October 1, 1955 : In Chicago, THE PLATTERS (Tony Williams, Paul Robi,
Zola Taylor, Herb Reed and David Lynch) record the follow-up to
their big hit "Only You" : "The Great Pretender", as well as its flip
"I'm Just A Dancing Partner". Released on Mercury 70753 in November.
 
October 4, 1955 :THE COLLINS KIDS have their first recording session,
in Hollywood (Radio Recorders), produced by Don Law. Chosen for
single release are "Hush Money"/"Beetle-Bug-Bop" (Columbia 21470,
November). Two other tracks, "The Cuckoo Rock" and "I Wish" stay on
the shelf until Bear Family releases them in 1982 on the LP "Rockin'
Rollin' Collins Kids" (BFX 15074). 
Personnel : Lorrie and Larry Collins (vocals) ; Joe Maphis, Johnny 
Bond and Herb Henson (guitars) ; Marian Hall (steel guitar) ; Margie
Ann Warren (fiddle) ; Pee Wee Adams (drums).

October 5, 1955 : THE JODIMARS record four tracks at the Capitol
Studio in New York : "Well Now Dig This"/"Let's All Rock Together"
becomes their next single (Capitol 3285, November), while "Dance the
Bop" will be used for a future single (Capitol 3360, February 20, 1956)
and "Natural Ditty" is first released on the UK CD "Let's All Rock
Together" (Rockstar RSRCD 007, 1994).
Personnel : Dick Richards (vocals ) ; Marshall Lytle (double bass) : 
Joey d'Ambrosio (tenor sax) ; Chuck Hess (lead guitar) ; Tony Mottola
(guitar) ; Billy Gussak (drums).
 
October 6, 1955 : Led by Sonny Til, THE ORIOLES record four tracks,
probably in New York City. Only "Angel" is released (Jubilee 5231, in
January 1956). The other three tracks, "Don't Cry", "Sure Fire" and
"Danger" are first issued on the Bear Family box-set "The Orioles : 
The Jubilee Recordings" (BCD 15682) in March 1993.
 
October 7, 1955 : In New York City, THE COOKIES (Dorothy Jones,
Beulah Robertson and Darlene McCrea) have their first session for
Atlantic, which yields  the # 9 R&B hit "In Paradise" and its flip,
"Passing Time" (Atlantic 1084, March 1956).
 
October 12, 1955 : MERRILL MOORE records material for two singles
at Capitol's Hollywood studio on Melrose Avenue : "Down the Road
Apiece"/"Cooing To the Wrong Pigeon" (Capitol 3311, January 1956)
and "She's Gone"/"Gotta Gimme What'Cha Got" (Capitol 3536, October
1956).
Personnel : Merrill Moore (vocals, piano) ; Jimmy Bryant (electric
guitar) ; Roy Lanham (rhythm guitar) ; Speedy West (steel guitar) ;
Red Wooten (bass) ; Roy Harte (drums).
Produced by Ken Nelson.
 
October 14, 1955 : BOYD BENNETT and his Rockets record three tracks
in Cincinnati, Ohio. "The Most"/"Desperately" becomes the next
single at the end of November (King 4853), while "High School Hop"
is held in the can until October 1959, when it comes out on King
5282.
Personnel : Boyd Bennett (vocals, drums) ; Joe "Big Moe" Muzey
(vocals on "The Most") ; Bobby Jones (tenor sax) ; Ron Ayres
(guitar) ; Mickey Allen (rhythm guitar) ; Kenny Cobb (bass).
 
October 14, 1955 : In New York City, saxophonist RED PRYSOCK records
the single "Short Circuit"/"Fingertips" (Mercury 70733, November)
with Blue Mitchell (trumpet) ; Zack Wright (baritone sax) ; Oliver
Blair (piano) ; Raymond Kitz (guitar) ; Herb Gordy (bass) ; Purnell
Rice (drums).
 
Saturday, October 15, 1955 : FATS DOMINO is back at J&M Studio in
New Orleans and records three classics. "I Can't Go On" becomes 
the B-side of "Poor Me" (Imperial 5369) in November. "Bo Weevil" is 
released on Imperial 5375 in January 1956, followed by "I'm In Love 
Again" in March (Imperial 5386). Personnel : Fats Domino (vocals /
piano ) ; Ernest McLean (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Lee Allen 
(tenor sax) ; Herb Hardesty (tenor sax) ; Clarence Ford (alto sax) ; 
Cornelius Coleman or Earl Palmer (drums).
Produced by Dave Bartholomew.

October 15, 1955 : At 706, Union, Memphis, JACK EARLS has his first
recording session for Sam Phillips, but everything will be kept in
the can for many years. "Hey Slim" is included on the album "Sun
Rockabillys Vol. 3 - Rockin' And Boppin'" (linernotes of this 1974
UK LP Sun 6427028 incorrectly refer to an April 1956 session).
"They Can't Keep Me From You" and "Hey Jim" both will find a place
on the album "Rock-Billy Blues" (UK Sun LP 1019, 1985), and "When I
Dream" has to wait until the release of "Hey Slim Let's Bop! - His
Complete Sun Recordings" (CD Charly 8197) in 1996.
On the session Jack Earls (vocals / guitar) is backed by The Jimbos :
Warren Gregory (guitar) ; Johnny Black (bass) ; Danny Wahlquist
(drums). 

October 18, 1955 : LOUIS JORDAN is in Hollywood at Radio Recorders.
Four tracks will be recorded, "Chicken Back"/"Where Can I Go" for his
next single (X 0182), soon follwed by "Baby You're Just Too Much"/
"Rock 'n' Roll Call" (X 0192).
Personnel : Louis Jordan (vocal / alto sax) ; Lowell Hastings (tenor
sax) ; Bob Mitchell (trumpet) ; Bert Payne (guitar) ; Thurber Jay
(bass) ; Chester Lane (piano) ; John Kirkwood (drums). The session is
produced by Jimmy Hilliard.  
 
October 19, 1955 : A Chicago session by JOHN LEE HOOKER yields four
tracks : "Mambo Chillun"/ "Time Is Marchin'" (VeeJay 164, December),
"Unfriendly Woman" (VeeJay 265, February 1958) and "Wheel And Deal",
which is first issued on a French Top Rank EP (136), circa 1960.
Personnel : John Lee Hooker (vocals, guitar) ; Jimmy Reed
(harmonica) ; Eddie Taylor (guitar) ; George Washington (bass) ;
Tom Whitehead (drums).

October 19, 1955 : RUTH BROWN does 2 two-song sessions this month.
On the 19th she records "I'm Gettin' Right" (Atlantic 1091, March 1956)
and "Smooth Operator" (Atlantic 1113, October 1956), followed on the
22nd by "I Want To Do More" (Atlantic 1082, December) and a first,
unissued attempt at "When I Get You Baby", to which she would return
in September 1956. Sam "the Man" Taylor plays tenor sax, other details
unknown.
Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in New York City.
 
October 25, 1955 : SMILEY LEWIS has a split session with Dave
Bartholomew (who records the excellent "Would You", Imperial 5390).
Smiley's tracks are "Queen Of Hearts"/"Come On" (Imperial 5372,
December) and the original version of "One Night" (Imperial 5380,
February 1956). Musicians : Ernest McLean (guitar) ; Frank Fields
(bass) ; Lee Allen (tenor sax) ; Clarence Hall (tenor sax) ; Joe Harris
(alto sax) ; Dave Bartholomew (trumpet, producer) ; Edward Frank 
(piano) ; Earl Palmer (drums). Location : J&M Studio, New Orleans.
 
October 25, 1955 : At Jim Beck Studio in Dallas, FRANKIE MILLER
records material for two singles : "Paint, Powder And Perfume"/"What
You Do From Now On" (Columbia 21472, December) and "Day By Day"/
"I Don't Know Why I Love You" (Columbia 21519, July 1956). 
Produced by Don Law.
 
October 28, 1955 : DEAN MARTIN records his biggest hit (5 weeks at
# 1), "Memories Are Made Of This", and probably a few other tracks 
as well. Release on Capitol 3295 at the end of November. Vocal support
comes from the Easy Riders.
Produced by Lee Gillette at the Capitol Studio in Hollywood.
 
October 31, 1955 : Second and last Dootone session for ROY MILTON,
in Los Angeles. Four tracks are recorded, released on two singles:
"I Want To Go Home"/"I Never Would Have Made It" (Dootone 377,
November) and "Cry Some Baby"/"Baby I'm Gone" (Dootone 398, June
1956). 
Personnel : Roy Milton (vocals, drums) ; Charles Gillum (trumpet) ;
Jackie Kelso (alto sax) ; Eddie Taylor (tenor sax) ; Floyd Turnham 
(baritone sax) ; Camille Howard (piano ) ; Jimmie Davis (guitar) ; 
Lawrence Kato (bass). 
 
October 1955, unknown date : BOBBY CHARLES records his first single,
"Later Alligator"/"On Bended Knee" (Chess 1609, November).
Backing by : Harry Simoneaux, Raoul Prado, Carlo Marini (saxes) ; 
Larry Guidry (guitar) ; Ed Le Blanc (piano) ; Kenneth Thierot (drums).
Produced by Paul Gayten in New Orleans.
 
With thanks to Peter Stoller, Steve Walker and Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index