TODAY : 20 FAVORITE FEMME RECORDS OF....1955
Okay just a note to explain why a couple of my favorites credited to
femmes you might have expected to see here are missing---“The
Wallflower” – Etta James and “No Need Acting Like That”” – Mamie Ree
(unreleased) would both be here (as #1 and #3 respectively)---were it
not for the fact that BOTH are clearly DUETS (with Richard Berry and
“Young Wolf” aka Gus Jenkins respectively ---and both already featured
in the relevant 1955 edition in the Fave Duets series of posts on here).
NOTE : unless mentioned there was NO UK issue at the time of any of
these titles
1. GOOD ROCKIN’ DADDY – ETTA JAMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NanxlfPEAxs
Solid Etta James number with terrific vocal backing from The Dreamers (featuring Jesse Belvin) plus the equally terrific instrumental backing provided by Maxwell Davis & his guys Her third single on Modern that
gave her a #6 hit on the BBr&b
chart.
2. SMOKE FROM YOUR CIGARETTE – THE MELLOWS ft. LILLIAN LEACH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxdacrRRGE
One of the greatest femme-led vocal group records ever IMO and certainly
one of
my biggest favorites.Straight outa da Bronx came the three Mellows guys
and the
great femme lead Lillian Leach whose debut recording for the Jay-Dee
label was
the immaculate “Smoke From Your Cigarette” .Song was revived in 1961 by
The
Belmonts (flip of their “Tell Me Why” hit) which was where I first heard the actual song itself
3. WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON – BIG MAYBELLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHi4mhl3Tlc
With a solid backing under the control of Quincy Jones and nearing the
end of her time on the Okeh label here is Big Maybelle with her original version of the song that will later propel Jerry Lee Lewis to the top
reaches of the charts in an even greater version. Amazingly despite
having several of her other records make the r&b chart this one failed
to do the business. Obviously I have to name Jerry Lee’s definitive Sun version as my favorite on this one but Maybelle’s original comes a good second
4. LONELY NIGHTS – THE HEARTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLNmERvwhPw
Femme fearsome foursome from NYC (that included Jeanette “Baby”
Washington) and backed by Al Sears & Orchestra recording for Sol
Rabinowitz’s Baton label in New York whose debut record “Lonely Nights” sold well enough to reach #8 BBr&b. The group hit minor paydirt again in
1963 when their “Dear Abby” charted #93 BBpop
5. AS LONG AS I’M MOVING – RUTH BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmUEvM2dgDc
Ruth’s first single of 1955 was a sprightly Charles Calhoun affair
recorded at a New York City session March 1 1955.Musicians not known
apart from the ever reliable Sam “The Man” Taylor (tenor sax). Vocal backing by the catch-all “Rhythmakers” group.Tracks cut were “I Wanna Be Loved”,”I Can See Everybody’s Baby”,”As Long As I’m Moving” and “What’d
I Say”. Charted at #4 BBr&b. Released in UK on London but no chart
action
6. DING DONG DADDY – WYNONA CARR (UNRELEASED)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VvWfQ9KxmI
God alone knows why Art Rupe at Specialty chose not to release this---it
must be the most ultra-commercial thing to come Wynona’s way for ages—certainly since she went secular--and I would reckon stood a good
chance of putting her high in the charts and setting her off on a
memorable career.But there you go….we all recognize that record company history is awash with dopey decisions……………
7. (GOTTA GO) UPSIDE YOUR HEAD – BUDDY JOHNSON (ELLA JOHNSON)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFGOKUUiZAA
Backed by bro Buddy Johnson’s big band sister Ella Johnson turns in her
usual reliable performance on the swinging bluesy “Upside Your Head”
number waxed
for Mercury. Charted #13 BBr&b.
8. DARLING LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THIS SONG – RUTH McFADDEN & THE
SUPREMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zrSWDQOL84
Appearing on one of the all time best NYC record labels—Old Town headed
by Hy
Weiss—song thrush Ruth McFadden was paired with The Supremes (a new male group that will go on to record “Tonight” in 1956 and a different group
to the (also
male) Supremes of “Just For You And I” fame on Ace and VERY noticeably different to the later femme Supremes of Motown fame.Suffice to say that
the end result here was one of the best things to appear on Old
Town---and the label was home to some REAL classics!!
9. BOP-TING-A-LING – LaVERN BAKER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qh2ncbySiY
Recorded February 20 1955 in New York City with “The Gliders” backing
combo including Sam “The Man” Taylor (ten sax) Mickey Baker (gtr) and Connie Kay (dms). As well as “Bop-Ting-A-Ling” (her first Atlantic
single of 1955) the session also provided the flipside “That’s All I Need” and the track “Lots And Lots Of Love” which will be used as lead track on her 1956 LP “LaVern”. Charted #3 BBr&b
10. HOLD ME SQUEEZE ME – ETTA JAMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=698gM9Nf8Q8
The flipside of her great “The Wallflower” aka “Roll With Me Henry” on the Modern label. Not sure who is providing bass here but he does a very
fine job.
11. ROCK LOVE – LULA REED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWszWEQyuy0
The original version by Lula Reed the ex-songstress with the Sonny
Thompson band
Now a solo act on the King label with a whole slew of released singles
to her name.The Henry Glover penned “Rock Love” is her first single of
1955 instantly attracting a whole wad of cover versions including those
by Elaine Gay and Eddie Fontaine.But the cover that attracts the most
attention (and sells most copies) is that of the Fontane Sisters on Dot
just coming off their #1 cover of “Hearts Of Stone” and hoping to repeat the feat with "Rock Love".It charts well but at lower at #13 leaving
poor Lula for dead
12. LOVEABLE LILY – THE MELLOWS ft. LILLIAN LEACH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trWQnaEjK9o
Another super number by the Mellows to followup their famous “Smoke From
Your
Cigarette” number. Again on the Jay-Dee label the song has the male
Mellows
expressing their feelings in no uncertain terms toward lead artist here
– Miss Lillian Leach alias the “Lily” of the title
13. CAUGHT ME WHEN MY LOVE WAS DOWN – LULA REED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCURpZIa58A
LULA REED (King 4796) © “CAUGHT ME WHEN MY LOVE WAS DOWN” (2:38) [Jay & Cee BMI—Henry Glover] Lula Reed sings a fast beat romantic cutie in
which she receives a strong chorus and orchestral support. Lula’s
distinctive vocal handling of the infectious tune gives her a good
chance with this one (CASH BOX MAY 7 1955)
14. AY LA BAH – DOLLY COOPER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHDDHQy2-lk
With backing from Maxwell Davis & His Band here’s a semi-classic from
Dolly
Cooper (who also recorded as “Linda Peters”) that was popular with the Moondogs
crowd back then. Starting out on Savoy Dolly had switched to the West
Coast
Modern label by the time “Ay La Bah” came around. Famously “repro’ed” in
the
1970’s
15. ONE MONKEY DON’T STOP NO SHOW – BIG MAYBELLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnH1eSdI6AM
The flipside of #3 above (“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”) backed here by
Leroy
Kirkland & His Orchestra and co-penned by Rose Marie McCoy and of course presented on the Okeh label. Part of a great double-sider in anybody’s
book methinks
16. YOU CAN’T STAY HERE (STEP IT UP AND GO) – PEARL REAVES & THE
CONCORDS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOKe4Q5R7Z4
Updated rockin’ version of the old Blind Boy Fuller anthem from the
early 40’s
recorded for the Harlem label by the group who did the much sought after
(and highly valuable) collectors piece “Candlelight”---The Concords.
Only on this one they are fronted by Miss Pearl Reaves.Sadly the record
here won’t be a big seller but the basic number will sell better in a
more famous version in a year or so by Mac Wiseman
17. HOT MAMMA – THE CHANTERS FT. ETHEL BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzpYSk2HIg
Firstly these are a Santa Monica,Ca group and not to be confused with
the NYC
Chanters of “Row Your Boat”,”No,No,No” etc fame One time member of The Squires Ethel Brown joined them to front the very decent “Hot Mamma”
which was backed by Brother Woodman’s Combo for Jake Porter’s aptly
named Combo label
18. YES SIR THAT’S MY BABY – THE SENSATIONS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z5PJU8WjU8
First off I owe Yvonne Baker (nee Mills) a big apology for inadvertently omitting to include their “Let Me In” classic in the 1961 edition of
these
femme posts (it should rate #16 with everything below it moving down a
notch).
Won’t make the same mistake with the much earlier “Yes Sir That’s My Baby”
debut single on Atco a nice revival of the Gene Austin oldie from the 20’s.Charted #15 BBr&b
19. CRY ME A RIVER – JULIE LONDON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjW6qcgT1bg
One of my very favourite “torch” songs here in a very famous version.
Lots of
later readings of this one but for my money nobody comes near La London
on her best ever song (and biggest ever hit #9 BBpop on Liberty label). Famously included in the best 50’s rock ‘n’ roll movie “The Girl Can’t
Help It” (see YT clip above).Aptly issued on London label here in UK but
no chart action
20. FUJIYAMA MAMA - ANNISTEEN ALLEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZZ94yAc7g
The original version of the song by the ex-Lucky Millinder songstress
but most known today I guess for the famous Wanda Jackson version in
1957 (see the relevant post in this series). The number was penned by
the famous Mr Jack Hammer (only his lady friends could tell us if he
lived up to that name). On Capitol in both USA and UK did not chart
either way
BUBBLING UNDER
21. THAT’S ALL I WANT FROM YOU – DINAH WASHINGTON
22. I’M GONE YES I’M GONE – LULA REED
23. ROCK AND ROLL WALTZ – KAY STARR (The 10 year old Raj's favorite tune
at the time it was #1 both sides of the puddle)
24. PLEASE BE TRUE – SUGAR PIE
25. MY ANGEL – MIRIAM GRATE & THE DOVERS
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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