Are You Safe And Warm, Volume One

Are you safe and warm? Well, ARE YOU? HUH?

Sorry, I didn't mean to come off so aggressively. First impressions and all that jazz. What we have here is a compilation I've concocted and properly posted to a prominent for-profit mix hosting service. If you are so inclined, you can listen to it here. 

It seems like an appropriate sentiment, since a large chunk of the country which normally doesn't see any snow, suddenly got A LOT of it, and some of the rest of us – well, we got ice instead. I truly hope people are being safe and doing well during this exhausting nightmare.

A couple things before we dip into this tasty sound stew. First off, the compilation, as could probably be gleaned by the "cover" art above, is sourced entirely from 45 rpm records from my personal collection. Why? Anyone who has the sort of tastes and predilections that I do regarding music, will probably understand. There's something innately endearing about putting the single on the turntable and positioning the arm; about trying to make a fun, quality mix of tunes on the fly (as subjective as that might be); about that faint hint of analog media that can come across when playing vinyl; about the process of pulling records you might not have played in quite a while out of their boxes, blowing the dust off, inhaling the particulates and gasping while screeching "Record lung!" 

But I digress.

 

 In terms of content, all of these tunes are from the 1950s and '60s – what I believe to be a nice assortment of fun r&b, twangy instrumentals, honky tonk numbers and even some nutso oddball novelty tunes.  I hope you enjoy!

Herbert Hunter with Band - Dr. Feel-Good (Spar, 1962): We start things off with Mr. Hunter's ode to big women. He likes 'em 400lbs or bigger! 

 

Johnny Cavalier And The Keynotes - Rock'N Chair Roll (Hi-Class, 1959): We move from the kitchen to the living room with this one. Johnny C and the boys may have only released this one single for Hi-Class, but it's been comped frequently on some Buffalo Bop comps and other euro-released rockabilly comps of dubious origin.  Sure, Johnny may have some trouble with finding a key to sing in, and keeping time while doing so, but if you shut your brain off and get into the groove, you'll have a great time!

 

Danny & Gwen - Deep Dreams (Liberty, 1962): The Danny and Gwen noted is actually a duo comprised of Vikki Carr (Gwen) and Jerry Naylor (Danny), who took over as singer for The Crickets after Buddy Holly's untimely demise. This tune, however, is the b-side to their "Submarine Race" single, and is likely devoid of either of their participation. It might just be a couple of studio session folks making some instrumental filler to pad out this release for Snuff Garrett, but damn if it doesn't sound dreamy. In a deep way. 

 

Shaye Cogan - Ain't Nobody Home (Gee, 1957): Shaye Cogan, born Helen J. Coggins, was an actress and singer who cut a few singles for Gee Records between the mid 1950s and 1960. She appeared in a 1957 teensploitation rock 'n' roll film called Mister Rock and Roll with Alan Freed, Little Richard, Clyde McPhatter, Frankie Lyom & The Teenagers, etcetera. I know her best as Cousin Matt in Abbott & Costello's 1951 film Comin' Round The Mountain.

 

Junior Tamplin with Orchestra - Baby Is A Boxer (Mercury, 1953): There's a stompin' vintage R&B tune about pretty much everything, if you're willing to look for it. And as far as I know, this is the best one out there about being in a relationship with a lady pugilist (even if it might just be a metaphor)! 

 

Tommy Nelson and Band - Hobo Bop (Dixie, 1960): If you're looking for a romping rockabilly tune about ridin' the rails and living the Boxcar American lifestyle, then this is it, my friends! Tommy apparently only cut two singles between 1960 and '61, but went on to sling other singers' discs as a disc jockey for KGFF in Shawnee, OK. He reappeared in the late '60s and early 1970s with a single and a locally pressed country covers album.

 

 

Duke Jenkins And His Orchestra - Shake It (Cobra, 1957): It's hard not to obey a command like this when the rhythm is so right! If this won't put the zip in your step, then you might need a doctor.

 

 

Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson And His Orchestra - Wine-O-Wine (Atlantic, 1952): Willis Jackson, aka Mr. Ruth Brown, legendary jazz  tooter and bluesman, brings his tenor sax to eleven for this slappin' ode to sippin' grapes!

 

 

Billie (Smeeke Smoke) Smith & The Good Beat's - The Whammer (Rae Cox, ?): I have no idea when this single came out, likely sometime between the early and mid 1960s, based on the Rae Cox label's other output noted on Discogs. As for Billie (Smeeke Smoke) Smith or the Good Beat's? Another blank wall. Sure there was a glut of soulful instrumentals released in this time period, but the funky organ and sax combo here, backed up with the popping popcorn drums, make this one funky toe tapper that is likely to get your ear drums groovin'!

 

 

 

Denny Reed - Hot Water (Trey, 1960): Here's a fun one that I initially heard on DJ Henry's The Record Roulette Club radio program, and it genuinely made me laugh out loud. Something I definitely needed then, so I pass this along to you all in hopes that it provides a chuckle for you as well. Denny was an Illinois-born crooner who released a handful of singles sporadically throughout the 1960s, and then came back in '77 with his Elvis tribute/cash-in "The King (Has Met The King)" when EAP went to that jungle room in the sky. Back up vocals on this are by the Crunk sisters, Donna and Pam, whom I know nothing about but applaud their artistry.

Skip Manning - Devil Blues (Empire, 1960): Allegedly the Skip Manning this groovy Calypso-inspired beatnik popcorn torch song is credited to, is actually R&B legend Phil Flowers. Why he adopted the pseudonym for this one-off is unclear, but if you're looking for a tune to soundtrack your next groovy Halloween-themed espresso party, you ain't going to find a better one than this!

Joe Sherman And The Arena Brass - The Green Hornet (Epic, 1966): The Caped Crusader isn't featured in this particular compilation, but his less successful brother of the mid-60s crime fighting airwaves gets a stunning send up here thanks to NY composer and musician Joe Sherman.

Jeff Barry - The Face From Outer Space (RCA Victor, 1960): 1960 seems to be the landmark year for tunes in this mix, and while there are some wild ones in here, this one is destined to take the cake and do something insane with it! A visiting face from outer space (no body, mind you – or even a head for that matter!) comes to Earth and meets our narrator, then things get even weirder! Yowza!

 

The Artesians - Trick Bag (Norton, 2003): Just to be clear, the release date on this greasy garage stomper is 2003 because before the fine folks at Norton got a hold of the archival recordings, The Artesians hadn't released anything. Active in the Pacific Northwest garage scene that brought us The Sonics and The Wailers (among others), this group existed from 1963 - 1965, recorded seven songs but failed to actually publish anything before they went kaput. This is the first of two Norton reissues that are in this mix. If that irks you for some reason, please let me know and I'll give you your money back.

Little Sonny Jones - Winehead Baby (Imperial, 1954): New Orleans piano man gives us this bluesy romp about having a booze-dependent significant other!

 

 

The Shades - Shady Lady (Ardent, 1961): Another one-off instro from this enigmatic group.  This raucous guitar instrumental is a somewhat sloppier version of what The Ventures did so well, but smoking nonetheless.

 

 

Impacts - Soup (Watts, 1959): Soup is good food, just not for every meal. Or so I've been told. Here we have a culinary horror story in r&b group sound narration. The ending is perplexing though funny. Why would you need a doctor to point out that your wife has no teeth? This group recorded from the late 1950s into the early 1960s, sometimes under the name The Blue Chips.

 

 

The Copycats Featuring Kimo & Sabbe - The Abominable Snow-Man (Prince, 1960): I don't know anything about the Copycats, though there's destined to be a zillion or so short-lived garage groups from the late 1950s and early '60s with the same moniker. And Kimo and Sabbe? They are as elusive as the subject matter for this fun novelty tune. Sure, Bigfoot pops up from time to time in annals of niche jukebox singles (Googie Rene's "Big Foot", for example), but how often do you hear a jaunty tune about the yeti? This sounds like a lost Stan Freberg production or something!

 

 

Nervous Norvus - The Fang (Dot, 1956): Next we leave the snowy heights of the Himalayas, for the red planet Mars. "Transfusion" might be Nervy Norv's most well-known single, but why tread already trodden groove ground when we have this hefty slice of koo-koo nut cream pie right here?! With a title like, "The Fang," you'd think the tune might be about a werewolf or a vampire, but no, here we have a cool, hip Martian's ode to himself. He rocketed to Earth in his crib to show all the hep cats and cool chicks how to be way out! Zorch!

 

 

 

Benny Joy - Rollin' To The Jukebox Rock (Norton, 2003):  This is the second Norton reissue in the mix. I have no idea when the original was released, I'd have to guess somewhere between 1957 and 1959 based on the tune alone, and various compilations that have been put together of Joy's work over the years have either not identified it's actual recording or release dates, or given dubious ones like 1977, which might be when it was pressed to an acetate for collectors or something, but clearly not when it was originally cut. Rollin' to the jukebox sounds like a good idea, if you could travel back in time to find one that stocked tunes like this. When you think about wandering into a bar nowadays, realizing that if there is a juke box, it's likely to be digital and feature Imagine Dragons and Taylor Swift rather than anything like this, you might opt to just stay home with your records.

 

Joe Maphis - Lonesome Jailhouse Blues (Starday, 1964): The King Of The Strings picking out a tune of wrongful imprisonment and barred-window blues.

 

 

 

The Kelly Four - Guybo (Silver, 1959): The Kelly Four were a group of Hollywood session players who also served as Eddie Cochran's backing band until his death in 1960. You can tell these guys had chops, I mean listen to that guitar! Sounds like it's going to start on fire with strummin' like that!

 

The Blendells - Huggie's Bunnies (Reprise, 1964): This Mexican-American Los Angeles group had a minor local hit with their version of Stevie Wonder's "La La La La La." In fact, it's the a-side to this much more impressive instrumental. I have no idea who Huggie is, or what his bunnies are all about, but I bet they cut an impressive rug with this jam to dance to. Maybe the bass could've been miked a bit better for the intro, but who am I to say?

Nino Tempo with Pete Rugolo And His Orchestra - Jack The Ripper (RCA, 1960): So, I guess we have a contender for that Halloween-themed espresso party I mentioned with the Skip Manning tune featured on this comp. This is the b-side to a single featuring the theme to the 1959 British film of the same name, after American film distributor Joseph E. Levine bought the picture to distribute in the U.S. and replaced the score with music by Pete Rugolo. This hip finger snappin' ditty about the Butcher of Whitechapel makes it sound like he should be featured on an episode of Peter Gunn or Mr. Lucky! I don't know that we're exactly honoring the memory of the women slaughtered by the guy by referring to him as a "kooky spooky" like he's a villain in a children's cartoon, but it'll definitely get your turtleneck twitchin'!

The Caltones - Get Offa The Telephone (Verve, ?): To round things up we have this fun number from a one-off Verve release. I have no data on the release date for this, but why not go ahead and just say 1960-ish, huh? The flip of this one is another great ode to the Beats, called "The Beards." This kooky novelty tune may just be imparting a bit of sage advice we can all heed in this modern madness.

Enjoy! Another volume with somewhat different contents will arrive in another week or so.