Record #0504: Running Bear / My Heart Knows – JOHNNY PRESTON

Mercury 71474 (original) USA, Jun. or Aug. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper); Side B – Richardson, Johnny Preston
Musicians: Johnny Preston (lead vocals), Hal Harris (guitar), Buck Henson (bass), Link Davis (sax), Doc Lewis (piano), Bill Kimbrough (drums), Bill Hall, George Jones & The Big Bopper (Indian chants on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Bill Hall at Gold Star Studio, Houston, TX, Dec. 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #3, UK #1

After Preston's band had performed at Richardson's club, he offered Preston his songs to be recorded. The songs became Preston's debut and biggest hit single.

Richardson died in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens on Feb. 3, 1959. This caused some delay in getting this single released.

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

Record #0503: Trouble In Paradise / Always You – THE CRESTS

Coed 531 (original) USA, May 1960
Words & Music by:  Side A – Billy Dawn Smith, Allyson P. Khent; Side B – J. Kett
Musicians: Johnny Mastrangelo (lead vocals), J.T. Carter (vocals), Talmoudge Gough (vocals), Harold Torres (vocals), others unknown.
Recording sessions: New York, NY, May 4, 1960
Highest chart positions:  US #20

This was a rush release by The Crests. "Trouble In Paradise" was the group's last US Top 40 entry.
I posted their preceding release here before.

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

Record #0502: Mule Skinner Blues / Torture – THE FENDERMEN

Soma 1137 (original) USA, May 1960
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jimmie Rodgers; Side B – Jim Sundquist, Phil Humphrey
Musicians: Phil Humphrey (lead vocals and Fender Telecaster), Jim Sundquist (lead guitar, Fender Stratocaster), nobody else
Recording sessions: Produced by Amos Heilicher at Kay Bank Studio, Minneapolis, MN, Apr. 1960
Highest chart positions:  US #5, US Country #16

"Mule Skinner Blues" was originally recorded by Jimmie Rodgers in 1930. The Fendermen re-arranged the song and got their only hit with it. Their version was later covered by Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids on their first single in 1972 (Epic 10930). I recall that Flash Cadillac's version was used in a toothpaste TV commercial in Finland in the late 70's.

The Fendermen first released these two songs for Cuca label (Cuca 1003) in January 1960, but the recordings were from an earlier session, thus this Soma release is not a re-issue. Cuca 1003 is quite rare and listed at $200 in a near mint condition.

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

Record #0501: Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA Victor 47-6604 (original, 1st pressing) USA, Jul. 13, 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley; Side B – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Musicians: Elvis Presley (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (upright bass), D.J. Fontana (drums), Shorty Long (piano on side A), Gordon Stoker (piano on side B), The Jordanaires (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Sholes at RCA Studios, New York, NY, Jul. 2, 1956
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, US R&B #1, US Country #1; Side B - US #1, US R&B #1, US Country #1, UK #2

How about a cross-over #1 hit on both sides of the single. I wonder how many artists have been able to do that. This classic was the biggest selling single recorded in 1956 and it sold over 6 million copies by 1961.

"Don't Be Cruel" was actually all Blackwell song, but he granted 50% credit to Elvis to ensure that he recorded it. Not a bad deal.

The UK release (HMV POP249, Nov. 1956) had "Hound Dog" as the A-side. Later US pressings (2nd pressing onwards) also featured picture sleeves, where "Hound Dog" was on top of "Don't Be Cruel".

Elvis' "Hound Dog" was a great cover, but still I prefer Big Mama Thornton's original from 1952. Even Elvis couldn't produce that amount of energy in his version. :)

List price:  Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30. If you have the first or second pressing picture sleeve, that's a keeper. 1st pressing is $200 and the 2nd pressing is $100 for a Near Mint.

Record #0500: Black Slacks / Boppin' Rock Boogie – JOE BENNETT AND THE SPARKLETONES

Sparton 464 (original) Canada, Jul. 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Joe Bennett, Jimmy Denton; Side B – Bennett, Wayne Arthur
Musicians: Joe Bennett (vocals and guitar), Howard Childress (vocals and guitar), Wayne Arthur (bass), Jimmy Denton (drums), Paul Anka (uncredited backing vocals on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Don Costa at Bell Sound Studios, New York, NY, Jun. 10, 1957
Highest chart positions:  US #17, US R&B #11

Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones was a fairly unknown rockabilly group, but they recorded one classic of the genre featured here as the title song of this Canadian release. After this single they got two other songs in the charts: "Penny Loafers and Bobby Socks" (US #43) and "Boys Do Cry" (US #105).

500 records down in the blog; still quite many to go ...

List price:  Canadian pressings (nor 78 rpms) not in Goldmine catalog.

Record #0499: Charlie Brown / Three Cool Cats – THE COASTERS

Atco 6132 (original) USA, Jan. 19, 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller; Side B – Leiber, Stoller
Musicians: Carl Gardner (tenor, co-lead on side A, lead on side B), Billy Guy (baritone), Will "Dub" Jones (bass vocals), Cornel Gunter (tenor, co-lead on side A), Adolph Jacobs (guitar), Don Arnone (guitar on side A), Clifton Best (guitar on side B), Allan Hanlon (guitar on side B), Milt Hinton (bass on side A), Lloyd Trotman (bass on side B), King Curtis (tenor sax), Mike Stoller (piano), Belton Evans (drums on side A), Joe Marshall (drums on side B), Francisco Pozo (bongos on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Leiber & Stoller in New York, NY, Side A - Dec. 11; Side B - Mar. 17, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #2, US R&B #2, UK #6

This was a very nice follow-up for The Coasters' previous charting single "Yakety Yak" (US #1, US R&B #1, UK #12). They did have one non-charting release ("The Shadow Knows") in between, though.

The flip was recorded in the group's first New York session, where they also recorded both sides of single "Yakety Yak" and "Stewball", which was the flip-side of a 1960 release "Wake Me, Shake Me".

The Beatles (with Pete Best on drums) covered "Three Cool Cats" when they auditioned for Decca UK on Jan. 1, 1962.

List price:  Very Good+ is $12.50, Near Mint is $25. Stereo copies are $60 for NM.

Record #0498: I Love You So / Gee – THE CROWS

Rama 5 (original) USA, May 1953
Words & Music by:  Side A – William Davis, Viola Watkins; Side B – Watkins, Davis
Musicians: Daniel "Sonny" Norton (lead), William "Bill" Davis (baritone), Mark Jackson (tenor and guitar), Gerald Hamilton (bass vocals), Viola Watkins (piano), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by George Goldner (?), New York, NY, Apr. 1953
Highest chart positions:  Side B - US #14, US R&B #2

Here's another bird group of doo-wop / R&B. The Crows was a one-hit-wonder as this was their only release that charted.

The label was first pushing "I Love You So" as the A-side, but the radio stations started flipping the record and it was "Gee" that became the hit song of the release.

The Crows was backing Viola Watkins in the studio when these two songs were included in the session. Reportedly Davis wrote "Gee" during the session in less than 10 minutes.

"Gee" was covered by Jan & Dean in 1960 (US #81), The Hollywood Flames in 1961 (US R&B #26) and The Pixies Three in 1964 (US #87).

List price:  Very Good+ is $35, Near Mint is $70. Blue label, red vinyl is $400 for a Near Mint ... I only wish I had it.

Record #0497: (Night Time Is) The Right Time / Tell All the World About You – RAY CHARLES

Atlantic 2010 (original, promo) USA, Dec. 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Napoleon "Nappy" Brown, Ozzie Cadena, Lew Herman; Side B – Ray Charles
Musicians: Ray Charles (lead vocals and piano), Marcus Belgrave (trumpet), John Hunt (trumpet on side A), Lee Harper (trumpet on side B), David Newman (tenor sax), Bennie Crawford (baritone sax on side A), Emmett Dennis (baritone sax on side B), Edgar Willis (bass), Teagle Fleming (drums on side A), Richie Goldberg (drums on side B), The Raelettes (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Ahmet Ertegün and Jerry Wexler, Side A - New York, NY, Oct. 28, 1958; Side B - New York, NY, Feb. 20, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #95, US R&B #5

This is a top notch R&B single, an absolutely great piece.

Charles still had to wait for few months before he got his first cross-over hit with "What'd I Say" (US #6, US R&B #1).

The flip was included on Charles' 1959 album "What'd I Say". "The Right Time" was put onto his 1960 LP "The Genius Sings the Blues".

List price:  Very Good+ is $7.50, Near Mint is $15. Promo not listed in the catalog.

Record #0496: My Girl / (Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My Baby – THE TEMPTATIONS

Gordy 7038 (original) USA, Dec. 21, 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White; Side B – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.
Musicians: David Ruffin (lead tenor on side A), Eddie Kendricks (tenor/falsetto, lead on side B), Paul Williams (baritone), Melvin Franklin (bass vocals), Otis Williams (baritone), Elbridge Bryant (tenor on side B), Robert White (lead guitar), James Jamerson (bass), Benny Benjamin (drums), and other members of The Funk Brothers, plus Detroit Symphony Orchestra (strings on side A); not sure about instrumentation line-up on side B.
Recording sessions: Side A - produced by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White at Hitsville USA, Detroit, MI, Sep. 25, Nov. 10 and 17, 1964; Side B - produced by Norman Whitfield at Hitsville USA, Detroit, MI, Feb. 22, 1963
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #1, UK #43 (1992 re-release went to #2 in the UK)

"My Girl" was the first Temptations single with David Ruffin on lead vocals. The idea came from Smokey Robinson, who also co-wrote and co-produced the song. The song was included on the group's 1965 album "The Temptations Sing Smokey", which was also produced by Robinson.

The flip is a lesser-known track which wasn't released on any of their albums.

List price:  Very Good+ is $7.50, Near Mint is $15. If you have the picture sleeve for this, lucky you. That's $120 for a Near Mint one.

Record #0495: Mona Lisa / Heavenly – CONWAY TWITTY

MGM K12804 (original) USA, Jul. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Ray Evans, Jay Livingston; Side B – Jack Nance, Conway Twitty
Musicians: Conway Twitty (lead vocals), Al Bruno (guitar), Ray Edenton (guitar), Harold Bradley (bass guitar), Lightnin' Chance (bass), Jack Nance (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), unknown chorus
Recording sessions: Produced by Jim Vienneau at Bradley Studios, Nashville, TN, Side A - Feb. 18; Side B - Mar. 23, 1959
Highest chart positions:  US #29, UK #5

Here's one from Twitty's rock'n'roll years. A nice piece where he was backed by a set of very solid musicians.

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

Record #0494: When You Ask About Love / Deborah – THE CRICKETS

Brunswick 9-55153 (original) USA, Oct. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis; Side B – Allison, Curtis
Musicians: Earl Sinks (vocals and rhythm guitar), Sonny Curtis (lead guitar), Joe Mauldin (bass), Jerry Allison (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jack Hansen at Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY, Side A - May 20; Side B - May 27, 1959
Highest chart positions:  UK #27, didn't chart in the US

This was the second single that The Crickets released without Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959. Holly actually left the group already in 1958.

This is a fine piece that shows that the group was able to stand on their own, without their leading star.

An English rockabilly band, Matchbox covered the title song in 1980.

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

Record #0493: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / Be-Bop Baby – RICKY NELSON

Imperial 5463 (original, 2nd pressing) USA, Sep. 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Scotty Wiseman; Side B – Pearl Lendhurst
Musicians: Ricky Nelson (lead vocals), Bob Bain (guitar), Howard Roberts (guitar), Ray Siegel (bass), Roger Renner (piano), Earl Palmer (drums), The Four Preps (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jimmie Haskell and Ozzie Nelson at Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Aug. 16, 1957
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #29; Side B - US #3, US R&B #5

This is one of Nelson's early singles, recorded at the time when he didn't have a band of his own, yet. He was backed by (fine) session musicians in these songs.

List price:  Very Good+ is $12.50, Near Mint is $25. Red label (first pressing) is $50 for a NM. Picture sleeves are $80 for NM.

Record #0492: Great Balls of Fire / You Win Again – JERRY LEE LEWIS

Sun 281 (original), USA, Nov. 1957

Apparently I have two copies of this. The first one was already posted as record #0021.

Record #0491: Apache / Echo Boogie – JØRGEN INGMANN AND HIS GUITAR

Atco 6184 (original) USA, Dec. 1960
Music by:  Side A – Jerry Lordan; Side B – Jørgen Ingmann
Musicians: Jørgen Ingmann (guitar), others unknown
Recording sessions: Copenhagen (?), Denmark, 1960
Highest chart positions:  US #2, US R&B #9, Canada #1, Germany #6

"Apache" was originally recorded and released by The Shadows in July 1960 (UK release). Their record went to #1 in the UK, but failed to chart in the States. It amazes me how ABC-Paramount failed to make a US hit out of it (ABC 10138). Instead, ATCO was able to make a big hit out of this inferior cover version by a Danish jazz guitarist (sorry ... inferior, but still not bad).

Undoubtedly Ingmann was a very good guitarist, especially his own work on the flip-side shows that.

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

Record #0490: It's Up To You / I Need You – RICK NELSON

Imperial 5901 (original) USA, Nov. 1962
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Fuller; Side B – Baker Knight
Musicians: Rick Nelson (lead vocals), James Burton (lead guitar), Glen Campbell (guitar and backing vocals), Joe Osborn (bass), Richie Frost (drums), Allen Harris (piano on side A), Ray Johnson (piano on side B), John Audino (trumpet on side A), Tony Terran (trumpet on side A), Dave Burgess (backing vocals on side A), Jerry Fuller (backing vocals on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jimmie Haskell at Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Side A - Jun. 13; Side B - Nov. 15, 1962
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #6, US AC #4, US R&B #24, UK #22; Side B - US #83

Here's Ricky with one of his Jerry Fuller -penned hit songs.

Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas recorded a good cover of the title song in 1964.

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

Record #0489: Loop De Loop Mambo / Framed – THE ROBINS

Spark 107 (original) USA, Sep. 1954
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller; Side B – Leiber, Stoller
Musicians: Carl Gardner (tenor, lead on side A), Bobby Nunn (bass vocals, lead on side B), Billy Richard (tenor), Roy Richard (baritone), Ty Terrell (tenor), others probably: Chuck Norris (guitar), Mike Stoller (piano), Gil Bernal (tenor sax), Ralph Hamilton (bass), Jesse Sailes (drums)
Recording sessions: Master Recorders, Los Angeles, CA, late summer 1954
Highest chart positions:  Didn't chart nationally, but was a local hit in the L.A. area.

This is a nice classic by one of the early "bird groups" of doo-wop / R&B. The Robins was also the first one to record a Leiber & Stoller song ("That's What the Good Book Says", 1951).

Gardner and Nunn left the group to form The Coasters in October 1955. Leiber and Stoller stayed with them and wrote many of The Coasters' songs.

List price:  78 rpm records not listed in Glodmine catalog. These go for about $30 in eBay.

Record #0488: Just Married / Stairway of Love – MARTY ROBBINS

Columbia 41143 (original) USA, Mar. 10, 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Barry De Vorzon, Al Allen; Side B – Sid Tepper, Roy Bennett
Musicians: Marty Robbins (lead vocals), Ray Conniff's orchestra: Tony Mottola (guitar), Billy Mure (guitar), Don Arnone (guitar), Frank Carroll (bass), Ed Shaughnessy (drums), The Ray Conniff Singers (chorus)
Recording sessions: Produced by Mitch Miller at Columbia Recording Studio, New York, NY, Feb. 26, 1958 (7 pm - 10 pm)
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #26, US Country #1; Side B - US #68, US Country #2

This single had one of Robbins' sixteen US Country #1's and two of his 47 Top 10 hits in the chart.

The session also included songs "Ain't I the Lucky One" (Columbia 41282) and "Foolish Decision" (unreleased until 1991).

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

Record #0487: Reveille Rock / Time Bomb – JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES

Warwick 513 (original, 1st pressing) USA, Oct. 1959
Music by:  Side A – Tom King (Harry Balk), Ira Mack (Irving Micahnik), Carl Conatser; Side B – King, Mack
Musicians: Johnny Paris (sax), Paul Tesluk (organ), Dave Yorko (guitar), Lionel Mattice (bass), Bill Savich (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Morty Craft in New York, NY, 1959
Highest chart positions:  US #25, US R&B #17, UK #14

This was the follow-up single for their only million-seller, "Red River Rock". The group had a fresh new instrumental sound of their own, carrying them in the US charts for a couple of years and in the UK charts for a couple of years more.

The group was managed by Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik, who wrote many of their hit songs under pseudonyms "Tom King" and "Ira Mack".

List price:  Very Good+ is $12.50, Near Mint is $25. Stereo release is $50 for a Near Mint.

Record #0486: Burning Bridges / Oh, Little One – JACK SCOTT

Top Rank 2041 (original) USA, Mar. 1960
Words & Music by:  Side A – Walter Scott; Side B – Jack Scott
Musicians: Jack Scott (lead vocals), The Chantones (backing vocals) and an orchestra arranged by Bill Sanford
Recording sessions: Produced by Sonny Lester at Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY, Side A - Dec. 21, 1959; Side B - Nov. 25, 1959
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #3, US R&B #5, UK #32; Side B - US #34

This single has one of Jack Scott's four US Top 10 hits.

The flip-side was recorded in his first session for Top Rank. The session included the songs for his first Top Rank single, "What In the World's Come Over You"/"Baby Baby" (US #5, US R&B #7, UK #11).

Jack Scott performed in Helsinki, Finland on Aug. 10, 2013. I took the picture below in the event.

List price:  Very Good+ is $12.50, Near Mint is $25. Stereo release is $60 for a Near Mint.

Record #0485: Drugstore Rock and Roll / Will You, Willyum – JANIS MARTIN

RCA Victor 47-6491 (original) USA, Apr. 1956
Words & Music by:  Side A – Janis Martin; Side B – Carl Barefoot, Carl Stutz
Musicians: Janis Martin (vocals), Chet Atkins (lead guitar), Grady Martin (rhythm guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob Moore (bass), Buddy Harman (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Chet Atkins and/or Steve Sholes at RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN, Mar. 8, 1956 (7 pm - 10 pm)
Highest chart positions:  US #35

Here's the 15-year-old Janis Martin backed by the Nashville A-Team. RCA billed her as "The Female Elvis". While that may be kind of silly, she did have a great big voice - especially for a girl of that age.

The session also included songs "One More Year To Go" (released as the flip of her next single, "Ooby Dooby", RCA 47-6560) and "Let's Elope, Baby" (the A-side of her 4th single, RCA 47-6744).

Carl Stutz co-wrote "Little Things Mean a Lot", which was a US #1 hit for Kitty Allen in 1954.

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