On Sat, 15 Mar 2025 6:06:59 +0000, Dean wrote:
The latest episode of ROOTS ROCK RADIO is now archived at the link
below. Here's the playlist, a slightly revised take on what I originally
had scheduled for February 16th on WRTC.
1. OKIE DOKIE STOMP, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
"R&b guitars didn’t come much better as Clarence weaves some punchy
guitar licks over.a rockin’ horn section. Signed to Don Robey’s Peacock label in Houston Tx. The record was popular enough to get a reissue in
1959" (#2 on my "Fave 20 Instrumentals From 1954" list)
3. VOODOO VOODOO, LaVern Baker
Although not released until September 1961 this was recorded wayyyy back
in 1958
at the same session as "I Cried A Tear". Backing musicians include King
Curtis
(ten sax) Al Caiola (gtr) Panama Francis (dms). On release Atlantic
coupled this with the much more recent "Hey Memphis" a decent answer
song to the recent Elvis hit "Little Sister"
5. ALL MAMA’S CHILDREN, Carl Perkins
From a March 1956 session at 706 Union Ave That also produced "Boppin'
The Blues","Everybody's Tryin' To Be My Baby" and "Perkins Wiggle"
7. SEVEN-DAY WEEKEND, Gary “U.S.” Bonds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyjJchFT9Jc
Here's Gary as he performs the song in the otherwise dire UK-made movie
"It's Trad Dad" (retitled "Ring A Ding Rhythm" in USA). Don't blink or
you'll miss Helen Shapiro in the watching audience
8. FLAMINGO, Earl Bostic
Back in the day this was my Mother's favorite record and one of the
pioneer numbers to led me into this lifelong love of this kind of music
10. GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT, Elvis Presley
My #1 favorite of the great 1954 Elvis Sun recordings
1. Shake,Rattle And Roll Joe Turner
2. Good Rockin' Tonight Elvis Presley
3. I've Got A Woman Ray Charles
4. That's All Right Elvis Presley
5. Blue Moon Of Kentucky Elvis Presley
11. IN THE STILL OF THE NITE (I’ll Remember), The Five Satins
The Satins appeared in a 1959 low budget--no make that VERY low
budget--British made movie "Sweet Beat" that also featured American
artists The Mello-Kings,Lee Allen and Billy Myles. Here's how the Satins
(only FOUR of them tho) looked :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztm8_SECO_E
13. YOU BETTER MOVE ON, Arthur Alexander
This was one of the records that really switched me on to being a
life-long fan of American rhythm & blues music delivering two of my all
time favorite classics
(with the flip "A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues")
21. DON’T MESS WITH MY MAN, Irma Thomas
#1 on my recent "Fave 20 Femmes From 1959" list. Fabulous record on Ron
label
25. MAYBE, The Chantels
The GREAT Arlene Smith-led femme classic from 1957 that was #1 on
another recent
"FAVE 20 FEMMES" list---this time from 1957
29. I NEED A MAN, Barbara Pittman
Sam Phillips didn't record too many female singers but Barbara Pittman
was one of the best that did see releases on his labels. And IMO "I Need
A Man" was the best of those releases too---recorded April 15 1956 with
a backing crew including Marcus Van Story,Johnny Bernero,Smokey Joe
Baugh and Ace Cannon.
32. PLEASE MR. POSTMAN, The Marvelettes
Famously the very first Motown record to make #1 on the Billboard Hot
Hundred
35. MR. BLUE, The Fleetwoods
The guy in the group was always pretty dopey but I liked the way the two
girls
whispered quite sexily behind him--hence I found this one and "Come
Softly to Me" tolerable at least
38. THE LOCO-MOTION, Little Eva
Most of the tons of records all promoting "new" dances from this period
rapidly
achieved "dull" and "tedious" status with me---but not Little Eva Boyd
whose famous record still sounds just as good today as it did back then
41. SICK AND TIRED, Chris Kenner
Everybody knows this one and the even better Fats Domino version that
followed it but of course there was also a Jerry Lee Lewis version from December 1958 (tho might be January 1959 not sure on exact date).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNYhFOk-z0s
It's okay but don't think Jerry 'quite' pulls it off on this one. My
rating Fats (1) Chris (2) Jerry Lee (3)
47. HARLEM NOCTURNE, The Viscounts
My favorite version of the much covered number originally by Ray Noble
in 1940
https://www.mixcloud.com/dean-fiora/roots-rock-radio-1950s-rock-roll-show-43/
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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