Labels: garage rock, instrumental, rock'n'roll

Labels: doo wop

mp3: Ricky Nelson - Waitin' In School

Waitin' In School was performed by a Ricky Nelson imittor in the Jack Rabbit Slims restaurant scene in Pulp Fiction, just before the memorable twist contest. But it didn't make it onto the soundtrack, so it's possibly not as instantly familiar to those of a certain age as Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell. Make no mistake though, today's selection is still a jumpy dancefloor suited rock'n'roller. Written by Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, it reach #18 on the charts in 1958. It was the b-side to Stood Up, which got to #2 that same year. At the time, Nelson was only 18. My favourite related fact is that Nelson became Rick (rather than Ricky) after his 21st birthday.

Labels: rock'n'roll

mp3: Gene And Eunice - Move It Over, Baby

Gene and Eunice were the Los Angeles version of New Orleans' Sweethearts of the Blues. They're even referred to in places as the Sweethearts of Rhythm & Blues and their records were released on the same label as Shirley and Lee, Aladdin. There is a few differences though, Gene and Eunice were actual sweethearts and I think it's fair to say they were also technically better singers (hey, you KNOW I dig the off-key sounds of such winners as Let The Good Times Roll and Feel So Good). Today's selection, Move It Over Baby is a great shuffler with a fine sax solo. The singing duo are ably backed up by Johnny Otis' band, credited as Johnny's Combo. It was the b-side to This Is My Story, which reached #8 on the R&B; charts in 1955.

And now for some housekeeping. I should let you know that for the next four weeks I will be travelling, so the post frequency might dip a little (or a lot, depending on how much free time I scrounge). But don't despair, I'll be back mid-May with loads more posts. In the meantime, you can get your Diddy Wah fix from my latest radio show, a Caravan themed special -- listen to it here.

Labels: rhythm and blues

mp3: The Olympics - The Slop

Released in 1960, The Slop was The Olympics' follow up to (Baby) Hully Gully from the year before. It certainly sounds like a follow up, i.e. it sounds the same. (Baby) Hully Gully inspired a dance craze and I guess The Olympics were hoping The Slop would do the same; if fact, the lyrics say as much. However the DJs of the time had other ideas, they preferred the flipside, Big Boy Pete. Not me though, The Slop is definitely the side for me, yeeaah. If you're interested in finding out more of the story of The Olympics, you could do a lot worse than visiting Marv Goldsberg's R&B; Notebook.

Labels: rhythm and blues

And now for a guest post from a couple of DJs who I've recently had the pleasure of meeting and hearing play. The duo go by the handle Double Agent 7 and they've got two London gigs coming up this very week -- Wednesday at The Globe, Notting Hill and Saturday at The Brown Derby, Oval -- plus many more in the pipeline. DJs Double Agent 7 have got taste! Not only is their selection on the Aladdin label, but it features Earl Palmer on the skins. Please make them feel very welcome.



mp3: Big "T" Tyler - King Kong

King Kong by Big "T" Tyler is a killer rhythm and blues track from 1957. It's a relentless barnstormer that never lets up. We first heard it at Intoxica, our local record shop (which will be closing for good in June, we are absolutely gutted) and, like so many others from that era, the second it came on we knew we were going to leave the shop with it. There is also a rule of thumb that if the song is about primates in any capacity it is generally going to be a great record (The Gorilla by The Ideals, Monkey See Monkey Do by The Five Du-Tones, Ape Call by Nervous Norvus, etc.) and Big "T" proves the rule aplenty with this pumpin' tune 'bout the biggest ape of 'em all.

Labels: guest post, rhythm and blues