Record #0403: Gone Train / Beatnik – THE CHAMPS

Challenge 59035 (original) USA, Dec. 1958
Music by:  Side A – Dave Burgess; Side B – Burgess, Dale Norris
Musicians: Dave Burgess (guitar), Dale Norris (guitar), Van Norman (bass), Jimmy Seals (tenor sax), Dean Beard (piano), Dash Crofts (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Joe Johnson at Gold Star Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA, Nov. 10, 1958
Highest chart positions:  didn't hit Top 100

Famous for their 1958 hit "Tequila", The Champs didn't make a hit with this single, though these are really good instrumental pieces by a group of solid musicians.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20

Record #0402: Somethin' Stupid / The World We Knew (Over and Over) – NANCY SINATRA & FRANK SINATRA

Reprise 0561 (re-issue) USA, 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – C. Carson Parks; Side B – Kaempfert, Rehbein, Sigman
Musicians: Nancy Sinatra (vocals on side A), Frank Sinatra (vocals), Al Casey (guitar), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Lee Hazlewood (side A) and Jimmy Bowen at, Side A - Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Feb. 1, 1967; Side B - New York, NY, Jun. 29, 1967
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US AC #1, UK #1

I posted the original single of the title song here earlier.

The flip is the A-side of the single that succeeded "Something Stupid" in 1967 (Reprise 0610, US #30, US AC #1, UK #33). It had "You Are There" as the B-side.

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5

Record #0401: Alone At Last / Am I the Man – JACKIE WILSON

Brunswick 9-55170 (original, Pinckneyville pressing) USA, Sep. 1960
Words & Music by:  Side A – Johnny Lehmann; Side B – Bob Hamilton, Tom King
Musicians: Jackie Wilson (lead vocals) with chorus and orchestra conducted by Dick Jacobs
Recording sessions: New York, NY, 1960
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #8, US R&B #20, UK #50, Australia #11; Side B - US #32, US R&B #10

Many of the tracks that Wilson recorded with Jacobs were ballads or adult contemporary songs, but the flip of this single is one exception and Wilson's R&B voice runs great throughout the song.

The title song is based on Tchaikovsky's piano concerto in b flat.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20

Record #0400: Rumble / The Swag – LINK WRAY & HIS RAY MEN

Cadence 1347 (original) USA, May 1958
Music by:  Side A – Milt Grant, Link Wray; Side B – Grant, Wray
Musicians: Link Wray (lead guitar), Vernon Wray (rhythm guitar), Doug Wray (drums), Shorty Horton (bass), Evelyn Wray (tambourine on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Vernon Wray at U.S. Recording Studio, Washington, DC, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #16, US R&B #11

"Rumble" is probably the only instrumental song ever banned for radio play in the States. It was considered too offensive and too provocative by some radio stations. If an instrumental can do that, there has to be something special in it. And there is.

In all its simplicity the song is loaded with power and gloomy feeling. The lead guitar sound and style are something that nobody had heard before (ok, The Johnny Burnette Trio came close with their sound in 1956-57, but still this is different). We're talking about the births of the power chord and the distortion sound here. Many agree that this is where punk and heavy rock were born, too.

Pete Townshend has said: "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and Rumble, I would have never picked up a guitar."

Here's Jimmy Page listening to and commenting on "Rumble".

The song has appeared in many movies and TV series. This is probably one of the most famous ones (here preceded by another Link Wray song, "Ace of Spades", 1965).

List price:  Very Good+ is $20, Near Mint is $40

Record #0399: Groovy Kind of Love / Big Noise – PHIL COLLINS

Atlantic 7-89017 (original) USA, Aug. 1988
Words & Music by:  Side A – Toni Wine, Carole Bayer Bacharach; Side B – Lamont Dozier, Phil Collins
Musicians: Side A - Phil Collins (keyboards, vocals and drums) and an orchestra conducted by Anne Dudley; Side B - possibly same as side A, excluding vocals
Recording sessions: Produced by Phil Collins with Anne Dudley (side A) and Lamont Dozier (side B), UK (?), 1988
Highest chart positions:  US #1, UK #1, Canada #1, Ireland #1, Netherlands #1, Italy #1, Switzerland #1, Australia #2, Norway #2, Finland #4, Sweden #5

Both songs are from the soundtrack of "Buster", a 1988 film starring Phil Collins and Julie Walters. The single was a huge international hit.

Side A is a Dianne & Annita original from 1965 and before Collins' cover it was best known for The Mindbenders 1965 cover (US #2, UK #2).

List price:  Not listed in Goldmine's catalog.

Record #0398: Take Me In Your Arms and Hold Me / Meet Mister Callaghan – LES PAUL AND MARY FORD

Capitol F2193 (original) USA, Aug. 18, 1952
Words & Music by:  Side A – Cindy Walker; Side B – Eric Spear
Musicians: Les Paul (all guitars), Mary Ford (all vocals on side A), nobody else
Recording sessions: Produced by Les Paul in his home studio in Hollywood, CA, summer 1952
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #15; Side B - US #5

Here's the late, great Les Paul with his wife Mary Ford. I alredy posted one of their 1951 hit singles here earlier.

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

Record #0397: Dreamin' / Cincinnati Fireball – JOHNNY BURNETTE

Liberty 55258 (original) USA, May 1960
Words & Music by:  Side A – Barry DeVorzon, Ted Ellis; Side B – Schroeder, McFarland
Musicians: Johnny Burnette (vocals), Side A - Howard Roberts (lead guitar), Vincent Terri (guitar), Jerry Allison (drums), unknown bassist, The Johnny Mann Chorus (?) (backing vocals) and a string orchestra conducted by Felix Slatkin; Side B - Bobby Gibbons (lead guitar), René Hall (guitar), George "Red" Callender (bass), Earl Palmer (drums), an unknown chorus and a string orchestra
Recording sessions: Produced by Snuff Garrett at, Side A - unknown studio in Hollywood, CA, Jan. 7, 1960; Side B - United Recording Corporation, Hollywood, CA, Apr. 28, 1960
Highest chart positions:  US #11, UK #5

This was Burnette's first entry in the national charts, though he had already been in the business since 1955.

Snuff Garrett became his producer in 1959 and things started going well for Burnette soon after. Later on Garrett produced artists such as Bobby Vee, Gene McDaniels, Gary Lewis & The Playboys and Cher.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20

Record #0396: Good News / Basin Street Blues – SAM COOKE

RCA Victor 47-8299 (original) USA, Jan. 22, 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Sam Cooke; Side B – Spencer Williams
Musicians: Sam Cooke (vocals), Joseph Gibbons (guitar and banjo), René Hall (guitar), Edward Hall (drums and percussion), Howard Roberts (guitar), John Pisano (guitar), Clifton White (guitar), Eddie Tilman (bass), Emil Radoccia (marimbi, tympani and percussion), John Ewing (trombone), Jewell Grant (sax), William Green (sax), Edgar Redmond (sax) and an unknown pianist and string section on side B
Recording sessions: Produced by Hugo and Luigi at RCA Studio, Hollywood, CA, Side A - Dec. 20; Side B - Dec. 21, 1963
Highest chart positions:  US #11, US R&B #1

Here's a piece of good Soul / R&B from the last year of Cooke's career. He released only four singles after this in his lifetime.

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

Record #0395: Lola / Mindless Child of Motherhood – THE KINKS

Reprise 0930 (original) USA, Jul. 28, 1970
Words & Music by:  Side A – Ray Davies; Side B – Dave Davies
Musicians: Ray Davies (lead vocals on side A, guitar, resonator guitar (National Steel), backing vocals), Dave Davies (lead guitar, lead vocals on side B, backing vocals), Mick Avory (drums, percussion), John Dalton (bass, backing vocals), John Gosling (keyboards)
Recording sessions: Produced by Ray Davies, Side A - at Morgan Studios, London, UK, Apr.-May 1970; Side B - at Pye Studios, London, UK, May 1969
Highest chart positions:  US #9, UK #2, Netherlands #1, Ireland #1, Italy #1

According to Dave Davies, he came up with the music for "Lola" and Ray wrote the lyrics. All the credit went to Ray, though.

This single brought The Kinks their first Top 10 hit in the UK since 1967 ("Autumn Almanac", UK #3) and in the US since 1965 ("Tired of Waiting For You", US #6).

List price:  Very Good+ is $5, Near Mint is $10

Record #0394: Living For the City / Visions – STEVIE WONDER

Tamla 54242 (original) USA, Oct. 1973
Words & Music by:  Side A – Stevie Wonder; Side B – Wonder
Musicians: Side A - Stevie Wonder (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, drums, Moog bass, TONTO synthesizer, handclaps); Side B - Stevie Wonder (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano), Malcolm Cecil (upright bass), Dean Parks (acoustic guitar), David T. Walker (electric guitar)
Recording sessions: Produced by Stevie Wonder at Media Sound Studios, New York, NY, 1973
Highest chart positions:  US #8, US R&B #1, UK #15

Stevie Wonder goes completely solo on the title song. Both tracks are from his 1973 album "Innervisions" (US Album #4, US R&B Album #1).

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5

Record #0393: Wondering / New Silver Bells – WEBB PIERCE

Decca 9-46364 (original) USA, Sep. 1951
Words & Music by:  Side A – Joe Werner; Side B – Webb Pierce, Owen Perry
Musicians: Webb Pierce (vocals), Grady Martin (guitar), Hank Garland (guitar), Billy Robinson (steel guitar), Owen Bradley (piano), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), probably Ernie Newton (bass)
Recording sessions: Castle Studio, Nashville, TN, Aug. 13, 1951
Highest chart positions:  US Country #1

Supposedly this was Pierce's first #1 hit in the US Country charts. He had 11 more of those during 1952-57.

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

Record #0392: The Purple People Eater / I Can't Believe You're Mine – SHEB WOOLEY

MGM K12651 (original) USA, May 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Sheb Wooley; Side B – Don Robertson
Musicians: Sheb Wooley (lead vocals), Howard Roberts (guitar), Bobby Gibbons (guitar), Red Callender (bass), John Williams (piano), Plas Johnson (sax), Earl Palmer (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jesse Kaye at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Mar. 27, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #18, UK #12

Wooley was an actor and a singer. In the latter this single was the peak of his career.

List price:  Very Good+ is $9, Near Mint is $18

Record #0391: Let's Spend the Night Together / Ruby Tuesday – THE ROLLING STONES

London 904 (original) USA, Jan. 13, 1967
Words & Music by:  Side A – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards; "Side B" – Jagger, Richards
Musicians: Side A - Mick Jagger (lead and backing vocals), Keith Richards (lead guitar, bass and backing vocals), Brian Jones (organ), Charlie Watts (drums), Jack Nitzsche (piano); Side B - Mick Jagger (lead vocals, backing vocals and tambourine), Keith Richards (guitar, backing vocals and bowing the strings of an upright bass), Brian Jones (recorder, piano and backing vocals), Charlie Watts (drums), Bill Wyman (bass and fingers on the fingerboard of the upright bass)
Recording sessions: Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham at Olympic Sound Studios, London, UK,  Side A - Aug. 3.-11. and Nov. 8.-26, 1966; Side B - Nov. 8.-Dec. 3, 1966
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #55, UK #3; Side B - US #1

This double A-sided single got The Rolling Stones their 4th #1 hit in the US.

"Let's Spend the Night Together" got less air-play than the flip in the States due to the nature of the lyrics. Ed Sullivan initially refused to let the band play the song in his show. After modifying the lyrics they were allowed to play "Let's Spend Some Time Together" in the show.

Wyman and Richards played an upright bass jointly in "Ruby Tuesday".

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

Record #0390: Drag City / Schlock Rod (Part 1) – JAN & DEAN

Liberty 55641 (original) USA, Nov. 1963
Words & Music by:  Side A – Roger Christian, Jan Berry, Brian Wilson; Side B – Christian, Berry, Wilson, Dean Torrence, Don Altfeld
Musicians: Jan Berry (lead vocals), Dean Torrence (falsetto vocals), Brian Wilson (vocals on side A), Hal Blaine (drums), Earl Palmer (drums), other "Wrecking Crew" musicians possibly including: Glen Campbell (guitar), Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Billy Strange (guitar), Ray Pohlman or Jimmy Bond (bass) and others
Recording sessions: Produced by Jan Berry in Hollywood, CA, 1963
Highest chart positions:  US #10

Jan & Dean followed The Beach Boys in linking the Surf craze with Hot Rods in this single and their 1963 album "Drag City".

The flip is more of a comedy piece. The duo did few of these along their career.

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

Record #0389: Fiddle Around / A Surfer's Dream – JAN & DEAN

Liberty 55905 (original) USA, Aug. 1966
Words & Music by:  Side A – Larry Kusik, Clint Ballard Jr.; Side B – Jill Gibson, Don Altfeld
Musicians: Jan Berry (vocals), Dean Torrence (vocals), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Jan Berry in Hollywood, CA, Side A - 1961; Side B - 1964
Highest chart positions:  US #93

Jan Berry drove his Corvette into a parked truck in April 1966 (a photo of the wreck here). He was severely injured and spent two months in a coma. Meanwhile the label was desperate for new releases as their previous single "Popsicle" had just hit #21 in the US charts.

Liberty found an unreleased track "Fiddle Around" in their vaults and decided to put it on the A-side of the next single. The flip was picked from their 1964 album "Ride the Wild Surf". While Berry was starting his long recovery from brain damage and partial paralysis, Jan & Dean got their last US Top 100 entry with this single.

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

Record #0388: Little Star / Getting Dizzy – THE ELEGANTS

Apt 25005 (original) USA, May 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Arthur Venosa, Vito Picone; Side B – James Moschella, Carman Romano, Picone, Venosa, Frank Tardogno
Musicians: Vito Picone (lead vocals), Carman Romano (baritone), James Moschella (bass vocals), Arthur Venosa (first tenor), Frank Tardogno (second tenor), others unknown
Recording sessions: New York, NY, Apr. 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #1, UK #25

The title song, based on a nursery rhyme, brought The Elegants their only hit and made them a one-hit-wonder.

List price:  Very Good+ is $25, Near Mint is $50. A black label with a rainbow is $40 for a NM.

Record #0387: Rebel-'Rouser / Stalkin' – DUANE EDDY

Jamie 1104 (original) USA, May 26, 1958
Music by:  Side A – Duane Eddy, Lee Hazlewood; Side B – Eddy, Hazlewood
Musicians: Duane Eddy (lead guitar), Corky Casey (guitar), Donnie Owens (guitar), Buddy Wheeler (bass guitar), Alvin Simmons (upright bass), Al Casey (piano), Bob Taylor (drums), Gil Bernal (tenor sax), The Sharps (rebel yells and handclaps)
Recording sessions: Produced by Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill at Ramsey Recorders, Phoenix, AZ, Mar. 1958. Gil Bernal's and the Sharps' parts were overdubbed later in a studio in Hollywood, CA.
Highest chart positions:  US #6, US R&B #8, US Country #17, UK #19

Eddy may not be the fastest guitar player in the world, but he developed a distinctive sound and style with his guitar. Here's his first US Top 10 single and an international hit.

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

Record #0386: I'm a Believer / (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone – THE MONKEES

Colgems 66-1002 (original) USA, Nov. 23, 1966
Words & Music by:  Side A – Neil Diamond; Side B – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
Musicians: Side A - Micky Dolenz (lead and backing vocals), Davy Jones (backing vocals), Peter Tork (backing vocals), Al Gorgoni (lead guitar), Sal Ditroia (guitar), Artie Butler (organ), Dick Romoff (bass), Buddy Salzman (drums), Jeff Barry (piano and tambourine); Side B - Micky Dolenz (lead vocals), Tommy Boyce (backing vocals), Gerry McGee (guitar), Wayne Erwin (guitar), Louie Shelton (guitar), Larry Taylor (bass), Bobby Hart (organ), Billy Lewis (drums), Henry Levy (percussion)
Recording sessions: Side A - produced by Jeff Barry in New York, NY, Oct. 15 & 23, 1966; Side B - produced by Boyce and Hart at Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Jul 26, 1966
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, UK #1; Side B - US #20

Mike Nesmith, though a member of The Monkees, only appears on the cover of the record. He didn't sing nor play anything on this hit record, which became the best selling single in the US in 1967.

Gerry McGee joined The Ventures in 1968. Larry Taylor is the younger brother of The Ventures' long-time drummer, Mel Taylor.

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

Record #0385: Ride Captain Ride / Pay My Dues – BLUES IMAGE

Atco 6746 (original) USA, Apr. 1970
Words & Music by:  Side A – Blues Image (Mike Pinera, Frank Konte); Side B – Blues Image
Musicians: Mike Pinera (lead vocals and lead guitar), Skip Konte (keyboards), Malcolm Jones (bass), Joe Lala (percussion and backing vocals), Manny Bertematti (drums), Kent Henry (guitar solos)
Recording sessions: Produced by Richard Podolor in Los Angeles, CA, 1970
Highest chart positions:  US #4

Blues Image was formed in Tampa, FL, in 1966. Things started happening for them when they signed with Atco and moved to LA in 1969. This was their second single with the label and it also appeared on their second album, "Open" (Atco 33-317, US Album #147, 1970). Their next single went US #81 and basically then things stopped happening for Blues Image. They broke up and then briefly came back to make their third and final album "Red, White and Blues Image" (Atco 33-346, 1971, didn't chart).

Soon after the last album, Kent Henry joined Steppenwolf.

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5

Record #0384: Banana Boat (Day-O) / Star-O – HARRY BELAFONTE

RCA Victor 47-6771 (original) USA, Dec. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – William Attaway, Lord Burgess, Harry Belafonte; Side B – Attaway, Burgess, Belafonte
Musicians: Harry Belafonte (lead vocals), Millard J. Thomas (guitar), Frantz Casseus (guitar), orchestra & chorus conducted by Tony Scott
Recording sessions: Webster Hall, New York, NY, 1955
Highest chart positions:  US #5, US R&B #3, UK #2

This is one of the three singles I mentioned in this earlier post.

The single did pretty good and it is the only Top 10 hit that Belafonte has had in US Pop charts.

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

Record #0383: 634-5789 (Soulsville U.S.A.) / That's a Man's Way – WILSON PICKETT

Atlantic 2320 (original) USA, Feb. 1966

This is a different variant of the record I already posted here.

Record #0382: Magic Bus / Someone's Coming – THE WHO

Decca 32362 (original) USA, Jul. 27, 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Peter Townshend; Side B – John Entwistle
Musicians: Roger Daltrey (lead vocals), Pete Townshend (guitars and backing vocals), John Entwistle (bass and backing vocals), Keith Moon (claves on side A, drums on side B), unknown horn section on side B
Recording sessions: Produced by Kit Lambert at Advision Studios, London, UK, May 29, 1968
Highest chart positions:  US #25, UK #26

Townshend wrote "Magic Bus" already at the time when the group was recording "My Generation". For a reason or another they didn't record it until three years later. In fact, a band called "The Pudding" got to do the original release of the song in 1967.

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

Record #0381: Erkki twistaa / Alright Alright – JUICE

Love Records 2130 (original) Finland, 1976
Words & Music by:  Side A – Juice Leskinen; Side B – Leskinen
Musicians: Juhani "Juice" Leskinen (lead vocals), the others are probably: Petteri Salminen (guitars), Juuso Nordlund (bass), Safka Pekkonen (keyboards), Kaj Martin (drums)
Recording sessions: Helsinki, Finland, spring 1976
Highest chart positions:  Finland #unknown

Juice Leskinen was one of the most prominent singer-songwriters in the Finnish rock/pop scene from the 70's till his death in 2006. This was the first single release of his group "Juice".

The label is supposed to be white. As a collector I just hate it when people mess with their records like this ...

List price:  Not listed :)

Record #0380: Can't Help Falling in Love / Rock-a-Hula Baby ("Twist" Special) – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA Victor 447-0635 (re-issue) USA, 1977
Words & Music by:  Side A – Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss; Side B – Fred Wise, Ben Weisman, Dolores Fuller
Musicians: Elvis Presley (lead vocals), Hank Garland (guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar), Hilmer Timbrell (guitar), Alvino Rey (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana / Hal Blaine (drums), Bernie Mattinson (percussion), Floyd Cramer (piano), Bernie Lewis (ukulele), Fred Tavares (ukulele), The Jordanaires (backing vocals), The Surfers (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Joseph Lilley at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Mar. 23, 1961
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #2, US AC #1, UK #1; Side B - US #23, UK #1  (UK #54 in 1977)

The original single (RCA 47-7968) was issued in 1961. The first re-issue came out already in 1962. This was the 3rd or 4th release of that re-issue, pressed when Elvis had just passed away.

Both songs appeared on Elvis' 1961 film "Blue Hawaii".

List price:  Not listed.

Record #0379: - Calypso (EP) – HARRY BELAFONTE

A1 “Day-O”, A2 “Will His Love Be Like His Rum”, B1 “Jamaica Farewell”, B2 “Dolly Dawn”
RCA Victor EPA-768 (original) USA, 1956
Words & Music by:  A1 – William Attaway, Lord Burgess, Harry Belafonte; A2 – Attaway, Belafonte; B1 – Burgess; B2 – Burgess
Musicians:  Harry Belafonte (lead vocals), Millard J. Thomas (guitar on A1 and A2), Frantz Casseus (guitar) with Tony Scott and His Orchestra (B1 and B2), others unknown
Recording sessions: Webster Hall, New York, NY, 1955
Highest chart positions:  Unknown

Belafonte is probably the best known and most successful artist of the Calypso genre.

This EP puts together three of his singles; A1, A2 and B1 are A-sides and  B2 is the only flip.

I simply have to include a link to a Finnish tongue-in-cheeck cover of Day-O here.

List price:  Very Good+ is $5, Near Mint is $10

Record #0378: The House of Blue Lights / Bell Bottom Boogie – MERRILL MOORE

Capitol F2574 (original) USA, Sep. 1953
Words & Music by:  Side A – Freddie Slack, Don Raye; Side B –  Merrill Moore, Lee Ross, John Stokes
Musicians: Merrill Moore (vocals and piano), Jimmie Widener (rhythm guitar), Jack Carpenter (steel guitar), Monty Gibson (bass), Johnny Stokes (drums), Johnny Dushel (tiple)
Recording sessions: Produced by Ken Nelson at Capitol Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA, Jul. 16, 1953
Highest chart positions:  unknown

One can truly hear many root elements of rockabilly and rock'n'roll music here. Moore has a bit of Western Swing and Boogie-Woogie seasoned with a dash of R&B in this one. It's easy to imagine a young Jerry Lee Lewis listening to this stuff and getting influenced by it.

List price:  Not listed in Golmine catalog. These go for $20-$40 in eBay.

Record #0377: Walk This Way / Uncle Salty – AEROSMITH

Columbia 10449 (original, kind of) USA, Nov. 5, 1976
Words & Music by:  Side A – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry; Side B – Tyler, Hamilton
Musicians: Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (lead guitar and backing vocals), Brad Whitford (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jack Douglas at Record Plant Studios, New York, NY, Jan-Feb. 1975 (not sure if the flip is from the same sessions)
Highest chart positions:  US #10, Canada #7, UK #8

"Walk This Way" was first released with "Round And Round" as the flip on Aug. 28, 1975. "Uncle Salty" was originally issued as the flip of "Sweet Emotion" on May 19, 1975.

The group got two singles into US Top 10 in the 70's. "Dream On" was the first one (US #6 in Apr. 1976).

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5

Record #0376: The James Bond Theme / The Blacksmith Blues – THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN

Columbia 4898 (original) UK, Oct. 1962
Music by:  Side A – John Barry (credited to Monty Norman); Side B – Jack Holmes
Musicians: Vic Flick (guitar), others and an orchestra conducted by John Barry
Recording sessions: CTS Studios, London, UK, Jun. 1962
Highest chart positions:  UK #13

The title song needs no introduction, I believe.

There have been two court cases over the composer credits of the track. It's widely understood that it was Barry who wrote the piece, but still the court has ruled the cases in favor of Norman.

At the time of the recording this group had so many line-up changes, that the only musician I found solid information about was Vic Flick.

List price:  UK release, not listed in Goldmine catalog

Record #0375: I Found a Girl / It's a Shame To Say Goodbye – JAN & DEAN

Liberty 55833 (original) USA, Sep. 8, 1965
Words & Music by:  Side A – P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri; Side B – Don Altfeld, Jill Gibson
Musicians: Jan Berry (vocals), Dean Torrence (harmony vocals on side B), Phil Sloan (falsetto on side A), Hal Blaine (drums) and unknown members of The Wrecking Crew
Recording sessions: Produced by Jan Berry at Western Recorders (?), Hollywood, CA, summer 1965
Highest chart positions:  US #30

By this time the duo's popularity was fading, but this Sloan-Barri song did still pretty good in the charts. "I Found a Girl" still sounds much like typical Jan & Dean stuff of 1963-64, but the flip is more like a folk-rock ballad.

Both tracks appeared on their 1965 album "Folk 'n Roll".

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

Record #0374: Dangerous / Love Is on the Way – NATALIE COLE

Modern 7-99648 (original) USA, Apr. 1985
Words & Music by:  Side A – Marti Sharron, Gary Skardina, Stephen Mitchell; Side B – Natalie Cole, Eddie Cole, K. Craighead, M. Craighead
Musicians: Natalie Cole (lead vocals), Side A - Michael Boyd (guitar), Paul Jackson, Jr. (rhythm guitar), Nathan East (bass), Paulinho Da Costa (percussion), Charlie Judge, Jamie Sheriff, Paul Fox & Rory Kaplan (synthesizers), Stephen Mitchell (drum machine), Gary Skardina (tambourine), Alex Brown, Portia Griffin, Van Ross Redding (backing vocals); Side B - Paul Jackson (guitar), Freddy Washington (bass), David Joyce (keyboards and backing vocals), Robert Shipley (drums), Katrina Perkins, Yasmin Peoples, Eddie Cole & Natalie Cole (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Side A - Produced by Marti Sharron, Gary Skardina & Steve Thompson; Side B - Produced by Natalie Cole & Eddie Cole; USA, 1985
Highest chart positions:  US #57, US R&B #16, US Dance #6

With this single Natalie Cole got back to Top 100 in US Pop charts after a five-year break.

List price:  Very Good+ is $1.50, Near Mint is $3

Record #0373: The Happy Organ / Love Me As I Love You – DAVE "BABY" CORTEZ

Clock 1009 (original) USA, Feb. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Kurt Wood, David Cortez Clowney, James Kriegsmann; Side B – Wood, Clowney
Musicians: Dave Cortez (organ, vocals on side B), Jimmy Spruill (guitar), Buddy Lucas (sax), Panama Francis (drums), unknown bassist and pianist
Recording sessions: Allegro Recording Studio, New York, NY, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #5

Cortez is best known for this hit single, but he did also work as a session musician for groups such as Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Chantels and  The Isley Brothers.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20

Record #0372: Take It Away / I'll Give You a Ring – Paul McCartney

Columbia 18-03018 (original) USA, Jul. 3, 1982
Words & Music by:  Side A – Paul McCartney; Side B – McCartney
Musicians: Side A - Paul McCartney (vocals, bass, piano and acoustic guitar), Linda McCartney (backing vocals), Ringo Starr (drums), Steve Gadd (drums), George Martin (electric piano), Eric Stewart (backing vocals); Side B - Paul McCartney (almost everything), Tony Coe (clarinet), Linda McCartney (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin, Side A - at A.I.R. Studios (Martin's studio), Montserrat, Feb./Mar. 1981; Side B - at Paul McCartney's farm (Rude Studio) in Scotland, summer 1981
Highest chart positions:  US #10, US AC #6, US Rock #39, UK #15

This was McCartney's 30th solo single, with the A-side from his 13th solo album, "Tug of War".

List price:  Very Good+ is $1.50, Near Mint is $3

Record #0371: Throw Your Love My Way / Give Me a Little Old Fashioned Love – ERNEST TUBB

Decca 46243 (original) USA, 1950
Words & Music by:  Side A – Ernest Tubb, Loys Southerland; Side B – Tubb
Musicians: Ernest Tubb (vocals), Jack Shook (guitar), Billy Byrd (guitar), Don Helms (steel guitar), Jack Drake (bass), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Hank Garland (guitar on side A), Owen Bradley (piano on side A), Clarence "Mack" McGarr (mandolin on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Paul Cohen at Castle Studio, Nashville, TN, Side A - Nov. 9; Side B - Dec. 29, 1949
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US Country #3; Side B - US Country #9

Ernest Tubb had 47 songs in US Country Top 10. Here are two of them.

List price:  Very Good+ is $20, Near Mint is $40

Record #0370: The Big Hurt / Memphis Belle – MISS TONI FISHER

Signet 275 (original) USA, Oct. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Wayne Shanklin; Side B – Wayne Shanklin, Al Sherman
Musicians: Toni Fisher (lead vocals), others unknown
Recording sessions: Gold Star Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1959
Highest chart positions:  US #3, US R&B #16, UK #30

When it comes to the recording technology, the title song is a milestone in history. Allegedly this was the first time that phasing / flanging effects were used in a published recording.

"The Big Hurt" was later covered by quite a many artists. The covers by Maureen Evans (UK), Del Shannon (US & UK) and Vikki Carr (US) also charted.

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

Record #0369: Silence Is Golden / Let Your Hair Hang Down – THE TREMELOES

Epic 10184 (original) USA, May 29, 1967
Words & Music by:  Side A – Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio; Side B – Alan Blakley, Len Hawkes, Richard Westwood (Rick West)
Musicians: Rick West (lead guitar and vocals, lead vocals on side A), Alan Blakley (rhythm guitar and vocals), Len Hawkes (bass and vocals), Dave Munden (drums and vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Mike Smith in London, UK, 1967
Highest chart positions:  US #11, UK #1

The title song is a decent cover of The Four Seasons' 1964 original hit.

The Tremeloes (with Brian Poole in the group at the time) auditioned for Decca UK on Jan. 1, 1962. The same day there was a certain 4-piece band from Liverpool auditioning for the label. The Tremeloes got a contract with Decca and The Beatles were rejected.

Formed in 1958, The Tremeloes is still active, but Munden is the only original member left in the group.

List price:  Very Good+ is $5, Near Mint is $10

Record #0368: This Song / Learning How To Love You – GEORGE HARRISON

Dark Horse 8294 (original) USA, Nov. 3, 1976
Words & Music by:  Side A – George Harrison; Side B – Harrison
Musicians: George Harrison (vocals and guitar, claves and triangle on side B), Billy Preston (piano and organ on side A), Alvin Taylor (drums), Willie Weeks (bass), Tom Scott (sax and flutes), Richard Tee (electric piano on side B), David Foster (organ on side B),
Recording sessions: Produced by George Harrison at his home studio in Henley-on-Thames, UK, 1976
Highest chart positions:  US #25

Harrison wrote and recorded "This Song" after he lost the infringement lawsuit about his song "My Sweet Lord" having too much of the melody taken from The Chiffons' 1963 hit "He's So Fine".

List price:  Very Good+ is $5, Near Mint is $10

Record #0367: Blue Money / Sweet Thing – VAN MORRISON

Warner Bros 7462 (original) USA, Jan. 1971
Words & Music by:  Side A – Van Morrison; Side B – Morrison
Musicians: Side A - Van Morrison (lead vocals and guitar), John Platania (guitar), Alan Hand (keyboards), John Klingberg (bass), David Shaw (drums), Keith Johnson (trumpet), Jack Schroer (baritone sax), The Street Choir (backing vocals); Side B - Van Morrison (vocals and acoustic guitar), Jay Berliner (classical guitar), Richard Davis (upright bass), Connie Kay (drums), John Payne (flute) and strings arranged by Larry Fallon
Recording sessions: Side A - Produced by Van Morrison at A&R Recording Studios, New York, NY, 1970; Side B - Produced by Lewis Merenstein at Century Sound Studios, New York, NY, Oct. 15, 1968
Highest chart positions:  US #23

"Blue Money" was also included on Van Morrison's 1970 album "His Band and the Street Choir" and "Sweet Thing" was on his 1968 album "Astral Weeks".

The European releases of the single had "Call Me Up In Dreamland" as the flip-side.

List price:  Very Good+ is $3, Near Mint is $6

Record #0366: Honky Tonk (part 1) / Honky Tonk (part 2) – BILL DOGGETT

King 4950 (original) USA, Jul. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Bill Doggett, Shep Shepherd, Clifford Scott, Billy Butler; Side B – Doggett, Shepherd, Scott, Butler
Musicians: Bill Doggett (organ), Clifford Scott (sax), Billy Butler (guitar), Carl Pruitt (bass), Shep Shepherd (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Henry Glover at King Studio, New York, NY, June 16, 1956
Highest chart positions:  US #2, US R&B #1

"Honky Tonk" is a true instrumental classic. The single stayed on top of the R&B charts for over two months.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20

Record #0365: Engine No.9 / International Playboy – WILSON PICKETT

Atlantic 2765 (original) USA, Sep. 1970
Words & Music by:  Side A – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff; Side B – Gene Dozier, Bunny Sigler, Bernard Broomer, Lee Phillips
Musicians: Wilson Pickett (vocals), Ronnie Baker (bass), Earl Young (drums), Vince Montana (percussion), Roland James / Norman Harris / Bobby Eli (guitars), Thom Bell (organ), Ugene Dozier / Lenny Pakula (piano), Sam Reed & His Horn Section (horns), Don Renaldo & His String Section (strings)
Recording sessions: Produced by Gamble & Huff in Philadelphia, PA, 1970
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #14, US R&B #3; Side B - US R&B #30 (in 1973)

Released only four years after the record of my previous post, this Pickett single is much different. The Memphis Soul has switched to Philly Soul and Pickett sounds more like James Brown or Edwin Starr.

These tracks were included in Pickett's 1970 album "Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia" (US Album #64).

List price:  Very Good+ is $3, Near Mint is $6

Record #0364: 634-5789 (Soulsville U.S.A.) / That's a Man's Way – WILSON PICKETT

Atlantic 2320 (original) USA, Feb. 1966
Words & Music by:  Side A – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd; Side B – Wilson Pickett, Cropper
Musicians: Wilson Pickett (vocals), Steve Cropper (guitar), Isaac Hayes (keyboards), Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass), Al Jackson Jr. (drums), Charles "Packy" Axton (tenor sax), Wayne Jackson (trumpet), Floyd Newman (baritone sax), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Jim Stewart and Steve Cropper at Stax Studio, Memphis, TN, Dec. 20, 1965 (not sure if the flip-side was recorded in the same session)
Highest chart positions:  US #13, US R&B #1, UK #36

60's soul doesn't come much better than this. The great Wilson Pickett on lead vocals and basically the two house bands of Stax Records, "Booker T. & The MG's" (without Booker T. Jones) and "The Mar-Keys" backing him.

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

Record #0363: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / Young Man's Blues – ELTON JOHN

MCA 40148 (original) USA, Oct. 15, 1973
Words & Music by:  Side A – Elton John, Bernie Taupin; Side B – John, Taupin
Musicians: Elton John (vocals and piano), Davey Johnstone (guitars and backing vocals), Dee Murray (bass and backing vocals), Nigel Olsson (drums and backing vocals), Ray Cooper (percussion) and and orchestra conducted and arranged by Del Newman on side A
Recording sessions: Produced by Gus Dudgeon at Château d'Hérouville, France, May 1973
Highest chart positions:  US #2, US Cash Box #1, UK #6, Canada #1, Ireland #4

The flip side in the UK was "Screw You", which is the same flip as here, but it was re-named for the US market.

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5

Record #0362: I'm In Love Again / My Blue Heaven – FATS DOMINO

Imperial X5386 (original) USA, Mar. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew; Side B – George Whiting, Walter Donaldson
Musicians: Fats Domino (vocals and piano),  Ernest McLean (guitar), Frank Fields (bass), Cornelius Coleman (drums), Lee Allen (tenor sax), Herb Hardesty (tenor sax), Buddy Hagans (tenor sax on side B), Clarence Ford (alto sax, possibly not on side B), Earl Palmer (possibly drums on side A instead of Coleman)
Recording sessions: Produced by Dave Bartholomew at J&M Studio, New Orleans, LA, Side A - Oct. 15, 1955; Side B - Dec. 23, 1955
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #3, US R&B #1, UK #12; Side B - US #19, US R&B #5

This was the fourth #1 single Domino had in US R&B charts anf the third time he got both sides of a single into the Top 10. Typically in this era the B-sides were just fillers, but not with Domino.

The single was also Domino's first UK Top 100 entry.

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

Record #0361: - This Is Sinatra vol. 2 (EP) – FRANK SINATRA

A1 “Something Wonderful Happens In Summer”, A2 “Half As Lovely Twice As True”, B1 “So Long My Love”, B2 “It's the Same Old Dream”

Capitol EAP 2-982 (original) USA, 1958
Words & Music by:  A1 – Joe Bushkin, John De Vries; A2 – Sammy Gallop, Lew Spence; B1 – Sammy Cahn, Lew Spence; B2 – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Musicians:  Frank Sinatra (lead vocals) with: A1 - as posted here; A2 - Bobby Gibbons (guitar), Joe Comfort (bass), Bill Miller (piano), Alvin Stoller (drums) and others conducted by Nelson Riddle; B1 - Nick Bonney (guitar), Joe Comfort (bass), Bill Miller (piano), Frank Divito (drums) and others conducted by Nelson Riddle; B2 - Robert Bain (guitar), Joe Comfort (bass), Jimmy Rowles (piano), Alvin Stoller (drums) and others conducted by Nelson Riddle.
Recording sessions: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA, A1 - as posted here; A2 - May 13, 1954; B1 - Mar. 14, 1957; B2 - Nov. 25, 1957
Highest chart positions:  Unknown

Thie EP has two A sides (A2 & B2) and two B sides of four singles. B1 went to US #74 in the single charts.
List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20, picture sleeve is $10 and $20 correspondingly.

Record #0360: Bad Moon Rising / Lodi – CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

Fantasy 622 (original) USA, Apr. 1969
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Fogerty; Side B – Fogerty
Musicians: John Fogerty (lead vocals and lead guitar), Tom Fogerty (backing vocals and rhythm guitar), Stu Cook (bass), Doug Clifford (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by John Fogerty at Wally Heider's Studio, San Francisco, CA, Mar. 1969
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #2, UK #1; Side B - US #52

CCR never got a US #1 single, but they had five #2's there, this being the second one. This was their only single to top the UK charts.

List price:  Very Good+ is $3, Near Mint is $6

Record #0359: Love Me Tender / Anyway You Want Me (That's How I'll Be) – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA Victor 47-6643 (original) USA, Oct. 6, 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Elvis Presley, Vera Matson; Side B – Aaron Schroeder, Cliff Owens
Musicians: Side A - Elvis Presley (lead vocals), Vito Mumolo (guitar), Luther "Red" Roundtree (banjo), Dominic Frontieri (accordion), Michael "Myer" Rubin (bass), Richard Cornell (drums), The Ken Darby Trio (backing vocals); Side B - Elvis Presley (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass) D.J. Fontana (drums), Shorty Long (piano), The Jordanaires (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Side A - Produced by Lionel Newman at 20th Century Fox Stage 1, Los Angeles, CA, Aug. 24, 1956; Side B - Proles at RCA Studios, New York, NY, Jul. 2, 1956
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, US R&B #3, US Country #3, UK #11; Side B - US #27, US R&B #12, US Country #3

This single got Elvis his fifth US #1 hit in 1956. The title song is from the movie "Love Me Tender".

This became a gold record before it was released as RCA received one million advance orders.

List price:  Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30

Record #0358: The Joker / Something To Believe In – STEVE MILLER BAND

Capitol 3732 (original) USA, Sep. 1973
Words & Music by:  Side A – Steve Miller; Side B – Miller
Musicians: Steve Miller (vocals and guitar), Gerald Johnson (bass and backing vocals), Dick Thompson (keyboards), John King (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Miller at Capitol Studios (?), Hollywood, CA, 1973
Highest chart positions:  In 1973-74 - US #1, Canada #2, Netherlands #18; in 1990-91 - UK #1, Ireland #1, Netherlands #1, Norway #2, Sweden #4

It took over 16 years to make this single a transatlantic chart-topper. "The Joker" was put into Levi's commercials in many European countries in 1990 and that soon led into the re-issue and re-discovery of the single.

The lyrics include a peculiar word, "pompatus". Miller said he coined it from an old R&B song, where it sounded like the singer (Vernon Green) was singing about pompatus of love. The song was "The Letter" and it was the flip side of a single I already posted here.

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5

Record #0357: Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever – THE BEATLES

Capitol 5810 (original, 2nd pressing) USA, Feb. 13, 1967
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B – Lennon, McCartney
Musicians: Side A - Paul McCartney (lead & backing vocals, bass and three pianos), John Lennon (backing vocals, congas, handclaps and two pianos), George Harrison (backing vocals, handbell and handclaps), Ringo Starr (drums and tambourine), George Martin (piano), David Mason (piccolo trumpet solo), Manny Winters, P. Goody and Ray Swinfield (flutes and piccolos), Leon Calvert, Freddy Clayton, Bert Courtley and Duncan Campbell (trumpets and flugelhorn), Dick Morgan and Mike Winfield (oboes and cor anglais), Frank Clarke (upright bass); Side B - John Lennon (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano and bongos), Paul McCartney (bass, mellotron and timpani), George Harrison (guitar, slide guitar, maracas and swarmdal), Ringo Starr (drums and backward cymbals), Mal Evans (tambourine), Neil Aspinall (guiro), Terry Doran (maracas), Tony Fisher, Greg Bowen, Derek Watkins and Stanley Roderick (trumpets), John Hall, Derek Simpson and Norman Jones (cellos)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, London, UK, side A - Dec. '66 - Jan. '67; Side B -  Nov.-Dec. 1966
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, UK #2, Canada #1; Side B - US #8

The Fab Four was enforced with quite a many musicians in this 1967 hit record. The record is like a short tour to the band's hometown.

The promotional film made for "Strawberry Fields Forever" is widely regarded as the world's first music video.

List price:  Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30. Many variations exist. This particular one is without the text "A Subsidiary of ..." (with the text, 1968 release, NM $50) and the length of "Penny Lane" marked as 2:57 (length 3:00, 1st pressing, NM $25). Red and orange label, 1969 release, NM $20.