Doc Severinsen and His Orchestra - Tempestuous Trumpet (1961)

"After You've Gone" by Doc Severinsen and His Orchestra

Johnny Carson preferred to pepper his routines with unscripted dialogue between himself and anybody on the Tonight Show payroll. After two years leading the Tonight Show Band, Milton Delugg proved not to be the best foil for Carson and, in 1968, trumpeter Doc Severinsen took over as bandleader. Severinsen was a wunderkind trumpet player and was touring with Big Bands before graduating high school. He'd continue to do so after serving in World War II before landing a job with NBC where he was a member of the Tonight Show Orchestra under Skitch Henderson during Steve Allen's run. Skitch brought Severinsen back for Carson's tenure as first chair trumpet until his eventual ascension to bandleader and "second sidekick." Between Tonight Show eras, Doc Severinsen and His Orchestra recorded their debut album Tempestuous Trumpet in 1961 for Command Records.

Rather than stormy and chaotic as the album title might suggest, Doc Severinsen plays his trumpet sunny, bright and crisp. My first thought was that Doc is as precise and virtuosic on his instrument as Bobby Byrne is on the trombone, and it turns out that Byrne actually plays on the record and arranged for it. Byrne's arrangements enjoy similar fair weather and are executed to perfection by a rehearsed, brass-heavy orchestra. The occasional touch of bongos brings further levity; the flutes do, too, but date the recordings a bit. The orchestra plays similarly to how the outstanding album cover art by S. Neil Fujita suggests: designed, organized and edited. Beautiful jazz, to be sure, but not tempestuous at all.

Here is the discography surrounding Doc Severinsen's debut album:

"I've Gotta Be Me" by The Tonight Show Band

Doc Severinsen with "All Star" Trumpet Quartet on Steve Allen's Tonight

Doc Severinsen Talks Thanksgiving with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show

"Stardust" by Doc Severinsen and His Orchestra

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Jack Paar - The Best of "What's His Name" (1961)

The Best of "What's His Name" by Jack Paar

Tonight! America After Dark busted, so NBC veered quickly back to the proven format Steve Allen had established during his late-night tenure, continuing what was never intended to continue after Allen's departure. In 1957, NBC chose comedian Jack Paar to save their failing time slot's ratings. Jack Paar had an extensive resume by the time he had a contract with NBC. This included time as a disc jockey, as an emcee with the USO during World War II, as a host of his own comedy radio program, as a film actor, and as a game show host. Tonight Starring Jack Paar was the next step in a restless career. Where Steve Allen's Tonight was like a well-kept secret, Jack Paar would make Tonight nightly must-watch television, moving TV sets from the living room to the bedroom.

Steve Allen ran Tonight as an "anything goes" variety show filled with singers, sketches, gimmicks and anything else that would fill the allotted time. The show ran on Allen's improvisational comic styling just as Jack Paar's iteration of the show ran on his more scripted experience in stand-up comedy. Under Paar, the monologue and the interview became the foundation stones of every late night program that came after. Some of Paar's monologues were gathered and cut into a record, The Best of "What's His Name", and released in 1961 on the obscure Ramrod Superrecords. It would be his only album.

Jack Paar was a quick wit, a curious mind, a tastemaker, and an incisive interviewer. None of that is evident on this record. In many ways, the record is a bit of a mystery and seems like a cheap—or even bootleg—release from Paar's peak with Tonight. It was put out by a nothing label with anonymous liner notes and an oversized ad for Jiffy Sew - The Miracle Liquid Mender on the back of the record. It is a collection of the more average, daily Jack Paar performance with less-than-great material. But he manages the material with a veteran's ability to win over a tough crowd and play off a flat joke or a string of them. So, it's not "the best of" Jack Paar. But when "the best of" is all that really survives these days, the not-so-best helps paint a clearer picture of a hard-working, gifted and impactful comedian.

Here is Jack Paar's discography:

I-M-4-U (I Am for You) (1955 single with Jack Haskell)

Paar for Tonight (1957 single)

Funny What You Learn from Women (1958 single)

The Best of "What's His Name"

JFK on The Jack Paar Show

The Jack Parr Program with guests Bette Davis and Jonathan Winters

The Jack Parr Program with guests Liberace and Muhammad Ali

The Jack Parr Program with guest Robert Kennedy

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Skip & Flip - It Was I: The Very Best of Skip & Flip (1961)

"Fancy Nancy" by Skip & Flip

The major labels all passed on Bobby Pickett's novelty single, so it took the young production phenom Gary S. Paxton to shepherd it along and release it on his own label, Garpax Records. Paxton previously performed under the moniker Flip with his college pal Clyde Battin, aka Skip. Skip & Flip were a short-lived duo with a handful of hit singles during their run. These recordings are collected in It Was I - The Very Best of Skip & Flip, the contents of which were all released between 1959 and 1961.

Lo-fi and rudimentary rock 'n roll make up the body of Skip & Flip's output. Full of "Na Na Nas" and "Whoa-ohs," their songs, subsequent to their debut "It Was I," echo previous radio hits across rock song forms (ballad, dance craze, story song,...) with only "Fancy Nancy" having any verve. The rest lack inspiration and fail to push them out of the shadows of less tame Rock & Roll duos.

Note: Another compilation means another year listing that represents when the material was first released, and not when the actual compilation album came out.  That would be 1998.

Here is the discography for Skip & Flip:

Betty Jean (1958 single as The Pledges)

Why Not Confess (1958 single as Gary and Clyde)

One Hundred Baby (1959 single as Chuck and Chuckles)

It Was I (1959 single)

Fancy Nancy (1959 single)

Cherry Pie (1960 single)

Green Door (1960 single)

Hully Gully Cha Cha Cha (1960 single)

Searching for Linda (1960 single by Skip)

Tami's Dance (1960 single by Clyde Gary & His Orchestra)

Betty Jean (1961 single)

In the Soup (1961 single by Skip & The Hustlers)

Twister (1961 single by Clyde Battin)

Strange as It Seems (1961 single by Leonard Brothers with The Pledges)

It Was I: The Very Best of Skip & Flip

Over the Mountain (1962 single)

"It Was I" by Skip & Flip

"Lunch Hour" by Skip & Flip

Pass the Headphones!!

Jaki Byard - Here's Jaki (1961)

"To My Wife" by Jaki Byard

It's still a Boston affair as we highlight Worcester native Jaki Byard who played piano in Charlie Mariano's Jazz Group and with Herb Pomeroy.  After over a decade of playing around Boston, he moved to New York City.  There, he played with and arranged for some of the most advanced jazz groups of the era and got the chance to lead his own sessions.  His first LP Here's Jaki, which highlights his versatility and an approachable experimentation, released in 1961 on the New Jazz division of Prestige Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Jaki Byard's debut album:

Here's Jaki

"Bess You Is My Woman/It Ain't Necessarily So" by Jaki Byard

"Garnerin' a Bit" by Jaki Byard

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Smokey Hogg - Smokey Hogg Sings the Blues (1961)

"Good Mornin Little School Girl" by Smokey Hogg

In his youth, Black Ace toured and played with fellow Texas blues guitarist Smokey Hogg.  Unlike Turner, Hogg met musical success after World War II where he saw consistent recording output up until his death in 1960.  His debut record Smokey Hogg Sings the Blues came out posthumously in 1961 on Crown Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Smokey Hogg's debut album:

Kind Hearted Blues (1937 single as Andrew Hogg)

To Many Drivers (1947 single)

Unemployment Blues (1947 single)

Hard Times (1947 single as Smoky Hogg)

Anytime Is the Right Time (1948 single)

Long Tall Mama (1948 single)

Jivin' Little Woman (1948 single)

Golden Diamond Blues (1948 single)

Be My So and So (1948 single)

My Christmas Baby (1948 single)

I'm Gonna Find Your Trick (1949 single)

Little School Girl (1949 single)

Nobody Treats Me Right (1949 single)

Evil Mind Blues (1949 single)

I Want My Baby for Christmas (1949 single)

Low Down Woman Blues (1949 single)

He Knows How Much We Can Bear (1949 single as Andrew Hogg)

Restless Bed Blues (1949 single)

You Better Watch That Jive (1950 single)

Everybody Gotta Racket (1950 single)

You Gotta Go (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)

Baby, Baby (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)

Worried Blues (1950 single)

The Way You Treat Me (1950 single)

Classification Blues (1950 single)

Let's Get Together and Drink Some Gin (1950 single)

You Won't Stay Home (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)

I Love You Baby (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)

Back to the Country (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)

She's the Girl I Need (1950 single)

Comin' Out Blues (1950 single)

I Have Often Wondered (1950 single)

Up Today - Down Tomorrow (1950 single)

Somebody New (1950 single)

Great Big Mama (1951 single)

Need My Help (1951 single)

Smokey's in Town (1951 single as Smokey Hogge)

Sleepless Blues (1951 single)

She's Always on My Mind (1951 single)

Miss Georgia (1951 single)

Patrol Wagon Blues (1951 single)

Oohw Baby (1951 single)

Hello Little Girl (1951 single)

Believe I'll Change Towns (1951 single)

Why Should I Love You (1952 single)

Penitentiary Blues (1952 single)

Baby Shake Your Leg (1952 single)

Ruby (1952 single)

Crawdad (1952 single)

Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes (1952 single)

Keep A-Walkin' (1952 single)

River Hip Mama (1953 single)

Your Little Wagon (1953 single)

Gone, Gone, Gone (1953 single)

Baby Don't Leave (1953 unissued single)

Can't Do Nothin' (1954 single)

Blue and Lonesome Blues (1954 unissued single)

When I've Been Drinkin' (1954 single)

Train Whistle (1954 single)

No Mo' Whiskey (1954 single)

I Declare (1955 single)

Penitentiary Blues (1957 single)

I've Been Happy (1957 single)

Good Mornin' Baby (1958 single as Smoky Hogg)

Smokey Hogg Sings the Blues

Goin' Back Home (compilation album)

Sittin' in with Smokey Hogg (compilation album)

"Penitentiary Blues" by Smokey Hogg

"She's Always on My Mind" by Smokey Hogg

"Kind Hearted Blues" by Andrew Hogg

"Possum Hunt" by Smokey Hogg

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Royal Teens - Original Short Shorts and Others (1961)

"Harvey's Got a Girl Friend" by Royal Teens

Bob Gaudio, chief hitmaker for The Four Seasons, joined the group when they were floundering without a name.  Before he joined, he was a member of the Royal Teens and the co-writer of their hit song "Short Shorts".  The band never released an album so this tour stop is represented by their compilation album Original Short Shorts and Others.

Note:  The album was picked over other compilation albums for its cover and the date given is the year of the latest released track on the album.

Here is the complete discography for Royal Teens:

Boil and Bubble (1955 single by The Heartbeats)

Blanche (1956 single by The 3 Friends)

I'm Only a Boy (To Her) (1956 single by The 3 Friends)

Now That You're Gone (1957 single by Three Friends)

We Made a Vow (1957 single by The Corvells)

Short Shorts (1957 single)

Harvey's Got a Girl Friend (1958 single)

My Kind of Dream (1958 single)

Sham Rock (1958 single)

Who Is Eddie? (1958 single by Eddie Reardon with The Three Friends)

Believe Me (1959 single)

Leotards (1959 single)

Sittin with My Baby (1959 single)

Caveman (1959 single by Joe Villa and Royal Teens)

Alright Baby (1959 single by Rockin' Saints)

Cheat on Me, Baby (1960 single by Rockin' Saints)

Sick Manny's Gym (1960 single by The Musclemen)

Was It a Dream (1960 single)

With You (1960 single)

Mickey Mouse Got a Girl Friend (1960 single by Joey Villa)

Little Trixie (1961 single)

Original Short Shorts and Others

Short Short Twist (1962 single)

Mona Lisa (1962 single by Joe Villa)

Summer's Over (1963 single by Tom Austin & His Healeys)

I'll Love You (Till the End of Time) (1965 single)

I'll Love You (Till the End of Time) (1965 single as The Bluetones)

Save Me (From Your Madness) (1978 single by Tom Austin)

Short Shorts and More Golden Classics (1989 compilation album)

Let's Rock (1997 compilation album)

"Short Shorts" by Royal Teens

"Why" by Royal Teens

"Planet Rock" by Royal Teens

"Alright Baby" by Rockin' Saints

Pass the Headphones!!

The Miracles - Cookin' with The Miracles (1961)

"Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" by The Miracles

We continue the T.A.M.I. Show trend by revisiting the next in the movie's lineup.  The Miracles released their second album Cookin' with The Miracles in 1961 on Tamla Records.

Here is the discography surrounding The Miracles's second album:

Ain't It Baby (1961 single)

Broken Hearted (1961 single)

Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues (1961 single)

Cookin' with The Miracles

"Mighty Good Lovin'" by The Miracles

"Embraceable You" by The Miracles

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Varetta Dillard - Mercy Mr. Percy Vol. 1 (1961)

"(That's the Way) My Mind Is Working" by Varetta Dillard

In 1952, Alan Freed invited Billy Ward and His Dominoes to be on the ticket for his Moondog Coronation Ball, the first ever "Rock and Roll" concert.  They weren't the headliners and neither was the young Varetta Dillard who snuck onto the bill just above "Many Others!"

Varetta Dillard never released a proper LP, so the highlighted album for this stop will be the compilation album with the best cover: Mercy Mr. Percy Vol. 1 released by Savoy Jazz.  There is no Vol. 2.

Note: In this case, the listed year (1961) is a chronological marker and not the year the album was released.

Here is Varetta Dillard's discography:

Easy, Easy Baby (1952 single)

Here in My Heart (1952 single)

I Cried and Cried (1952 single)

Please Tell Me Why (1952 single)

Them There Eyes (1952 single)

Getting Ready for My Daddy (1953 single)

I Ain't Gonna Tell (1953 single)

I Love You (1953 single)

Mercy, Mr. Percy (1953 single)

Send Me Some Money (1954 single)

The Answer to My Prayer (1955 single)

I'll Never Forget You (1955 single)

Johnny Has Gone (1955 single)

Got You on My Mind (1956 single)

I'm Gonna Tell My Daddy (1956 single)

If You Want to Be My Baby (1956 single)

Mama Don't Want (What Poppa Don't Want) (1956 single)

One More Time (1956 single)

Pray for Me Mother (1957 single)

That's Why I Cry (1957 single)

Time Was (1957 single)

Just Multiply (1958 single)

Star of Fortune (1958 single)

Scorched (1959 single)

Teaser (1960 single)

A Little Bitty Tear (1961 single)

You Better Come Home (1961 single)

Mercy Mr. Percy Vol. 1

Got You on My Mind (Complete Recordings 1956-1961/Vol. 1) (compilation album)

The Lovin' Bird (Complete Recordings 1956-1961/Vol. 2) (compilation album)

Mercy, Mr. Percy (compilation album)

Breaking Hearts (1962 single as Varetta & The Thomases)

Double Crossing Daddy (compilation album)

"Johnny Has Gone" by Varetta Dillard

"The Square Dance Rock" by Varetta Dillard

"You Better Come Home" by Varetta Dillard

Pass the Headphones!!

The Sherman Brothers - The Parent Trap (1961)

"The Parent Trap" by Annette Funicello & Tommy Sands


Ludwig von Drake might like you to think he wrote all of his own songs, but they were actually ghostwritten for him by the songwriting team Robert and Richard Sherman, or The Sherman Brothers.

Songwriters are pretty difficult to tally up for the purposes of the Tour but the Sherman Brothers' songs tend to double as soundtracks, so they'll be organized as composers by the films on which they worked.  In 1961, they contributed songs to three Disney films (as well as holding songwriting duties for some of The Mouseketeers).  For The Absent-Minded Professor and Greyfriars Bobby, they contributed a song or two for each that would play over the opening credits or be saved for the Disney Story Album of those movies.  The Parent Trap marked the first time the Shermans' songs made their way into the actual narrative structure of a Disney film.  They wrote a handful of songs for The Parent Trap, but its score was written by Paul J. Smith and performed by the Camarata Chorus and Orchestra on the record release.

Here is the discography surrounding The Sherman Brothers's debut album:

The Flubber Song / Medfield Fight Song (1961 songs for The Absent-Minded Professor)
The Parent Trap
Greyfriars Bobby (1961 song for Greyfriars Bobby)

"Let's Get Together" by Hayley Mills & Hayley Mills


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Ludwig von Drake - Professor Ludwig von Drake (1961)

"All About Recording" by Ludwig von Drake


Paul Frees voiced the iconic Disney Duck scholar and showman Ludwig von Drake.

A self-described genius who says he knows just about everything and says he invented almost everything, Ludwig von Drake is also something of a musician.  He can sing jazz and rock and roll and even conduct an orchestra.  His talents were first noticed by a large audience when he appeared on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color for the episode "An Adventure in Color".  In it, he sings a couple songs and teaches the audience all about color, one of his many expert subjects.

Walt Disney noticed von Drake's musical talent and had the learned duck record his album Professor Ludwig von Drake released in 1961.  His initial wave of popularity and success trickled down to a couple more singles and solitary songs on the occasional Disney TV Show.  His last hurrah was the release of his own talking doll that included a tape of recorded bedtime stories.

His career as a recording artist was brief, but I'm sure he'd answer the call and drop a surprise album if the nostalgia machine started working on his behalf.  I'd dig it.

Here is the complete discography for (Professor) Ludwig von Drake:

Professor Ludwig von Drake
I'm Ludwig von Drake (1961 single)
Carnival Time Featuring Professor Ludwig von Drake (1961 single)
The Voice of Professor Ludwig von Drake Offers Songs and Stories for Children (1961 tape for talking Ludwig von Drake doll)
Twistin' with Professor Ludwig von Drake (1962 promo single)
Rutabaga Rag (1962 song)
Rock, Rumble and Roar (1962 song)

"Green With Envy Blues" by Ludwig von Drake on Disney's An Adventure in Color


"The Spectrum Song" by Ludwig von Drake on Disney's An Adventure in Color


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Rocky & His Friends - Rocky (The Flying Squirrel) and His Friends (1961)

Rocky (The Flying Squirrel) and His Friends by Rocky & His Friends


There was no Herman in Herman's Hermits; that is... no band member named Herman.  Originally, the band thought their very young lead singer, Peter Noone, looked like Sherman (of Mr. Peabody & Sherman) and nicknamed him such.  Sherman shortened to Herman and the band named themselves Herman and His Hermits which, in its turn, shortened to Herman's Hermits.

Mr. Peadbody & Sherman were recurring "friends" on the hit animated show The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.  Off the success of the show, there was released a 1961 comedy album Rocky (The Flying Squirrel) and His Friends.

Here is the complete discography by Rocky & His Friends:

Rocky (The Flying Squirrel) and His Friends

"Fast and Moose" Episode of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends


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Nolan Strong and The Diablos - Fortune of Hits (1961)

"The Wind" by The Diablos


Smokey Robinson and The Miracles were heavily influenced by The Diablos, another doo-wop and early rock and roll vocal group of the Motor City.  In fact, one of their early recordings was a cover of the first Diablos single "Adios, My Desert Love".  The Diablos, mostly led by the powerful vocalist Nolan Strong, cut a handful of singles in the late fifties that would compile into their debut album Fortune of Hits in 1961 on the Fortune Records label.

Here is the discography surrounding Nolan Strong & The Diablos's debut album:

Adios, My Desert Love (1954 single as The Diablos)
The Wind (1954 single as The Diablos)
Route 16 (1955 single as The Diablos)
Do You Remember What You Did (1955 single as The Diablos)
The Way You Dog Me Around (1955 single as The Diablos)
You're the Only Girl, Dolores (1956 single)
Try Me One More Time (1956 single)
The Mambo of Love (1957 single)
My Heart Will Always Belong to You (1958 single)
Come Home, Little Girl (1958 single as The Diablos)
Goodbye Matilda (1959 single)
If I (1959 single)
Since You're Gone (1960 single)
Fortune of Hits

"My Heart Will Always Belong to You" by Nolan Strong and The Diablos

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The Miracles - Hi... We're The Miracles (1961)

"Way Over There" by The Miracles


The phenomenon of Little Stevie Wonder was discovered by Ronnie White.  Ronnie White was a member of The Miracles, one of the first groups signed to the Motown label and one of their most defining artists.  The Miracles released their debut album Hi... We're the Miracles in 1961.

Here is the discography surrounding The Miracles's debut album:

Got a Job (1958 single)
Money (1958 single)
Bad Girl (1959 single)
It (1959 single by Ron & Bill)
I Need a Change (1960 single)
The Feeling Is So Fine (1960 single)
Way Over There (1960 single)
Shop Around (1960 single)
Hi... We're The Miracles

"Shop Around" by The Miracles


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Marvin Gaye - The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (1961)

"Never Let You Go" by Marvin Gaye


As The Moonglows began to fade as a vocal group in the late fifties, both alternating lead singers Bobby Lester and Harvey Fuqua tried to keep the group going, though seperately.  Leaving off from the latter, Fuqua contracted The Marquees (at one time shepherded by Bo Diddley) to perform with him as The New Moonglows.  This iteration only recorded a couple singles before Fuqua's goals changed.  He moved to Detroit and form his own record label, Tri-Phi Records.  With him went one Marquee named Marvin Gay still under contract as a session musician.  In Detroit, Gay's singing impressed those at the native and newly minted Tamla Records to which Fuqua would sell most of his stake in Gay's contract.  Changing his name, Marvin Gaye recorded his debut album The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye in 1961 with Tamla, a subsidiary of Motown Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Marvin Gaye's debut album:

The Bells (1956 single as The Marquees)
Hey Little School Girl (1957 single as The Marquees)
Santa Done Got Hip (1957 single as The Marquees)
Close to Me (1958 single as The Marquees)
I'm in Misery (1958 single as The Marquees)
Who Will Be the First One (1959 single as The Marquees)
Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide (1961 single)
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye
Sandman (1962 single)
(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over (1962 unreleased single)

"(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over" by Marvin Gaye


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Etta James - At Last! (1961)

"That's All" by Etta James


When The Shirelles had their string of chart hits, it boosted them to national prominence that allowed them to open for the likes of Little Richard and Etta James.  Etta James released her official debut album At Last! in 1961.

Here is the discography surrounding Etta James's debut album:

The Wallflower (Dance With Me, Henry) (1955 single as Etta James and The Peaches)
Hey Henry (1955 single)
Good Rockin' Daddy (1955 single)
W-O-M-A-N (1955 single)
Number One (1956 single)
Shortnin' Bread Rock (1956 single)
Tough Lover (1956 single)
Good Lookin' (1956 single)
The Pick-Up (1957 single)
Come What May (1957 single)
Sunshine of Love (1958 single)
I Hope You're Satisfied (1959 single as Betty & Dupree)
Dance With Me, Henry (1960 single)
How Big a Fool (1960 single)
Do Something Crazy (1960 single)
Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern and Kent Recordings (1960 compilation album)
If I Can't Have You (1960 single as Etta & Harvey)
Spoonful (1960 single as Etta & Harvey)
All I Could Do Was Cry (1960 single)
My Dearest Darling (1960 single)
At Last!
At Last (1961 single)
Trust in Me (1961 single)
Miss Etta James (1961 compilation album)

"At Last" by Etta James


"A Sunday Kind of Love" by Etta James


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The Shirelles - Tonight's the Night (1961)

"Boys" by The Shirelles


Joey Dee & The Starliters's early work was produced and released by New Jersey record label, Scepter Records.  The label was founded by Florence Greenberg and, in a way, The Shirelles.  Greenberg originally founded the small Tiara Records to release the debut single of the local high school girl group.  Together, they scored a significant local hit ("I Met Him on a Sunday") that did well enough to grab the attention of powerhouse Decca Records.  Decca bought both Tiara and The Shirelles from Greenberg for $4000.  Greenberg used the money to found another record label, Scepter.  For Decca, The Shirelles failed to chart another hit and so were returned to Greenberg and her newly minted label.  The entrepreneur then worked with the girls to provide them great songs courtesy of Luther Dixon and other major songwriters from Tin Pan Alley.  The Shirelles released their debut album Tonight's the Night in 1961.

Here is the discography surrounding The Shirelles's debut album:

I Met Him on a Sunday (1958 single)
My Love Is a Charm (1958 single)
Stop Me (1958 single)
Dedicated to the One I Love (1958 single)
A Teardrop and a Lollipop (1959 single)
Please Be My Boyfriend (1960 single)
Tonight's the Night (1960 single)
Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1960 single)
Tonight's the Night

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles


"The Dance Is Over" by The Shirelles


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Joey Dee & The Starliters - Doin' the Twist at the Peppermint Lounge (1961)

"Shimmy Baby" by Joey Dee and The Starliters

Before lead guitarist Mike Esposito joined the Blues Magoos, he performed with musician Felix Cavaliere as Felix & The Escorts.  As a band, they released only one single, a novelty rock dance number called "The Syracuse".  Felix Cavaliere would go on to record bigger and better things, but before that, he recorded with one-hit wonder vocal group Joey Dee & The Starliters.  Joey Dee & The Starliters released their debut album Doin' the Twist at the Peppermint Lounge in 1961.

Here is the discography surrounding Joey Dee & The Starliters's debut album:

Just a Shoulder to Cry On (1958 single by The Hi-Fives)

My Friend (1958 single by The Hi-Fives)

Lonely (1959 single by The Hi-Fives)
Lorraine (1960 single)
Face of an Angel (1960 single)

These Memories (1961 single)
Doin' the Twist at the Peppermint Lounge
Peppermint Twist (1961 single)

Hey, Let's Twist! (1961 soundtrack album)

Hey, Let's Twist (1962 single)

Shout (1962 single)

Joey Dee Teaches You How to Dance the Authentic Peppermint Twist (1962 instructional record by Joey Dee)

"Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee & The Starliters


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Chatur Lal - The Drums of India (1961)

"Matta Tal" by Chatur Lal


At Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan's secret recordings, he was accompanied at All India Radio by Ram Narayan on the sarangi and Chatur Lal on the tabla.  He was one of a handful of musicians that helped bring Indian Classical Music to the West.  His mastery of the tabla wowed listeners as a soloist with his light touch and lightning speed.  He also retained a malleability to his performance that allowed him to shift his style based on the mood of the musician he was supporting.  His only album The Drums of India came out in 1961 in both the East and West.  Pandit Chatur Lal would die an untimely death four years later.

Here is the complete discography for Chatur Lal:

Drums on Fire! (song from 1958 compilation album)
The Drums of India
The Music of India, Volume 2 (song from 1962 compilation album)
Anthology of Indian Classical Music (song from 1966 compilation album)
Solfège de l'objet sonore (song from 1967 compilation album)

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Dick Gregory - In Living Black & White (1961)

"Shoveling Snow" by Dick Gregory


Dick Gregory is not a musician, but he is an artist. He's a comedian, and both he and Chuck Berry attended Sumner High School, an African American high school in St. Louis. Now, I suppose I've purposefully broken my blog's bylaws by covering a comedian when it's clearly called the Musical History Tour, but I think I've always intended on doing so. Although I mostly cover music (and so far a very specific kind of music) and wish to branch out as far as possible within the realm of recorded music, organizing and connecting to artist's through albums predisposes me to a sort of foundational failure. I want to cover composers, for example, but simply getting to them through my system of connections is difficult. Organizing and sifting through the recordings of the composers would prove just as troublesome. It's already proven tedious with the recordings from pre-1957 folk singers I've covered so far, and they don't have their work performed by orchestras across the world. Foreign artists and bands are difficult to get to as well, and I know I've heard a couple requests to delve into the contemporary American and British music scenes. The system also sticks me in long stretches of "movements" or "categories". So far, I've gotten "stuck" in Australia, the punk movement, and several folk/blues movements; the last from which I finally see the light of day. For all of my system's failings, I feel it does open the door to all recorded materials whether it's music, comedy, sound effects, or field recordings (the last two of which have recently been possibilities). The thing is: I don't see where I'm going. I try not to plan ahead, and in doing so, I can use this blog to arrive at unexpected new places or old familiar stations. I just might not have given the blog the most appropriate name.

To cut a long rant short, one new place to discover is the comedy of Dick Gregory. In the early sixties, he was one of a small group of black comedians that began distancing (very quickly) their stand-up performances from what used to be considered black comedy, minstrel shows. He started performing stand-up in the military and eventually took his routine to black audiences after his tour of duty. His jokes could be about anything but almost all of them had an underlying theme of social justice. He made light of segregation, integration, voting rights, the Ku Klux Klan, his Negro Jewish friend Sammy Davis, Jr., and racist behavoir, but made the topics so personable, matter-of-fact, and funny that you can't help but laugh along. His comedy acted as a form of escapism for his black audience as they could remove themselves from the issues he casually brought up, issues they faced every day, and see them from an non-traditional and hilarious perspective if only for a moment.

Greg also made a surprising connection with white audiences as well despite confronting them with these same issues. In his words, he was "the first Negro comic permitted to work a white night club. That had never happened before because no black person was permitted to stand flat-footed and talk to white America." In his case, he talked directly to White America, made them laugh and made them think while pushing the contemporary Civil Rights Movement to the front of their minds. In 1961, Hugh Hefner hired Greg to performe at the Chicago Playboy Club. Soon after, he furthered his success by performing on Jack Paar's The Tonight Show, a financial blessing for any young comedian. After his success with growing and diverse audiences, he recorded his debut album In Living Black & White some time after his Tonight Show performance.

Here is the discography surrounding Dick Gregory's debut album:

In Living Black & White



If you have any ideas for where the tour should go next, please give a shout. I'm open to whatever as long as the artists are historically related in some way and go in an artist's chronological order.

Pass the Headphones!!