Seems like Swamp Dogg has been around forever; he’s 90 and still recording: “Every time I listen to some new music that everybody thinks is the greatest thing since hot biscuits, it’s full of Auto-Tune.” He decided to give it a go, and used it to give “a sense of emotional detachment” on his album Love, Loss and Auto-Tune (2022).
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Big Maybelle Smith (1955) Mabel Smith began recording in 1947 when she was 23 years old, yet she’d been singing in various venues since she was a child. She was the first to record Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, produced and arranged by a young Quincy Jones for Okeh Records, and predating Jerry Lee Lewis’ version by almost two years. (Lewis liked the song so much he stole it, then credited Big Mama Thornton.)
My Good Pott, Doc Pomus & Curley Russell’s All Stars (1948)
Jerome Felder, better known as Doc Pomus, was one of the grandfathers of rock and roll. He wrote and performed rhythm & blues, a genre that belonged almost exclusively to black American artists whose 78s were often categorized as “race records.”
“By the late 1950’s he was established as one of the best songwriters in the business which is where he’d make his name and cement his legend. During that time it’s doubtful anyone buying his classic compositions performed by The Drifters, Dion & The Belmonts, Ray Charles and the ultimate white-Negro Elvis Presley, were even aware Pomus once sung this kind of music before any of those artists had even cut their first record.”
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.
The Stars, The Ocapello’s (1966 & 1972)A rare recording – a 45rpm in mint condition might fetch you $100. Little can be found about the group with the stray apostrophe except that they came from East Orange, New Jersey, and evolved from two other local groups (The Crowns and The Cameos), and that the lead singer may or may not have been Bobby Kline who may or may not have been black.
Meanwhile, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real (aka PTOR) had just about enough of the drama and decided to walk. Nelson & PTOR got off to a good start in 2008, opening for his dad, Willie, and now they back up Neil Young. They sound a bit like The Band to me, and that’s a good thing.
There’s a big storm coming, and I’m not talking about weather. Get your stuff in order and be back here tomorrow for no reason at all.
Kay Kyser (& his Kollege of Musical Knowledge) performed one of the strangest compositions I’ve heard recently. Invented in 1939, the Sonovox (or Talk Box) was featured in many advertisements, and used for the voice of the talking train in Disney’s Dumbo. [Found here via here.]
Possibly the best lip sync of Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs ever. (That’s John and Adrian according to the YouTube post notes.) Whoop, la-di-dah.
The Wheelgrinders are three hep cats from Vancouver B.C. cranking some entirely bitchin’ roots rockabilly. [h/t Gord S.]
Glad this week is over. The wind is picking up, so keep an eye on the weather forecasts. Have a great weekend – be back here tomorrow just for the helluvit.
Tacky Raccoons 