December 29, 2022

August 5, 2022

On the street job offer interview ~ San Francisco 1963




When the streets where alive. When the streets where cool. A real to reel job interview on the street - San Francisco, California 1963
Bright young job applicants riding the cable car 1963

R & B / early soul group dancer ~ Virginia 1963




From '62 to 1963, The Grandison Singers recorded/pressed only three 45s during their time together, all on RCA Victor. They also had an EP pressed in Spain consisting of the same US recorded songs. Found this 45 some time ago, but couldn't find much info/detail until recently. Was curious as to who the singer was.
The Grandison Singers, two sisters and their two cousins originally from Virginia. From church gospel to secular R&B and early Soul, a familiar history/musical path many groups/artists took in the early years of RnB & Soul. A measured chorus, these ladies can sing and the slightly delayed lead-in makes the song build. Piano player, arranger, lead vocal, Floyd Bibbons sings it out.
The 'Hungry i' nightclub around 1959-60, a venue The Grandison Singers played in when it was still located on Jackson street in San Francisco.
Mary and Helen Grandison right top/bottom w/their cousins Dorothy Webster and Floyd Bibbins.

June 11, 2022

Hello loyal 45 RPM followers.
It's most unfortunate that the file sharing site "yourlisten" that I've used here for more than a few years does not technically work anymore - At least not for me. A tech glitch? Tried contacting multiple times to no avail...
In the meantime, this blog is on hold until I figure out another service and repost some of the better broken 45 post links. Will be back soon with more obscure to unusual 45s.

May 21, 2022

rocksteady reggae ~ Jamaica 1969


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Haunting rhythmic vocal side reissue pressed on a correct late 60s, "period-blue" Supreme label. The flip is, 'So Many Problems' by the Viceroys. The Supreme label was an offshoot/subsidiary label of producer Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label through the early 70s.
Recorded at Studio One in Jamaica in 1969, 'Whisper To Me' was originally pressed/released the same year on a blank Jamaican Estick label (also as Estic) with the B-side flip, 'I Need Love.'

If 'Whisper To Me' was ever intended to be officially released on any of Coxsone Dodd's stock, full design colored labels, it's anyone's guess. It never was at the time. Such is the case and mystery with many great Jamaican blank pre-release 45s.

Cecile Campbell joined Jamaica's, 'Soulettes' in 1968 during the middle period of the group's incarnation with Rita Marley (Bob Marley's wife) and Hortense Lewis (not to be confused with reggae soulster, Hortense Ellis).
She recorded two other 45s, 'Breaking Up' with Jackie Estick on the Studio One label in 1968 with the flip, 'Musical Scorcher' by the Sound Dimension (also pressed on Muzik City). The other, 'Shimmering Star' which was pressed on a blank Coxsone/Studio One pre-release label about the same time. Though not sure of the flip.

'The Soulettes' in 1968, left to right: Rita Marley, Nora Dean, & Cecile Campbell.
Nora Dean left the group in 1969, joined/replaced then by Hortense Lewis.

May 14, 2022

funk dancer ~ 1972


Music Hosting - Listen Audio - Bobby Byrd - Sayin' It And D...


Could argue that Bobby Byrd invented funk.
Always viewed Bobby Byrd and James Brown as one and the same. They needed each other. Their collaborations created so many amazing sounds.

In 1970, James Brown collaborated and started the Brownstone record label with Florida producer and future 70s soul disco pioneer, Henry Stone. Stone would later run TK records, Florida. From 1970 to 1977, the Brownstone record label released about eleven 45s. Most all funk/soul.

It's been written and documented that Bobby actually "discovered" the young James Brown in 1952 while playing baseball on a juvenile prison field in Georgia. James was serving time there for stealing clothes...

A dance side that needs to be played with some volume through speakers.
Sayin' it and doin' it are two different things.
True enough. Funk perfection.

October 31, 2021

northern soul dancer ~ 1968


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Recorded in Hollywood, California 1968.

Detroit super soul singer, Marvin' Tyrone 'Jones (1942-1982) aka Jack Montgomery recorded and released only four 45s.
Existing from 1962 to 1970, the Los Angeles based Revue record label recorded/pressed about 60 45s, soul, soul-funk, soul-funk-jazz.

October 29, 2021

deep soul ~ Chicago 1968


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Don't know who she is. I've dug around over the years trying to come up with any information on this Bamboo label 45. Though Sylvia Thomas likely was from Chicago. This was her only 45 and recording released. ' So Will I ' was the first 45 in a series of about 20 released on the label.
Contrary to the St Louis label address, this was a Chicago based soul label which existed from 1968 to 1971.
Whether this Chicago label started in St Louis then moved to Chicago, or simply pressed and distributed their 45 catalog out of St Louis is anyone's guess. The Bamboo label was owned by Yolanda Hardin, mother of Mel Harden - Mel Hardin of soul singing duet, Mel & Tim - 'Backfield In Motion' also on the Bamboo label.
The flip side is 'At Last'.

October 24, 2021

R&B vocal ~ Louisiana 1961


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Leo Price 1935 ~ 2016

Drummer, composer/singer, and younger brother of R&B/pop singer Lloyd Price, this Hull label 45 was first recorded/pressed in 1961. It was pressed again with the same flip and added arrangements in '65 on the Up-Down label. Can't find info on where this was recorded...possibly in NYC. Though Leo grew up and lived in Kenner, LA, the Hull record label was out of the Brill building in New York City.
Leo played and composed with many other artists, including a cross country tour with his brother Lloyd in the early mid-50s. He also co-wrote 'Send Me Some Lovin' for Little Richard. Other than his two Hull and Up-Down label 45s, he recorded and pressed only one other 45 on the GMC label in '67.
The flip side: 'Quick Draw'

October 22, 2021

lounge / bossa nova - cha-cha-chá ~ Italy 1965


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La Sorella di Cristina - "Cristina's Sister." Can't find much info on this 45. Found another Andrea Tosi 45 released on the same label, 'Junior' out of Milan, Italy. Both produced by "Lord".
The flip side of this is - 'La Girandola'.

Wish Beppe wouldn't have written on her back! Guess I can't blame him.
Roughly " Sister Cristina, once me if you can " - Beppe

Below: Second Andrea Tosi Junior label 45 from 1965.
And two other mid-60s, "Quintetto Andrea Tosi" E.P.s ...one pressed in Portugal, the other pressed in Italy.







October 19, 2021

funk instrumental ~ Las Vegas 1972


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Louis Prima (1910 – 1978), trumpeter/singer, jump blues/swing bandleader, features his guitarist Ronnie James on this a-side.
Ronnie James was Louis' guitarist for two years in the early 70s. Owned by Louis, the Prima-Magnagroove record label existed out of Las Vegas from about 1962 to '72.
Great funk with a bit of cheese, backed by some fantastic drumming by Jimmy Vincent. 'Two Face' may be just that, a bit annoying perhaps in its' wah-wah goodness, but also a perfect display in exercising a funky freakout overindulgence.
The b-side is 'Oh Happy Day.'

This track is from the same 1972 recording sessions which produced the LP, 'Louis Prima with Sam Butera & the Witnesses - The Prima Generation '72.'
* note: this is not heavy metal vocalist/guitarist, Ronnie James Dio.

October 12, 2021

The song remains the same?

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'Rickets' Special'
'Buttermilk Pt I & II'
'2120 South Michigan Ave'

Three songs, three artists, one mod riff. Who was first? I feel as if I've done some half-assed detective work with no absolute conclusion.
Case in point, three great instrumental recordings from the 60s, all with the same bass line, guitar riff, and harmonica break.

Quite curious to me are the recordings, and recording dates from all artists involved, two in fact, with different writers' credits...

Quite curious still, is the fact that I recently discovered the Rickets, a mod/psych/German rock & roll band with some very rare early 60s recordings.

The song in question, a live recording from the Rickets called 'Rickets Special', first recorded on a vintage Telefunken two track tape recorder in 1963.

(early to mid-60s Rickets)

The Rickets did release a 45 in 1964. Probably released in Germany and/or Europe only. Unfortunately I've never seen the label to check the writer's credits. Though I did find online the original 45 rpm picture sleeve.

The a-side, 'My Dear' flipped over reveals a great b-side tune, 'Rickets' Special'.



The Rickets -'Rickets Special' was apparently re-recorded and retitled, 'Action Painting' sometime between 1965-67.
This version does appear on a rare German prog/kraut-rock compilation LP from 1970 entitled,'Wir Im Scheinwerfer' (We In the Spotlight).

If this first live 1963 recording date is accurate, it would predate both the Rolling Stones' and Sly Stone's "penned versions"...

Could the Rolling Stones have heard the Rickets version in some form before 1964? It's possible.

It's also possible the Stones, and later Sly Stone "lifted or borrowed" this brilliant hook/arrangement from the Rickets, both claiming the song as their own?

Or is it possible that the Stones had already been playing their '2120 South Michigan Ave' in clubs live, before they recorded it later in 1964 with the Rickets just adopting it and recording the tune just from hearing it live?



The Rickets' "original" live tape from 1963. This does sound a bit progressive for 1963(?)

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Sly Stone spinning the sounds at KSOL radio - San Francisco 1967
photo: Micheal Ochs



It also seems odd that Sly Stone's recorded Autumn label 45 from 1965 takes writer's credit one year after the Rolling Stones recorded and released their Decca version (essentially the same tune).

Recently read that Sylvester Stewart aka 'Sly Stone' is broke and living in a large trailer somewhere in Los Angeles. Not sure how true or to what extent, but it's always sad to read about poor circumstances talented artists fall upon.

Sly Stone put his mark on music, not to mention San Francisco's musical history. One of the top first artists to help bridge, blend, and shape 60s rock and soul together.

And here, his second 45 from 1965 pressed on the San Francisco Autumn label.
But wait, this funky, mod riff sounds familiar...?

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and again?!

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Recorded in 1964 at Chess records in Chicago - The Rolling Stones 5x5 UK Decca EP.


Note writers' credit on '2120 South Michigan Ave':
Nanker and Phlege, a pseudonym used by the Rolling Stones between 1963 and 1965.
The song title is the address to Chess records, Chicago.

Who was first? Does it really matter? Not really.
Personally, I feel the Stones may have came up with the first arrangement/riff.
I just like the song and I'm intrigued that I noticed.

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AN UPDATE:
Here are a couple of emails that may put this story to rest:

In Feb. I received an email from a guy named Ernst. Not sure if he was/is associated with the band or a former member of The Rickets:
To:ThomasSherrod

Hi Thomas,
the titel "action painting" is live-recorded in 1963
with a Telefunken Recorder 1/4" Tape.
The Titel is new recorded for the German TV-Show
"Wir im Scheinwerfer".
It`s released on vinyl LP: Label RESONO: Wir im Scheinwerfer.
5 Tracks from the Band. THE RICKETS

Look at You Tube: cicodelico
psychedelic freakout 1966/67 ricketts action painting

Cheers
Ernst
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In March I received another email from Marius.
This may be our answer...
Hi Thomas,

I found your blog entry by chance about the question, if the Stones have been influenced by the Rickets in the early 60s or even copied one of their songs.
My uncle happens to be the founder of the Rickets. He was later replaced by his brother. I recently play with the Rickets' drummer in a 60s and 70s cover band together with my father who also joined the Rickets in the late 60s till the 2000s. Since I got many records of the Rickets I'm very sure that their recording is not from 1963! As you mentioned in your blog, it sounds way to "progressive" for 1963. The number of the year is wrong. Must be from the mid 60s. Furthermore the Rickets were known to cover many Stones songs back in the day. All in all, the Stones haven't stolen the idea from the Rickets. It's the other way round I guess ;)

Have a nice day!
Marius

We may have the answer. thank you Marius!