but written by a man, John Leslie McFarland - Aretha recorded a number of his songs on her first two Columbia albums (There was a previous version of the song by Annisteen Allen on Decca in 1957).
Ska - 'Honey Please' by Bobby Kingdom and the Blue Beats (1961) Bobby Kingdom, The Blue Beats - Honey Please / That's My Girl
'Angel' by the Fables (1962) co-written and "directed" by Slim Gaillard The Fables - Cleopatra - 30 B.C. https://www.45cat.com/record/nc616045us The Fables' only other appearance on record appears to have been on a 1962 single by "Slim Delgado" and his quintet Slim Delgado And His Quintet With The Fables - Frank Rhoads Round / Dr. Free
I liked the Ersel Hickey song very much, but always regretted that it was so short! This version is lovely.
'Barbara' by the Temptations (1960) "if Barbara were a tree, her branches I would hold ..." One of a number of groups around this time who named themselves the Temptations; Wikipedia notes that the lead singer left to go solo after 'Barbara' became a hit (peaked at #29 in Billboard) The Temptations - Barbara / Someday The Temptations (New York vocal group) - Wikipedia Motown's Temptations had their first releases on the Miracle label in 1961.
'Second Fiddle Girl' by Barbara Lynn (1962) the follow-up to 'You'll Lose a Good Thing' Barbara Lynn - Second Fiddle Girl
'He Knows I Love Him Too Much' by the Paris Sisters (1962) the follow-up to 'I Love How You Love Me' written by Goffin & King (appears to read Coffin & King on the label?) The Paris Sisters - He Knows I Love Him Too Much / A Lonely Girl's Prayer
'What am I to do?' - the B-side of the Paris Sisters' next single, written by Doc Pomus with Phil Spector; lip-synced for Richard Lester's film "It's Trad, Dad!" (aka Ring-a-Ding Rhythm) The Paris Sisters - Let Me Be The One / What Am I To Do?
'Ever Lovin' Baby' by Little Luther (1961) Little Luther - Ever Lovin' Baby / Cryin' Blues aka Luther Thomas
Ironically, Elvis Presley did one of his all time hardest rocking songs in this "rock/pop dead zone". Little Sister is a really nasty sounding rocker with gritty guitars, brutal bass and rather heavy drums for the period. Elvis is on fire too and deliver a for the period, rather raw vocal performance. The other side, (Marie´s the name) His latest flame is a splendid pop song and this makes this single, one of his very best ones.
'She's My Desire' by the Johnny Cale Quintette (1961) Johnny Cale Quintette - Ain't That Lovin' You Baby / She's My Desire J J Cale
I'm reminded of Please Don't Ask About Barbara by Bobby Vee. In fact that takes me back to a career nightmare when the management structure above me included a Norman and his putative associate Barbara (who served as his back stabber). At the time I would recall that song and Sue Thompson's Norman from a much simpler time of my life.
If I understand correctly, Del Shannon recorded this first and it is on his debut album, which has just become available again a on new box set. . In any case, a great song!
'You Lied' by Marva Josie (1962) Marva Josie - You Lied first release by this singer who later toured and recorded with Earl Hines Marva Josie - Wikipedia
'Seven Days (are made for love)' by Chuck Bennett (1962) Chuck Bennett - Seven Days (Are Made for Love) / I Went To Your House the bass player with Link Wray & the Wray Men (or Raymen and other variations) Chuck Bennett
'Rock & Roll Machine' by Tee Tucker (1961) Tee Tucker - My Girl (I Really Love Her So) / Rock & Roll Machine aka Tommy Tucker, his next release would be 'Hi-Heel Sneakers' on Checker at the beginning of 1964
Instrumental - 'Dark Valley' by the Holidays (1961) first release on the Santo label from Memphis Holidays - Desperate / Dark Valley
'Get the Money' by Dwight DuVoll' (1960) Dwight DuVoll - Get The Money / What's This aka Dwight Duvall
The funny thing about this is that many (and I'd even argue most) of the songs the average person thinks of as "Fifties" songs are really from this time period. Often a film or TV show set in the 1950s will have a soundtrack with songs from as late as 1962. The 1950s didn't end on Jan. 1 1960, they ended on 11/22/63 when JFK was killed. About 6 weeks later Beatlemania was building real steam and the 50s passed into history.
