Record #0632: The Grim Ripper (EP) – THE NIGHTMARES

A1 “White Room”,  A2 “I'm Linked”, B1 “The Grim Ripper”, B2 “Jumpin' Jack Flash”
 
Crazy Love Records CLEP 001 (original) Germany, 1993
Words & Music by:  A1 - Jack Bruce, Pete Brown; A2 - Timo J. Saikko; B1 - Saikko; B2 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Musicians: Psycho Tim (vocals, upright bass in A1, B1 & B2, rhythm guitar, lead guitar in B2), Fast Eddie (drums), Mad Matt (lead guitar in A1, A2 & B1)
Recording sessions: Produced by Pete Boy and the Nightmares at Akaan MR Studio, Viiala, Finland, on May 29, June 20. and Oct. 2. & 3, 1993
Highest chart positions:  none

This is the first record released by Finnish psychobilly pioneers, the Nightmares (formed in June 1983). Took them 10 years to make a record and in that time they seemed to look into other genres as well. Covers versions of Cream and Rolling Stones originals points to this direction.

The Nightmares' first published recording was "Renny the Radioactive Reindeer", which was released on Jungle Noise's (another German indie label) "Wreckin' Around the Christmas Tree" compilation in 1991.

Their YouTube channel says the band will be return in 2016.

List price:  In a Finnish Price List this is 5 EUR

Record #0631: Brown Eyed Girl / Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) – VAN MORRISON

Bang 545 (original) USA, May 1967
Words & Music by:  Side A – Van Morrison; Side B – Bert Berns, Wes Farrell
Musicians: Van Morrison (lead vocals), Eric Gale (guitar), Al Gorgoni (guitar), Hugh McCracken (guitar), Russ Savakus (bass), Paul Griffin (keyboards), Gary Chester (drums), The Sweet Inspirations (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Bert Berns at A&R Studios, New York, NY, Mar. 28, 1967
Highest chart positions:  US #10

Here's one of the classic tracks in rock music.

Morrison's former band, "Them", split in mid-1966 after their contract with Decca ended. He was looking for a record company for his solo career when Bert Berns (the owner of Bang) contacted him. Morrison flew to New York for recording sessions and this single was the first release out of the recordings.

"Brown Eyed Girl" is #109 on "Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs".

List price:  Very Good+ is $6, Near Mint is $12

Record #0630: Some Kind-a Earthquake / First Love, First Tears – DUANE EDDY AND THE REBELS

Jamie 1130 (original) USA, Sep. 1959
Music by:  Side A – Duane Eddy, Lee Hazlewood; Side B – Eddy, Hazlewood
Musicians: Duane Eddy (lead guitar),Vivian "Corki" Casey (guitar), Donnie Owens (guitar), Tyler Wheeler (bass guitar), Alvin Simmons (upright bass), Michael Bermani (drums), Al Casey (piano), Plas Johnson (sax on side A), unknown strings and choir on side B
Recording sessions: Produced by Lee Hazlewood and Lester Still at Audio Recorders, Phoenix, AZ, Mar. 19. (Side A) and Mar. 16. (Side B); Plas Johnson's sax overdubbed to side A at United Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Aug. 27, 1959
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #37, UK #12; Side B - US #59

Both tracks were also included on Eddy's 1960 album "$1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang" , which reached #18 on UK Albums chart.

With the length of just 1 minute and 17 seconds, "Some Kinda Earthquake" is the shortest song that has ever reached Billboard's Top 40.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20; stereo pressings are $25 and $50 correspondingly.

Record #0629: Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home / Hummin' the Blues Over You – BRENDA LEE

Decca 9-30806 (original) USA, Dec. 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Hughie Cannon; Side B – Larry Harrison, Luvada Harrison
Musicians: Brenda Lee (lead vocals), Hank Garland (guitar), Harold Bradley (electric bass),
Bob Moore (upright bass), Floyd Cramer (piano), Boots Randolph (sax), Doug Kirkham (drums),
The Anita Kerr Singers (vocal chorus)
Recording sessions: Produced by Owen Bradley at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, TN, Oct. 19, 1958
Highest chart positions:  Didn't chart in top 100

Brenda Lee had had two singles ("One Step at a Time" and "Dynamite") in the US charts by this time, but those were only moderately successful. Her stardom was kicked off when her single "Sweet Nothin's" (written by Ronnie Self) was released in September 1959. That climbed to #4 in both US and UK charts.

Four other songs recorded in this session were "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "Papa Noel", "Let's Jump the Broomstick" and "Heading Home".

This was Boots Randolph's first of many sessions with Brenda Lee.

The title song was first published by Hughie Cannon in 1902 and it was a #1 hit for Artur Collins the same year. It's a fairly old song, I'd say.

List price:  Very Good+ is $12.50, Near Mint is $25

Record #0628: Honky Tonk Women / You Can't Always Get What You Want – THE ROLLING STONES

London 45-910 (original) USA, Jul. 11, 1969
Words & Music by:  Side A – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards; Side B – Jagger, Richards
Musicians: Mick Jagger (lead vocals, acoustic guitar on side B), Keith Richards (lead guitar, rhythm guitar on side A, acoustic guitar on side B, background vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums on side A), Mick Taylor (2nd lead guitar on side A), Ian Stewart (piano on side A), Bud Beadle (sax on side A), Steve Gregory (sax on side A), Doris Troy (background vocals), Nanette Workman (background vocals), Reparata and the Delrons (background vocals on side A), Madeline Bell (background vocals on side B) Jimmy Miller (cowbell on side A, drums on side B), London Bach Choir (choir on side B), Al Kooper (keyboards and french horn on side B), Rocky Dijon (congas, maracas & tambourine on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jimmy Miller at Olympic Studios, London, UK; Side A - May 30. - Jun. 5, 1969; Side B - Mar. 15, 1969
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, UK #1; Side B - US #42 (in 1973)

Brian Jones departed from the Rolling Stones just 3 days after the recording sessions of "Honky Tonk Women" and he depared from this world the day before this single was first released in the UK. As a guitar player, Jones was replaced by Mick Taylor, who auditioned for the job on May 14, 1969.

Jagger and Richards were inspired by Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues", when writing the title song.

List price:  Very Good+ is $7.50, Near Mint is $15

Record #0627: There! I've Said It Again / The Girl With the Bow In Her Hair – BOBBY VINTON

Epic 5-9638 (original) USA, Nov. 3, 1963
Words & Music by:  Side A – Redd Evans, David Mann; Side B – Bobby Vinton
Musicians: Bobby Vinton (lead vocals), orchestra & chorus conducted by Stan Applebaum (side A) and Robert Mersey (side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Bob Morgan in New York, NY (?), 1963
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US AC #1, UK #34, New Zealand #1, Canada #5

This was the "last US #1 single of the pre-Beatles era", ie. this is the one that was pushed down from the pole position by the Beatles' first US #1 entry "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (on Feb. 1, 1964).

This was Vinton's third US #1 hit and he had one more with "Mr. Lonely" (1964).

I think I also have the picture sleeve for this.

List price:  Very Good+ is $6, Near Mint is $12; Picture Sleeve is $7.50 and $15 correspondingly.

Record #0626: Baby, Baby Don't Cry / Your Mother's Only Daughter – SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES

Tamla T-54178 (original) USA, Dec. 12, 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Al Cleveland, Terry Johnson, Smokey Robinson; Side B – Robinson, Cleveland
Musicians: Smokey Robinson (lead vocals), Claudette Rogers-Robinson (backing vocals), Bobby Rogers (backing vocals), Warren "Pete" Moore (backing vocals), Ronald White (backing vocals), Merv Tarplin (lead guitar), the Funk Brothers (all other instruments)
Recording sessions: Hitsville USA, Detroit, MI, 1968; Side A produced by Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Terry Johnson; Side B produced by Robinson & Cleveland
Highest chart positions:  US #8, US R&B #3

At the time when this was recorded, the Miracles had internal disagreements, mainly about the finance. Robinson had already decided to leave the group and was only waiting for a good timing for it. Due to the success of this single and the 1970 mega success "The Tears of a Clown" (#1 in US, US R&B and UK), Robinson decided to stay a bit longer and didn't leave the group until 1972.

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8