Sunday, July 31, 2011

Appologies for the interruption for the past several days.............

I haven't posted in quite a few days. Unlike me, as I'm usually cranking it out pretty regular. Addressing a few ongoing health issues, and so I do hope to get back into the grind during this next week. I should be continuing the Django lists, Clyde McPhatter/Dominoes/Drifters lists, Martha Tilton, Don Redman, and am researching and compiling some older jazz.....Jabbo Smith, Astoria Hot 8, Georgia Strutters, Charlie Johnson's Paradise Orch.  I'm also working on some more vocalists...Frances Langford, and Doris Day. Looking to get some transciptions up, too...mostly western swing stuff that may or may not be easily found online...not sure, but I do have some good stuff y'all might like. Oh, and movies....I have a lot...could post more, as they seem to be popular....let me know if you're looking for something you can't find, I might be able to get it up on here for you.

I'd also like to ask for some requests, if you have some....anything, really. I have so much music that I occasionally go through some "uploader's block", if you will...and sometimes get a little burned out listing the stuff that I do.....a little creative ass prodding often gets me into looking for and researching stuff.....I love finding things for folks who haven't had luck finding or completing their collections.....let me know of anything you're into. I love doing requests.

If you find something, and the link isn't working, or you find some inaccuracy.....please, PLEASE let me know, so I can try to correct that......there have been a lot of posts over the last year, and some of the older stuff may have problems....again, I'll be happy to try to fix it for you.

Thanks again for your patience :)

The BIG Django Reinhardt list continues....the "G"s and "F"s............

And here we go............

Gabriel Swing-PHILIPPE BRUN AND HIS SWING BAND 1938
Gaiement-DJANGO REINHARDT & SON ORCHESTRE 1943
Gallito- GUERINO ET SON ORCH. MUSETTE 1933
Georgia On My Mind-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1936
Gipsy with a Song (version 1)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE (BLUE STAR SESSIONS - 1947)
Gipsy with a Song (version 2)- QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE (BLUE STAR SESSIONS - 1947)
Good Morning Blues-DJANGO REINHARDT & SON ORCHESTRE 1945
Got Rhythm-ROME SESSIONS 1949
Gotta Date In Louisiana-PHILIPPE BRUN AND HIS SWING BAND 1938
Griserie-ORCH. MUSETTE JEAN VAISSADE 1928
H.C.Q. Strut-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1939
Hallelujah (2)-JAZZ CLUB MYSTERY HOT BAND 1945
Hallelujah-DJANGO REINHARDT & STEPHANE GRAPPELLI A ROME (RADIO SESSIONS - 1948)
Hands Across The Table-PATRICK ET SON ORCHESTRE DE DANSE 1935
Hangin' Around Boudon-DICKY WELLS AND HIS ORCHESTRA 1937
Harlem Swing-PHILIPPE BRUN AND HIS SWING BAND 1937
Heavy Guns (Artillerie Lourde)-DJANGO REINHARDT & SON ORCHESTRE 1945
Honeysuckle Rose (2)-DJANGO REINHARDT & STEPHANE GRAPPELLI A ROME (RADIO SESSIONS - 1948)
Honeysuckle Rose (3)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE (Rome Sessions - Radio- 1950)
Honeysuckle Rose (4)-WITH DUKE ELLINGTON & HIS ORCHESTRA 1946
Honeysuckle Rose (5)-FRANCO-AMERICAN QUARTET 1945
Honeysuckle Rose (6)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1938
Honeysuckle Rose (ver 2)-FRANCO-AMERICAN QUINTET 1945
Honeysuckle Rose-COLEMAN HAWKINS AND HIS ALL STAR “JAM” BAND 1937
Hot Lips-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1936
How Come You Do Me Like You Do-FREDDY TAYLOR & HIS ORCHESTRA 1935
How high the moon (2)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE (RADIO SESSIONS - 1947)
How high the moon (3)-JAZZ CLUB MYSTERY HOT BAND 1945
How high the moon (4)-ROME SESSIONS 1949
How high the moon (5)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE (RADIO SESSIONS - 1947)
How high the moon-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1947
Hungaria (2)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1939
Hungaria (take1)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1939
Hungaria (take2)-QUINTETTE DU HOT CLUB DE FRANCE 1939
Hungaria-ANDRÉ EKYAN - SOLO DE SAXOPHONE 1941

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=K2L6TUHA

Fud Candrix Part 4..............

And here's Part 4.............


52nd Street
720 in the books
Studio 24
Studio number one
Sugar foot stomp
Sweeping the floor
Swing night in Dixieland
Swing serenade
Swinging at the jamboree
Swinging
Table D'Hôte
Take your pick and swing
Tanzparkett
Teasing The Piano
Tel-aviv
Ti Pi Tin
Tico Tico
Tiger Rag
Time Out
Time Signal
Trail Souvenir
Two Left Feet
U-bahn Fox/Metro Stomp
Verlaine
Vilja-Lied
Vous Et Moi
Waddlin At The Waldorf
Wann Kommt Der Tag
Was Geschah In Dieser Nacht
Washington Squabble
Zerstreutheit
Zuiderzee Blues-w/ Django Reinhardt

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XO3G2C1S

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Afternoon OTR: Command Performance from AFRS 10-02-1943....King Cole Trio, Betty Hutton, Don Ameche...........

A nice one for this afternoon........ep. 87, with Ken Carpenter announcing...........Don Ameche, The Nat King Cole Trio, Betty Hutton, Jack Douglas, The Vagabonds, Al Dexter.  Enjoy! (A few sound issues with this one...not the best quality, a good listen nonetheless...........)


Don
Nat and the boys
Betty

Al Dexter


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ORQBMIUK

A Sartorial tutorial.......................

Jane just slammed me in the head.......she's such a darling little scamp!! ;)












Hey, I didn't forget you guys.......but, seriously, how much has actually changed for men? well, hats,well-groomed hair, tailoring...........but, I digress........

I got....S S S Ssssssssssssssssss STEAM HEAT!!!........(Satan Called: He wants his weather back) ;)

Here's a few hastily compiled tunes designed to accompany the whirring O' the fan blades...........

A hot time in the Old Town Tonight-Bessie Smith acc. Fletcher Henderson
He's the Hottest Man in Town-Cliff  "Ukelele Ike" Edwards
Heat wave-Carl Kress & Dick McDonough
Heat waves-Billy Banks and Blue Rhythm Boys -Mills Blue Rhythm Band
Hot 'N Anxious-Fletcher Henderson
Hot aire-George Olsen and His Music
Hot and heavy-Ben Tobier & His California Cyclones
Hot Cha Medley -Mildred Bailey with Paul Whiteman
Hot fingers-Lonnie Johnson
Hot footin' it-the Midnight Merrymakers
Hot heels-Eddie Lang
Hot hula lips-Masters Hawaiians
Hot lips-The Cotton Pickers
Hot mittens-The Bucktown Five***Muggsy Spanier, NOT Bix, as listed on the file**
Hot Nuts (Get 'Em from the Peanut Man)-Georgia White **Oh, yeah, like yours AREN'T in this weather??...lol**
Hot tamales-Chick Bullock
Hot time in the town of Berlin-John Scott Troter Orch w/ Bing Crosby and The Music Maids
Hot water blues-Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra
Hot-hot-Hotentot-Roger Wolfe Kahn
Hotter than that-Louis Armstrong
It's heated-Frankie 'Half-Pint' Jaxon
Le Jazz Hot-Jimmie Lunceford
Red hot Chicago-Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians
Red hot mama-Ray Miller & His Hotel Gibson Orchestra
Sweet and hot-Andy Kirk and his 12 Clouds of Joy/Mary Lou Williams
Too darn hot-Ella Fitzgerald
turn on that red-hot heat (burn your blues away)-Bunny Berigan


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GKMPQ1BJ

I also wanted to mention fans...............yes, FANS.  Being 100+ here in Chicago, even the die-hard vintage fan collector, restorer, and user that I am.....my air conditioning is finally on (shhhhh, it's for my PETS ;)

Anywhooo.................electric fans from the 20s-40s are harder and harder to find...and more and more expensive, working or not. I've noticed that a lot of "trendy" people decorate with them, try to look like a "Restoration Hardware" catalog, whatever....it makes it harder for people like myself, who restore and actually USE them. (I personally don't really believe in antiques without function, but that's just me).

Back to fans.......the VORNADO Vortex fan...................the best made, IMHO. 

Not THAT hard to find, but increasingly expensive. Vornado makes a reproduction one, also....expensive too, but highly recommended. Very Eames/Raymond Loewy.....very effective. I have a few, and use them religiously.......like the Catholic that I am....religiously. One little Vornado will cool a living room or office quite nicely........do consider looking for one :)


A few good Vornado sites: 

http://www.hudsonscustommachining.com/     (scroll down the page to the restored 1952 Vornado with chrome and metalflake Amethyst paint..............HOT!!)

A few never seen pics from: 1950s Radio in Color: The Lost Photographs of Deejay Tommy Edwards, by Chris Kennedy

Look at this picture......I bet you've never seen it, in fact I know you haven't.  Bill at his prime, Elvis just starting his climb to the top.

Here's a few more you've never seen:
And there's a TON more......of everyone who was anyone in popular music and on radio in the '50s. Just simply amazing images....over 200 slides in crisp Kodak  Ektachrome glory from the new book: 

1950s Radio in Color: The Lost Photographs of Deejay Tommy Edwards


Here's a brief description from Amazon:

A remarkable collection of photographs by one of rock's early champions

Between 1955 and 1960, popular Cleveland deejay Tommy Edwards photographed the parade of performers who passed through the WERE-AM radio studio for on-air interviews, shooting more than 1,700 Ektachrome slides. Following his death in 1981, most of the collection vanished and was presumed lost. The few images that remained were often reprinted and rarely credited to Edwards, labeled photographer unknown. Until now.

Discovered by musician Chris Kennedy in 2006, Tommy Edwards's candid photographs capture the birth of rock 'n' roll at its flashpoint: Elvis Presley while he was still dangerous; a raw and incomplete Chuck Berry before his star ascended; and some beady-eyed, high-voiced kid named Roy Orbison. It wasn't just the architects of rock music whom Edwards had in his viewfinder. There were also pop and country music s biggest stars, mysterious, unknown hopefuls, and vulnerable, deglamourized Hollywood celebrities. Edwards's passion for photography immortalized hundreds of pioneers of rock 'n' roll and pop culture in the radio studio, a setting that was often unseen. His photos offer a rare look behind a closed door.

In 2009, Kennedy located the only surviving copy of the T.E. Newsletter collection, Tommy Edwards's self-published weekly two-page recap of Cleveland radio and record news for music business insiders, spanning from 1953 through 1960. The wealth of information and dates contained in the newsletters are the photo collection's indispensable companion piece, and Edwards's anecdotal quips are interspersed throughout the text of the book.

1950s Radio in Color
gives Tommy Edwards his due recognition as the deejay responsible for perhaps the most important photographic and written documentation of twentieth-century music ever produced. Featuring over 200 color photographs, this book will transport readers back in time, allowing them to step into Edwards's shoes for a moment and to feel the wonder and excitement he must have felt every day while witnessing a cultural revolution.

Here's a few of the reviews thus far:

"Viewing these photographs delivers the same exquisite, intimate, irresistible thrill as looking through family albums and yearbooks.-- Anthony DeCurtis, Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone

"Tommy Edwards helped establish many a successful recording artist - including me!" - Pat Boone

"As producer and historian for Sony Music I sometimes run into kindred spirits--Chris Kennedy is such a person, and 1950s Radio in Color is a splendid example of Chris's dedication to his craft."  - Ernst Jørgensen

"1950's Radio in Color will be a treasure to many who remember those simpler times when we were much younger." Alfred Wertheimer, photographer

"What a great idea. Candid pictures from 1955-1960 in Technicolor, annotated by Chris Kennedy. Look and read!!!" - Richard Weize, Bear Family Records
The few photos that I've seen are QUITE the teaser.  Over 200 pictures, from a collection of over 1,800! I can only imagine what the rest of the collection is like....especially of artists in the country and pop fields, not just in early rock and roll.



Here is a link for Amazon:

If you have a copy, have heard of it, seen it, or do purchase a copy in the next few.....comment. I'd like to hear feedback, and am hoping to get a copy myself, soon. :) It looks great.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Clyde McPhatter-his years with Billy Ward and the Dominoes.....

Clyde McPhatter


Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. McPhatter was lead tenor for The Mount Lebanon Singers, a gospel group he formed as a teenager; and later, lead tenor for Billy Ward and His Dominoes. After his tenure with the Dominoes, McPhatter formed his own group called The Drifters before going solo, leaving a legacy of over 22 years of recording history.

Clyde Lensley McPhatter was born in the tobacco town community of Hayti, Durham, North Carolina, on November 15, 1932, and raised in a religious Baptist family; the son of the Rev. George McPhatter and wife Beulah (though some accounts refer to her as Eva). Starting at age five, he sang in his father's church gospel choir along with his three brothers and three sisters. When he was ten, Clyde was the soprano-voiced soloist for the choir. In 1945, the Rev. McPhatter moved his family to Teaneck, New Jersey where Clyde attended Chelsior High School. He worked part-time as a grocery store clerk, and eventually was promoted to shift manager upon graduating high school. The family then relocated to New York City, and McPhatter formed the gospel group The Mount Lebanon Singers.

In 1950, after winning "Amateur Night" at Harlem's Apollo Theater, McPhatter returned to his job as store manager but later was recruited by Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man" for Federal Records, a song sometimes regarded as the "first record of rock 'n roll," produced by Ralph Bass.

Clyde's fervent, high-pitched tenor was a large part of the Dominoes' success. He was regarded as the main singer to infuse his gospel-steeped singing style into mainstream R&B, though blues singer Roy Brown was actually the first to do so. Although Brown started the trend, McPhatter was more widely imitated, and he was a much bigger influence in the shaping of Doo-Wop/R&B. In his book The Drifters, Bill Millar names Ben E. King, Smokey Robinson of the Miracles, Sammy Turner, and Marv Johnson among the vocalists who patterned themselves after McPhatter. "Most important," he concludes, "McPhatter took hold of the Ink Spots' simple major chord harmonies, drenched them in call-and-response patterns and sang as if he were back in church. In doing so, he created a revolutionary musical style from which---thankfully---popular music will never recover." Strangely, McPhatter didn't think much of his own singing abilities. The numerous Clyde McPhatter imitators tell a different story, namely Nolan Strong of The Diablos, Bobby Day, and Dee Clark.

After recording several more songs, including "Have Mercy Baby", "Do Something for Me," and "The Bells," McPhatter quit The Dominoes in 1953. He was sometimes passed off as "Clyde Ward," Billy's little brother. Others assumed it was Billy Ward doing the lead singing. Because of such occurrences, and because he was frequently at odds with Ward, McPhatter quit the Dominoes, intent on making a name for himself. Before leaving The Dominoes, McPhatter was asked by Ward to coach the group's replacement lead tenor. Auditions were held at Detroit's Fox Theater, and a young Jackie Wilson would take over as The Dominoes' lead tenor. Wilson's singing style was much influenced by McPhatter. "I fell in love with the man's voice. I toured with the group and watched Clyde and listened..."---and apparently learned. Privately, McPhatter and Ward often argued, but publicly Clyde expressed his appreciation to Ward for giving him his start in show business.

Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, eagerly sought McPhatter after noticing he was not present for an appearance The Dominoes made at Birdland, which was "an odd booking for the Dominoes", in Ertegun's words. After locating him, McPhatter was then signed to Atlantic on the condition that he form his own group. Clyde promptly assembled a group and called them The Drifters. They recorded a few tracks, including a song called "Lucille," written by McPhatter himself. This group of Drifters did not have the sound Atlantic executives were looking for, however, and Clyde was prompted to assemble another group of singers. The revised lineup recorded and released such hits as "Money Honey," "Such a Night," "Honey Love," "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do," with the record label proudly displaying the group name "Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters." (The story of The Drifters is full of personnel changes. The first group of Drifters Clyde formed were mostly members of The Mount Lebanon Singers.)

In late 1954, McPhatter was drafted into the Army and assigned to Special Services in the continental United States, which allowed him to continue recording. After his tour of duty was up, he left The Drifters and launched a solo career.

McPhatter's first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B recordings in the next few years, including "Seven Days" (later a bigger hit for Tom Jones), "Treasure of Love," "Just to Hold my Hand", and his biggest solo hit, "A Lover's Question," written by Brook Benton and Clyde Otis, which peaked at No. 6 in 1958. In 1962, the song "Lover Please," written by country artist Billy Swan was released. His 1956 recording "Treasure of Love" saw his first solo No. 1 on the R&B charts and one week in the UK Singles Chart. It reached No. 16 on the U.S. Pop charts.

After leaving Atlantic Records, McPhatter then signed on with MGM Records, and released several more songs, including "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) and his first single for Mercury Records "Ta Ta." He recorded more singles, including "I Never Knew" and his final Top Ten hit "Lover Please," which made it to No. 7 in 1962. It was after "Lover Please" that McPhatter saw a downward turn in his career, as musical styles and tastes were constantly changing during the 1960s.

In 1968, McPhatter moved to England, where he was still highly revered, and he was backed by UK band "ICE".

McPhatter returned to America in 1970, making a few appearances in rock 'n roll revival tours, but remaining mostly a recluse. Hopes for a major comeback with a Decca album were crushed on June 13, 1972, when Clyde McPhatter died in his sleep at the age of 39 from complications of heart, liver, and kidney disease, brought on by alcohol abuse - abuse that had been fueled by a failed career and the resentment he harbored towards the fans he felt had deserted him. In a 1971 interview with journalist Marcia Vance, McPhatter told Vance "I have no fans." He was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

Ruth Brown acknowledged in her later years that McPhatter was the actual father of her son Ronald, born in 1954. Ron now tours occasionally with a show of Drifters songs.



Ok. I'm starting today with Clyde's songs with Billy Ward and the Dominoes....up to 1953.

 The following lists will be The Dominoes AFTER Clyde, Clyde's songs with the Drifters, Clyde solo, and possibly The Drifters after Clyde.  

Given the 'Six Degrees of Separation' of all of the artists, this kind of leads into and out of many other lists, including the Jackie Wilson lists that I posted back in October of 2010: http://planetbarberella.blogspot.com/2010/10/mr-excitement-some-uptempo-early-jackie.html.

I think here is a good place to start.......sooooo, Clyde McPhatter with Billy Ward and the Dominoes:
Chicken Blues-1950
Do something for me-1950
No says my heart-1951
Harbor lights-1951
The deacon is movin' in-w/ Little Esther- With Earle Warren Orchestra 1951
Sixty minute man-1951
I can't escape from you-1951
Heart to heart-w/ Little Esther- With Earle Warren Orchestra 1951
Weeping willow blues-1951
I Am With You-1951
That's What You're Doin' To Me-1952
When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano-1952
Deep Sea Blues-1952
Have Mercy Baby-1952
Love Love Love-1952
No room-1952
I'd be satisfied-1952
I'm lonely-1952
Yours forever-1952
The bells-1952
Pedal pushin' papa 1-1952
Pedal pushin' papa 2-1952
Don't leave me this way-1953
These foolish things-1953



Here is a rough timeline for Clyde up to 1953 from: http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/cmcphatter.htm

Clyde McPhatter

The Mount Lebanon Singers (members Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White, William Anderson, Wilmer Baldwin, David Baldwin and James Johnson) 1945

The Ques (members Billy Ward (pianist), Clyde McPhatter (lead tenor), Charlie White (tenor), William Joseph Lamonte (baritone) and Bill Brown (bass)) 1950 line-up.

The Dominoes (members Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White (later member of The Checkers on King), William Joseph Lamonte and Bill Brown (later member of The Checkers on King))

Federal 12001 - Chicken Blues* / Do Something For Me** - 1950 *Lead Bill Brown. **Lead Clyde McPhatter.
Federal 12010 - No! Says My Heart* / Harbor Lights* - 1951 *Lead Clyde McPhatter.

Little Esther With Earle Warren Orchestra  

Federal 12016 - The Deacon Moves In* / Other Lips, Other Arms** - 1951 *lead Esther Mae Jones and Charlie White (Backed By The Remaining Dominoes Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White, William Joseph Lamonte and Bill Brown)  **Little Esther solo.

The Dominoes (members Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White, William Joseph Lamonte and Bill Brown)

Federal 12022 - Sixty Minute Man* / I Can't Escape From You** - 1951 *lead Bill Brown. **lead Clyde McPhatter.

Little Esther and The Dominoes (members Esther Mae Jones, Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White, William Joseph Lamonte and Bill Brown (with The Earle Warren Orchestra))

Federal 12036 - Heart To Heart* / Looking For A Man To Satisfy My Soul** - 1951 *lead Little Esther and Clyde McPhatter. **Little Esther solo.


The Dominoes (members Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White, William Joseph Lamonte and Bill Brown)

Federal 12039 - Weeping Willow Blues* / I Am With You** - 1951 *Lead Clyde Mcphatter. **lead Clyde McPhatter and Bill Brown.

The Dominoes Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, James Van Loan (born 6-December-1922 - died 1976 - cause: ? -- later member of The Ravens on Argo and The Kings on Baton), William Joseph Lamonte and Bill Brown)

Federal 12059 - That's What You're Doing To Me* / When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano* - 1952 *Lead Clyde Mcphatter.

The Dominoes (members Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, James Van Loan, William Joseph Lamonte and Raymond Johnson (former member of The Beavers))

The Dominoes (members Billy Ward, Clyde McPhatter, James Van Loan, William Joseph Lamonte and David McNeil (born 1932 --- died 7-January-2005 in New Haven, Connecticut --- cause: cancer --- a former member of The Larks on Apollo))

Federal 12068 - Deep Sea Blues* / Have Mercy Baby* - 1952 *Lead Clyde McPhatter.

Federal 12072 - That's What You're Doing To Me* / Love, Love, Love** - 1952 *lead Clyde McPhatter. **lead Bill Brown.
Federal 12105 - No Room* / I'd Be Satisfied** - 1952 *lead Johnny Oliver. **lead Clyde McPhatter.
Federal 12106 - I'm Lonely* / Your's Forever** - 1952 *lead Johnny Oliver. **lead Clyde McPhatter.
Federal 12114 - The Bells* / Pedal Pushin' Papa** - 1952 *lead Clyde McPhatter. **lead David McNeil.
Federal 12129 - Don't Leave Me This Way* / These Foolish Things* - 1953 *lead Clyde McPhatter.

Clyde McPhatter leaves group in 1953 and is replaced by Jackie "Sonny" Wilson.