Dad's 45s

Dad's Sounds on Mixlr

2012-02-21T08:16:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday would have been my dad's 75th birthday. In celebration of his life, I will be broadcasting a special Mixlr show to honor him and playing many of his favorite records. I hope you'll join me.

Joe Houston and His Orchestra - Hum Bug

2012-02-18T23:11:00.000-08:00

This one from the great Joe Houston is from around 1955. A song called "There Is No Greater Love" was on the flip side.

Roy Hamilton - I Believe

2012-02-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

Here is another one by Roy Hamilton. Check out the clippings from Billboard Magazine, Feb 12, 1955.

Go! Go! Go! - The Treniers

2012-01-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

Another good old good one from 1951. Featuring twin brothers Cliff and Claude Trenier, the Treniers helped link swing music to rock & roll with their brand of hot jump blues in the late '40s and early '50s. To the latter-day listener, their early-'50s singles sound closer to swing than rock; indeed, Cliff and Claude had once sung with the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra. The group did anticipate some crucial elements of rock & roll, though, with their solid, thumping beats, their squealing saxophone solos, and their song titles, such as "Rocking on Sunday Night," "Rockin' Is Our Business," and "It Rocks! It Rolls! It Swings!." The Treniers' brand of swing-cum-R&B was undoubtedly an influence on Bill Haley, who saw them when both acts were playing summer shows in Wildwood, NJ. They had work recorded for OKeh in the early '50s; by the middle of the decade, their sound was more R&B-oriented. Like many early R&B pioneers, they were unable to find success in the rock & roll era, though they appeared in a few of the first rock & roll films.

Farewell Etta & Johnny

2012-01-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

(CNN) -- Etta James, whose assertive, earthy voice lit up such hits as "The Wallflower," "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and the wedding favorite "At Last," has died, according to her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. She was 73.

(NYT) -- Johnny Otis, the musician, bandleader, songwriter, impresario, disc jockey and talent scout who was often called “the godfather of rhythm and blues,” died on Tuesday at his home in Altadena, Calif. He was 90.

"Louis Jordan" "I'll Die Happy"

2012-01-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

"I'll Die Happy" was the flip side to Louis Jordan's 1954, Aladdin Records release of "Ooo-Wee."
This song had some pretty crazy lyrics for the time. My favorite line from the song is "I'm a goofball user and a chick abuser, but I'll die happy." and you will too after hearing this gem.

Roy Hamilton - If I loved You

2012-01-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Here is another one from Roy Hamilton. During his career, Roy spawned over 50 singles, eight of which crossed over to the pop charts. His bevy of hits included the aforementioned “Walk”, released in 1954, which went to number one on the R&B chart and was a pop hit, “Unchained Melody”, another number one R&B hit as well as a top ten pop hit the following year, and the up-tempo hits “Don’t Let Go” in 1958 and “You Can Have Her”, in 1961, both top ten hits. He also berthed a great deal of minor hits, such as his version of “Ebb Tide”, “Hurt”, “If I Loved You”, “Forgive This Fool”, and “Without a Song”. He rigorously toured and performed all over the world, his rich voice and prolific repertoire fitting in at the supper-clubs and cocktail lounges just as easily as on the Chitlin’ Circuit. His bona fide status as a Rock and Roll, star, however, got him a featured spot in the 1958 Columbia Pictures movie “Let’s Rock”. "If I Loved You," was released on the Epic label in 1954.

Faye Adams - Hurts Me To My Heart

2012-01-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

"It Hurts Me to My Heart" is a 1954, Herald Records single by Faye Adams. The song, written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton, was the final of Adams's three number ones on the R&B Best Sellers chart in the United States.

Jimmy Beasley & The Rockers - Johnny's House Party Pts. 1 & 2

2011-12-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

I think this was one of dad's all-time favorite 78s in his collection and was enjoyed at many a partying occasion.

Released on Modern Records in February of 1957.

Fats Domino - Ain't It A Shame

2011-12-22T20:15:00.000-08:00

"Ain't That a Shame" is a song recorded by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, in New Orleans, Louisiana, for Imperial Records and released in 1955. It was previously recorded in 1901 by Silas Leachman. The recording ("Ain't It a Shame") was a hit for Domino, eventually selling a million copies. It reached #1 on the "Black Singles" chart and #10 on the "Pop Singles" chart. The song is ranked #431 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Hawks - Joe The Grinder

2011-12-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

Joe the Grinder is the name of mythical ladies man in blues tunes who seduces the wives and sweethearts of prisoners and soldiers. He’s also known as Joe De Grinder and Joe D. Grinder. The term dates to at least 1939. Grinder is from an old slang verb, to grind, meaning to copulate. The military use of jody was introduced to the U.S. Army by African-American soldiers. Jody is a clipping of the name of Joe the Grinder, a slightly older character in jazz and blues mythology.
"Joe The Grinder" was cut by The Hawks for Imperial in December of 1953 and with lead vocal duties going to bass vocalist, Willie Thrower.

Little Walter - Juke

2011-12-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

"Juke" is a harmonica instrumental recorded by then 22-year-old Chicago bluesman Little Walter Jacobs in 1952. Although Little Walter had been recording sporadically for small Chicago labels over the previous five years, and had appeared on Muddy Waters' records for the Chess label since 1950, Juke was Little Walter's first hit, and it was the most important of his career. Due to the influence of Little Walter on blues harmonica, Juke is now considered a blues harmonica standard.
"Juke" was recorded on 12 May 1952 at the beginning (not the end, as commonly thought) of a recording session with Muddy Waters and his band, which at the time consisted of Waters and Jimmy Rogers on guitars, and Elga Edmunds on drums, in addition to Little Walter on harmonica. The originally released recording of "Juke" was the first completed take of the first song attempted at the first Little Walter session for Leonard Chess; the song was released at the end of July on Chess's subsidiary label Checker Records as Checker single #758. The song was recorded by recording engineer Bill Putnam at his Universal Recorders studio at 111 E. Ontario St. on the near north side of Chicago, Illinois.

Roy Hamilton - You'll Never Walk Alone

2011-12-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

Roy Hamilton (April 16, 1929 – July 20, 1969) was an American singer, who achieved major success in the US R&B and pop charts in the 1950s. He is best known for his recordings of "You'll Never Walk Alone", "Unchained Melody" and "You Can Have Her".

"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.
Roy Hamilton's version was a Billboard R&B number-one single March 27, 1954 - May 15, 1954

Dad would have loved this!

2011-12-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

Tab Smith - You Belong To Me

2011-11-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

The alto saxophonist Talmadge (Tab) Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, on January 11, 1909, and made his professional debut with the Carolina Stompers in 1929. In 1931 he joined Eddie Johnson and his Crackerjacks in St. Louis, and in later years he worked with Lucky Millinder and Count Basie. By the time he began recording, with Millinder in 1936, he was a saxophonist of high technical accomplishment working in the tradition of Johnny Hodges; he would keep his idol's signature portamento for the rest of his life. From 1944 through 1949 he fronted his own combo, recording for various small labels in New York area, including J. Mayo Williams' Southern company. Then he moved his base of operations back to St. Louis. Tab Smith enjoyed a little success with the faltering Premium label in early 1951 (the remnants were cannily snapped up by Chess when Premium went out of business). As soon as he could, Simpkins brought him over to the new label. When Smith joined United Records, his skill as an alto saxophonist was fully matured, and the result was a fine series of ballads, blues, and novelty numbers all superbly realized in full lush tone and masterful phrasing.

Smith released "You Belong To Me" on United Records in 1953.

Gogi Grant - The Tide Is High

2011-11-18T11:53:00.000-08:00

Gogi Grant had a string of hits in the 50s with Hollywood, CA label Era Records and had her first top ten hit with "Suddenly There's a Valley." The next year, she had an even bigger hit, reaching Billboard 's #1 position, with "The Wayward Wind" and holding there for a then record eight weeks. The song sold over one million copies in the United States alone, and peaked at #9 in the UK Singles Chart. She was voted the most popular female vocalist by Billboard magazine. This single returned to the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

From 1956, Here is "The Tide Is High."

Carmen Cavallaro And His Orchestra - Warsaw Concerto

2011-11-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Carmen Cavallaro (May 6, 1913 – October 12, 1989) was an American pianist. He established himself as one of the most accomplished and admired light music pianists of his generation.

Vido Musso - Vido's Boogie

2011-11-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

Here is another great Vido Musso side. For more info on Vido, check out the post from August.

Richard Hayman - Vera Cruz

2011-11-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

In addition to RnB 78s, dad's collection included the occasional orchestral record.

Richard Hayman (born March 27, 1920) is an American arranger, harmonica player, and conductor.

Hayman started out as a player and arranger for the Borrah Minnevitch Harmonica Rascals before becoming an arranger for Metro-Goldwyn-MayerGirl Crazy, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Thousands Cheer. From 1945-1950, he was musical director for the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra. studios during the early 1940s. He did arrangements (often uncredited) for the MGM films

In the 1950s and 60s, Hayman recorded a series of records for Mercury.

Bill Doggett - True Blue

2011-10-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

True Blue is the B-side to Quaker City which I posted several months ago and features Billy Butler on guitar.

Roy Milton & His Orchestra - Thelma Lou

2011-10-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

Milton spent the years of his youth on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma before making his home in Tulsa. He got a job as a singer with a territory band fronted by Ernie Fields. He got the opportunity to play the drums when the band's regular drummer didn't show. Milton moved west to Los Angeles and formed a trio that played clubs in the greater L.A. area in the early nineteen forties.In the year 1945 Milton signed a recording contract with a new area independent label called Juke Box Records (soon to be renamed Specialty). Specialty released "Thelma Lou" in April of 1952.

Jay Franks & His Rockets of Rhythm - Stripped Gears

2011-09-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Jay Franks recorded this jumpin' record for RPM in 1952.

Ges Jenkins - Spark Plug

2011-09-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Piano player & singer Gus Jenkins (1931-1985) first recorded in Chicago for the Chess label with Big Walter Horton before moving to the west coast where he recorded with Flash Records in Los Angeles. This 78 is from 1956.

"The Fabulous" Joe Houston - Shtiggy Boom

2011-09-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a rockin' lil' number from the legendary tenor saxophonist, Joe Houston.

The Fugitives - Freeway (Update! 9/3/11)

2011-09-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by Dion(Alan) Smith, the man who wrote this song. This is from the email he sent me.

I can give you the whole back story...I wrote it ("Freeway") and played it when I was in high school.

Also placed it with the label (when I was about 16 years old), driving my mom's '59 Hudson

Hornet from Phoenix AZ to "Hollywood".

It was first released on Arvee, then Russel Sims, who had made stampers unbeknownst

to myself (and then 'run out of Phoenix') saw Dollar $igns and released the same session on his

own label from...Memphis, I believe. There's quite a story there, including some 'teenage

espionage', another session of the same tune with the help of LeRoy VanDyke

("Just Walk On By, Wait On The Corner" fame).

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