Roger
2025-02-28 06:48:04 UTC
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PermalinkUnless stated there was no UK release on these
1. MY JOHNNY – LITTLE MISS WANDA
On Aries label here’s a long LONG time fave of mine since I encountered
it on my first trip to Philly in 1971 and bought a copy from---where
else?—at very VERY much less than the $500 plus it commands today.No
chart action
2. I CRIED A TEAR – LaVERN BAKER
From a New York City session in September 1958 comes one of LaVern’s
biggest hits---the memorable “I Cried A Tear” on Atlantic with King
Curtis (tenor) Al Caiola (gtr) Panama Francis (dms) among others.
Charted at #6 in USA. Released UK on London did not chart. Interesting
that the US flipside was “Dix-A-Billy” (from this same session) in UK
‘twas “St Louis Blues”
3. LET’S HAVE A PARTY – WANDA JACKSON
Excellent revival of the 1957 Elvis “Party” number from his “Loving You”
movie that many folk think is a 1960 record (since it charted then in US
and UK) but it was actually out on Wanda’s first LP on Capitol in 1958.
Recorded at their Hollywood studio 7 April 1958 the session boasted some
big name backing artists like Buck Owens (gtr) Skeets McDonald (bass)
and Big Al Downing (pno).Charted on single #37 US in 1960 BBpop and #30
(also on Capitol) in UK
4. BIG MAMA’S COMING HOME - BIG MAMA THORNTON
Backed by The Hi-Tones they don’t come much bluesier than Big Mama under
full
power as here on a big fave of hers for me on the Irma label where she
cut her
solitary single with a 1958 date attached to it. BTW if you’re looking
for an original 45RPM copy of this today be aware its valued up in the
four-figure bracket. Zero on chart action
5. OH GEE OH GOSH – THE KODOKS (sic)
The fivesome from Newark NJ including a single female---Pearl
McKinnon---
Singing lead with a Frankie Lymon-like vocal lead (she wrote the song
too at age 12) contracted to Bobby Robinson’s Fury label in NYC for whom
they cut this record.Apparently it sold well enough and got a lot of
airplay in the immediate NY area without ever charting
6, BEEN A LONG TIME BABY – BABY WASHINGTON
I make this Jeanette’s THIRD single for Zell Sanders at J&S released
somewhere
around March or April . She’s joined on this spirited romp by fellow J&S
male vocal quartet The Plants.Sadly did not chart (she’ll have to wait
until later in 1958 and a move to the Neptune label for that)
7. HOO WEE SWEET DADDY – KATIE WEBSTER
Fine rocker by Miss Katie Webster providing vocal and piano
accompaniment and
penned and recorded by Jay Miller and released on his Zynn label in
1958.This
became popular enough and sought after enough to get the famous “repro”
treatment in latter years
8. DON’T TALK BACK – BIG MAMA THORNTON
The flipside of the Big Mama single already mentioned in this listing (
see #4 above) Again backed by the Hi-Tones on the Irma label all I can
say is the similarity is great enough here that Roy Hamilton and Jesse
Stone should have well and truly sued. And not let go!
9. THE TIME – BABY WASHINGTON
From August 1958 this excellent Baby Washington single sees her debut on
the
Neptune label of New Jersey (later moved to NYC) owned by Donald Shaw
and
managed by Monte Bruce.Did not chart pop but reached #22 BBr&b
10. ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE – BRENDA LEE
Recorded 19 October 1958 at Bradley Studio Nashville. Backing crew
includes Hank
Garland (gtr) Bob Moore (bass) Floyd Cramer (pno) Boots Randolph (sax) +
Anita Kerr Singers. Also from this session comes “Papa Noel” And “Bill
Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home”. The song first charted at Christmas
1960 on Decca at#14BBpop but has charted pretty well each Christmas
thereafter---peaking at #1 in 2023. In the UK the record did not appear
on Brunswick until 1962 reaching #6---the same position it attained in
2024!
11. THE SHIRELLES – I MET HIM ON A SUNDAY
THE SHIRELLES (Tiara 6112) n, “I MET HIM ON A SUNDAY” D+ (2:11) [BMI —
Owens, Harris, Coley, Lee] The Shirelles make their debut with a very
strong teenage production. Middle beat hop with handclaps and gimmicked
vocal and arrangement.Deck catches the ear and we see a good future for
it if properly exposed. (CASH BOX FEBRUARY 15 1958)
12. DON’T SHOUT AT ME DADDY - ELLA JOHNSON
Most of Ella’s appearances on wax are as the featured songstress on
records credited to brother Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra but here is
one that credited her properly and a very good one it is too. On the
Mercury label where she is-as you might expect-backed by bro Buddy & his
Band.
13.MEAN MEAN MAN – WANDA JACKSON
Recorded at Capitol Studios Hollywood 10th April 1958 (the last day of a
four day session) featuring pretty much the same session guys as #3
record in this listing.The track was re-released in 1960 to followup her
then-hit “Let’s Have A Party” In the UK there was no 1958 single release
but it was released in 1961 the same way as listed above
14 TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM – THE TEDDY BEARS
For some time in 1958 this was my favorite record of the moment. Ever
since I
saw them on “The Perry Como Show” (yes the BBC showed it here) I loved
the record and had to have a copy (but not till it fell out of the
charts and it was selling cheap in the local market). And of course just
like with other fans of this old music it was my introduction to the
music of Phil Spector who wrote the song and played and sang along with
Marshall Lieb and lead Carol Connors (nee Annette Kleinbard. Recorded
for the Dore label this reached #1 BBpop and #10 BBr&b. On London in UK
reaching #2 (kept off the #1 spot by Elvis and “One Night”)
15. FEVER – PEGGY LEE
No other version of the song comes near the “10 rated” original classic
by Little Willie John but Peggy Lee’s later sparse reading does better
than most---thanks in part to the addition of some terrific extra lyrics
(I’m not a lyric guy but I’ve never denied taking notice of truly GREAT
lyrics like the best of Chuck Berry,Leiber & Stoller etc). It’s just a
really well done pop version . On Capitol in both US and UK it charted
#8BBpop #5 BBr&b and #5 in UK
16 A ROCKIN’ GOOD WAY – PRISCILLA BOWMAN
Bright and bouncy original version of the Brook Benton part-penned
classic number backed up by The Spaniels. Both Bowman & The Spaniels
were contracted to Vee-Jay so it was no surprise that the record was
released on the Abner subsidiary label. It was also no surprise that
Brook Benton himself (with Dinah Washington) would take the better still
definitive version of the song high into the charts in 1960.
17. “BABY BABY” EVERY NIGHT – ETTA JAMES
After a couple of years recording for the Modern label Etta now finds
herself on the associate Kent label and backed by the Flairs vocal group
on a number first recorded(and penned) by Ed Townsend (of “For Your
Love” fame) with Peggy Lee also out there with a previous version.
18. EVERY NIGHT (I PRAY) – THE CHANTELS
Here’s Arlene and her gals with their first single of 1958 on the End
label following up their big “Maybe” hit with a very similar sounding
number that is excellent to these ears too. True to form this one
charted too reaching #39 BBpop and #16 BBr&b
19. COMFORT IN MY HEART – BEA BOOKER
Someone had obviously had the idea of recording a song kind of in the
vein of Elvis’s “Don’t Be Cruel”. Just a guess but otherwise I know
nothing of this one except it appeared on Don Robey’s Peacock label.
Anyone got an idea of who the group might be?
20. WATERPROOF EYES – TINY TOPSY
Topsy’s first single of 1958 was penned by Eddie Cooley (yes he of
“Priscilla” fame) Topsy's 4th single for Federal Records in 1957. This
one came out as the flipside of the single “You Shocked Me” but with its
neo-gospel feel I like this one better No idea who the group is here
either (tho Unca Marvy suggests members of te Famous Flames who were
backing JB in the same studio that day). No idea who the lady with the
falsetto is either.Amazingly this one got UK release on UK Parlophone in
1958
BUBBLING UNDER
21. HONEY BOP – WANDA JACKSON
22. I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL THEM – MARIE KNIGHT
23. ANYTHING TO SAY YOU’RE MINE – LULA REED
24. HONKY TONKY – THE QUEEN (DINAH WASHINGTON)
25. UM BOW BOW – THE BOBBETTES