Record #0564: - Get Happy (EP) – JUNE CHRISTY

A1 “My Heart Belongs To Only You”,  A2 “Get Happy”, B1 “I Lived When I Met You”, B2 “The Man I Love”

Capitol EAP 1-448 (original) USA, 1954
Words & Music by:  A1 – Frank Daniels, Dorothy Daniels; A2 – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler; B1 – Billy Reid; B2 – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Musicians:  June Christy (lead vocals) and an orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo
Recording sessions: Los Angeles or Hollywood, CA, 1953 (?), A2 already in 1951 or even before?
Highest chart positions:  Unknown

Here's June Christy early in her solo career.

The personnel is likely much similar as on Christy's 1954 album "Something Cool". Barney Kessel may well be playing  guitar on this EP, too.

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

Record #0563: La Bamba / Charlena – LOS LOBOS

Slash / WB 7-28336 (original) USA, Jun. 27, 1987
Words & Music by:  Side A – trad., adaptation by Ritchie Valens; Side B – Herman B. Chaney, Manuel G. Chavez
Musicians: David Hidalgo (lead vocals, guitar), Louie Pérez (vocals, guitar),Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitar), Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass), Steve Berlin (keyboards, sax on side B), Enrique Gonzales (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Los Lobos at Sunset Sound Recorders (?), Los Angeles, CA, 1987
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US AC #4, US Country #57, US Rock #11, UK #1

Los Lobos did a great cover of Ritchie Valens' original and got additional boost from a 1987 film "La Bamba", starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Both the movie and the song became international hits.

I have posted Valens' original "La Bamba" here. It was re-issued in the UK in 1987 and got to #49 in their singles chart.

List price:  Not listed in Goldmine catalog. These go for a buck or two in eBay (two bucks with PS).

Record #0562: Folsom Prison Blues / The Folk SInger – JOHNNY CASH

Columbia 4-44513 (original) USA, Apr. 30, 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Johnny Cash; Side B – Charles Daniels, Cash
Musicians: Side A - Johnny Cash (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Carl Perkins (guitar), Luther Perkins (guitar), Al Casey (guitar), Marshall Grant (bass), W.S. Holland (drums); Side B - Johnny Cash (lead vocals), Luther Perkins (guitar), Norman Blake (dobro), Marshall Grant (bass), W.S. Holland (drums), Carter Family (b-vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Bob Johnston, Side A - Live at Folsom Prison, Folsom, CA, Jan. 13, 1968; Side B - at Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville, TN, Mar. 6, 1968
Highest chart positions:  US #32, US Country #1, US AC #39, UK #52

Just like his black outfit, "Folsom Prison Blues" became one of Cash's trademarks. The original release in 1956 became his first Top 10 hit (US Country #4). This 1968 live cover did even better than the original and gave Cash a #1 hit after a break of 4 years.

Cash did two shows in Folsom Prison on Jan. 13, 1968 and selected tracks were released on this single and album "At Folsom Prison" (US Album #13, US Country Album #1, UK Album #7, Norway Album #7).

The single hit the charts in late May and early June, but the assasination of Robert F. Kennedy on 5th of June stalled the record as the radio stations refused to play it due to the line "I shot a man in Reno ...". Despite the opposition from Cash, Columbia edited that line out and quickly re-released the single and it then continued climbing the charts.

Cash once said he wrote the line "I shot a man in Reno - just to watch him die," while he was "trying to think of the worst reason . . . for killing another person." He added, "It did come to mind quite easily, though."

"Folsom Prison Blues" sits at #163 in Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"

Luther Perkins, who had played with Cash since 1954, died on August 3 that year. He fell asleep on his sofa with a lit cigarrette. Need I say more ...
His final recording session with Cash took place on July 31 and included songs "He Turned Water Into Wine" and "Come To the Wailing Wall".

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

Record #0561: Never No Mo' Blues / Sleep, Baby Sleep – LEFTY FRIZZELL

Columbia 4-21101(original) USA, May 1953
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jimmie Rodgers, Elsie McWilliams; Side B – Rodgers
Musicians: Lefty Frizzell (vocals, rhythm guitar) and probably: Leon Rhodes (lead guitar), Buddy Griffin (bass), Bobby Williamson  (rhythm guitar), Vic Candis (fiddle), Jim Kelly (steel guitar)
Recording sessions: Jim Beck Studio (?), Dallas, TX, 1953
Highest chart positions:  Didn't hit Top 100 in any chart

This single has two Jimmie Rodgers originals; side A is from 1928 and the flip from 1927.

Things were kinda slow with Frizzell in 1953. He released 7 singles that year, but only two of those charted.

The co-writer of side A, Elsie McWilliams was Rodgers' sister-in-law.

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

Record #0560: Always Late (With Your Kisses) / Mom and Dad's Waltz – LEFTY FRIZZELL

Columbia 4-20837 (original) USA, Jul. 9, 1951
Words & Music by:  Side A – Lefty Frizzell, Blackie Crawford; Side B – Frizzell
Musicians: Lefty Frizzell (vocals, rhythm guitar), Leon Rhodes (lead guitar), Buddy Griffin (bass), Bobby Williamson  (rhythm guitar), Vic Candis (fiddle), Jim Kelly (steel guitar)
Recording sessions: Produced by Don Law and Frank Jones at Jim Beck Studio, Dallas, TX, 1951
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US Country #1; Side B - US Country #2

Frizzell had 17 songs in US Country Top 10 during his career. Four of those were there at the same time in 1951. I think it's a fair statement that this single was released at the peak of his success.

The title song has been covered by Jo-El Sonnier in 1976 (US Country #99), Leona Williams in 1981 (US Country #84) and Dwight Yoakam in 1988 (US Country #9).

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

Record #0559: Can't I / Blue Gardenia – NAT "KING" COLE

Capitol F2389 (original) USA, Aug. 15, 1953
Words & Music by:  Side A – Ivan Mogull, Leroy Lovett; Side B – Bob Russell, Lester Lee
Musicians: Nat Cole (lead vocals), Side A - Willie Smith (alto sax), Ted Nash, Richard Clay (tenor sax), Charles Deremo (sax), Robert Dawes (sax), Conrad Gozzo, Tony Facciuto, Robert McKinzie, Andre Peele, Jack Laubach (trumpets), Si Zentner, Dick Nash, Karl De Karske, Robert Reisiger (trombones), Cliff Fishback (piano), John Collins (guitar), Jack Agee or Ralph Pena (bass), John Markham (drums), Jack Costanzo (percussion), Billy May (conductor); Side B - Vince de Rosa, John Cave (french horns), Paul Tanner, Milt Bernhart (trombones), Kathryn Julyie (harp), Buddy Cole (piano/celeste), Charlie Harris (bass), John Collins (guitar), Lee Young (drums), Nelson Riddle (conductor) and strings & flutes
Recording sessions: Capitol Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA, Side A - Jan. 14; Side B - Jan. 20, 1953
Highest chart positions:  US #16, US R&B #7, UK #6

This was the follow-up for "Pretend", which was one of Cole's biggest hits. Though not quite as successful, this still made it to the Top 10 in US R&B and UK.

The flip was the title song in a 1953 movie "The Blue Gardenia", starring Anne Baxter. Cole also appeared in the movie.

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

Record #0558: Nothing But Heartaches / He Holds His Own – THE SUPREMES

Motown 1080 (original) USA, Jul. 16, 1965
Words & Music by:  Side A – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland; Side B – Holland, Dozier, Holland
Musicians: Diana Ross (lead vocals), Mary Wilson (backing vocals), Florence Ballard (backing vocals), The Andantes (backing vocals on side B), The Funk Brothers (instrumentation), The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (additional instrumentation on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland at Hitsville USA, Detroit, MI, Side A - May 13 & 17, 1965; Side B - 1964
Highest chart positions:  US #11, US R&B #6

This single was release one week before the Supremes' album "More Hits by the Supremes" (US Albums #6, US R&B Albums #2).

Between July 1964 and November 1967 the group had 15 songs in US Top 20. During that time, this was the only single that failed to reach US Top 10. This release was preceded by five consecutive US #1 hits, "Where Did Out Love Go", "Baby Love", Come See About Me", "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Back In My Arms Again". They may have been a bit disappointed when this was "only" #11. :)

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

Record #0557: - Bluejean Bop part 3 (EP) – GENE VINCENT AND HIS BLUE CAPS

A1 “Jump Back, Honey, Jump Back”,  A2 “Waltz of the Wind”, B1 “I Flipped”, B2 “Peg o' My Heart”

Capitol EAP 3-764 (original) USA, Sep. 1956
Words & Music by:  A1 – Hadda Brooks; A2 – Fred Rose; B1 – Bobbie Carroll; B2 – Fred Fisher, Alfred Bryan
Musicians:  Gene Vincent (vocals), Cliff Gallup (lead guitar), Willie Williams (rhythm guitar), Jack Neal (bass), Dickie Harrell (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Ken Nelson at Music City Recording, Nashville, TN, A1 - Jun. 27; A2 - Jun. 25; B1 - Jun. 26; B2 - Jun. 24, 1956
Highest chart positions:  Unknown

Gene Vincent's debut album "Bluejean Bop" was also releleased on three EPs, this being the last of them.

A1 was originally recorded by Hadda Brooks in 1952. A2 is a Roy Acuff original from 1948. B1 is the only Vincent original on this disc, and B2 goes way back to 1913, when it was first recorded by Charles W. Harrison for Victor Talking Machine Company, which later became RCA Victor.

Vincent has been one of my favorite R&R pioneers since my early teens.
Great vocals, top-notch musicians, top-shelf stuff!

List price:  Very Good+ is $75, Near Mint is $150. Picture sleeves have the same pricing. (I wish I had the sleeve for this)

Record #0556: I Want To Walk You Home / I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday – FATS DOMINO

Imperial X5606 (original) USA, Jul. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side A – Antoine Domino; Side B – Roy Hayes, Dave Bartholomew, Domino
Musicians: Fats Domino (vocals and piano), Herb Hardesty (tenor sax), Buddy Hagans (tenor sax on side A), Clarence Ford (baritone sax on side A, tenor sax on side B), Buddy Hagans (tenor sax on side B), Wendell Duconge (alto sax on side B), Walter 'Papoose' Nelson (guitar on side A), Ernest McLean (guitar on side B), Jimmie Davis (bass on side A), Frank Fields (bass on side B), Cornelius Coleman (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Dave Bartholomew at Cosimo Recording Studio, New Orleans, LA, Side A - Jun. 18, 1959; Side B - Jun. 14, 1958
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #8, US R&B #1, UK #14; Side B - US #17, US R&B #22

"I Want To Walk You Home" is the last song Fats Domino has had as US R&B #1. His next single "Be My Guest" got pretty close as it reached #2 in the chart.

Though Domino was one of the writers of the flip side, he wasn't the one to make the first recording of it. It was Bobby Mitchell & the Toppers that recorded and released it in 1957.

It's possible that Domino was not present in the June 14, 1958 session and that his vocals were overdubbed into the track later on. In this case, the piano may have been played by Allen Toussaint.

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

Record #0555: Teen Age Idol / I've Got My Eyes on You (And I Like What I See) – RICK NELSON

Imperial X5864 (original) USA, Aug. 4, 1962
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jack Lewis; Side B – Dave Burgess
Musicians: Side A - Rick Nelson (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), James Burton (lead guitar), Tommy Tedesco (rhythm guitar), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Richie Frost (drums), Pete Jolly (piano), John Anderson (trumpet), Holly Humphreys (trumpet), Marshall Cram (trombone), John Rotella (sax), and an unknown chorus; Side B - Rick Nelson (lead vocals), James Burton (lead guitar), Glen Campbell (guitar), Joe Osborn (bass), Richie Frost (drums), Allen Harris (piano), John Audino (trumpet), Tony Terran (trumpet) Darlene Love & the Blossoms (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Side A - Jun. 20, 1962; Side B - backing track Jun. 13, vocals added Jun. 20, 1962
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #5, US AC #2, UK #39; Side B - US #105

Released exactly 52 years ago, this was Nelson's 14th US Top 10 single. It did well as it was right in the mainstream pop of the time. But as usual for Rick (and for "Ricky" as he was until he turned 21) the musicians were top notch, including James Burton, Glen Campbell, Joe Osborn and so on.

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

Record #0554: Nadine (Is It You?) / O Rangutang – CHUCK BERRY

Chess 1883 (original) USA, Feb. 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Chuck Berry; Side B – Berry
Musicians: Chuck Berry (lead vocals and lead guitar), Willie Dixon (bass), Odie Payne (drums), others unknown
Recording sessions: Chess Studio, Chicago, IL, Jan. 14, 1964
Highest chart positions:  US #23, US R&B #7, UK #27

Berry spent 18 months in a prison from Feb. 1962 to Oct. 1963. This was his first single release after his release from prison.

The flipside and 6 other songs were recorded in this session, including his later release "You Never Can Tell"

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

Back With the Blog

I had bigger priorities for few months, hence this blog was on pause. Now I'm going to resume it at least to some degree.
- T-Recs