The Two Sides of Carmen Taylor

 

The daughter of a Philadelphian bandleader and a Cuban dancer, Carmen Taylor was born in Cuba ca. 1928. She came to the United States of America at age two, began singing at age three. She sang with musicians like Tito Puente and Duke Ellington.  As Elen Madera, she had an international hit with the song "Pepito,"  

She was also a prolific songwriter, and her repertoire included Clyde McPhatter's "Seven Days," as well as the Clovers' "Little Mama." 

There was never, as far as I know, any Carmen Taylor biography published, in print or on internet, a compilation of her songs neither.

Early in June 1974, bride of a day, Carmen Taylor (Carmen Griffith) was gunned down by her ex-convict husband at Fifth and Market Streets in San Francisco.

A talented woman whose life remains a mystery.

tracklist

1 - Can't Understand It (Mercury, 1951)
2 - Lovin Daddy (Atlantic, 1953)
3 - Ding Dong (Atlantic, 1953)
4 - Mama Me And Johnny Free (Atlantic, 1953)
5 - Big Mamou Daddy (Atlantic, 1953)
6 – Freddie (Atlantic, 1954)
7 - Ooh I (Atlantic, 1954)
8 - No More No Less (Guyden, 1954)
9 - The Bride Should Have Been Me (Okeh, 1955)
10 - Teenage Ball (Apollo, 1956)
11 - Oh Please (Apollo, 1956)
12 - So What (King, 1957)
13 - Love Me Baby (Teen Time, 1962)
14 - You're Puttin' Me On (Kama Sutra, 1965)
15 - Hey Son (aka My Son) (Kama Sutra, 1965)
16 - Willie B (EL Toro, 1959)

As Elen Madera : 

17 – Pepito (Decca, 1960)
18 - El-Chipi-Chipi (Decca, 1960)
19 - Otra Vez (Decca, 1960)
20 - Callate Corazón (Decca, 1960)
21 – Florecita (Decca, 1960)
22 - Quisiera Saber (Decca, 1960)
23 - Pu-Chung Ga (Decca, 1960)
24 – Tu Eres Todo  (Columbia, 1961)
25 - Canto Karabali (Columbia, 1961)
26 - Mi Cumbia Son (Decca, 1967)

If you have any information or missing songs not listed above (a total of some 60 songs were released), feel free to leave a comment.

Carmen or Elena

The Fugitive

 

 

When : 1965
Where : 812 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee

"The Fugitive" penned by Mack Vickery (sole composer when the song was copyrighted) and published by Al Gallico Music has been recorded that year by Johnny & The Thunderbirds and by Lamar Morris.

Born 1938 in Town Creek, Alabama, Mack Vickery was raised in Michigan. He recorded three songs in the Sun Records studio in 1957 which remained unissued. Vickery recorded prolifically and unsuccessfully for many years, but he became a remarkably gited songrwiter.

Hired by Audrey Williams as songwriter in 1966.

 

Every name, people and companies, whose names are seen on the two records brings us to a building located 812 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee which housed the offices of Al Gallico Music, Audrey Williams (Ly-Rann Music and her booking agency) and Dino Productions (Roberts and Friend)

So to find an outlet for the song the publisher and/or the composer had just to cross the corridor. First taker was certainly Dino Productions, a company established the previous year by Carl Friend and Lance Roberts. 

Carl Friend came to Nashville, leaving Hot Springs, Arkansas after he resigned his duties as A&R director and VP of United Southern Records and president of  Ouachita Music Publishers, and according to Billboard (30 May 1964) "will continue writing (some 23 artists have cut his tunes)."

Lance Roberts (real name Kenny Roberts, not the country singer) had previously recorded for Sun and Decca Records. Early in 1963, he was signed by United Southern Records to management and recording contracts (Billboard, 19 January 1963). 

 No record issued, it seems. 

 

 Dino Productions, Friend and Roberts were soon stopped in their tracks. In 1968, they were "sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in the workhouse after pleading guilty to charges of fraud, defrauding artists by promising to produce, distribute, and promote their records, and to secure personal appearances for them, [...] claimed to be doing business with such personalities as Louis Armstrong, the Rolling Stones and Hank Williams Jr." (2 plead  guilty of bilking The Confederates of $1,000, Billboard, 9 March 1968).  We find Carl Friend continuing his career in the music industry in the seventies as president of Casino Records indicted by a federal grand jury on charges he plagiarized recorded material and used the mails to defraud investors in a 15 volumes album titled "History Of The States", the said album was never released. People cannot change their nature.

Produced by Dino, the Johnny and The Thunderbirds version was on RIC (Recording Industries Corp.) operated by Luther Vanadore. The band came from Toledo, Ohio. John Rank (pic) was the lead singer, keyboard player, and the band's namesake. He graduated from Scott High School in 1958. The other original members included Sammy Kern (lead guitar), Bob Hardy (bass), John Eickel (drums) and Nick Palise (sax).  More info at buckeyebeat

The Lamar Morris version came out in April 1965 on the Bonanza label owned by Audrey Williams, his mother in law (he married Lycrecia Williams).  Arranged by Ray Stevens and produced by Jack Sanders. For a number of years, Lamar Morris has fronted the Cheatin' Hearts band of Hank Williams Jr. Morris first acquainted with the Williams family when he won a local talent contest in 1952 in Andulusia, Alabama, at which Hank Williams was appearing.

 

Jack Sanders, vet deejay, has stepped out of Nashville WKDA, in November 1964, in order to accept the music post of vice-president of Ly-Rann Music, owned by Audrey Williams. Earlier, during a five year tenure on WAKY-Louisville, he grabbed the number one show rating and held it for a solid five years (Cash Box, 28 November 1964). Certainly a grabber Jack was as, if you want the truth, he quickly left Louisville for Nashville after charges that Jack had "carnal knowledge" with an under-aged girl.

 

More on Audrey Williams later.

Oinked

My Inspiration

 

 

The Four Plaid Throats -  My Inspiration
Mercury Records, 1953

No joke, a real group from California. Scarce record if you believe Jerry Osborne's "The 1.000 Most Valuable Records" (official guide to the money records) or a little more than 5$ if you trust one of the latest Tefteller's sale.

 

Oscar McLollie shared the stage with the Four Plaid Throats for a weekend at the 5-4 Club in Los Angeles in May 1953. As a comic relief ?

I'm So Excited

 

Scott Dean

I'm So Excited

"- private press - 80's opera disco lounge Wisconsin" found at YouTube at the Mildew's Moldy Music channel. : 

Why I'm doing this ?

Kid Thomas : Wail, Baby, Wail !

 

Kid Thomas : Wail, Baby, Wail !

 

Louis Thomas Watts (1934-1970)

Kid Thomas (born 20 June 1934 in Sturgis, Mississippi, died 5 April 1970 in Beverly Hills, California) was a blues and rock & roll singer and harmonica player.
He moved to Chicago to work outside music in 1941, working in local clubs there in the 1940s-1950s. He first recorded for Federal in Chicago 1957, and after having passed through Wichita, Kansas, and Denver, Colorado, he relocated to Los Angeles in 1959, in which year he cut "Rockin’ this joint tonite" for T.R.C., a rock & roll song which became a minor hit. He continued to make a handful of singles for small labels in the 1960s. He was shot to death by the father of a young boy he had killed in a road accident.

Milk Cow Blues

Milk Cow Blues

Here is Bob Cox on his own Magnet label.  Under the sticker, original printed credit is probably The 32 Bar Ranch Hands; which was his own band. Date unknown (early sixties?)

Bob Cox, a popular singer and musician in the Prescott, Arizona area for many years, grew up in Sweetwater, Texas before settled in Arizona where he  began working farm labor and performing. Cox performed on local radio with Marty Robbins in several talent contests and also with Jimmy Wakely and Dub Taylor.  He played in the many bars and watering holes along Prescott's famous Whiskey Row, including the historic Palace Saloon.

He passed away in 2012.

Posted by Bob at 7:25 PM 2 comments:

That Minute There With You

 

Emright & Mattie

That  Minute There With You

Emright, Zells Music (BMI)

Scatt 24027-A
1967?

No offense Emright but I prefer the A side which highlights Mattie's voice. Record not listed in my first edition of "R&B Indies" by Bob McGrath. Emright (Holman) came from Alabama. Not much is known about him and even less about Mattie. Who is Mattie ?

I would hazard a name because the voices are similar, but have no proof : Mattie Moultrie...

The Complete Cobra Singles

 

Cobra Records was founded in August 1956 by Elias P. Toscano (1924-1967) and Howard Bedno (1919-2006) was an independent record label that operated in Chicago from 1956 to 1959 and launched the careers of Chicago blues artists Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy, a new generation who pioneered the West Side Sound.

The most comprehensive Cobra/Artistic reissue package to date (it does not include alternate takes, but it throws in both sides of 8 Abcos for good measure) appeared in Japan in 2008: The Complete Cobra Singles, 4 CDs on P-Vine Special PCD 18528/31

 Disc 1

01 - Otis Rush - I Can't Quit You Baby [Cobra 5000]
02 - Otis Rush - Sit Down Baby [Cobra 5000]
03 - The Clouds - Rock And Roll Boogie [Cobra 5001]
04 - The Clouds - I Do [Cobra 5001]
05 - Shakey Horton - Have A Good Time [Cobra 5002]
06 - Shakey Horton - Need My Baby [Cobra 5002]
07 - The Calvaes - Mambo Fiesta [Cobra 5003]
08 - The Calvaes - Fine Girl [Cobra 5003]
09 - Harold Burrage - One More Dance [Cobra 5004]
10 - Harold Burrage - You Eat Too Much [Cobra 5004]
11 - Otis Rush - Violent Love [Cobra 5005]
12 - Otis Rush - My Love Will Never Die [Cobra 5005]
13 - Sunnyland Slim - It's You Baby [Cobra 5006]
14 - Sunnyland Slim - Highway 61 [Cobra 5006]
15 - Lee Jackson - Fishin' In My Pond [Cobra 5007]
16 - Lee Jackson - I'll Just Keep Walkin' [Cobra 5007]
17 - Gloria Irving - I Need A Man [Cobra 5008]
18 - Gloria Irving - For You And Only You [Cobra 5008]
19 - Duke Jenkins - Something Else [Cobra 5009]
20 - Duke Jenkins - The Duke Walks [Cobra 5009]
21 - Otis Rush - Groaning The Blues [Cobra 5010]
22 - Otis Rush - If You Were Mine [Cobra 5010]

Disc 2

01 - Little Willie Foster - Crying The Blues [Cobra 5011]
02 - Little Willie Foster - Little Girl [Cobra 5011]
03 - Harold Burrage - Messed Up [Cobra 5012]
04 - Harold Burrage - I Don't Care Who Knows [Cobra 5012]
05 - Magic Sam - All Your Love [Cobra 5013]
06 - Magic Sam - Love Me With A Feeling [Cobra 5013]
07 - The Calvaes - Born With Rhythm [Cobra 5014]
08 - The Calvaes - Lonely Lonely Village [Cobra 5014]
09 - Otis Rush - Love That Woman [Cobra 5015]
10 - Otis Rush - Jump Sister Bessie [Cobra 5015]
11 - Clarence Jolly - Changing Love [Cobra 5016]
12 - Clarence Jolly - Don't Leave Me [Cobra 5016]
13 - Guitar Shorty - You Don't Treat Me Right [Cobra 5017]
14 - Guitar Shorty - Irma Lee [Cobra 5017]
15 - Harold Burrage - Stop, For The Red Light [Cobra 5018]
16 - Harold Burrage - Satisfied [Cobra 5018]
17 - Betty Everett - My Life Depends On You [Cobra 5019]
18 - Betty Everett - My Love [Cobra 5019]
19 - Duke Jenkins - Where Can My Loved One Be [Cobra 5020]
20 - Duke Jenkins - Shake It [Cobra 5020]
21 - Magic Sam - Everything Gonna Be Alright [Cobra 5021]
22 - Magic Sam - Look Whatcha Done [Cobra 5021]
23 - Harold Burrage - She Knocks Me Out [Cobra 5022]
24 - Harold Burrage - A Heart (Filled With Pain) [Cobra 5022]

Disc 3

01 - Otis Rush - Three Times A Fool [Cobra 5023]
02 - Otis Rush - She's A Good-'Un [Cobra 5023]
03 - Betty Everett - Ain't Gonna Cry [Cobra 5024]
04 - Betty Everett - Killer Diller [Cobra 5024]
05 - Magic Sam - All Night Long [Cobra 5025]
06 - Magic Sam - All My Whole Life [Cobra 5025]
07 - Harold Burrage - I Cry For You [Cobra 5026]
08 - Harold Burrage - Betty Jean [Cobra 5026]
09 - Otis Rush - It Takes Time [Cobra 5027]
10 - Otis Rush - Checking On My Baby [Cobra 5027]
11 - Jimmy Kelly & The Rock-A-Beats - Little Chickie [Cobra 5028]
12 - Jimmy Kelly & The Rock-A-Beats - Bonnie [Cobra 5028]
13 - Magic Sam - Easy Baby [Cobra 5029]
14 - Magic Sam - 21 Days In Jail [Cobra 5029]
15 - Otis Rush - Double Trouble [Cobra 5030]
16 - Otis Rush - Keep On Loving Me, Baby [Cobra 5030]
17 - Betty Everett - I'll Weep No More [Cobra 5031]
18 - Betty Everett - Tell Me, Darling [Cobra 5031]
19 - Otis Rush - All Your Love (I Miss Loving) [Cobra 5032]
20 - Otis Rush - My Baby's A Good 'Un [Cobra 5032]
21 - Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm - Walking Down The Aisle [Cobra 5033]
22 - Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm - Box Top [Cobra 5033]
23 - Evangelist "Baby" Ballinger - So Glad [Artistic 100]
24 - Evangelist "Baby" Ballinger - Let It Be [Artistic 100]

Disc 4

01 - Charles Clark - Row Your Boat [Artistic 1500]
02 - Charles Clark - Hidden Charms [Artistic 1500]
03 - Buddy Guy - Sit And Cry (The Blues) [Artistic 1501]
04 - Buddy Guy - Try To Quit You Baby [Artistic 1501]
05 - Shakey Jake - Roll Your Money Maker [Artistic 1502]
06 - Shakey Jake - Call Me If You Need Me [Artistic 1502]
07 - Buddy Guy - You Sure Can't Do [Artistic 1503]
08 - Buddy Guy - This Is The End [Artistic 1503]
09 - Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm (voc. Tommy Hodge) - (I Know) You Don't Love Me [Artistic 1504]
10 - Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm (voc. Tommy Hodge) - Down & Out [Artistic 1504]
11 - Arbee Stidham - I'll Always Remember You [Abco 100]
12 - Arbee Stidham - Meet Me Half Way [Abco 100]
13 - Herby Joe - Smoke Stack Lightning [Abco 101]
14 - Herby Joe - Dreamed (Last Night) [Abco 101]
15 - Zono Sago's Modern Sounds - Short Order [Abco 102]
16 - Zono Sago's Modern Sounds - Jivin' At Random [Abco 102]
17 - Freddie Hall & His Aces - Can't This Be Mine [Abco 103]
18 - Freddie Hall & His Aces - Playin' Hard To Get [Abco 103]
19 - Louie Meyers & The Aces - Just Whaling [Abco 104]
20 - Louie Meyers & The Aces - Bluesy [Abco 104]
21 - The Rip-Chords - I Love You The Most [Abco 105]
22 - The Rip-Chords - (Let's Do The) Razzle Dazzle [Abco 105]
23 - Morris Pejoe - Screaming And Crying [Abco 106]
24 - Morris Pejoe - Maybe Blues [Abco 106]
25 - Arbee Stidham - When I Find My Baby [Abco 107]
26 - Arbee Stidham - Please Let It Be Me [Abco 107]