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

Either I'm very unlucky or this 45 is a tough find. This is the only original 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

Come and take me by the hand...

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....

Could anyone else be loving you better than I?

Another killer tune from Willie West.

I'm still waiting for a genuine stock copy of this 45 to appear [the one above is a promo copy]. Ya see, I not only have never seen a stocker, I've never even met anyone who claims to have seen one. As far as I can tell, no original issue stock copy has ever been posted on the blogs or for that matter auctioned on Ebay. DJ playlists posted on the net, some going back as far 10 years, are very clear that the 45 in use at the time was either a promo copy or the version of the single issued by Rhino.....I can't find a single mention of a bone stock copy being played, ever. Truth is, I don't think they exist.

Most likely, the record was withdrawn [for whatever reason] after the promo copies were pressed.

There's a good reason for going into this. Ya see, Rhino pressed a much different version of "Fairchild" on their supposed look-a-like stock re-issue. So, either Rhino goofed big time, in fact never had a stock copy in hand from which to "copy", in fact never bothered to check what might have been actually issued as Josie 1019, or there's a monstrously rare record out there, somewhere, waiting to be found. A record made even more rare because it would be the only example I can think of where issued stock copies differ so substantially from a promo copies. For someone like me, it would be very nice to know the truth.

It's worth mentioning that if Rhino did goof, then their pressing of "Fairchild" becomes even more interesting, as that would make those records the only authorized copies of the alternative version. Essentially, more of a true limited edition than they ever imagined. I want one myself.

Hope ya enjoy....it's one of the more ominous sounding cuts I can think of.

Well, ya didn't want to kiss me...

Sorry about the quality of this rip, but I've yet to find any old Rustones which aren't almost completely trashed.

Hope ya enjoy....it's from 1963 [correction: the record's from 1961]

Just you and me...

What a shame. When Warner Bros. issued this 45 they sent out a double sided [single song] promo version of the a-side to DJs. Now, that a-side, "It's Been So Long", is a great song, no doubt about it....but why anyone wouldn't want to get this killer b-side into the hands of DJs is a total mystery to me.

As it was, the single sank like a stone and presumably few copies were pressed. That's why you generally have to pay decent cash for a stock copy. And yes indeed, you DO want a stock copy. For the b-side.

From 1975...

Do you believe baby?

This one goes out to a very special guy. He's away at the moment and I'm missing him.

So if you got a sweetheart, maybe ya could give her a little spin to this song?...ya know, just for me? Cause tonight, I'd sure give a lot to have just one slow dance with my boy.

Enjoy