Record #0023: Hey Little School Girl / Wyatt Earp – THE MARQUEES

Okeh 4-7096 (original promo), USA, 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Reese Palmer, Ames, Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley); Side B – Palmer, Larsen, McDaniel
Musicians:  Reese Palmer (first tenor), Marvin Gay (second tenor / baritone), James Nolan (second tenor / baritone), Chester Simmons (bass vocals), Bo Diddley (guitar on side A), Jerome Green (maracas on side A), Clifton James (drums on side A), Roosevelt Jackson (bass on side A), others unknown
Recording sessions:  CBS Building, New York, NY, Side A – Sep.25; Side B - Nov.12, 1957
Highest chart positions:  Didn’t hit the charts

Both songs were first recorded by the Marquees on Sep.25, 1957 with Bo Diddley and his band backing the group. Okeh didn’t like the sound of the band on “Wyatt Earp”, so the group went back to studio with session musicians to record the version that ended up on this single. 

This was Marvin Gay’s (the ‘e’ was added to his last name when he went solo in the early 60’s) first group and his first record as well. The Marquees became “the New Moonglows” (or “Harvey & the Moonglows”) when they joined with Harvey Fuqua (the leader of the original Moonglows) in 1959. The first record where Gay sang lead was the “Mama Loocie” later that year.

List price:  “Very Good+” is $60 and “Near Mint” is $120