Best songs from pop/rock's "dead zone", 1960-62

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Buggyhair, Mar 18, 2021.

  1. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    And if you peruse this thread (a long one admittedly) you’ll find they do, to some extent at least — along with surf rock, Phil Spector, early soul (James Brown, Bobby Bland), girl groups, etc. Jazz was at a peak. There were a handful of late doo wop and rockabilly numbers, and a few early garage band tracks as well. It was a period of transition, a lot richer than most realize.
     
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  2. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “My Testament” — Big Brown & The Gamblers (1960)

    From the Belgian singer to the aggressive horns, this is borderline unhinged.


    Palette PB 40088 D [Germany], 1960
     
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  3. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
    I believe Jimi knew the song from Tim Rose's 1966 version.
     
  4. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
    'Why should I suffer withe the blues?' by the Canes (1962)



    b/w 'I'll never give her up (my friend)' co-written by Chips Moman & Steve Cropper
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZKNhImf_HU&ab_channel=JohnManship
    The Canes - Why Should I Suffer With The Blues / I'll Never Give Her Up (My Friend)

    This site indicates that the Canes were the group previously known as the Vel-Tones (the first black artists to record for the pre-Stax label Satellite)
    THE VEL-TONES

    Marv Goldberg believes they were the group previously known as the 4 Kings with Lorece Thompson from the group the Largoes (aka the Largos) singing lead
    Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - 4 KINGS

    They were probably named after a local DJ Dick "Cane" Cole
     
  5. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
  6. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “You Can Have Her” — Roy Hamilton (1960)


    Epic 5-9434, 1960
     
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  7. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    Oh, I think you're right.
     
  8. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
  9. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “In Between Tears” — The Equallos (1962)

    The Chicago-based Equalos were Arthur Ford, Dave Hoskin. and brothers Occie and Willie Logan. Normally Willie handled the lead vocal, but bass vocalist ‘O.C.’ is featured here.


    M and M M-30, 1962
     
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  10. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
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  11. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
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  12. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
    'It's love that really counts (in the long run)' by the Shirelles (1962)


    First recorded by Dionne as a demo (her version later released on the 1963 LP "Presenting Dionne Warwick"). The label indicates that this was the Shirelles' A-side, but it only "bubbled under" in Billboard at #102 with the labelled B-side ('Stop the Music' produced and co-written by Van McCoy) peaking at #36
    The Shirelles - It's Love That Really Counts / Stop The Music

    R.I.P. Burt
     
  13. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “I Wouldn’t Dream Of It” — Joyce Heath (1961)


    Dragon 415, 1961
     
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  14. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
    'Hey Hey Pretty Baby' by Dave Dixon (1961)


    https://www.45cat.com/record/hb2546
    recorded in Memphis ca. August, 1960; musicians included Willie Mitchell, and two future members of the MGs - Lewie Steinberg, and Al Jackson

    An original member of Huey "Piano" Smith's Clowns, Dave Dixon later sang backing vocals on "Gris Gris" Dr John's first LP.
     
  15. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “You Don’t Know My Mind” — Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys (1960)

    Jimmy Martin was known as the “King of Bluegrass” (I can only imagine because Bill Monroe was already the “Father of Bluegrass”). Martin joined Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1949, and his high voice blended with Monroe's tenor to create his famed "high, lonesome sound." He left to form his own band, the Sunny Mountain Boys, in 1955. Martin was a featured guest on several tracks on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1972 magnum opus Will The Circle Be Unbroken.

    Here's another terrific version of this song from A Tribute to Jimmy Martin "The King of Bluegrass" Vol. 1 with Audie Blaylock on vocals and guitar, Paul Williams on mandolin and vocals, and Kenny Ingram on banjo, among others.


    Decca 9-31157, 1960
     
  16. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
    'Talk to the Angels' by Lou Josie (1961)


    Lou Josie - Jeannie / Talk To The Angels

    He recorded in a number of genres including rockabilly and surf/hot hod; was a member of the touring (and later recording) B Bumble & the Stingers; co-wrote 'Hey Harmonica Man' recorded by Little Stevie Wonder; and wrote 'Midnight Confessions' recorded by the Grass Roots. But I don't believe he was one of the writers of 'Soul Finger' by the Bar-Kays as claimed on a number of sites, one stating that this was under the name J.King (he did use the name Jimmy King for a couple of singles, but I think the Bar-Kays' credit relates to their guitarist Jimmy (or Jimmie) King who died in the airplane crash with Otis Redding)
    LOU JOSIE
    Lou Josie
    Lou Josie
    Jimmy King (5)
    Jimmy King (2)
     
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  17. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “Fool I Am” — Pat Ferguson (1960)

    US female rockabilly singer born Patty Philpott in Memphis.


    Stomper Time S-1300, 1960
     
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  18. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
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  19. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

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    Warwickshire, UK
  20. John B Good

    John B Good Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    NS, Canada
    I wouldn’t Dream of It stands out for me among the tracks I have had a chance to listen to.

    A little Googling only lead me to rabbit holes.

    “Joyce Heath Biography by Eugene Chadbourne
    The name of singer Joyce Heath sounds like a large landmark in honor of the great writer, a lusty sort who would undoubtedly have approved of songs such as "Shake Your Can." That's more than can be said for censors when the song was released in the late '50s. Altogether, Heath recorded a dozen ditties in the company of both producers and musicians who had been active in classic blues for several decades, including piano accompanist Al Williams. During the popular heyday of this style, the Roaring Twenties, there had been very little in the way of legal obscenity issues. By the time Heath -- who may not have even existed -- plugged in her "Electrician Blues" in 1957, the listening audience itself had moved on to newer styles, including the subtler romantic glory of doo wop. The censors, of course, had no idea what was going on with the public and were no doubt encouraged furthermore by getting to take on independent labels, producers, and performers who were largely without resources.”
    The sheer amount of obscurity surround Heath indicates just how marginal her genre had become since the glory days of Bessie Smith. New York City's Mastertone studio logs indicate that the aforementioned pianist and other backup players worked with singer Heath on a summer of 1957 session. These songs wound up being released under the name of Angelina, a move sewing seeds of confusion rampantly in future eras when this stage name would be bandied about by a coven of performers ranging from a Brazilian pornography star to a hip-hop singer, none of whom have anything to do with Heath or a similar, perhaps really similar, vocalist of the same era named Inez Washington. Washington might have something to do with Heath, on the other hand: eventually credits from Davis, the original label releasing Angelina, indicated that it was Washington who had sung on the Angelina sides. There may have been a desire to create confusion with several legal battles about to start involving this type of material; regardless, there is enough confusion already involving who performed on some blues recordings to go around several times if all the censors fell into the ocean. Not just confusion, but outright secrecy as well: no wonder that the album by Heath, Washington, Angelina, or whoever was entitled Confidential.”

    You Can Have Her came to me from Gene McDaniels. Great lyric and delivery!
     
  21. John B Good

    John B Good Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    NS, Canada
    This thread with all the hidden gems I am hearing reinforces my conviction that what makes a record a hit is a complete mystery. I guess the economy can only support so many stars and most must remain unknown like the residents of The Country Churchyard in Gray’s Elegy. “Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest”
     
  22. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
  23. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    I think there were a number of factors that influenced whether or not any given record became a hit, but if there were a formula...

    During this era, there seemed to be a lot of small independent record labels that were operating on a shoestring budget, without manufacturing capability or distribution networks. Perhaps a number of potential hits got snuffed out as labels either folded or couldn't promote their artists, press enough records to meet demand, etc.?
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2023
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  24. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    “Never Let You Go” — The Five Discs (1962)


    Cheer C-1000, 1962
     
  25. john hp

    john hp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Warwickshire, UK
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