20 FAVE INSTRUMENTAL RECORDS
TODAY........FROM 1957
1. RAUNCHY - BILL JUSTIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8a0KgxWQzQ
Recorded at 706 Union Av Memphis June 5 1957. Personnel : Bill Justis
(ten sax)
Sidney Manker (gtr) Roland Janes (gtr) Sid Lapworth (bs) James Van Eaton
(dms)
Jimmy Wilson (pno) and originally a track on his Phillips International
LP “Cloud 9” (no,I’ve never seen an original copy either 😊)Pulled from the LP as a single in September 1957 the single reached #2 BBpop and
#1BBr&b. It spawned a whole host of cover versions including Ernie
Freeman (see below),Billy Vaughn, Muvva Hubbard etc. Despite a local
cover version (Ken Mackintosh) Justis reached #11 on the UK chart on
London label
2. HARD TIMES (THE SLOP) – NOBLE “THIN MAN” WATTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO7FQY4FYxs
His second outing on Sol Rabinowitz’s Baton label in October 1957 gifted
sax player Noble “Thin Man” Watts a #44 BBpop hit plus a hasty cover version on Imperial from Dave Bartholomew (see #11 below). Released on
London in UK failed to chart
3. WHAT’S THE WORD? THUNDERBIRD! – RED PRYSOCK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7BndCGQKTE
Tenor sax man Red Prysock here with his adieu record for 1957 on Mercury
a play on the popular “What’s The Word Thunderbird whats the price…..” rhyme popular at
the time. No chart action no release in UK
4. LEAP FROG – CHUCK ALAIMO QUARTET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPPzvdqKNGk
Torrid sax rocker from the foursome from Rochester NY originally on Ken label--the Same label that shortly after gave us Frank De Rosa’s “Big Guitar”(see #6 below) before being picked up by MGM where it charted at
#97 BBpop. Not released UK
5. WALKIN’ WITH MR. LEE – LEE ALLEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE3riB2EudY
Born in Pittsburgh (no,the Kansas one 😊) mastered the tenor sax and
moved locale to New Orleans in the 1940’s. First in the Paul Gayten band
then with Dave Bartholomew he rose to prominence backing dozens of local artists most notably Fats Domino.He began cutting records under his own
name with “Rockin’ At Cosmo’s” (see the 1956 entry in this series) but it was his second release “Walkin’ With Mr. Lee” on Ember that concerns us here---a #54 BBpop hit. Released UK on HMV but no chart action
6. BIG GUITAR – FRANK DE ROSA & D-MEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhdZHP_TgZ8
Here’s the much recorded “Big Guitar” number in its original
version---by Frank De Rosa & His D-Men on the same Ken label as the
Chuck Alaimo “Leapfrog” team (see #4 above).Picked up by national distribution by Dot it spawned several cover versions the most
successful being that of Owen Bradley early in 1958. UK release on
London in March 1958
7. 7-11 – THE GONE ALL STARS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITHm_WYa60A
Nice arrangement of Perez Prado’s oldie “Mambo No.5” from the session band featuring Buddy Lucas and arranged by George Goldner. Charted #30
BBpop. Not released in UK
8. RAUNCHY – ERNIE FREEMAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLOyVq6vXI4
Inferior but still very listenable cover of the Bill Justis #1 version
listed above recorded for Imperial. This cover reached #4 BB pop and #1
BBr&b. Released in UK on London but non-charting.Incidentally Freeman’s previous single on Imperial had been a hasty cover of this next one……
9. DUMPLINS – DOC BAGBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HFOjzgQik4
The original version of the number also covered by Ernie Freeman on
Imperial (see above) Recorded for Okeh the saxy instrumental sold well
enough to gain #69 on the BBpop chart.Released in UK (but only on
78RPM!!) on Fontana. Did not chart
10. ELMORE’S CONTRIBUTION TO JAZZ – ELMORE JAMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrkeKTZCwDY
Recorded 12 April 1957 in Chicago featuring Elmore James (gtr) J.T Brown
(ten sax) Johnny Jones (pno) Wayne Bennett & Eddie Taylor (gtrs)
Homesick James (bs) Odie Pyane (dms) Memorable instrumental that first
appeared first on Chief label then on Vee Jay.
11. HARD TIMES (THE SLOP) – DAVE BARTHOLOMEW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXDN79no11k
“Bartholomew wastes no time in jumping on an item showing up strong in several area. The Bartholomew version is very strong and could break
into the sales column big. It’s a question of “the fastest with the mostest” (Imperial 5481) (“Cash Box” review 30-11-57)
12. RAM-BUNK-SHUSH – BILL DOGGETT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9IX9dLUzow
Revival of the number first recorded by Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra
way back in 1952
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRFZtPg36lo
that nearly made my 1952 instrumentals list on here the other day. Lots
of other later versions out there too led by The Ventures in 1961 with
others by The Rockin’ Rebels,Ace Cannon etc etc. Number charted well for Doggett #67 BBpop #10 BBr&b. UK release on Parlophone did not chart
13. THE BIG WHEEL – CLIFTON CHENIER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6jV6JpB2g4
After a stint on Specialty Clifton Chenier arrives at Chess and seals
his debut with this outing on Argo “The Big Wheel” in February 1957. In
an odd turn of events it is released with TWO flipside titles---either “Standing On The Corner” or “Where Can My Baby Be” depending on which copy you have.
No,I don’t know why either---the weird thing is THEY ARE BOTH THE SAME
SONG! Just two different titles.
14. ROCK-A-BUCKET – IKE TURNER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zozbBMSvUcM
Recorded 9 April 1957 at Ike Turner’s last session for Federal (King)—a
six track affair that resulted in his last three singles for the
company---one of which was “Rock-A-Bucket” which included the lineup
Jackie Brenston (bar sax) Raymond Hill (ten sax) Ike Turner (gtr) Jesse
Knight Jr (bs gtr) Eugene Washington (dms). Released as Federal in
August 1957
15. BOOGIE BEAT – LEVI SEABURY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9aVOcX7G5M
James Levi Sebury (sic) renamed as simply “Levi Seabury” recorded two titles for B.B. King’s small Blues Boy Kingdom label in Memphis--one of
which was the harmonica workout “Boogie Beat” that was released as the first single on the label (B-101) in 1957.
16. RAMROD – DUANE EDDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4atYxtioywE
Earlier undubbed version of “Ramrod” cut at Ramsey Recorders in Phoenix
Az. Ca July 1957.Personnel : Duane Eddy (gtr) Al Casey (gtr) Vivian
Casey (gtr) Tyler Wheeler (bs gtr) Robert Taylor (dms) unk. sax.Produced
by Lee Hazlewood. Released as the GREAT named label Ford 500 (overdubbed
in July 1958 for the Jamie release)
17. POT LIKKER – WASHBOARD BILL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_4Quw346rM
Regardless of what it says on the label it’s King Curtis here serving up
a very tasty dish.Not sure what the story is here perhaps Bruce can fill
us in why its credited this way on the single? WARNNG! I see several
clips of this on YT but all have very small viewing figures (the one
used here has only 75 views
In TEN YEARS!! (strongly hinting a USA ban).If it don’t work for you let
me know I’ll get Larry to repost it or send mp3 if you wish
18. DRIVING HOME – PAUL GAYTEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOHvW2HJ_74
Both sides of the splendid “Driving Home” welded together here. Recorded for Argo January 10 1958 featured players include Lee Allen (ten sax)
Edgar Blanchard (gtr) Roland Cook (bs) and Charles Williams (dms).
19. TRAIL BLAZER – IKE TURNER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qM1glERzfI
His adios record to the Federal label and his last 45rpm outing in 1957
(his next record in 1958 On Tune Town will introduce one “Little Ann” on vocals---absolutely no prizes for guessing her true identity 😊- meantime same notes (re lineup etc) apply here as to #14 above.
20. X-CELLO ROCK – LOUIS BROOKS & HI-TOPPERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2VIBQh7rFc
“LOUIS BROOKS/HI-TOPPERS (Excello 2100)
“X-CELLO ROCK” (2:12) [Excellorec BMI
—L. Brooks] Louis Brooks and his Hi-Toppers deliver a middle beat rock instrumental. Flavory wax with an infectious beat and sound. Good
instrumental side
“B. R. DRAG” (2:39) [Excellorec V+ BMI—L. Brooks] Slow beat drag instrumental.
Similar comments, tho “Rock” comes off the more intriguing side.
(CASH BOX January 19 1957)
BUBBLING UNDER
21, TOUGH ENOUGH – PAUL GAYTEN
22. PLANET ROCK – THE ROYAL TEENS
23. JOHNNY’S HOUSE PARTY – JIMMY BEASELEY & THE ROCKERS
24. SAIL ALONG SILVERY MOON – BILLY VAUGHN
25. THE SWINGIN’ SHEPHERD BLUES – MOE KOFFMAN QUARTETTE
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