July 1, 1956 : BOYD BENNETT and his Rockets record their next single at the King
studio in Cincinnati, "Hit That Jive Jack"/ "Rabbit-Eye Pink And Charcoal Black"
(King 4935, August).
Personnel : Boyd Bennett (vocals / drums) ; 'Big Moe' Muzey (vocals on "Hit That
Jive Jack") ; Ron Ayres (guitar) ; Mickey Allen (rhythm guitar) ; Bobby Jones
(tenor sax) ; Skip Pendergraff (bass).
 
July 2, 1956 : ELVIS PRESLEY records the biggest hit of 1956, "Hound Dog"/
"Don't Be Cruel" (RCA 6604, July 13). Also recorded is "Any Way You Want Me
(That's How I Will Be)", which will be used as the B-side of "Love Me Tender"
(RCA 6643, October).
Personnel : Elvis Presley (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Scotty Moore (lead guitar) ;
Bill Black (bass) ; D.J. Fontana (drums) ; Shorty Long (piano) ; Gordon Stoker
(piano on "Hound Dog") ; The Jordanaires (vocal group).
Produced by Steve Sholes at RCA Studios in New York City.
 
July 2-5, 1956 : Four days of sessions by JOHNNY BURNETTE and the Rock 
'n' Roll Trio produce enough material for an LP, imaginatively titled "Johnny 
Burnette and the Rock 'n' Roll Trio" (Coral CRL 57080, December 5).
Day one kicks off with "The Train Kept-A Rollin'" (also on single Coral 61719,
October 5), followed by "Blues Stay Away From Me" (not on the LP, first released
on Coral 62190, April 18, 1960), "All By Myself" and "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee",
(also on single Coral 61869, August 20, 1957).
Two Joe Turner songs are recorded on Tuesday, July 3, "Chains Of Love" and
"Honey Hush" (also on single Coral 61719), alongside "Lonesome Tears In My Eyes"
and "I Just Found Out" (also on single Coral 61758, December 12).
On July 4, the trio takes a stab at Fats Domino's "Please Don't Leave Me",
followed by "Rock Therapy" (both tracks not on the LP, first released in 1970 on
the UK LP "Tear It Up" (Coral CP 10)) and "Rock Billy Boogie" (also on single
Coral 61918, December 5, 1957).
The four final LP tracks are waxed on Thursday the 5th, "Lonesome Train" (also on
single Coral 61758), "Sweet Love  On My Mind", "I Love You So" and "Your Baby Blue
Eyes". "My Love You're A Stranger" will stay in the can until it is also selected
for the UK album "Tear It Up" (Coral CP 10).
Musicians : Johnny Burnette (vocals / guitar) ; Dorsey Burnette (vocals / bass) ;
Paul Burlison (guitar) ; Grady Martin (guitar) ; Bob Moore (bass, July 4 only) ; 
Owen Bradley (piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums) ; The Anita Kerr Singers (vocal 
chorus on July 5). 
Location : Bradley Studio, Nashville. Producer : Henry Jerome.
 
July 3, 1956 : Four-track session for JAYCEE HILL at Audio Recording 
Studio in Cleveland, Ohio. "Romp Stompin' Boogie"/"A Love So Fine" is 
released on Epic 9185 in September. "Since My Baby Left Me" is left in the 
can until the appearance of the CD "That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 23 : Rockabilly 
From the Vaults Of Columbia Records" (Bear Family BCD 16723, 2006).
"My Suspicious Heart" remains unissued.
 
July 6, 1956 : BUCK GRIFFIN records three self-composed songs at the Clifford
Herring Studio in Fort Worth, Texas. "Bow My Back"/"Old Bee Tree" is released
on MGM 12439 (March 8 1957) and "Jessie Lee" on MGM 12597 (December 27, 1957).
Backing by unidentified electric guitar (possibly Lefty Perkins), bass and drums.
Produced by Joe Leonard.

July 9, 1956 : after backing the Burnette Trio 4 days the previous week, 
GRADY MARTIN lays down a storming version of "When My Dream Boat Comes Home",
which will be used for his next single (Decca 30022, August 6) b/w "Allegheny
Moon". A third track, "Keep It Movin'" will be used for a future single (Decca 
30196, January 28 1957).
Credited to Grady Martin and his Slew Foot Five, in fact the Nashville
A-team, including Hank Garland and Harold Bradley (guitars). 
Location : Bradley Studio, Nashville.
 
July 9, 1956 : Second King session for MAC CURTIS, again in Dallas (Jim
Beck Studio). Two singles are the result, "You Ain't Treatin' Me Right"/
"The Low Road" (King 4965, September) and "That Ain't Nothin' But Right"/
"Don't You Love Me" (King 4995, December).
Musicians : Mac Curtis (vocals / acoustic guitar) ; Bill Hudson (lead
guitar) ; Kenny Cobb (bass) ; Bill Simmons (piano) ; Dick Powell (drums).
Produced by Ralph Bass.
 
July 9, 1956 : WILBERT HARRISON waxes his next single in New York
City, "The Way I Feel"/"Confessin' My Dreams" (Savoy 1198, late August).
Personnel : Wilbert Harrison (vocals / guitar) ; Buddy Lucas (tenor sax) ;
Budd Johnson (baritone sax) ; Kelly Owens (piano) ; Mickey Baker (guitar) ;
Ed Sneed (bass) ; Sol Hall (drums). Produced by Fred Mendelsohn. 
 
July 9, 1956 : THE SENSATIONS lay down "Little Wallflower"/"Such A Love"
for release on Atco 6083 in December. Lead vocal by Yvonne Mills. 
"How Much I Love" from this NYC session has never been released.
 
July 11, 1956 : MARVIN RAINWATER records his next two singles at Bradley
Studio in Nashville, "Why Did You Have To Go And Leave Me"/"What Am I
Supposed To Do" (MGM 12313, August 12) and "Get Off the Stool"/"(Sometimes)
I Feel Like Leaving Town" (MGM 12370, November 2).
Backing includes Grady Martin (guitar) and Lightnin' Chance (bass). 
More details unknown.
 
July 11, 1956 : Beginning of a busy week for THE PLATTERS. On this day
they record "You'll Never Know" (Mercury 70948, August 17) and "One In A
Million" (Mercury 71011, November 15). On July 12, they wax "It Isn't Right"
(flip of "You'll Never Know") and "He's Mine" (Mercury 71032, January 30,
1957, lead vocal by Zola Taylor), plus three tracks for the LP "The
Platters, Volume 2" (Mercury MG 20216, January 31, 1957). The remaining 
nine tracks for this album are recorded on the 16th (4 songs) and the 
17th (five songs). None of the songs from the LP is issued as a single 
("Heart Of Stone", "I'd Climb The Highest Mountain", "September In The
Rain", "You've Changed", "I'll Get By", "I Give You My Word", "In The
Still Of The Night", "Wagon Wheels", "Take Me In Your Arms", "You Can
Depend On Me", "Temptation" and "I Don't Know Why").
Location : Mercury Sound Studio, New York City.
 
July 12, 1956 : BILL HALEY and his Comets have another session at the
Pythian Temple in New York City. Only two songs are waxed, which are
released back to back at the end of July, "Rip It Up"/"Teenager's Mother"
(Decca 30028, August 6).
Personnel : Bill Haley (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Franny Beecher (lead
guitar) ; Billy Williamson (steel guitar) ; Rudy Pompilli (tenor sax) ;
Johnny Grande (piano) ; Al Rex (double bass) ; Ralph Jones (drums).
Produced by Milt Gabler.
 
Friday, July 13, 1956 : MICKEY AND SYLVIA lay down their next single, 
"No Good Lover"/"Walkin' In the Rain" (Groove 0164, August), in New York 
City.
Personnel : Mickey Baker (vocals / guitar) ; Sylvia Vanderpool (vocals / 
guitar) ; Herman Foster (piano ) ; Lloyd Trotman (bass) ; Joe Marshall
(drums) ; Wasboard Bill (washboard).
 
July 18, 1956 : The first King session by CHARLIE FEATHERS, at the
King studio in Cincinnati, yields two classic singles, "Everybody's Lovin'
My Baby"/"Can't Hardly Stand It" (King 4971, first week of October), and
"Bottle To the Baby"/"One Hand Loose" (King 4997, December). 
Personnel : Charlie Feathers (vocals / guitar) ; Jerry Huffman (lead guitar) ; 
Jody Chastain (bass) ; Ramon Maupin (drums). (Date from Michel Ruppli's 
King discography ; some sources say August 18, 1956).
 
July 19, 1956 : HOWLIN' WOLF (Chester Burnett) is back at the Chess
studio in Chicago. "I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) "/"So Glad"
is selected for single release at the end of August (Chess 1632). "Natchez
Burning" has to wait until the end of 1959 for a release on Chess 1744, 
while "Break Of Day" finally comes out in 1985 on the UK LP "Genesis, 
Vol. 4 : Memphis To Chicago" (Chess LP 6499 435). 
Personnel : Howlin' Wolf (vocals / harmonica ) ; Hosea Lee Kennard (piano) ;
Willie Johnson, Smokey Smothers (guitars) ; Willie Dixon (bass) ; Earl
Phillips (drums).

July 19, 1956 : At the Hickory Studio in Nashville AL TERRY records
"Roughneck Blues"/"Am I Seeing Things" for his next single (Hickory 1056,
October). "Because I'm Yours (But You're Not Mine)" will be used for a future
single (Hickory 1075, March 29, 1958), and "It's Better Late Than Never" 
sees an even more belated release (Hickory 1093, January, 1959).
Personnel : Grady Martin and Harold Bradley (guitars) ; Bob Terry (steel
guitar) ; Lightnin' Chance (bass) ; Tommy Jackson (fiddle).
Produced by Wesley Rose.
   
July 20, 1956 : BIG MAYBELLE has a four-track session in New York City.
Selected for the next single are "Mean To Me" and "Tell Me Who" (Savoy
1500, September). "I Don't Want To Cty" is released on Savoy 1512 in April
1957 (B-side of :"All Of Me"). The fourth track, "There I've Said It Again"
is first released on Maybelle's LP "Candy" (Savoy MG 14011) in March 1958.
Backing by : David McRae (alto sax) ; Buddy Lucas, Warren Lucky (tenor 
saxes) ; Leslie Johnakins (baritone sax) ; Kelly Owens (piano, arranger) ; 
Mickey Baker (guitar) ; Ed Sneed (bass) ; Sol Hall (drums).
 
July 22, 1956 : First Nashville session for BUDDY HOLLY, at Bradley Studio.
"Rock Around With Ollie Vee", "I"m Changing All Those Changes", "Ting A Ling"
and "Girl On My Mind" are first released on Buddy's LP "That' ll Be the Day"
(Decca DL 8707, April 14, 1958).  Also recorded is a first attempt at "That'll
Be the Day", which will finally be released in 1975 on the UK LP ("The Nashville
Sessions", MCA Coral CDL 8038).
Personnel : Buddy Holly (vocals / guitar) ; Sonny Curtis (guitar) ; Don Guess
(string bass) ; Jerry Allison (drums).
Produced by Owen Bradley.
 
July 25, 1956 : JIMMY AND JOHNNY record their version of "Sweet Love On My
Mind" at Bradley Studio in Nashville. Released on Decca 30061 (October 10).
Jimmy & Johnny are Jimmy Lee Fautheree and his brother Lynn.
Produced by Paul Cohen.
 
Thursday, July 26, 1956 : CLYDE McPHATTER records his next single, "Thirty
Days"/"I'm Lonely Tonight" for release on Atlantic 1106 in September. 
"Anywhere" from this session remains unissued.
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler in New York City.
 
July 26, 1956 : Recording date of the WAYNE WALKER single "All I Can Do 
Is Cry"/"It's My Way" (ABC-Paramount 9735, September 12).
Backing by Grady Martin (lead guitar), more details unknown.
Location is Nashville, Tennessee.
 
July 27, 1956 : First Decca session by EDDIE FONTAINE, in New York City.
"Cool It Baby" is released on August 3 (Decca 30042) and will be featured in
the movie "The Girl Can't Help It". Flip is "Into Each Life Some Rain Must
Fall" from the same session.
Backing directed by Jack Pleis.
 
July 27, 1956 : LITTLE WALTER records material for two singles at the Chess
Studio in Chicago, "Just A Feeling"/"Teenage Beat" (Checker 845, September)
and "Take Me Back"/"It's Too Late Brother" (Checker 852, December).
Musicians : Little Walter (vocals / harmonica) ; Leonard Caston, Robert
Lockwood, Jr. (guitars) ; Willie Dixon (bass) ; Fred Below (drums).
 
July 30, 1956 : Final MGM session for DON GIBSON, before signing for RCA.
Two singles are the result, "I Believed In You"/"What A Fool I Was To Fall
(For You)" (MGM 12331, September 7) and "I'm Gonna Fool Everybody"/"You're
the Only One For Me" (MGM 12393, November 30).
Produced by Wesley Rose at RCA Victor Studios in Nashville.
 
July 30-31, 1956 : Eleven-year old BRENDA LEE makes her debut as a 
recording artist, at Bradley Studio in Nashville. On the 30th she records 
four tracks, of which "Jambalaya" and "Bigelow 6-200" are chosen for her 
first single (Decca 30050, September 17). "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Some 
People" will stay in the can until the release of  "Brenda Lee : The Early 
Years" (MCA LP 1392, UK) in 1985. The next day she waxes two Christmas 
songs, "Christy Christmas" and "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus", released 
on Decca 30107 (October 29). The third track, "Doodle Bug Rag" also stays 
on the shelf until the 1985 LP.
Personnel : Grady Martin, Jack Shook (guitars) ; Don Helms (steel guitar) ;
Bob Moore (bass) ; Owen Bradley (piano) ; Farris Coursey (drums).
Produced by Paul Cohen
 
July 30-31, 1956 : LITTLE RICHARD is at J&M Studio in New Orleans for a
three-day session. On the first day he records "Lucille" (Specialty 598, March
1957) and "Heeby-Jeebies" (Specialty 584, October), plus a first, fast version 
of "Good Golly Miss Molly", which is first released on the CD boxset "The
Specialty Sessions" (UK Ace ABOXCD 1, 1989).
"All Around the World" is cut on the 31st (Specialty 591, December), as well 
as an unissued version of "Send Me Some Lovin'" and possibly also "Tell Me 
Why" (unissued, lost), though this latter song may also have been waxed on 
February 9, 1956.
Personnel : Richard Penniman (vocals / piano ) ; Lee Allen (tenor sax) ; Red
Tyler (baritone sax) ; Roy Montrell (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Earl
Palmer (drums).
Supervised by Bumps Blackwell. 
To be continued next month, for the August 1 session.
 
July 1956, unknown date : at WNBC in New York City JIM LOWE records "The 
Green Door"/"(The Story of) The Little Man in Chinatown" for his next single,
released later this month (Dot 15486, July 24). Credited to Jim Lowe and the
High Fives.
 
July 1956, unknown dates : EDDIE COCHRAN information for this month is
sketchy. It seeems sure that "Skinny Jim" was recorded during this month
(Crest 1026, August) and also "Latch On" (first released on Rockstar RSR-EP
2003), both at Master Recorders in Hollywood. This may have been a split 
session with Bo Davis, who recorded "Let's Coast Awhile"/"Drowning All My
Sorrows" (Crest 1027).
Musicians on these four tracks : Eddie Cochran (vocals / guitar) ; Guybo
Smith (bass) ; Ray Stanley (piano) ; Jesse Sailes (drums) ; Bo Davis (vocals
/ guitar on his two tracks).
"Skinny Jim" will be overdubbed with piano and drums on July 20, 1962, under
the supervision of Snuff Garrett.
Also possibly recorded this month (at Gold Star Studio, Hollywood) : the first
versions of "Twenty Flight Rock" (original release on UK London HLU 8386,
April 1957) and "Completely Sweet" (original release on UK London HLU 8433,
June 1957) plus "Dark Lonely Street" (Liberty 55056, February 1957).

July 1956, unknown date : AMOS MILBURN records a storming remake of his 1948
# 1 hit "Chicken Shack" for release on Aladdin 3332 (August 2), coupled with
the previously recorded "Juice. Juice, Juice".
Personnel : Amos Milburn (vocals / piano) ; Nat Perilliat (tenor sax) ;
Red Tyler (baritone sax) ; Justin Adams (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ;
Earl Palmer (drums). Location : Cosimo's Studio, New Orleans.
 
With thanks to Steve Walker and Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index