APRIL 1955
April 1, 1955 : THE DU DROPPERS are in New York's RCA studio
to record four tracks, with their new lead singer, Charlie Hughes (who
would later sing with the Drifters). "Talk That Talk"/"Give Me Some
Consideration" is released on Groove 0104 in the third week of April
and "You're Mine Already" on Groove 0120 in August. "I Wanna Thank
You" is first released on Detour LP 33-009 in 1988.
April 6, 1955 : At the RCA Victor Studio in Nashville, HANK SNOW
records four tracks. "It's Only You That I Love"/"Keep Your Promise,
Willie Thomas" (featuring Anita Carter) is released on RCA 47-6500
in April 1956. The other two tracks, "Can't Have You Blues" and
Mitchell Torok's "Caribbean" are included on the LP "Just Keep A-Movin'"
(RCA LPM 1113) in May 1955. Produced by Steve Sholes.
April 7, 1955 : THE CLOVERS have another session at the Atlantic
studio in New York City. "Nip Sip"/"If I Could Be Loved By You" is
selected for single release (Atlantic 1073, August). "Love, Love, Love"
is an early version of this song (not the single), eventually released on
the LP "The Clovers : Their Greatest Recordings : The Early Years"
(Atco 33-374) in 1971. "Kiss Me Before You Go" remains unissued.
At this time the Clovers are : Buddy Bailey, Billy Mitchell, Harold
Winley and Mathew McQuater.
April 15, 1955 : PEE WEE CRAYTON records six tracks in New
Orleans. "Yours Truly'/"Be Faithful" comes out on Imperial 5353 in
June. "I Must Go On"/"Don't Go" will be released on Post 2007 in
October. The instrumental "Blues Before Dawn" does not see a
commercial release until the appearance of an eponymous Pathe
Marconi LP (1566341) in 1985 and "Wondering Why" is included
on the Japanese LP "Wild Blues Guitarist" (Liberty LLS-70052).
Personnel : Pee Wee Crayton (vocals, guitar) ; Dave Bartholomew
(trumpet, producer) ; Herb Hardesty, Clarence Hall (tenor saxes) ;
Wendell Duconge (alto sax) ; Clarence Ford (sax) ; Salvador Doucette
(piano) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Cornelius Coleman (drums).
April 17, 1955 : A live show by BILL HALEY and his Comets at the
Masonic Temple in Cleveland, Ohio, is recorded and eventually
released in 1997 on the 2-CD set "Rock 'n' Roll Show" (Hydra BCK
27105).
Monday, April 18, 1955 : Driving home from a gig in Las Vegas,
THE DOMINOES stop off at Cincinnati, to record four tracks in the
King Studio. "How Long, How Long Blues" sees a release in May
1956 on Federal 12263, and "That's How You Know When You're
Growing Old" (led by Jackie Wilson) is held in the can until February
1961 (King 5463). "I Need Somebody In My Arms" and "Take Me
To the Altar" are not released at all.
April 21, 1955 : THE DRIFTERS (David Baughn, Gerhart Trasher,
Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pinkney) record four tracks in New York City,
of which "Drifting Away From You" and a first try-out of "Steamboat"
have never been issued. "Honey Bee" finally sees a release in March
1961 as the B-side of "Some Kind Of Wonderful" (Atlantic 2096) and
"No Sweet Lovin'" is issued on the flip of "Please Stay" (Atlantic 2105)
in May 1961. ". Personnel includes Sam "the Man" Taylor (tenor sax) ;
Jimmy Oliver (guitar) ; Connie Kay (drums). Arranged and conducted
by Ray Ellis.
April 21, 1955 : After four years with Imperial, T-BONE WALKER now
records for Atlantic. During a session in Chicago, six tracks are laid
down. "Papa Ain't Salty"/"T-Bone Shuffle" is selected for the next single
(Atlantic 1065, July) and "Why Not"/"Play On Little Girl" comes out on
Atlantic 1074 in early October. "T-Bone Blues Special" stays in the can
until 1972, when it is released as an LP track on Atlantic SD 7226
(Various artists : "Texas Guitar : From Dallas To L.A."). "All I Want
Is One More Chance" from this session remains unissued.
April 22, 1955 : OTIS WILLIAMS and a new group of Charms record
their next two singles in Cincinnati : "Miss the Love That I've Been
Dreaming Of"/"Tell Me Now" (DeLuxe 6088, May) and "Gum Drop"/
"Save Me, Save Me" (DeLuxe 6090, June). "Gum Drop" was covered
by the Crew Cuts, whose version went to # 10 (pop), whereas the
Charms' version did not chart at all.
APRIL 22, 1955 : In New York City, JESSE STONE records the Coral
single "Come And Dance With Me"/"Tom, Dick, and Harry" (61439,
June). The disc is credited to Charles Calhoun (Stone's alter ego) with
Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers : Al Sears and Sam 'the Man' Taylor
(alto saxes) ; Budd Johnson (tenor sax) ; Taft Jordan (trumpet) ; Mickey
Baker (guitar) ; Lawrence Brown (trombone) ; Ernie Hayes (piano) ;
Milt Hinton (bass) ; Joe Marshall (drums). Produced by Bob Thiele.
Earlier in the month (exact date unknown), Stone had recorded "Smack
Dab In the Middle"/"(I Don't Know) Why the Car Won't Go" (MGM 11989,
May) at Olmsted Studio in New York City, produced by Jim Vienneau.
The record was issued as by "Charlle Calhoun"
April 23, 1955 : A Miami session for RAY CHARLES yields four tracks.
"A Fool For You"/"This Little Girl Of Mine" becomes the new single in
June (Atlantic 1063). The two other songs stay in the can for several
years. The instrumental "A Bit Of Soul" is first released on Atlantic 2094
in March 1961 and "Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)" on Atlantic
2118 in September 1961. Personnel : Ray Charles (vocal, piano) ; Riley
Webb, Joe Bridgewater (trumpets) ; Don Wilkerson (tenor sax) ; Dave
Newman (sax) ; Roosevelt Sheffield (bass) ; William Peeples (drums).
Monday, April 25, 1955 : The third Capitol session of THE FIVE KEYS
delivers four songs : "" The Verdict"/"Me Make Um Pow Wow" (Capitol
3127, May), "I Wish I'd Never Learned To Read" (Capitol 3185, July) and
"Peace And Love" (Capitol 3455, June 1956). Location : New York City.
April 25, 1955 : GUITAR SLIM (real name Eddie Jones) is in Hollywood
to record four tracks, which will be released on two subsequent singles :
"I Got Sumpin' For You"/"You're Gonna Miss Me" (Specialtry 551) and
"Quicksand"/ "Think It Over" (Specialty 557). Personnel : Guitar Slim
(vocal / guitar) ; Roosevelt Brown (trumpet) ; Gus Fontenette and Luther
Hill Jr (alt saxes) ; Joe Tillman (tenor sax) ; Lawrence Cotton (piano) ;
Lloyd Lambert (bass) ; Oscar Moore (drums).
April 26, 1955 : At Capitol's L.A. studio, THE PLATTERS record "Only
You" and "Bark, Battle And Ball", which are rush-released on May 6
(Mercury 70633). "Only You" was previously recorded for Federal in 1953.
The two other tracks from this session are "I Wanna" (Mercury 71093,
April 1957) and "Why Should I" (Mercury MG 20146, LP track). Produced
by Bob Shad. The Platters are : Tony Williams, Zola Taylor (who sings
lead on "Bark, Battle And Ball"), Paul Robi, Herb Reed and David Lynch.
April 28, 1955 : In Chicago, LITTLE WALTER (vocals, harmonica) records
the single "Roller Coaster"/"I Got To Go", for release on Checker 817 in
June. Accompaniment by Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood, Jr (guitars) ;
Willie Dixon (bass) ; Fred Below (drums).
April 1955, unknown date : CURTIS GORDON records material for two
singles in Nashville (probably Bradley Film & Recording Studio). "Baby
Please Come Home"/"Blue Lifetime" is released on Mercury 70648 in
June and "Our Secret Rendezvous"/"(You're A) Girl With A Future"
on Mercury 70708 in September. Personnel : Curtis Gordon (vocal,
guitar) ; Eddie Hill (guitar) : Buddy Emmons (steel guitar) ; Slick
Gillespie (bass) ; Charlie Mitchell (fiddle) ; Curly Gainous (piano).
Produced by Owen Bradley.
Sujet: April 1955‏ 
