Tom Lehrer

Another from the same table top sale as the Flanders & Swann. A 10" LP on Decca from 1952/53. Gentle and sometimes pithy social commentary songs about the old dope peddler, boy scouts and the American pre-occupation with guns, to name but a few.

Wikipedia says  -  " Lehrer was born in 1928 to a Jewish family in the New York City borough of Manhattan, and began studying classical piano music at the age of seven. He was more interested in the popular music of the age, however. Eventually, his mother also sent him to a popular-music piano teacher. At this early age, he began writing his own show tunes, which eventually helped him in his future adventures as a satirical composer and writer in his years of lecturing at Harvard University, and later at other universities.Lehrer graduated from the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. He attended Camp Androscoggin, both as a camper and a counselor.While studying mathematics as an undergraduate student at Harvard College, he began to write comic songs to entertain his friends, including "Fight Fiercely, Harvard" (1945). Those songs were later named The Physical Revue, a joking reference to a leading scientific journal, The Physical Review.
Lehrer earned his AB in mathematics (magna cum laude) from Harvard University in 1946, when he was nineteen. He received his MA degree the next year, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He taught classes at MIT, Harvard, and Wellesley.
He remained in Harvard's doctoral program for several years, taking time out for his musical career and to work as a researcher at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. He served in theU.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, working at the National Security Agency. (Lehrer has stated that he invented the Jell-O Shot during this time, as a means of circumventing liquor restrictions.) All of these experiences eventually became fodder for songs, viz. "Fight Fiercely, Harvard", "The Wild West Is Where I Want To Be" and "It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier". Despite holding a master's degree in an era when American conscripts often lacked a high school diploma, Lehrer served as an enlisted soldier, achieving the rank of Specialist Third Class (later retitled "Specialist-4" and currently "Specialist"), which he described as being a "corporal without portfolio". In 1960, Lehrer returned to full-time studies at Harvard, but he never completed his doctoral studies in mathematics.
From 1962, he taught in the political science department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1972, he joined the faculty of the University of California, Santa Cruz, teaching an introductory course entitled "The Nature of Mathematics" to liberal arts majors—"Math for Tenors", according to Lehrer. He also taught a class in musical theater. He occasionally performed songs in his lectures, primarily those relating to the topic.
In 2001, Lehrer taught his last mathematics class (on the topic of infinity) and retired from academia.^[ He has remained in the area, and in 2003 said he still "hangs out" around theUniversity of California, Santa Cruz."

Tom Lehrer  -  Side One.

Flanders & Swann

An LP from 1958 on the Parlophone label.  Intelligent and charming comedy songs from a bygone era.
Wikipedia says  -  "Flanders and Swann both attended Westminster School, where in July and August 1940 they staged a revue called Go To It, and Christ Church, Oxford, two institutions linked by ancient tradition. The pair went their separate ways during World War II, but a chance meeting in 1948 led to a musical partnership writing songs and light opera, Flanders providing the words and Swann composing the music. Their songs have been sung by performers such as Ian Wallace and Joyce Grenfell.In December 1956, Flanders and Swann hired the New Lindsey Theatre, Notting Hill, to perform their own two-man revue At the Drop of a Hat, which opened on New Year's Eve. Flanders sang a selection of the songs that they had written, interspersed with comic monologues, and accompanied by Swann on the piano. An unusual feature of their act was that, due to Flanders' having contracted poliomyelitis in 1943, both men remained seated for their shows: Swann behind his piano, and Flanders in a wheelchair. The show was successful and transferred the next month to the Fortune Theatre, where it ran for over two years, before touring in the UK, the United States, Canada and Switzerland.In 1963 Flanders and Swann opened in a second revue, At the Drop of Another Hat at the Haymarket Theatre. Over the next four years they toured a combination of the two shows in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States and Canada, before finishing up at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. On 9 April 1967, they performed their last live show together. Ten days later, they moved into a studio and recorded the show for television.Over the course of eleven years, Flanders and Swann gave nearly 2,000 live performances. Although their performing partnership ended in 1967, they remained friends afterwards and collaborated on occasional projects."

Flanders & Swann  -  Side One

Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers

An Lp on the cheapo Starline label from 1974 featuring Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers who were similar the Wurzels but did vary their act to include rock and calypso inspired songs.

"West Country band Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers are Gloucestershire's answer to The Wurzels; a humorous and fondly remembered band led by the inimitable and sadly missed Shag Connors. The band is still doing the business in the capable hands of Shag's son Mart, as Mart Connors & The Carrot Crunchers.

Described as a 'country comedy musical act' singing ribald songs of country life such as Gloucester Calypso, Blame the Breathalyser and I'm Jealous of the Farmyard Cockerel; the The Carrot Crunchers were perhaps best known for their black cockerel, which Shag taught to drink beer from a pint glass, and which was an integral part of the act. Story has it that one night the band played at an army base, and after the gig a bunch of squaddies killed the cockerel! This might explain why the two pictures in the gallery show different coloured birds - obviously Shag trained up a replacement!

Although Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers didn't achieve the UK chart success of Adge and The Wurzels, they were nevertheless is demand, appearing on various TV shows in the 1970s including The Wheeltappers & Shunters Show, the David Nixon Show (7/5/73 and 22/4/74), the Sooty Show and Opportunity Knockswhich would have put them in front of a massive national audience.

Shag died in 1987 after a long fight against cancer - a sad end to a real gentleman. He is buried in Mayshill Cemetery. His son Mart (aka Martin 'Scarecrow' Connor) took over the reigns and the band still performs today."

Shag Connors  -  Side One

Trio Guadalajara

..........................................................................................................................Found at local Oxfam. A kind of cross between the Gipsy Kings and a Mexican Mariachi band..Not much discovered about them on line but this small snippet from a Spanish blog badly translated -----"SPAIN, 1959 "vocal trios and quartets have their space in this blog as they were instrumental in the development of rock in Spanish (especially in Mexico and Puerto Rico). Among repertoires specialized in boleros, were pioneers in adapting to Spanish and American themes, accompanied by rhythmic groups, let us excellent examples of rock'n'roll. Under Mexican influence, this trio Valencia made ​​a series of recordings with great pace, as this original composition with some Spanish flavor .""..............................................................................................................................Trio Guadalajara - El Pomompompero/ Cu-Cu-Rru-Cu-Cu Palermo..................................................................................................................... Trio Guadalajara - La Malaguena/ La Bamba Alegre

A Review of '69

A charity shop find from the last week. A rather dull portrait of 1969 considering all the things that happened that year! They make even the moon landing sound drab and dreary. No mention of the exciting things going on in the arts and entertainment. All serious stuff which could have been enlivened by snippets of music and comedy etc. ................................................................................................................................ Review of 69 - Side One

The Hi - Lo's

Again I was attracted by the wonderful sleeve photo of the Hi-Lo's behind some glass in the recording studio, flanked by an array of dials and knobs. At 49p from Oxfam in Crewe ( of all places!) I could not resist! Not a record I would normally buy or listen to I must admit but rather astonished at the vocal gymnastics displayed here! Great faves of The Beach Boys and one can see why......................................................................................................... Wikipedia says - "The Hi-Lo's were an a cappella quartet formed in 1953. The group's name is reportedly a reference to their extreme vocal and physical ranges (Bob Strasen and Bob Morse were tall, Gene Puerling and Clark Burroughs were short). The group consisted of Gene Puerling (bass-baritone or 4th voice, arranger and leader), Bob Strasen (baritone or 3rd voice), Bob Morse (baritone or 2nd voice and occasional soloist) and Clark Burroughs (tenor or 1st voice/lead). In 1959, Don Shelton replaced Strasen. They are considered a musical influence on groups like The King's Singers, The Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer, The Free Design and Brian Wilson. They were also supported by Frank Sinatra. Clare Fischer was their pianist for years and did some of their arrangements. Puerling and Shelton, together with Bonnie Herman and Len Dressler, later formed another vocal group, The Singers Unlimited. This group gave a wide range for Puerling's arrangements,for the four singers multi-tracked as many as 16 voices. For that reason The Singers Unlimited were exclusively a recording group. Bob Strasen died Feb. 28, 1994, Bob Morse on Apr. 27, 2001. Afterward, Puerling, Shelton and Burroughs still appeared very occasionally as the Hi-Lo's in and around Southern California. Shelton is an accomplished reed player and has played in Clare Fischer's bands. Clark Burroughs is semi-retired and can sometimes be heard on film soundtracks. On March 25, 2008, Gene Puerling died just shy of his 79th birthday.".................................................................................................................. Tracks are as follows - 1. Chinatown, My Chinatown 2. The Surrey With The Fringe On The Top 3. IN The Blue Of The Evening 4. Cockles and Mussels 5. You're The Top 6. Long Ago & Far Away........................................................................................................................ The Hi - Lo's - Side Two.

Bryan Smith

The sleeve art caught my eye this morning in the charity shop. Some intriguing song titles including music hall favourites like I'm Henry the 8th I Am, Daisy Daisy, Cokey-cokey etc. A MOR Charlie Kunz meets Winired Atwell kinda thing. Pleasant enough for a low key party I guess. Not much info. online but seems Mr. Smith was very prolific and plenty of LP's on the Dansan label as is this one from 1979.......................................................................................................................... Tracks are as follows - 1. March Of The Mods 2. St. Bernards Waltz 3. Bobbin Up & Down Like This 4. The Quack Quack Song 5. The Lambeth Walk........................................................................................................... Bryan Smith - Side One.

Bill Doggett

Slightly warped copy of an LP on the CBS label from 1966. I think I have featured the side with Honky Tonk Pts. 1 & 2 previously much loved theme for the Charlie Gillett radio show of the same name back in the 70's. .............................................................................................................................. Wikipedia says - "William Ballard Doggett was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His mother, a church pianist, introduced him to music when he was nine years old. By the time he was fifteen, he had joined a Philadelphia area combo, playing local theaters and clubs while attending high school. Doggett later sold his band to Lucky Millinder, and worked during the 1930s and early 1940s for both Millinder and arranger Jimmy Mundy. In 1942 he was hired as The Ink Spots' pianist and arranger. Toward the end of 1947, he replaced Wild Bill Davis as the pianist for Louis Jordan's Tympany Five. It was in Jordan's group that he first achieved success playing the Hammond organ. In 1950 he is reputed to have written one of Jordan's biggest hits, "Saturday Night Fish Fry", for which Jordan claimed the writing credit. In 1951, Doggett organized his own trio and began recording for King Records. His best known recording is "Honky Tonk", a rhythm and blues hit of 1956 which sold four million copies (reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 2 Pop), and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler. The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months.[2] He won the Cash Box award for best rhythm and blues performer in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton. As a jazz player Doggett started in swing music and later played soul jazz. His bands included saxophonists Red Holloway, Clifford Scott, Percy France, David "Bubba" Brooks, Clifford Davis, and Floyd "Candy" Johnson; guitarists Floyd Smith, Billy Butler, Sam Lackey and Pete Mayes; and singers Edwin Starr, Toni Williams and Betty Saint-Clair. His biggest hits, "Honky Tonk" (the Part 2 side of the record) and "Slow Walk" featured saxophonist Clifford Scott. He continued to play and arrange until he died, aged 80, of a heart attack in New York.".......................................................................................................................Tracks are as follows - 1. Stop That Twistin' In Here 2. I Cover The waterfront 3. Lady's Choice 4. Mommy Pt. 1 5. Mommy Pt.2.................................................................................................................Bill Doggett - Side One

Dave Brubeck

I must say I'm not a great Jazz fan and this kind of low key cocktail jazz with polite audience applause does nothing for me. One cannot deny though how Tom Hanks lookalike Dave won the hearts of many with his Take Five hit and spread the word of Jazz to the masses ( well, to a wider audience anyway )A picture sleeve single from the 60's I imagine...................................................................................... Wikipedia says - "David Warren "Dave" Brubeck (December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer, considered to be one of the foremost exponents of progressive jazz. He wrote a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. His music is known for employing unusual time signatures, and superimposing contrasting rhythms, meters, and tonalities. His long-time musical partner, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, wrote the saxophone melody for the Dave Brubeck Quartet's best remembered piece, "Take Five", which is in 5/4 time and has endured as a jazz classic on one of the top-selling jazz albums, Time Out. Brubeck experimented with time signatures throughout his career, recording "Pick Up Sticks" in 6/4, "Unsquare Dance" in 7/4, "World's Fair" in 13/4, and "Blue Rondo à la Turk" in 9/8. He was also a respected composer of orchestral and sacred music, and wrote soundtracks for television such as Mr. Broadway and the animated mini-series This Is America, Charlie Brown."........................................................................................................................................................................Dave Brubeck - Lover............................................................................ Dave Brubeck - I'm In A Dancing Mood

Hawaiian Hula Boys

Extremely dull sounding fake Hawaiian record I picked up from the local Age UK shop the other day for 50p. Made for people who like MOR drivel. Have uploaded one side so you can hear how horrible it is!.........................................................................................................Hawaiian Hula Boys - \Honolulu/When You Dream About Hawaii.

Chucklefoot

LP on the Cottage label from 1982. Lovely one man band from the west country by the sound of it. Not much gleaned on the internet. O wait a minute here's his website right HERE!....................................................................................... "Good-time music from Chucklefoot who are Rog Butler (one-man-band, vocals, banjo, guitar, blues harp kazoo, drum, etc)… and Gill Butler (vocals, washboard, penny whistle, tea-chest bass, assorted noises) who play folk, jazz and comedy songs in their unique style."................................................................................ Tracks are as follows - 1. I Wish I Could Shimmy |Like My Sister Kate. 2. Sunshine Funshine 3. Froggy Went A Courtin' 4. The Pickle Packer's Picnic Outing 5. Gambling Man/ Last Train To San Fernando............................................................................... Chucklefoot - Side One.

Slade Flexidisc

A flexidisc from the early 70's given away with 19 magazine to publicise the release of Slade's "Something Old Something New Something Borrowed Something Blue" album.................................................................................. Wikipedia says - "Slade are a British rock band from Wolverhampton/Walsall, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles. They were the first act to have three singles enter at number one, and all six of the band's chart-toppers were penned by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. Total UK sales stand at 6,520,171, and their best selling single, "Merry Xmas Everybody", has sold in excess of one million copies. Following an unsuccessful move to the United States in 1975, the band's popularity waned but was unexpectedly revived in 1980 when they were last minute replacements for Ozzy Osbourne at the Reading Rock Festival. The band later acknowledged this to have been one of the highlights of their career. The original line up split in 1992 but the band reformed the following year as Slade II. The band has continued, with a number of line-up changes, to the present day. They have now shortened the group name back to Slade. A number of diverse artists have cited Slade as an influence, including 90s icons Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, punk pioneers The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Undertones, The Runaways and The Clash, glam followers Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, Poison and Def Leppard and pop-rock stalwarts The Replacements, Cheap Trick and Oasis. The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Music tells of Holder's powerful vocals, guitarist Dave Hill's equally arresting dress sense and the deliberate misspelling of their song titles for which they became well known.".............................................................................. Slade - 19 Flexidisc.

Chapparal

Tacky drawn sleeve attracted me to this run-of-the-mill country record I found in Macclesfield today for a quid in a charity shop. Full of maudlin songs but a couple of high spots I have uploaded so you can get a flavour of what's on it. No info to be found on the internet. On the SRT Productions label from 1980 so probably broke up a long time ago........................................................................................................................................................................... Chapparal - Take This Job And Shove It........................................................................... Chapparal - Ol'e Joe Clark.

Rudi Wairata

I thought this LP sounded very authentic but it turns out that this Hawaiian is Moluccan (wherever that is?)! Even so a very nice sounding record and one cannot fault the musicianship. On the Gemini label from 1962................................................................. Real name - Diederich Gijsbrecht Christo Wairata Profile: Moluccan artist, born in Ternate on December 25, 1929. He started at a young age as a Hawaiian guitar player. In 1951 he moved to Holland on a scholarship and started his own band "Mena Moeria Minstrels". Because of disagreements he leaves this band and forms a new band using the names "Rudi Wairata & The Hawaiian Minstrels" and "Rudi Wairata & The Serenaders". In 1959 and 1960 he was part of the band "De Kilima Hawaiians" as a steel guitar player. In the 1960s and 1970s he continued his musical career, but mostly in Germany. The artist has passed away in Rotterdam on July 15, 1981................................................................................... Tracks are as follows - 1.Tomi-Tomi 2. Pua Jka Lani 3. Kane-Ohe-Hula 4. Uhe-Uhene 5. Ulu-Hua-Wale-Aoe 6. |He U-I...................................................................................... Rudi Wairata - Side Two.

Stepowski Jarema

Having so many Eastern European's, especially Poles , living in the UK now it's not surprising that eventually some records from those countries would turn up in the charity shops and boot sales. This is one such example that caught my eye - the cloth cap and cheeky smile reminded me of northern comedians like Frank Randle and Al Read. No idea what these novelty songs are about but one gets a clue from the titles of the songs thankfully translated into English on the sleeve................................................................................. Wikipedia says - "Jarema Junosza-Stępowski (born January 15, 1925 in Warsaw, died. Jan. 11, 2001 ibid.) - Polish actor and singer. He has appeared in over 20 films. He appeared in Cabaret Old Men, where he sang such Disgusting drab songs (with Jeremy utensil) and Winter regret. Is known for its performances of many songs thematically and linguistically referring to the dialect and folklore in Warsaw . He appeared in the television series The Civil War, where he played in the distinctive figure of a man collecting dried bread for the horse. Casimir's nephew Junosza-Stępowskiego." (Google Translate) This amusing translation adds even more enigma to the man!................................................................................... Tracks are as follows - 1. Urchin's Tango 2. A Golden Thumb 3. The Story Of Mrs. Wisniewska 4. Mr. Valentine 5. The Red Haired Mary 6. The Parting In My Hair................................................................................... Stepowski Jarema - Side One.

Noel Coward

I seem to have missed adding this gem to the blog in the past although I seem to remember featuring Noel Coward's live album from Las Vegas at some point. Some great songs on here especially London Pride and There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner which seems very pertinent for today with some very funny lyrics................................................................................. Wikipedia says - "Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise". Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy in London as a child, making his professional stage début at the age of eleven. As a teenager he was introduced into the high society in which most of his plays would be set. Coward achieved enduring success as a playwright, publishing more than 50 plays from his teens onwards. Many of his works, such as Hay Fever, Private Lives, Design for Living, Present Laughter and Blithe Spirit, have remained in the regular theatre repertoire. He composed hundreds of songs, in addition to well over a dozen musical theatre works (including the operetta Bitter Sweet and comic revues), poetry, several volumes of short stories, the novel Pomp and Circumstance, and a three-volume autobiography. Coward's stage and film acting and directing career spanned six decades, during which he starred in many of his own works. At the outbreak of World War II, Coward volunteered for war work, running the British propaganda office in Paris. He also worked with the Secret Service, seeking to use his influence to persuade the American public and government to help Britain. Coward won an Academy Honorary Award in 1943 for his naval film drama, In Which We Serve, and was knighted in 1969. In the 1950s he achieved fresh success as a cabaret performer, performing his own songs, such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", "London Pride" and "I Went to a Marvellous Party". His plays and songs achieved new popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, and his work and style continue to influence popular culture. Coward did not publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, but it was discussed candidly after his death by biographers including Graham Payn, his long-time partner, and in Coward's diaries and letters, published posthumously. The former Albery Theatre (originally the New Theatre) in London was renamed the Noël Coward Theatre in his honour in 2006."............................................................................... Tracks are as follows - 1.There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner 2. Nina 3. London Pride 4. Imagine The Duchess's Feelings 5. His Excellency Regrets 6. Sail Away................................................................................. Noel Coward - Side Two.

Frankie Vaughan

An EP on the Womans Own label I found in a charity shop the other day. Frankie was a favourite crooner of my mothers but I always found his trademark "laughter in his voice" rather creepy. Some of his biggest hits here on a promo EP from 1960................................................................................... Wikidpedia says - "He was born Frank Abelson to a Jewish family in Devon Street, Liverpool, England. The name 'Vaughan' came from a grandmother whose first grandson he was, who used to call Frank 'my number one' grandson, in whose Russian accent 'one' sounded like 'Vaughan'. In his early life, he was a member of the Lancaster Lads Club, a member group of the National Association of Boys' Clubs in the UK, and in his career he was a major contributor to the clubs, dedicating his monetary compensation from one song each year to them. He was an evacuee during World War II. He started out at the club intending to be a boxer. Then at age 14 he received a scholarship to the Lancaster College of Art, where he sang in the dance band. After a stint in the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War II (where he spent most of his time boxing) he returned to art school, this time at the Leeds College of Art. When he won a prize to design a furniture exhibition stand, he left for London, where he won second prize on a radio talent show. Vaughan's career began in the late 1940s in the theatre doing variety song and dance acts. He was known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat, bow tie, tails, and carrying a cane. In the 1950s he worked for a few years with the Nat Temple band, and after that period he then began making records, and was popular in the UK. In 1955, he recorded what was to become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl". He recorded a large number of songs that were covers of United States hit songs, including Perry Como's "Kewpie Doll," Jimmie Rodgers' "Kisses Sweeter than Wine," Boyd Bennett's "Seventeen" (also covered in the US by the Fontane Sisters), Jim Lowe's "The Green Door," and (with The Kaye Sisters), The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly to Me". From the 1950s through to the early 1960s, his recordings were popular in the UK. In 1956, his cover of "The Green Door" reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality of the Year'.[2] In early 1957, his version of "The Garden of Eden", reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1961, Vaughan hit #1 in the UK again, with "Tower of Strength", but the rise of beat music eclipsed his chart career for two or three years, before he returned to the Top 10 in 1967 with "There Must Be A Way". Chart success eluded him after this although he did have two more Top 40 singles; "Nevertheless" and "So Tired". Managed at this time by the former journalist and theatrical agent Paul Cave,[4] he went to the United States in 1960 to make a movie with Marilyn Monroe, Let's Make Love, and was an actor in several other movies, but his recordings were never chart hits in the US. In 1961, Vaughan was on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London. During the 1960s, he became involved with youth social problems in Easterhouse, a large housing estate in the outskirts of Glasgow, and was influential in attracting new resources and inward investment to the area. A longtime member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, Vaughan became King Rat in 1968, a feat he followed up in 1998."............................................................................... Frankie Vaughan - Milord/The Green Door............................................................ Frankie Vaughan - You Got-Ta Have Something In The Bank Frank/ Give Me The Moonlight, Give Me The Girl

The Gaylads

One last ska single for 2012 this time from 1967 on the Rio label. Nice ska instrumental on the "B" side by the Soul Brothers...................................................................................................................................................................... Wikipedia says - "The Gaylads are a Jamaican vocal group. They were one of the top rocksteady vocal groups active in Jamaica between 1963 and 1973. The group, formed in Kingston, originally consisted of singers Harris "B.B." Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts; Seaton and Stewart had previously been successful as the duo Winston & Bibby. There would be several line-up changes throughout The Gaylads' ten year history, with Maurice Roberts remaining the only constant member. Besides recording several hit records, The Gaylads also backed many influential musicians (including Ken Boothe) on recordings. Roberts, the lone remaining original member, selected brothers Randell and Hopeton Thaxter to carry on the Gaylads name; the new lineup never matched the success of its predecessor, however, and after releasing the album, Love and Understanding, as the Gayladds, Roberts dropped any reference to the moniker and rechristened the trio the Psalms, landing as backing vocalists for Bunny Wailer. The founding duo of Seaton and Stewart reformed for the first time in over two decades for an appearance at the 1991 Studio One concert, and two years later Roberts joined them for a performance at the Rocksteady Reunion in Kingston. Seaton, who began his solo career in 1973 with the album Thin Line Between Love and Hate and enjoyed success throughout the years to follow—subsequently relocated to London to helm his revived Soul Beat imprint. Some of their hits included one of the first singles encouraging repatriation - "Africa (We Want To Go)," "Joy In The Morning"; "Red Rose," (for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One), "It's Hard To Confess," "Over the Rainbow's End"(for Sonia Pottinger) and "My Jamaican Girl" (for Leslie Kong / Beverley's). The current line-up of the Gaylads comprises Seaton, Roberts, and Randall Thaxter."................................................................................................................................................................. Soul |Bothers - Soul Serenade......................................................................... The Gaylads - Put On Your Style.

Bill Black's Combo

Groovy blues instrumentals by Bill Black's Combo on the Hi label from the 60's................................................................................... Wikipedia says - "Black was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to a motorman for the Memphis Street Railway. He was the oldest of nine children. His father played popular songs on the banjo and fiddle to entertain the family. Black learned to play music at the age of 14 on an instrument made by his father—a cigar box with a board nailed to it and strings attached. At the age of sixteen, Black was performing "honky-tonk" music on acoustic guitar in local bars. During World War II, Black was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Lee in Virginia. While in the Army, he met Evelyn, who played guitar as the member of a musical family. They married in 1946 and returned to Memphis. Black worked at the Firestone plant. Black began playing the upright bass fiddle. He modeled his "slap bass" technique after one of his idols, Fred Maddox of Maddox Brothers and Rose. Black also developed a "stage clown" persona in the same way that Maddox entertained audiences. Black performed as an exaggerated hillbilly with blacked-out teeth, straw hat and overalls. According to his son, Black said his goal was always to give his audience "a few moments of entertainment and maybe a little bit of humor that'll tickle 'em for a while." In 1952, Black began playing club and radio shows with guitarist Scotty Moore. Along with two other guitarists and a fiddler, they performed country music tunes by Hank Williams and Red Foley in Doug Poindexter's band, the Starlight Wranglers.[3] Black and Moore also played in a band with Paul Burlison, Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette on steel guitar, and a drummer. In 1954, Black and Moore were formed into a trio with Elvis Presley."............................................................................ Bill Black's Combo - Blues For The Red Boy.................................................................. Bill Black's Combo - So What.

Lightin' Slim

A blues single with three tracks on the Blue Horizon label from 1972. Produced arranged and directed by Mike Vernon.......................................................................................................................................................................Wikipedia says - "Lightnin' Slim was born Otis V. Hicks in St. Louis, Missouri. moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the age of thirteen. Taught guitar by his older brother Layfield, Slim was playing in bars in Baton Rouge by the late 1940s. He debuted on J. D. "Jay" Miller's Feature Records label in 1954 with "Bad Luck Blues" ("If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all"). Slim then recorded for Excello Records for twelve years, starting in the mid 1950s, often collaborating with his brother-in-law, Slim Harpo and with harmonica player Lazy Lester. Slim took time off from the blues for a period of time and ended up working in a foundry in Pontiac, Michigan,[citation needed] which resulted in him suffering from constantly having his hands exposed to high temperatures. He was re-discovered by Fred Reif in 1970, in Pontiac, where he was living in a rented room at Slim Harpo's sister's house. Reif soon got him back performing again and a new recording contract with Excello, this time through Bud Howell, the present President of the company. His first gig was a reunion concert at the 1971 University of Chicago Folk Festival with Lazy Lester, whom Reif had brought from Baton Rouge in January 1971. In the 1970s, Slim performed on tours in Europe, both in the United Kingdom and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland where he was often accompanied by Moses "Whispering" Smith on harmonica. He last toured the UK in 1973, with the American Blues Legends package. In July 1974, Slim died of stomach cancer in Detroit, Michigan, aged 61."...................................................................................Lightnin' Slim - Just A Little Bit................................................................................................................................................................... Lightin' Slim - Your'e Old Enough Mind Your Own Business