Record #0114: Little Boy Sad / (I Go) Down To the River – JOHNNY BURNETTE

Liberty 55298 (original) USA, Jan. 1961
Words & Music by:  Side A – Wayne Walker; Side B – B. Weisman, L. Adelson
Musicians: Johnny Burnette (vocals), Bobby Gibbons (guitar), George “Red” Callender (bass), Jerry Allison (drums), Ernie Freeman (piano), Milton Norman (acoustic guitar on side B), and a string orchestra plus an unknown chorus.
Recording sessions: Produced by Snuff Garrett at United Recording Corporation, Hollywood, CA, Nov. 28, 1960
Highest chart positions:  US #17, UK #12

Big success really avoided Johnny Burnette until he signed with Liberty Records and switched from rock to pop in 1959. In 1960 he had two of his biggest hits with “Dreamin’” (US #11, UK #5) and “You’re Sixteen” (US #8, UK #3). “Little Boy Sad” was his last Top 40 single. Burnette died in a boating accident on Aug. 14, 1964. Johnny was the father of Rocky Burnette.

“Little Boy Sad” would actually be a good rocking tune if they wouldn’t have added the string orchestra and chorus to it. Jerry Allison (of the Crickets) played a nice beat to it.

Wayne Walker also penned an earlier recording that featured Johnny’s brother, Dorsey on vocals. That was “Sweet Love On My Mind”, recorded by “Johnny Burnette & the Rock’n’Roll Trio” in 1956.

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