1. IRMA AND THE FASCINATORS-"Lost Love" U.S. Scepter 12100 1965
Kicking off with some gritty guitar this mid tempo soul tune has some smokey lead vocals that lead into horns and call and response backing vocals. There's something rough and ready about it all that adds to it's charm.
2. THE CRAMPTON SISTERS-"Baby Baby" U.S. ABC 45-10853 1966
With an odd intro of woodwinds/brass this tune combines a Motown style delivery with vocals that recall 60's girl group sounds like The Shangri La's or The Chiffons. It's interesting because it's an almost off kilter mix owing to the two styles that come off as oil and water but somehow it works, but just barely.
3. THE HUEYS-"You Ain't No Hippie" U.S. Instant 3289 1968
Huey "Piano" Smith re-invents himself as The Hueys in this scathing social commentary about fake long hairs ("you ain't no hippie cause your head is bald, you have no education and you talk like a fool..") on top of a funky groove delivered rapid fire with lyrics that are both catchy and compelling.
4. DEAN JONES-"Women (Ska-Da-La-De-Da)" U.S. Valiant 6055 1964
Here's an odd one by 60's Disney actor Dean Jones that despite the title is not remotely ska. The vocals are incredibly powerful with Jone's baritone crooning over a groove that melodically resembles "Watermelon Man". It's incredibly hip with a heavy nod to Mel Torme. Sadly it'll cost you several hundred dollars, which is why I don't have one....
5. THE SOUL BROTHERS-"Keep It Up" U.S. Blue Cat BC 107 1965
Starting with some doo-wop style falsetto vocals this Lieber and Stoller number (they produced it as well) is 100% high class thanks to the arrangement and delivery (the mournful horn solo could easily come straight off of a Walker Brothers cover of a Jerry Butler side). There's a cool Latin back beat to it all as well which adds to it's mystique.
6. BILLIE POOL with THE JUNIOR MANCE TRIO-"Them Blues" U.S. Riverside RF-4559 1963
This incredible 45 comes care of female vocalist Billie Pool who rocks the house with help of the jazz combo The Junior Mance Trio who lay down a jazzy but distinctly r&b groove behind her blues shouting. Killer!
7. ANN COLE -"Got My Mo-Jo Working" U.S. Baton 237 1957
"I Got My Mojo Working" blends blues jump sounds with early rock n roll and a dash of doo wop. It's also the very first airing of the song written by Red Foster (Muddy Waters cut it simultaneously) and though not too dissimilar in it's tempo to Muddy's reading it is far superior in my book owing to it's vast array of genres blended within.
8. JIMMY CLANTON-"Cindy" U.S. Ace ACE 8007 1963
US 50's teen idol Jimmy Clanton is best known for his 1958 smash "Just A Dream". By 1963 the hits were long gone but he cut this enchanting Mel Torme influenced twister that remains his most collectible side with it's uptempo groove.
9. THE ROY MERIWETHER TRIO-"The Seventh Son" U.S. Columbia 4-44211 1967
This funky little version of Willie Dixon's "The Seventh Son" is a piano driven gas with jazzy tinges and Latin percussion on top of a pure Ramsey Lewis style groove with gruff scat improvisation during the piano solo.
10. SYLVIA ROBBINS-"Don't Let Your Eyes Get Bigger Than Your Heart" U.S. Sue 805 1964
This scorching '64 Sue side has some incredibly sophisticated brass crossed with organ and lead vocals that remind me of Lesley Gore (Sylvia was one half of the duo Mickey & Sylvia and went solo when Mickey Baker relocated to Europe).
All scans c/o 45cat.com
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