There was a Tokens' Laurie single that I was going to see if it was still there but the 45 selection looked much bigger than last week. Somebody thought highly enough to bag some of the mini vinyl but what caught my eye was a Motown 45 of Henry Lumpkin, that I didn't see before in the new batch of 45s. Old Motown records of the early 60s are highly sought after collectors items. If you look hard enough on the internet, there are websites dedicated in the preserving of Motown music, even the lesser known get some attention. In this decade of record finding, Motown 45s remain hard to find and even if you do find any of them, they're scratched up to oblivion. There were other Motown sides from The Supremes, Four Tops and Martha and the Vandellas that were beyond repair and even a good cleaning would not help. Plus a couple were cracked. But the Henry Lumpkin single looked fairly new despite not having a record jacket. Further research showed that this record was a promo. It was easier for somebody to take a magic marker and write PR on the label. So the guess remains where did this record come from. It had to come from a radio station. Certainly not from a casual music consumer, it looks too good for that. So the guess may be it came from KRNL the college radio station from Mount Vernon. How they managed to hang on to this for 55 years remains a mystery of its own. Nevertheless, old Motown singles are special that they give the address of Hitsville USA as well as the telephone number back in 1961, something that nobody would ever do nowadays, certainly not Universal who owns Motown and hopefully somebody kept most of the masters away from the great fire of 2008 that destroyed many many recordings of the past.
I look at record collecting at like digging for gold or looking for something in the pile of music people would overlook. I don't think people would get excited like me if I came across a Fairport Convention 45 or Henry Lumpkin. I keep a close eye on Atlantic Records of the 50s and 60s, next to Motown or Chess the one label that connects me with my past. Or ABC Paramount, tho that label might have a few too many pop acts I could do without. Then again, I tend to be more liberal minded than the rest of the collectors out there. This collection of 45s found came from somebody named Larry, who had great taste in music but played the hell out of his mini vinyl. There were some Dave Clark 5 that seen better days. His copy of Surfin Bird looks fairly beaten up, probably perfect for Peter Griffin of the Family Guy to annoy his family with. But this looks like somebody might have put it in the microwave and set it to full cook for five seconds.
Five years ago, the finds at the Salvation Army became the reason why I go dumping for old vinyl. At times, it's a hit and miss but this batch of finds might rate right up there with that wonderful day in Davenport. To which I gleefully document the selections and move on to the next bargain hunt. When ever that might be.
I also included the 45s found at Analog Vault that I found last Saturday.
1) Live-The Merry Go Round (A&M 834) 1967 #63
The beloved Emmett Rhodes led this band to one of the more power pop songs of the late 60s. Of course The Bangles covered this. I have Emmett's albums over the years and a best of that still gathers dust in my collection. I wouldn't consider this bubble gum, this feels more at home on the Rhino 1988 collection More Nuggets (followup single You're A Very Lovely Woman is also on that comp). Judy Schoonover, must love this song, she played a lot and it sounds like it. B side Time Will Show The Wiser was later covered by Fairport Convention and their version is better. More about them later on in the blog.
2) Something's Burning-Kenny Rogers & The First Edition (Reprise 888) 1970 #11
A singles band if there was any, The First Edition made some great singles but their albums were quite boring. And if Kenny didn't sing the songs, nobody gave them a second thought be it Terry Williams or Mike Settle. Written by Mac Davis, it's slightly corny but the buildup to the chorus is classic gold. And Mikey Jones was a damn good drummer. B Side Momma's Waiting is more country than you can imagine.
3) Can't Stop Loving You-The Last Word (Atco 45-6498) 1967 #8
Despite it's high chart position, I can't remember hearing this song on the radio. Somewhat in the style of the Buckinghams. B side Don't Fight It, is a so so cover of the Wilson Pickett number, however this arrangement reminds me of Elvin Bishop's version, done later on.
4) Days Gone Down-Gerry Rafferty (United Artists 1298) 1979 #17
One of the mysteries of life is why EMI didn't bother to include this song on the best of that they put out in the early 80s. Of course Gerry was the driver behind Stealer's Wheel and then went on to a solo career that he wouldn't tour behind the songs, or so it seems. He was one of the first people to use videos to promote his music, I wasn't a big fan of this song but it has grown on me over the years and yes it should have been on a best of. You can still get it...via import that is. This record I have must have came out of a juke box. It's sounds quite scratchy.
5) There Won't Be Anymore-Charlie Rich (RCA APB0-0195) 1974 #18
Recorded in 1965 (originally RCA 47-8536) RCA took a chance of reissuing this song to capitalize on the success of Behind Closed Doors or number 1 followup The Most Beautiful Girl. Of course the 1965 release is harder to find, it didn't chart high on the country chart. Out of all the Sun Record Artists, Charlie Rich is the most frustrating, he was too hard core R&B for country but not R&B enough for pop rock radio. The polished Nashville production of Chet Atkins may have complicated things as is or perhaps Anita Kerr Singers made him too MOR. The newer mix has the singers a bit further in the background but you can notice them. This would be Rich's final RCA single before moving on to Smash for a year and then to Hi Records which should have broken him bigger but didn't. Strange twist of irony: This song would hit number 1 on the country charts in 1974. B side It's All Over Now would be reissued as a single of its own in 1975, peaking at number 23. This may have been another jukebox copy, it plays very rough.
The Salvation Army Finds (thanks to Larry and others)
6) What Is A Man (without a woman)-Henry Lumpkin (Motown M-1013) 1961
Ah, good ole Motown, when it down and dirty? While Harry was somewhat like Shorty Long, he had a more grittier vocal more like Wilson Pickett. You can feel the drum beat of Benny Benjamin and the piano of Earl Van Dyke. It's a bit more rougher than the better known Motown stuff but you can't fault Barry Gordy for trying. I dig it. B side Don't Leave Me got raked over the coals from a Motown review site. They can't decide to go doo wop or early R and B so it sounds more like a demo. A search for a sound that doesn't quite materialize. The record plays quite good for 58 year old record without a record sleeve.
7) You Are The One-Sugar Bears (Big Tree BT-122) 1972 #51
A manufactured pop band based from a commercial (I used to eat Sugar Bears Cereal), but you can get this record from a box, back then the novel idea of putting record grooves on a back of a cereal box, good ideal but the sound always sucked. A combination of the drum groove of Shelia with a melody of Be My Baby. A bubblegum song that nobody remembers much anymore, tho it did make a K Tel Comp. Written by Baker Knight, and probably a step ahead of the Archies or The Osmonds. B side Someone Like You was written by Mike Settle (The First Edition). More sunny bubblegum for those who like sunny bubblegum. Think I'll take a pass.
8) Another Smile -The Hot Dogs (Ardent ADA-2905) 1973
Produced by Terry Manning, The Hot Dogs are on the Ardent label, home to Big Star. Greg Reding and Bill Rennie figured into the lineup, but perhaps this record is best known for the Ardent sound and Terry Manning figured greatly into the sound and music. Another Smile, the single, is country rock tho I hear elements of Wishbone Ash, kinda sleepy tho' . Way to Get To You the b side, is more country rock, gets the nod for better song.
9) Surfin Bird-The Trashmen (Garrett 4002) 1963 #4
This is where punk rock begins, even more than Louie Louie. Unfortunate that this record is too warped to play. Dammit Larry, take better care of your fucking records.
10) I'll Always Love You-The Tokens (Laurie L-3810) 1963
Their sole Laurie release, which is straight Doo Wop aka Dion And The Belmonts. This was the record I picked up today after forgetting about it yesterday, Even in 1963 this was five years behind the times B side Please Write made it to #108 on the charts. This might have been the inspiration to Cheap Thrills by Ruben And The Jets. Record was kind of dirty, so I cleaned it up a bit. A slight improvement tho' it might another bath to make it play better, but then again I'll might file it away, or donate it back to Salvation Army.
11) Don't Go Home-The Playmates (Roulette R-4072) 1958 #32
I've noticed that I have been getting more Playmates records into this collection. They remind me of the Four Preps, tho they get a bit more arrangement from Hugo Leigi. I'm not exactly impressed with this song. B side, Can't You Get It Through Your Head sounds creepy. Record didn't clean up either, still fairly scratchy overall.
12) Loddy Lo-Chubby Checker (Parkway P-890) 1963 #12
I was more familiar with Leroy Jones' cover on Hit Records. But we did have a Chubby Checker record in the house (The Twist) and Popeye The Hitch hiker. More of a sing a long rather than Limbo Rock or The Twist, tho this song is more to the former. Larry took better care of this record than of the Trashmen's Surfin Bird. B side Hooka Tooka My Soda Kracker is too silly for my liking.
13) Java-Al Hirt (RCA Gold Standard 447-0712) 1964 #4
Al takes on Chet Atkins and the Nashville sound for this sax classic. Record is a bit too scratchy, sad to say.
14) Adios Adios-The Blue Chips (RCA 47-7935) 1961
Their first single I had gotten for an inflated price and got donated back due to it sounding like crap, this is The Blue Chips second and final RCA Offering with Hugo & Luigi producing and another Chuck Sagle arrangement. Uh huh, I can tell you their inspiration was The Hi Los. Let It Ride, is white guy jive, something you probably seen on Dean Martin or Ted Mack's Amateur Hour A perverse charm to it, but not as creepy as Don't Go Home. Adios Adios indeed. UGH
15) The Things You Do To Me-Wynona Carr (Specialty 628) 1958
I don't see much of Specialty Records out and about, they're usually Little Richard 45's all scratched up but this one is rare sight to see Carr is a pure soul singer, in the style of Lavern Baker. She recorded a few sides for Art Rupe before moving on to Reprise and then into obscurity. Sonny Bono wrote this and the B side. Touch And Go and probably produced the sessions as well. Touch And Go is more uptempo and more fun. Record was kind of dirty but it cleaned up great. Sounds like a new record.
16) The Lone Twister-The Lone Twister (Atlantic 2130) 1961
I love finding odd ball sides from Atlantic Records. A few of them got away but this one stood out in the crowd. So who was the Lone Twister? Some say it was Murray the K (Murray Kaufman, legendary DJ) but it was Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote this song. Yeah, it's a novelty song and if you like that song, you might tolerate Twisting Up A Storm. But if you haven't heard it, you're not missing much.
17) Buchanan And Ancell Meet The Creature (Flying Saucer 501) 1958 #85
This record seen better days, but I thought if I cleaned it up it might play. It's a novelty record to which Buchanan would play certain songs to the story line. Bill Buchanan did work with Dickie Goodman and had a better story line (Flying Saucer From Outer Space) in that time frame but this was a one off with Bob Ancell and to sum it all up, the last song is from Wake Up Little Susie by the Everly Brothers (The movie wasn't so hot, it didn't have much of a plot) Which basically sums up The Creature. Record looks rough, plays VG-.
18) It Ain't Me Babe-Johnny Cash (Columbia 4-43145) 1964 #58
There were two sun copies of There You Go but both were chewed up so I took this one over Orange Blossom Special which had seen better days. June Carter adds vocals too but it's Johnny's single. Usually Columbia singles of the 60s always sound rough and it's a judgement call to even purchase them. B side Time And Time Again, is a Johnny and June song, rarely heard. Larry didn't play it much, plays like a VG Plus record.
19) Dottie-Danny And The Juniors (ABC Paramount 9926) 1958 #38
Their last chart showing for ABC Paramount tho they would continue with four more releases that only stayed under number 100. They were very good at the uptempo doo wop numbers, not so much with the slower number such as In The Meantime. It's passable.
20) Hippy Hippy Shake-The Swinging Blue Jeans (Imperial 66021) 1964 #21
The last offering from Larry comes this Beatles like rock and roller and does a better version than the original by Chan Romero. And then The Georgia Satellites come out of nowhere and blows both versions out of the water. B side Now I Must Go, pays tribute to Freddy And The Dreamers better than the Fab Four, or Gerry And The Pacemakers (ha ha ha)
21) The Journeyman's Grace-Fairport Convention (A&M 1333) 1972
By then Richard Thompson had left them and they moved on with Dave Swarbrick and Simon Nicol taking over the vocals and songs. By then they were getting more into folk songs and adding arrangements to them to varying degree. This song was written by Richard and that's him guest starring on guitar. Dave Mattacks on drums too. This was Fairport's wilderness year before Sandy Denny would return with new members tho the results weren't not that exciting. B side The World Has Surely Lost Its Head is mellower but didn't attract much interest to include on the 2 CD Best of, that A&M issued in the 1990's Meet On The Ledge. Further research showed that The World was the A side but FM stations preferred The Journeyman's Grace instead. A&M would try again with John Lee for the next single but that too bombed. The copy that I found is fairly rough even after cleaning it up. I know my record player is going to rebel if I continue to find rough scratchy forty fives that have seen better days, but I remain convinced that this record is a keeper. I doubt if I'll find another copy in this lifetime.
22) Sun Arise-Rolf Harris (Epic 5-9567) #61 1963
Like Gary Glitter, Rolf's life has been turned upside down for the worst, disgraced by sexual assaults. So basically Rolf's music has been blacklisted from oldies playlists. I had Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport a while ago but that song has gotten too damn silly for me to revisit it. This song, I didn't put two and two together till I heard The Godfathers doing a cover version of this song from Hit By Hit. While this record wasted away for about three weeks after this posting, it actually plays fairly good with the usual surface scratches and a speck of dirt on a couple grooves. Do we really want to hear the B side Somebody Pinched My Whiskers? Not really.
No comments:
Post a Comment