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Your Feet's Too Big

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Marty Roberts
And His Nightriders

ARC 8003
1956

Born Martin Robert Schopp in 1918 in Chenoa (Illinois).

Marty Roberts got an early start to his radio career when he was appearing on WDZ in Illinois when he was only in his second year of high school.  At the age of 17,  he was the bass fiddle player with The Lone Pine Fiddlers, a bluegrass group led by String Bean Akeman, who became a longtime member of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. and a star of the long-running television show, "Hee Haw."

In 1937, he played bass with Ted DeLeon and his Mexican Caballeros, toured the country with the band by private train.

A year later, Roberts was playing with the Moon Mullins Dixieland Band in Greensboro, N.C., when he got his first big break.
"Three guys came in one night wearing cowboy hats. They needed a bass player. They said they were the Tennessee Ramblers and they worked at WBT in Charlotte, N C.   They had just made a movie with Gene Autry."  
The Ramblers were one of the biggest country music groups in the nation in the late 1930s and early 1940s.   Roberts, joined the Ramblers and with them made a movie with Autry ("Ride, Ranger, Ride") and with Tex  Ritter ("Riding the Cherokee Trail").   He also began recording with and without the Ramblers. He did some of the vocals for their Bluebird recordings.  He was also a member of the WBT Briarhoppers. During that time, Marty's name was Tex Martin. 

Around late summer of 1943, Marty was appearing regularly on The Breakfast Frolic show over radio station WJJD in Chicago when he got drafted by Uncle Sam to serve his country during World War II.   

In the mid-1950s, he was spinning Country and Western records with Nelson King on the mighty WCKY in Cincinnati, Ohio.   (WCKY could be heard throughout most of the eastern half of the United States, up into Canada and specifically into the southern half of the country and down into the Caribbean islands.)

At least 3 records were issued by Dome Records (1951-1953) and 4 on Coral Records (1953-1955) before the two singles recorded by Rite Records of Cincinnati and issued on their "in-house" ARC label. 

Marty passed away in November 2009 in St. Petersburg, Florida, survived by his two sons, Allen and Martin.



"Happy Tex" Martin, a.k.a. Marty Roberts

Beach Party

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The Echoettes and Johnny
Music by Big Fat Mike and his Fatheads

Beach Party
Sprofera-Hilliker; M E Inc., BMI

Swell Records
Music Enterprises Inc.
744 Broad St., 
Newark, N.J.

1959

From the sunny shores of New Jersey come The Echoettes, who are probably Grace Hilliker & Judy Sprofera, composers of Beach Party.  They made locally enough splashes for catching the attention of George Goldner who issued two of their compositions  "Your Love" and "Donny" on his Goldisc label in 1960. The record was issued as by "Dee and Lee"

Nothing more is known about this record.  This is not the Swell label releasing The Humanoids "Space Walk/The Flight Of GT-5". And this is not the Echoettes on Train Records, who were Betsy and Laura.  

The other side is by Johnny and The Echoettes which can be heard on YT.  Johnny is possibly Johnny Pascale.


Yodlin' Hobo

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Porky and The Travelers
Vocal By Al Witherow

Yodlin' Hobo

ABS 144

1961

 
 
Al "Porky" Witherow was born to Bob and Pauline Witherow in York, Pennsylvania back in 1935.   Music was a part of his family, for they would listen to the big country stations back then, WWVA out of Wheeling, West Virginia and WSM in Nashville, Tennessee.

When he was just four years old, he made his singing debut with his sister Betty, doing some gospel songs.

During the Korean war, Bob Hope wanted Mr. Witherow along to entertain the troops on his numerous USO tours. He worked with such famed Grand Ole Opry acts as Ernest Tubb, Minnie Pearl, Tex Ritter and Grandpa Jones.

He toured for over twenty years with his band the Travelers and the Country Mystery.  He recorded in the seventies for Arctic Records, which was his own label, located in Vails Gate, New York.

Music was seemingly always a part of his life. He went back to York in 1977 to care for his parents. He later enjoyed a career as a training manager at the local chain of Denny's Restaurants in York for over 14 years. In 1997, he retired to Inverness, but kept entertaining the folks there as well and helping out where he could. 

He died in 2004 in his home in Inverness, Florida.

Acknowledgments : Hillbilly-music.com


 Al "Porky" Witherow - The Pride of The Western Empire

Al "Porky" Witherow
The Pride of The Western Empire (1969)

A very quiet Christmas with The Royals

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The Royals

E. Berlin, ASCAP

Vagabond Records VR 444
1963




The Royals were Larry Riera, accordion and piano, Al King Guitar and Tony Castro Drums, 

Larry (Lawrence George) Riera was born in 1937 in Oakland, California where he began his life-long career in the music  He taught music at Fiore's Music in Oakland, and played accordion and piano with his band The Royals. He later owned Riera's TV Music in the Tri-Valley, and then was the top salesman at Kamen Music Corporation for many years.   He died in 2012.

One of his students, Rocky Howard, set the Guinness world record for accordion marathon (72 hours continuous playing on an accordion) at Touch of Italy restaurant in West Covina, California December 9-11, 1979 and held it until 1983.

Records by The Royals have been described as Surf, Garage, or Elevator Music, the latter seems to me the more realistic tag, but like my fellow bloggers I HAD to post a Christmas music...  I am asking for your indulgence.

My Heart Jumped

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The Wilson Sisters
My Heart Jumped

Dick Liberatore
Briarcliff  BMI

Bethlehem 3032
1962


Written by D.J. Alan Freed's son-in-law, Dick Liberatore, "My Heart Jumped"was first recorded by Bobby Fuller on Yucca Records.  The three other known songs by the Wilson Sisters  are also covers. The sisters were promoted to the main King Records label before the end of the year just in time for Christmas. 

Not an uncommon name in music.  I've found three other "Wilson Sisters"  : one on Freedom in 1958, another one was a hillbilly act who also recorded as The Beaver Valley Sweethearts, and a third, a soul/gospel group on Solid Soul (1968).   But who where these young Wilson Sisters is still a mystery.

Mister Dream  (Bethlehem 3032),  cover of Paul Chandler, Rendezvous Records, 1962

Little Klinker   (King 5724)   previously recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1962

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth  (King 5724) originally recorded by Spike Jones & His City Slickers in 1947, with lead vocal by George Rock.




Laundromat Blues

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Rose Carico

Laundromat Blues
Johnny Carter Music Co., BMI
Regency Records R45-177 
Fairmount, Georgia,

 Arr. & prod by Johnny Carter
1969 or later

Regency Records was founded by Georgia record producer and TV/Radio syndicator Johnny Carter and North Georgia disc jockey Lamar Gravitt in 1965.  

Rose Carico had another single on MKB (Tobaccoville, N.C.) : I've Got Countryitis / Woman Fever, and that's the sum of my knowledge here.





Never, Never, Never

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Jimmy Littlejohn

Never, Never, Never

Meredith, Littlejohn
Fairway Music Co

Columbia 21417

1955

Onetime performer and songwriter born in 1924 in Texas, Jimmy Littlejohn recorded several sides for Columbia, produced by Don Law.  He also wrote and co-wrote a number of songs, the biggest of which was "Walking The Streets," recorded by Webb Pierce for Decca.   He also was a well-known portrait photographer. 

He died in 1972 after a number of years in poor health.




Jimmy Littlejohn in 1956



Bad Buc

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Jumpin' Jay
Bad Buc
(Castor-Pruitt, Fairlane Music BMI)

 Come On Home
(O'Brown, Bailey, Washington; Turban Music BMI)

Produced by Frank Cari
Turban T-101
Turban Records, 255 W. 55th St., NYC
Distrib. by Ember Records
    1961

Obscure but not rare, presumably pressed in sizable quantity for expected good sales by Turban Records, owned by New York  songwriter and producer Frank Cari and one of several one-off labels he produced such as Black Dog (The Check-Mates), Tilden (Johnnie Shepherd) and Jive!! (The Accents).  Frank Cari's main labels were Sultan Records and Card Records.

"Bad Buc" is one of the earliest collaboration between Jimmy Castor (1947-2012) and Johnny Pruitt, a lifelong songwriting collaborator.

"Come on Home" was first recorded by Pittsburgher Bobby O'Brown & His Rockin' Blues Men for Varbee Records in late '61 (he is the Brown one of the three composers).    Here Turban Music has replaced Tulip Time Music, the original publisher.



Whole Lot of Shaking Going On

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Roz Croney


From the LP "How Low Can You Go?"
Dauntless Records 6309
1963

Miss Croney, a native of Grenada (British West Indies) and Queen of the Limbo recorded this album at the Mastertone Studios on 42nd street between 6th and 7th ave, New York City.  Backing her on this were Sun Ra and some members of his Arkestra.

Rock Ur Baby

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Ted Forrest Quintet

Rock Ur Baby
 Kay Shubert, Norman Joyce, Oceanic Pub.

Norman 102
Delancey Street, Phila
1956

Ted Forrest, once a sideman with Charlie Barnett, has performed since at least the mid-forties.  Rita Konstance and Jean Harrison were among the female vocalists with his band.   He was still performing in 1964, when a local newspaper wrote about " the zany musical antics of Ted Forrest and his society revue in the Imperial room of the Thruway Motor Inn in Albany.  "
His bookings in 1956 were handled by the Jolly Joyce Agency, whose main artists were then Bill Haley, Alan Freed (for motion pictures and TV) and Steve Gibson and his Red Caps.

The short lived Norman label was probably owned by Norman M. Jacobs (aka Norman Joyce), son of Jolly Joyce :
Mr. Jacobs came from a theatrical family.  His mother's ancestors were cantors in Russia, and his father performed in vaudeville acts until the late 1920s, when he founded Jolly Joyce Theatrical Agency Ltd.

At age 13, Mr. Jacobs began helping out at the business owned by his father, who was known professionally as "Jolly Joyce." He would stop in after school every day, and by the time he graduated from Olney High School in 1949, Mr. Jacobs was working full time - and overtime.

With his father, Mr. Jacobs booked dozens of top acts of the 1950s, and the agency became the exclusive agent and manager for groups including the Comets and Boxtops.  

The only other release on Norman that I know of is Nan Williams'" Giddy-up Giddy-Up".    There is also a mention in 1956 of The Rocking Horses (another Jolly Joyce act) Two Girls & 3 Boys  Kings And Queens Of Rock 'N' Roll", but an actual release has yet to be confirmed.

Kind Words

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Wendy Andrews
Kind Words

Bertha Druding, Therese Music ASCAP

D.V. Records 901

 
No info.  Hollywood label certainly.  No other known releases on D.V. Records. 






Old New Orleans

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Johnny Jungletree

Arr. and cond. by Leroy Glover; Prod. by Laurence Weiss
Kapp 715
1965


This is John Leslie McFarland (1926-1971), an eccentric New York songwriter and pianist.  One of his first song he composed, "You Dyed Your Hair Chartreuse", was recorded by Louis Jordan in 1950. 

His numerous compositions have been recorded by Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, to name few.  He recorded himself four singles and one album, but there is possibly more pseudonymous records still to find, I guess.

Discography
1957  - Brunswick 55004  as Pumpkin, with chorus and orchestra dir. by Dan Fisher  (March 1957)
Boom-Boom / ½ Past 17 (¼ To 21)

1957 - Jupiter 45-3 as Johnny McFarland  (May 1957)
Please, Evelina  / Talihi

1959 - United Artists UAL 4053  (LP) John McFarland Sextet (Nov. 1959)
Provocatif - 9 exotic motifs

1960 - Top Rank 2060 as John McFarland, produced by Sonny Lester   (august 1960)
Pumpkin Juice Perfume / Oakey Doakey

1965 - Kapp 715 as Johnny Jungletree, arr. and cond. by Leroy Glover; Prod. by Laurence Weiss (Nov. 1965);
Old New Orleans / Why Me





Leslie McFarland Songs [draft]
(in chronological order of copyright date)

Year/ Title/ w=words m=music /[publisher] /Copyright date / recorded by ( artist / label)


1949

You Dyed Your Hair Chartreuse © w&m J. Leslie McFarland;  Louis Jordan,Decca,

1950

Floppy. W John Leslie McFarland, M Billy Moore, Jr. © Pickwick Music Corp.  Mervin Shiner, Decca Children's;
Takin' You Back; w&m J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co.

1951

(I Want A) Summertime Santa Claus; w. John Leslie McFarland m. Eli Thompson  (=Mucky Thompson)


1952
(The Mystery Of The Fragra'cy Of) The Pumpkin Juice Perfume. Words & Music By John Leslie McFarland ; Ralph Waldo Cummings, ABC 9673 (1956); John McFarland Top Rank 2060; ;
1953
I'm Gonna Sing My Song; W, M & © John Leslie McFarland
Little Fingers; W John Leslie McFarland M Joseph Marion Bailey
The Devil's Got A Patent On Whiskey; W, M & © Bobby Sharp & John Leslie McFarland
Welcome Home; W John Leslie McFarland M Joseph Marion Bailey

1955
Abracadabra; W & Ra Bobby Sharp & J. Leslie McFarland © Fred Fisher Music Co., Inc. Dakota Staton, Capitol; Damita Jo, RCA; Artie Lewis, Atco (1960); ;
Toodle-Loo To You. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.  ; Ruby Wright, King; ;

1956
Boom-Boom; W & M J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co. The Rhythmettes (RCA)
Don't Mean Maybe; W & M J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co. Dakota Staton; ;
I Told You So; Dakota Staton Capitol 3546; ;
O'ho, Oh Yeah, Uh Huh; W & M Sidney Jackson Wyche & J. Leslie McFarland © Overtone Music Co., Inc. Sam The Man Taylor, MGM 12218 (May 56); ;
Skinny Jimmy; W & M J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co.Varetta Dillard, Groove; ;
Teenager's Mother, Are You Right; W & m Curtis R. Lewis & J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co. Bill Haley And His Comets; ;
The Dum Dee Dum; W & M J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co.
The Rock 'N' Roll Express; W & M J. Leslie McFarland © Danby Music Co. Vaughn Monroe; ;
You Know I Do; Dakota Staton Capitol 3546
Jump Ditty; W & M John Leslie McFarland 4 Edwin S. Swanson O Hannibal Music Co.

1957
(I) Do, Do, Do (Love You) W & M J. Leslie McFarland.
(You Hit The Wrong Note) Billy Goat     ; Bill Haley And His Comets; ;
Beedle-Lump-Bump. W & M J. Leslie McFarland. /  ; Bunny Paul, Brunswick; ;
Bells In My Heart; W & M J. Leslie McFarland C Danby Music Co.
Boom Boom; W &  M J. Leslie McFarland. © Danby Music Co.;   The Five Keys; ;  Pumpkin;on Brunswick ;
Cubana Bay; Tito Puente And His Orchestra, RCA 7879; ;
Pigalle Love; W K M John Leslie McFarland O Hannibal Music Co. 
Please Evelina; Johnny McFarland (Jupiter); ;
Readin' Writin' N' Rithmetic; Nick Venet, RCA 4100; ;
Stop (What You're Doin' To Me); Nick Venet, RCA 4100; ;
Rockin' Rollin' Rover; Bill Haley And His Comets
Rough Lover; Annisteen Allen;
Talihi; w&m John Leslie McFarland. © Hannibal Music Co.; Johnny McFarland on Jupiter

1958
Overnight. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.     ; Jim Reeves; ;
Waterloo; w&m  J. Leslie McFarland.  © Fred Fisher Music Co., Inc.;

1959
Birdsong, Starshine; W & m Aaron Schroeder & J. Leslie McFarland. London. © December Music Inc.;
Forbidden; w&m J. Leslie McFarland & Sonny Kaapuwai. © Omell Music Co. & \ United Artists Music Co., Inc.;  John McFarland on UA LP;
1959; Watusi;John McFarland on UA LP;
1959; Little Fingers. By J. Leslie McFarland, Joseph Bailey & Roy Alfred.  
1959; Summer Storm; M J. Leslie McFarland. © Omell Music Co. & United Artists Music Co., Inc.;   John McFarland on UA LP;
The Chimp And The Bumblebee; M J. Leslie McFarland. © Omell Music Co. & United Artists Music Co., Inc.;  John McFarland on UA LP;
1959; Twins  Aaron Schroeder, J. Leslie McFarland; The Tradewinds, RCA; ;
1959; Wang Dang Taffy Apple Tango; w&m Aaron Schroeder J. Leslie McFarland. © Spoone Music Corp.;   Pat Boone; on Dot
1959 Hungry For Your Love. W & M Johnny McFarland (John Leslie McFarland) 


1960

2,4,6,8, 10 Times. W & M John Leslie McFarland.
Cincinnati Fireball; W & M J. Leslie McFarland K Aaron Schroeder. © Vera First Corp.;   Johnny Burnette; ;
Dynamite Baby. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.
Happy Tears. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.
I Love You, Do You Love Me? W & M J. Leslie McFarland.
Kissin' By The Mistletoe. W & M John Leslie McFarland. Arc Music Co, Inc;
Let The Good Times Roll, Creole; Bill Haley And His Comets; ;
Love Is The Only Thing; Aretha Franklin; ;
My Heart Beats Like A Hammer; W J. Lealie McFarland, N Jdc Bailey. O Omell Music Co.; 21mar60;  ;
Okey Doakey. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.    ; John McFarland Top Rank 2060; ;
Please, Darlin'. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.
Right Now; Aretha Franklin; ;
Stuck On You; W K M Aaron Schroeder K J. Leslie McFarland. © Gladys Music, Inc.; Elvis Presley
The Right Love. W & M J. Leslie McFarland. 
Tiger In A Cage. W & M J. Leslie McFarland. 
To Heaven I Go. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.
Twins; Paul Evans; ;
Won't Be Long; Aretha Franklin; ;

1961
It's So Heartbreakin'. W & M J. Leslie McFarland
Love Is The Only Thing; Mickey And Sylvia; ;
Maybe I'm A Fool; Aretha Franklin; ;
Sweet Lover. W & M Sid Wyche & J. Leslie McFarland. Aretha Franklin; ;

1962
(Blue) By Myself. W J. Leslie McFarland, M Joe Bailey.      Aretha Franklin; ;
Broke My Own Heart. W & M Jimmie Steward, Jr. & J. Leslie McFarland.     Scott Engel; 
Rough Lover; Aretha Franklin, Columbia; ;
You Can't Be Happy By Yourself; Dean And Jean; ;

1963
 I Just Couldn't Help Myself    and Betty Middleton,  Edwin H Morris
Kissin By The Mistletoe; Aretha Franklin; ;
Walking My Dog; Dee Clark, Vee Jay; ;
Won't Be Long; Jimmy Gilmer;
You Better Get A Job   & Joe Bailey, Danby Music 


1964
Little Children   W Mort Shuman; Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas
One Room Paradise. W & M J. Leslie McFarland. 
Jesse James w&m Jay Epae, J. Fulwood Hinson, J. Leslie McFarland & J. Castaldo. ©Noma Music, Inc.; The Oddballs, Columbia; ;
Suzy   w&m Jay Epae, J. Fulwood Hinson, J. Leslie McFarland & Joe Castaldo.; The Oddballs, Columbia;
Now Ain't That Somethin'?--Caw (Blimey) From Every Day's A Holiday. W & M Mort Shuman, J. Leslie McFarland.
Romeo Jones. From Every Day's A Holiday. W & M Mort Shuman, J. Leslie McFarland. The Baker Twins, Decca UK;


1965
Holiday Romance. W & M Mort Shuman & J. L. McFarland.
Comin' On Back To You. W & M J. Leslie McFarland & Jay Epae.
Be With Me. W J. Leslie McFarland, M Joe Bailey.     
Believe That I'm In Love With You; W J. Leslie McFarland, M Joe Bailey. © Okra Music Corp.;
Blue Afternoon; W J. Leslie McFarland, M Joe Bailey. © Okra Music Corp.;
Break-Up; W J. Leslie McFarland, M Joe Bailey. © Okra Music Corp.;
Girl, I Do. W & M Jay Enae & J. Leslie McFarland.   
Lovin' On The Side; W & M J. Leslie McFarland. © Marvin Music Co.;
Old New Orleans    ; Johnny Jungletree; ;
San Quentin Quail; W J. Fullwood Hinson,  W & M J. Leslie McFarland. © Okra Music Corp.;
Why Me? W & M J. Leslie McFarland.  © Eleventh Floor Music, Inc.; Johnny Jungletree; ;
Won't Be Long; Dusty Springfield; ;
You Can't Be Happy By Yourself; The East River Boys; ;

1966
Bell Bottom Pants; W & M J. Leslie McFarland. 2 P. © Southern Music Pub. Co. Inc
Long Legged Girl (With The Short Dress On); Elvis Presley; ;

1967
A Happy Soul. W & M J. Leslie McFarland (John L. McFarland)
Blue Serenade. W & M J. Leslie McFarland.  
Home Is A Place. W J. Leslie McFarland, M Joe Bailey.
One Room Paradise    ; Raelets (TRC 972);   David Newman; ;

1968
Missing You    John L. McFarland, Luther Ingram        ; Luther Ingram, Koko; ;
Since You Don't Want Me    John L. McFarland, Luther Ingram    ; Luther Ingram, Koko; ;


1969
My Honey And Me. W & M Luther Ingram & J. Leslie McFarland. ; Emotions, Volt 4077;

1970
Maybe I'm A Fool; Sugar Pie Desanto;



Baby Should I

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Don Morse with the Characters
Baby Should I
Ann White, Jamige Music Co., BMI

GC Records 101
1515 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH
1957

Another obscurity on a label owned by Gene Carroll, who hosted his own TV show for years in Cleveland. The first on the label ?

GC Records discography


Old Bob Harder (The Living Legend)

Billy Brown

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Ray Willis
(The Piccadilly Hillbilly)


Billy Brown

Pic 3019

1967?

Ray Willis had a long association with Atlanta's Pic Records, as all songs on this label, excepted the one by The Frantics, were written or co-written by him and all published by DeLong Pub. Co. owned by Pete DeLong, who was also probably the owner of the label.

Ray Willis was associated with RCA's Jerry Reed and managed his Vector Music publishing company during his big hits "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot You're Hot".   He also wrote several songs with Ronnie Sessions. In 1974, he was V-P and general manager of World Music Corporation whose board of directors included Faron Young and Porter Wagoner.  

Probably not to be confused with the country singer and copper-miner who came from Colorado (LP on Alshire Records), nor with the rockabilly singer on Jan Records ("Whatta Ya Do", 1958), nor with the songwriter of "Beatnik's Wish" (Patsy Raye & The Beatniks, Roulette Records, 1959).  But who knows? 

Still, I can't find any explanation for the "Piccadilly Hillbilly" billing on label.  Did he came from London before moving to Georgia?
 
Pic Records
DeLong Pub co.
1112 DeKalb Ave., N.E. Atlanta
1199 Arbor Vista Dr. N. E.  Atlanta

62 —2069/70  Ray Valenti & The Queens Men
For You, My Love / Fire Beneath The Snow

64 —3001/2 Lee Duncan 
Millie Gets The Willies / Cargo Of Tears

65 —3005/6  The Frantics
Why /  (Do The) Jack-Knife

66 —3007/8  Charlie "Chuck" Waggon
So Near, Yet So Far Away / Gonna Stick To You

6x —3016 Charlie "Chuck" Waggon  
Wishy Washy Love / ?

6x —3019 Ray Willis (The Piccadilly Hillbilly)
Billy Brown / Mary, Oh Mary
     

His Shoulder (Instead Of Mine)

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Ricky Hunt
& the Hunters

His Shoulder (Instead Of Mine)
wr. Hunter, Kathy Publ. Co

Kathy Records
527 Prestwick San Antonio
1965

Ricky Hunt previously recorded two split country singles for Melco Records, one with Johnny Bush and the other with Hazel Joy (Minica) and The Texas Top Hands.   Ricky Hunt performed around Texas with the Frontiersmen in the early sixties.

This song was copyrighted by Wallace Richard Hunter on March 8, 1958.

At The Hop

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Bones Howe and the Toppers


Tops Records 45-R413-49

1957

Yes, Bones Howe was here, not in front of the mike, but behind the studio's glass :
"I was the recording engineer on the session, and since the group was all studio musicians and singers, and didn’t want their names exposed, so the record company (which was notorious in those days for recording sound-alikes of the current hits); used my nickname (which later became my professional name). "
Dayton Burr "Bones" Howe (born March 18, 1933) is a Grammy Award-winning record producer and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop genre, including most of the hits of the 5th Dimension and the Association, as well as music supervision of several films.

Howe discovered his lust for music as a teenager and learned to play drums, a talent that earned him gigs at downtown Atlanta's San Souci and Peachtree clubs while studying electronics and communications at Georgia Tech. Bones Howe
"I was a jazz musician, and I worked six nights a week," he says, sinking back into the sofa with one leg crossed, revealing the slightest grimace of nostalgia. "In those days there were road bands coming through town. They would take the tennis court nets down at Tech, put a bandstand in there and bands would come in and play.

"I met a lot of guys in road bands as they came through Atlanta; I played in a lot of jam sessions with those guys after hours, and they would say to me, 'You should come to California."'
Howe learned that the only people recording music in L.A. at the time were old radio engineers who "didn't know what a rhythm section is supposed to sound like," let alone how to set one up. His thoughts about the future began to take shape.
"That idea really caught on with me, and somewhere in my sophomore or junior year I began to think seriously about it," he says. Howe rejected the hustles of engineering recruiters at graduation and set his sights on the Left Coast.

"I went to California with $200 in my pocket and went slugging around in the streets looking for a job in a recording studio." He smiles and leans forward as if sharing a secret. "I figured the worst thing that could happen to me was that I'd fail and go get a job as an engineer somewhere."
Sources : Bones Howe official website; private email from March 26, 2013


 

Looey Looey

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Buddy Hackett

 Looey Looey

Blatt-Wells
Sepe Music Co.  Dove Music Co
Arr. and conducted by Bob Mersey
Produced by Tony Sepe

Laurel 1017
   1960

Buddy Hackett (1961)

Buddy Hackett was born as Leonard Hacker in Brooklyn, New York in 1924.  He began his comedy career in the Catskills.  After his discharge from the army,  Hackett found some work in nightclubs and then on Broadway in a show called "Lunatics and Lovers".  It was there that he was discovered by Max Liebman and brought over to television.   In 1956, Hackett released a series of half-narrated, half-sung singles for Coral Records, including his biggest hit  "Chinese Rock and Egg Roll  " (it was also anti-rock and roll).  Always a popular guest on variety, game and talk shows, he eventueally landed in a few popular motion pictures.  In later years, Hackett became active in providing voices for animation.

Sources : From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, by Bob Leszczak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Hackett


Yes, I Love You

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Randy Luck
Yes,  I Love You
Angelo Ventura, Dauphin BMI

Orch. & Chorus Directed by Steve Pulliam

Ace A-117
1957

In 1956,  Irwin Luck. student at the University of Miami and aspiring songwriter, spent $850 he saved and borrowed for a Times Square billboard appeal to Perry Como to hear his songs.   The 20 by 60 foot billboard on the top of a four story building fitted with lights for the night displayed the painted handwiriting of the sign is adressed to Perry Como from " a fan of yours for a long time""It is through your unknown inspiration that I started writing music, and I feel that my songs might be just right for you", the appeal said. 

Como advised him to go back home and study, which he did.  On his next trip north he got an engagement at Grossinger's (a resort in the Catskill Mountains in the town of Liberty.)   It was enough to convince Johnny Ponz, Ace Records mahoff to sign Irwin Luck to a disking pact, changing his name to Randy Luck. 

The following year, in 1958, he recorded his better known release, "I Was A Teen-Age Cave Man".  Recorded for the local Miami Art label, the song is available on several rockabilly compilations


Irwin Luck with Meher Baba in India


In 1959 had found out about Baba the previous year from his younger brother, Edward, who had been in a New York City public library and “by chance” checked out a book titled Listen, Humanity. Edward phoned Irwin and said, “I just read a book about a Spiritual Master in India. I think this is someone you should know about.”

Irwin was already interested in God and felt himself inwardly guided by Him. He went to New York and after reading the book was impressed by Baba’s love and his statement that he was “the Highest of the High.” Irwin and Edward were determined to meet Baba and to know him as he really is.

In late 1959, Irwin contacted Fred and Ella Winterfeldt. As soon as he entered their apartment he “felt an incredible sense of well-being. Baba’s presence was intense.” He wrote to Baba, stating that he was planning to make a trip to see him, though he had little money. Within two weeks he received a reply from Baba, which stated: “You may come and see me for one hour only,”

Irwin got the amount needed and in 1961 left within a day. Though he had originally planned to travel with his younger brother, their father put an end to Edward’s coming by having the New York police stop him at Idlewild Airport just prior to their departure. They had not told their parents they were going, knowing they would object, and since Edward was still under legal adult age (21), his father was able to prevent him from leaving.

Irwin Luck is a Baba-lover ever since.   But you can't really count on Allan Y. Cohen for answering the burning question that has been on your mind since you started reading this : WHO IS A BABA-LOVER?
It is very difficult to define a Baba-lover. There are no formal or external criteria for followers of Meher Baba, no ceremonial initiation, no fee to be paid, nothing to sign, no membership cards to receive. No formal vows are taken to join the Baba family. No rituals, customs, or dress is required of a Baba-lover. There are no mandatory readings, meditations, or meetings. There is no required formal preparation, nor are there "tests" for membership. Nothing in a person's past necessarily disqualifies him or her from being regarded as a Baba-lover.
 

Tattoo

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The Borland Sisters
Dick Schopf And The Townsmen

Tattoo
Blondie & Slide Rule

Knotty 5582
Date:  Oct 1955


From Seattle, Washington.  Composers of Tattoo are the owners of the labels.  Blondie was Hazel Peard Vigars, also known as Blondy.and Blondy Rule.   Slide Rule was Ernie Vigars (Ernest Powell Vigars), also known as V. Knotty. 

That's the latter name he used in 1958 when he was "one of the several platter spinners and music or programming execs" who answered to Billboard in response the following question : Can deejays "educate" listeners musically and still conform to current trends in music and recorded talent?   
Billboard, June 9, 1958 page 9

"All the monkey antics devised can't sell it.  Deejays will be replaced by automation, unless they return to artistry and honesty."

V. Knotty
 

So, at least, we have now a picture of Ernie Vigars...
(but none of the Borland Sisters unfortunately)

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