Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns - Having A Good Time (Ace LP 1004)

Joan K has provided these rips from 1950s vinyl and a folder of label scans.

In the post “The Roots Of Rock ‘N Roll”, a 2LP set of Savoy sides, the first solo recordings of Huey ‘Piano’ Smith were included. Recorded in June 1953, they were pretty dreadful. So how come Huey Smith started making some of the best ever New Orleans R&B / Rock ‘n’ Roll recordings just three years later?

Huey Smith’s first recordings were actually made for Imperial in 1951 when he was part of a small group which included guitarist Eddie Jones who would soon become famous as Guitar Slim. In truth these Imperial recordings were no great shakes either. Both musicians’ fortunes changed when they met Johnny Vincent who was a talent scout for Specialty Records. Guitar Slim was the first to benefit as Johnny split him from Huey and teamed him up with the Lloyd Lambert band plus Ray Charles on piano to record the hit “The Things I Used To Do”.

Meanwhile Huey had recruited Earl King as replacement guitarist and singer. With Huey on piano, Earl recorded some sides for Specialty and then for Johnny Vincent’s new label, Ace. Huey also recorded an uncredited B side for Eddie Bo (“We Like Mambo”) on Ace and in 1956 recorded his first solo single for Ace, “Little Liza Jane” / “”Everybody’s Whalin’”. With these sides Huey established the formula which would bring him chart success: simple lyrics, catchy choruses and an insistent dance beat. Ensemble vocals helped disguise Huey’s own rather weak vocal contributions.

Bobby Marchan was recruited to Huey’s group which was by now called The Clowns and in 1957 they recorded the massive hit “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”. More hits which followed the same formula ensued: “High Blood Pressure”, “Don’t You Just Know It” and “Don’t You Know Jockomo”. The LP “Having A Good Time” was released in 1959.

Joan’s rips are from 1950s vinyl with some surface noise, and, yes, the occasional sound of the needle hitting the shiny wax disc. Moments in time captured forever. Thanks Joan!

Download from here:

Having A Good Time (Mega)

Having A Good Time (Zippy)

1. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu
2. Little Chickee Wah Wah
3. Little Liza Jane
4. Just a Lonely Clown
5. Hush Your Mouth
6. Don't You Know Yockomo
7. Havin' A Good Time
8. Don't You Just Know It
9. Well I'll Be John Brown
10. Everybody's Whalin'
11. High Blood Pressure
12. We Like Birdland

Count Basie & His Orchestra - Swingin' The Blues

There’s a distinct lack of swing on the blog since I removed the Jazz Greats links, so it’s time to start uploading some more and what better band is there to start with than that of Count Basie? These classic recordings for Decca were cut between July 1937 and February 1939. The band line-up included the twin tenor sax threat of Lester Young and Herschel Evans, and of course the All American Rhythm Section of Freddy Green (guitar), Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums) and the Count himself on piano. There’s a tremendous blues shouting performance by Jimmy Rushing on the classic “Sent For You Yesterday” which is a number I just can’t get out of my head at present.

“Jive at Five” and “Lady Be Good” were recorded on the third of February 1939, just five days before Herschel Evans died of a heart condition. On these tracks Chu Berry deputised for the ailing Herschel. Berry himself was to die in an automobile accident just two years later.

These tracks are ripped from a cassette issued in 1984 by Charly Records.

Ripped at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

http://www82.zippyshare.com/v/9cCIFLS2/file.html

1. Swinging The Blues
2. John's Idea
3. Blue & Sentimental
4. Texas Shuffle
5. Panassie Stomp
6. Sent For You Yesterday
7. You Can Depend On Me
8. Every Tub
9. Jumpin' At The Woodside
10. Time Out
11. Jive At Five
12. Oh Lady Be Good
13. Shorty George
14. Out The Window
15. Topsy
16. Doggin' Around

Rare Blues Girls From King

This 1988 LP from Official compiles sides by mostly little known women blues singers for the King and Federal labels. The bulk of the recordings date from the early to mid 1950s and what really stands out is the calibre of the R&B combos on these tracks. A glance at the track list is an R&B fan’s delight as names like Earl Bostic, Lucky Millinder, Roy Milton, Bill Doggett, Duke Hampton and Gene Redd (the vibes player in the Earl Bostic band) catch the eye.

And there’s more good news for fans of swingin’ blues bands. Dorothy Ellis is backed by musicians from the Johnny Otis band of the early 50s including Ben Webster, Pete “Guitar” Lewis and Devonia Williams. The frantic Lil Greenwood track “Grandpa Can Boogie Too” features Joe Lutcher on alto sax. Fluffy Hunter’s bluesy “Climb The Wall” features red hot backing from The Buddy Banks Sextet and Sarah McLawler and the excellent Flo Garvin are backed by Sonny Thompson and Jimmy Coe. Sugar Pie is of course Sugar Pie De Santo and the band on her track is The Preston Love Orchestra which includes Pete “Guitar” Lewis, Ernie Freeman, Plas Johnson and Floyd Turnham.

A special word about Marion Abernathy’s “Undecided”. This was recorded in late December 1947 when King were frantically stockpiling recordings as a Musicians’ Union strike was due to begin on January 1st 1948. The band in the studio was led by Hot Lips Page with Hal Singer and Tom Archia on tenor saxes. The same band also recorded a series of sides with Wynonie Harris on the same day they recorded with Ms Abernathy. A few days later a slightly slimmed down version of the same band would cut “Good Rockin’ Tonight” with Mr Harris.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/139840962/Rare_Blues_Girls_From_King.rar

Or here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=03DWBQ2S

1. He's Gone / Dorothy Ellis
2. Grandpa Can Boogie Too / Lil Greenwood
3. Portrait Of A Faded Love / Earl Bostic & His Orchestra (v- Helen Young)
4. Please Be Good To Me / Duke Hampton & His Orchestra (v- Aletra Hampton)
5. Climb The Wall / Fluffy Hunter
6. You're Gonna Suffer Baby / Roy Milton & His Orchestra (v- Mickey Champion)
7. I Need You Now / Sarah McLawler
8. I Dreamed The Blues / Gene Redd & His Orchestra (v- Valerie Carr)
9. No More In Life / Bill Doggett Trio (v- Mildred Anderson)
10. Undecided / Marion Abernathy
11. I'm On The Outside Looking In / Flo Garvin
12. Let Me Keep You Warm / Flo Garvin
13. You Can't Have Me Now / Lorraine Lester
14. It's A Sad, Sad Feeling / Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra (v- Cathy Ryan)
15. Slowly Going Out Of My Mind / Dorothy Ellis
16. Please Be True / Sugar Pie

Star Dust / Bo-Lee - Buddy Lucas on Luniverse

Joan K was kind enough to send in this copy of saxman Buddy Lucas' one and only release on the Luniverse label. "Star Dust" c/w "Bo-Lee" was released in 1957. The A side is a deadpan stroll through the Hoagy Carmichael standard. "Bo-Lee" is a much more R&B sounding side with Buddy in fine hoarse-voiced shouting form. Click on the Buddy Lucas label or use the search box to find more music and info on this artist.

Ripped from vintage vinyl complete with the inevitable surface noise. Password = greaseyspoon

Download links:

http://rapidshare.com/files/139572588/Buddy_Lucas_on_Luniverse.rar

OR:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DTUE5X70

Thanks for this rare 45 disc, Joan!

Screaming Saxophones Have A Ball

This crackly collection of sax blowouts (“mastered” from original 78s and 45s) makes a nice supplement to the double CD “Tenor Madness” post. Just about every artist here (except Joe Houston) is a veteran of the big bands and this disc nicely captures the era of the end of the swingin’ aggregations and the move towards small group R&B and jazz. The sleevenotes by Morgan on the back cover give background info on the artists. For me, the sides by former Erskine Hawkins saxman Paul Bascomb are raucous standouts.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/137608908/Screaming_Saxophones_Have_A_Ball.rar

Or here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=32GYUCET

1. Have A Ball / Joe Houston Orchestra (vocal – Lois Butler)
2. Houston's Hot House / Joe Houston Orchestra
3. Leo's Boogie / Leo Parker And His Mad Lads
4. Cool Leo / Leo Parker And His Mad Lads
5. SOS / Charlie Singleton And His Band
6. Please Don't Leave Me Here / Charlie Singleton And His Band (vocal – Jake Vaughn)
7. Artistry In Mood / Joe Thomas And His Orchestra
8. Tearing Hair / Joe Thomas And His Orchestra
9. Turntable / Morris Lane And His Combo
10. What Did Sam Say / Paul Bascomb And His Orchestra (vocal – Paul Bascomb)
11. Ain't Nothin' Shakin' / Paul Bascomb And His Orchestra (vocal – Paul Bascomb)
12. Forty-Nine-Fifty / Bumps Myers Sextet
13. Memphis Hop / Bumps Myers Sextet
14. September Song / Morris Lane And His Combo

Listen to "What Did Sam Say":

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"Story of Love" - The Five Keys on 45, 78 and unissued

Joan sent this great collection of Five Keys mp3s – all from recordings made while they were with Aladdin Records. Many have been ripped from original discs – both 45 rpm and 78 rpm, so, yes, there is some “surface noise”. The bitrate varies, but there is nothing lower than 128 kbps. Beneath the tracklist you’ll find Joan’s explanation of the provenance of each track, although I reckon that track 18 sounds like a 78 rpm rip.

There’s Inkspots influenced ballads and rockin’ jump tunes. The Five Keys were an outstanding R&B group as you can hear by downloading this selection.

Ripped from vinyl, shellac and what-the-heck. Variable bitrates not less than 128 kbps.

Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RSWZ59SA

Or here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/134510018/The_Five_Keys_-_Story_Of_Love.rar

1. Yes Sir That's My Baby
2. There Ought To Be A Law (Against Breaking A Heart)
3. If You Only Knew
4. Mistakes
5. White Cliffs Of Dover
6. When You Are Gone
7. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance
8. Yearning
9. Can't Keep From Crying
10. I'm So High
11. Will My Heart Stand A Chance
12. Do I Need You
13. Deep In My Heart
14. Darling
15. Old McDonald
16. Come Go My Bail Louise
17. I Cried For You
18. How Do You Expect Me To Get It
19. My Love
20. Why Oh Why
21. Story Of Love
22. Someday Sweetheart
23. How Long
24. I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You
25. With A Broken Heart
26. Going Downtown (8-9-10)
27. Mama (Your Daughter Told A Lie On Me)


Notes:

1 - Yes Sir That's My Baby - Released on Aladdin Single 3118

2 - There Ought to Be A Law (Against Breaking A Heart) - Released on Aladdin Single 3175

3 - If You Only Knew - Unreleased

4 - Mistakes - Released on Aladdin Single 3131

5 - White Cliffs Of Dover - Unreleased

6 - When You're Gone - Unreleased

7 - (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance - Unreleased

8 - Yearning - Unreleased

9 - Can't Keep From Crying - Unreleased

10 - I'm So High - Released on Aladdin Single 3204

11 - Will My Heart Stand A Chance - Unreleased

12 - Do I Need You - Unreleased

13 - Deep In My Heart - Released on Aladdin Single 3245

14 - Darling - Released on Aladdin Single 3119

15 - Old McDonald - Released on Aladdin Single 3113

16 - Come Go My Bail Louise - Released on Aladdin Single 3167 From 78 collection

17 - I Cried For you - Released on Aladdin Single 3158 From 78 collection

18 - How Do You Expect Me To Get It - Released on Aladdin Single 3245

19 - My Love - Released on Aladdin Single 3263 From 78 Collection

20 - Why Oh Why - Released on Aladdin Single 3263 From 78 collection

21 - Story Of Love - Released on Aladdin Single 3312

22 - Someday Sweetheart - Released on Aladdin Single 3228

23 - How Long - Released on Aladdin Single 3131

24 - I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You - Released on Aladdin Single 3136

25 - With A Broken Heart - Released on Aladdin Single 3085

26 - Going Downtown (8-9-10) - Unreleased

27 - Mama (Your Daughter Told A Lie On Me) - Released on Aladdin Single 3175

Listen to "Story of Love":

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"Wheel of Fortune" - The Cardinals on 78rpm

Unlike other major vocal groups from the late 1940s to mid 1950s period (The Orioles, The Ravens, The Dominoes, The Robins, etc), The Cardinals have never received the treatment they deserve from the reissue companies. Some of their tracks have turned up on compilations of Atlantic R&B sides such as “Don’t It Sound Good” and “Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974”, but the only album I can find that is dedicated exclusively to The Cardinals is a 10 track CD on the Collectables label.

Which is where Joan comes to our rescue with this 21 track compilation of sides ripped mainly from 78 rpm discs. There are also a few rips from 1950s vinyl, I’m sure, probably from track 17 onwards, judging by the sound quality. Ah, sound quality! Listening to these sides took me back to the days when, as a wee boy, I used to listen to a pile of old 78 rpm records belonging to my parents. The King Cole Trio, The Ink Spots, Artie Shaw, Bing Crosby, Art Tatum, Spike Jones & His City Slickers, and as it was Scotland, Harry Lauder and Jimmy Shand. I’d forgotten about the constant hissing from these big ten inchers, possibly caused by the fact that they were played using a needle attached to a pickup arm that weighed half a ton.

So what I’m saying here is that you mustn’t expect good sound quality. Even some of the vinyl is pretty scratched. That, and the fact that the rips were made at 80 kbps. And they can’t be re-ripped as Joan has sold her 78s. Woe, woe and thrice woe.

Despite the caveats, the sound quality is perfectly listenable. I play my computer sound through my HiFi via a direct USB connection and I also use sound enhancing software, so I’ve got reasonable sound quality from these files. Good enough to recognise that the Cardinals were one hell of a group.

You can read the Cardinals story here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/Cardinals.html

It’s an article from edition number 4 of “Doowop Nation” an Ezine put online by JC Marion. It’s a website I’ve been looking at for years. It’s a treasure trove of articles on all aspects of 1940s/1950s R&B. The home page is here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/index.html

The Cardinals, like the Orioles, were a Baltimore group who originally styled themselves on The Inkspots but moved to a more R&B leaning sound when they started recording for Atlantic in 1951. Their first discs sold well, but disc number three, “The Wheel of Fortune” was a smash hit. The fantastic lead tenor vocals of Ernest Warren were a feature of their sound which raised them above many of their rivals. Although they recorded for Atlantic until 1956 they only issued 12 singles. The rise of the teenage vocal groups probably contributed to their demise, and they went the way of the 78 rpm format.

Let me finish this post with a plea to anyone from the reissue companies who happens by – please, please, please bring out a set which does justice to The Cardinals.

Ripped from shellac & 50s vinyl at 80 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/130855264/Wheel_Of_Fortune.rar

Or here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q8SZISMQ

1. Shouldn't I Know
2. Please Don't Leave Me This Way
3. Pretty Baby Blues
4. I'll Always Love You
5. She Rocks
6. The Bump
7. Lovie Darling
8. You Are My Only Love
9. The Door Is Still Open
10. Miserlou
11. Lovely Girl
12. Here Goes My Heart To You
13. Off Shore
14. Choo Choo
15. I Won't Make You Cry Anymore
16. The End Of My Story
17. Wheel Of Fortune
18. Come Back My Love
19. Two Things I Love
20. Near You
21. One Love

The Cardinals Singles

- Shouldn't I Know c/w Please Don't Leave Me (Atlantic 938) 1951
- Pretty Baby Blues c/w I'll Always Love You (Atlantic 952) 1951
- Wheel Of Fortune c/w Kiss Me Baby (Atlantic 958) Jan 1952
- She Rocks c/w The Bump (Atlantic 972) 1952
- Lovie Darling c/w You Are My Only Love (Atlantic 995) 1953
- Please Baby c/w Under A Blanket Of Blue (Atlantic 1025) 1954
- The Door Is Still Open c/w Misirlou (Atlantic 1054) 1955
- Come Back My Love c/w Two Things I Love (Atlantic 1067) 1955
- Lovely Girl c/w Here Goes My Heart To You (Atlantic 1079) 1955
- Off Shore c/w Choo Choo (Atlantic 1090) 1956
- I Won't Make You Cry Anymore c/w The End Of The Story (Atlantic 1101) Aug 1956
- One Love c/w Near You (Atlantic 1126) end 1956

"Stardust" - The Dominoes after Federal

Joan K sent these Billy Ward & The Dominoes mp3s and label scans a while back but I thought I would delay posting them as I knew that Marv Goldberg would be writing about The Dominoes in Blues & Rhythm magazine. The second part of Marv’s story on The Dominoes is in the current edition of Blues & Rhythm and you can also read about them on his website at:

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Dominoes/dom01.html

The first four tracks on Joan’s collection were recorded for Jubilee while The Dominoes were still contracted to Federal / King. That contract expired in 1956 and the group signed up with Decca (tracks 5 – 10). Their first release, “St Therese of the Roses”, with Jackie Wilson on lead was a substantial pop hit but they failed to find a follow up hit while with Decca. In early 1957 Jackie Wilson left following the almost inevitable dispute with strict disciplinarian Billy Ward. The group was then signed to Liberty Records with Gene Mumford of The Larks being brought in as lead singer.

“Stardust”, their first release on Liberty, was a big success in the pop charts as was their next release “Deep Purple”. By this stage The Dominoes were no longer an R&B group. It had long been Ward’s ambition to turn them into a pop group and Las Vegas lounge act and he had now achieved his aim. There were further changes in personnel, including the departure of Mumford (replaced by Monroe Powell) but no further chart success. The Dominoes finished with Liberty and moved to ABC Paramount in 1960 for one recording session.

As I’ve already pointed out, the full story can be read in great detail in Marv Goldberg’s articles. It is a story which fascinates as Ward ditched the raw gospel influenced R&B sound of the group’s early days with Clyde McPhatter as lead singer in a ruthless pursuit of pop success. The continual personnel changes and transformation of the group into just another lounge act did in fact bring such success but it was brief and the final days of the group do not make for very happy reading for fans of rhythm and blues.

One LP was released during the group’s Decca stay and Joan has sent a scan of the cover. The Liberty album “Sea of Glass” was a collection of religious songs. Many thanks again to Joan for this post.

Ripped from 1950s vinyl at 192 kbps. Surface noise present.

Download from here:

http://www22.zippyshare.com/v/3632532/file.html

The tracks on this collection are arranged in chronological order of release, each A side being followed by its B side.

1. Gimme Gimme Gimme
2. Come To Me Baby
3. Sweethearts On Parade
4. Take Me Back to Heaven
5. St Therese Of The Roses
6. Home Is Where You Hang Your Heart
7. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance
8. To Each His Own
9. When The Saints Go Marching In
10. September Song
11. Stardust
12. Lucinda
13. Deep Purple
14. Do It Again
15. Sweeter As The Years Go By
16. Solitude
17. Please Don't Say No
18. Behave Hula Girl

Tracks 1-4 were recorded for Jubilee in September 1954 and released in 1954/55.
Tracks 5-10 were recorded for Decca in June 1956 and January 1957. They were released between June 1956 and December 1957.
Tracks 11-18 were recorded for Liberty between March 1957 and some time in late 1958 or early 1959. They were released between April 1957 and February 1959.

The Best Of The Five Keys (Aladdin LP 806)

Thanks to Joan once again for these sound and picture files. The Five Keys are one of my favourite vocal groups – right up there with The Orioles, The “5” Royales, The Clovers, The Midnighters and the Clyde McPhatter–led versions of The Dominoes and The Drifters. With twin tenors Rudy West and Maryland Pierce, they were capable of handling both tender ballads and rocking jump tunes.

This album was released on Aladdin in 1956, 2 years after the group had left the label, stopping briefly at the RCA Victor subsidiary Groove for one session which was never released before moving on to Capitol where they recorded successful sides like “Ling Ting Tong”, “Close Your Eyes” and “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”. The Five Keys first chart success had been with Aladdin in 1951 when their second release “Glory of Love” reached number 1 in the R&B charts.

This album was re-released in 1957 on Aladdin’s budget price subsidiary Score, with a new title “On The Town” and new cover artwork. See Joan’s scans below for this cover and a variety of label shots.

Ripped at various bitrates. Password = greaseyspoon

Download from here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KV081XZ7

Or here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/129683383/The_Best_of_The_Five_Keys.rar

1. The Glory Of Love
2. Oh! Baby
3. My Saddest Hour
4. Hucklebuck With Jimmy
5. These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)
6. Christmas Time
7. Red Sails In The Sunset
8. Too Late Baby
9. Teardrops In Your Eyes
10. Be Mine
11. Love My Lovin'
12. Serve Another Round

Look! It's The Moonglows (Chess LP-1430)

Thanks to Joan K. for these sound files and a folder of label shots and cover scans.

Founded in Cleveland by Harvey Fuqua, Prentiss Barnes and Danny Coggins as “The Crazy Sounds”, the trio became a quartet with the addition of Bobby Lester. In 1952 Alan Freed became their manager and they made their first recordings in 1953 for Freed’s Champagne label. You can find one of these sides, “I’ve Been Your Dog”, on this blog on the post “I Always Remember”. Use the search box and you’ll find the album!

The disc failed to make any impact and Coggins left to be replaced by Alexander Graves. In September 1953 the group signed for Chance Records who issued a series of their sides until September 1954. Some of these Chance recordings will be included in a future post on this blog. September ’54 turned out to be a momentous month for both Freed and The Moonglows as it was at this time that Freed moved to WINS in New York and The Moonglows signed for Chess Records in Chicago.

One of the sides from their first Chess session was “Sincerely” which reached number 1 in the R&B charts and number 20 in the pop charts. A cover version by The McGuire Sisters was a number 1 pop hit. The Moonglows career continued with regular releases on Chess and regular appearances in Alan Freed rock ‘n’ roll stage shows. In 1956 they appeared along with Freed in “Rock, Rock, Rock” one of the earliest rock ‘n’ roll exploitation movies.

The tracks on this album (released in 1958 along with two EPs) were recorded between 1956 and 1958. The original Moonglows broke up at the beginning of 1959. I bought a vinyl repro of this album back in the 1980s expecting some rockin’ R&B and I still remember the disappointment I felt when I played the disc only to find that the majority of the tracks were ballads with string accompaniment. Now that I’ve listened to it again in the line of duty as it were (the sacrifices I make for bebopwino fans!), I find that I really like it. Maybe my taste is more eclectic, or maybe it’s because I’ve been listening to those echo-drenched ballads recorded by Gene Ammons, but I’m definitely in the mood for this kind of stuff. Unlike recordings by certain other R&B artists in the second half of the 50s, the arrangements here are subtle and compliment the vocals (mostly by Fuqua).

Download with confidence and await the rockin’ side of the Moonglows in a future post! Enjoy Joan’s sights ‘n’ sounds! Oh, and don’t forget to read the full Moonglows story on Marv Goldberg’s site. Just click on the “Unca Marvy’s R&B Page” link in the side bar. Tell him Boogiewoody sent ya.

Ripped from vinyl at 192/256 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download link:

http://www37.zippyshare.com/v/T5am5IjY/file.html


1. Love Is A River
2. Blue Velvet
3. This Love
4. When I'm With You
5. I'll Stop Wanting You
6. Don't Say Goodbye
7. Ten Commandments Of Love
8. Kiss Me Baby
9. Penny Arcade
10. Mean Old Blues
11. Sweeter Than Words
12. Cold Feet

Here's a selection of Joan's scans: