For sure for sure.
However, I had 10 minutes to spare before Goodwill closed and damned if somebody didn't bring two stacks of 45's of varying degree. With the employee counting down the closing minutes, I had no time to inspect. Just a quick glance and hope that they are not in bad shape.
A collection of county and soul singles. I have been having good luck finding soul singles but alas, the ones that I found in Moline were trashed.
The cream of the crop so to speak.
Singing The Blues-Marty Robbins (Columbia 4-21545) #17 1956
You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby-Bobby Darin (Atco 45-6206) #5 1961
Blind Man's Blunder-The Kingston Trio (Capitol 4379) #37 1960
The Country Hall Of Fame-Hank Locklin (RCA 47-9323) #8 Country 1967
(I can't help you) I'm A Falling Too-Skeeter Davis (RCA 47-7767) #39 1960
Is It Really Over?-Jim Reeves (RCA 47-8623) #79 1965
Sunlight-The Youngbloods (RCA 74-0465) #123 1971
Lover And A Friend-Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham (Capitol 2150) 1968
Esther-Bobby Sykes (JED 10,010) 1967
(I got to) Do It To It-Tony Fox (Calla C-146) 1968
It's been a while since I had any Bobby Darin findings, but this quarter find seemed to be in good shape. Basically Bobby doing the twist on this ole pop standard. B side is the seldom heard Sorrow Tomorrow, which never made it to any Best ofs. From Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman team. Singing The Blues, I've known the later version, this is more hillbilly than rockabilly. I'm not sure why I picked up County Hall Of Fame, it's hokey and was overplayed as a juke box 45. The lovely Skeeter Davis' I Can't Help You was the answer record to Please Help Me I'm Falling. Is It Really Over did get some airplay on the pop chart, tho it did much better on the country side of things. Bobby Sykes' Esther was not a soul single as I thought it was but a ho hum ballad, Leon Ashley's Laura was a better song. For the soul singles Eddie Bo with Inez Cheatham's Lover And A Friend is a decent northern soul classic. Tho the record has seen better days, Do It To It from the obscure Tony Fox, has Teddy Vann producing and arranging it, he's better known for The Whatchacallit, done by the Burning Emotion for ABC. Sunlight was issued twice by RCA, but the second time it bubbled around number 123. Three Dog Night would cover that for It Ain't Easy, but didn't issued it as a single. And Blind Man's Blunder is another winning track from the likes of The Kingston Trio. Who will be heard from later on.
There's a guy that lives on the outskirts of Asbury that has a record sale from time to time. Course I have told you that earlier. I got started late and headed up to Dubuque when I saw his familiar forty five signs out by the four way and I figured I'd better head there before he closed up. When I drove there, he motioned me to a parking spot and told me to look around, that he was picking up the signs since he closed at 4. However, he had his grand daughters tending shop so I managed to convince them to keep open and I'll make it worth their while.
Singles Of Note:
Tell Him No-The Jackson Brothers (Atco 45-6139) 1959
A weird one. Travis And Bob had the hit but in 1959 Sandy Records sold that master to Dot Records for 12 thousand dollars, quite a sum back in 59. If you research the Billboard archives, another version was on Bullseye with Dean and Mark and this version was originally on Big Top, but Big Top chose to sell this version with the Jackson Brothers to Atlantic. To which Atlantic, passed it on to the Atco label but with the BG prefix. Of course this version pales compared to Travis and Bob, and even B side Love Me was done better by Elvis Presley. Lieber and Stroller did produce the Jackson Brothers sides, Billy Mure arranged the song. The Jackson Brothers were never heard from again but in a case of irony, Travis and Bob would record a solitary single for Big Top before moving to Mercury and issuing two more singles. Thanks to the folks at 45 Cat for the information.
Some Kind Of Wonderful-The Drifters (Atlantic 45-2096) #32 1961
Lieber and Stroller continued to produce Atlantic acts such as The Drifters who score a minor hit with Some Kind Of Wonderful. Rudy Lewis replaced Ben King when King opted for a solo career. What ties the past to the present is Honey Bee, the B side that comes from the early days of Clyde McPhatter and sounds out of date even for 1961 standards. This came out in 1953.
Church Bells May Ring-The Diamonds (Mercury 70835) #14 1956
The Diamonds were the best cover group for black music and this was a cover of the Willow's song. In these well worn grooves, the Willows win this battle royal. David Carroll's bland arrangement didn't help things much. Little Girl Of mine, the B side is better and perhaps this should have gotten some airplay consideration. David Sommerville is one of the best doo wop singers of this era and even a bland David Carroll production can be overlooked.
And now. A collection of instrumentals.
Boss Guitar-Duane Eddy (RCA 47-8131) #28 1963
Memphis-Lonnie Mack (Fraternity F-906) #5 1963
Green Onions-King Curtis (Atco 45-6496) 1967
Tequila-Eddie Platt (ABC Paramount 9899) #20 1958
Blue Bongo-Preston Epps (Top Rank RA-2067) 1960
Bulldog-The Fireballs (Top Rank RA-2026) #24 1960
Reveille Rock-Johnny And The Hurricanes (Warwick 513) #25 1959
Bossa Nova USA-Dave Brubeck (Columbia 4-42675) #69 1963
Classical Gas-Synergy (Passport PPA-7907) 1976
Johnny and the hurricanes really come storming out the gate with this wild rocker and one of their finest songs ever. Likewise Memphis to which Lonnie Mack did a better version than one that Billy Lee Riley would do for Mercury, not that Riley's wasn't bad, I always thought Mack owned this one. The Champs trump Platt for Tequila and Preston Epps, Blue Bongo reeks of bachelor pad lounge music. Dave Brubeck's famous quintet had a nice run at the charts beginning with Take Five and ending with Bossa Nova USA, Camptown Races, the B side shows why Joe Morello is one of the best jazz drummers out there, he knows how to swing, but also Eugene Wright and Paul Desmond shine as well. Dave too.
Bobby's Got A Girl Friend-Royal Teens (ABC Paramount 45-9945) #78 1958
It's odd that I can't find Short Shorts at the junk shops but I managed to find this followup single which bombed. This band featured Bob Gaudio as the keyboard player and song writer, even if Short Shorts was silly fun. I think Bobby's Got A Girl Friend is more fun, tho B side Hangin Around is boring doo wop.
Replacement Records of the Big Box Of Records I Grew Up With
Silhouettes/Daddy Cool-The Rays (Cameo 117) #3 1957
Ginger Bread-Frankie Avalon (Chancellor 1021) #9 1958
Tallahassee Lassie-Freddy Cannon (Swan S-4031) #6 1959
I Really Love You-The Stereos (Cub K-9095) #29 1961
Tom Dooley-The Kingston Trio (Capitol F-4049) #1 1958
The first three songs here played a big role in what I had for records. It took forever to find a copy of Daddy Cool that wasn't trashed and if I had to live this life over, the big box of records would have been better taken care of. Frankie Avalon was pap but Grandma had three of his singles there and Ginger Bread was bought for a nickel at a forgotten Goodwill store. The Freddy Cannon song got the grooves wore off. The Eric reissues have the longer version but the Swan 45 was in mint condition and played pretty well. The Rays 45 is mint. Tom Dooley might have been part of the box of records and if it was, it got broken or lost in the transfer of that box over here. The Stereos' I Really Love You is fun doo wop.
The Rest:
Rock A Beatin Boogie-Bill Haley And His Comets (Decca 9-29713) #23 1955
Dizzy Miss Lizzy-Larry Williams (Specialty 626) #69 1958
She Knows How To Rock-Little Richard (Specialty 652) 1959
Your Good Thing (is about to end)-Mable John (Stax 192) #95 1966
El Paso-Numero Dos-Homer And Jethro (RCA 47-7704) 1960
Do It Again-The Beach Boys (Capitol 2239) #20 1968
One Woman-Heads, Hands And Feet (Atco 45-6923) 1973
Money-The Flying Lizards (Virgin VA-67003) #50 1979
The surprise was Heads Hands And Feet One Woman, a song that I have been searching for but didn't know who did it, till I seen it in the 50 cent bin. Albert Lee was the main guitar player, Tony Colton and Chas Hodges were capable lead singers, Pete Gavin was part of the Jerry Lee Lewis 1973 super sessions and Ray Smith fits in there somewhere. Jerry Lee Lewis did cover Jack Daniels Ole number 7 but didn't make the final cut for The Session, but was a b side to No Headstone On My Grave. A shame that I couldn't find the stock copy of One Woman, a 7 and half minute version of Dirty Heavy Weather Road. Money is the deconstruction of the Barrett Strong song, kinda like Devo reinventing I Can't Get No Satisfaction. Yet another Little Richard find, She Knows How To Rock was recorded by Piano Red as Rockin' With Red (RCA 50-0099 1950) originally, but around 1959, Little Richard was going through a born again period to which he denounced rock n roll and made gospel singles for End, Mercury and Atlantic. Specialty was basically scraping the bottom of the barrel with She Knows How To Rock. Dizzy Miss Lizzy is my fave Larry Williams tune with B side Slow Down added value. Do It Again is one of my top five fave Beach Boys song, Homer and Jethro takes on Marty Robbins El Paso but their humor can be hit or miss, B side is their take on the Archie Campbell classic, That's Good, That's Bad. For soul music, I chose the Mable John, Your Good Thing Is About To End.
The 10 minute of search and grab at the Goodwill did come up with some cool stuff, Esther will be donated back somewhere in the future and Country Hall Of Fame was quite dirty sounding. Hank Locklin has slowly been becoming a bigger part of the singles grab bag. I could return tomorrow but I already put about 500 miles on my car due to the Madison/Davenport previous bargain hunts and I don't see the need to return. Plus I don't think they had the turnover of CDs from the last time I was there. And besides, I found the James McMurtry new album at Moondog and spent 78 dollars on a Grateful Dead album and the recent Todd Snider. So I think I am good for a while. At least till the baseball playoffs in Davenport and pick up stuff from Ragged Records that I left behind. A Record Collector, Hoarders work is never done. ;)
Leftovers;
Lady Godiva-Peter & Gordon (Capitol 5740) #6 1966
Lady Godiva-Peter & Gordon (Capitol 5740) #6 1966
Heart Healer-Mel Tillis (MCA 40667) #1 Country 1976
Easier Said Than Done-The Essex (Roulette R-4494) #1 1963
Off To Dublin In the Green-The Abbey Tavern Singers (HBR-498) #94 1966
The curio is the Abbey Tavern Singers which was issues as ARC (A-1144) and Hanna Barbera picked up the US rights and scored a number 94 chart placing on the charts. Which was a big surprise. We didn't think Irish ballads would make a ripple on the charts. This would be their only US single.. And it seems to be a sought after record, due to the fact that it was on Hanna Barbera. The Essex and Mel Tillis come up with number 1 songs, Mel hitting and topping the country chart and one of his better songs. Which leaves us with Lady Godiva, one of the coolest songs from the stuffy Peter and Gordon. The Essex came from a batch of 45s that were up at half price books and nobody picked it up. Unlike Bristol Stomp, Easier Said Than Done played like a fairly decent 45 despite multiple plays over the years.
