To Find My Baby

4 Lights Out

5 One More Chance With You

6 Crazy Legs

7 Temperature

Side Two

1 I Got To Go

2 Crazy Mixed Up World

3 Quarter To Twelve

4 Confessin' The Blues

5 The Toddle

6 Up The Line

7 Rock Bottom

8 Mean Old Frisco

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

We kick off a short "blues LP" season on Be Bop Wino with this 1982 Italian release of "Confessin' The Blues" by Little Walter. At the moment I don't really have time to write up extensive notes, so you'll just have to take these posts as they are and dig around the web for further information!

This is a good compilation with only one or two tracks which could be classified as "filler." The rest is killer.

Tracks recorded 1953 - 1963. Musicians include: Little Walter Jacobs (vocal, harmonica); Louis Myers, Dave Myers, Robert Lockwood, Luther Tucker, Freddie Robinson, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy (guitar); Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake (piano); Willie Dixon (bass); Fred Below, George Hunter (drums)

Download the LP from here:

http://www26.zippyshare.com/v/BN8kpPxd/file.html


or here:


Confessin' The Blues (Mega)

1. It Ain't Right (1956)

2. Rocker (1954)

3. I Got To Find My Baby (1954)

4. Lights Out (1954)

5. One More Chance With You (1956)

6. Crazy Legs (1953)

7. Temperature (1957)

8. I Got To Go (1955)

9. Crazy Mixed Up World (1958)

10. Quarter To Twelve (1954)

11. Confessin' The Blues (1958)

12. The Toddle (1958)

13. Up The Line (1963)

14. Rock Bottom (1958)

15. Mean Old Frisco (1959)

Joan Spins Again - Volume 3

Side 1

1 Must Be Falling In Love - The Duponts

2 The Angels Sent You To Me - The Carnations

3 Pretty Girl - The V-8's

4 Shouldn't I - The Orients

5 Feelin' Alright This Morning - The Hi-Liters

6 The Wayward Wind - The Centenniels

7 You Can't Stay Here - The Concords

8 Anna Mocora - The Calvaes

9 Love Tears - The Five Embers

Side 2

1 All Of Me - The King Odom Four

2 Baby Don't Go - The Gentlemen

3 'lizabeth - The Thrillers

4 Hello - Little June & The Januarys

5 Mr Blues - The Master Keys

6 Why - The Impalas

7 Gone So Long - The Invictas

8 Sweet Names - The Five Stars

9 Sweet Tooth For My Baby - The Four Buddies

Here ‘tis – another collection of vintage R&B courtesy of Joan K. Volume 3 of Joan Spins Again is a whirlwind tour of a decade of vocal group stylings, ranging from sophisticated early 1950s jazzy records rooted in the sound of The Ravens, to the younger group sounds of the later 50s which were such an important part of the rise of rock and roll. This is a great compilation which I’ve been sitting on for a couple of months, enjoying on the privacy of my own PC. But here it is at last, available for the delectation of R&B fans the wide world over.

I’ve selected some of my personal favourites and put them on the streaming audio widget below, but every track on the collection is a gem. The King Odom Four, The Masterkeys and The Four Buddies are the smoothies here – suave, sophisticated, knowing (and occasionally leering) – their sound really appeals to me. For the younger followers of Be Bop Wino a word of caution: I suspect you have to be at least fifty years old in order to fully appreciate the subtleties of these records. What kind of a kick can rockers possibly get out of an early 1950s reworking of an old standard like “All of  Me” by a seemingly “square” group like The King Odom Four? Just give it a listen and let the sheer hepness of the record take hold of you. The same group also did a cover of “Lover Come Back to Me” which was equally good.

At the opposite end of the rockin’ spectrum we have The Concords, or rather Pearl Reaves and The Concords with “You Can’t Stay Here,” an irresistible pounding treatment of the old blues standard “Step It Up and Go.” This record has featured on several rockin’ R&B comps across the years, perhaps most notably on number 20 of the inestimable “Stompin’” series where it shares disc space with the likes of Riff Ruffin’s “Money For My Honey” and Pigmeat Markham’s “Let’s Have Some Heat.” If you don’t have “Stompin’ 20” then I’m sorry, you just ain’t where it’s at!

Listen to some highlights from Joan Spins Again Volume 3 below:

Download the collection from here:

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Joan Spins Again Volume 3 download

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1 - The Duponts - Must Be Falling In Love - Winley 212 / SAVOY 1552 (1958)

     (F/b Little Anthony Gourdine)

2 - The Carnations - The Angels Sent You To Me - Savoy 1172 (1955)

3 - The V-8s - Pretty Girl - Most 711 (1959)

4 - The Orients - Shouldn't I - Laurie 3232 (1964)

5 - The Hi-Liters  - Feelin' Alright This Morning - Vee Jay (Unreleased) (1958)  

6 - The Centenniels - The Wayward Wind - Dot 16180 (1961)

7 - The Concords - You Can't Stay Here - Harlem 2332 (1955)

8 - The Calvaes - Anna Morcora - Checker 928 (1959) (F/b Oscar Boyd)

9 - The Five Embers - Love Tears - Gem 227 (1955)

10 - The King Odom Four - All Of Me - Derby (1951)

11 - The Gentlemen - Baby Don't Go - Apollo 470 (1954)

12 - The Thrillers - 'Lizabeth - Herald 432 (1954)

13 - Little June and the Januarys - Hello - Salem 188 (1959)

14 - The Masterkeys - Mr. Blues - Abbey 2017  

15 - The Impalas - Why - Corvet 1017 (1958)

16 - The Invictas - Gone So Long - Jack Bee 1003 (1959)

17 - The Five Stars - Sweet Names - Note (1956) 

18 - The Four Buddies - Sweet Tooth For My Baby - Savoy 866 (1952)

With many thanks to Joan K for all her hard work in putting this collection together.

Backyard Affair / Dreaming Again – Sonny Thompson and Orchestra (Miracle 146)

Scan from very faded label 

Another scan from a very faded label!

Backyard Affair recorded Chicago, June 1949. Dreaming Again recorded Chicago, April 1949.

Personnel on April 1949 session: Floyd Jones (tp); Eddie Chamblee (ts); Dick Davis (ts); Sonny Thompson (p); Leo Blevins (g); Curtis Ferguson (b); Sonny Cole (d)

June 1949 session recorded with similar personnel, although Chamblee and Blevins possibly replaced by unknown. This was Sonny Thompson’s last session for Miracle.

Record released October 1949. Label scans from a very faded 78 disc, hence de facto invisibility.

Listen to "Backyard Affair"

Listen to "Dreaming Again"

With thanks to El Enmascarado, the wrestling muso, for these rips and scans. Here is his commentary on the tracks:

“Dreaming Again makes me think of old-fashioned stripper music. The saxes groan, the trumpet blares the blues, the drums go boomp-a-boomp and the girls do the hoochie-coochie…”

“Backyard Affair makes me think that the cats were longing to go a bit more Bebop. Although the main melody seems to borrow from D Natural Blues by Lucky Millinder (one of my very favorites, and possibly the first R&B 78 I knew as a boy- I'll eventually get around to ripping it), it also has occasional boppish dissonant chords that jump out seemingly at random. Also, in addition to what I would think of as the Meade Lux Lewis Tremolo Lick, Sonny plays what sounds for all the world like a Thelonious Monk lick at @1:43. Pretty interesting. I'm happy with the sound quality I got, but the original label is quite faded, hence the scans.”

Billboard 15th October 1949

Cotton Ball Parts 1 and 2 – Sonny Thompson (King 4729)

Recorded on May 21st, 1954 in Cincinnati. Personnel: Fred Clark (as); David Brooks (ts); Tommy Purkson (bar); Sonny Thompson (p); Clarence Kenner (g); James Royal (b); Robert Boswell (d). Released July, 1954.

Listen to "Cotton Ball (Part 1)"

Listen to "Cotton Ball (Part 2)"

Thanks to El Enmascarado for these rips from the original 78 rpm disc of this two part late night smoocher from Sonny Thompson. You can imagine these cool jazzy sounds coming out of a tavern juke box shortly before closing time. Perhaps the clientele have been listening to Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, The Midnighters, Fats Domino and Ray Charles. But the evening wears on and only a few hardened drinkers remain to hear this moody late night instrumental. That’s it, folks. We’re closing. Ain’t you got homes to go to?

Billboard Magazine reviewed “Cotton Ball” on July 17th, 1954: “Here’s a neat slow-blues instrumental item which is particularly danceable yet retains a retentive melody line. The strongly repetitious bass figure and drum backing spark the various solo efforts for a slick hunk of wax. For the jazz and r.&b. markets."

Sonny Thompson had several hits with slow instrumentals such as “Long Gone”, “Late Freight” and “Mellow Blues.” “Cotton Ball” wasn’t a big seller but as you can hear, it’s a fine atmospheric recording. For an overview of Sonny’s career (plus an LP to download) see this post:

Cat On The Keys

  

You can listen to “Late Freight” ripped from El Enmascarado’s 78 rpm disc at this post:

Late Freight / Sonny's Return