Record #0484: I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter / Date With the Blues – BILLY WILLIAMS

Coral 9-61830 (original) USA, May 5, 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Joe Young, Fred Ahlert; Side B – Hal Gordon, Herman Fairbanks
Musicians: Billy Williams (lead vocals) with chorus and orchestra conducted by Dick Jacobs
Recording sessions: New York, NY, 1957
Highest chart positions:  US #3, US R&B #9, UK #22

The title song was a revival of Fats Waller's 1935 hit recording (US #5). Many other cover versions have been recorded by artists/groups such as Bill Haley and His Comets, Frank Sinatra, Fabian, Dean Martin, Willie Nelson and Nat "King" Cole.
The song was lyricist Joe Young's last work.

This single was Williams' only million-seller and the title song was his only US Top 10 entry.

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

Record #0483: Catch a Falling Star / Magic Moments – PERRY COMO

RCA Victor 47-7128 (original) USA, Dec. 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Paul Vance, Lee Pockriss; Side B – Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Musicians: Perry Como (lead vocals) with Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and The Ray Charles Singers
Recording sessions: Produced by Joe Reisman in New York (?), NY, 1957
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, UK #9; Side B - US #4, UK #1

A dead person was described as "He was as calm as a Perry Como groupie" by Sledge Hammer in an 80's TV series "Sledge Hammer!". It wasn't so funny if there wasn't a (large) seed of truth in it. This guy was the king of "easy listening" and elevator music - if Como would've ever recorded "The Girl From Ipanema", that would have been the pinnacle of elevator music. :)

Having said that, apparently Como knew what he was doing as he had fourteen #1 hits in US, three #1's in US AC and two of his songs topped the UK chart. A whopping 108 of his songs made it to US Top 40!

The UK release (RCA 1036, Jan. 1958) was flipped over to have "Magic Moments" as the A-side.
The flip is an early songwriting work of Bacharach and David. They penned their first #1 hit "The Story of My Life" for Marty Robbins in 1957. "Magic Moments" was the second one in line and more was to come, especially in the late 60's and early 70's.

List price:  Very Good+ is $6, Near Mint is $12. Orange label is a re-issue from 1969 and listed for $8 for a NM.

Record #0482: My Secret / What Does It Matter – THE PLATTERS

Mercury 71538 (original) USA, Oct. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Buck Ram; Side B – Seymour Gottlieb, Herb Weiner
Musicians: Tony Williams (lead tenor), Herb Reed (bass vocals), Zola Taylor (contralto), David Lynch (2nd tenor), Paul Robi (baritone), and an orchestra conducted by Eddie Beal, who possibly also played the piano in the session
Recording sessions: Produced by Buck Ram in Los Angeles, CA, Aug. 27, 1959
Highest chart positions:  didn't chart

Around the time when this single was released, Williams pursued a solo career. He had just issued his first solo LP "A Girl Is a Girl Is a Girl" the month before. Sales-wise the LP was a flop. One reason could be that he had some bad publicity due to a lawsuit (on a morals charge) that autumn. The Platters had also a quite slow year in terms of chart success in 1959, with just one US Top 40 hit ("Enchanted").

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

Record #0481: Warm and Tender Love / Sugar Puddin' – PERCY SLEDGE

Atlantic 2342 (original) USA, Jul. 1966
Words & Music by:  Side A – Bobby Robinson; Side B – Marlin Greene, Bruce Gist
Musicians: Percy Sledge (lead vocals), most likely backing by: Spooner Oldham (organ), Marlin Greene (guitar), Albert "Junior" Lowe (bass), Roger Hawkins (drums), unknown horns and chorus
Recording sessions: Produced by Marlin Greene and Quin Ivy at FAME Studios (?), Muscle Shoals, AL, 1966
Highest chart positions:  US #17, US R&B #5, UK #34

This single was preceded by Sledge's biggest hit, "When a Man Loves a Woman" (US #1, US R&B #1, UK #4). "Warm and Tender Love" didn't quite match the success, but it did pretty well in the charts anyway.

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

Record #0480: Secretly / Make Me a Miracle – JIMMIE RODGERS

Roulette 4070 (original) USA, Apr. 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Al Hoffman, Dick Manning, Mark Markwell; Side B – Hoffman, Manning, Markwell
Musicians: Jimmie Rodgers (vocals) with an orchestra conducted by Hugo Peretti
Recording sessions: Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY, Dec. 1957
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #3, US Country #5, US R&B #7; Side B - US #16, US R&B #7

This artist is Jimmie Rodgers, the pop singer from Camas, WA, not Jimmie Rodgers, the country singer from Meridian, MS.

This was one of Rodgers' biggest hit singles. The biggest one and his only US #1 was "Honeycomb", which also topped US R&B chart in 1957.

I believe I have the picture sleeve for this somewhere. I'll add the pic here when I find the sleeve.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20. Picture sleeves are $40 for a NM.

Record #0479: The Hula Hoop Song / Keep In Touch – GEORGIA GIBBS

Roulette 4106 (original) USA, Sep. 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Carl Maduri, Donna Kohler; Side B – Noel Sherman, Jack Keller
Musicians: Georgia Gibbs (lead vocals) with an orchestra & chorus conducted by Hugo Peretti
Recording sessions: New York (?), NY, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #32

Gibbs had 19 US Top 40 songs in her career and this was the last one of those. This might have done even better if there wasn't Teresa Brewer's version of the song (US #38) competing for the radio play at the same time.

The modern hula hoop was invented in 1958 and the hula hoop craze started in July that year. 25 million plastic hula hoops were sold in less than four months.

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

Record #0478: Lady Willpower / Daylight Stranger – GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP

4-44547 (original) USA, May 21, 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Fuller; Side B – Gary Puckett, Fuller
Musicians: Gary Puckett (lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Dwight Bement (bass), Gary Withem (keyboards), Paul Wheatbread (drums and percussion), possibly James Burton (rhythm guitar), The Sid Sharp Strings (strings), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Jerry Fuller at Columbia Recording Studios (?), Hollywood, CA, 1968
Highest chart positions:  US #2, US AC #26, UK #5

1968 was the pinnacle in this band's chart success. Just a couple of months before this single, the group had a US #2 with "Young Girl". The follow-up for this single ("Over You") was also a Top 10 hit, reaching US #7. All three were written by Jerry Fuller.

Jerry Fuller has had quite a career as a producer and a songwriter. Among other hit songs he wrote "Travelin' Man" (US #1, UK #2 in 1961) for Ricky Nelson (sold 6 million copies), "A Woman's Touch" (US Country #16 in 1982) for Tom Jones and "Show and Tell" for Johnny Mathis (US AC #36 in 1973) covered by Al Wilson (US #1, US AC #3, US R&B #10, UK #51 in 1973) and Peabo Bryson (US R&B #1 in 1989).

When I first heard the title song, the first two things that came to my mind were Tom Jones (for the voice) and The Four Seasons (for the song). Although I like The Four Seasons and Tom Jones is kind of ok, this is really not for me. But hey, this is a Pacific Northwest group, so extra points for that. :)

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

Record #0477: The Green Door / (The Story of) The Little Man In Chinatown – JIM LOWE

Dot 15486 (original, 1st pressing) USA, Jul. 1956

The details are same as in the 2nd pressing, which I already posted here.

Record #0476: Dead Man's Curve / New Girl in School – JAN & DEAN

Liberty 55672 (original) USA, Feb. 7, 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Brian Wilson, Jan Berry, Roger Christian, Artie Kornfeld; Side B – Wilson, Berry, Christian, Randy Newman
Musicians: Jan Berry (lead vocals), Dean Torrence (vocals), Phil Sloan (vocals), Steve Barri (vocals), Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Billy Strange (guitar), Hal Blaine (drums), Earl Palmer (drums) and unknown members of the Wrecking Crew
Recording sessions: Produced by Jan Berry at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, 1963
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #8; Side B - US #37

This was the first of the two US Top 10 hits the duo had in 1964. The other one is posted here.

Among Jan & Dean's singles this was a bit of an exception as both sides were solid hit material. Many of their singles included humour or other a bit odd pieces on the flip side.

When visiting the L.A. area few years back, my family and I did some music tourism by driving through the dead man's curve while listening to the song. A silly thing. :)

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

Record #0475: There's Nothing I Can Say / Lonely Corner – RICK NELSON

Decca 31656 (original) USA, Aug. 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Christian Sarrell, Al Stillman; Side B – Johnny Burnette, Betty Murdoch
Musicians: Rick Nelson (vocals), James Burton (lead guitar), Jerry Cole (guitar), Glen Campbell (guitar), Billy Lee Riley (harmonica), Joe Osborn (bass), Ray Johnson (piano), Richie Frost (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jimmie Haskell at Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Jun. 30, 1964. An overdub session adding Campbell and Riley took place on Jul. 10, 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #47, US AC #18; Side B - US #113

Nelson was one of the US artists whose success clearly declined when the British Invasion started in early 1964. That year he had only one song in US Top 40 and he had to wait till 1969 before he got the next one in there ("She Belongs To Me", US #33, US AC #27). His old recipe didn't work anymore so he switched to country music and re-invented himself as "Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band".

Johnny Burnette was Nelson's friend, who frequently wrote songs for him. He died in a boat accident the month this single was released.

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

Record #0474: My Boyfriend's Back / (Love Me) Now – THE ANGELS

Smash 1834 (original) USA, Jul. 1963
Words & Music by:  Side A – Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer; Side B – Feldman, Goldstein, Gottehrer
Musicians: Peggy Santiglia (lead vocals), Phyllis Allbut (vocals), Barbara Allbut (vocals) and an orchestra conducted by Leroy Glover
Recording sessions: Produced by Feldman, Gottehrer & Goldstein in New York, NY, 1963
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #2

This was a smash hit for The Angels (pun intended) and their only #1 single. It's a fine piece of early 60's girl group pop.

"My Boyfriend's Back" appears on the soundtrack of a 1979 greaser film "The Wanderers", starring Ken Wahl (of TV series "Wiseguy") and Karen Allen.

I posted the group's follow-up single here before.

List price:  Very Good+ is $8, Near Mint is $16

Record #0473: Crimson and Clover / Some Kind of Love – TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS

Roulette 7028 (original) USA, Dec. 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Tommy James, Peter Lucia; Side B – James, Lucia
Musicians: Tommy James (vocals, guitars ... all instruments except bass and drums), Mike Vale (bass) Peter Lucia, Jr. (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Tommy James at Allegra Studios, New York, NY, 1968
Highest chart positions:  US #1, Canada #1, Germany #1, Switzerland #1, New Zealand #1, Singapore #1, South Africa #1

At the time of this recording the group had just decided to write songs on their own. Reportedly they were discouraged by Roulette people, who said that it's not going to fly. Man, were they wrong!

According to Roulette, this single sold 5.5 million copies.

"Crimson and Clover" was one of the first songs recorded on a 16-track recorder.

List price:  Very Good+ is $5, Near Mint is $10. There's also a pressing that has "(I'm) Taken" as the flip. That's $15 for NM.

Record #0472: Rip It Up / Ready Teddy – LITTLE RICHARD AND HIS BAND

Specialty 579 (original) USA, Jun. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco; Side B – Marascalco, Blackwell
Musicians: Little Richard (vocals and piano), Lee Allen (tenor sax), Red Tyler (baritone sax), Edgar Blanchard (guitar), Ernest McLean (guitar), Frank Fields (bass), Earl Palmer (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell at J&M Studio, New Orleans, LA, May 9, 1956
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #17, US R&B #1, UK #30; Side B - US #44, US R&B #8

To have one true classic on a single is great; to have such songs on both sides of a single is quite exceptional. Here's one such single. Like most of Penniman's New Orleans material, these tracks are spot on; this is rock 'n' roll.

Both sides have been covered by too many artists to mention.

The same session also included songs "Hey Hey Hey Hey" and "I Got It"

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

Record #0471: Green Onions / Behave Yourself – BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s

Stax 127 (original) USA, Sep. 1962
Music by:  Side A – Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Lewie Steinberg; Side B – Jones, Cropper, Jackson, Steinberg
Musicians: Booker T. Jones (Hammond organ), Steve Cropper (Fender Telecaster), Al Jackson, Jr. (drums), Lewie Steinberg (upright bass)
Recording sessions: Stax Studios, Memphis, TN, Jul. 1962
Highest chart positions:  US #3, US R&B #1, UK #7 (in 1979)

This is one of my favorite instrumentals and a huge Stax classic. Absolutely great in its simplicity!

This was the debut single of Booker T. & The M.G.s, which became the house band for the Stax label. Usually joined with the Memphis Horns, they played on hundreds of records of artists like Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Albert King, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas and many others.

"Green Onions" has appeared in many, many movies. Here's a clip from "American Graffiti".

List price:  Very Good+ is $8, Near Mint is $16. Grey label is $20 for NM.

Record #0470: Takin' Care of Business / Stonegates – BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE

Mercury 73487 (original) USA, May 1974
Words & Music by:  Side A – Randy Bachman; Side B – Fred Turner
Musicians: Randy Bachman (vocals and guitar), Fred Turner (vocals and bass), Robbie Bachman (drums), Tim Bachman (guitar), Norman Durkee (piano on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Randy Bachman at Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle, WA, 1973
Highest chart positions:  US #12, Canada #3

Durkee was actually a pizza delivery guy, who was delivering pizza to the Steve Miller Band in the next studio room. He dropped in the studio where Bachman-Turner Overdrive was listening to the playback of "Takin' Care of Business" and suggested that the song needs a boogie-woogie piano and then he left. Supposedly the band knew he could play, because they went after him and got him to play the piano for the song. Later on Durkee became the musical director for Barry Manilow and Bette Midler.

Elvis' TCB Band was named after the title song.

List price:  Very Good+ is $2, Near Mint is $4

Record #0469: Fraulein / (Got a) Heartsick Feeling – BOBBY HELMS

Decca 9-30194 (original) USA, Jan. 28, 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Lawton Williams; Side B – Cindy Walker
Musicians: Bobby Helms (vocals), Grady Martin (guitar), Hank Garland (guitar), Harold Bradley (guitar), Ray Edenton (guitar), Bob Moore (bass), Owen Bradley (piano), Buddy Harman (drums), unknown fiddler on side A
Recording sessions: Produced by Paul Cohen at Music City Recording, Nashville, TN, Nov. 15, 1956
Highest chart positions:  US #36, US Country #1

Bobby Helms is best known for his 1957 hits "My Special Angel" and "Jingle Bell Rock".

This was Helms' second single with Decca. His first Decca release "Tennessee Rock 'n' Roll" / "I Don't Owe You Nothing" didn't hit the charts and would have possibly been left in oblivion if a Scottish rockabilly group The Shakin' Pyramids wouldn't have covered it in 1981. Their cover was very popular in the European rockabilly revival of the late 70's and early 80's.

"Fraulein" spent 52 weeks on US Country chart, which is the second longest time on that chart and right behind Eddy Arnold's "Bouquet of Roses", which spent 54 weeks there in 1948-49.

Helms was backed by the Nashville A-Team here, but this time they didn't record at Owen Bradley's studio.

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

Record #0468: Let's Twist Again / Everything's Gonna Be All Right – CHUBBY CHECKER

Parkway 824 (original) USA, Jun. 1961
Words & Music by:  Side A – Kal Mann, Dave Appell; Side B – Mann
Musicians: Chubby Checker (lead vocals), Dave Appell (guitar), Joe Macho (bass) possibly Bobby Gregg or Ellis Tollin (drums) and Buddy Savitt (sax), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Appell and Mann at Cameo-Parkway Studio, New York, NY, May 1961
Highest chart positions:  US #8, US R&B #26, UK #2, Belgium #1, Netherlands #1, Norway #2, Italy #3

"Let's Twist Again" won the Grammy for the Best Rock 'n' Roll Solo Vocal Performance in 1962

Kal Mann co-wrote 22 US Top 10 hits during his career and Dave Appell did 10 correspondingly (those ten were all co-written by Mann).

Many European countries had cover versions of the title song by local artists in their own languages. Here is the Finnish cover "Kun Twistataan" (Scandia 429, 1962) by Ann Christine & Four Cats.

List price:  Very Good+ is $7.50, Near Mint is $15. The pressings with orange vinyl are $200 for NM.

Record #0467: Sail Along Silv'ry Moon / Raunchy – BILLY VAUGHN AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Dot 15661 (original) USA, Dec. 1957
Music by:  Side A – Percy Wenrich, Harry Tobias; Side B – Bill Justis, Sid Manker
Musicians: An orchestra conducted by Billy Vaughn
Recording sessions: Gallatin (?), TN, Nov. / Dec. 1957
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #5, UK #?, Germany #1; Side B - US #10

Billy Vaughn and his orchestra were a kind of a house band for Dot Records in the 50's and early 60's, playing in the sessions of Dot artists such as Pat Boone and Tab Hunter. Vaughn and the orchestra also had a fairly successful "solo career" for about 13 years. They had 28 hits in US Top 100, a half of which climbed to Top 40 and four to Top 10.

The flip was originally recorded by a Sun Records' artist and arranger Bill Justis in Nov. 1957. It was Justis' biggest hit (US #2, US R&B #1, US Country #6, UK #11). It's also the song which George Harrison played with his guitar to John Lennon when trying to get accepted to his band, The Quarrymen in 1958.

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

Record #0466: All Shook Up / That's When Your Heartaches Begin – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA Victor 47-6870 (original) USA, Mar. 22, 1957
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 - Jan. 12, 1957; Side B - Jan. 13, 1957
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #1, US Country #1, UK #1

Here's one of Elvis' biggest hit singles.

The very first time the Elvis recorded "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" was on Jul. 18, 1953, when he did a demo acetate (with "My Happiness" on the other side) at Sun Recording Studio for his mother as a birthday present.

List price:  Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30. Picture sleeves are $90 for a NM.

Record #0465: You'll Never Never Know / It Isn't Right – THE PLATTERS

Mercury 70948 (original) USA, Aug. 17, 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jeanette Miles, Paul Robi, Tony Williams; Side B – Robert Mellin
Musicians: Tony Williams (first tenor, lead vocals), Herb Reed (bass vocals), Zola Taylor (contralto), David Lynch (2nd tenor), Paul Robi (baritone), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Buck Ram at Mercury Sound Studio, New York, NY, Side A - Jul. 11; Side B - Jul. 12, 1956
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #11, US R&B #9; Side B - US #13, US #10

The Platters performed "You'll Never Never Know" in 1956 film "The Girl Can't Help It" starring Jayne Mansfield.

This is a bit more uptempo than an average Platters single.

List price:  Very Good+ is $10, Near Mint is $20. Maroon label $30 for NM.

Record #0464: Leaning on the Lamp Post / Hold On! – HERMAN'S HERMITS

MGM 13500 (original) USA, Apr. 1966
Words & Music by:  Side A – Noel Gay; Side B – P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri
Musicians: Peter Noone (lead vocals), Derek Leckenby (lead guitar), Keith Hopwood (rhythm guitar and b-vocals), Karl Green (bass and b-vocals), Barry Whitwam (drums) ... it's possible that some of them were replaced by studio musicians in the sessions
Recording sessions: Produced by Mickie Most in the UK, 1966
Highest chart positions:  US #9

The tracks were included in a 1966 film, album (US) and EP (UK, the flip only)  - all titled "Hold On!"

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

Record #0463: This Door Swings Both Ways / For Love – HERMAN'S HERMITS

MGM 13548 (original) USA, Jun. 1966
Words & Music by:  Side A – Estelle Levitt, Don Thomas; Side B – Keith Hopwood, Dereck Leckenby, Harvey Lisberg
Musicians: Peter Noone (lead vocals), Derek Leckenby (lead guitar), Keith Hopwood (rhythm guitar and b-vocals), Karl Green (bass and b-vocals), Barry Whitwam (drums) ... it's possible that some of them were replaced by studio musicians in the sessions
Recording sessions: Produced by Mickie Most in the UK, 1966
Highest chart positions:  US #12, UK #18

Both tracks were included in the US release of the group's 1966 album "Both Sides of Herman's Hermits".

The flip is a nice R&B piece.

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

Record #0462: Hey Joe / Night Owl – WILSON PICKETT

Atlantic 2648 (original) USA, Jun. 1969
Words & Music by:  Side A – Billy Roberts; Side B – Don Covay
Musicians: Wilson Pickett (vocals), Duane Allman (guitar on side A), Bobby Womack (guitar on side B) Jerry Jemmott (bass), Roger Hawkins (drums), others unknown
Recording sessions: Side A - Produced by Rick Hall at Criteria Studios, Miami, FL, 1969; Side B - Produced by Tom Dowd at American Studios, Memphis, TN, 1968 (?)
Highest chart positions:  US #59, US R&B #29

A very powerful pair of tracks by Wilson Pickett are on this one.

"Hey Joe" was originally recorded by "The Leaves" in 1965, but the best known recording was done by The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966. Here's Pickett's soulful version of the song.

Don Covay has also a link to Jimi Hendrix. One of the first recordings where Hendrix is on guitar was Don Covay & The Goodtimers' "Mercy Mercy" (US #35, US R&B #1) in 1964.

Around the time this record was released, Duane Allman formed The Allman Brothers Band with Gregg Allman and others.

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

Record #0461: I've Got Sand in My Shoes / He's Just a Playboy – THE DRIFTERS

Atlantic 2253 (original) USA, Sep. 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Artie Resnick, Kenny Young; Side B – Bert Russell
Musicians: Johnny Moore (lead vocals), Charlie Thomas (vocals), Gene Pearson (vocals), Johnny Terry (vocals) and an orchestra conducted by Teacho Wilshire
Recording sessions: Produced by Bert Berns in New York, NY; Side A - Aug. 4, 1964; Side B - May 21, 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #33, US R&B #21; Side B - US #115

This single was preceded by one of The Drifters' biggest international hits, "Under the Boardwalk". This release failed to be as successful, but it did ok in the States. The next single "Saturday Night at the Movies" was again an international success (US #18, US R&B #8, UK #3).

The flip was recorded in the same session as "Under the Boardwalk". One Drifter, Rudy Lewis had died the day before the session.

The title song was in the same recording session with "Saturday Night at the Movies".

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

Record #0460: I'll Be Home / Tutti Frutti – PAT BOONE

Dot 15443 (original) USA, Jan. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Fats Washington, Stan Lewis; Side B – Dorothy LaBostrie, Richard Penniman
Musicians: Pat Boone (lead vocals) with an unknown orchestra
Recording sessions: Produced by Randy Wood in Gallatin (?), TN, 1955
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #4, UK #1; Side B - US #12

"I'll Be Home" was originally recorded by The Flamingos and the flip was an original of Little Richard. Boone's mellow cover versions outranked both originals in terms of chart success. In some other terms, I will keep my personal opinion to myself. :)

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

Record #0459: Evil Ways / Waiting – SANTANA

Columbia 45069 (original) USA, Dec. 30, 1969
Words & Music by:  Side A – Clarence Henry; Side B – Santana Band
Musicians: Carlos Santana (lead guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (organ and lead vocals), David Brown (bass), Michael Shrieve (drums), Michael Carabello (percussion, congas), José Areas (percussion, congas, timbales)
Recording sessions: Produced by Brent Dangerfield and Santana at Pacific Recording, San Mateo, CA, May 1969
Highest chart positions:  US #9, US AC #19

These two tracks open the group's 1969 album "Santana" (Columbia CS 9781, US Album #4, UK Album #26). "Waiting" is the first track of the LP.

This was Santana's first US Top 10 hit single.

The title song was erroneously credited to Jimmie Zack, who recorded "Evil Ways" in 1960, but that was a different song.

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

Record #0458: Thunderball / Key To My Heart – TOM JONES

Parrot 9801 (original) USA, Nov. 1965
Words & Music by:  Side A – Don Black, John Barry; Side B – Gordon Mills, Mike Bradley
Musicians: Tom Jones (lead vocals), John Barry Orchestra (on side A), side B musicians unknown
Recording sessions: Side A - UK, Oct. 1965; Side B - Produced by Peter Sullivan, UK, 1965
Highest chart positions:  US #25, US AC #5, UK #35

"Thunderball" is the theme song of the fourth James Bond movie, which was released in Dec. 1965.

Reportedly Tom Jones sang the final note of "Thunderball" so hard that he fainted in the recording booth after it.

The flip was included on his 1966 LP "A-tom-ic Jones"

List price:  Very Good+ is $4, Near Mint is $8

Record #0457: Ride the Wild Surf / The Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association – JAN & DEAN

Liberty 55724 (original) USA, Aug. 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jan Berry, Roger Christian, Brian Wilson; Side B – Berry, Christian, Don Altfeld
Musicians: Jan Berry (lead vocals), Dean Torrence (vocals), Hal Blaine (drums), possibly Earl Palmer (drums), possibly Phil Sloan (high falsetto vocals) and unknown members of the Wrecking Crew conducted by Hal Blaine
Recording sessions: Produced by Jan Berry in Hollywood, CA, 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #16; Side B - US #77

"Ride the Wild Surf" is a 1964 movie starring Fabian, Shelley Fabares, Tab Hunter, Peter Brown and Barbara Eden. The title song was included on the soundtrack. Jan and Dean were to have supporting roles in the film, but Columbia called it off after a friend of Dean's became involved in the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra, Jr. Hunter and Brown got their roles. Another version of the events is that Jan and Dean considered the movie lame and turned down the offer.

I think it's a fair assumption to say that the name of the flip is one of the longest song titles in the history of pop music. :)

The label of my copy looks like it has gone through a wild surf ...

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

Record #0456: Ferry Cross the Mersey / Pretend – GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS

Laurie 3284 (original) USA, Jan. 1965 (UK release Dec. 1964)
Words & Music by:  Side A – Gerry Marsden; Side B – Lew Douglas, Cliff Parman, Frank Levere, Dan Belloc
Musicians: Gerry Marsden (vocals and guitar), Les Chadwick (bass), Les Maguire (piano), Freddie Marsden (drums) and a set of session musicians conducted by George Martin (?)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios (Abbey Road), London, UK, May 17, 1964. Not sure if the flip was recorded in the same session.
Highest chart positions:  US #6, UK #8

This was one of the biggest hits of Gerry and the Pacemakers.

The flip is a cover of Dan Belloc's 1952 original. Nat King Cole's 1953 cover is perhaps the best known version of the song. The first rock cover of the song was recorded by Carl Mann in 1959.

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

Record #0455: - The Wildest Show at Tahoe, Part 1 (EP) – LOUIS PRIMA

A1 “On the Sunny Side of the Street”,  A2 “Exactly Like You”, B1 “Robin Hood”, B2 “Oh Babe”

Capitol EAP 1-908, (original) USA, 1957
Words & Music by:  A1 – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh; A2 – Fields, McHugh; B1 – Louis Prima, Bob Miketta; B2 – Prima, Milton Kabak
Musicians:  Louis Prima (vocals and trumpet), Keely Smith (vocals), Sam Butera (sax and vocals), Jack Marshall (guitar), Tony Liuzza (bass), Bobby Morris (drums), Willie McCumber (piano), James Blount (trombone)
Recording sessions: Live at Harrah's Club, Lake Tahoe, CA, Jul. 27, 1957
Highest chart positions:  Not in Top 100

Here's King of the Swing with Keely Smith, Sam Butera and The Witnesses in a live performance. Chartwise Prima and the supporting musicians had already seen their best days, but the music was still as good as ever.

Later on Jack Marshall composed "The Munsters Theme" for the 60's TV series.

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

Record #0454: Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy / Crazy Circles – BAD COMPANY

Swan Song 70119 (original) USA, Mar. 1979
Words & Music by:  Side A – Paul Rodgers; Side B – Rodgers
Musicians: Paul Rodgers (vocals, guitar, synths), Mick Ralphs (guitar and keyboards), Boz Burrell (bass), Simon Kirke (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Bad Company at Ridge Farm Studios, Surrey, UK, Aug.-Sep. 1978
Highest chart positions:  US #13

I just realized when making this post that Rodgers used to be the singer of Free. No wonder he sounded so familiar.

These are the opening tracks of Bad Company's 1979 album "Desolation Angels".

List price:  Very Good+ is $2.50, Near Mint is $5. Picture sleeves are listed $6 for a NM.

Record #0453: California Sun / H. B. Goose Step – THE RIVIERAS

This is a worn-out beaten-up copy of a single, which I posted here before.