...to fall in love with me

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...

Down on my knees, beggin' baby please...

This is the less commonly heard, second, version of I'm Gonna Leave You. Interestingly, the two versions were released consecutively on Whit 716 and Whit 717.

Both are very good, I just happen to prefer the slightly slower, more country blues sounding, second one. Where the first one rocks, this one lays back and grooves. Doesn't hurt that as a duet [the first is not] the song itself shows much more depth.

Jackie Johnson, the female vocalist and writer of the song [I assume the writing credit given to the owner of the label is BS], is a mystery. I've yet to find a mention of her anywhere. Too bad, as she has such a great voice. I can't imagine a better pairing with Bobby Powell, seems a real shame they didn't do more than this one single together.

from 1963....

[Update: check the comments, one of my readers found Jackie Johnson/Jacqueline Johnson. She's now known as Lady Mem'fis.]