Ekko Records

Lloyd McCollough - Ekko Records # 1023 - Feb 1956

Side A - Until I Love Again

Side AA - What Goes On In My Heart

Just before Lloyd got the Rockabilly bug where he produced monster records for Starday & Rebublic he released this truly magnificent country 2 sider for the Ekko label out of Hollywood, California. 

Released in early 1956 Lloyd along with Chet Atkins and Jerry Byrd he laid down these wonderful tunes onto vinyl & shellac and as I'm sure you'll agree are not wild, not crazy rockabilly but just two superb songs, played with perfection by some of the country music industries finest musicians .

Late 1955 or early 1956 Nashville, TN – Lloyd McCollough (Lloyd Arnold [vcl], Chet Atkins [gt], Jerry Byrd [steel], Buddy Hollie [bass], Tommy Jackson [fiddle], Jimmy Self [piano])

His first record was made for the Von label from Booneville, Mississippi, in the fall of 1955. Both sides, "Oh Darling" and "Watch That Girl" were pure country. It gave Lloyd something to sell on his radio shows on KWEM. The two sides of his second record, "Until I Love Again"/"What Goes On In Your Heart" (Ekko 1023, 1956) were mid-tempo country offerings, more polished and professional than the Von sides. Not surprising, given the fact that the backing musicians included Chet Atkins and Jerry Byrd. As country music's popularity started to wane due to the explosion of rock 'n' roll, Lloyd switched to rockabilly, which was a relatively easy task for him. His third single was in this new style : "Gonna Love My Baby"/ "Cause I Love You" (Republic 7129, 1956), produced by Murray Nash. His next single, "Half My Fault", again for a different label (Starday), was even better, but it was not released until March 1958, when rockabilly had already gone out of fashion. By that time Lloyd had changed the name of his band to the Rockin' Drifters.

Macy's Recordings

 

Harry (Jole Blon) Choates - Macy's Recordings # 124 - July 1950

Side A - Gra Mamou

Side B - Catn' Around

You know exactly what you're gonna get with Harry Choates, great fiddle, catchy cajun country rhythms and with this release you get that and more! 'Catn' Around' is the side for me, and really does move at a pace and even has a little rockin' bop mixed in as well, bloomin' splendid. The flip is a lovely cajun waltz and sounds mighty fine as well.

Rhythm Records.

Pat Cook and his Rhythm Buddies 

Rhythm Records # 1200 - 1950

Side A - The Jelly Song

Side B - The Arkansas Waltz.

Pat and the boys do a mighty fine job on this rare little country platter and 'The Jelly Song' really does move along at a fine pace with some terrific guitar work by Gene Davis & sweet fiddle by Johnny Wood.

Debut Records

 

Jack Tucker and His Oklahoma Playboys 

Debut Records # 1001 - 1953

Side A - Too Blue To Cry.

Side B - Too Quick To Condemn (Too Slow to Forgive)

This was Jack & the Playboys second release on Debut Records . Their first showing was on Debut Records # 1000 where Jack and the boys backed vocalist Audie Andrews .

But here we get to seem them shine and they do a damn fine job on this record. The A side is all you would expect from the year and location, proper Country music, smooth vocals with harmony vocals to match, and top notch playing from the Oklahoma Playboys

Jack and his brother Herb were prominent figures around Los Angeles in the late 40's and early 50's , they both led their own bands and worked at all the big shindigs in California .

Jack Tucker (19 April 1918 - 26 September 1996) 

He was born Morris Tucker in Haleyville near Oklahoma City and came from a musical family. Jack and his brother Hubert (aka Herb) led bands in Los Angeles, playing spots like the Hitching Post, Harmony Park Ballroom, and so on. Jack had a Saturday night television show on Channel 11. Tommy Allsup graduated from Herb Tucker’s band, and according to some, Herb led the more musically sophisticated outfit. 

Tetra Records (New York)

 

Bill Flagg - Tetra Records # 4445 - Sept 1956

Side A - Go Cat Go 

Side B - A Good Woman's Leavin'

Stripped down rockabilly, with just a couple of acoustic guitars and an upright bass, gives this a rural feel but it still moves along at a right good pace! nice vocals by Bill and he gives it his all. Same goes for the flip, another solid slice of mid paced rockabilly with some sweet pickin' guitar and Bill's real cool vocal.

Epic Records (CBS)

 

Jaycee Hill (Accompanied by Joe Sway)

Epic Records (CBS Records) - 9185 - Sept 1956

Side A - A Love So Fine

Side B - Romp Stompin' Boogie

The song 'Romp Stompin' Boogie' was a song from my teenage years that I played on my CBS Rockabillies LP. Such a great tune and on 78 the tune just jumps from the grooves, Jaycee has a great voice and the whole song is a rockabilly classic, it definitely swings and stomps at the same time, never has a song such as Romp Stompin' Boogie been elevated by teenagers in the late 70's and early 80's as a real classic song. 

Then you realise that it was only the B side and the A also bops along, two great songs on a really Epic record! Easy to find on 45 but pretty rare on a 1956 shellac 78 record.

Ace Records (Colorado)!

 Ace Records (Denver, Colorado) 

Red Allen - Ace Records # 005 - 1949

Side A - Truck Driver Blues 

Side B - Old Rocky Trail

Bluegrass legend Red Allen with a very early outing on Ace Records and damn fine job he did on this cool two sider. 

Truck driver shifts along in a low gear with some nice wailing steel and Mandolin and Red's smooth vocal with a hint of yodel keeps the whole thing from jack knifing off the needle.

But for me it is the much punchier 'Old Rocky Trail' on the flip which pricked my up ears on the first spin! real nice steady mid tempo bounce and typical steel and mandolin interject at just the right times! Red again sounds smooth like a prairie at sunset and the whole thing bounces into life with a superb Steel & Mandolin solo! perfect really!