Real Wild Child, Jerry Allison & Buddy Holly (1958) The Crickets had toured Australia in February 1958 and recorded the cover with drummer Jerry Ivan Allison singing lead. The song was partly a tribute to Australian Johnny O’Keefe, who wrote the original titled The Wild One.
Sea Cruise, Rico (1980) One of the most prolific session players of Jamaica’s pre-ska era, trombonist Rico Rodriguez (1934-2015) also recorded as a solo artist. He was an honorary member of The Specials, and was a longstanding member of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
South In My Soul, The Farr Brothers (1947)Hugh Farr played fiddle and sang bass; his brother Karl played guitar. In 1934, the Farrs were hired by a group called The Pioneer Trio, who renamed themselves Sons Of The Pioneers. The group is still performing, with new members being added as the elders move on. More about the Farr Brothers here (.pdf download).
Grunion Run, The Hollywood Persuaders (1963)Paul Buff was a Marine veteran who was making parts for guided missiles when he decided to go into the recording business. A multitalented musician and recording engineer, he needed a flip side for his band’s 45 of Tijuana Surf, so he contacted a 20 year old guitar player named Frank Zappa.
Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman Christian Myers, from Las Vegas, conducts a performance test on an F/A-18 Super Hornet jet engine on the fantail aboard the aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on May 12, 2022. US Navy Photo
I Won’t Tell, Tracey Dey (1964) Very pretty song about a girl cheating on her boyfriend with his brother – her sister’s boyfriend – and lying to both of them.
Nora Ferrari (aka Tracey Dey) was a college coed when she recorded a demo tape that found its way to the ears of Bob Crewe, producer and songwriter for The Four Seasons and others. Dey released nine solo singles 1962 through 1966; several made the Billboard Top 100 beginning with Teenage Cleopatra.
Woodpecker Rock, Nat Couty & The Braves (1958)Born in Natchez, Louisiana on 6 October 1934, Nat Couty played in bands for most of his life, but only recorded one other song – Won’t You Come Along With Me (the flip side). He suffered a stroke in 1999 and died of a heart attack the following year.
I Go Into Orbit, Johnny Acey (1962)John Acey Goodelock (1925-2009) was an east coast R&B singer / pianist who began recording in 1953, and also recorded as Johnny Chef, Acey, J. Acey, and Johnny Acey And His Fingerpoppers. I was unable to find the lineup for this recording; the 45rpm credits Texas songwriter LaCharles Harper and it may have been the inspiration for Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Pride and Joy.
Walking Up A One Way Street, Willie Tee (1965)Wilson Turbinton (1944-2007), professionally known as Willie Tee, started out as a sousaphone player, became a member of The Wild Magnolias (a New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian tribe) and had a successful career writing and performing early soul & funk. He was inducted into the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame (2005) and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame (2007). He succumbed to colon cancer just four weeks after diagnosis.
What Happened To Yesterday, Mr. Soul (1966)Al “Mr. Soul” Scott was a Northern Soul singer who recorded for Mac Avery Music / Genuine Records of New York City. The song was re-released in 1967 with the label changed from “Mr. Soul” to Al Scott as the artist; an original 45rpm copy is very rare.
Tacky Raccoons 