Record #0836: Gimme All Your Lovin / If I Could Only Flag Her Down – ZZ TOP

Warner Bros. 7-29693 (original) USA, 26. April 1983
Words & Music by:  Side A – Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard; Side B – Gibbons, Hill, Beard
Musicians: Billy Gibbons (lead vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizers), Dusty Hill (bass?), Frank Beard (drums?), Terry Manning (backing vocals, drum machines, electronic drums, bass, keyboard bass, synthesizers)
Recording sessions: Produced by Bill Ham possibly at Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN, late 1982
Highest chart positions: Side A – US #37, Canada #39, UK #10, Ireland #9, France #19, Belgium #11, Netherlands #3; Side B - none

These tracks could almost be considered Gibbons solo recordings, as Hill’s and Beard’s contributions are uncertain. Regardless, the single became a major hit, particularly in several European countries.

In 1993 a Finnish band Leningrad Cowboys recorded “Gimme All Your Lovin’” live in Helsinki.

List price: Very Good+ is $2, Near Mint $4; picture sleeve VG+ $2,50, NM $5. 45cat.com Price Guide has this for €14.

 

Index 0701-0800

 

Record #0835: I Can Help / Ways of a Woman In Love – BILLY SWAN

Monument MNT 2752 (original) Netherlands, July 1974
Words & Music by:  Side A – Billy Swan; Side B – Bill Justis, Charlie Rich
Musicians: Billy Swan (lead vocals, Farfisa organ), Dennis Linde (acoustic rhythm guitar), Johnny Christopher (acoustic rhythm guitar), Reggie Young (electric lead guitar), Chip Young (lead guitar solos), Mike Leech (bass), Hayward Bishop (drums), Lea Jane Berinati, Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Chip Young and Billy Swan at Young ‘Un Sound Studio, Murfreesboro, TN, in April 1974
Highest chart positions: Netherlands #1, US #1, US Country #1, Canada #2, Canada Country #1, UK #6, Germany #1, Spain #4, Belgium #1, Denmark #1, Norway #1, Sweden #1, Finland none! – what’s wrong with us?; Side B - none

Billy Swan is a singer-songwriter, producer and a multi-instrumentalist. Typically, he has been a key ingredient behind other artists’ success, e.g. he produced Tony Joe White’s hit “Polk Salad Annie” (US #8).

Swan wrote “I Can Help” in just 20 minutes and recorded it in two takes. That’s very efficient.

Elvis recorded a cover version in 1975, Tom Jones in 1985 and Shakin’ Stevens did his version of “I Can Help” in 1994.

List price: 45cat Price Guide shows 3 euros for this.

 

Index 0601-0700

 

Record #0834: All Shook Up / That’s When Your Heartaches Begin – ELVIS PRESLEY WITH THE JORDANAIRES

RCA PB-11106 (re-issue) USA, October 1977
Words & Music by:  Side A – Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley; Side B – William Raskin, George Brown, Fred Fisher
Musicians: Elvis Presley (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (upright bass), D.J. Fontana (drums), Hoyt Hawkins (piano on side A), Gordon Stoker (piano on side B), The Jordanaires (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Sholes at Radio Recorders Studio, Hollywood, CA, Side A – 12. January 1957; Side B – 13. January 1957
Highest chart positions: Re-issue: none; original: US #1, US R&B #1, US Country #1, UK #1

Another posthumous re-issue, that was released a couple of months after Elvis died.

I’ve already posted the original US release here.

The cover describes the release as a “Limited Edition,” but that was almost certainly a marketing gimmick. These records sold extremely well, and the pressing run was likely substantial.

List price: No current listing price was found. Discogs reports a median sale price of €2.35, although one copy sold on eBay for €58 in 2008—clearly, someone wanted it badly. 😊