Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Violet Ray on Gladatone


Violet Ray
Gladatone 101
Moss Point, Miss.
Produced by Frank Cunningham
CP-4283 - Senior Prom
CP-4284 - A Miracle Gladatone 101

The only other record issued on the same label seems to have been the EP listed by Terry'Gordon's Rockin' Country Style amazing discography here.


Hank Robey on Spindletop

Hank Robey
Spindletop 45002
7671 - I Told You So
7672 - Not Just A Dream
Port Arthur, Texas, 1962

Described as a "honky tonk shuffle hillbilly" country record. It was reviewed in the C&W section of Billboard magazine the week of August 18, 1962.

Other releases on the label include:

Jack Angel
Spindletop 45003 [BB Oct. 1962]
Everything Allright
When I Start Drinking

Jim Miller
Spindletop 45005 +PS
Four Reasons
Go Ask the Stars

Joey Choate (9 years-old blind piano player)
Spindletop 45009 +PS
With Vigah !
Teen Dream

Curt Block and the Dreamlites
Spindletop 45010
11219 - It's Raining Again
11220 - Hang Out (Instrumental - Dreamlites only)

Jim Miller
Spindletop 45011
11221 - Gonna Find Me An Angel
11222 - Carol (Chuck Berry tune)

Kenny Pickard
Spindletop 45012 (RITE pressing, unk. numbers)
(no info available)

Talmadge Armstrong and the Escotts
Spindletop 45015
?/?

Gordon Baxter
Spindletop 45016
We just called him Sam /?

Freddie Immel
Spindetop SR-0017
Where Will I Go From Here / Half the Man

Al Trahan
Spindletop SR-0018
Funky Lu /(I Know) We Need Each Other

David McIntyre
Spindletop S-0019
The Richest Man/Nobody But You

Frank Graffagnino
Spindletop SR-0022 (not RITE)
Cheatin’ Mama
I Made Up My Mind Last Night


Songsmith with the Daystrippers
Spindletop SR-0023
Wind / Columbia

Paul Hardy
Spindletop 45027
Many tears ago /?

Dwight James and The Rockin' Knights
Spindletop 111 (not a RITE pressing)
Just For You
Walkin Out
BB Pop review - July 3, 1961

Danny Brown
Spindletop SR-751
?/?

Al Trahan
Spindletop SR-761, 1976
Can I Feel It/?


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Johnson Sisters Trio



Johnson Sisters TrioNo label name; RITE account # 3074
23425 - Get Thee Behind Me Satan
23426 - Win The Lost At Any Cost
 1969

 Norfolk, Virginia according to http://www.45rpmrecords.com/ST/Johnson%20Sisters.php

Avfus Records (Benton Harbor, Michigan)



AVFUS Records
1069 E. Main
Benton Harbor, Michigan
1971-1972

109 Soul Revivers
27807 - I’m on my way home
27808 - I’ll fly away
Produced by Fred Patterson

110 Johnny Morris
27809 - Don't Be Ashamed
27810 - She's My Girl
Produced by Rufus Boothe

111 Shelia and the Tonnettes
? - It must be spring
? - You ain't gonna get it
Produced by Rufus Boothe

111 Soul Revivers
29111 - Bended knees
29112 - Stand by me
Produced by Fred Patterson

L P 1001 - Soul Revivers
29803/29804

Side One :

I’m On My Way Home
Yield Not To Temptation
The Everlasting Arms
Bended Knees
Come To Jesus
He Never Left Me Alone

Side Two :
Search Me Lord
In My Dressing Room
Stand By Me
You’ll Need The Lord
It’s Amazing
I’ll Fly Away



Sunday, December 21, 2008

Lanrod Records (Detroit, Michigan)


Lanrod 1605 [1963]
Edward Hamilton & Arabians
11157 - Temptation Of Love
11158 - Now You Have To Cry Alone





Lanrod 1606 [1964]
Joe Kingston
12167 - It Was Only Yesterday
12168 - A Long Time Ago

The owner of Lanrod Records, the Reverend James Hendrix was brought up on Church music, and that's how he got started in the music business. He held jobs in Churches as organ and piano player, choir director and Gospel songwriter for his choirs. He started writing music in 1939 in Nashville, and commuted from Nashville to Detroit from 1940-1959. In 1959, he relocated to Detroit, and stayed there through 1967. Soon after moving there, he started into secular music through writing for Cornell Blakely and managing him, and writing for others. He then formed his Carrie label, recording mainly gospel acts. His first secular release was the first recording of Mitch Ryder (Carrie 1515, as by Billy Lee). His name is also associated with producer Lou Beatty and helped him to start the La Beat label.

Other relases on the same label (not pressed by RITE) :

Lanrod 1605- Edward Hamilton & Arabians- I Love You So/Now You Have To Cry Alone

Lanrod 5513- John Heidelberg And The New Soul Emergency : Busing/New Soul Emergency Fire Ball

Lanrod 3777 (EP) - Minnie Merritt and Peace Baptist Church Choir




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Friday, December 19, 2008

Bob Storm on Halmark

Bob Storm
musical director: Jerry Dee
Halmark

The Halmark song-poem enterprise has been founded by Ted Rosen in 1967. The always entertaining Phil Milstein has a full page of information and a discography of the Halmark/Hallmark label in his American Song-Poem Music Archives (ASPMA)

The five 45s listed below are not listed by the ASPMA. The first has just be found on e-bay, and the four others in the on-line Library of Congress Audio Collection database.

All these records are credited to Bob Storm, with the mention of Jerry Dee, musical director.

Halmark 21887/8
Love Is An Awful Thing/
The Scent Of Roses

Halmark 23615/16
Keep That Chin Up Soldier / Wr Delbert J. Van Pattern.
I'm Glad I Fell In Love With You / Wr John Roza

Halmark 23619/20
He's Waiting / Wr Margaret Woodworth.
I Get Worked Up Over You / Wr Gerald Elias.

Halmark 23769/70
No One Could Have Been More In Love / Wr Esther D. Bremner.
If You Should Die In Your Sins / Wr Myrtle Ritchie.

Halmark 23777/78
People Can't You See / Wr Freddy Edlin.
Sometime, Somewhere, Somehow / Wr Mrs. D. Dixon.

Kisatchie Kinsmen - Jesse Acuff, vocalist


Kisatchie Kinsmen
Jesse Acuff, vocalist
Dollamar
22221 - Hurting Time
22222 - Hope You're Feeling Better

Country

Curly Farmer & Lonnie Crabtree - RCM Records


Curly Farmer & Lonnie Crabtree
RCM Records, Winchester, Kentucky
28745 - Curly's Blues
28746 - With Someone's Help
RITE Acct. # 1795

This 1972 release features a great instrumental on the A-side and a country vocal by Lonnie Crabtree on the reverse. The instrumental, "Curly's Blues" has a much earlier rockabilly beat and is worth the search for a copy.

The label appears to be from Winchester, Kentucky and may have been owned by Bill Martin. Perhaps the label name represents Bill's initials or those of someone from his family.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Otis Johnson - New Colony


Otis Johnson
New Colony
29279 – In The Streets Of The City –4:37
29280 – Something’s Wrong! - 3:15
“Recorded in the country” at Appalachia Sound Recording Studios, Chillicothe, Ohio
Both songs written by O.Johnson, Lantern Light Music, BMI

Soul.

The Appalachia Sound Recording Studio in Chillicothe Ohio was operated by Joe Waters (1947-2008).

Born September 19, 1947 in Chillicothe, Joe would always love to share a story about being a kid growing up on the neighborhood streets of his life-long home. Joe graduated from Ohio University in 1969 and was a High School English teacher in his early twenties.
Joe had a great love for music and in 1971 he opened a small recording studio in an old general store that his father owned in Massieville. This studio, Appalachia Sound, grew in reputation and Joe expanded his services to include equipment sales. Going one step further, Joe started offering recording classes for his customers too.

In 1977, these recording classes grew into The Recording Workshop, a school world-renown that still operates in the original location in Massieville.

.

Lester Tipton - LaBeat 6607

Lester Tipton, LaBeat 6607 Lester Tipton
LaBeat 6607, Detroit, Michigan
17867 - This Won't Change (soul)
17868 - Go On (soul)

This may be the most valuable 45 ever pressed by RITE Records in Cincinnati. Three eBay auctions in the last 4 months finished with winning bids of $5999.00, $6546.00 and $7200.00! Lou Beatty owned this label (among others) and produced 12-14 LaBeat releases before the Detroit riots of 1967 tore the studio apart and ended the business. Here's a photo of Lou in front of the Detroit studio in late 1966:


Other artists who recorded on LaBeat include Al Williams, James Shorter, Nelson Sanders and The Masqueraders. Three of the LaBeat releases were pressed by RITE including two others by the Masqueraders. Nothing on this legendary Detroit soul label goes for low prices!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Black Rock Quartet

Black Rock Quartet Gospel Jubilee 527 Demorest, Georgia ? - Heavenly Chimes ? - Work Play Sing And Shout The writer of the A-side, Ralph Raper, had a record shop in Demorest, Georgia, and was also very likely the owner of this label. Another label that he owned was Country Jubilee. The name of the publisher (Ralph's Radio) appears on various tiny Georgia labels like Lanier (Toccoa), Hillcrest (Cornelia), Self (?) and South Carolina Rush label. .

Monday, December 15, 2008

Roy Webber (Sterling 175 )

Roy Webber
Sterling 175
CP-1670 – Whistling Rufas
CP-1671 – Bumble Bee Blues

A pair of C&W instrumentals

Cowboy Kelly

Cowboy Kelly
Mike 45-7867
Account number: 728
20041 - Christmas Time Is Here
20042 - Christmas Dolly
Produced by L. Mike Carlson
Sparta, Michigan country.

L. Mike Carlson also produced Beverly McBrian with Charlotte and The Kentucky Boys on the same label, and on the Rascal label, Freeman Keith (Rascal 6001) and Cowboy Herb Brown (Rascal 8901).

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Gospel Mariners 7619


The Gospel Mariners 7619
Gospel Mariner's Quartet
CP-1118 - He Knows Just What I Need (sacred)
CP-1119 - My God Is Real (sacred)
Dayton, Ohio - 1956


In 1950 at Dayton , Ohio , the Reverend Loren Kolb had an idea that there should be a Gospel television program in this south-western Ohio area. He tried several different formats until the program GOOD SHIP ZION evolved and was accepted for public service programming by station WHIO-TV. “Captain” Kolb found a Gospel Quartet from Dayton and named them the Gospel Mariners. The program, presented as though it originated on board a ship, consisted of three or four songs by the quartet and a short message by “Captain” Kolb. The GOOD SHIP ZION program ran live at noon every Sunday and was one of the longest sustaining programs in the country.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Virginia Soul Stirrers

The Virginia Soul Stirrers
28181 – I Feel The Holy Spirit
28182 - Swing Down Chariot
Joy Enterprises Inc. - JE-VSS-101

Black gospel

Mary Hankins With The Tiki-Turbans



Mary Hankins With The Tiki-Turbans
12451 – The Way Of Love

Mary Hankins /Jimmy Taylor With The Tiki-Turbans
12452 – Ants In My Pants

Continental Promotions
Charleston W. Va.



Curtis Price remembers :

« My dad […] was a musician, so obviously I became involved with music real early. He was a piano player, so I played piano with him for years. Later, I switched to guitar. My grandmother bought me my first guitar. It was a Christmas present, and she passed away on Christmas Day. That guitar was always very special to me.

"By junior high, I was playing with a group called the Tiki Turbans. There was a club called the Man Tiki on the Boulevard, a college hangout. We played there three or four nights a week.


"The Way Of Love" has been compiled on CD (The Kiddie Sound, volume 13), but wrongly credited to Jimmy Taylor. The singer is Mary Hankins.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Jimmie James (Band Box 377)


Jimmie James
Band Box 377
Denver, CO
19601 - Too Many Mini Skirts
19602 - Is It A Crime, Is It A Sin

The label was owned by Vicky Morosan.

From a Denver Post Article written by Nick Groke :
Vicky Morosan, who immigrated to America in the '30s from Transylvania, Romania, answered a for-sale ad in the paper for a recording studio at East Sixth Avenue and Ogden Street called Columbine Records.

A dispute over the name with behemoth Columbia Records got Morosan to change the label's name to Band Box Records. She moved to 220 S. Broadway and went into business. Denver had its Sun Studio.

"She loved music, opera especially. So it was funny for her to get into rock 'n' roll." said Morosan's daughter, Frances. Morosan died [...] in 2006. She was 97.

"She would make demo records for whoever would come in the door," Frances said. "She loved the business so much. She put those records in her trunk and hauled them all over the country, the hard way. She was just a working old fool."

Band Box turned out about 350 masters, mostly rockabilly, country and Western, and R&B, from bands including Orlie & the Saints, Lee Chandler & the Blue Rhythms, and Jimmy DeKnight, co-writer of "Rock Around the Clock." The label nearly hit big with Freddie & the Hitch-Hikers' "Sinners" in 1961 — a song later covered by the Cramps — and with Sonny Russell's "50 Megatons" in 1963.

Band Box label discography


-

Jesse Butler (Process 150)

Jesse Butler (with Freddie and the Continental Playboys)
Franklin, PA
15039 - Dancing Fever
15040 - Tear Drops And Pennies

Winning bid: US $9.38
Ended: Oct-05-08




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Wayne Toombs on Pure Gold 305



Wayne Toombs
Pure Gold 305
9525 - It's My Heart That You're Breaking
9526 - Pretty Girl
Rite Account #267

According the The American Record Label Directory, Pure Gold is a Memphis based subsidary of the Fernwood label.

Partially documented on RCS with only one photo and no sound clips, this 1963 rock & roll / rocker is worth further mention.

Mr. Toombs gets warmed up with a nice rocker on the a-side and then delivers a calypso style semi-rockabilly "Pretty Girl" on the b-side.

Please click this link for a sortable & searchable listing of RITE Custom Pressings now numbering well over 1700 listings and growing daily!

Leon High School Band


Leon High School Band
Director: Oliver Hobbs
CP - 4569 - Alma Mater
CP - 4570 - Dixie
Rite Account #127

The Leon High School Band of Tallahassee, Florida, was under the direction of Oliver Hobbs from 1950 - 1967. This 1960 recording represents the peak of Hobbs leadership as the band had represented the State of Florida at the 1959 Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., and the 1960 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

The band was excellent and the songs are classic. "Alma Mater" is the same tune used in the final talent show scene at the end of the classic film, "Dirty Dancing" and what great southern band isn't prepared to thrill the crowd with a rousing rendition of "Dixie." Find one if you can but I'm not letting go of my copy!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Cleveland Robinson Sings

Cleveland Robinson Sings
No label name
9917 - These Are The Hands
9918 - Come Change Your Name To Mine
Rite account number : 1074 [Cleveland (OH)]

This predates the second pressing on the Debra label, listed in all discographies I've seen as his first.


Born in Macon Georgia and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh Cleveland formed a Quartet and began singing in his church. Cleveland later married there and started a family. Soon after, Cleveland migrated to Cleveland Ohio and began his pursuit as a professional singer song writer of popular music.A lot of time, sweat, boxes of throat lozenges, countless cups of hot tea with lemon and honey, and it was time to "come out of the gym".

His first professional recording was done at Schneider Recording Studio in downtown Cleveland Ohio. Almost immediately his recording was taken by Redda Robins to Murray Deutch, an executive head at United Artists, who liked it well enough to award Cleveland a recording contract on the United Artists Ascot label. However due to personal problems, which he relayed to Murray, he reluctantly released him. But Cleveland continued his pursuit. He had already started another business in order to provide steady income for his family which had grown to a number of seven.

[Source :
http://clevelandrobinson.net/us.htm]


Monday, December 8, 2008

Bert Murray on the Allen Organ

Bert Murray singing and playing on the Allen Organ
No label name
Rite account number 1074 [Cleveland, Ohio]
15553 – Tiny Piney, the Christmas tree
15554 - It’s Christmas time again
Pub. By Nordyke Music – Hollywood , Calif.

Hear the first minute

During the 1940s and early '50s, you could scarcely open a pulp magazine without tripping over an ad for Nordyke Publishing Company. They were the dominant force in the song-poem industry.
(...)


In the sheet music branch of the song-poem industry it was even easier to get away with song recycling than it was in the recorded end, and Nordyke relied heavily on that scheme. Many of their tunes were vaguely reminiscent of familiar melodies, yet were at the same time instantly forgettable. At best they were simplistic and dull.
(…)

Read the full article at Phil Milstein's Song-Poem Music site.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Betty Menear on Process 1002

Betty Menear
Process 1002
Rite account #802
14799 – Summer Love
14800 – Just In Time

Betty Menear is Betty E. Tosh, born in 1926, resides today in Latrobe, PA and she is still active in the music as a songwriter.

The Intrepids (Nite Beat)

The Intrepids
Nite Beat 1000
26847 – It’s Just A Picture
26848 – To Make You Love Me
Both songs written by Norman Keith, James Boy Music, BMI
Produced by B. Johnson and R. Simone
Arranged by C. Washington Jr. & N. Keith

Soul/funk also issued on the bigger Cotillion label (# 44094).

Norman Keith [aka Norman Thomas Keith, aka Tommy Keith], possibly a member of The Intrepids, earned his spurs singing with a number of vocal groups – the Delites, Brothers Of Love and Marlboro Men and worked behind the scenes songwriting and producing [The Moments on Stang, The Whatnauts, etc.].
The Marlboro Men had the second issue on the Nite Beat label.

The label was possibly based in Philadelphia, PA.




It’s Just A Picture

Donna, Jean and Irene

Donna, Jean and Irene
Label : Songs of the Redeemed
Music by H. Coleman, A. Anderson, J. Tabor
12961 – Make My Life A Blessing (Hazel Trubee)
12962 - ?

Ralph Trotto on Link 707 EP


Ralph Trotto
Link Records 707 EP, Cincinnati, OH 45215
RITE Account #1480
14257 - My Feet Sometimes Stumble / Satisfied (sacred)
14258 - So Trust The Lord / Lord's Prayer (sacred / guitar solo inst.)

Ralph Trotto must have been very talented because this is an amazing record. Ralph's pleasant and soulful vocal, backed with a chorus, conveys a powerful message with deep feelings. "Satisfied" is an uptempo country gospel bopper that really delivers a punch. The real gold, however is "The Lord's Prayer" on the flip side of the record. Ralph performs this song as a guitar solo that is powerful and breathtaking. Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this record!

A slogan on the left side of the label says it's "An ADCO Sound" so I presume it was produced in conjunction with local Cincinnatian, "Hobo" Jack Adkins, owner of the Adco label which was very active at this time (1965) and also used RITE to press many of his releases.

As an interesting sidenote, in Lonnie Mack's biography, Lonnie mentions "blind guitarist, gospel singer, Ralph Trotto as his earliest musical mentor/ blues guitar influence." Although this must have occured many years earlier, this recording is a testament to the likelihood of that infulence.

The Singing Preacher Rev. Russell E. Ford

The Singing Preacher Rev. Russell E. Ford
EP [no label name] -- 1962
Box 1111, Indianapolis, Ind.
7289 - How Great Thou Art/When We See Christ
7290 - It Took a Miracle/A Shelter in the Time of Storm

Friday, December 5, 2008

Excel Dorsett on River


Excel Dorsett
CP-2979 –The Way To Excel
CP-2980 – Oh Little Girl
River 100
Biloxi, Miss.
A Carpenter and Maddux production

A teen record. One of the earliest (the first?) release on the label owned by Marion Carpenter. Maddux, who co-produced the record, is Pee Wee Maddux (died in 1993).




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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Count Baltes & The Egors on Raven B-2723


Count Baltes & The Egors
Raven B-2723
Rite Account # 5691
30989 - The Monster Walk (Novelty Rock & Roll Instrumental)
30990 - Opening The Coffin (Novelty Rock & Roll)

One of two releases that I'm aware of on this label, Count Baltes delivers a very entertaining novelty tune with "Opening The Coffin" done to the tune of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel." The chorus is made up exclusively of mouth noises - the kind where you squeeze air out of the sides of your mouth to make a motorboat noise. Very creative!

"The Monster Walk" is a mid to up-tempo rock & roll instrumental that seems to feature a sitar (or a tortured cat). Count Baltes' brief intro announces that the record you are about to hear was recorded in the catacombs of your mind ...

Of all the Rite pressing info that has been shared with me by many collectors, this one is not on anybody's list. Anybody else got a copy?


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Monday, December 1, 2008

Sonny Hines on Esta 790/791



Sonny Hines with (Tommy Wills) Orchestra
ESTA 790/791 - 1958
CP-1553 - I'm Glad You're Jealous Of Me (R & B)
CP-1554 - This Morning (Uptempo Blues)

Great tunes by a very young Sonny Hines (possible his first recording) on Estelle (Eve) Dodds very collectible ESTA label. The ESTA label was located in Hamilton, Ohio - just up the road from Cincinnati and was one of the earliest to use RITE's custom pressing service. Sonny later recorded for Tommy Wills' Airtown, Terry and Gregory labels and has some desirable soul recordings.


Jim Weatherly and the Mozark Music Makers

Jim Weatherly and the Mozark Music Makers
Mozark 100 - [1963]
Springfield, Missouri
9513 - The Girls In My Home Town
9514- If They Knew You