Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Record #0314: Jim Dandy / Tra La La – LaVERN BAKER



Atlantic 1116 (original) USA, Nov. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Lincoln Chase; Side B – Johnny Parker
Musicians: LaVern Baker (vocals), Sam Taylor (tenor sax), Dave McRae (baritone sax), John Barrows (French horn), Ernie Hayes (piano), George Barnes (guitar), Lloyd Trotman (bass), Panama Francis (drums), The Gliders (backing vocals). This is the line-up I found for Side B. Not sure if Side A has the same musicians.
Recording sessions: Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler at Coastal Studios, New York, NY, Side A – Dec. 22, 1955; Side B – Jan. 10, 1956
Highest chart positions:  Side A – US #17, US R&B #1; Side B – US #94

Baker’s “Jim Dandy” has been ranked at #343 on Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Baker’s voice is spot on and she got her first #1 single with this.

Songwriter Johnny Parker’s most successful song was “Baby Sittin’ Boogie” which was originally recorded by Buzz Clifford giving him a US #6 hit in 1961. A popular Finnish duo “Eero & Jussi” covered it in Finnish the same year (“Lapsenvahdin rock”).

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

No comments:

Post a Comment