20 FAVE INSTRUMENTAL RECORDS
TODAY........FROM 1956
1. HONKY TONK – BILL DOGGETT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpoJlVMFeJw
Here’s the one record that I reckon will bring the most unanimous vote
from the
whole group as “the best instrumental of 1956” (and one or two might go further and add “and the entire 1950’s”). The title says it all.
Released on King this was a two-parter with Clifford Scott blowing a
mighty sax on the big hit side----#2 BB pop #1 BBr&b. Appeared on
Parlophone in UK did not chart here
2. SLOW WALK – SIL AUSTIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPXDtrFiYzk
Bill Doggett plays a part in this one too as he covered it (and took it
into the charts -see below)-but the original by tenor sax ace Austin was
THE big hit scoring #17BBpop and #3 BBr&b. On Mercury in USA. Amazingly
not issued in UK
3. RUDY’S ROCK – BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq46ecByFA8
The Comets had several instrumentals but this by far the
best----courtesy of the
terrific sax work of Comet-In-Chief Mr Rudy Pompilli - and as heard (and
SEEN)
in the “Rock Around The Clock” movie). On Decca in US #34 BBpop and Brunswick
in UK where it scored #26 on charts
4. SWANEE RIVER HOP – FATS DOMINO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xtcR8Vc4no
From a session in February 1953 comes the ace rockin’ piano instrumental
by Fats
that will wait till 1956 for release on the Imperial LP “ Rock ‘N’ Rollin’”
(which also includes the song “Goodbye” from the same session). On
Imperial (US) and London (UK)
5. DOMINO STOMP – FATS DOMINO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ-yLpZ-fxs
Flash forward to Fats’ next session in April 1953--which gives us
“Please Don’t Leave Me” and a first try at “Rose Mary”---plus the rockin’ “Domino Stomp” piano piece which appears first on an Imperial EP “Rock ‘N’ Rollin’ With Fats Domino Vol.1” (in 1956) then much later—as a
retitled “Twistin’ The Stomp” appearing on an Imperial LP with that
title in 1962 (London label here in UK)
6. SLOW WALK – BILL DOGGETT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBHPevaMdfI
Good cover on King of the big Sil Austin hit (see #2 above) that was the followup to Bill’s massive “Honky Tonk” hit. Charted at #26 BB pop #4 BBr&b. Released in UK on Parlophone but did not chart
7. ROCKIN’ WITH REED – JIMMY REED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HlEsn2wM5A
Recorded December 30 1953 this famous rockin’ instrumental lay dormant
for 3 years before finally getting release on Vee Jay in April 1956.
Backing musicians on the session included Eddie Taylor (gtr) and Morris Wilkerson (dms) according to Leadbitter (the flipside “Can’t Stand To
See You Go” was the BBr&b charting side reaching #10)
8. RIGHT NOW,RIGHT NOW – ALAN FREED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04jd7dsygaw
It’s really Big Al Sears on sax that does most of the heavy lifting on
this cool number with Freed clapping along (as featured in the Freed-led
movie “Rock,Rock, Rock!” ). Released on Coral (US) and Vogue-Coral (UK)
9. THE FAT MAN’S HOP – FATS DOMINO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daGdOlCEfRM
This slow moody instrumental piece was recorded by Fats as long ago as
November 1951 coming from the same session that produced “Goin’ Home”
and “Reeling And Rocking”.First released on the album “This Is Fats Domino” on Imperial in December 1956 (UK release on London)
10. SECOND LINE JUMP – FATS DOMINO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HFRIbiFvsc
Another instrumental piece by our hero this time dating from December
1952 or April 1953 and coming from the session that begat “Going To The River”. First released on the Imperial LP “Rock And Rollin’” in 1956 (and on London label in UK)
11. CALLING ALL COMETS – BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDzIgCg96kY
Go Rudy Go!! Another rockin’ showcase for Mr Rudy Pompilli this time
from the movie “Don’t Knock The Rock”. First appears on the “Rock ‘N’
Roll Stage Show” LP on Decca (US) and on Brunswick (UK). In UK Brunswick
also released this on a single as the flip to “Don’t Knock The Rock”
12. BILLY’S BLUES-PART 1 – BILLY STEWART
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDHd4bmnO1s
Defying all usual record company rules,on this record the instrumental
side comes FIRST---the vocal side takes Side 2 second place.Hypnotic
piece with Jody Williams guitar that was muted as the inspiration for
“Love Is Strange” and that featured in a lengthy litigation
case.Released on Chess in June 1956 and on Argo in August 1956. No,I’m
not sure why either
13. JUST WHALIN’ – LOUIE MEYERS & ACES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDf2bEDIqSk
Harmonica is King here as Louie & co deliver a very decent Chicago
instrumental waxed for Abco label in the Windy City. Personnel – Louis
Miles (hca) David Miles (gtr) Syl Johnson (gtr) Willie Dixon (bs) Fred
Below (dms) (personnel listing as per Leadbitter)
14. RIB JOINT – SAM PRICE & TEXAS BLUESICIANS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzZH8mHTS0A
B+ “In the vein of the current hits “Honky Tonk” and “Slow Walk” Sam Price & The Texas Bluesicians rock out “Rib Joint” a slow paced
accentuated rhythm instrumental. Good listening and rocking wax (Savoy
1505)” (Cash Box review 17 November 1956)
15. ROCKIN’ AT COSMO’S – LEE ALLEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIe_8Yg0Vok
The “Cosmo” in the title is of course the famed producer Cosimo Matassa
who recorded countless New Orleans classics at his J&M Studio .Lee
Allen’s “Rockin’ At Cosmo’s” (his first record under his own name) is one of them. Released on Aladdin
16. FLYING SAUCER – LITTLE WALTER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wF3LTO_XS8
The decent instrumental flipside of Walter’s “One More Chance With You” on Checker.Surprisingly neither side charted thus breaking a long run
where practically everything by him had featured on Billboard’s r&b
chart
17. STROLLIN’ WITH NOLEN – JIMMY NOLEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSgXe25bXEw
Spritely instrumental only the third release by r&b guitarist Nolen now
a firm staple on the Federal label. Making his way up the ladder Nolen
began working with Johnny Otis in 1957 shining with his contribution to “Willie & The Hand Jive” before finally joining the James Brown band in 1965
18. ROCK AND ROLL BOOGIE – ALAN FREED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGWLaS8-bJY
Again it’s Freed “fronting” Big Al Sears & His Band (and chanting the title--out of tune of course :-) again from the movie “Rock Rock Rock!”.
As with the previous Freed number (see #8 above) this was released on
Coral (US) and Vogue-Coral (UK)
19. FOOT STOMPIN’ - RUSTY BRYANT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A-1kIgBAOs
“Foot Stompin’” is the latest in a series of instrumental sax-led pieces and still backed by his Carolyn Club Band on the Dot label Incidentally
the flipside of this “Don’t Tell Me” features a vocal from a young lady completely new to the music scene—one Nancy Wilson
20. HARLEM NOCTURNE – EARL BOSTIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXxdJNw5dx8
Always liked the famous “Harlem Nocturne” tune in several versions including this moody Earl Bostic treatment. I remember this one getting
quite a bit of airplay here in UK and surprised that it never charted.
Released on King in USA and Parlophone in UK
BUBBLING UNDER
21. HOLLY HOP – BUDDY HOLLY (UNRELEASED)
22. LILY MAEBELLE MAMBO – JIMMY WRIGHT
23. BLUESY – LOUIE MEYERS & ACES
24. TEENAGE BEAT – LITTLE WALTER
25. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PARTY – RED PRYSOCK
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