TODAY : 20 FAVORITE FEMME RECORDS OF....1959
1.DON’T MESS WITH MY MAN – IRMA THOMAS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1K37NMOmHM
Penned by Dorothy LaBostrie (who toned down Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti”
to "an acceptable level" for release) this was the introduction on
record of one of the best femme r&b artists of the age---Miss Irma
Thomas from New Orleans.
Signed to Joe Ruffino’s Ron label the great “Don’t Mess With My Man” was
her very first release in November 1959. Charted at #22 BBr&b. Released
in
UK (but not till 1965!!) on Sue label
2. DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE – THE SHIRELLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQQvHezUtw
Originally recorded by the “5” Royales this was the first record by The Shirelles for the Scepter label after releases on Tiara and Decca. I
like both versions but I like the Shirelles version best. It made #83
BBpop on this issue but did much better when re-released in 1961 when it reached #3. It missed the r&b chart in 1959 but hit #2 in 1961. Not
issued in UK until 1961 when it appeared on Top Rank
3. BROKEN HEARTED MELODY – SARAH VAUGHAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypwe0ZIsDFQ
“The Divine Sarah” as her record company billed her had several records
in her long career that I really liked but none more so than this one
which came in her final year pacted to Mercury (she would jump ship to
Morris Levy and Roulette the following year). Charted #7 BBpop and #5
BBr&b.She reached #7 in UK (also on Mercury)
4. WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MAKES – DINAH WASHINGTON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWSlm1sNB90
Another really great songstress here as Ms Dinah Washington gives out
with one of her very best---a reworking of an old Dorsey Brothers hit
from the 30’s. Though she’d had a ton of appearances on the r&b chart
this one was her first appearance on the regular Billboard pop chart
where it hit #8. It also charted #4 BBr&b. Also released in UK on
Mercury but no chart action
5. LET’S JUMP THE BROOMSTICK – BRENDA LEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPlZHtxK5CI
You just knew that with her records now coming regularly that Brenda
would hit
really big soon---sadly it won’t be with this one but it won’t be long
(see #9 below) One of her best rockers for Decca it did nothing in the
US but it was a different story in the UK where the track first appeared
on her debut LP in 1960 (as per the USA) then appeared as a single in
1961 on Brunswick (b/w “Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues”) hitting #14 on the
charts
6. BLACK CADILLAC – JOYCE GREEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApsI9k-wRbc
Her solitary release (leastways I can’t trace another) recorded for
Arlen Vaden’s self titled label in Arkansas in 1959 (including Teddy
Redell providing piano support). Tho she returned to recording in the
70’s this was apparently her ONLY release during our time period. No
chart action no UK release
7. UNFORGETTABLE – DINAH WASHINGTON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbWgzZCKX_0
Dinah reprises one of the really great Nat “King” Cole hit ballads of
the early 50’s in her #17BBpop recording of his “Unforgettable” (that also made #15 BBr&b) just before hooking up with Mercury label mate
Brook Benton to record a couple of duets that will go high in the
charts. Released in UK on Mercury but did not chart
8. PAPA DO – LITTLE ESTHER (UNRELEASED)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oESWzzvtZI
Often retitled as “Oo Papa Do” this was the third song recorded at Esther’s very last session for Savoy February 19 1959 and was left unreleased---until 1979 that is—when it was resurrected for inclusion in
the Savoy LP “Ladies Sing The Blues : Roots Of Rock ‘N’ Roll Vol. 5”. Not released UK
9, SWEET NOTHIN’S – BRENDA LEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk2S6QEAvgE
Here comes that BIG breakthrough I was talking about earlier---the first
(of many) big hits that Brenda (and her fans) had been waiting
for.Recorded for Decca 13 August 1959 at Bradley Studio in Nashville
with accompaniment of Hank Garland (gtr) Grady Martin (gtr) Harold
Bradley (bs gtr) Bob Moore (bs) Buddy Harman (dms) Floyd Cramer (pno)
Boots Randolph (sax). Charted #4 BBpop #12 BBr&b (!). Charted on
Brunswick in UK #4
10. THE BELLS – BABY WASHINGTON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxrN0oxmE1U
Gotta make room here for one of my fave femme voices of our period---the
one and only Miss Jeanette “Baby” Washington. She’d been around for a
few years mostly recording for Zell Sanders and her J&S outfit before
arriving at Neptune Records in Newark NJ where she’ll have a couple of
early hits including the memorable “The Bells” which sold well enough to reach #20 BBr&b. Not released in UK
11. THE STROLL – BRENDA LEE (UNRELEASED)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktsnNawzmN4
Recorded 4 January 1959 this is of course Brenda’s version of The
Diamonds big hit from 1957. Recorded at Bradley Studio in Nashville
backing included most of the usual suspects including Hank Garland (gtr)
Bob Moore (bass) Buddy Harman (dms) Floyd Cramer (pno) Sadly it lay
unreleased until 1974 when it finally appeared on a German Coral LP
“Legends Of Rock Vol.2”
12. BLOODSHOT EYES – MILLIE VERNON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AX84TZb2M
Not to be confused with the much later Millie (Small) of “My Boy
Lollipop” fame who also recorded “Bloodshot Eyes” this is the earlier (and different) Millie Vernon on the Chelsea label with her take on the
Hank Penny number most famously remembered in the great classic Wynonie
Harris version. No chart action in US. Not released UK
13. THE BIG HURT – TONI FISHER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wjiaVnzOXE
Here’s a more “pop” item I fell instantly in love with in 1959 and nothing much has changed since. Recorded for Wayne Shanklin’s Signet
label in Hollywood (Toni was an L.A native) it was famous for its odd “phasing” effect It reached #3 BBpop and #16BBr&b. Released in UK on Top Rank it charted at #30 but was outdone by a pretty horrid UK cover from
Maureen Evans that reached #26.
14. WORK OUT – BABY WASHINGTON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joNFgQCn_JQ&t=75s
Jeanette’s other Neptune single from 1959 saw her follow up “The Bells” (see #10 above) with an energetic work out titled….um….”Work Out” and summed up her output for the label in 1959. This one failed to make the
BB main chart but DID “bubble under” at #105 for a week Not issued UK
15. 5-10-15 HOURS – RUTH BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a__9Wyni6X4
For her first Atlantic single of 1959 Ruth repeats the formula of her
previous release,her last single of 1958 where she revisited her #1 hit
of 1953 “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean” in a brand new
version---this time she goes further back still to 1952’s “5-10-15
Hours” from 1952 which gets a much faster makeover too---nowhere near
the original but plenty good enough to make the lower
reaches of this listing. No chart action no UK release
16. COME ON HOME – LULU (sic) REED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8UemhEREsk
Here’s a lady (and it’s LULA Reed) with a clutch of pretty good singles
to her name going right back to her vocals on Sonny Thompson’s 1952
smash r&b hit “I’ll Drown In My Tears” (the original song that Ray Charles retitled “Drown In My Own Tears” in his immaculate version). Now
on Argo label with a beautiful song titled “Come On Home” penned by Mr Harvey Fuqua. No chart action no UK release
17. JACK O’DIAMONDS – RUTH BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKzGf36h02M
Recorded at a New York City session March 7 1959 with a pretty
spectacular backing including King Curtis (ten sax),Al Caiola (gtr) and
Mike Stoller (pno) Ruth released this upbeat Leiber & Stoller number on Atlantic as her second released single of 1959 following “5-10-15 Hours” (see #15 above) . Charted
on BBpop at #96 and on BBr&b at #23. Issued in UK on London but
non-charting
18. EMMIT LEE’S COME BACK – CAROL FRAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wB59AoYZ1Q
This sequel by one of the most overlooked of 1950’s r&b songstresses
sees Ms Carol Fran revisit her 1957 debut on Excello with the further
exploits of one “Emmit Lee” who she introduced us all to back then.No
chart action and no UK release
19. LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR – CONNIE FRANCIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNytuQ5K_WI
One of Connie’s best uptempo numbers enhanced by one of the greatest
guitar breaks on ANY record (courtesy Mr George Barnes), Part of a huge
double sided Top 10 hit (the B-side “Frankie” was no slouch either in
the chart hit stakes---reaching #9 in its own right). Charted #5 BB pop
#10 BBr&b.Here in UK the same coupling appeared on MGM as in USA) with “Lipstick…” reaching #3
20. PAPA DADDY – RUTH BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW0v8ZvY4jQ
Recorded at the same March session as “Jack O’ Diamonds” (see #17 above) the session also produced “I Can’t Hear A Word You Say” and “I Don’t Know” (see below – and with which it was paired for an Atlantic single).
No chart action on this side. Released on London in UK did not chart
BUBBLING UNDER
21. JUST A LITTLE BIT – TINY TOPSY
22. I DON’T KNOW – RUTH BROWN
23. WILD AS YOU CAN BE – MARY ANN FISHER
24. I WAITED TOO LONG – LaVERN BAKER
25. I CAN’T TAKE IT – THE CHANTELS
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