Finding 45s is like digging for clues of the past and the reasons why of getting certain ones is fascination. And a cheap way to show things off and see the pictures pop up on Google images. Although I don't think this version is as classic as say the Davenport finds of last year, they're certainly more eccentric. And perhaps when I'm dead and gone the future record collector will give them a good home. Strange how last year the Davenport bargain finds from the Salvation Army they had plenty of records but this time out, they only had a couple. And I didn't need The Gambler from Kenny Rogers.
2. How Long Must I Wait For You-The Rays (Chess 1678) 1957 For a record collector, anything found on Chess Records is worth getting. Once upon a time I thought about trying to acquire most of the singles in the Chess catalog but didn't have the finances or the room to do so. I think Bob sold this to me for five dollars and basically I got it for the radio station that put their ID on the label, WNRI, 1380 on your dial. To which they are still around but as a talk radio station. This uptempo Doo Wop R and B raver shows why The Rays were great. They are better known for Silhouettes, recorded for Cameo, but I liked the B side better, Daddy Cool. How Long, one of the great unheard of singles of the 50s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ous8hPynGpo
3. See See Rider-Lavern Baker (Atlantic 2167) 1962 Old collectors, like moths to a flame are always on the lookout for the old Atlantic singles of the 60s, and Lavern Baker who had hits for Atlantic in the 50s was seeing her flame burning out. This would be her final top forty showing (Number 34 in December of 1962). The lyrics might not be too P.C. these days, especially with Miss Baker ready to shoot her no count lover but I'm not offended at all. This forty five was found at the St. Vincent De Paul in Waterloo with no record sleeve. Usually any record found at that place has no sleeves and are scratched up as hell but this record was in very good shape.
4. Petite Fleur-Wilbur De Paris (Atlantic 2011) 1959 A mystery man of sorts, De Paris made a few albums for Atlantic that were dixieland jazz, or New Orleans based jazz. This forgotten uncharted single showed more of a pop sound not unlike Stranger On The Shore Mr. Acker Bilk. Something found up at Ragged Records for amusement.
5. Do You Have A Clean Mind (Heaven Part 1)-Gracious! (Capitol 2960) 1970 Another hard to find 45, this is an interesting for having part 1 of a song that is only a minute and half long and the second side 2 and half minutes of instrumental music. They recorded for Polydor and Vertigo overseas but only made an hard to find album for Capitol and this song. Paul Davis (no relation to 65 Love Affair singer) made a couple solo albums. On the Capitol album this song is known as Heaven. BGO reissued this album earlier in the year. Produced by Hugh Murphy best known for helping out Gerry Rafferty on Baker Street and later albums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBW61eKBTHU
6. Brother Thrush-Barclay James Harvest (Sire 45 SI-4112) 1969 Funny how the band that inspired a record label to be named after them never got their stuff issued in America under Harvest. As far as I know, the only two singles I have from BJH are on Polydor or Sire as their debut single came to be on. Sire at that time was more into the prog rock of across the pond before a little garage rock band called The Ramones would pave the way for Sire to become the ultimate punk label before the major labels turned them into Corporate trash. At times BJH's sound mirrored more toward The Moody Blues, or in this case Syd Barrett Pink Floyd (Norman Smith might have a hand into this since he produced Pink Floyd) but I also hear a Bee Gees and early Genesis sound too. Despite it all they never did become more than just cult artists in the states.
7. My Kind Of Woman-Patrick Hazel/Mother Blues Band (Blue Rhythm Records 790851) 1979
Although if you're in this state, you probably know more about Bob Dorr and The Blue Band, but before Bobby and his Blue Band, we had Patrick Hazell and Mother Blues Band from Iowa City. And for trivial fun, Patrick and Mother Earth Blues Band opened up for a little known band from England called Led Zeppelin back in 1969. Hazell and company have never gone away all that much. Joe Price, the late great Sonny Lott and Bo Ramsey came through the Mother Blues ranks. This single was found at the Independence Goodwill store and not in the best shape either. But since it's a local release, I tend to buy them and far as I know this record is making it's internet debut.
8. Rendezvous-The Hudson Brothers (Rocket MCA-40417) 1975 Really the music of 40 years ago was very good and even the lesser known are now classics compared to the garbage that passes for top 40. The Hudson Brothers have been one of those bands that you were never quite sure about, were they power pop rockers or did they want to be the comedy brothers that the Marx Brothers were famous for? I remember seeing their show years ago, I know that Mark worked on some of Ringo Starr's albums for a while. They had a top ten hit with So You Are A Star but the B side Ma Ma Ma Baby was total rock and roll. A year later they went from Casablanca to Elton John's Rocket Records and made perhaps their best songs, namely this number 26 showing. Followup single Spinning The Wheel With The One You Love flopped before Lonely School Year which hit number 57 but never recalled hearing it on the radio. The Rocket years were produced by Bernie Tarpin, Elton John's writing partner, but Rendezvous has that Beach Boys sound courtesy of Bruce Johnston who co wrote this. The records and CDs are now collector's items, a Varese Vintage best of, gathering up all the highlights of these band of brothers one could want. I still have my copy of Hollywood Situation that I found for 2 dollars back in high school. Nothing gets thrown away it seems.
9. Maggie-Redbone (Epic 5-10670) 1970 In their record career at Epic, they only charted three singles, this one at number 45 with probably one of the more garbled lyrics this side of Louie Louie, and even after 45 years I still can't make out what the hell Lolly Vegas is saying, even while reading the lyrics. CBS records must have loved to butcher this song, there was a 2 minute edit on the cheap Different Strokes Sampler LP and the single version added 45 seconds. In the end, the best version was the full 5 minute complete with jams. Sometimes single versions don't do justice to the song. This is a prime example of that.
10. Fields Of Joy-The New York Rock Ensemble (Columbia 4-45367) 1971 This was the B side to Ride Ride My Lady but Fields Of Joy had some FM airplay. Like Maggie, it was part of the cheap album Different Strokes but unlike Maggie, was in its full version. Some radio stations did decide to go with this version rather than Ride Ride My Lady, and perhaps rightfully so. While it didn't chart, I do recall going to mixed chorus in junior high and the teacher taught us this song to play at a spring concert. As for the NYRE themselves, their albums have been spotty, particularly the ATCO albums. I think Collectibles did issued Roll Over on CD. But Fields Of Joy does have a soft spot in my heart since we had a music teacher with eclectic tastes. Sure beats Have You Never Been Mellow or Let Me Be There which we did do.
Memories.
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