Roger
2025-01-13 09:24:34 UTC
Reply
PermalinkTODAY........FROM 1963
1. MEMPHIS – LONNIE MACK
My #1 instrumental for 1963 is this rockin’ guitar instrumental take on
one
of Chuck Berry’s best ever numbers released on the Fraternity label.Big
US hit
reaching #5BBpop and #4 BBr&b.. On Stateside label in UK but despite
some
powerful radio play missed the charts
2. MO’ ONIONS – BOOKER T. & THE MG’S
A second helping on those “..Onions” on Stax so well served up by Booker
&
co in 1962 but that sadly failed to match sales on the previous hit.
Obviously
I liked it a lot personally but sales were nowhere near the original
charting at
just #97 BBpop and missing the r&b chart completely. Not released in UK
as 45
3.GOOD ROCKIN’ – JR. WALKER ALL STARS
Intense instrumental from Junior that will be his last outing on the
Harvey label.Future releases will find him on Motown’s subsidiary Soul
label..Did not chart in US and not even released at the time in UK
4. DIAMONDS – JET HARRIS & TONY MEEHAN
Erstwhile Shadows members team up here on UK Decca in a Duane
Eddy-styled
version of the latest Jerry Lordan (who penned “Apache”) tune that
became a huge
UK hit scoring #1.Released on London in US but no chart action (a year
too early
perhaps---since the Beatles will unlock the US market to UK acts the
next year)
5. WATERMELON MAN – MONGO SANTAMARIA
Written and first recorded by jazzman Herbie Hancock I much prefer the
version
by Mongo who’d been around the block a few times in the music biz from
early
days in the Perez Prado band. #10 BBpop and #8BBr&b on the Battle label
in US
released on Riverside in UK did not chart
6. OUTER LIMITS – THE MARKETTS
Yep! That’s the original title (it only became “Out Of Limits” later).
This five man outfit had started life with the catchy “Surfer’s Stomp”
on the Union label back in 1961 before hitting big with their take on
the “Outer Limits” sci-fi TV series (currently gracing TV screens again
in 2025 here in UK I’m pleased to say). On Warner Bros (in US and UK)
this was #3 US but despite getting UK airplay failed to chart here
7. PENETRATION – THE PYRAMIDS
Five man surf band from Long Beach Ca. this was a #18 BBpop hit for them
in
Ventures style (which group indeed released their own version of the
number early in 1964). The Pyramids hit appeared on Best label in US and
London in UK.Charted in US #18 BBpop. Non-charting in UK
8. GREEN MONKEY – GARNELL COOPER & THE KINFOLK
Catchy soul instrumental on Jubilee from West Coast saxman Cooper
produced by
our old friends Leiber & Stoller.Didn’t chart on any of the regular
charts in US or UK (where it came out on London getting good plays in
the local r&b clubs)
9. YAKETY SAX – BOOTS RANDOLPH
For me Boots Randolph’s true moment in the sun will always be the
absolutely
scorching sax break in Elvis’ “Reconsider Baby” but here he revisits his
own
“Yakety Sax” first recorded in a (different) version for RCA in 1958 (as
by “Randy Randolph”). The tune became famous as a continuing theme in
“The Benny Hill Show” TV series.On Monument label charted #35BBpop
#29BBr&b. On London
label in UK did not chart
10.DO IT-RAT NOW – BILL BLACK’S COMBO
From one star name who backed Elvis to another—Bill Black whose famous
instrumental Combo on Hi records later generated a whole slew of
hits---of which
“Do It-Rat Now” was a prime example reaching #51 BBpop. On London UK but
did not chart
11. SO FAR AWAY – HANK JACOBS
The r&b organist here with his biggest seller released on the Sue label
both in USA and the UK (tho UK release was not till well into 1964).
Charted #91 BBpop #19BBr&b. Did not chart in UK but it was another of
those numbers hugely popular in the London r&b clubs
12. WHAM! – LONNIE MACK
Here’s our top rated artist in this selection (see #1 above)---back
again with his direct followup to his huge “Memphis” hit---again on
Fraternity (US) and Stateside (UK) Charted #24 BBpop in USA.No chart
action in UK
13. CROSS ROADS – LUTHER RANDOLPH & JOHNNY STILES
Featuring organist Randolph and guitarist Stiles a smoking r&b
instrumental first released on the Harthon label (initiated by
themselves) in Philadelphia before the track was picked up for national
distribution by Cameo.Did not chart in either US or UK (where it
appeared on Cameo-Parkway label)
14. SOUTHERN FEELING – LITTLE WALTER
Recorded February 5 1963 at a Chicago session that also begat “Up The
Line”,”I’m
A Business Man” and “Dead Presidents”. On Checker in US did not chart.
Not released in UK
15. CHINESE CHECKERS – BOOKER T. & THE MG’S
Moody repetitive piece beloved of the London r&b clubs I used to
frequent in those days Released on Stax it scored #78 on the BBpop chart
but strangely never featured on their r&b chart. Appeared on London here
in UK but did not chart despite decent airplay
16. SUSIE-Q – BILLY & THE KING BEES
Nice sax led instrumental workout of a long time favorite rock ‘n’ roll
number of mine—Dale Hawkins’ great “Susie-Q” . I know nothing of the
group here except the leader-one Billy Carson Long played sax and hailed
from North Carolina—probably Winston-Salem since the group had a couple
of releases on the Salem label in 1961. On Volt label in US (not issued
in UK)
17. BAJA – THE ASTRONAUTS
Formerly the Stormtroopers this five piece instrumental outfit from
Boulder Colorado now renamed “The Astronauts” (in honor of local hero
Scott Carpenter the second man—after John Glenn—to orbit the
Earth)---with their minor hit on RCA. Penned by Lee Hazlewood “Baja”
charted at #94 BB pop. Also on RCA in UK bit didn’t chart
18. BIG TRAIN – BOOKER T. & THE MG’S
The flipside of one of Booker T.’s poorer selling 45’s---with US sales
low enough that UK Stax passed on releasing it. It did however establish
itself on a popular soul music radio show of the time and of course got
play in London’s r&b clubs and on yours truly’s turntable when he got
hold of an US import copy of it
19. FROG STOMP – FLOYD NEWMAN
Floyd Newman ace baritone saxman of this parish and fully paid up member
of the Mar-Keys on a solo effort for Stax label (with some help from pal
Isaac Hayes on organ).The recording was used later to great effect in
the Sopranos episode “The Happy Wanderer”. Never charted and not
released UK
20. ATLANTIS – THE SHADOWS
Jerry “Apache” Lordan strikes again with another memorable melody to add
to The Shadows library and once again take them high on the UK chart (#2
here). It wasn’t released as a single in the US where The Shadows have
never meant much (even in the post-’64 British Invasion period when it
seemed anything from UK that moved shot up the BB Hot 100)
BUBBLING UNDER
21. GUITAR’D AND FEATHERED – DUANE EDDY
22. SCARLETT O’HARA – JET HARRIS & TONY MEEHAN
23. DAWN – DAVID ROCKINGHAM TRIO
24. HOME GROWN – BOOKER T. & THE MG’S
25. SON OF REBEL ROUSER – DUANE EDDY