When I started doing the Singles Going Steady listings, it was a reference to myself about the music that I found, which went all the way back to the days of going to Illinois to see Grandma Ambrose and to revisit that big box of records of the 50s and 60's music. A box of records that would would be the most influential music of my life. Everything that was rock and roll started with this collection. I really doubt if I can remember all of the music that came out from this box but when I got a working turntable I decided to try my luck in getting these forgotten records of the past. Eventually, Grandma did give that box of records to us. But the majority of them were played to death.
As far as my memory go, this will be a ongoing and final tribute to the 45s so it will be in stages. The First set are the records that we still have or did have in the collection. A lot of bobby sox teen idol stuff, but also a bit of rhythm and blues and rockabilly. Some of the records remain at home with the folks, some of moved over here.
The Records That Became The Stuff Of Legends.
* is the original record from the box of records that still play
** are the replacement copies..
Under The Boardwalk-The Drifters
Honest I Do-The Innocents
Buzz Buzz Buzz-Hollywood Flames
Rockin Robin/Over And Over-Bobby Day
Cherrystone-The Addrasi Brothers
Alley Oop-The Hollywood Argyles
The Three Bells-Dick Flood
Dream Lover-Bobby Darin
Gina-Johnny Mathis
Maria-Johnny Mathis
The Battle Of New Orleans-Johnny Horton
Walking To New Orleans-Fats Domino
Three Nights A Week-Fats Domino **
I Want To Walk You Home-Fats Domino
Be My Guest/I've Been Around-Fats Domino*
It's Late-Ricky Nelson **
It's Up To You-Ricky Nelson
I Got a Feeling/Lonesome Town-Ricky Nelson
Poor Little Fool-Ricky Nelson*
Sweeter Than You-Ricky Nelson**
I'm Sorry-Brenda Lee
All Alone Am I-Brenda Lee **
I Want To Be Wanted-Brenda Lee **
Terry Bear-Elvis Presley
A Big Hunk O Love-Elvis Presley*
Just Born To Be Your Baby-Perry Como **
Born Too Late-The Poni Tails **
Where Were You On Our Wedding Day-Lloyd Price **
Three Little Pigs-Lloyd Price **
The Happy Reindeer-Dancer, Prancer And Nervous **
Rock And Roll Music-Chuck Berry
Sweet Little Sixteen-Chuck Berry*
Always-The Little Dippers **
Guitar Boogie Shuffle-The Virtues **
What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You-Mitchell Torok**
A Boy Without A Girl-Frankie Avalon
Just Ask Your Heart-Frankie Avalon
So Fine-The Fiestas**
Walking Her Home-Big Daddy
Good Golly Miss Molly-The Valiants
Big Storm-Billy Storm **
Dark Moon-Gale Storm
Teen Angel-Mark Dining **
Maybe-The Chantels
I've Only Have Eyes For You-The Flamingos
Mio Amore-The Flamingos
Heavenly Angel-The Flamingos
Tallahassee Lassie-Freddy Cannon (the first song I ever heard)**
Way Down Yonder In New Orleans-Freddy Cannon**
Kookie Hat-Freddie Cannon**
Among My Souvenirs-Connie Francis
My Happiness-Connie Francis
Tell Him No-Travis And Bob**
Look In My Eyes-The Chantels **
Little Cricket-The Royal Teens
Short Shorts-The Royal Teens
Diana-Paul Anka**
It's Time To Cry-Paul Anka**
Don't Gamble With Love-Paul Anka
That's My Desire-The Lettermen**
I've Had It-The Bell Notes**
Handy Man-Jimmy Jones**
Sorry (I ran all the way home) The Impalas
At The Hop-Danny And The Juniors**
The Angels Listened In-The Crests
The Enchanted Sea-The Islanders**
Burning Bridges-Jack Scott**
What In The World Has Come Over You-Jack Scott**
How Insensitive-Tony Bennett**
To Know Him Is To Love Him/Don't Your Worry My Little Pet-The Teddy Bears**
The Little Train-Marianne Vasel/Erick Storz**
Little Darlin'-The Diamonds
Toot Toot Toosie (Goodbye)-Al Jolson
New River Train-Bobby Helms
I Understand (Just how you reel) The G Clefs**
Alimony-Frankie Ford
Lonely Winds-The Drifters
Am I The Man-Jackie Wilson
Lonely Teardrops-Jackie Wilson
A Woman, A Lover, A Friend-Jackie Wilson
Ebb Tide/Sinbad-Bobby Freeman**
You'll Never Tame Me-Bobby Rydell**
Wild One-Bobby Rydell
Popeye The Hitchhiker-Chubby Checker
My Heart Is An Open Book-Carl Dobkins Jr.**
Theme From The Kay-But I can't think of who did the song, came out on Columbia in 60.
Willie And The Hand Jive/Ring A Ling-Johnny Otis Show**
I Love How You Love Me-The Paris Sisters
Alone (why must I be)-The Shepard Sisters**
Secret Of Love-Nicky De Matteo
Red River Rock/Buckeye-Johnny And The Hurricanes**
Make Me A Miracle/Secretly-Jimmie Rodgers**
What Is Love-The Playmates
Jo Anne-The Playmates**
A Walk In The Black Forest-Horst Janakosski**
Hello Dolly-Louis Armstrong
Don't Let Go-Roy Hamilton**
My One Sin-The Four Coins**
Tom Dooley-The Kingston Trio**
Daddy Cool-The Rays**
Kansas City-Wilbert Harrison**
Morgan-Ivo Robic**
Just Between You And Me-The Chordettes**
Let It Be Me-The Everly Brothers
Wake Up Little Susie-The Everly Brothers**
Tammy-Debbie Reynolds**
Teenager In Love-Dion
Boogie Bear-Boyd Bennett**
Sea Of Love-Paul Phillips**
It's Only Make Believe-Conway Twitty
It's All In The Game-Tommy Edwards
Life's A Holiday-Jerry Wallace
I Gotta Have You-Tommy Sands
Run To Him-Bobby Vee
Sharing You-Bobby Vee
Exodus-Ferrate And Theatcher **
Calcutta-Lawrence Welk
Whole Lotta Shakin Going On-Jerry Lee Lewis
Great Balls Of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
My Town My Guy And Me-Lesley Gore**
Gotta Travel On-Billy Grammer**
Lonely Boy-Paul Anka**
Lovers By Night, Strangers By Day-The Fleetwoods
Bye Bye Love-Everly Brothers
Hound Dog Man-Fabian
Black Slacks-Joe Bennett/Sparkletones **
That's Why I Was Born-Janice Harper**
For A Penny-Pat Boone
Welcome New Lovers-Pat Boone
Twixt Twelve And Twenty-Pat Boone
These are the songs and record that defined and ruined me into the habit of buying records. This list is missing a few singles, some Doris Day or more Johnny Mathis songs that got broken over time. At that time, I didn't recall seeing any Beatles songs or Stones, so basically the cut off date would have been 1961. Certainly a lot of teen idol music from the likes of Paul Anka and Pat Boone but also from Ricky Nelson and The Everly' Brothers. I don't recall Johnny Tillotson singles but we did have the Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On album. While compiling what I knew from the box of records, I figured there were over 100 45's in there, but remembering 130, well, even I find that remarkable. For the original records, they actually play a lot better than they looked especially Big Hunk O Love and Sweet Little Sixteen. For taking 60 years of abuse that's a accomplishment.
When we lived in Lincoln Illinois at that time, Mom did go to Woolworth's for the 4 for a dollar special. In 1963, this becomes a blur. I do know Oh Such A Stranger (Don Gibson) was bought there and destroyed due to being a brat, likewise Gonna Send You Back To Walker (The Animals). I don't quite know how Ray Charles figured into getting his music later. I think the first single mom bought was That Lucky Old Sun and Ben E King's I Who Had Nothing and perhaps Timi Yuro's Down In The Valley was on this, but I always thought that record was in the collection and not Hurt. I also know that Elvis' Ain't That Loving You Baby was purchased later. Tommy Roe's Carol was bought around 1964 In the case of Timi Yuro, Exodus, was part of the box of records. There might have been a third Connie Francis record but I wasn't interested in her music, nor Johnny Mathis for that matter. Or Pat Boone, tho later in life I did pick up Don't You Just Know It and Good Rocking Tonight. But in reality there are probably too many Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon sides, tho the former did have some good singles (Diana, Lonely Boy, Something Has Changed Me) but then again I may have gone overboard on finding more Paul Anka's ABC sides in the past few years. He may have not been rock and roll but he did know how to write a decent song, tho he'll be forever dammed for You're Having My Baby, which I never owned the single.
Still the ability to remember this many songs from the past, but can't recall what I just did an hour ago, showed how serious music came to be in this life. I'm not sure why Al Jolson was part of this collection or Tony Bennett for that matter, my guess is that Aunt Virginia may have bought those, or even Grandma Ambrose for Al Jolson, or perhaps, Archie Ambrose bought those. I was never close to him anyway and Grandma knew buying records would keep me out of trouble. I do miss playing Grandma some of those latter day singles, one of them You Keep Me Hanging On by Vanilla Fudge was in that box for the longest time.
Like most folk, I gave up vinyl for CDs but in the early 2000's decided to reconnect with my youth and try to seek out if I can find replacement copies of these forty fives. It took me 40 years to finally get Gonna Send You Back To Walker in this collection, and then after that things fell into place. Mad City Music X was instrumental in some of the off the wall ones, Ragged Records had a few too and of course the kindness of strangers and thrift stores. What wasn't found on 45, I did via CD or LPs, but it was so cool to have the actual 45 in hand. Name association also played a role, being the good (Elvis, Everly's, Chuck Berry) and the tripe (guess which ones) and whatever fell in between. It's a shame that these record stuck in a box were not taken better care of, but then again I was too young and too dumb to give a shit.
When we moved to Waterloo in 1965, I still had a daily dose of new 45's. Ray Charles was one artist I looked out for, Tommy James And The Shondells came later on. Somehow I talked my mom into getting a 10 record box for 2 dollars. That became very influential as well. If I remembered correctly. They included.
Let The Water Run Down-Ben E King
Piano Nellie-Bobby Brandt
I Know Why-The Spector's Three
The Gamble-Ray Agee
High School USA-(Baltimore-DC Version) Tommy Facenda
Tears And Kisses-Frankie Randall
He's Just A Playboy-The Drifters
After Laughter Comes Tears-Wendy Rene
Smack Dab In The Middle-Ray Charles
Grab This Thing-The Mar Kays
Another interesting finds came later with I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me from Little Richard, and Little Red Rooster from Sam Cooke, I don't believe they were part of the box set. There was an original thought that What Will Tomorrow Bring was from Carla Thomas but it turned out that it was Wendy Rene that sang that song. I didn't care much for it. However, that song is one of more sought after Northern Soul singles. Most of the singles came from Atlantic and its associated labels. Hell, I am surprised I can remember 9 of the 10 songs in that box. I tended to favor oddball instrumentals, Peter Gunn from both Ray Anthony and Duane Eddy, and Vaughn Monroe's version of Mr. Moto. Oh, and of course, The Animals, tho the next song I got would be Inside Looking Out, not Gonna Send You back To Walker but Inside Looking Out would become one of my all time fave songs along with B side You're On My Mind. Red Hot from Sam The Sham would be another early fave. Again, I had no Beatles or Rolling Stone records at that time. Not a lot of Motown either, tho there was a Tamla 45 of either the Marvelettes or Marvin Gaye but the song escapes me. Probably the first Motown single would have been Back In My Arms Again by the Supremes. I did want a copy of Lady Madonna by The Beatles but my mom was in a bad mood and told me to put the record back. You can't always get what you want indeed. I do know the first Beatles record I bought was Hey Jude.
Moving to Nevada (Iowa that is) Ben Franklin had 9 cent forty fives, to which the cream of the crop was Hey Joe/51st Anniversary by Jimi Hendrix with the picture sleeve that is buried way deep in a landfill outside of town. Strange Brew by Cream was another and Ben E King had Katherine and King Curtis had On Broadway and Ramsey Lewis 123. I found it more interesting to find R and B stuff rather than rock and roll but then again, I basically focused on name association, Ray Charles and later Steppenwolf, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix became sought after stuff in the 4 for a dollar bins at Woolworths. or Wells or Arlan's. At that point I decided that I was going to dedicate my life in searching for cheap records and never grew out of that. The thrill of hearing Mony Mony to the point of getting my toy rocking chair and rock to the song playing on the radio and then trying to find it. Only to get Hanky Panky, Mirage, It's Only Love, I Think We're Alone Now and Out Of The Blue. Which basically started the record collecting/hoarding.
Life moved on, but Grandma's big box of records remained a pleasant memory of days gone by. And perhaps the inspiration of such comps as the American Graffiti Soundtrack, and companion volumes 2 and 3. Back in 73, the golden age of Rock and Roll was still 15 years old from 1957. I don't remember any of the Platters singles in that box but we have a couple of Platters albums that played from time to time. At that time, 45's were more cheaper than albums, so we had plenty of variety to listen to.
In the case of Wendy Rene, I did blew it on that song, but copies of that song go from 50 to 100 dollars so unless somebody donates it to Goodwill, I don't believe I'll find a copy. But never say never, thanks to the internet and Ebay, there's always a chance to invest if and when the time is right.
The quest to find ole 45's from the past continues and most often than not I come up empty, unless I go to Mad City Music X or Moondog Music to see what they have. The turnaround is much better in a college town and Madison never disappoints. There are times, that I will go to a Goodwill or Salvation Army or Army Vet Thrift Store and find some new music. As long as the records are in good shape, that's all that matters. And besides, most of the worthy records from the Box have had replacement copies replaced the original, except for a couple, tho Reelin and Rockin' was much rougher than Sweet Little Sixteen and Memphis Tennessee is unplayable. Back In the USA is slightly better.
With that, I can now sit back with my feet propped up, knowing that I finally had the chance to remember and compile just about every single from the box of records to which I'm sure my mom went to Kresge or Woolworth's to escape from her life of hell for a hour or two while she was growing up. She just basically passed on the buying records to me since she was now a house wife and trying to bring me up in this world. I think I did a better job escaping to that world of records after a lousy day at school, then she did. With this, we can finally lay to rest, the records that started it all. Even if half the records were crappy idols, the majority of songs were the basis of the Golden Age Of Rock And Roll.
And I guess we're all for the better of that.
Thank you Mom and Grandma Ambrose.
