October 1, 1956 : JOHNNY CASH is at the Sun Stdio in Memphis for a
first attempt at "One More Ride". The (incomplete) recording will be
released on the LP boxset "The Sun Years" (UK Sunbox 103) in 1984.
Personnel : Johnny Cash (vocals / guitar) ; Luther Perkins (guitar) ;
Marshall Grant (bass).
 
October 1, 1956 : NAPPY BROWN records four tracks in New York City.
"Little By Little"/"I'm Getting Lonesome" comes out on Savoy 1506 in
December and will become his second biggest pop hit. "Bye Bye Baby"
is issued on Savoy 1514 in June 1957 and "I Cried Like A Baby" on
Savoy 1547 in August 1958.
Backing by Kelly Owens and his orchestra, with Sam Price on piano.

October 2, 1956 : HOMER AND JETHRO record their versions of "Hound
Dog" and "Green Door". "Houn' Dawg"/"Screen Door" is released on
RCA 6706 in November. "Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Of Me" and
"The West Virginny Hills" will be used as LP tracks (RCA LPM 1412).
Personnel : Homer Haynes (vocals / guitar) ; Jethro Burns (mandolin,
vocals) ; Chet Atkins, George Barnes (guitars) ; Charles Grean
(bass) ; Bob "Hutch" Davie (piano) ; Irving Goldberg (drums).
Produced by Steve Sholes at RCA Studio 2 in New York City.

Thursday, October 4, 1956 : BILL HALEY and his Comets record the
A-sides of two forthcoming singles : the title song from the movie
"Don't  Knock the Rock" (Decca 30148, December 3) and "Forty Cups Of
Coffee" (Decca 30214, March 4, 1957).
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 at the Pythian Temple in New York City.

October 4, 1956: RED PRYSOCK records his next single for Mercury
in New York City : "Teen-age Rock"/"Paquino Walk" (Mercury 70985,
November). Two other tracks, "Earth Rock" and "Lion's Den" will be
released on the LP "The Beat" (Mercury MG 20307).
Personnel : Red Prysock, Rufus Gore (tenor saxes) ; Zack Wright
(baritone sax) ; Oliver Blair (piano) ; Leo Blevins (guitar) ;
Herbert Gordy (bass) ; Lucius Weathers (vibraphone) ; Jerome
Potter (drums) ; Harold Mills (vocal on "Teen-age Rock").

October 5, 1956 : THE JODIMARS assemble at New York's Capitol Studio
for a session that yields two singles : "Clarabella"/"Midnight"
(Capitol 3588, November 12) and "Cloud 99"/"Later (Capitol 3633,
February 4, 1957).
Personnel : Marshal Lytle (double bass ; vocal on "Clarabella") ; Dick
Richards (vocals on "Cloud 99" and "Later") ; Joey d'Ambrosio (tenor
sax) ; Chuck Hess (lead guitar) ; Max Daffner (drums) ; Unknown (piano,
backing chorus).
Produced by Andy Wiswell.

October 5, 1956 : WYNONA CARR has a session in Hollywood. "Should
I Ever Love Again"/"'Til the Well Runs Dry" becomes the next single
(Specialty 589, November). "What Do You Know (About Love)" will be
released on Specialty 600 in April 1957, while the excellent
"Boppity Bop" surfaces eventually on the 1985 album "Jump, Jack,
Jump!" (Specialty LP 2157).
Produced by Art Rupe.

October 6, 1956 : GENE AND EUNICE lay down "Bom Bom Lulu", which
will be coupled with the previously recorded "Hi Diddle Diddle"
for release on Aladdin 3351 (November 14). Plas Johnson plays the
tenor sax, further details unknown. Location : Los Angeles.

October 9, 1956 : Recording date of the ONIE WHEELER single "A
Booger Gonna Getcha"/"A Beggar For Your Love" (Columbia 40787,
November). Personnel : Onie Wheeler (vocals / guitar) ; Ray Edenton,
Joseph Edwards (guitars) ; Buddy Emmons (steel guitar) ; Junior
Huskey (bass) ; Dale Potter (fiddle). Produced by Don Law at Bradley
Studio in Nashville.

October 10, 1956 : CLYDE McPHATTER records four tracks that will be
released on four different singles : "Without Love (There Is Nothing)"
(Atlantic 1117, late November), "Heartaches" (Atlantic 1149, July
1957), "Rock And Cry" (Atlantic 1158, September 1957) and "My Island
Of Dreams" (Atlantic 2018, January 1959).
The drummer is Joe Harris, more personnel details unknown.

October 11, 1956 : THE CADILLACS lay down "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer" (Josie 807, November) and "Don't Take Your Love From Me"
(first released on the Murray Hill LP box-set M61285 in 1983).
Location : New York City.

October 11, 1956 : Also in New York City, SONNY THOMPSON and his
band record material for two singles : "Low Down"/"Lost In the Great
Big City" (King 4992, December) and "Gum Shoe"/"Stop, Come See Me"
(King 5055, May 1957).
Personnel : Sonny Thompson (piano) ; Tommy Purkeson (alto sax) ;
King Curtis, David Brooks (tenor saxes) ; Thomas Palmer (guitar) ;
Albert Winston (bass) ; Robert Boswell (drums).

October 15, 1956 : At Mercury Sound Studio in NYC SIL AUSTIN
records six tracks for his forthcoming album "Slow Walk Rock"
(Mercury MG 20237) : "Walkin' And Talkin'", "Dogwood Junction",
"Shufflin' Home", "Fine Brown Frame", "The Last Time" (also released
as a single, Mercury 71027, December 18) and "Oochie John".
See also October 19.

October 15-16, 1956 : LITTLE RICHARD's last session in New Orleans
(J&M Studio) will produce several classics. "Good Golly Miss Molly"
(Specialty 624, January 1958) and "Jenny, Jenny" (Specialty 606, May
1957) are recorded on the 15th, followed the next day by "The Girl
Can't Help It" (Specialty 591, December), "Send Me Some Lovin'"
(Specialty 598, March 1957), "Baby Face" (Specialty 645, September
1958) and "By the Light Of the Silvery Moon" (Specialty 660, early
1959). The latter two tracks see their first release on the album
"Little Richard" (Specialty LP SP 2103, July 1958) before being
issued as singles.
Personnel : Richard Penniman (vocals / piano) ; Lee Allen (tenor sax) ;
Red Tyler (baritone sax) ; Roy Montrell (guitar) ; Frank Fields
(bass) ; Earl Palmer (drums). Background vocalists on "The Girl Can't
Help It" : Adolph Smith, William Tircuit, Art Neville and Junior Gordon.
Produced by Art Rupe.

October 15-18, 1956 : Four-day session for GENE VINCENT and the Blue
Caps at Bradley Studio in Nashville. The recorded tracks will be
selected for the album "Gene Vincent And The Blue Caps" (Capitol LP
T 811, March 4, 1957), unless otherwise indicated.
On October 15 : "Blues Stay Away From Me", "Cat Man" and first versions
of "Teenage Partner" and "Five Feet Of Lovin'" (both unissued at the
time and finally released on the French LP "Gene Vincent Story Vol. 6"
(Capitol C066-81618), released during the '70's.
On October 16 : "Double Talkin' Baby", "Hold Me Hug Me Rock Me" and
"Unchained Melody".
On October 17 : "Bi-I-Bickey Bi Bo Bo Go" (gets a single release on
Capitol 3678, April 1957), "Pink Thunderbird", "Pretty Pretty Baby" and
"Cruisin'".
On October 18 : "Important Words" (version 1, gets a single release
on Capitol 3617 in January 1957, b/w "Crazy Legs" from the June 1956
session), "You Better Believe", "Red Bluejeans And A Ponytail" and
"Five Days, Five Days" (b-side of Capitol 3678).
Personnel : Gene Vincent (vocals) ; Cliff Gallup (lead guitar) ; Paul
Peek (rhythm guitar) ; Jack Neal (upright bass) ; Dickie Harrell
(drums) ; The Jordanaires (vocal chorus on October 18).
Produced by Ken Nelson.

October 17, 1956 : In New York City, MICKEY AND SYLVIA record their best
known song, "Love Is Strange" and its flip, "I'm Going Home" (Groove
0175, November). "Two Shadows On Your Window" sees a release in June
1957, on Vik 0280. A fourth track, "In My Heart" ends up on an LP
(RCA Camden LP 863) in 1965.
Personnel : Mickey Baker (vocals / guitar) ; Sylvia Vanderpool (vocals /
guitar) ; King Curtis (tenor sax) ; Heywood Henry (baritone sax) ; Ernie
Hayes (piano) ; Abie Baker (bass) ; Panama Francis (drums).

October 17, 1956 : ROY MILTON is at the King studio in Cincinnati for a
four-track session. "One Zippy Zam" (vocal by Milton) and "You're Gonna
Suffer" (vocal by Mickey Champion) are selected for release on King 4993
in December. The instrumental "Succotash" will be issued on King 5035 in
April 1957. A remake of "Bam A Lam" by Mickey Champion (originally done
for Dootone in 1955) remains unissued.
Personnel : Roy Milton (vocals / drums) ; Mickey Champion (vocals) ;
Walter Williams (trumpet) ; Harvey Braxton (alto sax) ; Clifford Solomon
(tenor sax)  Oscar Estelle (baritone sax) ; Johnny Rogers (guitar) ;
Emmanuel Kennebrew (piano) ; Lawrence Kato (bass).

October 19, 1956 : LaVERN BAKER waxes six tracks for her first LP,
"LaVern" (Atlantic LP 8002, December) : "Romance In the Dark", "I'll
Never Be Free", "Harbor Lights" (also issued as a single, Atlantic 1189,
June 1958), "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Fool That I Am" and "How
Long Will It Be". Arranged and directed by Ray Ellis.
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler in New York City.

October 19, 1956 : SIL AUSTIN lays down the remaining six tracks for
the "Slow Walk Rock" LP : "A Mother's Child", "Train Whistle", "'Bout
Time", "Pink Shade Of Blue", "Birthday Party"(flip of "The Last Time",
see October 15) and "One Plus Two Is Nine". Also recorded is the single
"He's A Real Gone Guy" (Mercury 71115, May 2, 1957).
Personnel on both days : Sil Austin (tenor sax) ; Doc Bagby (organ,
October 15 only) ; Mickey Baker (guitar) ; Wendell Marshall (bass) ;
James Crawford (drums) ; Fred Washington (piano, October 19 only).

October 22-23, 1956 : LOUIS JORDAN rerecords several of his biggest
Decca hits for an LP on his new label, Mercury : "Caldonia", "Let the
Good Times Roll", "Knock Me A Kiss", "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My
Baby", "Beware Brother Beware", "Don't Let te Sun Catch You Crying",
"I'm Gonna Move To the Outskirts Of Town", "Salt Pork, West Virginia",
"Run Joe", "Early In the Morning, "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"
and "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie". The last two tracks will also be issued as
a single (Mercury 71023, December 5). Album title is "Somebody Up There
Digs Me" (Mercury MG 20242, 1957). Also recorded (on the 23rd) is the
single "Big Bess"/"Cat Scratchin'" (Mercury 70993, October 26).
Personnel : Louis Jordan (vocals / alto sax) ; Sam Taylor (tenor sax) ;
Budd Johnson (tenor sax, baritone sax) ; Jimmy Cleveland (trombone) ;
Ernie Royal (trumpet) ; Ernie Hayes (piano) ; Mickey Baker (guitar) ;
Wendel Marshall (bass) ; Charlie Persip (drums) ; Francisco Bozo
(bongos). Arranged and directed by Quincy Jones. Location : New York
City.

October 23, 1956 : BIG BOY MYLES & the Shaw-Wees do a four-track
session in New Orleans. "Hickory Dickory Dick"/"Just To Hold My
Hand" is selected for single release (Specialty 590, November). "Long
Lost Stranger" is first released on Ace LP CH 165 in 1986 and "Mickey
Mouse Boarding House" on Ace LP CH 181 in 1987.
Personnel : Edgar 'Big Boy' Myles (vocals / trombone) ; Lee Allen (tenor
sax) ; Red Tyler (baritone sax) ; Warren Myles (piano) ; Edgar Blanchard
(guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Earl Palmer (drums).

Wednesday,  October 24, 1956 : WYNONIE HARRIS is now contracted to Atco.
On this day he records the single "Destination Love"/"Tell A Whale Of A
Tale" (Atco 6081, December) and the unissued "Good Rock And Roll".
Location : New York City.

October 25, 1956 : First Specialty session for ART NEVILLE, at J&M
Studio in New Orleans. "Oooh-Whee Baby" is chosen as his first single
for the label (Specialty 592, January 1957). "Back Home To Me" stays
in the vaults until 1988, when it is released on the LP "That Old Time
Rock 'n' Roll" (Specialty SP 2165). Backing by Lee Allen (tenor sax) ;
Red Tyler (baritone sax) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Alfred August (unknown) ;
Earl Palmer (drums). Produced by Bumps Blackwell. See also October 29.

October 25, 1956 : Four-track session by JERRY REED at Bradley Studio in
Nashville. "It's High Time"/"Forever" is released on Capitol 3657 in
February 1957. "I'm Stuck" is first issued the French compilation LP
"Rock and Rolll At the Capitol Tower" (Capitol 2C184-81970/71, 1975) and
"I Can't Find the Words" on Jerry's Bear Family CD "Here I Am" (BCD 16306,
1999).
Produced by Ken Nelson.

October 25, 1956 is also the recording date of the ROSCO GORDON single
"Shoobie Oobie"/"Cheese And Crackers" (Sun 257, release date November 21).
Gordon is supported by : Lionel Prevost (tenor sax) ; James Jones (piano) ;
Philip Walker (guitar) ; Louis Willy Canty (bass) ; Joe W. Payne (drums).
Produced by Sam Phillips.

October 29, 1956 : LI'L MILLET records "Rock Around the Clock" (not the
Bill Haley number) in New Orleans. It has to wait until 1986 for a release
on the LP "Lay That New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Down" (Specialty SP 2167).
An alternate version is issued on the CD "Specialty Rock 'n' Roll" (Ace
CDCHD 291) in 1990.
Personnel : Mac Millet (vocals / piano) ; Lee Allen (tenor sax) ; Red Tyler
(baritone sax) ; Frank Fields (bass) : Roy Montrell (guitar) ; Earl Palmer
(drums).
This is a split session with ART NEVILLE who records "The Whiffenpoof Song",
which will be coupled with "Oooh-Whee Baby" (from the session four days
earlier) for release on Specialty 592.
Produced by Bumps Blackwell.

October 29, 1956 : JAY CEE HILL is at the Columbia Studio in New York City.
"Bump!' and "Crash-Out" are chosen as the two sides of his next single
(Epic 9193, November). Also recorded is "She's Gone", which is saved from
oblivion by Bear Family in 2006 (CD "That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 23", BCD
16723).
Backing by George Barnes and Danny Perri (guitars) ; Milt Hinton (bass) ;
Panama Francis (drums).
Arranged by Marty Wilson, produced by Joe Sherman.

October 29, 1956 : Meanwhile in Cincinnati, BILL DOGGETT and his combo do
another session for King Records. A cover of Sil Austin's "Slow Walk" is
released at the end of November on King 5000. Tommy Brown is the vocalist
on a second vocal version of "Honky Tonk" (King 5001). "Big Boy" is not
released until April 1960 (King 5339) and "Nothin' Yet" even later (King
5978, December 1964).
Personnel : Clifford Scott (tenor sax) ; Bill Doggett (organ) ; Billy 
Butler and John Faire (guitars) ; Edwyn Conley (bass) ; Shep Shepherd
(drums) ; Tommy Brown (maracas, claves, vocal on "Honky Tonk").
"Honky Tonk" on the CD "King Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 2" (Ace 1051) is not
King 5001, as claimed, but King 4976. (See ITC September 1956.)

October 29, 1956 : In Chicago CHUCK BERRY waxes "Havana Moon", which will
be released on Chess 1645 in December, coupled with "You Can't Catch Me"
from a December 1955 session.
Personnel : Chuck Berry (vocals / guitar) ; Jimmy Rogers (guitar) ; Willie
Dixon (bass).

October 30, 1956 : SONNY JAMES waxes his biggest hit, "Young Love" and
its flip, "You're the Reason I'm In Love" (Capitol 3602, November).
Musicians : Sonny James (vocals / guitar) ; Pete Wade (guitar) ; Lightnin'
Chance (bass) ; Buddy Harman (drums) ; The Jordanaires (vocal chorus).
Produced by Ken Nelson at Bradley Studio in Nashville.

October 1956, unknown date : In Chicago, BO DIDDLEY records his next
single, "Cops And Robbers"/"Down Home Special" (Checker 850, November).
Personnel : Bo Diddley (vocals / guitar) ; Otis Spann (piano) ; Willie
Dixon (bass) ; Clifton James (drums) ; Jerome Green (maracas).

October 1956, unknown date : SANFORD CLARK's third recording session
results in "A Cheat" (Dot 15516, October 26) and two tracks that will
remain unissued until they are included on the Bear Family 2-LP set
"Rockin' Rollin' Sanford Clark" (BFX 15198 / 15199) in 1986 : "Ain't
Nobody Here But Us Chickens" and "Don't Cry".
Musicians : Sanford Clark (vocals / guitar) ; Al Casey (guitar) ; Corky
Casey (rhythm guitar) ; Jimmy Wilcox (bass) ; Jimmy Troxell (drums).
Produced by Lee Hazlewood at Audio Recorders in Phoenix, Arizona.

With thanks to Steve Walker and Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

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