In The Trashcan
Records GARBAGE223
"The strawberry blonde was born too late, chose one
chocolate soda with two straws for creeping tom who
fought the law after bouncing with his bossa nova
baby..."
Powerful answer song to Sonny Curtis' "I fought the law", the song he wrote for the Crickets in 1959, right after Buddy Holly's death. Best known version is Bobby Fuller's although many people only seem to remember that tedious rendition by The Clash. This female quartet recorded a handful of 45s in the second half of the 60s. This one is from 1966, issued by Columbia.
They were around for a couple of years in the late 50s and stopped in 1960. It is, again, one of those feelgood songs, sung by three young ladies from Cleveland, Ohio.
Originally released on RCA, but I have never seen a copy. After listening to this song I thought I had watched a Happy Days episode and I felt happy. Undoubtedly his best effort, from 1958.
Mike's saxophone was hotter than a pistol indeed. Singer is the drummer Al Mauro. Lou, Sam and Buddy are the rest of the quintet. They mixed rock 'n' roll with big band swing jazz and rhythm 'n' blues in their early days. A 1955 recording for RCA Victor.
No, not "Rockin' Robin", but "Rockin' Robert", an uptempo jiver by these three sisters. They recorded it in 1956 for Mercury. I particularly like the frantic guitar break.
Also known as "The band rocked on". Again a rock 'n' roll big band swing sound. He was born Frank Caldarone and played the guitar.A 1960 Mercury release.
A 1963 Lesley Records release, that should have been at least five years earlier. Nevertheless it is a good solid rockin' tune, also because of the backing band, The Aristocrats.
We all know the Elvis version from 1963, but few seem to remember the original by Tippie & The Clovers from a year before. Mike Redway's rendition from 1963 comes very close to the Elvis sound, but the organ in this recordings is simply fantastic, the guitar is wilder during the break and the Latin rock 'n' roll atmosphere is steaming hot. An Embassy release.
Ginger haired rock 'n' roll singing lady who had her biggest hits in the country scene, but I prefer this rockabilly tune from 1956. I'm not sure if she's the guitar player in this recording she made for King Records. Another recommended song is her version of "Beyond a shadow of a doubt" from '57.
I assume this was their debut, from 1954. Gene Forrest and Eunice Levy, both born in 1931, were active as an rhythm and blues duo in the 50s.
In 1946 her career as a gospel singer took off but this ain't no gospel at all. It is vicious R&B, dangerous from the very first beat until the very last. Impossible not to dance to; believe me. First released on the Baton label in 1958.
A 1957 rock 'n' roll tune with the help of the Sandy Block Orchestra. It is the only Redjacks single I know. This one came out on the Apt label.
Kenneth Mackintosh was not only a gifted saxophonist, but a bandleader as well. "Creeping Tom" is a perfect example. Most of his output came out on His Master's Voice, like this one, from 1955. See also vol 256 for another HMV release.
Fast rock 'n' roll tune with some horns and a wild percussion, to bongo or not to bongo, should I stay or should I go. Love me or leave me… Dene was a UK singer from London. He was a bit of a bad boy in the late 50s. This 1960 recording is the flipside to "Geraldine", originally released on Decca and then also on Oriole.
Midtempo swampy rockabilly tune from 1960 by the Canadian singer that gave us "The way I walk". By that time he had already moved from Ontario to Detroit. Perhaps the main reason why I have deep respect for him is that he wrote most of his songs, unlike most rock 'n' roll singers in those days. See also vol 205.
A song about doing the stroll and rock 'n' roll by these sisters to end this volume. Baby-O, a 1958 release by Oriole Records.
