Walkin'

I should have added this to my last post. It's the instrumental side of Robert Parker's second single on the Ron label.

While I've never heard anyone say as much, it does seem possible that this cut is related to All Nite Long Pts 1&2.

Perhaps it was recorded at the same time?

Honey child, this stuff suuure is good..

Here's Robert Parker's first single...that is, the first put out under his own name. He was already well-known as a session sax player.

Eddie Bo and Mac Rebennack get song writing credits on the slightly more jam-like second side. Presumably Bo is on piano, Rebennack on guitar, Parker on sax.

Most think it's Bo, not Parker, who adds a few vocal bits to the first side, and I don't disagree, as it sure does sound like him.

From 1959.

Enjoy

Say it again girl..

Probably the stupidest group name ever...

This record was given to me by a friend who often throws me his 'seconds', so I assumed the less than stellar sound of the record was a question of wear...

But since then, I've heard several other copies and they all suffer the same problems as mine. In fact, it turns out my copy is pretty-darn-good.

Too bad, as the arrangement is gorgeous...but there's not much that can be done about a lousy mix or an apparently shoddy pressing. Even the re-mastered/re-mixed version of the song on the comp, Calla Records: Soul of The Sixties, exhibits some of the same problems as most, if not all, 45 copies.

On the other hand, I could be totally wrong and the problem is simply that most existing copies of this record were the subject of heavy-duty jukebox/DJ rotation....something I can totally understand, as the song flat-out rocks.

Enjoy

When a man's got himself a woman...

Omg, Joe Tex...blah blah blah, omg..

From a recently acquired stack of NOS records....

Enjoy

Turn me on...

Funny thing is, when I started looking for Deacon John 45's I didn't realize how few of them there are.

As far as I know, only three. One on the RIP label, one on Wand [as Johnny Moore], and this one on Bell.

Which is surprising given that he's a great singer....played as session guitarist on more records than I can possibly name....and had, for years, a very popular band in New Orleans....in fact, has never stopped playing gigs.

50 years of playing, and still going strong. He's now a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and received a truck-load of praise for his album/show, Deacon John's Jump Blues....[you can see the entire, project related, movie....Going Home to New Orleans, here.]

Hope ya enjoy...

I wanna feel the funk...

If I were a DJ, I wouldn't think of leaving the house without at least one General Crook record in hand [hint hint].

Yeah, it's gonna be just-like-that...time to fight the heat...time to sweat it out..

Big party off Frenchman St.......you do know the place....

The whole shebang's dedicated to Marva Wright who had a stroke awhile back. We're asking for $5 donation at the door to add to the kitty being collected at Tipitina's tonight.

For those who can't make it, I'll leave you with this.....Gimme Some Pt's 1&2.

I hope it makes ya hurt..

Just a note...

I'm a big fan of Derek's Daily 45.

Over time, Derek's sent me searching for quite a few records. He's always offering up something interesting....in fact, something interesting every day [duh].

Honestly, I can't help but be influenced by what he does. Not only is he a nice guy, but the whole tone of the blog reflects an infectious enthusiasm for the music. If I ever manage to do a tenth as well as Derek in expressing my own enthusiasm, then I'll consider myself a success.

Derek has been kind enough to link to this blog....he's the first to do so. I am very touched. Thanks hon. I'd give ya a kiss if I could and will try to return the favor as soon as I have the time to do so [i mean to do a whole list].

.....................................................................................................................................................................

While I'm at it, I should also thank my pals for the kind emails. Truth is, I have an ulterior motive in setting up the blog. Maybe now ya'll will stop pestering me for copies of my records.

Hey Eddie, you're so fine...

I've been planning to slip some Eddie Bo into the mix since I started the blog, but trying to choose what to post always seems to get very complicated.

I really hate pulling out the 'big dogs' for first samples, preferring to find something I think is under-heard....the last thing I want to do is turn this playlist into some kind of glib greatest hits collection.

Not that I have anything against 'hits', I've already posted a few...

Ya know, some songs are just sooooo good that it's always an honor to spin the disc one-more-time.

All of which is to say that this song is a little obscure....not especially rare...just not played as often as it should be. [imho]

Hope ya enjoy

We gonna do the jerk...

Bobby Marchan doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves for his work with Huey Smith & The Clowns.....quite literally, it was Marchan's show during much of the Clowns' heyday. He was the front man for the touring band, while Huey Smith preferred to stay home in New Orleans.

Marchan recorded a number of solo sides as well...some of which are pre-Clowns, but most came after 1960 when he had a hit with, There Is Something On Your Mind [a truly bizarre recording], on Fire Records.

After doing several more sides for Fire, Marchan released a couple of records on Stax and then signed with Dial/Cameo.

At the moment, it's the Dial/Cameo recordings that I'm most interested in.

With no real effort on my part, I've managed to stumble on a bunch of NOS records lately. This is one of them.

Enjoy

She's alright...

I have an irrational prejudice against Johnny Otis....and to explain further is pretty much besides the point.

Truth is, he made some amazing records.

Here's one that's a big fave of mine.

Enjoy

Don't you mess with me...

I've been on vacation. Took a slow boat to China. No computers. No cellphones.

Had a marvelous time, but still...it's good to be home.

Home has a soundtrack doncha know..

Home is where the deep groove is. The one ya can't help but play over and over.

From 1970, here's Skip Easterling's jaw-dropping version of Hoochie Koochie Man...produced by Huey Smith.

Feel free to play it several times in row, if you like.

I'll be around...

Arguably the strangest of several strange sides recorded by G.L. Crockett for the 4 Brothers label; this song is perfect for playing on a mid-August evening after a long hot day.

Ya know, one of those evenings when it's still too hot to do much except maybe sit on the back porch with some friends....have a few beers......

Maybe, dance a little bit with your sweetheart?...just a shuffle will do.

No need to break a sweat.

Honey and Corn Bread

Here's a record I don't know much about. Word is that the Soul Runners were an early lineup of the Watts 103rd Street Band. Apparently Charles Wright is lurking somewhere in the background.

Whatever.

All I know for sure is that the groove is very deep on this record.

So, turn it up...

Everybody got to cry..

I mentioned Earl King in the last post.

Here's a song he did as "Handsome Earl'. I have no idea why he chose that name for this recording. Perhaps he was under contract elsewhere??? Or maybe he just thought Handsome Earl sounded better than Earl King???

Vin was a subsidiary of Ace records.

Cool song, ain't it?

I cry all night long....

The great Hank Ballard's cover of Earl King's, Those Lonely Lonely Feelings/Nights.

Recorded with James Brown's band.

Produced by James Brown.

1963...

Is there anything else worth saying?

I wanna know...

Al Robinson is, perhaps, slightly better known as Alvin Robinson.

Before he put out a handful of records on Leiber and Stoller's Tiger/Red Bird/Blue Cat labels, Robinson recorded four sides with Dave Bartholomew for Imperial.

I like 'em..

Enjoy

A Toussaint piano roll [with no piano?]

Some folks think this single was recorded in New Orleans even though it's clear that most [if not all] Joe Haywood singles issued on Deesu and White Cliffs were the result of licensing deals made by Marshall Sehorn through his long-standing connections in New York.

While it is strange that the record was first issued on Deesu, and only showed up some two years later on the Kent label as, (Play Me) A Cornbread Song......I'm still dubious of the claim to Crescent City origination.

Why? Well, let's just say I don't exactly hear what some others do.

But ya know, ultimately, who really cares?

Sometimes it's best to just play the record and enjoy.

Don't you lie to me...

Ted Taylor started off singing with several gospel groups, including the Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Santa Monica Soul Seekers.

The Soul Seekers soon mutated into the Cadets [also, the Jacks] and started to play the devil's music. As a solo act Taylor recorded a number of singles on the Okeh label before switching to Ronn records out of Shreveport. He died in Lake Charles in the late 80's

So, is Taylor's voice angelic or demonic?..... Regardless of the answer, the chill factor is very high.

Just trying to get closer to you...

I've been trying to think of a low-key way to introduce Betty Harris to the blog. My concern being that she'll blow everything I've posted previously clean out of the water.

Here's the only side she recorded with Allen Toussaint that made it to the charts. Such a beautiful song.

Hope ya enjoy.