The Singing Bones

Why did you go....

2012-01-26T16:07:00.001-06:00

I may be wrong, but I don't think there's a collection of Alvin Robinson's output currently in print. May even be that there as only ever one issued: "Shine On" released by Charly in 1988.

If so, that's a serious shame.

Here's a cut from Robinson's first 45. Sure would like to know who did the beautiful arrangement. Could be it's Joe Jones. He worked with Robinson quite a lot.

Hope ya'll enjoy, it's from 1961......

tired of waiting....

2012-01-24T18:50:00.007-06:00

I swear, I dreamed of this the other night.

A 3D printed record.

Many thanks to Boing Boing for giving me a glimpse of the future of record collecting. Let me know when I can print out a copy of Howlin' Wolf's, unreleased at the time, 5 minute and 40 second long recording of "Tired Of Crying"......preferably on a deep groove 12in 45.

I'm crazy 'bout you baby....

2012-01-23T13:48:00.003-06:00

Another record caught up in the current plague of re-presses. It was first re-pressed in 1963 on the Vivid label, then again more recently as look-alike copies of both the Cobra and Vivid issues.

Yep, many of those cheap copies currently available are re-pressings of a re-press.

In fact, I'm not sure my copy is an original. The vinyl is just a little too clean. Not clean enough to be a current repop, but possibly an older [70s?] re-press that I don't know about? Anyway, as far as I can tell the run-out code is correct, so who knows? Maybe I've just got a relatively nice original.

I should point out that I don't really care whether I have an original in most cases.....as long as I don't have to pay an original copy premium price. However, I do largely draw the line at new repops just because it makes 'the hunt' too easy.....and muddies the water further on down the line.

As far as I'm concerned, an 'ethical' re-pressing has noticeable differences in the label, or includes a different song on the b-side, or is pressed on colored wax. You shouldn't have to check the run-out code when paying for a record.

Anyway, here's another tough-as-nails tune from Harold Burrage. It can be found, along with the rest of Burrage's output on Cobra, including several alternate takes, on the very nice comp, "Messed Up". Or just pick yourself up a brand new re-press of the 45 for $10.

Need more info on Harold Burrage? Check this out.

Hope ya'll enjoy........

Cool down baby, I love you...

2012-01-22T17:17:00.003-06:00

Oh boy! A brand new box of records from the Ebay Guru!!! Including one in particular that I've been dying to get my hands on. But what's that? Omg. It's cracked....and the b-side is unplayable.

Luckily the seller is a good guy, and refunded much more of the selling price than he had to. I even protested the refund, thinking he deserved to keep more. It's hard enough to make a buck on Ebay. I've no problem with paying a reasonable price for records, even if they're cracked.

On the other hand, it is one of those unstable cracks that makes the 45 feel like it's going to fall apart in your hand, so maybe the dealer did the right thing? Certainly the record isn't worth near what I initially paid for it.

Anyway, I'll put some super glue on the edge and hope it holds together till I can find another copy.

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Five years ago, Red Kelly ran the first of his Mystery Contests on the Soul Detective blog....and the song in question turned out to be by Elton Anderson.

Now, I was much too shy in those days to speak up, but I did know a little something about Anderson even then....mostly from a friend who to this day thinks that "I Love You" is one of the coolest songs ever recorded. And I tend to agree with him. When Anderson was 'on it' [which by no means was all the time], the results were memorable.

Anyway, it wasn't long before I had my own copies of many Anderson 45s. In fact, I featured my Mercury label copy of "Cool Down Baby" on the blog quite some time ago. But that pressing is super easy to find and you know how it is with collectors....I kept on looking for an original release copy on Trey.

And that took awhile because the Trey's are tough to find. In fact, a recent look-a-like re-press of "Cool Down Baby" was printed with the Mercury label, which makes me think those responsible either didn't know of the Trey issue, or simply couldn't find a copy to uhmmm....copy. [Actually, pretty silly 'cause Mercury label originals often cost less than the repops.]

These same folks also recently re-pressed "I Love You"...which totally infuriates me because after spending years looking high and low for the 45, it's now all over the place, $10 bucks a copy, all the copies you could ever want. I've had to stop myself from buying one at least ten times in the past six months. Fortunately, I know that every time I buy a modern repress, I almost never play it.

Anyway, here ya go, both of Elton Anderson's releases on the Trey label. As I said above, this is the second time I've featured "Cool Down Baby".....I just though you might like to see/hear an original pressing.

"I Love You" is the real star here......if you're anything like me, you might as well just get on up out of your seat right now.

I Love You

Cool Down Baby

Talk like love.....

2012-01-20T18:39:00.002-06:00

Over a million views? In this case, I'd be very surprised if there were less.

Just a note....

2012-01-20T01:05:00.004-06:00

For those who poo-pooed concerns over recent "anti-piracy" initiatives....earlier today the FBI, Justice Dept., took down Megaupload....even without SOPA.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/megauploadcom-piracy-charges_n_1216764.html

and then of course, there's this

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/anonymous-megaupload_n_1217418.html

Tried to get you off my mind...

2012-01-14T17:49:00.003-06:00

[Turns out I do have the scan on my laptop, it was just labeled stupidly.]

Before I forget....it's Allen Toussaint's birthday.

Another one I've been meaning to post forever. One of the first 45s I ever bought and a very important record. Released in 1961, Alon 9000 "New Kind Of Love/But I Couldn't", was very much ahead of it time, especially in terms of the way records were being made in New Orleans. As one musician put it, "he even wrote out the bass lines".

Mr. Toussaint was 23 years old. The 45 literally signaled the coming of a new sound.

Sorry, I don't have the scan with me...I'll add it to the post when I get back home on Monday.

Hope ya'll enjoy......

I think of you....

2012-01-14T16:49:00.001-06:00

We're in Austin this weekend....not for the most pleasant of reasons....but it's a beautiful day and I'm feeling happy to be alive. This goes out to two marvelous women, one of whom I'll miss more than I can say, and the other who will [with God's grace] be around for many years to come. Blessings on both.

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I've been meaning to feature this cut ever since I posted the flip-side two years ago. It's a good bit funkier than "Without Your Love I Can't Make It", with a strange off-kilter beat that made me wonder if the record wasn't skipping when I first heard it.

I can't really say why, but it's just one of those 45s that never seems to stray too far from the turntable.

As far as I know, there's still no available info on Vikki Styles.

Hope ya'll enjoy.......

As long as I have to cry....

2012-01-11T19:24:00.002-06:00

It happens with some regularity that I pick up a nice, 'new to me', record only to find that John Ridley has already been there/done that. And I really shouldn't be surprised, the man has dug very deeply in his life. Undoubtedly much deeper than I ever will.

Here's a really nice interview with John....along with a few handpicked tunes to listen to.

The one aspect of the interview I would disagree with is that his tastes are "out of step". Any one who's paid any attention this blog will know that I'm just as likely to post a ballad as a dance tune. The truth is, I often have to present the flip-sides of what John's posted simply because he's already posted the best side and I need to send ya'll over to his site for the info. Thank God so many of the artists featured on the Sir Shambling site made records worth flipping over.

Today's selection is a good example. This tune ain't bad at all, in fact I'm sure some will enjoy it more than the flip, but if I had my druthers, I'd post the same song off the 45 that Sir John did. It's the reason I bought the record. Give a listen and read what Sir Shambling has to say about Tony Ashley, here.

Hope ya'll enjoy.......

Last night I dreamed....again

2012-01-06T01:04:00.002-06:00

While I'm at it...here's Lady Ponce from Cameroon. I only wish I could shake like this...and believe me, I ain't bad at it.

Last night I dreamed....

2012-01-05T23:32:00.006-06:00

Oh yeah....the fabulous Queen Slizer.

If it feels good it's alright....

2012-01-03T22:47:00.001-06:00

Far more abstract than either of the Little Sister 45's or even "Dynamite" by 6IX, this is truly the most experimental recording Sly Stone ever made.

Now, Joe Hicks made some very nice records in his day, I don't mean to imply otherwise, but make no mistake, this is a Sly Stone record.....and nothing else on earth sounds quite like it.

Fyi, I'm not the only one who finds the comp "Listen to The Voices: Sly Stone In The Studio" fascinating. If you don't have a copy already, I'd def hunt it up.

Hope ya'll enjoy....Part 1, and Part 2, of "Life and Death in G & A".

I was high as a Georgia pine....

2012-01-02T16:22:00.003-06:00

This one goes out to girlfriend Suzie who is reportedly on the second day of her post New Year's Eve hangover. Poor baby.

'Diablo' is Al Reed, someone on whom I still have no info other than a questionable discography. Why he chose to release the record under a pseudonym is anyone's guess.

I only know of three 45s released on Axe, although I believe the catalog numbers suggest that there were four.

Anyway, the 45 is def rare-ish....and I don't think it's ever been comped. Mr. Finewine owns a copy but I can't see that he's ever played this particular cut on the air, which I find surprising 'cause I'm not sure I don't like it better than the flip.

Cool organ sound, touches of heavy echo, and great lyrics. What more do you want?

Hope ya'll enjoy......

The Music Box

2011-12-31T16:24:00.000-06:00

Here's a few clips associated with what was by far and away my favorite music concert/experience of the year. The Music Box was beautiful on a hundred different levels, but most of all it was just plain fun.

The Dithyrambalina site has a lot of information, nice pictures, and also links to recordings made of each of the three performances. Unfortunately, those recordings do not really capture the experience. Truly one of those times ya just had to be there.

Happy New Year Ya'll.....

Turn the record over...Part 2

2011-12-28T17:08:00.004-06:00

I didn't really plan it this way, but here are the flip-sides of three already posted 45s....all arranged by Wardell Quezerque.

1. "I Don't Need You Anymore" by Willie Harper. While I understand that not everyone loves ballads the way I do, this one is just too gorgeous to pass up. That line, "tired of your cheating, your lies....misusing me", gets to me every single time I hear it. The flip is Harper's stunning, slowed down, version of "A Certain Girl".

2. "Bottom Of My Soul" by Alvin Robinson. The flip is a cover of Earl King's "Come On [Let The Good Times Roll]" that's so good I'm never sure I don't think it's better than either version by King himself. "Bottom Of My Soul" is to my mind one of those absolutely perfect tunes. Certainly one of Robinson's best.

3. "Robert & W.Q's Train" by Robert Parker. This is the instrumental track to "Funky Soul Train".....which might just be the rarest record I own [although probably not worth all that much]. I'm not usually a fan of slapping backing tracks on b-sides, but this one is worthy of exception. And it seems like Mr. Q must have agreed as I don't think any of his instrumental tracks show up on any other 45s.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

Turn the record over....

2011-12-23T16:01:00.002-06:00

Sorry to be away for so long. I'm totally swamped with social obligations, have been all month. This will likely continue through Mardi Gras.

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Here's some of the many flip-sides I meant to post and never got around to. Just a little present for ya'll. I'll try to put up some more tomorrow.

1. "I Got Love" by Jackie Avery. A nice little funky number that may not knock you out like it's flip-side, but given how good "Understanding" is, it says quite a lot that this cut ever gets played at all. Is this recording available any place else?

2. "Something Ought To Be Done [About You]" by Jessie Hill. I'm a huge fan of everything Jessie Hill and Mac Rebennack recorded together and this is no exception. The flip-side, "My Children, My Children", was one of the first cuts I posted on the blog. Most copies you see of this 45 are one-sided promos pressed without this tune.

3. "Eddy's Go-Go Train" by Eddy Giles. I actually bought this 45 for this song in particular, but when I heard the flip-side, "While I'm Away", I fell in love with it...and thus that's the side that got posted. Always meant to get back to this one. Truly killer stuff.

Best wishes to everyone. Happy Holidays.

Howard Tate: RIP

2011-12-04T13:18:00.002-06:00

I'm at a loss for words.......

[but Larry Grogan's got a very nice piece up, here.]

Loose Ends No.3

2011-11-30T07:59:00.004-06:00

I first posted this tune about 18 months ago while on my honeymoon. I was so excited to find the record that I couldn't resist ripping it straight to my laptop off the portable player at the shop. And the rip sounded pretty good, but it's bothered me ever since that I never bothered to make another stab at it.

I also posted a label scan which was lifted from Popsike because I didn't have access to to a scanner. That has bothered me too. In fact, it's a big no-no on this blog even though I explained the situation at the time.

Anyway, here's a re-do. New rip [with a bit more bass] and a brand new scan.

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So, is this song in any way related to my last post?

Probably not. There are some very obvious differences, not the least of which are different lyrics and a mile-wide hook on Apple's version that's nowhere in sight on the Pulsar 45.

However, both 45s were recorded in L.A., probably within a few years of each other [Jessie Hill's version is from 1968, I would think Apple's take is more likely from the early '70s].

Just a coincidence, right? Two twisted funk jams using the same repeated phrase. Right?

On the other hand, I do wonder if I'm missing something. Is there a third "Free And Easy" that somehow ties the two songs together? Anyone have a clue?

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

Pretty baby, you don't stand a chance....

2011-11-29T14:38:00.007-06:00

The list of New Orleans ex-pats working in Los Angeles by the late sixties is long: Earl Palmer, Plas Johnson, Rene Hall, Harold Battiste, Lee Allen, Mac Rebennack, Mel Lastie, Jessie Hill, Tami Lynn, Alvin Robinson, Shirley Goodman, Ronnie Barron, John Boudreaux.....

I'm sure there are others, but in terms of this record I'm mostly interested in the crew surrounding Harold Battiste at Pulsar, which just so happens to include many of those listed above.

Pulsar was a short-lived subsidiary of Mercury apparently set up as a tax dodge. But Battiste and Co. didn't know that so they happily started pumping out records for the label.....in fact had high hopes of duplicating the artistic freedom they'd enjoyed in New Orleans before the A.F.O. label went under [part of the reason many of these folks had moved on in the first place].

Anyway, soon enough the plug was pulled and Pulsar was no more. Luckily, Harold Battiste is nobody's fool. According to Dan Phillips, Battiste bought all the master tapes and apparently still has them [as is often the case I'm just mentally condensing what I've read at Home Of The Groove].

Those tapes are in fact the source of some of what showed up on the excellent three volume "Gumbo Stew" series of comps.....which are ostensibly a collection of unreleased A.F.O. recordings. Proof of a sort that the spirit of the A.F.O. operation in New Orleans bled over into the situation at Pulsar in L.A.

While the flip-side of this record, "Mardi Gras", tends to get more play, I happen to think this side is at least as good. To my mind, it's Jessie Hill at his chaotic best.

Hope ya'll enjoy.......

I'm on my way....

2011-11-21T22:26:00.008-06:00

Just 'cause I can't seem to get past that last tune....here's another Staple Singers recordings from the '50's.

If I were running a non-vinyl, non-45 based blog, I'd follow up with Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was The Night" [partially for those familiar with Ry Cooder's "Paris Texas" soundtrack].....as it is, I'll probably have one of those "and now for something completely different" moments. It happens.

Hope ya'll enjoy........

I'll be home....

2011-11-19T17:26:00.001-06:00

Two of the most intense albums I know of are the Staple Singers' "Uncloudy Day" issued in 1959 and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" from 1960 [Wikipedia says it was released in 1969, but that's wrong].

Both are collections of earlier recordings, some dating from the Staples' first session for Vee Jay in November 1955.....when Mavis Staples would have been 16 years old.

A version of "So Soon" was definitely recorded at that 1955 session. Whether it was re-recorded for release on this 45 is unknown to me.

Of course it doesn't really matter if Mavis was 16, 17, or 18 at the time. The recording is extraordinary no matter what. In fact, it's close to unearthly. If there was ever a singer who's voice qualifies as a force of nature, it's Mavis Staples.

If any of ya'll don't own a copy of the Staple Singers Vee Jay recordings, then you should def seek out the 'twofer' of "Uncloudy Day" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". Yep, they come packaged together. To my mind, they're essential albums.

Hope ya'll enjoy......

Loose Ends No.2

2011-11-16T16:17:00.004-06:00

The perfect follow-up to the last post?

I don't think Tail-Gate 1003 has ever been comped. Sir Shambling's site looks to be the source of all previous internet postings of "Understanding", including those now on you tube [last year I posted a copy taken from there as well].

Beyond that, Mr. Finewine has def got himself a copy, has played both sides of the 45 on his radio show at one time or another, but I see absolutely nothing else online that leads me back to a comp or even another vinyl rip.

Ya'll can check out what Sir Shambling has to say, here, although I should point out that Jackie Avery actually has three 45s to his name. The third being, "I'm A Believer/Have A Little Faith", issued on Redwal 14/15....a label directly related to Avery's boss at Capricorn, Phil Walden.

Yeah, it's a bit strange to be sending ya'll off to another site where you can also hear "Understanding", but Sir Shambling writes much better than I, and well.....this is the second most expensive 45 I own....the only thing that could possibly stop me from posting it is if the world suddenly came to an end.

It's also not every day you get to hear two cuts from rare 45s, sung independently by a married couple, played back-to-back. In the end, I just couldn't resist the temptation [nor could I think of a better way to phrase it].

Hope ya'll enjoy......

[Not that it will matter to most, but I forgot to mention that this 45 has a tell-tale 'Cos' signature in the dead wax area. That means Cos Matassa hand-cut the master.]

I love him...

2011-11-13T18:01:00.001-06:00

Ella Brown's "Love Don't Love Nobody" continues to be one of the most heavily viewed postings on this site. I don't exactly know why that is, but I hope it means there are a lot of Ella Brown fans about.

Here's another gorgeous tune by that fine lady. Much much rarer than "Love Don't Love Nobody", in fact, this is the only copy of the 45 I've ever seen in the "flesh". It definitely would've made my 'white whale' list last year, but I felt I could only choose one of Brown's two releases on Adams.

Many thanks to the Ebay Guru for taking care of business. Down to the last minute I was still dreaming about getting the record for $20 because the silly thing has been sitting for days at $10. The Guru was like, "don't be an idiot".

And sure enough, exactly as he predicted, the price jumped considerably in the last five seconds of the auction. If I had followed his suggestion, we would have won with less than $2 to spare. As it was, I made him throw in an extra $10, just to make sure.

Hope ya'll enjoy......

We had a love like paradise...

2011-11-08T21:49:00.005-06:00

This cut was released twice on the Neb's label, each with different flip-sides, and then again a couple of years later on Capcity. Oddly enough it's listed as the b-side on the first pressing. The a-side, "I Can't Do It", is nothing short of terrific, but ya still gotta wonder what Never Duncan [the label owner] was thinking.

Anyway, he must have reconsidered 'cause the tune shows up as the a-side on both later releases.

And apparently that's not all Duncan reconsidered.

To my ears there's a quick bit of fade added to the end of the second issue, and even more to the Capcity pressing. Not a big deal in the scheme of things, but ya see, the original version is fairly shocking in that it comes to a full-on dead stop. No fade at all.

Funny how small changes can make such a difference. Listening to the faded versions, I don't recall ever thinking the ending was particularly outrageous. But it is. Hit the button and hear for yourself.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

Loose Ends No.1

2011-11-06T18:08:00.002-06:00

Speaking of redundancy.....

There are a few records I'd like to re-post because, on the whole, I just wasn't happy with the way I presented them the first time 'round. All will [hopefully] include better rips, in some cases taken from 45s in better condition.

Others, such as this offering, were posted last December as part of my "white whales" list, which means I didn't actually own the records at the time.

Almost everything on the Tou-Sea label is scarce, but this 45 took me four years of concerted effort to find and cost a fair amount when I did. It's also a very beautiful song. Damn right I'm gonna post my own rip.

Whether you prefer it over what you may already have is your call. If you check 'Zilla Mayes' in the sidebar you'll find the superb flip-side.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

She had to left town.....

2011-11-06T12:11:00.001-06:00

Given that this 45 has been sitting in my 'to post' pile for months, I thought I should put it out there before a certain 'about to be posted' comp makes it redundant. The actual 45 is a tough-ish find.

I could be wrong but I think this is Sonny Boy Williamson's only release on Ace.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

So tell me mama....

2011-11-05T16:15:00.005-05:00

I'm completely brain-dead today. I meant to post another tune entirely, but when it came time to write up some of my usual nonsense, I went blank.

Thus, ya'll get to hear this record because that lovely man, Sir Shambling, has already done most of the work, here.

Yep, 'Sailor Boy' is actually Alex Spearman.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

Shucks girl....

2011-10-30T16:45:00.001-05:00

This 45 has seen better days, but then I doubt there's a single copy anywhere that sounds clear and sharp. It's just not that kind of record.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

p.s. Wanna hear the tune, click on the divshare player. Need more? Follow the dots.

I call my baby sweet thing...

2011-10-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

I think there are only two 45s by Albert Scott.....but I'm hoping that's wrong because I'd sure like to hear more than just the four sides.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

No hair pulling....

2011-10-27T19:13:00.003-05:00

At first glance this may look like an odd match, but actually these records are close enough to be cousins. In fact, cousins which are just enough alike that there's a constant battle between the two. Both are tough as nails. Neither will accept defeat.

Anna King has the advantage because she made the first move....and there's also the little matter of a certain Mr. James Brown who oversees the production. But she's definitely got serious competition in Ruby Johnson. That girl's got real power in those lungs...and since when is it a bad thing to have Isaac Hayes and David Porter in your corner?

Ruby obviously follows Anna's lead on this one, but watch out for that ending! Ruby never settles for anything less than a draw.

If Somebody Told You

When My Love Comes Down

I still love him....

2011-10-26T17:49:00.007-05:00

From a short biography of Irma Thomas which appears on site after site after site:

"....Thomas accused Ronn of withholding royalties and after one more effort for the label, "A Good Man," she briefly landed with the Bandy label, releasing 1961's "Look Up" before relocating to Minit."

Looks innocuous enough, but that one line is wrong on so many levels that it would be boorish of me to go into the details.

Suffice it to say, there was no landing "with the Bandy label" "before relocating to Minit". The Bandy 45 was issued sometime after Joe Banashak ['Bandy' to his friends] sold Minit to Lew Chudd of Imperial Records in 1963. Irma's contract was part of the deal. Afterwards, Banashak had several unreleased tracks....so he pressed them up.

This is Irma's third single, her first record for Minit as well as her first with Mr. Toussaint. It was recorded in 1960. All other Minit/Bandy [and Bumba ?] releases were recorded in 1961.

As much as I love the two earlier singles on Ron [not Ronn], it's the work with Mr. Toussaint that kills me. In fact, I'm not sure I would've ever developed a taste for the deeper stuff if Irma hadn't hooked me early-on.

I realize almost everyone who visits this blog has their own copy of this song, but I thought you might like to hear an original 45 in superb condition. Hope ya'll enjoy...

Get on back....

2011-10-20T20:07:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to get my hands on a copy of this 45 for something like four years....and then two copies turned up on Ebay, as well as another, locally, all in the same week. I bought the local copy [bird in hand], even though it had the same label on both sides. A friend won one of the Ebay copies.

In the end, we swapped copies because I really hate mislabeled records and he was pissed off that this copy had more water damage than expected [which made it a bitch to clean as tiny bits of the label along with printers ink had dried in the grooves].

Anyway, I don't know squat about Elmer Parker except that he has three 45s to his name, each several times harder to find than the last. This being the second hardest [I think]. It's certainly not the easiest or the cheapest to cop.

Beyond that, I only know of one other issue on the Rare Bird label [the release numbers hint at more]. The other is credited to Brenda Parker, who shows up on side two of this record, and may well be the same Brenda Parker who recorded a single for the Black Falcon label.

Brenda and Elmer were a couple? Your guess is as good as mine.

Music-wise this 45 falls into that very sweet spot where blues, jazz, and funk come together exactly as they should, ie, naturally. More naturally than on any other record I can think of. I wish there were a hundred 45s like this, but there aren't.

"Got To Get Back To Louisiana" [incorrectly listed as both parts 1&2] has been comped a couple of times on fairly obscure catch-all type collections. But still, it's not a record that pops up every day. Even I, who has been doggedly searching for this damn thing, didn't have an mp3 of part 1 until I ripped the 45.

Going To Louisiana [Part 1.]

Got To Get Back To Louisiana [Part 2.]

Nobody knows....

2011-10-13T21:59:00.000-05:00

Big Sam is the artist possibly better known as Big Sambo, real name James Young, who worked for a number of years in the Port Arthur/Beaumont area. He had a good sized hit with his recording of "The Rains Came" [which is one of the cuts you most often hear, the flip-side "At The Party" being the other].

Actually, I should point out that anyone who draws a hard line between Southwestern Louisiana and Southeast Texas has obviously never been to either. Geographically, culturally, they are the same. Ya know, like some imaginary political demarcation makes any difference at all? It takes about an hour to drive from Lake Charles, Louisiana to either Beaumont or Port Arthur, Texas. For some, that's just a daily commute.

Anyway, this is an odd pressing. The original is on Huey Meaux's Tribe label, but apparently Meaux had some kind of arrangement with Major Tom/Jim/Bill Smith [I forget which] in Fort Worth, Texas. Running Bear was owned by the Major, but the Indian head design is lifted straight off of Meaux's Tribe label. As to what was going on here, your guess is as good as mine.

Hope ya'll enjoy....if this isn't a sweet tune, then I don't know what is.

C'mon, lets do this little dance...

2011-10-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

Another sought-after record on Michelle. Actually, I didn't know how sought-after until I started looking around for info. Except for the drill hole, this copy's as clean as they come. I guess it deserves a protective plastic sleeve, huh?

I also never noticed that the release number is only one digit off the Lee Tillman 45 I posted yesterday. So, maybe it's the same musicians playing on both records? Certainly sounds like a possibility to me.

Hard to imagine that such a great tune never saw a release on a major label. Joe Tex had to have been under contract with Dial at the time. But then he wasn't such hot property until 1967, so maybe no one cared too much if he moonlighted?

While I don't know that anyone has a firm release date for this record, there was a period in 1963 when it looks like he may have taken a short hiatus from Dial and releases were issued on Checker, Ace, Soul Sound, and possibly Michelle.

The odd thing is, this 45 sounds to me as if it was made in 1965 or '66. If the vaguely psychedelic flip-side, "Next Time She's Mine" was recorded in 1963 then it's clearly one of the strangest recordings of it's day by any R&B artist. More than anything, it reminds me of something Eric Burden & The Animals would do several years later.

Obviously, I can't find a trustworthy Joe Tex discography, or for that matter, one for Michelle/Montel releases. If anyone has solid info, I'd love to see it.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

I'm not tight with any girls I know....

2011-10-08T16:46:00.000-05:00

A friend up by Austin sent me his rip of Lee Tillman's version of "Fortune Teller". Seems he just bought it. Thanks for saving me the trouble hon. Your copy even sounds better than mine [but mines prettier, sot].

The Michelle/Montel label was owned by S.J. Montalbano and operated out of Baton Rouge. He had a little studio for cutting demos in his fathers food distribution warehouse, which if I'm not mistaken is still listed as the address for Montel Records.

Truthfully, I'm not sure I don't like this version better than Benny Spellman's original. Whoever arranged those horns deserves a kiss.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Sometimes I have to cry....

2011-10-07T23:12:00.000-05:00

Baby Lloyd was a member of the Famous Flames, which of course means he worked with James Brown.

There are two 45's credited to Lloyd [last name Stallworth], one of which carries a James Brown production credit, and this one, which tends to get short-changed because it doesn't carry the same tell-tale tag.

But I gotta tell ya, if James Brown wasn't involved in the making of this record, then I seriously need to get my ears checked.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

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

This has absolutely nothing to with the rest of this post, or even the usual subject of this blog. I just wanted to say that "Dessine Toi" is the most beautiful film I've seen in a long time. Young children from around the world are asked to draw a self-portrait on a sheet of glass while they're filmed [which of course refers to this famous footage shot of Picasso in 1949] . And that's basically it. Simple and very very sweet.

Earlier today, in New Orleans, the first children from the U.S. were included in the project.

All the little girls sigh...[believe it]

2011-10-03T20:08:00.003-05:00

While I agree that this is a minor effort, it's still a far cooler record than it has any right to be.

Major points of interest:

1. Richard Berry!!! [the man could sing the alphabet and still sound dead sexy]

2. Possibly the most insistent, minimal, take on the "Louie Louie" riff ever recorded.

3. [see the above]

Hope ya'll enjoy....

If you ever need a bad man....

2011-10-02T17:12:00.000-05:00

I've quite a lot going on at the moment and almost no time in which to do it....so, I'll likely be keeping my blog posts short for the foreseeable future. By no means a bad thing.

Most, if not all, Lee Tillman 45s are pretty heavily sought after. A friend tells me a cleaner copy of this record recently went for almost $90 on Ebay.....which as far as I'm concerned is too much, but is also exactly why I own a beat-up cheapie.

I should mention that this record was also issued with red and black Ron labels, but those copies are essentially bootlegs pressed after Joe Ruffino was dead and Ric/Ron had shut down. There is no such thing as an original press red and black label Ron [unless you count Johnny Adams' "Lonely Drifter" which never actually had an original release].

Only saying because I notice someone else recently paid close to $60 for a red and black label pressing of "Will Travel". Which is just fine as long as you know what you're getting.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

You'll have to get better to die....

2011-09-24T16:31:00.000-05:00

Another Excello 45 I've been meaning to post for awhile. This time from 1958.

If you'd like more info on Guitar Gable and King Karl, there's fairly concise piece, here. As you'll see, the band played on many Excello releases.

The only thing I would add has to do with the band's break-up with Jay Miller. Afterwards, in a fit of spite, Miller hired another man, usually known as Thomas "Guitar" Gable, to go on the road as Guitar Gable. Now, Thomas "Guitar" Gable is certainly a player of note in his own right, but unfortunately chooses to take credit for some of the work of Gabriel Perrodin and Bernard Jolivette.

I thought it worth mentioning because confusion over Guitar Gable's identity is widespread. Try looking at "Guitar Gable" clips on you tube and you'll see what I mean.

Since I'm in truth-telling mode, it's also worth mentioning that Jay Miller was responsible for issuing some of the most disgusting, throughly racist, records ever waxed. Some folks take this as meaning he was a "man of contradictions". For my part, I'm much less charitable.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

You've been gone so long....

2011-09-23T16:29:00.001-05:00

The move went more smoothly than I expected, it's the aftermath that's been bumpy. I'm still not totally set up for ripping. Little problems here, little problems there.

Btw, Baby Girl learned to crawl last week. It's a little like having a mini bulldozer around. Ya know, 'cause nothing can stop her. I'm almost sure she woke me up at 2 am last night just so she could take a couple of more laps around the house.

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

Here's another Excello issue from 1957. Lillian Offitt's first record. A big favorite of mine. One of those records I never get tired of.

While my collection mostly includes Excellos recorded by Jay Miller in Crowley, Louisiana, those recorded by Ernie Young in Nashville are often just as amazing. There are quite a few, like this one, which are just as minimal as they can possibly be. I don't even think there's a bass playing on the cut.

The drum is reportedly being played with with a rolled up magazine.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Moans...

2011-09-20T00:21:00.002-05:00

It occurs to me that folks may not know what I mean by "moaning" hymns. It's a very old style. Surprising that it even still exists.

God's got it...

2011-09-19T20:27:00.002-05:00

Old style [essentially pre-gospel] church singing from a Faith with very deep roots. Don't presume it's continued existence isn't a complicated phenomena. Shoot, these folks aren't even protestants. Their conception of "God's Grace" sees to that.

I'm absolutely not trying to be flip, in fact I'm doing my best to show heartfelt respect for a True Church. If anyone is responsible for carrying the old "moaning" hymn and call and response praise songs into the next century, it'll be these folks. Respect where respect is due.

Don't you remember me?

2011-09-15T14:20:00.000-05:00

The Ponderosa Stomp is about to get rolling. I can't imagine I'll be anything less than dog-tired come 10pm, but I have to get down to d.b.a. tonight for the Hip Drop dance party. Told ya this move is badly timed.

Tomorrow night is undoubtedly a complete wash....too bad, I really wanted to see the Excello label tribute with Carol Fran, Lazy Lester, and Classie Ballou. Which is of course followed by a tribute to Cos Matassa with Allen Toussaint, Dave Bartholomew, and Robert Parker...which is then followed by both Jean Knight and C.P. Love. Ugh.

We'll see what happens on Saturday. I'm gonna kick myself if I miss the Stax label tribute with William Bell, Sir Mack Rice, Otis Clay, Howard Grimes, Eddie Floyd, and Skip Pitts. The one, the only, Lady Bo will also be in the house along with Big Jay McNeely and Miss Lavelle White [who I ran into several weeks ago in Austin].

There are lots of other performers I've failed to mention, this is just my wish list.

I've had several Carol Fran records ready to post for some time. Here's her first 45, recorded in 1957 by Jay Miller in Crowley, La. According to the label, she wrote the tune.

Miller supplied many many recordings to the Nashville based Excello label. He's the source of all those fabulous Slim Harpo, Lonesome Sundown, Lightin' Slim, Lazy Lester, and Guitar Gable 45s. Yep, they's all Louisiana records.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Here's a sweet little clip of Carol Fran running through a number in both French and English. Dig that poster of Cleoma Breaux on the wall.

Lesson No.1 in how to be patronizing and still get laid...

2011-09-14T21:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I've closed up and sealed the boxes of records. No more digging allowed. Period. Which doesn't mean that I didn't pull a small carrying case full of 45s beforehand. Box up the stereo equipment? Forget it. That stuff gets loaded into the truck last so it can be unloaded first. Mama sez so.

Home is where the tunes are.

So we have a choice today.....either the 45 The Three Ladies Of The House have been wearing out all afternoon or one of the most amazing deep vocal records I own.

Very-hard-choice, but ya know...I really think the ladies rule today.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Fyi, the artist is listed as Boby *cough* Franklin but is actually Bobby Franklin of Bobby Franklin's Insanity. Check the name in the sidebar or below if you'd like to hear more.

Once I was lost....

2011-09-13T20:08:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was rough. A funeral in the morning followed by the arrival of a girlfriend from Upstate NY who's lost everything in recent flooding. Poor thing is still in shock.

Unfortunately we don't have much in the way of stability to offer given that we're in the midst of moving, but I suppose it's better than sleeping on a cot in a shelter. And it will get better soon even though I could personally strangle the idiot who planned this little misadventure with the movers [me]. The timing couldn't possibly be any worse.

Anyway, after re-scheduling twice, it looks like we'll finally be moving on Friday.

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

I'm fairly sure this is another Wardell Quezergue effort but since he's not credited on the record label, I can't say for certain. I tried asking the good folks on the Southern Soul message board if they could confirm Mr. Q's input, but apparently the question is either too boring or nobody actually knows the answer.

Or maybe the answer is just too obvious? Seems very likely to me that Mr. Q was responsible for three of the four sides issued on Johnny Adams' two best selling singles for the SSS International label. Could be that's all that needs to be said.

This is from the local New Orleans pressing....hope ya'll enjoy.

Before I forget, I need to thank Alison Fensterstock of the Time-Picayune for mentioning the blog, here, along with Dan Phillips' Home of the Groove, Larry Grogan's Funky 16 Corners, and Red Kelly's blogs the A-Side, B-side, and Soul Detective. I'm totally flattered to be included in such fine company. A little bit of local attention ain't too bad either.

While I'm at it, here's a clip of Johnny Adams making it all look so very easy.

Each and every day, since you've been away...

2011-09-09T15:55:00.011-05:00

Not that anyone needs my help in getting over to Funky 16 Corners, but Larry Grogan's posted a very nice piece on Wardell Quezergue....has a nice selection of tunes available as well [that Marie Boubarere 45 is very rare]. As is often the case with Larry's posts, I def learned a few things I didn't know before.

Mr. Q worked on Earl King's "Trick Bag"? That's news to me and makes me wonder if the same is true of King's other releases on Imperial. Hard to say for sure as he isn't credited on any of the 45s, including "Trick Bag".

Larry also reminded me that Warren Lee's "Underdog Backstreet" is a Mr. Q production....just so happens that's the very first tune I ever posted on the blog. You can find it here.

I should mention that I sometimes use the terms "producer" and "production" in a modern sense, implying creative control, even though the effort received no such credit. Ya know, it's not like a production credit is always what it appears to be. As far as I'm concerned, the real question is: who was/is responsible for the sound of a particular recording?

When a man such as Mr. Quezergue is credited as arranger you can be assured his creative input was greater than some "producers". Every clip I've seen of him in the studio shows him leading the band, working to make it all sound right, helping musicians with their respective parts. If that's not a huge part of record production, then I don't know what is.

Cos Matassa has said several times that he doesn't know what a "record producer" is. And that's not just an old man being obtuse. He's speaking from his own extensive experience and at the same time sticking a well-honed pin in those who he sees as having garnered undue credit.

Ya see, there was a time when A&R men, arrangers, bandleaders, musicians, and engineers handled the entire recording process. Given that post-production work often amounted to very little and mastering was a physical process left to technicians and their lathes, the concept of a creative "record producer" has little validity when it comes to many 50s/60s RnB, RnR, and Country recordings.

Slightly off topic, but I just happened to notice that Josh Alan Friedman has recently added a great piece on Leiber and Stoller to his blog, "Black Cracker Online". In it he taps Leiber and Stoller as the first "record producers". An argument which has some validity, but only if you consider that garnering a "first" in anything is often dependent on one's skin color...a situation I'd think Mr. Friedman, if anyone, might be more sensitive to.

Johnny Otis, Dave Bartholomew, Paul Gayten, Sonny Thompson, et al, weren't "record producers"??? Oh, I forgot, they were only A&R men, composers, arrangers, bandleaders. Ya see, they didn't own record labels [at least not for some time to come].

Here's a fairly recent clip of Mr. Q in the studio. He's basically blind at this point. I'd post it but embedding is disabled.

While I'm at it, here's an incredibly stupid video of a great song by New Orleans' own Lydia Marcelle. Yep, Mr. Quezergue was responsible for this one too. The song title is actually "Everyone Dance" [the morons couldn't even get that right]. Why I don't own a copy of this 45 is a complete mystery to me.

Anyway, here's today's not-often-heard selection. Check the side bar for Warren Lee [yep, it's the same guy], there are several more of his recordings available. I even re-upped the link to "Climb The Ladder" just 'cause I love ya'll.

Enjoy....

I don't shake like jelly and I don't taste like jam....

2011-09-07T23:48:00.003-05:00

I'm still working on a list of the Wardell Quezergue productions/arrangements I've posted in the past. They're even more numerous than I thought.

These Smokey Johnson instrumentals are totally part of the canon, as is this funk monster by Gus Lewis, along with this beauty by Willie Tee.

As of today, Derek See's posted yet another superb tune by Willie Tee, here, and both Darcy over at Feel It and Red Kelly at The B-Side have offered up utterly gorgeous sides by King Floyd. Those links are here, and here, respectively.

And there's still a whole lot more to come if I have anything at all to say about it.

I posted the flip-side of this record last winter. Unfortunately, I only owned a trashed copy at the time. This 45 is in much much nicer shape, in fact it's almost mint [except for some water damage].

So here ya go, yet another killer side from the hand of Mr. Q.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Can't you see I'm in misery....

2011-09-07T01:03:00.006-05:00

Wardell Quezergue died yesterday morning. A beautiful person...sweet, kind, totally humble. The world is truly diminished without him.

There are simply too many songs I could post. Actually quite a few I've already posted.

One of my fave Quezergue productions, "Patty Cake Shake" by Guitar Ray, has just been posted over at Jukeboxmafia. The link to my rip of that 45 is long dead so ya'll should just head on over there and pick it up.

The link to my copy of "Funky Soul Train" by Robert Parker continues to be active [still the only copy of that record I've ever seen]. It's another great Quezergue production. You can find it here. [Fyi, all Quezergue produced Parker sides can all be found on the comp "The Wardell Quezergue Sessions", a collection I consider essential]

While I'm at it, here's a link to my post of Parker's "Soul Sister" and another to Willie Harper's version of "A Certain Girl". Both relatively hard to find. Quezergue is listed as "Big Q" on the Harper 45.

Oh yeah, before I forget, you can find Raymond Parker's "Ring Around the Roses", here. It too is a Quezergue production.

The side I'm posting today is the b-side of "Soul Train" by Curley Moore.....but not off the same 45 I used when I posted "Soul Train" some time ago [it can be found here]. This is a Nola label pressing....which has a different b-side than the Hotline pressings.

Anyway, this isn't necessarily a "greatest hit", in fact it hardly ever gets spins. Which probably only means it's not quite as killer as it's flip side, but it's def got it's points. I actually like it a lot or I wouldn't bother to post it. Someone else must like it too because it's been comped on the terrific collection "Wardell Quezergue: Sixty Smokin' Soul Senders". If you don't have a copy of that comp you absolutely should check it out.

I'll wait and see what other bloggers pull out of their crates before I post anything else. I could run with this particular tribute a good long while.....and to good purpose.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Deep down inside...

2011-09-04T12:45:00.002-05:00

Too bad I've already posted both Irma Thomas' "It's Raining" and Lee Dorsey's "Rain Rain Go Away", either would be perfect for today. I suppose I could hunt up my copy of Gentleman June Gardner's "It's Gonna Rain" but I'm feeling lazy today.

At least the rain's put out the marsh fires that blanketed the city with smoke earlier in the week. That was just plain weird. [Correction: the fires aren't out yet, which is surprising given the amount of rain we've had. According to the "WeatherBug" system: 11 inches at one of the in-town stations, 15 inches in Metairie, close to 17 inches on the West Bank, about 9 inches at the Lakefront Airport, etc....]

This tune's been out for a good while....I really meant to post these videos earlier. That's of course Irma Thomas singing on the first clip. The second's a great sounding live version with vocals handled by Cyril Neville. That instrumental break in the middle is rather pointless, but Cyril slams it so hard when he finally steps out from behind the congas that all is forgiven.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Everybody everywhere...

2011-09-02T22:33:00.001-05:00

Time to funk shit up.

One of ten records I would hope is in my bag if I'm ever stranded in a cheap motel in far West Texas [my idea of a desert island]. Also one of the most sought after records on the True Soul label out of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Don't ya dare pass up Part 2......right when the band signals they're ready to hit that monstrous groove even harder, some extra heavy delay is laid on the vocals. The effect is spectacular. I can only wish these two sides had been released as an extended version on a 12 incher.

Down Home Funk Pt.1

Down Home Funk Pt.2

Whatever you had brought my heart down to my knees....

2011-08-31T18:32:00.005-05:00

We're moving fairly soon. So, on top of everything else I'm having to sort through all our stuff. Actually two houses full of stuff, 'cause the one we're moving into is full of an older relative's treasured possessions. She died recently [bless her soul] and left me the house along with everything in it. Which is just amazing, even life changing....except for all the, uhmmm, stuff.

I thought of having a yard sale but there's really no time.

Anyone need a vacuum cleaner?

Basically, I'm beyond the point of exhaustion. Joe Jones, blah blah blah "You Talk Too Much", blah blah blah, "California Sun". Alvin Robinson, blah blah blah, love the man. Only 45 on the label, blah blah blah. Hope ya'll got that.

Oh yeah, turns out I was wrong in saying Robinson's sides for Leiber and Stoller owned labels were recorded in New Orleans.....NYC is more like it, but with a bunch of N.O. sidemen. Nobody's perfect.

"Whatever You Had" is Robinson's answer to his own version of "Something You Got". If anything the man cuts loose more on this side than the original. "You Brought My Heart Right Down To My Knees " is nothing short of terrific. Yep, another great two-sider. Can't beat it with a stick. Once again, Joe Jones is the man in charge.

Whatever You Had You Ain't Got It No More

You Brought My Heart Right Down To My Knees

[Oops, I said I would make a mention and then didn't. Ya'll should really check out the new blog, Shreveport Songs. It's off to a jaw-dropping start with a great piece on drummer Chico Chism and a listen to his super rare 45 on the Clif label. An amazing recording. Drumming like that, from that time, is always worth paying attention to. I can't wait till the next post.]

Searchin' for something you've got....

2011-08-25T18:49:00.007-05:00

As luck would have it, Larry Grogan has done a far better job than I ever could of presenting both records I'd planned to post in honor of Jerry Leiber. No problem, Larry's the one who turned me onto the Coasters version of "Down Home Girl" in the first place. Credit where credit is due.

So, in case you haven't been over to Funky 16 Corners in the last 24 hours or so, you should check out what Larry has to say, here. In fact, you should probably head on over there before going any further.

Obviously my post was blown after I saw Larry's piece, so in trying to think of some other tune to feature it occurred to me that Alvin Robinson cut yet another Leiber and Stoller song, in fact one which was originally recorded by the Coasters. I'd like to think of it as 'tit for tat'.

This is a cheap and easily found 45 that occasionally draws confused/confusing reactions. Ya see, it's been my experience that some folks think they know this record when in fact they don't, and are surprised when they actually hear it. Could be confusion over who first recorded/wrote "Something You Got" [Chris Kenner] is to blame....or for that matter even a certain kind of blindness to cheap records. But those are just guesses, I wouldn't know for sure about either.

What I do know is that this is a great two-sider more or less hiding in plain sight.

Tiger was one of Leiber and Stoller's labels. All of the sides Robinson cut for the duo, including those on sister labels Red Bird and Blue Cat, were recorded in New Orleans. Joe Jones gets credit for "Something You Got".

Something You Got

Searchin'

Doin' it all night long....pt.2

2011-08-20T15:57:00.000-05:00

Continuing with the oddities.....what better place to look than the Anla label?

This 45 comes courtesy of my ultra crabby friend C. who having recently reached "a certain advanced age" is now apparently immune to feminine wiles. Try as I might, I've been unable to get this bizarre slab of vinyl out of his [evil] clutches. In fact, my machinations look to have backfired. He's now threatening to leave his entire collection to the clutch of feral cats inhabiting his backyard ["to sharpen thier nasty claws on"] with the executor of the will instructed to poke each cat with a pin just to make sure none of the "little fuckers" is me in disguise. I love you too darlin'.

I've written several times about Chester Randle/Bill Parker, in fact I posted the original version of this song more than a year ago.

While the original version is great goofy fun....this later take comes very close to pure acid-damaged insanity. Sure, there's a big difference between 1962 and 1970 [?], but why would anyone think they could turn such an incredibly silly dance tune into a psychedelic freakout? The mind boggles. If there was even an ounce of irony [or a fake lisp] involved I'd be reminded of the Electric Eels. Repeated listening does nothing to solve the puzzle.

I could be wrong, but I don't think this 45 has ever been comped.

Here ya go, Sweet Potato Mash...with a side of LSD.

[Repost] I'll be there, wishing, waiting, hoping....

2011-08-18T07:41:00.001-05:00

[Issac Bolden died a few days ago. Respect is due]

A record more often referred to than posted. In fact, I can't find where it's been posted at all. Could be the 45's a little hard to find.

Anyway, it's a great two-sider, including the original version of "Wishing,Waiting, Hoping", which was a local New Orleans hit, not once, but twice. The second time when it was covered by Lee Bates in 1976.

As fond as I am of Bates' version, I have to admit that when Owens recorded the song in 1967, he created a classic.

Isaac Bolden is one of the more under-rated arranger/producers to have worked in New Orleans. Both these songs are simply gorgeous. Even, gorgeous in their simplicity. Bolden had a knack for making everything sound just-right. Virtually no fluff, few stumbles, heavy on the atmosphere, yet still clean sounding. It's a tough trick to pull off.

"I'll Be There" is at least as much a favorite as "Wishing, Waiting, Hoping", don't overlook it. Both songs are quite different from each other. If you don't like one, be sure and try the other. Hopefully, you'll like them both as much as I do.

Wishing, Waiting, Hoping

I'll Be There

I'm glad about it...

2011-08-17T22:00:00.002-05:00

[Oops, sorry about that. I've added a link.]

I'm sure I've read about the ACR "KNO BEL" label somewhere but can't seem to find any info at the moment. My impression is that it was the Austin Tx. equivalent of the New Orleans based Booker label. Or at least the business model was similar. Portable tape recorder for hire, church meetings a specialty.

Beautiful label design isn't it.

I particularly like the screams from the congregation.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

You are more precious than gold....

2011-08-17T19:15:00.001-05:00

The Marvetts [also Marvettes] were a Jamaican group who worked in what's commonly known as the "revivalist" gospel style of the mid 60's. Laid back, folksy, totally earnest, decidedly un-hip, the style is not to everyone's taste....in fact, there are folks who'll tell you it's only appeal is it's strangeness.

The great Coxsone Dodd was behind the Tabernacle label. One source says the label was started before his Studio 1 label, but the info's a bit confusing so take it for what it's worth. While this is clearly a Jamaican issue [it was later released in the UK], the discography I have says the issue numbers are wrong....so I really don't know for sure what this 45 is.

The run out code refers to the Wirl label....but if there was an issue on Wirl, I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere.

From 1965 [?], possibly the first 45 on the Tabernacle label [?].

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Just you and me....

2011-08-15T21:47:00.001-05:00

Can I get an Amen?

Take me by the hand.....

2011-08-15T17:47:00.002-05:00

It's impossible to overestimate the influence of Napoleon Brown Culp. It was he that brought hard core gospel-style vocals into the secular realm, for all practical purposes inventing "deep soul".

I don't really need to write anything else 'cause that about says it all, but there's something of interest I'd like to point out. Much has been written about Brown's voice, his use of vibrato/melisma,/etc.....but I've yet to see anyone mention that the man regularly sang in what you might call a mid-range falsetto. His natural voice being very deep, sounding something like John Lee Hooker with considerably more lung power.

You can hear the shift between his natural voice and the falsetto on almost every one of his records. Quite suddenly he'll drop an octave [or two] time and again. At it's most exaggerated, this vocal shift can make the records almost sound like the work of a non-harmonizing duo.

On this cut, Brown starts off singing in the falsetto, then quickly reverts to his natural voice [pushing it about as far as it'll go], and then shifts back to the falsetto for a few seconds before finishing up the record in his natural voice. The shift isn't as obvious as it is on some records, but it's definitely there.

The word for today is, fascinating.

My tears was in vain....

2011-08-15T13:17:00.002-05:00

Finally, a day off. Maybe I'll even get around to answering some of my emails....

One of four 45s recorded by Martha Carter [one as Martha Nelson]....all issued on Joe Ruffino's Ric/Ron labels....all apparently Eddie Bo related.

As I recall, several cuts by Carter [including this one], are included on a comp called "New Orleans Ladies". Ya'll should check it out.

Hope ya like it.

It comes and it goes....

2011-08-14T17:06:00.000-05:00

I've only familiar with a couple of records by Nat Hall, the other being his fabulous "Why" on the D.C. based Loop label, but a friend tells me there several more around. Seems most, if not all, are worth checking out. Given how much I like this record [and the Loop 45] I'll def be keeping an eye open.

In poking around for info I was surprised to find only a few mentions of this tune. The superb flip-side, "Talkin' About Love", doesn't even show on any DJ playlists I could find. I would have thought both tunes had been played/comped to death. I guess not.

If anyone has info on Hall, I love to see it. I got nothin'.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

She didn't say no....

2011-08-13T18:29:00.000-05:00

One of two records by Big Daddy Green, both on Goldband sister-label, Anla, out of Lake Charles.

I'm usually right there with Sir Shambling, but in this case I couldn't disagree more. Big Daddy Green's first record is totally the one to have. "Lady In Red" is a long term major hit around this house. I like it so much I recently bought a second copy just 'cause I couldn't pass it by.

Check out what Sir Shambling has to say, here.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Soul feeling....

2011-08-07T17:30:00.003-05:00

Rather like a story with two possible endings.....

Make no mistake, my hand has been hovering over the delete button for the past several weeks. But there are all these extraordinary comments being posted. Surprisingly, not a one of which have I had to censor. Not a single one.

Popularity doesn't influence me, just as heartfelt appreciation most assuredly does. My sincere thanks to everyone who bothered to comment. I am, to put it mildly, nonplussed by your responses....even somewhat embarrassed....but more than anything, I am exceedingly grateful.

Ya'll think I'm good at this? Really? All I've ever thought I had to offer was some interesting records. And ya know, in my book that makes the this whole enterprise somewhat suspect. Anyone with the time, money, and interest can gather a nice collection. That I enjoy hunting up useless bits of plastic does not make me an authority on anything.....in fact, it probably means I'm an idiot.

I should also mention that I received some very nice emails concerning my last post. My thanks to you folks as well. One of those emails correctly noted that my life has changed a great deal over the last two years. This is God's Own Truth and of more importance than I care to go into except to say that I am very busy these days. I didn't so much take on a new job in May as I took on a new [and very interesting] life. I would never downplay Baby Girl's role, but compared with the job, she's just along for the [wild] ride.

Anyway, we'll see how this goes. There are situations which will likely make me cut this revival short. Specifically, harassment from any one of several quarters.

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

Shall we make a party? [my mama taught me to go formal when in doubt]

I really wouldn't know if this is the rarest of Eddy Giles 45s, but folks do often want some serious cash for it. Luckily, I scored my copy for cheap. Don't pass up Pt.2, it's the side I play most often.

Soul Feeling Pt.1

Soul Feeling Pt.2

Just a note....

2011-07-24T17:28:00.004-05:00

Oops, I missed the blog's anniversary for the second year in a row. At least I'm consistent.

Once again, I'd like to thank those you who've bothered to leave such kind and encouraging comments. Without your feedback the blog wouldn't have lasted three months.

Unfortunately, there's a relatively new side to the feedback [mostly via email]. Seems there are a few folks who have nothing better to do than mock me for my grammatical and factual lapses. Thanks ya'll for making me feel like I shouldn't bother to write anything at all. If that was your initial plan, it worked.

And there are several other new problems as well....fellow bloggers who post my vinyl rips as their own "discoveries" [totally lame], the stalker who keeps changing his online identity but always gets around to wanting a "date" [creepy]....and perhaps a special mention should go out to the idiot who for some unknown reason faults me because some of the records I've posted are worth a good bit of cash [how I spend my money is none of your business].

Oh yeah, there's also the person who implied that I'm ungenerous [after posting thousands of dollars worth of rare-ish 45s] because I made a joke about sending in $5 for instructions on how to fix skips. You can fuck off.

In short, a small number of people have succeeded in making my "blogging experience" much less fun this year. In fact, I'm at an impasse. How do I continue? Basically I've just been going through the motions for the last couple of months.

And that's the most serious problem of all, 'cause this whole house of cards is built solely on my enthusiasm. Once that's gone, there's absolutely no point in continuing. All that's left to do is hit delete.

There ya have it. I'm unhappy with the way things are going. In particular I dislike the idea that I simply provide rare vinyl rips for other, more "fabulous", blogs.

ana...

If I could be with you....

2011-07-17T17:49:00.000-05:00

I own two copies of this record. The first was a cheapie I picked up without really knowing what it was. I bought the second a couple of years ago thinking I'd use it in trade. Problem was, it turned out to be virtually mint. Thus I kept it.

Sometimes, having a nice clean copy is a beautiful thing. Ya know, in this case, I'm not sure it's possible to get the full effect otherwise.

Bless those horns.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

I love you...

2011-07-13T16:38:00.006-05:00

Al Johnson's first record for Joe Ruffino's Ric label...and a particular favorite of mine. Truth is, I've never thought much of Johnson's voice, but the band is kicking it so hard on this one that I can't help but be won over. In particular, the piano work is spectacular. If I had to guess, I'd say that's James Booker doing his best 'Huey Smith plays Professor Longhair' imitation [I just made that up, but it sounds about right].

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Rock and roll is her favorite sound...

2011-07-11T20:27:00.006-05:00

One of those records you'd think someone must know something about and yet there's nothing, nada, no info at all. Funny, 'cause I was under the impression it was hit. But then, what do I know?

Odd thing about this record is that it sometimes sells for big bucks when it's really not that scarce. I see them fairly regularly. Popsike lists a copy sold at auction for close to $80. I can't imagine I paid more than $10 for mine [I tend to remember the records I've paid more than $10 for].

The run-out code makes me think Winner was a [one off?] label started by Joe Ruffino, owner of Ric/Ron. Probably pre-Ric/Ron. I could easily be wrong, but that's what it looks like to me. If I'm right, that dates the record to the late fifties, which is a totally obvious conclusion 'cause if that isn't some version of Cos Matassa's late 50's house band playing on the 45 then I'm a purple polka dot giraffe.

My guess is 1957, but possibly as late as 1959. Hope ya'll enjoy....

Tell me baby, what wrong have I done?

2011-07-10T16:43:00.001-05:00

I grew up listening to the Maytals and own an awful lot of their records. Something like five or six Jamaican and English albums never released in the U.S. [at least initially], every album issued in the U.S. from "Reggae Got Soul" up to "Toots in Memphis", several comps on CD.....

And then there are the Jamaican pressed singles, some of which are different versions than what appeared on albums. Even well known songs often show up with a different mix on 45 [sometimes with an instrumental version as well].

Anyway, even after all that exposure to the Maytals I still occasionally find stuff on 45 that I've never heard before. But not in this case. Actually, I thought it was a "personal unknown" when I picked it out of a box of unsleeved 45s, but jeeze was I ever surprised when I gave it a listen. The record is mislabeled, it's actually a copy of "Treating Me Bad", one of the groups early great ones. Not a bad score for less than a buck.

Just so happens there's even footage from 1962 of the Maytals singing this song, which makes the post even sweeter. Check the clip below.

In case ya'll are wondering about the scratchy records I've been posting lately, I'm not really doing it on purpose. I'm just having fun digging through a pile of interesting 45s that don't normally get spins....often because they're too beat up for polite company.

I'll get back to the cleaner 45s soon enough. Truth is, this rip doesn't sound all that much worse than the copy I have from a legitimately issued comp.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

Dance...

2011-07-08T18:19:00.000-05:00

Just case ya'll don't know, compared to what I usually do, the easiest thing in the world is post a bunch of you tube clips....

Trashed is as trashed does...

2011-07-05T21:44:00.000-05:00

Mark this one as "for reference only". It's possibly the most trashed record I've ever posted.

There are some boring Big Bo and The Arrows records out there. This isn't one of them.

My hope is that ya'll will appreciate what you're hearing despite the obvious flaws.

Please God, wontcha send me a better copy real soon...

Let me drive.....

2011-07-05T18:42:00.000-05:00

The flip-side of yet another 45 I've already posted. It's not quite as good as the other cut but I figure ya'll might like to hear it just 'cause it's obscure. As far as I know it's never been comped, in fact I can't see that it's ever been offered anywhere else before.

One of three records issued on the Invicta label....

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Or go back home and be shamed shamed shamed...

2011-07-04T17:46:00.002-05:00

Either I'm very unlucky or this 45 is tough to find. I'm thinking it must have had a very small release. This is the only copy I've ever run into.

Just so happens both sides were recently re-released on a comp called "Face The Music". Can't say I like the cover [absolutely as cheesy as they come] but it's an interesting release, partially because some of the songs are re-cut. Now, normally I'd say that's a bad thing, but in this case it undoubtedly means Willie West is getting a few bucks out of the deal....and that's a good thing.

Anyway, there are def better copies of these songs around....my 45 is rough.

Hope ya'll enjoy....in my opinion, these are two of the more interesting arrangements Allen Toussaint ever created.

Face The Music

Baby Baby I Love You

Everybody's doin' it.....

2011-07-04T10:30:00.001-05:00

I don't know about ya'll, but I'm def enjoying the long weekend. I've hardly had a moment to myself for more than a month.

I posted the flip-side of this record a long while back and always wanted to post this side as well, but the stupid record skipped. After some minor surgery, the patient has recovered nicely and now plays all the way through. I'm amazed at how well a little trick of mine works. Send in $5 and I'll cough up the secret.

Anyway, I think this record must have been a regional hit as R.L. Griffin is occasionally referred to as "Mr. Ting-A-Ling". I believe he's still active today, possibly still owns the Blues Palace in Dallas? He's originally from East Texas where he played with a band called the Corvettes until Big Bo Thomas tempted him into heading to the big city.

Now, Bo Thomas was a major regional player. He had the hottest band in Dallas, owned several very profitable clubs, and booked big name acts throughout the region. All of which brought in buckets of money. Thomas once estimated that he made $250,000 to $400,000 a year during the early 60's. Even if those figures represent a bad case of the brags, it's clear he made plenty.......enough that Big Bo and the Arrows were rarely tempted out of Dallas....enough that Thomas was able to retire in the early 70s.

The Gay-Shel label was started in 1960 and is named after Thomas' two children, Gayle and Sheldon. As far as I know there were only something like 10 releases on the label, all of them Big Bo and The Arrows related.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

This clip is super low quality, but ya'll get the idea, right? I seriously need the stripey dress on the second girl to be featured.

[Addendum: I'm shocked to see that someone actually took my joke about sending in $5 seriously. I realize that my sense of humor is very dry, but jeeze.....

Anyway, If anyone really wants to know how I get skips out of records, check the comments of this post on Derek's Daily 45.]

Drop out...

2011-07-03T18:21:00.005-05:00

As far as I know, this is Mildred Scott's only 45. Just in case you're tempted to poke around for info, this is not the same woman as Mildred Vaney, aka Mildred Scott, out of Detroit. It's someone else.

I've nothing factual on Scott [don't know that anyone does], but I will say this: to my ears she sounds a good bit like the Marilyn Scott who recorded with Johnny Otis in the early 50's. I'd be as surprised as anyone if there's a connection, but I do wonder.

Big Bee was apparently associated with the elusive Booker/Invicta labels. If there's another release on the imprint, I'm not aware of it. [Correction: Bob of the blogs Dead Wax and That's All Rite Mama has pointed out two other releases on Big Bee.]

Hope ya'll enjoy....

I refuse to be a loser.....

2011-06-27T21:35:00.000-05:00

Speaking of obsessions...

Here's another pre-Stax Ruby Johnson recording on the D.C. based Nebs label.

Hope ya'll enjoy the tune...it's killer.

A brand new peace of mind.....

2011-06-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

Blame my obsession with Lee Rogers on Derek See. He's the one who turned me on to the man. So far, I haven't found a tune I don't love.

The discography I have says this 45 is from 1966, but that's gotta be wrong. Simply can't be true. My nose tells me it's from 1968 at the earliest.

Just to make my point about it all being good, I'm throwing in the flip-side for lagniappe.

Hope ya'll enjoy. Fyi, the beginning of "Togetherness" is slightly odd. The record plays as it's supposed to, that's not a skip.

Togetherness

Sex Appeal

Feel it....

2011-06-19T17:43:00.002-05:00

Speaking of hot weather. We're in San Antonio for a few days and it's like a 105 degrees out there, no shit.

I've had this record set to go for some time. Unfortunately, I can't find my notes on the band at the moment, but as I recall these guys were originally out of Arizona and somehow ended up in Colorado. They put out several nice singles and an album, but for my money there's really only one other single worth hunting up, "Biscuits and Buttermilk" on the Mo Soul label [I really really need to find that one].

Anyway....arguably one of the toughest funk tracks ever waxed. Not especially "deep", just hard as a rock.

Hope ya'll enjoy...

Throw that left leg with pride....

2011-06-18T16:56:00.007-05:00

"This is a excellent blog and you do a great job posting good music. That's why the stats are up!"

Thanks for making me smile, Rekkid, but unfortunately it's not true. The recent surge in traffic looks to be the product of a Blogger glitch.

On the up-side, it also looks like the low numbers I was getting the week before the surge were incorrect. As of today, traffic seems reassuringly normal. Referrals from Twilightzone! are showing once again. Even thumbnails of my label scans have reappeared on linked sites after having mysteriously disappeared awhile back.

All in all, I'm pleased. I happen to like my normal traffic numbers. Not too big, not too small....just right.

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

Is this a pseudonymous Eddie Bo record? Well, Martin Lawrie over at the Soul Generation site says no, that Sonny Jones and Eddie Bo simply sound quite a bit alike. Me? I'm not so sure about that. My ears tell me it's Eddie Bo if for no other reason than the phrasing of the vocals. And to be much more direct about it, I have to say that Sonny Jones sounds very very different. Listen to the records.

Anyway, it's definitely an Eddie Bo produced jam of a high order. One of his best.

Another 45 that plays well in hot weather...

[Oh crap. Dan Phillips posted a marvelous piece on "The Sissy" several hours before I offered up this post. It includes his rip of the same Sonny Jones 45. Ya'll should def check out what Dan has to say, here, 'cause he's totally the man.]

Sissy Walk Part 1.

Sissy Walk Part 2.

Some people...

2011-06-17T19:03:00.000-05:00

Something odd is going on.

The month of June was looking to be this blog's worst month, stat-wise, in over nine months. But then, BAM!, literally overnight I'm getting many times my normal amount of traffic for absolutely no reason at all.

Every single day since Wednesday before last, this blog has had far more visitors than my previous best day ever. A couple of days ago, there were 100 page views in one hour. By comparison, I've had plenty of days with 100 page views, but never anything close to that kind of hourly traffic before.

Now comes the really strange part. Twilightzone! has long been a major source of traffic for this blog. Today I check the stats and I've got no referrals from Twilightzone! None. Nada, Zip. This has never ever happened before. In fact, it's an impossibility.

Anyone know what's up?

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

I've been meaning to post this one for a long time but never seem to get around to it. Shame on me for contributing to the general neglect shown Bobby Powell. The record itself almost always sells for around five bucks, but truthfully, I don't run into lots of copies. I was rather glad to find the one I have.

Some years ago, a nice comp of Powell's Jewel and Whit sides was released called "My Own Thing". I don't often play it these days as I now own all the 45s included, but it's an excellent collection, if you can find a copy.

A killer slow groove, perfect for a warm evening.....

Hope ya'll enjoy....

You shake shake here, you shake shake there.....

2011-06-13T22:19:00.001-05:00

You knew this was coming....didn't you?

This goes out to my beloved Nana [RIP] for letting me scratch up her records from the time I was barely out of diapers. There was copy of the album "Hate To See You Go" in her house that's now in my collection.

To my mind, this is a totally obvious record to play. I figure if you don't already own a collection of Little Walter then there must be something seriously wrong with you. On the other hand, going for the obvious in this context isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, when was the last time you heard a worn out copy of the 45?

The song gives me chills every time I hear it. That's after literally hundreds of plays. Mostly it's the harp solo, truly one of the most amazing few seconds ever recorded.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

I can't go on this way.....

2011-06-12T15:03:00.000-05:00

With Jimmie Lee Robinson, the question is: Who didn't he play with? I won't bother going into it 'cause the info is easily found online, but the fact that he can be heard on a number of Little Walter recordings should be quite enough. As far as I'm concerned, that alone makes him a god.

Bandera, along with sister labels Laredo and Jericho Road, were run by Violet Musyznski and her son out of their house in Chicago. Ace has issued a couple of associated comps. I believe they're called something like "Bandera: Blues and Gospel" and "Bandera: Rockabilly and Country". I haven't heard either but assume they're worth hunting up. Certainly I like everything I've heard on vinyl.

Mainly known for his guitar playing, it's Robinson's voice that gets me on this one. The song is "All My Life".

Haunting.....

You got me rockin' and reelin'....

2011-06-10T13:02:00.001-05:00

Another of Eddie Bo's less often played tunes. Great song, with some absolutely killer guitar work [probably supplied by Edgar Blanchard] and a beautiful sax solo [by Red Tyler ?].

I forget exactly, but I think it's from 1957.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

You'll never get a ring in my nose...

2011-06-08T23:29:00.005-05:00

I don't do memorials anymore. As the subheading on the blog says: our mother kills us, our father eats us, we are not in our casket, we are not in the cemetery.

Just in case the quote's not entirely obvious, I meant it as a metaphor for the situation of many lesser known artists. In short, the offended "bones" continue to sing even after death [literal and figurative]...don't they?

Anyway, this tune goes out to Benny Spellman. By all accounts, a good man.

[That's Mr. Spellman doing his well-known basso-profondo bit on this cut]

Respect is due....

Once I had somebody...

2011-06-08T21:29:00.004-05:00

If Joe Tex had only been given the chance to record one song, I would hope it was this one. Genuinely one of those tunes that's almost too good to be true.

Tonight, in this house, it hits like an unexpected thunderclap before a dangerous storm. Heavy rain starting to fall right as it ends.

Hope ya'll enjoy...

Dancing little fool....

2011-06-05T14:12:00.004-05:00

Careful, this one is dangerous. [Arguably one of the ten most ferocious funk jams never recorded by James Brown]

Hope ya'll enjoy....

You don't need no ticket....

2011-06-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

It's been a good long while since I offered up any Stacy Lane. I have no solid info on the man, but everything points to him being a Memphis based artist.

Hard to say if this record is scarcer than his "African Twist/I'm Out To Win You Over", but for my part I could've picked up five copies of that 45 while hunting up a single copy of this one.

Nice slow groove, a crawling piano line....and a truly whacked out guitar solo that gets my attention every time. Suits me so well I'm tempted to use it as the theme song for a radio show I've been offered. Only problem is the mention of "soulsville" in the lyrics.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

I guess I'll live all by myself...

2011-06-04T15:24:00.002-05:00

Gas Head [or Gashead] was the pseudonym used by Bobby Boseman on his first two singles for the Houston based Paradise label. Sir Shambling has more info, here, along with several other great Boseman sides you can listen to.

While I agree with Shambling that this 45 represents a lesser effort by a truly great deep soul singer, I still think it's got a couple of very cool tunes on it. In fact, if Boseman had only ever made recordings of this caliber he'd still have my attention.

Yep, the b-side's good too. But something's wrong here. Either I misunderstand the Boseman discography on the Shambling site, or a mistake's been made in the list, or I own a record that's not supposed to exist. The b-side of my copy is "Slow Down Young Lovers", which if I understand correctly, was supposedly never released until it showed up on the P-Vine collection of the same name.

Anyway, I'm confused. My copy sure looks like a regular release, but then again, maybe it's a bootleg?

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Rock me....

2011-05-30T13:24:00.003-05:00

Another one from the amazing, Johnny Love and The Amethyst Garnets.

In this chapter of our story, the band discovers the built-in beatbox settings on 10 year old Gary Love's Hammond Fun-Machine. Eureka!

The results really are impressive given the band's limitations. I totally made-up the part about 10 year old Gary Love. Ya see, my newest theory is that two thirds of the Amethyst Garnets were children.

DIY gospel based soul at it's most amateurish. But don't let that description put you off. The cut's all the more beautiful for lack of polish.

A genuine amethyst-garnet [???] in the rough.

Hope ya'll enjoy...

I don't need your money...

2011-05-29T14:05:00.001-05:00

As luck would have it, a friend scored this 45 on Ebay last week only to be offered another slightly nicer copy three days later. I've been far too busy to think about records lately, but when I got a text saying, "Zilla Mayes for $xx?", I was all over it.

Not cheap, but given how badly I've coveted this 45, it was a steal.

I posted the flip-side last December as part of my "records that drive me crazy" post. This side is just as good, although not quite as obscure. You may well have heard it before even if you've never heard of Zilla Mayes.

Ya see, this tune's been mistakenly included on at least two separate Betty Harris comps. Harris did indeed record a song with the same title [the worst in her entire discography], but it sounds nothing like this.

Which is a shame. Zilla Mayes didn't record all that much. This is the only 45 she made with Allen Toussaint. It may very well be the last recording she ever made. She deserves better than to have her effort buried even deeper in obscurity because of a stupid error.

Mayes was a pioneering female DJ in Atlanta. Besides this 45, I've only ever seen an album of what you might call "standards" and a couple of 78's.

Hope ya'll enjoy...

Salt and Pepper

2011-05-24T06:33:00.002-05:00

I don't usually post records just because they're obscure, but I figure some of you might like to hear this one. I doubt you'll find it anyplace else.

I've been told Earnest Holland played in Fats Domino's band but can't find any info to confirm that.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

...to fall in love with me

2011-05-23T19:22:00.004-05:00

This one goes out to Lady Mem'fis, aka Jackie Johnson. Took me more than a year to find a copy, in fact I wasn't even sure any copies still existed until six months ago. Hope you enjoy it hon. It's been a total pleasure.

Recorded at Cos Matassa's studio while she was still in her teens, this is the only record on which Johnson gets sole credit. If you'll check "Jackie Johnson" in the sidebar you can hear one of her sides with Bobby Powell, with whom she worked as a duo in the New Orleans area. She also wrote that song. It's fabulous.

The Tulane label is ultra-obscure. The RnB Indies only lists one 45 on the label, but that information is incomplete. There are three known releases, this 45 being one of the two that's not listed, the other being the first release by Ray Washington, aka Guitar Ray.

Hope ya'll enjoy...

I was a fool....

2011-05-08T18:18:00.002-05:00

I have an odd relationship with Willie Tee's output. On the whole his records are not really my thing, often a little too slick, too breezy, too "jazzy" without actually being jazz.....but then there are times when the tunes seem so perfectly realized that the word "crystalline" comes to mind.

Which probably only means I have to be in the right mood to appreciate them. It may also mean that some day, when I grow up, I may well treasure his recordings.

Anyway, this 45 is the exception to the rule. I love it so much that I probably need to buy a new copy. That hint of groove wear is all my doing. Given that the vinyl was almost perfect when I got it, that translates as what?......a minimum of a hundred needle drops?

It's that amazing guitar solo, and then, towards the end, that scream. I can't really tell you why it works for me. It just does.

Hope ya'll enjoy...Earl King wrote the tune, Wardell Quezergue produced it.

[Oops, an obvious screw up, the tune was written by Willie Tee. Earl King wrote the flip-side]

Crystal Ball...

2011-05-07T16:07:00.002-05:00

"Never enough trombone!"

This one goes out to the person who left the above comment on the last post. Thanks hon, you made me laugh. Actually, It's time to thank everyone who bothers to comment. I may not always have time to answer each and every one of your notes, but believe me, they are all appreciated.

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

I'm not a huge fan of Allen Toussaint's work with his West Bank Army buddies.....but this cut is different. In a perfect world I'd be bombarded by umpteen variations on "Fortune Teller" every-single-day. Such exquisite torture. Ya know, after a couple of years I might just get tired of it.

Alon singles are impossible to scan. The record is "Crystal Ball" by the Stokes. Produced by Allen Toussaint. Mr. Toussaint is of course playing piano as well.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

[It may not seem like I took much of a break, but it was long enough to come to a rather obvious conclusion. Letting the blog slide during the weekdays, only posting on the weekends, is totally the way to go. No biggie, a lot people don't have time to blog more than once a week. I just got a little spoiled over the last couple of years. Anyway, that's how it is for the time being. If I feel inspired I'll offer up two records.]

If I should jump up and holler....

2011-05-02T20:14:00.001-05:00

When I start getting bitchy for no real reason it means I've got too much going on.

Changes are coming fast this month. I'm about to take over some of my aunt's business obligations. I'm not actually sure I'm ready for the job, but in the long run it's definitely the smart thing to do and the position has the key advantage of being baby friendly. Actually, as baby friendly as I want it to be as long as I get the job done.

Anyway, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed at the moment, so I'm gonna take a little vacation from the blog and concentrate on getting myself up to speed. First on the agenda is a sharp assistant who doesn't mind holding the baby once in a while. Chances are I'll be back in a week or so, although it could take longer than I imagine. We'll see how it goes.

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

I forget how many records Clifton Chenier had on the Chess/Checker/Argo labels, I own two, could be there's another one I'm forgetting.

Anyway, hope ya'll enjoy...it's from 1960.

In the midnight hour....

2011-04-29T21:29:00.007-05:00

Jazz Fest is in full swing and I'm soooo excited that Robert Plant will be making a special appearance at the House of the Blues tonight.

Sorry ya'll, but that's my idea of a joke even when the actual event is meant as a tribute to Bobby Charles [R.I.P.]. Our concerns at the moment are with friends and relatives in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Not to mention that the Mississippi River will be sitting at an estimated three feet below the tops of the levees for more than a week come mid-May....which is likely to exert as much pressure on that system as ever been applied.

A rather obvious point, but there's a huge difference when it comes blogging about New Orleans from a tourist's point of view and that of someone actually living here. It's the difference between posting a pic of that fabulous po-boy you had for lunch and trying to explain what it feels like to pack your bags before evacuating to Texas. And believe me, if you've never evacuated to Texas, you're in for a very big thrill.

So, I've definitely got my "Fuck You, I'm From New Orleans" t-shirt on today, but I get irritated by blogs touting their "amazing" once-a-year adventures in the city. Those of us in New Orleans have a completely different perspective. One that often it makes it very hard to find common ground with the standard pre-occupations of the tourist.

Thus I have some advice: save us all considerable embarrassment and mark that Jazz Fest shit as "how I spent my fabulous vacation" rather than "I've got my finger on the pulse of something interesting and exotic". I mean, isn't it all rather obvious, or does simply everyone who visits New Orleans have to presume a "special relationship" with the city and it's music?

Even if that means Robert Plant is somehow included?

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

Here's another of my little treasures.

Hope ya'll enjoy...

I don't mind.....

2011-04-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

I'd be surprised if there's a single DJ interested in 70s funk who hasn't spun this record at least once. Bobby Franklin has written out his own biography, here.

Bring it on down, indeed.

Hope ya'll enjoy......

Part 1.

Part 2.

Don't have to be no fancy dancer.....

2011-04-27T20:38:00.001-05:00

I'm a little disgusted with myself. My recent posts concerning the Eight Ball label are totally wrong and I need to re-write them both. No sense in promoting misinformation on a subject so few know anything about. The only consolation being essentially the flip-side of that feeling....it's not like anyone else knows shit about the label either. I'm doing the best I can.

Surprise! Here's one I really don't know anything about.

This tune shows up on a comp called "Funky Funky New Orleans" but it's actually on what I presume is a private press label out of Baker, Louisiana....which is just slightly north of Baton Rouge.

Part 1 of the record is nothing much, Part 2 is quite a bit better....that's why you get to hear it.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

Ya'll, she's doin' it...

2011-04-26T16:59:00.001-05:00

Anla was a Goldband subsidiary which I believe operated between 1971 and 1974. There are some folks who say it started earlier, but I don't know that anyone has any proof either way.

I'm tempted to say the label is the pot smoking, runaway little sister of the older, more traditional, Goldband, but the analogy doesn't really hold up. Still, there is a strong strain of weirdness running through the Anla discography that's hard to explain without using the words "swamp" and "drugs" in the same sentence.

I put some of that weirdness down to Bill Parker [William Parker Guidry] and Chester Randle, who appear to have been deeply involved in the label. Besides the five singles the pair collectively get credit for on Anla, I'm of the opinion they're playing on several others as well....something of which I've no proof beyond what my ears tell me is true.

Freddie Love? All I know about the man is that he had one other 45 issued on Anla. That's it. If anyone knows more, I'd love to hear about it.

Is it just me, or is the organ player on this tune actually trying to mimic the croaking of frogs?

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

Come and take me by the hand...

2011-04-21T22:23:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow there's a gathering of my husband's family out by Bayou Lafouche. Even though this year's harvest is by most accounts the worst in recent memory, we've been assured by there'll be a crawfish boil come hell or high water. Should be fun, I think around 30-40 people are expected. Unfortunately, we can't stay over more than one night.

Anyway, that's my lead-in to this 45. The Rustone label was operated out of Houma which is about 20/30 miles from where we'll be tomorrow. Of course Houma's only about 90 miles from the house, so take it for what it's worth.

The Rustone 45s I've found so far are pretty beat up. This one's a little better than the last I posted, but it's still rough. Not that I'm apologizing, truth is I really don't mind a certain amount of surface noise on a record. I've actually been disappointed with a few upgraded copies for that reason. I get used to the wear and miss it when it's gone. Rather like a well-used old wooden floor that loses it's charm after being sanded down and refinished. As far as I'm concerned this is the way Rustone 45s are supposed to sound.

Anyway, that's my justification for not shelling out $40 for the M- copy currently being offered on Ebay [not a totally outrageous price if anyone is interested, I'd def consider it myself if I didn't already own this $4 bargain special].

Willie West is of course still performing. Still has a marvelous voice. There are several newer albums available. You should def go see him if you get a chance. Not that anyone else should remember except me, but I love the man's voice so much that his tune "Keep You Mine" was the "first dance" at my wedding. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

If you'd like a better copy of this tune, and don't want to pay $40 for the single, it can be found on a comp called "The Best Of Rustone". Downloads are available through the usual sources, but I'd pick and choose rather than download the whole collection. Listen to the samples and you'll see what I mean.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

No, no....ain't gonna cry...

2011-04-19T19:56:00.003-05:00

[Since Divshare has decided to shaft it's many free users with no warning or explanation, yet another 70 of my old links are no longer available. Thus I'd like to offer this tune once again. The first time around it got very little attention. Perhaps at this point it will get more?]

One of my little treasures....about which I know virtually nothing.

[Update: this is the first 45 issued on this label. Eight Ball was owned by a man named Lionel Worthy whose main business was auto repair. Other than that, this record still qualifies as a mystery. First and foremost, who was 'Bobby Brown'?]

Hope ya'll enjoy...

I see I'm gonna have to get rough....

2011-04-18T22:37:00.002-05:00

I consider this tune to be an antidote to the many local "bon ton roulet" anthems. Probably just a matter of personal association, but to me it resonates in a way that makes it the perfect theme song for a bad night out.

Ya see, beyond all the smiles and the "darlin's", New Orleans is a very rough city. Don't let anyone tell you it's not. While we're at pains to keep our many visitors nice and safe in the French Quarter, the truth is our local young men make a game of killing each other, 24/7. In any given year, there will be 8 to 10 times as many murders in New Orleans on a per capita basis as the national average.

There's a lot more I could say along those lines, but I'm sure you get the point. Certainly anyone who's ever lived in the city knows exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm pretty sure this is the second release on the Eight Ball label. It was run by Lionel Worthy when he wasn't seeing to the cars in his auto repair shop. Seems he had a small studio out back.

James Rivers recorded a number of sax-based instrumentals over the years. As far as I know, this is the only record he sings on. It's not the best, or by any means the worst, singing in the world, but that's not really the point. Just wait till the man starts blowing blood through the flute [mostly on the second side]. Holy shit.

Part 1.

Part 2.