BUDDY And ELLA JOHNSON - LP DISCOGRAPHY - Referencing The 1992 4CD Bear Family Box Set.

"…I Gotta A Girl…Well She Can’t Be Beat…She’d Be Real Pretty…If She Had Some Teeth…"

BUDDY and ELLA JOHNSON - LP DISCOGRAPHY

Referencing "Buddy And Ella Johnson 1953-1964"

The 4CD 104-Track LP-Sized Box Set

Released 1992 on Bear Family BCD 15479

Featuring: Floyd Ryland, Ricky Harper, Gil Askey,

Nolan Lewis and Lee Thomas on Vocals

Purvis Henson on Tenor Saxophone

Sam "The Man" Taylor on Tenor Saxophone (4 tracks only)

[1/3] = Track 1 on Disc 3, [12/2] = Track 12 on Disc 2 etc

1. "Rock 'N Roll"
BUDDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
USA 1956 Debut 12” LP on Mercury MG 20209 (Mono Only)
Reissued in the USA in 1962 1st on Wing MGW 12005 using the same picture on the cover. Then reissued in the USA in 1963 as "Rock 'N Roll Stage Show" on Wing MGW 12111 using a different sleeve. Consists of tracks between 1953 and 1956.
Side 1:
1. I Don't Want Nobody (To Have My Love But You) (Vocal Ella Johnson) [12/2]
2. Doot Doot Dow (Instrumental) [11/2]
3. Bring It Home To Me (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/2]
4. You Got It Made (vocal Floyd Ryland) [13/2]
5. A Pretty Girl (A Cadillac And Some Money) (vocal Ricky Harper) [17/1]
6. Any Day Now (vocal Ella Johnson) [16/1]
Side 2:
1. It's Obdacious (vocal Buddy Johnson and Gil Askey) [7/2]
2. Crazy 'Bout A Saxophone (vocal Buddy Johnson) [25/1]
3. (Gotta Go) Upside Your Head (vocal Ella Johnson) [1/2]
4. Ain't But One (vocal Ella Johnson) [18/1]
5. A-12 (Instrumental) [6/1]
6. I'm Just Your Fool (vocal Ella Johnson) [5/1]

2. "Walkin'"
BUDDY JOHNSON
USA 1957 12” LP on Mercury MG 20322 [Mono Only]
Side 1:
1. Rockin' Time (Instrumental) [1/3]
2. They Don't Want Me To Rock No More (vocal Ella Johnson) [2/3]
3. There's No One Like You (vocal Nolan Lewis) [19/1]
4. Rock On! (vocal Buddy Johnson) [27/2]
5. Ain't Cha Got Me (Where You Want Me) (vocal Ella Johnson) [8/1]
6. Buddy's Boogie (Instrumental) [15/2]
Side 2:
1. Oh! Baby Don't You Know (vocal by Group) [23/2]
2. You'd Better Believe Me (vocal Ella Johnson) [24/2]
3. You're Everything My Heart Desires (vocal Floyd Ryland) [25/2]
4. So Good (vocal Ella Johnson) [9/2]
5. Bitter Sweet (Instrumental) [24/1]
6. Gone Walkin' (Instrumental) [10/2]

3. “Buddy Johnson Wails”
BUUDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
1958 USA 12” LP on Mercury MG-20330 (Mono)/SR-60072 (Stereo)
Reissued in the USA in the 1960s on Wing MGW-12234 (Mono)/SRW 16234 (Stereo)
Reissued in Denmark in 1988 on Official 6010 with a different sleeve
Side 1:
1. Goodbye Baby Here I Go (vocal by Ella Johnson) [12/3]
2. They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool (vocal by Floyd Ryland) [9/3]
3. I Don't Care Who Knows (vocal Ella Johnson) [13/3]
4. Lil' Dog (Instrumental) [19/3]
5. You'll Get Them Blues (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/3]
6. Since I Fell For You (vocal Ella Johnson) [17/3]
Side 2:
1. Baby Don't You Cry (vocal Floyd Ryland) [11/3]
2. Minglin' (Instrumental) [20/3]
3. Please Mr. Johnson (vocal Ella Johnson) [16/3]
4. I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone (vocal Floyd Ryland) [18/3]
5. I Cry (vocal Floyd Ryland) [10/3]
6. Stop Pretending (vocal Buddy Johnson) [15/3]

4. “Swing Me”
ELLA JOHNSON with Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra
USA 1960 12” LP on Mercury MG 20347 (Mono)
Ella Johnson Lead Vocals on All Tracks
Side 1:
1. What A Day [19/2]
2. That’s What You Gotta Do [21/2]
3. I Still Love You [22/2]
4. Well Do It [23/1]
5. Someday [3/2]
6. If You’d Said Yes [21/1]
Side 2:
1. Alright Okay You Win [4/2]
2. It’s ‘Bout To Break My Heart In Two [6/2]
3. Thinking It Over [20/1]
4. It Used To Hurt Me [22/1]
5. If You Would Only Say You’re Sorry [5/2]
6. Goodbye Baby Here I Go [20/2]

5. “Go Ahead & Rock Rock Rock”
BUDDY JOHNSON ORCHESTRA featuring ELLA JOHNSON
USA 1959 12” LP on Roulette R 25085 (Stereo)/SR 25085 (Stereo)
Reissued in the 1960s in the USA on Forum 9022
Side 1:
1. Go Ahead And Rock (Instrumental) [13/4]
2. Real Fine Frame (Nellie Lutcher cover – vocal Buddy Johnson) [8/4]
3. Down Yonder (Instrumental) [12/4]
4. Get On Down The Road (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/4]
5. Sliding Horns (Instrumental) [15/4]
6. Don’t Fail Me Baby (vocal Ella Johnson) [1/4]
Side 2:
1. Walk ‘Em (vocal Buddy Johnson) [9/4]
2. You Better Change Your Ways (vocal Lee Thomas) [11/4]
3. Small Taste (Instrumental) [2/4]
4. I’m Tired Crying Over You (vocal Ella Johnson) [10/4]
5. Going To New York (Instrumental) [5/4]
6. Baby Hear My Humble Plea (vocal by Lee Thomas) [3/4]

6. “Rock 'N Roll Stage Show”
BUDDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
USA 1963 12” LP on Wing MGW 12111 (Mono)
THIS IS A REISSUE of 1 using a different name – see 1 for details

JULIA LEE And HER BOY FRIENDS - LP Discography - Referencing “Kansas City Star” The 1995 Bear Family CD Box Set.

"…I Used To Run Away From The Stuff…But Now Somehow…I Can’t Get Enough…"

JULIA LEE And HER BOY FRIENDS
LP Discography Referencing “Kansas City Star”
The May 1995 Box Set On Bear Family BCD 15770 EI (5CDs)

Notes:
15/4 = Track 15, Disc 4
12/3 = Track 12, Disc 3 etc
All albums credit her as JULIA LEE and HER BOY FRIENDS

1. “Party Time” [aka Julia Lee’s Party Time]
1950 USA 10” LP on Capitol H-228 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
3. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
Side 2:
1. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]

2. “Party Time” [aka Julia Lee’s Party Time]
1955 USA 12” Reissue LP on Capitol T-228 [Mono]
[4 Extra Tracks Over The 10” Original, Slightly Different Artwork]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
3. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
5. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]
6. I Was Wrong [11/3]
Side 2:
1. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]
5. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
6. My Man Stands Out [8/4]

3. “The History Of Jazz Volume 2 – The Turbulent ‘Twenties”
1956 Various Artists USA 12” LP on Capitol T-794 [Mono]
1. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along [24/3]

4. “KC In The 30’s” [Kansas City]
1958 Various Artists USA 12” LP on Capitol T-1057 [Mono]
1. Dragging My Heart Around [19/4]
2. My Sin [9/3]
3. When You’re Smiling [10/3]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]

5. “Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends”
1964 USA LP on Capitol T 2038 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. Dragging My Heart Around [19/4]
3. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
4. Crazy World [21/3]
5. Gotta Gimme What'cha Got [3/2]
6. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
Side 2:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. There Goes My Heart [13/2]
3. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]
5. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
6. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

6. “Tonight’s The Night”
1983 UK LP on Charly R&B Records CRB 1039 [Mono]
(* = Referenced in the BF Discography)
Side 1:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Come On Over To My House [9/1]
4. That's What I Like [15/3 *]
5. Knock Me A Kiss [4/3 *]
6. King Size Papa [16/3]
7. Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff [3/5 *]
8. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got [3/2]
Side 2:
1. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
2. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
3. Don't Come Too Soon [11/4]
4. All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes [12/5 *]
5. Mama Don't Allow It [1/3]
6. Trouble In Mind [10/1]
7. Take It Or Leave It [14/3]
8. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

7. “Ugly Papa”
1983 Swedish LP on Jukebox Lil JB-603 [Mono, Reissued on CD in 1991 on RBD 603]
Side 1:
1. Do You Want It? [9/4]
2. Dream Lucky Blues [14/1]
3. Lotus Blossom [13/1]
4. Ugly Papa [12/4]
5. Julia's Blues [1/2]
6. If You Hadn't Gone Away (I Wouldn't Be Where I Am) [15/2]
7. Bleeding Hearted Blues [18/2]
8. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) [17/4]
Side 2:
1. It Won't Be Long [1/5]
2. Decent Woman Blues [18/4]
3. Scream In The Night [5/5]
4. I Know It's Wrong (The Diet Song) [6/5]
5. Bop And Rock Lullaby [24/5]
6. Goin' To Chicago Blues [15/5]
7. King Size Papa [23/5]
8. Scat You Cats [21/5]

8. “Julia Lee And Her Boy Friends”
1983 USA-only LP on PA USA Records PR 9020
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. Draggin My Heart Around [19/4]
3. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
4. Crazy World [21/3]
5. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got [3/2]
6. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
Side 2:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. There Goes My Heart [13/2]
3. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]
5. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
6. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

9. “A Porter’s Love Song”
1985 Swedish LP on Jukebox Lil JB-614 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. If It’s Good [16/1]
2. When A Woman Loves A Man [4/2]
3. Show Me Missouri Blues [12/1]
4. I’ll Get Along Somehow [6/2]
5. A Porter’s Love Song [7/2]
6. Young Girl’s Blues [11/2]
7. Since I’ve Been With You [9/2]
8. Oh, Marie [5/2]
Side 2:
1. Doubtful Blues [2/3]
2. On My Way Out [12/2]
3. Wise Guys (You’re A Wise Guy) [20/2]
4. All I Ever Do Is Worry [13/3]
5. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) [19/3]
6. Christmas Spirits [23/3]
7. The Glory Of Love [6/4]
8. Charmaine [1/4]

10. “Of Lions And Lambs”
1988 UK LP on Charly R&B Records CRB 1175 [Mono]
(* = Referenced in the BF Discography)
Side 1:
1. When Jennie Does That Lowdown Dance [9/5 *]
2. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]
3. Back Street [aka Living Back Street For You] [19/2]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
5. I Was Wrong [11/3]
6. When A Man Has Two Women [4/5 *]
7. Away From You [5/4 *]
8. You're Gonna Miss It [2/5 *]
Side 2:
1. It Comes In Like A Lion [10/4 *]
2. Lotus Blossom [13/1]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. When Your Lover Has Gone [16/4 *]
5. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) [17/4]
6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out [16/2]
7. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
8. I Got News For You [14/5 *]

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE). USA "EP" Discography For Capitol (1956-1961) Referencing The 1994 Bear Family Box.

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE)
USA 7” EXTENDED PLAYS (EP’s) Discography For Capitol Records
From 1956 to 1961 - Referencing “The Capitol Recordings”
An 8CD Bear Family Box Set Issued In 1994 on BCD 15776 HI

The enclosed numbers after the Catalogue Number denote the Box Set placing:
1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2, Track 14 etc

1. “The Wildest Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1956, Capitol EAP 1-755
Side 1: Medley: Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
Side 2: Night Train/(I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You

2. “The Wildest Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1956, Capitol EAP 2-755
Side 1: (Nothing’s Too Good) For My Baby/The Lip
Side 2: Jump, Jive, An’ Wail/Buona Sera

3. “The Wildest Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1956, Capitol EAP 3-755
Side 1: Body And Soul/Oh, Marie
Side 2: Medley: Basin Street Blues/When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

4. 1957, Capitol EAP 810 – KEELY SMITH
Features exclusive track “Don’t Let A Memory” sung by Keely Smith [Disc 1, Track 24], however, I think this catalogue number is incorrect – this EP is “Kenton With Voices Part 1” which doesn’t feature this track

5. “The Call Of The Wildest Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1957, Capitol EAP 1-836
Side 1: When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)/The Sheik Of Araby
Side 2: Blow, Red Blow/When The Saints Go Marching In

6. “The Call Of The Wildest Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1957, Capitol EAP 2-836
Side 1: Sentimental Journey/I’ve Got The World On A String
Side 2: Pennies From Heaven/Autumn Leaves ??

7. “The Call Of The Wildest Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1957, Capitol EAP 3-836
Side 1: There’ll Be No Next Time/The Birth Of The Blues
Side 2: The Pump Song/Closest To The Bone ??

8. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 1-908
Side 1: Medley: On The Sunny Side Of The Street/Exactly Like You
Side 2: Medley: Robin Hood/Oh Babe!

9. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 2-908
Side 1: Medley: A Foggy Day/How High The Moon
Side 2: Come Back To Sorrento/I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues

10. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 3-908
Side 1: Medley: Angela/Zooma Zooma
Side 2: Medley: Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me/I’m In The Mood For Love

11. “I Wish You Love”
KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol EAP 1-914
Side 1: I Wish You Love/I Understand
Side 2: You Go To My Head/When Day Is Done

12. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 1-1010
Side 1: Them There Eyes/Honeysuckle Rose
Side 2: Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio)/Too Marvelous For Words

13. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 2-1010
Side 1: Medley: Tiger Rag & Just Because/Embraceable You & I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
Side 2: Holiday For Strings/Greenback Dollar Bill

14. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 3-1010
Side 1: The White Cliffs Of Dover
Side 2: Medley: Should I & I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me

15. “Politely!”
KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol EAP 1-1073
Side 1: Sweet And Lovely/East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
Side 2: I Can’t Get Started/Cocktails For Two

16. “The Big Horn”
SAM BUTERA
1958, Capitol EAP 1-1098
Side 1: Three Coins In The Fountain/Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
Side 2: Around The World/La Vie en Rose

17. “Strictly Prima!”
LOUIS PRIMA
1959, Capitol EAP 1-1132
Side 1: Gotta See Baby Tonight/Sing, Sing, Sing
Side 2: Fee Fie Foo

18. “Swingin’ Pretty Part 1”
KEELY SMITH
1959, Capitol EAP 1-1145
Side 1: It’s Magic
Side 2: What Can I Say After I’m Sorry

19. “Swingin’ Pretty Part 2”
KEELY SMITH
1959, Capitol EAP 2-1145
Side 1: Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time)
Side 2: Indian Love Call

20. “Swingin’ Pretty Part 3”
KEELY SMITH
1959, Capitol EAP 3-1145
Side 1: The Man I Love
Side 2: The Nearness Of You

21. “Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH and SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol EAP 1-1160
Side 1: Hey Boy! Hey Girl!/A Banana Split For My Baby
Side 2: You Are My Love/Fever

22. “Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH and SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol EAP 2-1160
Side 1: Oh Marie/Lazy River
Side 2: Nitey Nite

23. “The Hits Of Louis & Keely”
LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH
1961, Capitol EAP 1-1531
Side 1: That Old Black Magic/I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Side 2: Buona Sera/I Wish You Love

Compiled Thursday, 19 August 2010 by Mark Barry in London

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE). USA LP Discography For Capitol (1957-1962) Referencing The 1994 Bear Family Box.

Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera And The Witnesses (including Gia Maione)
USA LP Discography referencing “The Capitol Recordings”
An 8CD box set on Bear Family BCD 15776 HI issued in Germany in 1994

The enclosed numbers after the Catalogue Number denote the Box Set placing:
1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2, Track 14 etc

[NOTE: there’s also a 7” singles Discography posted separately]

1. “The Wildest”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1956 USA LP on Capitol T 755 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody [1/3]
2. (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby [1/6]
3. The Lip [1/10]
4. Body And Soul [1/4]
5. Oh Marie [1/2]
Side 2:
1. Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South [1/8]
2. Jump, Jive, An' Wail [1/5]
3. Buona Sera [1/1]
4. Night Train [1/9]
5. (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You [1/7]

2. “The Call Of The Wildest”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957 USA LP on Capitol T 836 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. When You're Smiling/The Sheik Of Araby [1/15]
2. Autumn Leaves [1/27]
3. I've Got The World On A String [1/22]
4. Blow, Red Blow [1/17]
5. The Pump Song [1/2]
Side 2:
1. There'll Be No Next Time [1/20]
2. Pennies From Heaven [1/25]
3. The Birth Of The Blues [1/16]
4. Closest To The Bone [1/21]
5. Sentimental Journey [1/19]
6. When The Saints Go Marching In [1/18]

3. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1958 USA LP on Capitol T 908 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. On The Sunny Side Of The Street/Exactly Like You [4/1]
2. A Foggy Day [4/2]
3. How High The Moon [4/3]
4. Angelina/Zooma Zooma [4/4]
Side 2:
1. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me/I’m In The Mood For Love [4/5]
2. Come Back To Sorrento [4/6]
3. I’ve Gotta Right To Sing The Blues [4/7]
4. Robin Hood/Oh Babe! [4/8]

4. “I Wish You Love”
KEELY SMITH
1958 USA LP on Capitol T 914 (Mono) and ST 914 (Stereo, 1960’s)
[Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle]
Side 1:
1. I Wish You Love [5/17]
2. When Your Lover Has Gone [5/14]
3. You Go To My Head [5/12]
4. I Understand [5/20]
5. Fools Rush In [5/10]
6. Don't Take Your Love From Me [5/13]
Side 2:
1. Imagination [5/11]
2. If We Never Meet Again [5/19]
3. As You Desire Me [5/9]
4. Mr. Wonderful [5/18]
5. When Day Is Done [5/16]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “I Wish You Love” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes. Nine of the LP’s eleven tracks are also referenced in the discography for the 2-track tape of “I Wish You Love” on Capitol ZC 42 – the two songs not referenced are “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “You Go To My Head”

5. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Recorded Live At The Sahara Hotel”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
June 1958 USA LP on Capitol T 1010 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. Them There Eyes/Honeysuckle Rose [4/10]
2. Tiger Rag/Just Because [4/11]
3. Embraceable You/I Got It Bad [4/2]
4. Should I/I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me [4/13]
Side 2:
1. The White Cliffs Of Dover [4/14]
2. Holiday For Strings [4/15]
3. Greenback Dollar Bill [4/16]
4. Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio) [4/17]
5. Too Marvelous For Words [4/18]

6. “Politely!”
KEELY SMITH with Billy May And His Orchestra
October 1958 USA LP on Capitol T 1073 (Mono) and ST 1073 (Stereo, 1960’s)
Side 1:
1. Sweet And Lovely [6/22]
2. Cocktails For Two [6/27]
3. The Song Is You 6/17]
4. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) [6/19]
5. Lullaby Of The Leaves [6/24]
6. On The Sunny Side Of The Street [6/18]
Side 2:
1. I Can't Get Started [6/26]
2. I'll Never Smile Again [6/21]
3. S'Posin' [6/16]
4. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) [6/25]
5. All The Way [6/23]
6. I Never Knew (I Could Love Anybody Like I’m Loving You) [6/20]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “Politely!” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

7. “The Big Horn”
SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1958 USA LP on Capitol T 1098 (Mono) and ST 1098 (Stereo, 1960’s)
Side 1:
1. La Vie En Rose [7/24]
2. All The Way [7/25]
3. Tennessee Waltz [8/2]
4. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing [7/22]
5. Too Young [7/20]
6. Around The World [7/23]
Side 2:
1. Three Coins In The Fountain [7/19]
2. I Love Paris [7/16]
3. On The Street Where You Live [7/17]
4. Hey There [7/15]
5. The Song From Moulin Rouge [7/18]
6. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody [7/21]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Big Horn” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

8. “Strictly Prima!”
LOUIS PRIMA
1959 USA LP on Capitol T 1132 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. If You Were The Only Girl [2/5]
2. Judy [2/9]
3. Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days [1/12]
4. That’s My Home [2/11]
5. Sing, Sing, Sing [2/7]
Side 2:
1. Gotta See Baby Tonight [2/13]
2. Felicia No Capicia [2/10]
3. Moonglow [2/12]
4. Bourbon Street Blues [2/6]
5. Fee Fie Foo [2/14]

9. “Swingin’ Pretty”
KEELY SMITH with NELSON RIDDLE And His Orchestra
May 1959, Capitol T 1145 (Mono) and ST 1145 (Stereo, 1960)
Side 1:
1. It’s Magic [6/2]
2. It’s Been A Long, Long Time [6/6]
3. Storm Weather [6/4]
4. Indian Love Call [5/25]
5. The Nearness Of You [5/26]
6. What Is This Thing Called Love? [6/3]
Side 2:
1. The Man I Love [6/1]
2. You’re Driving Me Crazy [6/7]
3. Stardust [6/8]
4. There Will Never Be Another You [6/5]
5. Someone To Watch Over Me [5/27]
6. What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry [6/9]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “Swingin’ Pretty” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

10. “Hey Boy! Hey Girl!” (Music From The Soundtrack of The Columbia Picture)
LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
May 1959, USA LP on Capitol T 1160 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. Hey Boy! Hey Girl! [2/19]
2. A Banana Split For My Baby [1/13]
3. You Are My Love [5/22]
4. Fever [2/16]
5. Oh Marie [2/17]
Side 2:
1. Lazy River [2/20]
2. Nitey-Nite [6/10]
3. When The Saints Go Marching In [1/18]
4. Autumn Leaves [1/27]
5. Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (Reprise) [2/21]

11. “The Big Sax And The Big Voice Of ”
SAM BUTERA
1960 USA LP on Capitol T 1521 (Mono) and ST 1521 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. Perdido [8/11]
2. Chantilly Lace [8/4]
3. Just Say I Love Her [8/6]
4. Skinny Minny [816]
5. Night Train [8/8]
6. Honey Love [8/9]
Side 2:
1. Street Scene [8/10]
2. Kansas City [8/10]
3. Easy Rockin' [8/7]
4. Up Jumped A Rabbit [8/5]
5. Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio) [8/13]
6. Ol' Man River [8/14]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Big Sax And The Big Voice Of” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

12. “The Hits Of Louis & Keely”
LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH
1961, Capitol T 1531 (Mono) and ST 1531 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. That Old Black Magic [2/8]
2. It's Magic [6/2]
3. Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody [1/3]
4. I'm In The Mood For Love [4/5]
5. I've Got You Under My Skin [3/1]
Side 2:
1. Buona Sera [1/1]
2. I Wish You Love [5/17]
3. Oh Marie [1/2]
4. Embraceable You/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good [4/12]

Notes: the MONO versions for “The Hits Of Louis & Keely” are used in the box set and not the STEREO mixes

13. “The Continental Twist”
SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses starring LOUIS PRIMA
(with June Wilkinson)
1961, USA LP on Capitol T 1677 (Mono) and ST 1677 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. The Continental Twist [8/19]
2. Tag That Twistin’ Dolly [8/20]
3. Chantilly Lace [8/4]
4. Skinny Minny [8/16]
5. Oh Ma-Ma Twist [8/22]
6. Honey Love [8/9]
Side 2:
1. Kansas City [8/12]
2. Come And Do The Twist [8/21]
3. Perdido [8/11]
4. Twistin’ The Blues [8/18]
5. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby [
6. Better Twist Now Baby [8/17]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Continental Twist” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

14. “The Wildest Comes Home”
LOUIS PRIMA With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1962 USA LP on Capitol T 1723 (Mono) and ST 1723 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. You’re Just In Love [3/3]
2. All Night Long [3/7]
3. Glow-Worm [3/5]
4. Twist All Night [3/13]
5. Three-Handed Woman [3/11]
6. St. Louis Blues [3/12]
Side 2:
1. Just One Of Those Things [3/6]
2. Harlem Nocturne [3/4]
3. Everybody Knows [3/9]
4. Lover, Come Back To Me [3/8]
5. Ain't Misbehavin' - Way Down Yonder In New Orleans [3/10]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Wildest Comes Home” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

15. “Lake Tahoe Prima Style”
LOUIS PRIMA, GIA MAIONE, SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1962, USA LP on Capitol T 1797 (Mono) and ST 1797 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. Scuba Diver [3/19]
2. I Want You To Be My Baby [3/20]
3. Shadrack [3/21]
4. Next Time [3/22]
Side 2:
1. Lady Of Spain [3/23]
2. Hello Lover, Goodbye Tears [3/24]
3. Undecided [3/25]
4. Come Rain Or Shine [3/26]
5. Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night [3/27]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “Lake Tahoe Prima Style” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes



Compiled by Mark Barry, Monday to Wednesday, 16 to 18 August 2010

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE). USA 7” Single Discography For Capitol (1956-1963) Referencing The 1994 Bear Family Box.

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE)
USA 7” Single Discography For Capitol Records from 1956 to 1963
Referencing The 8CD Bear Family Box Set BCD 15776 HI Issued in 1994

The enclosed numbers after the Catalogue Number denote the Box Set placing:
1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

[NOTE: there's a separate listing for the 15 Capitol LPs covered by the box set also]

1. I Wish You Love b/w Shy
KEELY SMITH
1956, Capitol F 3445 [5/1 and 5/3]
Notes: Both tracks are non-album

2. High School Affair b/w Hurt Me
KEELY SMITH
1956, Capitol F 3545 [6/12 and 6/11]
Notes: Both tracks are non-album

3. Banana Split For My Baby b/w Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1956, Capitol F 3566 [1/13 and 1/12]

4. Whistle Stop b/w Be Mine (Little Baby)
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957, Capitol F 3615 [1/11 and 1/14]
Notes: Although they didn’t feature on the session, “Whistle Stop” was written by JIMMY BREEDLOVE of the vocal group THE CUES.
The Cues did huge amounts of backing vocal group work on Atlantic Records and had 7" single releases of their own on both Prep and Capitol Records. Breedlove also had a Solo career. The song turns up in different form as “Rock 'n' Roll Mr. Oriole” on the Bear Family CD “Why” by The Cues (see separate review). Both tracks are non-album.

5. Equator b/w I Kiss Your Hand, Madame
SAM BUTERA
1957, Prep F 102 [7/4 and 7/6]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

6. Ten Little Women b/w Love Charm
SAM BUTERA
1957, Prep F 105 [7/3] and 7/7]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

7. Sentimental Journey b/w Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
KEELY SMITH featuring LOUIS PRIMA with SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957, Capitol F 3663 [1/19 and 1/26]
Notes: “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home” is non-album

8. Young And In Love b/w You Better Go Now
KEELY SMITH
1957, Capitol F 3698 [5/5 and 5/8]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

9. You’ll Never Know b/w Good Behaviour
KEELY SMITH
1957, Capitol F 3740 [5/6 and 5/7]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

10. Autumn Leaves b/w I Keep Forgetting
KEELY SMITH
1957, Capitol F 3820 [1/27 and 6/12]
Notes: “I Keep Forgetting” is non-album

11. Beep! Beep! b/w Buona Sera
LOUIS PRIMA With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957, Capitol F 3856 [2/4 and 1/1]
Notes: “Beep! Beep!” is non-album

12. Good Gracious Baby b/w It’s Better Than Nothing At All
SAM BUTERA
1958, Prep F 134 [7/12 and 7/10]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

13. How Are Ya Fixed For Love? b/w Nothing In Common
FRANK SINATRA with KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol F 3952 [6/15 and 6/14]
Notes: "Nothing In Common" is non-album

14. The Whipporwill b/w Sometimes
KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol F 3975 [5/21 and 5/23]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

15. Bim Bam b/w Twinkle In Your Eye
SAM BUTERA
1958, Capitol F 4014 [7/1 and 7/2]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

16. That Old Black Magic b/w You Are My Love
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1958, Capitol F 4063 [2/8 and 5/22]

17. French Poodle b/w Handle With Care
SAM BUTERA
1958, Capitol F 4119 [8/3 and 7/13]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

18. I’ve Got You Under My Skin b/w Don’t Take Your Love From Me
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1959, Capitol F 4140 [3/1 and 3/2]
Notes: “Don’t Take Your Love From Me” is non-album

19. Smilin’ Billy b/w Easy Rockin’
SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol 4264 [8/15 and 8/7]
Notes: first 7” single without the ‘F’ prefix in the catalogue number; the backing singers on “Smilin’ Billy” are not identified; “Easy Rockin’” is an instrumental

20. Chantilly Lace b/w Come And Do The Twist
SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol 4683 [8/4 and 8/21]
Notes: “Chantilly Lace” is a cover version of the famous Big Bopper song on Mercury Records; the BF Discography mistakenly omits Capitol 4683

21. Twist All Night b/w Everybody Knows
LOUIS PRIMA
1962, Capitol 4732 [3/13 and 3/9]
Notes: the Stereo version is used for both tracks; both sides feature Sam Butera And The Witnesses

22. Big Daddy b/w Ooh, Look What You’ve Done To Me
LOUIS PRIMA with GIA MAIONE
1962, Capitol 4805 [3/16 and 3/15]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

23. I Feel Good All Over b/w Later, Baby, Later
SAM BUTERA
1962, Capitol 4862 [8/23 and 8/24]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

24. Sunday Lover b/w Little Girl Blues
GIA MAIONE with LOUIS PRIMA, SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1963, Capitol 4906 [3/17 and 3/18]
Notes: although both Louis Prima and Sam Butera are credited on the label and were obviously at the sessions, BOTH sides feature Gia Maione on Lead Vocals ONLY; the Stereo version is used for both tracks

Compiled by Mark Barry, Tuesday and Wednesday 17 and 18 August 2010

“Shades Of Mitty Collier – The Chess Singles 1961– 1968” by MITTY COLLIER. A Review of the UK 2008 Kent Soul CD Compilation.

"…I Gotta Get Away From It All…"

Released in June 2008 on Kent Soul CDKEND 301, "Shades Of Mitty Collier" is a 24-track UK CD compilation which will finally allow fans to sequence all 15 of US Chess 7" singles as follows (69:07 minutes):

1. I've Got Love b/w I Got To Get Away From It All
(Chess 1791 from June 1961, Tracks 24 and 23, A & B-sides)
2. Don't Let Her Take My Baby b/w I Dedicate My Life To You
(Chess 1814 from March 1962, Track 21, A-side only)
3. Miss Loneliness b/w My Babe
(Chess 1856 from June 1963, Tracks 20 and 22, A & B-sides)
4. I'm Your Part Time Love b/w Don’t You Forget It
(Chess 1871 from October 1963, Track 17, A-side only)
5. Pain b/w Let Them Talk
(Chess 1889 from March 1964, Track 19, B-side only)
6. I Had A Talk With My Man b/w Free Girl (In The Morning)
(Chess 1907 from October 1964, Track 18, A-side only)
7. No Faith, No Love b/w Together
(Chess 1918 from January 1965, Track 16, A-side only)
8. Come Back Baby b/w Ain't That Love
(Chess 1934 from March 1965, Track 15, B-side only)
9. Help Me b/w For My Man
(Chess 1942 from July 1965, Tracks 13 and 14, A & B-sides)
10. Sharing You b//w Walk Away
(Chess 1953 from March 1966, Tracks 11 and 12, A & B-sides)
11. My Party b/w I'm Satisfied
(Chess 1964 from July 1966, Tracks 9 and 10, A & B-sides)
12. (Looking' Out The Window) Watching And Waiting b/w Like Only Yesterday
(Chess 1987 from December 1966, Tracks 7 and 8, A & B-sides)
13. Do It With Confidence b/w You're The Only One
(Chess 2015 from July 1967, Tracks 5 and 6, A & B-sides)
14. Git Out b/w That'll Be Good Enough For Me
(Chess 2035 from December 1967, Tracks 3 and 4, A & B-sides)
15. Gotta Get Away From It All b/w Everybody Makes A Mistake Sometimes
(Chess 2050 from 1968, Tracks 1 and 2, A & B-sides)

This release will also allow you to sequence almost all of her lone album on the famous label entitled "Shades Of A Genius" which was issued in 1966 on Chess LP 1492.


Side 1:
1. Come Back Baby
2. I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night [18]
3. Would You Have Listened
4. Gotta Get Away From It All [23]
5. My Babe [20]
6. Hallelujah (I Love Him So)
Side 2:
1. Drown In My Own Tears
2. No Faith, No Love [16]
3. Together
4. Let Them Talk [19]
5. Little Miss Loneliness [22]
6. Ain't That Love [15]

Notes:
1. "I Got To Get Away From It All" on Chess 1791 is Version 1 (Track 23) while "Gotta Get Away From It All" is a remake on Chess 2050 which is Version 2 (Track 1)
2. Excepting "I'm Your Part Time Love", "I Had A Talk With My Man" and "Don't Let Her Take My Baby" (which are in MONO), all other tracks are in STEREO
3. As you can see from the two lists above there are 8 singles complete, but six sides are missing and 5 of the album tracks aren’t on here either. However, 4 of those single sides and 3 of the missing LP tracks are available elsewhere - on the 1999 Chess CD compilation called "Shades Of A Genius".

The booklet is the usual classy affair from Ace Records of the UK, a 16-page info-packed break down of her legacy by noted expert and soul lover TONY ROUNCE. Each single is pictured with label bags, there's the withdrawn sleeve of her lone album "Shades Of Mitty Collier" (featured another woman!) along with US trade magazine adverts. The CD itself apes the front page of the colour booklet while the inlay beneath the see-through tray features snaps of Pye International 7" demos and Chess Records adverts - all of it very nice touches.

Sound - it's been mastered by NICK ROBBINS and has had audio restoration work done by ROB SHREAD at Sound Mastering in the UK. The audio quality is superb given the vintage - the usual top job done by Ace.

Track highlights for me are the extraordinary torch ballad "Everybody Makes A Mistake Sometimes" (written by Lloyd Reese) - a B-side with the balls of an A. The cover of Ray Charles' "Ain't That Love" sounds like Barbara Lewis at her Atlantic best while the Northern Soul dancefloor favourite "My Babe" (a Little Walter cover) is a belter.

History tells us that like Florence Ballard at Motown (looked over for Diana Ross), Mitty Collier felt her releases were second fiddle in the promotion department to Chess's other killer singer - Etta James. Collier charted only 4 titles out of 15 across a near 8-year period, but Rounce also quite rightly notes that this also showed Leonard and Phil Chess' commitment to their artists - they stood by them - even in the dry patches. In the end perhaps Mitty Collier was too soulful for the public to take ("Like Only Yesterday") or the songs just weren't catchy enough for the charts to go crazy over ("My Party").

Still, at least we are left with this legacy of superb powerhouse soul tracks to enjoy. Ace is to be congratulated for this release – because once again, they deliver the goodies.

“Lover Please – The Complete MGM & Mercury Singles” by CLYDE McPHATTER. A Review Of The 2010 Hip-O Select 2CD Set.

"…Your Words Were Once Inspired…Now I’m Afraid They’re Routine…"

This beautifully presented 44-track 2CD set from Hip-O Select was initially issued on their own website in May 2010 in the USA, then given a public release in late July 2010 and now an August 2010 official release here in UK (not usually the norm for Hip-O Select mail-order issues).

It’s a non-numbered limited edition of 5000 and gathers up all his singles for M-G-M and Mercury Records in the USA between 1959 and 1965. His Billy Ward and The Dominoes and Drifters periods prior to this on Federal, King and Atlantic are covered extensively elsewhere (see also my review for The Drifters “Original Album Series” 5CD mini box set). Noted songwriters include Brook Benton, Clyde Otis, Charles Singleton, Jimmy Oliver, Neil Sedaka, Billy Swan, Gene Pitney, Otis Blackwell, Ed Townsend and the set also includes 8 of McPhatter’s own compositions.

Hip-O Select B001423302 will allow you to sequence the A & B-sides of all 22 of his 7” singles as follows (release date and catalogue number beneath each coupling)…

Disc 1 (54:20 minutes):
1. I Told Myself A Lie
2. (I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over
(March 1959 on M-G-M K12780)
3. Twice As Nice
4. Where Did I Make My Mistake
(July 1959 on M-G-M K12816)
5. Let's Try Again
6. Bless You
(November 1959 on M-G-M K12843)
7. Think Me A Kiss
8. When The Right Time Comes Along
(February 1960 on M-G-M K12877)
9. One Right After Another
10. This Is Not Goodbye
(September 1960 on M-G-M K12949)
11. The Glory Of Love
12. Take A Step
(March 1961 on M-G-M K12988)
13. Ta Ta
14. I Ain't Giving Up Nothing (If I Can't Get Somethin' From You)
(June 1960 on Mercury 71660)
15. I Just Want To Love You
16. You're For Me
(September 1960 on Mercury 71692)
17. One More Chance
18. Before I Fall In Love Again (I'll Count To Ten)
(November 1960 on Mercury 71740)
19. Tomorrow Is A-Comin'
20. I'll Love You Till The Cows Come Home
(1961 on Mercury 71783)
21. Whole Heap Of Love
22. You're Moving Me
(April 1961 on Mercury 71809)

Disc 2 (55:30 minutes):
1. I Never Knew
2. Happiness
(July 1961 on Mercury 71841)
3. Same Time, Same Place
4. Your Second Choice
(September 1961 on Mercury 71868)
5. Lover Please
6. Let's Forget About The Past
(February 1962 on Mercury 71941)
7. Little Bitty Pretty One
8. Next To Me (Mono Single Version)
(May 1962 on Mercury 71987)
9. Maybe
10. I Do Believe
(September 1962 on Mercury 72025)
11. The Best Man Cried
12. Stop
(October 1962 on Mercury 72051)
13. So Close To Being In Love
14. From One To One
(November 1963 on Mercury 72166)
15. Deep In The Heart Of Harlem
16. Happy Good Times
(January 1964 on Mercury 72220)
17. Second Window, Second Floor
18. In My Tenement
(1964 on Mercury 72253)
19. Lucille [Live]
20. Baby, Baby [Live At The Apollo]
(1964 on Mercury 72317)
21. Crying Won’t Help You Now [miscredited in the booklet as Crying Won’t Help You]
22. I Found My Love
(April 1965 on Mercury 72407)

The 3-way foldout card digipak has quality colour photos of a smiling Clyde on each flap while the over-sized 28-page booklet contains affectionate and informative liner notes by noted expert and fan BILL DAHL (fresh from his extraordinary work on the Bear Family “Sweet Soul Music” series – see reviews for all 10 of those discs from 1961 to 1970). The packaging feels classy – nicely done.

Singular praise must also go out to ELLEN FITTON. With huge amounts of much-praised work for Hip-O Select on their Motown reissues (especially The Complete Singles box sets) – she has excelled herself here. The quality of these remasters is BEAUTIFUL – Grammy territory - superlative instrumentation clarity and warmth given over to every single track. As you listen to the eerily clean “I Just Want To Love You”, you’re reminded of Roy Orbison’s material on Monument or Sam Cooke’s stuff on RCA; this is music with top-notch production values now brought back to life by an ace engineer.

Which unfortunately brings us to the bad news, the actual songs themselves…

After a slew of mediocre albums with Columbia and a stay at a label that just didn’t understand her, Aretha Franklin finally left for Atlantic Records in 1967 and the world of Soul Music was never the same since again - and all the richer for it. Poor Clyde McPhatter (possessed of an equally glorious set of pipes) did the opposite - and arguably paid for it for the rest of his life - but in all the wrong ways. Even rabid fans are divided on the material offered here. While McPhatter consciously ran towards the crooner arrangements (lyrics to “Masquerade” title this review), the results were a lot of songs swamped in girly background singers and a slush of strings - it’s Fifties and Sixties Pop rather than 'Soul' – and some would even dismiss the lot as outright disposable pap. It’s not all that bad of course - it’s just that it’s saccharine compared to the joy of the R’n’B sides on Federal, King and Atlantic.

But re-listening to it now – I think a reassessment is called for. His own composition “When The Right Time Comes Along” is joyful stuff and Brook Benton’s double-whammy of “I Ain’t Giving Up Nothing (If I Can’t Get Somethin’ From You)” and “You’re Moving Me” along with Clyde’s own “Ta Ta” - these four alone could easily have been great album tracks on an Atlantic LP by The Drifters. The slow piano ballad “Next To Me” is lovely too and “Deep In The Heart Of Harlem” could double as a mid-Sixties Ben E. King hit. After the terrible live tracks "Lucille" and "Baby, Baby", it ends on a high – Ed Townsend’s “Crying Won’t Help You Now” (he later co-wrote with Marvin Gaye) where McPhatter sounds like Jackie Wilson at his aching Brunswick best, which is in turn followed by its forgotten soulful torch ballad B-side – Clyde’s own “I Found My Love”.

So there you have it – great packaging, exceptional sound quality, but material that veers from the sublime to the awful.

Still – it’s fantastic news for fans to finally see this material on CD at last. And then of course, there's that fantastic voice... Recommended.

“The Complete Checker Hit Singles – 24 High Fidelity R’n’B Classics” by LITTLE MILTON, A Review of the UK 2001 Connoisseur Collection CD.

"…Like Medicine Baby…You’re Good For Me…"

After diligently collecting nearly 1000 Chess, Checker and Cadet tracks across the years, I still find I have only 8 Little Milton songs - so the remaining 16 tracks on this rare UK compilation are welcome inclusions.

A few details first - the word 'Hit' in the title means that just the songs he placed on the US Rhythm 'n' Blues charts between 1962 and 1971 on the Checker label are featured here (some Checker singles didn't chart and are not easily available anywhere on CD). Also all tracks are A-sides except "The Dark End Of The Street" and "I Can't Quit You Baby" which are B-sides (see notes below).

Here's a breakdown of what is on Connoisseur Collection VSOP CD 351 (71:50 minutes):

1. So Mean To Me (January 1962, Checker 994)
2. Losing Hand (July 1962, Checker 1020)
3. What Kind Of Love Is This (August 1964, Checker 1078)
4. Blind Man (December 1964, Checker 1096)
5. We're Gonna Make It (March 1965, Checker 1105)
6. Who's Cheating Who (June 1965, Checker 1113)
7. Your People (December 1965, Checker 1128)
8. We Got The Winning Hand (February 1966. Checker 1132)
9. When Does The Heartache End (April 1966, Checker 1138)
10. Man Loves Two (August 1966, Checker 1149)
11. Feel So Bad (January 1967, Checker 1162)
12. I'll Never Turn My Back On You (June 1967, Checker 1172)
13. More And More (December 1967, Checker 1189)
14. The Dark End Of The Street (1968. Checker 1203)
[B-side of "I (Who Have Nothing)", a non-chart entry, listed here as a `bonus track']
15. Let Me Down Easy (October 1968, Checker 1208)
16. Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around The World) (January 1969, Checker 1212)
17. I Can't Quit You Baby (January 1969, Checker 1212)
[B-side of "Grits Ain't Groceries...")
18. Just A Little Bit (April 1969, Checker 1217)
19. Let's Get Together (July 1969, Checker 1225)
20. Poor Man (October 1969, Checker 1221)
21. If Walls Could Talk (December 1969, Checker 1226)
22. Baby I Love You (April 1970, Checker 1227)
23. Somebody's Changing My Sweet Baby's Mind (July 1970, Checker 1231)
24. I Play Dirty (May 1971, Checker 1239)

Connoisseur Collection were a budget label operating out of Britain in the late Eighties and used to release very good double-albums on vinyl of all sorts of artists (Nils Lofgren, Labi Siffre, Chess Story, Rak Records etc). Their CDs usually featured the full double-album on a single disc, but the sound was only ever ok, rather than great. Well I'm glad to say the sound quality here is fantastic. The material is licensed from Universal who have charge over the entire Chess label and although the liner notes don't advise who remastered what - they sound like the good work of Erick Labson who has handled vast swaths of the Chess catalogue to uniform praise. Veteran compiler Bob Fisher put the compilation together and the booklet features a 8-page appraisal by noted music writer and Blues discographer Neil Slaven.

As you can see from the dates above, a lot of these tracks are from the mid to late Sixties and even into the early Seventies - they're far more funky than you would credit - not just straight up R'n'B or Blues (like "Let Me Down Easy"). Highlights include the Stax Shaft funk of "Poor Man" and the gritty guitar and brass of "I Play Dirty". And while he wasn't as vocally blistering as Bobby Bland at his best, when James "Little Milton" Campbell was working a tune like say "More And More" which has a very Sixties Them feel to it - he came damn close - it's hard-hitting and impressive stuff (lyrics above).

I'm sure there's a Hip-O Select 4 or 5CD mini box set in the future pipeline to compliment their Little Walter, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry sets, but until then, this will do nicely.

FREDDIE KING – USA 7"/LP DISCOGRAPHY Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973” 7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK.

FREDDIE KING – USA 7” SINGLE DISOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

Entries 1 to 30 are credited to FREDDY KING, thereafter as FREDDIE KING

1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

1. Country Boy b/w That’s What You Think (El-Bee 157, 1956)
[1/1 and 1/2]
Note: “Country Boy” also features vocals by Eloise Whitfield

2. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling (Federal 45-12384, December 1960)
[1/6 and 1/5]

3. Hide Away b/w I Love The Woman (Federal 45-12401, March 1961)
[1/7 and 1/8]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

4. Lonesome Whistle Blues b/w It’s Too Bad Things Are Going So Tough (Federal 45-12415, May 1961)
[1/9 and 1/11]

5. San-Ho-Zay b/w See See Baby (Federal 45-12428, August 1961)
[1/17 and 1/4]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

6. I’m Tore Down b/w Sen-Sa-Shun (Federal 45-12432, October 1961)
[1/ 12 and 1/14]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

7. Christmas Tears b/w I Hear Jingle Bells (Federal 45-12439, December 1961)
[2/3 and 2/7]

8. If You Believe (In What You Do) b/w Heads Up (Federal 45-12443, January 1962)
[1/10 and 2/2]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

9. Takin’ Care Of Business b/w The Stumble (Federal 45-12450, March 1962)
[2/5 and 1/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

10. Side Tracked b/w Sittin’ On The Boat Dock (Federal 45-12456, April 1962)
[1/15 and 2/17]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

11. Do The President Twist b/w Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me (Federal 45-12457, May 1962)
[2/19 and 3/1]
Note; the A-side is credited to LULU REED & FREDDY KING while the B-side is LULU REED (only) – her name should read ‘Lula’ Reed

12. What About Love b/w Texas Oil (Federal 45-12462, July 1962)
[3/2 and 2/12]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

13. Come On b/w Just Pickin’ (Federal 45-12470, September 1962)
[2/18 and 2/23]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

14. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me b/w You Can’t Hide (Federal 45-12471, October 1962)
[2/20 and 2/21]
Note: both A&B credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING

15. I’m On My Way To Atlanta b/w In The Open (Federal 45-12475, December 1962)
[2/14 and 2/8]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

16. It’s Easy, Child b/w Say Hey Pretty (Federal 45-12477, December 1962)
[2/22]
Note: The A-side is credited to LULU REED and FREDDY KING
The B-side is LULU REED and SONNY THOMPSON And His Orchestra
and is NOT on the box set because there’s no FK involvement

17. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist b/w Look, Ma I’m Cryin’ (Federal 45-12482, February 1963)
[3/4 and 3/13]
Note: the A-side is an Instrumental

18. (I’d Love To) Make Love To You b/w One Hundred Years (Federal 45-12491, 1963)
[3/14 and 3/15]

19. (The Welfare) Turns Its Back On You b/w You’re Barkin’ Up The Wrong Tree (Federal 45-12499, 1963)
[3/11 and 3/9]

20. Monkey Donkey b/w Surf Monkey (Federal 45-12509, 1963)
[3/21 and 3/17]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

21. Meet Me At The Station b/w King-A-Ling (Federal 45-12515, 1964)
[4/1 and 4/3]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

22. Someday, After Awhile (You’ll Be Sorry) b/w Driving Sideways (Federal 45-12518, 1964)
[3/7 and 2/16]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

23. She Put The Whammy On Me b/w High Rise (Federal 45-12521, 1964)
[2/13 and 2/11]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Closed Door”

24. Now I’ve Got A Woman b/w Onion Rings (Federal 45-12529, 1964)
[3/16 and 1/13]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental and is also known as “Butterscotch”

25. Some Other Day, Some Other Time b/w Manhole (Federal 45-12532, 1965)
[4/6 and 4/9]
Note: the B-side is an Instrumental

26. If You Have It b/w I Love You More Everyday (Federal 45-12535, 1965)
[3/18 and 4/4]

27. She’s The One b/w Full Time Love (Federal 45-12537, 1965)
[4/7 and 4/2]

28. Use What You’ve Got b/w Double Eyed Whammy (King 45-6057, 1966)
[4/19 and 4/18]

29. You’ve Got Me Licked b/w Girl From Kookamunga(King 45-6080, 1967)
[4/17 and 4/16]

30. Have You Ever Loved A Woman b/w Hideaway (King 45-6264, 1969)
[Reissue of the A of Entries 2 and 3]

31. Funky b/w Play It Cool (Cotillion 44015, 1969)
[4/26 and 4/28]
Note; the A-side is co-written with KING CURTIS

32. I Wonder Why b/w Yonder Wall (Cotillion 44058, 1970)
[5/6 and 5/5]
Note: The A-side is written by JOE JOSEA and B.B. KING
The B-side is an Elmore James cover version

33. Going Down b/w Tore Down (Shelter 7303, 1971)
[5/21 and 5/24]
Note: the A-side is a DON NIX song; the B-side is a SONNY THOMPSON song

34. Me And My Guitar b/w Lowdown In Lodi (Shelter 7320, 1972)
[7/2 and 6/16]
Note: the A-side is a JOHN FOGERTY song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL and CHARLES BLACKWELL song

35. I’d Rather Go Blind b/w Ain’t No Sunshine (Shelter 7323, 1972)
[7/3 and 6/10]
Note: the A-side is a LEON RUSSELL song; the B-side is a BILL WITHERS song

36. Woman Across The River b/w Help Me Through The Day (Shelter 7333, 1973)
[7/9 and 7/16]
Note: the A-side is a BETTYE CRUTCHER and ALLEN JONES, Jr. song; the B-side is a LEON RUSSELL song

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREDDIE KING – USA LP DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing the 2009 “Taking Care Of Business 1956 – 1973”
7CD Box Set on Bear Family BCD 16979 GK

1. “Freddy King Sings”
1961, King Records 762 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. See See Baby [1/4]
2. Lonesome Whistle Blues [1/9]
3. Takin' Care Of Business [2/5]
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman [1/6]
5. You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So) [1/19]
6. I'm Tore Down [1/12]

Side 2:
1. I Love The Woman [1/8]
2. Let Me Be (Stay Away From Me) [2/4]
3. It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough) [1/11]
4. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling [1/5]
5. If You Believe (In What You Do) [1/10]
6. You Mean, Mean Woman (How Can Your Love Be True) [2/6]

2. “Let’s Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King”
1961, King Records 773 [Mono]
Note: ALL tracks are Instrumentals
See also King 856 – it is the King 773 LP reissued in 1963, but with overdubbed crowd noise

Side 1:
1. Hide Away [1/7]
2. Butterscotch [1/23]
3. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
4. Side Tracked [1/15]
5. The Stumble [1/16]
6. Wash Out [1/18]

Side 2:
1. San-Ho-Zay [1/17]
2. Just Pickin’ [2/23]
3. Heads Up [2/2]
4. In The Open [2/8]
5. Out Front [2/9]
6. Swooshy [2/10]

3. “Boy – Girl – Boy”
1962, King Records 777 [Mono]
Credited to FREDDY KING, LULA REED, SONNY THOMPSON

Side 1:
1. Do The President Twist - Lulu Reed & Freddy King [2/19]
2. I Got A Notion - Lula Reed
3. Know What You're Doing - Lula Reed
4. You Can't Hide - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/21]
5. Puddentane - Lula Reed

Side 2:
1. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me - Lula Reed & Freddy King [2/20]
2. I'm A Woman (But I Don't Talk Too Much) - Lula Reed
3. Waste No More Tears - Lula Reed
4. It's Easy Child - Lula Reed and Freddy King [2/22]
5. I Know - Lula Reed
6. Why Don't You Come On Home - Lula Reed

4. “Smokey Smothers Sings The Backporch Blues”
1962, King Records 779 [Mono]
Note: one of the few (and rare) times Freddy King played session work – the album is by Chicago Bluesman OTIS “BIG SMOKEY” SMOTHERS and King is on the tracks marked [FK]

Side 1:
1. Crying Tears
2. Smokey's Love Sick Blues
3. I Ain't Gonna Be No Monkey Man No More [FK}
4. I've Been Drinking Muddy Water [FK]
5. You're Gonna Be Sorry [FK]
6. Midnight And Day

Side 2:
1. Blind And Dumb Man Blues
2. Honey I Ain't Teasin'
3. I Can't Judge Nobody [FK]
4. Give It Back (What I Done For You) [FK]
5. What Am I Going To Do
6. Come On Rock Little Girl [FK]

5. “A Carnival Of Songs”
1963, King Records 819 [Mono]
A Various Artists compilation LP with 1 Freddy King song that is exclusive – “Closed Door” [2/11]

6. “Bossa Nova And Blues
1963, King Records 821 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. (I'd Love to) Make Love To You [3/14]
2. You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree [3/9]
3. Look Ma I'm Cryin' [3/13]
4. It Hurts To Be In Love [3/12]
5. You Walked In [3/8]
6. The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist [3/4]

Side 2:
1. Is My Baby Mad At Me [3/10]
2. Someday After Awhile (You'll Be Sorry) [3/7]
3. One Hundred Years [3/15]
4. Bossa Nova Blues [3/3]
5. The Welfare (Turns It's Back On You) [3/11]
6. Walk Down That Aisle (Honey Chile) [3/6]

7. “Freddie King Goes Surfin’”
1963, King Records 856 [Mono]
Note: A reissue of King 773 with crowd overdubs [not referenced in the box]

8. “Freddy King…Gives You A Bonanza Of Instrumentals”
1965, King Records 928 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Manhole [4/9]
2. Freeway 75 [3/5]
3. Low Tide [3/19] [aka Zoo Surfin’]
4. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
5. Funny Bone [4/11]
6. Nickel Plated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. King-A-Ling [4/3]
2. Surf Monkey [3/17]
3. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
4. Fish Fare [4/10]
5. Cloud Sailin' [4/12]
6. Remington Ride [3/20]

9. “Freddy King Sings Again”
1965, King Records 931 [Mono]
NOTE: Mystery surrounds this LP. There is no artwork available and no one appears to have ever seen any. As you can see from the tracks listed below – it is made up entirely of Federal 7” single sides – perhaps it was pulled not to kill their sales – but that is pure speculation.
The Bear Family booklet unfortunately doesn’t clarify anything about LP 931 - whether or not it was ever released (some sources now presume it wasn’t). But the discography DOES reference the following 12 tracks, so I’ve included them here for info purposes (in discography appearance order)…

1. Come On [2/18]
2. What About Love [3/2]
3. Now I’ve Got A Woman [3/16]
4. If You Have It [3/18]
5. Monkey Donkey [3/21]
6. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
7. Full Time Love [4/2]
8. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
9. Teardrops On Your Letter [4/5]
10. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
11. She’s The One [4/7]
12. She’s That Kind [4/8]

10. “All His Hits”
1965, King Records 5012
Features “Christmas Tears” [2/3]

11. “24 Vocals And Instrumentals”
1966, King Records 964 [Mono]
NOTE: the Discography ‘pictures’ this album in between the text, but doesn’t actually reference LP 964 in any of the entries. I think this is probably a clerical mistake. For info purposes, I’ve given their box set reference as below…

Side 1:
1. Meet Me At The Station [4/1]
2. Manhole [4/9]
3. Sittin' On The Boat Dock [2/17]
4. Texas Oil [2/12]
5. She's The Kind [aka “She’s That Kind”] [4/8]
6. High Rise [aka “Closed Door”] [2/11]
7. Some Other Day, Some Other Time [4/6]
8. King-A-Ling [4/3]
9. Surf Monkey [3/17]
10. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 1) [2/13]
11. She Put The Whammy On Me (Part 2) [2/13]
12. Nickleplated [4/14]

Side 2:
1. Sen-Sa-Shun [1/14]
2. It's Easy Child [2/22]
3. Just Pickin' [2/1]
4. Now I've Got A Woman [3/16]
5. The Sad Nite Owl [4/13]
6. I'm On My Way To Atlanta [2/14]
7. Freeway 75 [3/5]
8. If You Have It [3/18]
9. Cloud Sailin' (Don’t Move) [4/12]
10. I Love You More Every Day [4/4]
11. Freddy's Midnite Dream [4/15]
12. Monkey Donkey [3/21]

12. “Hideaway”
1969, King Records KS-1059 [Mono]/KSD-1059 [Stereo]
A compilation – it is NOT referenced in the Box Set’s Discography
However, the mono versions can be sequenced from previous entries

Side 1:
1. Hideaway
2. I'm Tore Down
3. Washout
4. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
5. Low Tide

Side 2:
1. The Stumble
2. See See Baby
3. Side Tracked
4. I Love The Woman
5. Remington Ride

13. “Freddie King Is A Blues Master”
1969, Cotillion SD-9004 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Play It Cool [4/28]
2. That Will Never Do [4/29]
3. It’s Too Late, She’s Gone [4/30]
4. Blue Shadows [4/27]
5. Today I Sing The Blues [5/4]
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman [4/32]

Side 2:
1. Hideaway [4/25]
2. Funky [4/26]
3. Hot Tomato [5/1]
4. Wide Open [5/2]
5. Sweet Thing [4/31]
6. Let Me Down Easy [5/3]

14. “My Feeling For The Blues”
1970, Cotillion SD-9016 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features KING CURTIS

Side 1:
1. Yonder Wall [5/5]
2. The Stumble [5/9]
3. I Wonder Why [5/6]
4. Stormy Monday [5/10]
5. I Don't Know [5/7]

Side 2:
1. What'd I Say [5/11]
2. Ain't Nobody's Business What We Do [5/12]
3. You Don't Have To Go [5/13]
4. Woke Up This Morning [5/14]
5. The Things I Used To Do [5/15]
6. My Feeling For The Blues [5/8]

15. “Getting Ready”
1971, Shelter Records SHE-8905 (USA) and A&M Records AMLS 65004 (UK)
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Same Old Blues [5/16]
2. Dust My Broom [5/17]
3. Worried Life Blues [aka “Worry My Life No More”] [5/18]
4. Five Long Years [5/19]
5. Key To The Highway [5/20]

Side 2:
1. Going Down [5/21]
2. Living On The Highway [5/22]
3. Walking My Myself [5/23]
4. Tore Down [5/24]
5. Palace Of The King [5/25]

16. “Texas Cannonball”
1972, Shelter SW-8913 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Lowdown In Lodi [6/16]
2. Reconsider Baby [6/17]
3. Big Legged Woman [7/1]
4. Me And My Guitar [7/2]
5. I'd Rather Be Blind [7/3]

Side 2:
1. Can't Trust Your Neighbor [6/7]
2. You Was Wrong [6/8]
3. How Many More Years [6/9]
4. Ain't No Sunshine [6/10]
5. The Sky Is Crying [6/11]

17. “Woman Across The River”
1973, Shelter SW-8919 [Stereo]
Note: the album is Produced by and Features LEON RUSSELL

Side 1:
1. Woman Across The River [7/9]
2. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man [7/10]
3. The Danger Zone [7/11]
4. Boogie Man [7/12]
5. Leave My Woman Alone [7/13]

Side 2:
1. Just A Little Bit [7/14]
2. Yonder Wall [7/15]
3. Help Me Through The Day [7/16]
4. I'm Ready [7/17]
5. Trouble In Mind [7/18]
6. You Don't Have To Go [7/19]

18. “Ann Arbor Blues And Jazz Festival”
1973, Atlantic SD2-502 [2LP set featuring 1 exclusive Freddy King track “Goin’ Down” [7/20]

Roy Orbison USA 7" and LP Discography Referencing The 2001 Bear Family 7CD Box Set "Orbison 1955-1965".

"…No One Can Look As Good As You…Mercy!”

ROY ORBISON - USA 7” SINGLE DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing the 7-CD Box Set “Orbison 1955-1965”
Issued in 2001 on Bear Family BCD 16423 GL

Notes: 1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2, 2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc
Excepting 1, 4, 8 and 25 - all tracks are credited to ROY ORBISON
9 to 19 also feature “Bob Moore’s Orchestra & Chorus”
21 features “Joe Turner’s Orchestra and Chorus”

1. Trying To Get To You b/w Ooby Dooby (April 1956, Je-Wel JE-101)
(Credited to THE TEEN KINGS - A is 1/2, B is 1/1
The A is a cover version of a B-side sung by a black vocal group called THE EAGLES on Mercury 70391 in 1954 (“Please, Please” is the A) – it was also covered by Elvis Presley who released his version on the RCA LP “Elvis Presley” on 23 March 1956. Roy’s version is more akin to the Presley take.)

2. Ooby Dooby b/w Go! Go! Go! (May 1956, Sun 242)
(A is 1/3, B is 1/4)

3. So Long, Good Luck And Goodbye b/w Trying To Get To You (July 1956, Imperial X5451)
(A is credited to WELDON ROGERS (a Country Artist); THE TEEN KINGS featuring Roy Orbison are on the B-side only)

4. Rockhouse b/w You’re My Baby (September 1956, Sun 251)
(A is 1/7, B is 1/6)

5. Devil Doll b/w Sweet And Easy To Love (January 1957, Sun 265)
(Credited to ROY ORBISON And The Roses – A is 1/9, B is 1/8
Both sides are written by SAM PHILLIPS)

6. Chicken-Hearted b/w I Like Love (December 1957, Sun 284)
(A is 1/13, B is 1/14)

7. Sweet And Innocent b/w Seems To Me (October 1958, RCA Victor 47-7381)
(A is 2/11, B is 2/12)

8. Jolie b/w Almost Eighteen (January 1959, RCA Victor 47-7447)
(A is 2/14, B is 2/15)

9. I Was A Fool b/w Crazy Baby (1959. Phillips International PI 3534)
(Credited to KEN COOK.
Roy Orbison is uncredited, but plays Guitar and Sings on the A-side; the session also includes CHARLIE RICH on Piano, BILLY RILEY on Guitar and BILL JUSTIS on Tenor Saxophone.
A is on 2/10 – the B-side is not on the Box set)

10. Paper Boy b/w With The Bug (July 1959, Monument 45-409)
(A is on 4/1, B is on 4/3
Note: there are many Previously Unreleased Outtakes of these songs on Disc 7)

11. Uptown b/w Pretty One (November 1959, Monument 45-412)
(A is on 4/4, B is on 4/6)

12. Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) b/w Here Comes That Song Again (June 1960, Monument 45-421)
(A is on 4/8, B is on 4/9)

13. Blue Angel b/w Today’s Teardrops (October 1960, Monument 45-425)
(A is on 4/11, B is on 4/10)

14. Devil Doll b/w Sweet And Easy To Love (November 1960 Reissue, Sun 353)
(Not referenced on the Box Set – presumably the same as Sun 265)

15. I’m Hurtin’ b/w I Can’t Stop Loving You (December 1960, Monument 45-433)
(A is on Disc 4/19, B is on 4/18)

16. Running Scared b/w Love Hurts (April 1961, Monument 45-438)
(A is on 4/23, B is on 4/22 – B-side is a cover of The Everly Brothers hit)

17. Crying b/w Candy Man (August 1961, Monument 45-447)
(A is on Disc 5/4, B is on 5/7)

18. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) b/w The Actress (February 1962, Monument 45-456)
(A is on 5/19, B is on 5/20)

19. The Crowd b/w Mama (June 1962, Monument 45-461)
(A is on 5/22, B is 5 is on 5/23)

20. Leah b/w Workin’ For The Man (October 1962, Monument 45-467)
(A is on 5/25, B is on 5/26)

21. In Dreams b/w Shahdaroba (February 1963, Monument 45-806)
(A is on 6/3, B is on 6/2)

22. Falling b/w Distant Drums (June 1963, Monument 45-815)
(A is on 6/1, B is on 5/28. Note: “Distant Drums” also turned up as a B-side for “Let The Good Times Roll” on Monument MO 906 in 1965)

23. Mean Woman Blues b/w Blue Bayou (September 1963, Monument 45-824)
(A is on 6/9, B is on 5/15)

24. Pretty Paper b/w Beautiful Dreamer (December 1963, Monument 45-830)
(A is on 6/13, B is on 6/7. Note: the A-side is a WILLIE NELSON song while the B-side is also a cover, a version of STEPHEN FOSTER’s famous traditional tune)

25. It’s Over b/w Indian Wedding (April 1964, Monument 45-837)
(A is on 6/15, B is on 6/16)

26. Oh’ Pretty Woman b/w Ye Te Amo Maria (August 1964, Monument 45-851)
(Credited as ROY ORBISON and THE CANDY MEN. A is on 6/17, B is on 6/18. Note: there is also a Stereo Version of “Oh, Pretty Woman” on 7/1 from the Stereo LP “Orbisongs” on Monument SLP 18035 from 1965)

27. Goodnight b/w Only With You (February 1965, Monument 45-873)
(A is on 6/20, B is on 6/19)

28. (Say) You’re My Girl b/w Sleepy Hollow (August 1965, Monument 45-891)
(A is on 6/21, B is on 6/23. Note: the box has two versions of “Sleepy Hollow” 6/21 is the “Fast” version while 6/22 is the “Slow” - but confusingly the discography lists BOTH as Monument 891. The “slow” version is also on the Stereo LP “Orbisongs” from 1965, so I’ve ‘presumed’ that the “Fast” version (6/21) is therefore the single mix?)

29. Ride Away b/w Wonderin’ (September 1965, MGM Records K 13386)
(A is on Disc 6/24, B isn’t on the Box set)

30. Let The Good Times Roll b/w Distant Drums (1966, Monument 45-906)
(A is on 5/14, B is on 5/28. Note the same version of “Distant Drums” was used on Monument MO 815 in 1963 – see 21)

31. Lana b/w Summer Song (1966, Monument 45-939)
(A is on Disc 5/1, B is on 4/25)

32. FREE EP
(CBS/Monument XPS 178 – Comes With “The Roy Orbison Collection” from 1983 on CBS/Monument MNT 10041)
Yes [5/13]/How Are Things in Paradise [5/10]/Party Heart [5/16]/Darkness [4/20]

Note: other Non-USA 7” singles referenced in the box are:

1. “San Fernando (Shahdaroba)” b/w “Mama” (1963, Germany, London DL 20 726, 6/11 and 6/12)
2. “Borne On The Wind” b/w “What I’d Say” (UK-only 45, 1964, London HL-U 9845, the A-side only is exclusive – it’s 7/6)


********************************************************************************

ROY ORBISON - USA LP DISCOGRAPHY
(Referencing the 7-CD Box Set “Orbison 1955-1965”
Issued 2001 in Germany on Bear Family BCD 16423 GL)

Notes:
[1/2] = Disc 1, Track 2
[2/14] = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

1. “Lonely And Blue”
1961 USA LP on Monument M-4002 [Mono] and SM-14002 [Stereo]
The box set uses the STEREO version

Side 1:
1. Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) [4/8]
2. Bye-Bye, Love [4/15]
3. Cry [4/17]
4. Blue Avenue [4/7]
5. I Can’t Stop Loving You [4/18]
6. Come Back To Me (My Love) [4/13]

Side 2:
1. Blue Angel [4/11]
2. Raindrops [4/5]
3. (I’d Be) A Legend In My Time [4/14]
4. I’m Hurtin’ [4/19]
5. Twenty Two Days [4/16]
6. I’ll Say It’s My Fault [4/12]
Note: the version of “Twenty Two Days” that appears on the LP “Orbisongs” from 1965 is different to the version above – the “Orbisongs” version is 7/2

2. “Roy Orbison At The Rock House”
1961 USA Mono-Only LP on Sun LP 1260
Info only – the box set references the 7” singles – not the overdubbed LP cuts which are largely different

Side 1:
1. This Kind Of Love
2. Devil Doll
3. You’re My Baby
4. Tryin’ To Get To You
5. It’s Too Late
6. Rock House

Side 2:
1. You’re Gonna Cry
2. I Never Knew
3. Sweet And Easy To Love
4. Mean Little Mama
5. Ooby Dooby
6. Problem Child

3. “Crying”
May 1961 USA LP on Monument M-4007 [Mono] and SM-14007 [Stereo]
The box set uses the STEREO version

Side 1:
1. Crying [5/4]
2. The Great Pretender [5/6]
3. Love Hurts [4/22]
4. She Wears My Ring [5/3]
5. Wedding Day [5/12]
6. Summer Song [4/25]

Side 2
1. Dance [4/27]
2. Lana [5/1]
3. Loneliness [4/26]
4. Let's Make A Memory [4/21]
5. Nite Life [4/24]
6. Running Scared [4/23]

4. “Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits”
August 1962 USA LP on Monument M-4009 [Mono] and SM-14009 [Stereo]
(It was re-issued in 1963 as Monument SLP-18000; the box set references this STEREO version)
* = First appearance on this LP
** = Previously only available as a 7” single

Side 1:
1. The Crowd [5/22] **
2. Love Star [5/18] *
3. Crying [5/4]
4. Evergreen [5/17]
5. Running Scared [4/23]
6. Mama [5/23]

Side 2:
1. Candy Man [5/7]
2. Only The Lonely [4/8]
3. Dream Baby [5/19]
4. Blue Angel [4/11]
5. Uptown [4/4]
6. I'm Hurtin' [4/19]

5. “In Dreams”
July 1963 USA LP on Monument MLP 8003 [Mono] and SLP 18003 [Stereo]
The box set uses the STEREO version

Side 1:
1. In Dreams [6/3]
2. Lonely Wine [6/6]
3. Shahdaroba [6/2]
4. No One Will Ever Know [5/21]
5. Sunset [5/5]
6. House Without Windows [5/8]

Side 2:
1. Dream [6/4]
2. Blue Bayou [5/15]
3. (They Call You) Gigolette [5/11]
4. All I Have To Do Is Dream [6/8]
5. Beautiful Dreamer [6/7]
6. My Prayer [6/5]

6. “More Of Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits”
July 1964 USA LP on Monument MLP 8024 [Mono] and SLP 18024 [Stereo]
The box set uses the STEREO version
* = First appearance on this LP
** = Previously only available as a 7” single

Side1:
1. Blue Bayou [5/15]
2. Borne On The Wind [5/27] *
3. Falling [6/1] *
4. In Dreams [6/3]
5. Indian Wedding [6/16] *
6. It's Over [6/15] **

Side 2:
1. Lana [5/1]
2. Leah [5/25] **
3. Mean Woman Blues [6/9] **
4. Pretty Paper [6/13] **
5. What'd I Say [6/10] *
6. Working For The Man [5/26] **


7. “Early Orbison”
October 1964 USA LP on Monument MLP 8023 [Mono] and SLP 18023 [Stereo]
The box set uses the STEREO version

Side 1:
1. The Great Pretender [5/6]
2. Cry [4/17]
3. I Can't Stop Loving You [4/18]
4. I'll Say It's My Fault [4/12]
5. She Wears My Ring [5/3]
6. Love Hurts [4/22]

Side 2:
1. Bye Bye Love [4/15]
2. Blue Avenue [4/7]
3. Raindrops [4/5]
4. Come Back To Me (My Love) [4/13]
5. Summer Song [4/25]
6. Pretty One [4/6]

8. “There Is Only One Roy Orbison”
September 1965 USA LP on MGM Records E 4379 [Mono] and SE 4308 [Stereo]
The box set only has one song off this album, the opening track on Side 1 “Ride Away” (also his debut 7” single for MGM [6/24])

9. “Orbisongs”
December 1965 USA LP on Monument MLP 8035 [Mono] and SLP 18035 [Stereo]
The box set uses the STEREO version
* = First appearance on this LP
** = Previously only available as a 7” single

Side 1:
1. Oh, Pretty Woman [7/1] (the 7” single mix on Monument 45-851 is on 6/17)
2. Dance [5/2] (the version on the “Crying” LP is 4/27)
3. (Say) You're My Girl [6/22] (there is also a “Fast” version of this track on 6/21)
4. Goodnight [6/20] **
5. Nite Life [7/4] *
6. Let The Good Times Roll [5/14] **

Side 2:
1. (I Get So) Sentimental [5/24] *
2. Yo Te Amo Maria [6/18] **
3. Wedding Day [5/12]
4. Sleepy Hollow [6/23] **
5. Twenty Two Days [7/2] * (the version on the “Lonely And Blue” LP is on 4/16)
6. (I'd Be) A Legend In My Time [4/14]

Other LPs/CDs referenced…

10. “Special Delivery” [by Roy Orbison, Joey Powers & Bobby Bare]
1964 USA LP on RCA Camden CAL 820 [Mono] and CAS 820 [Stereo]
Several of the Mono tracks are referenced

11. “The Roy Orbison Collection”
1983 UK 2LP set on CBS/Monument MNT 10041 (includes a free 4-track EP, CBS/Monument XPS 178 – these 4 tracks are referenced on the box – see singles list)

11. “Problem Child! – Sun Sessions 1956-8”
1988 UK LP on Zu-Zazz Z 2006
(12 previously unreleased tracks)

13. “The Big O – The Early Years”
1989 UK 23-Track CD on Pickwick PWK 107

14. “Rare Orbison II”
1990 USA CD on CBS AK 45404

15. “The Golden Decade”
1990 UK 3CD set on Knight Records ROYCD 47002 (re-issued in 1993 on Sequel NXTCD 246)

16. “Are You Ready – Previously Unissued 1956 Recordings” [by THE TEEN KINGS]
2000 UK CD on Rollercoaster RRCD 3012 (all 17 tracks are referenced)

“Original Album Series” by LITTLE FEAT. A Review of the 2010 5CD Mini Box Set on Rhino.

"…Give Me Missing Persons…They Say…What is It That You Need?...”

Aping the success of Sony’s similarly packaged 5CD box sets, WEA is releasing over FORTY x 5CD “Original Album Series” mini box sets of their own. Issued only in the UK and Europe, the artists featured stretch from rhythm ‘n’ blues icons of the 1950s (Ray Charles and Clyde McPhatter with The Drifters) all the way through to Metal And Indie bands of the 2000s (Dokken and Echo & The Bunnymen). For those interested, I’ve compiled a full listing of titles in the series in the ‘comment’ section attached to this review (some are superb, some are not).

Here’s the detail for the LITTLE FEAT 5CD issue - released Monday 1 March 2010 on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122 79835 9, “Original Album Series” breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 is “Little Feat” their 11-track debut album released January 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1890 and March 1972 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46072 (33:30 minutes)

Disc 2 is “Sailin’ Shoes” their 11-track 2nd album released May 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2600 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46156 (38:02 minutes)

Disc 3 is “Dixie Chicken” their 10-track 3rd album released February 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2686 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46200 (36:48 minutes)

Disc 4 is “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” their 8-track 4th album released September 1974 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2784 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56030 (34:30 minutes)

Disc 5 is “The Last Record Album” their 8-track 5th album released November 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2884 and in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56156. This CD also includes the 9th, 10th and 11th bonus tracks that are on the Eighties CD issue hence the playing time of 39:39 minutes. The tracks are “Bonus Announcement”, “Don’t Bogart That Joint [Live] and “A Apolitical Blues [Live]”.

ARTWORK/PACKAGING:
The five single card sleeves reflect the ‘original’ front and rear US LP artwork (the gatefold of “Sailin’ Shoes” is unfortunately not reproduced). However, there is an odd addition to the way these card sleeves have been presented that seems to go right across the entire series. Each front sleeve is now ‘bordered’ with a colour – in this issue its brown for “Little Feat”, orange for “Sailin’ Shoes” (and so on) and the label on the CD then reflects that colour code. I mention this because Rhino are usually sticklers for detail and would in the past have used the original vinyl label designs like they did in the ‘Encore’ series (a green Warner Brothers label for “Dixie Chicken”, the Burbank Trees label for “The Last Record Album” and so on), but alas not here…

There’s no inserts or booklet either and the outer card box is disappointingly flimsy too (the Sony ones are chunky and glossy – they’re stronger). Worse, there appears to be no site to download track details from (as there is with the Sony issues). Having said all that, the card sleeves still look cool once out of the box and it’s nice to see the original artwork used (it makes a big difference on the Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Paul Butterfield rear sleeves – beautiful original album artwork). But that’s small compensation, because the really bad news is the opportunity missed in the sound department…

SOUND:
Some CD sites selling these sets seemed to have automatically ‘presumed’ that each is “digitally remastered”, but it categorically does not state that on the outer box or any of the card sleeves or discs – and rather too conveniently - neither website for Rhino USA or UK has any info on the series. But what’s not hard to discern is what your ears are telling you.

Like most fans I have the crappy Eighties CD issues just to have the music and these 2010 versions seem to be pretty much the same. To put this into a song context, when you compare the 2000 “Hotcakes” genuine remasters of say “Two Trains”, “Willin’”, “Roll Um Easy”, “Rock And Roll Doctor” and especially “Long Distance Love” (lyrics above), the sound quality is infinitely better on the Box Set versions – truly gorgeous stuff. The sound quality here is merely good at best (maybe better in some places), but it’s absolutely not the upgrade fans were hoping for on ‘all’ of the albums.

With Rhino announcing redundancies in their reissue departments (everything’s going away from hard copy to digital downloads) and the slightly slapdash feel of these boxes, you can’t help but field a depressing thought – this is a truly great reissue label just chucking stuff at the wall to sell it. A musical maverick going out with a whimper rather than a bang – flogging us what they ‘know’ is more of the same old crud just with a prettier lick of paint. Only a few years ago, Rhino could be relied upon to deliver us superlative reissues every time – with these and the rubbish “Flashback” series - not anymore it seems…

If the Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Chris Rea and George Benson titles are the same, then I’ll not bother at all with any more in this series…and that’s just plain depressing.

Three stars out of five – at a pinch. Very, very disappointing…