January 2, 1957 : BILLY WARD AND THE DOMINOES do their last session for the
Decca label  in New York City. It is also the last session with Jackie Wilson in
the line-up.  "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance"/"To Each His Own" will be issued
on Decca 30420 (August 26), "When the Saints Go Marching In"/"September Song" on
Decca 30514 (December 16). The group will soon sign with Liberty Records.

January 3, 1957 : BRENDA LEE always records in Nashville, except for this one
session, at the Pythian Temple in New York City. Recorded are "One Step At A
Time" and "Fairyland" for her next single (Decca 30198, January 28).
Personnel : Al Caiola, Edward O'Conner (guitars) ; Sanford Bloch (bass) ; Sam
Taylor (tenor sax) ; Andres Ackers (piano) ; Nick Tagg (organ) ; James Crawford
(drums) ; The Ray Charles Singers (vocal chorus). Arranged by Jack Pleis.
Produced by Milt Gabler.

January 3, 1957 : at the Sun studio in Memphis GENE SIMMONS records "Drinkin'
Wine" and "I Done Told You" for his sole single on the yellow label, which sees
a remarkable delayed release (Sun 299, April 9, 1958!). An alternate version of
"Drinkin' Wine" can be found on the album "The Best Of Sun Rockabilly - vol. 1"
(UK Charly CR 30123, 1977), while the LP boxset "The Rocking Years" (UK Sun 106,
1987) contains a different take of "I Done Told You".
Personnel : Gene Simmons (vocals) ; Carl Simmons (guitar) ; Jessie Carter (bass) ;
Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) ; unknown (piano).

January 3-4, 1957 : FATS DOMINO spends two days at Cosimo Recording Studio
in New Orleans. On the 3rd he waxes the A-side of his next single "I'm Walkin'"
(Imperial 5428, February) and "What Will I Tell My Heart" (Imperial 5454, July).
The next day he delivers "I'm In the Mood For Love" (the B-side of "I'm Walkin'"), 
"My Happiness" (a track for the LP "This Is Fats", Imperial LP 9040, August) and
"Would You", which ends up on the album "Let's Play Fats Domino" (Imperial LP
9065, September 1959).
Personnel : Fats Domino (vocals / piano) ; Lee Allen and Herb Hardesty (tenor
saxes) ; Walter 'Papoose' Nelson (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Earl Palmer
(drums). Produced by Dave Bartholomew.

January 4, 1957 : LITTLE WILLIE JOHN records in New York City this time. Two
singles are the result : "You Got To Get Up Early In the Morning"/"Love, Life And
Money" (King 5023, March) and "Look What You've Done To Me'/"I've Got To Cry"
(King 5045, late April).
Backing musicians : Willie Jackson and Lowell Hastings (tenor saxes) ; Leslie
Johnakins (baritone sax) ; Joseph Livramento (flute) ; Bubber Johnson (piano) ;
Jimmy Shirley (guitar) ; Carl Pruitt (bass) ; Calvin Shields (drums).

January 6, 1957 : CHARLIE FEATHERS is in Nashville (RCA Studio) to lay down his
next two singles : "Nobody's Woman"/"When You Decide" (King 5022, March) and "Too
Much Alike"/"When You Come Around" (King 5043, April).
Personnel : Charlie Feathers (vocals / guitar) ; Jerry Huffman (lead guitar) ; Jody
Chastain (bass) ; Ramon Maupin (drums, bongoes).

January 8, 1957 : THE CADILLACS record their next single, "Sugar Sugar"/"About That
Gal Named Lou" (Josie 812, February). Also committed to tape is "If You Want To Be
A Woman Of Mine", which stays in the vaults until 1983 when it appears on the Murray
Hill LP box-set (M61285).
The Cadillacs are : Earl Carroll, James Bailey, Charles Brooks, Bobby Phillips and
Earl Wade.

January 9, 1957 : JANIS MARTIN's third session yields four tracks, of which only
"Love Me To Pieces" and "Two Long Years" are released at the time (RCA 6832, March).
"Love Me, Love" and "Blues Keep Calling" are first issued on the LP "That Rockin' Gal"
(Bear Family BFX 15032, 1979).
Personnel : Chet Atkins (electric guitar, producer) ; Dave Rich (rhythm guitar) ;
Grady Martin (bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums).
Location : RCA Victor Studios, Nashville.

January 10, 1957 : JOHNNY BOND's first session at Bradley Studio in Nashville
(practically all his previous sessions took place in Hollywood) yields four tracks.
"Honky Tonk Fever"/"Lay It On the Line" is released in February on Columbia 40842.
"Wild Cat Baby" and "Fast Women And Sloe Gin" stay in the vaults until they are
released on Varese Sarabande 5874 (CD "Best Of Johnny Bond", 1998) and Bear Family
BCD 16810 (CD "Put Me To Bed", 2007) respectively.
Personnel : Johnny Bond (vocals / guitar) ; Grady Martin (guitar, leader) ; Harold
Bradley (guitar) ; Junior Huskey (bass) ; Farris Coursey (drums).
Produced by Don Law.

January 10, 1957 : Not only Johnny Bond, but also EDDIE BOND (unrelated) has a session
on this day, at Quinn Recording Co. in Houston. "They Say We're To Young"/"You're
Part Of Me" is selected for the next single (Mercury-Starday 71067, February 14).
"Backslidin'" sees a release on Mercury-Starday 71237 (November 14).
Unissued from this session is "King On Your Throne". Personnel unknown.

January 10, 1957 : In New Orleans, PAUL GAYTEN records the two-part single "Drivin'
Home" (Argo 5263, February), an instrumental.
Personnel : Paul Gayten (piano) ; Lee Allen (tenor sax) ; Edgar Blanchard (guitar) ;
Roland Cook (bass) ; Charles 'Hungry' Williams (drums).

January 12-13, 1957 : It's a busy month for ELVIS PRESLEY in the studio. Nine tracks
are recorded during this weekend, including the single "All Shook Up"/"That's When
Your Heartaches Begin" (RCA 6870, March 22) and three tracks for the gospel EP "Peace
In the Valley" (RCA EPA 4054, March 22) : "I Believe", "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
and "(There'll Be) Peace In the Valley". "Mean Woman Blues" and "Got A Lot O' Livin'
To Do" end up on the LP "Loving You" (RCA LPM 1515, July 1). "Tell Me Why" is held in
the can until a late 1965 single (RCA 8740). There's also a first attempt at "I Beg Of
You".
Personnel : Elvis Presley (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Scotty Moore (lead guitar) ;
Bill Black (bass) ; D.J. Fontana (drums) ; Gordon Stoker (piano) ; The Jordanaires
(vocal group).
All of Elvis' sessions during this month take place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood.

January 14, 1957 : TOMMY SANDS, who has just signed a five-year contract with Capitol,
records his first two sides for the label  : "Teenage Crush"/"Hep Dee Hootie (Cutie
Wootie)". Released in February on Capitol 3639, it will peak at # 2 on the Billboard
charts.
Produced by Ken Nelson at the Capitol Tower in Hollywood.

January 15-18, 1957 : ELVIS PRESLEY does a soundtrack session for the film "Loving
You". Tracks included on the soundtrack LP (RCA LPM 1515) are "Party", "Lonesome
Cowboy", "Hot Dog" and the title song, "Loving You" (one of the many versions that
were recorded). Alternate versions of "Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do" and "Mean Woman
Blues" are used for the film, but not for the LP.
Personnel : Elvis Presley (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Scotty Moore (lead guitar) ; Tiny
Timbrell (guitar) ; Bill Black (bass) ; D.J. Fontana (drums) ; Dudley Brooks, Gordon
Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins (piano) ; George Fields (harmonica) ; The Jordanaires (vocal
group).

Wednesday January 16, 1957 : While touring on the East Coast, LITTLE RICHARD records
two tracks at a radio station in Washington, D.C., with his road band, The Upsetters.
The harvest is two future A-sides. "Keep-A Knockin'" will come out in September on
Specialty 611 and "Ooh! My Soul" in May 1958 on Specialty 633.
Personnel : Little Richard (vocals / piano) ; Clifford Burks, Wilbert Smith and Grady
Gaines (tenor saxes) ; Samuel Parker (baritone sax) ; Nathaniel Douglas (guitar) ;
Olsie Robinson (bass) ; Charles Connor (drums).
Supervised by Art Rupe.

January 17-18, 1957 : LOUIS PRIMA lays down seven tracks for the LP "Call Of the
Wildest" (Capitol T 836, April) : "Medley : When You're Smiling / Sheik Of Araby",
"Birth Of the Blues", "Blow, Red, Blow", "Sentimental Journey" (duet with Keely
Smith, also released as Capitol 3663), "When the Saints Go Marchin' In", "There'll
Be No Next Time" (duet with Sam Butera), "Closer To the Bone".  Also recorded is
the duet (with Keely Smith) "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" (Capitol 3663,
February, not on the LP).
Personnel : Louis Prima (vocals / trumpet) ; Sam Butera (saxophone / vocals) ; Keely
Smith (vocals) ; Jack Marshall (guitar) ; Amado Rodrigues (bass) ; Bobby Morris
(drums) ; Willie McCumber (piano) ; James Blount (trombone). See also January 31.
Produced by Voyle Gilmore at the Capitol Tower in Hollywood.

January 19, 1957 : ELVIS PRESLEY waxes the fourth song for his gospel EP,
"It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" (see January 12-13) and three tracks that will
appear on the EP "Just For You" (RCA EPA 4041, August 21) : "Blueberry Hill", "Is It
So Strange" and "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You".
Personnel : Elvis Presley (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Scotty Moore (lead guitar) ; Bill
Black (bass) ; D.J. Fontana (drums) ; Dudley Brooks (piano) ; Hoyt Hawkins (organ) ;
The Jordanaires (vocal group).

January 19, 1957 : Final Sun session for JACK EARLS, who records "Take Me To That
Place" and a second version of "They Can't Keep Me From You" (previously attempted
in 1955). The first song is first released on the Various artists LP "Hot Southern
Boppers" (Sun LP 1024, UK, 1985 ), the second on Jack's LP "Let's Bop" (Bear Family
BFX 15273) in 1990. Also taped are "Comin'  Back Home" and "Game Of Love", both
unissued.
Musicians : Jack Earls (vocals / guitar) ; possibly Warren Gregory (guitar) ; Johnny
Black (bass) ; poss. Johnny Bernero (drums). 

January 20, 1957 : In New York City, THE CLOVERS record their next single, "Here
Comes Romance"/"You Good Looking Woman" (Atlantic 1129, March). Two other tracks
from this session remain unissued : "Love May Call" and "In the Rain". Some sources
mention January 20,1956 or December 20,1956 as the recording date.

January 21, 1957 : HAROLD JENKINS (the later Conway Twitty) does one last session
for Sam Phillips at the Sun studio, but again nothing is released and he decides to
switch to Mercury. Two versions of "Born To Sing the Blues" will be issued on the
Bear Family vinyl box-set "Conway Twitty : The Rock 'n' Roll Years" (BFX 15174) in
1984.
Personnel : Harold Jenkins (vocals / guitar) ; Jimmy Ray Paulman (guitar) ; Bill
Harris or Jimmy Evans (bass) ; Billy Weir (drums) ; Unknown (piano). 

January 21, 1957 : CHUCK BERRY has a four-track session in Chicago (at Sheldon
Recording Studio). Selected for the next single is "School Day"/"Deep Feeling", for
release on Chess 1653 in March. "La Juanda" and the instrumental "Blue Feeling"
will become the B-sides of "Oh Baby Doll" (Chess 1664, July) and "Rock and Roll 
Music" (Chess 1671, October) respectively. "Low Feeling", released on Chess LP
1432 ("One Dozen Berries", 1959) is "Blue Feeling" remastered at half speed and
with a section omitted.
Musicians : Chuck Berry (vocals / guitar) ; Johnny Johnson (piano) ; Willie Dixon
(bass) ; Fred Below (drums). Possibly also an unknown second guitarist.

January 22, 1957 : ROY BROWN is requested to record covers of "Party Doll" and "I'm
Stickin' With You" (Imperial 5427, February), though this material is completely
unnatural for Roy. He has no problems with "Let the Four Winds Blow", though
(Imperial 5439, late April), and this will become his biggest pop hit.
Backing by Justin Adams (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Edward Frank (piano) ;
Charles 'Hungry' Williams (drums).
Produced by Dave Bartholomew in New Orleans.

January 23, 1957 : NARVEL FELTS does his first session (for Sun), but none of the
five tracks is deemed worthy of release by Sam Phillips. Three songs will see their
debut on vinyl in 1985 on the UK LP "Rockabilly Tunes" (Sun LP 1026) : "Foolish
Thoughts", "Lonesome Feeling" and "Lonely River". "Did You Tell Me"  is first
released on a 10-inch LP in 1981 ("Rockabilly Fever", Charly CFM 510) and "Cry Baby
Cry" on Charly  CPCD 8137 in 1995. All five titles are available on Bear Family
BCD 16220 (Narvel Felts, "Did You Tell Me"), released in 1997. Soon Narvel would
rerecord most of these tunes for Mercury, where they did get a release.
Personnel : Narvel Felts (vocals / guitar) ; Leon Barnett (guitar) ; J.W. Grubbs
(bass) ; Jerry Tuttle (steel guitar, saxophone) ; Bob Taylor (drums).
Produced by Jack Clement at the Sun studio in Memphis.

January 24, 18957 :24 January 1957 : MEL TILLIS has his first session for Columbia
at Bradley Studio in Nashville. The four recorded tracks will be released on two
singles, "Honky Tonk Song" b/w "It Takes A worried Man" (Columbia 40845, February)
and "Case Of The Blues" b/w "It's My Life" (Columbia 40904, April).
The backing musicians may include various members of the Nashville A-team.
Produced by Don Law.   

January 24, 1957 : During his final January session, ELVIS PRESLEY records two tracks,
the single "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" (RCA 7000, June 11) and a first try-out of
"One Night Of Sin" (first released in 1983), to which he will return in February.
Elvis (vocals / rhythm guitar) is backed by Scotty Moore (lead guitar) ; Bill Black
(bass) ; D.J. Fontana (drums) ; Dudley Brooks (piano) ; The Jordanaires (vocal group).

January 24, 1957 : Another Atlantic session for IVORY JOE HUNTER in New York City.
"Empty Arms"/"Love Is A Hurting Game" becomes the next single (Atlantic 1128, March).
"Everytime I Hear That Song" is released on Atlantic 1151 in August and "All About
the Blues" on Atlantic 1164 in November.
Personnel : Seldon Powell (tenor sax) ; Romeo Penque (alto sax) ; Al Caiola, Billy
Mure (guitars) ; Wild Bill Davis (organ) ; Howard Cheeks (bass) ; Joe Marshall
(drums) ; Phil Kraus (percussion). Plus five backing vocalists.
Arranged and directed by Ray Ellis. Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

January 25, 1957 : The first of a number of New York sessions by MARTY ROBBINS.
Two singles are recorded : "A White Sport Coat"/"Grown-Up Tears" (Columbia 40864
, March) and "Please Don't Blame Me"/"Teenage Dream" (Columbia 40969, July).
Accompaniment by : Al Caiola and Billy Mure (guitars) ; Dick Hyman (piano) ; Frank
Carroll (bass) ; Ed Shaughnessy (drums).
Arranged by Ray Conniff, produced by Mitch Miller at NYC's Columbia Recording Studio
on 7th Avenue.

January 25, 1957 : Second session for FATS DOMINO this month. The harvest is three
tracks. "The Rooster Song" gets a place on the LP "This Is Fats" (Imperial LP 9040)
in August. "Telling Lies" will become the B-side of "When the Saints" in early 1959
(Imperial 5569). "Don't Deceive Me" stays in the can until February 1962, when it
is included on the LP "Twistin' the Stomp" (Imperial LP 9170).
Same personnel / studio as on January 3-4. Add Clarence Ford on baritone sax.
This was probably Earl Palmer's final session in New Orleans before relocating to
Los Angeles. 

January 25, 1957 : SMILEY LEWIS also records at Cosimo's Studio on this day, a
four-track session. Selected for the next single are "Sweeter Words" and "You Are
My Sunshine" (Imperial 5431, March). "When Did You Leave Heaven" and "I Wake Up
Screamin'" are first issued on the Pathe-Marconi LP "No No" (1566321, France) in
1986.
Backing is by Dave Bartholomew's band, probably : Dave Bartholomew (trumpet /
producer) ; Lee Allen, Clarence Hall and / or Herb Hardesty (tenor saxes) ; Edward
Frank (piano) ; Justin Adams (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Charles 'Hungry'
Williams (drums).

January 25, 1957 :  DAVE BARTHOLOMEW has some time left over after producing
Fats Domino and Smiley Lewis and records "Short Subjects" (not "Short Shorts", as
Blues Records 1943-1970 lists the song), which will be released two years later, in
January 1959, on Imperial 5560.
Same personnel as on the Smiley Lewis tracks.

January 25, 1957 : Also on this Friday, LOUIS JORDAN waxes material for his next
two singles : "Rock Doc"/"Morning Light" (Mercury 71052, January 28) and "Fire"/
"Ella Mae" (Mercury 71106, April 24).
Location : New York City.

January 28, 1957 : AMOS MILBURN's penultimate Aladdin session yields three tracks :
"Soft Pillow"/"Rum And Coca Cola" (Aladdin 3363, February 1) and "Thinking Of You
Baby" (Aladdin 3383, July).
Backing by Johnny Mandel's orchestra. Location : Radio Recorders, Hollywood.

January 29, 1957 : In Mermphis, ERNIE CHAFFIN lays down his second single for Sun :
"I'm Lonesome"/"Laughin' and Jokin'" (Sun 275, August 15).
Personnel : Ernie Chaffin (vocals / guitar) ; Ernie Harvey (steel guitar) ; Peewee
Maddux (fiddle) ; Leo Ladner (bass) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums).
Produced by Jack Clement in Memphis.

January 29, 1957 : In Cincinnati, BOYD BENNETT records material for his next two
singles, "I'm Moving On"/"Big Jay Shuffle" (King 5021, March) and "Put the Chain
On the Door"/"Big Boy" (King 5049, May). Both "Big Jay Shuffle"  and "Big Boy" are
instrumentals.
Personnel unknown. 

January 29, 1957 : First recording session of the dynamic duo DON AND DEWEY.
Five tracks are waxed, but only two are issued at the time : "Jungle Hop"/"A Little
Love" (Specialty 599, April). The other three are first released on the CD "Jungle
Hop" (Specialty SPCD-7008-2) in 1991 : "Hey Thelma", "Baby Gotta Party" and "Miss
Sue".
Personnel : Don Harris (guitar or bass) ; Dewey Terry (guitar or piano) ; Roy Porter
(drums) ; Gill Chrest (unknown instrument).
Produced by Art Rupe at Master Recorders in Hollywood, California.

January 30, 1957 : CARL PERKINS is active in the Sun studio on this day, but what
exactly was recorded is still not quite clear. The great "Put Your Cat Clothes On",
first released on the LP "Matchbox" (Hilltop JS 6103, 1972) is a certainty. "Caldonia"
and "You Can Do No Wrong", both first issued on the LP "Sun Rockabillys, Vol. 3" (UK
Sun 6467028,1974) also seem safe bets. Further candidates are "Roll Over Beethoven",
"Keeper Of the Key", "Sweethearts Or Strangers", "Her Love Rubbed Off", "Be Honest
With Me" and "Try My Heart Out", but these may also have been waxed at some other
date(s) in December 1956 / January 1957.
Personnel : Carl Perkins (vocals / guitar) ; Jay Perkins (rhythm guitar) ; Jerry Lee 
Lewis (piano) ; Clayton Perkins (bass) ; W.S. Holland (drums).
Produced by Sam Phillips in Memphis.

January 30, 1957 :  A busy day at Sun, for BILLY RILEY also records a single,
"Red Hot"/"Pearly Lee" (Sun 277, September 14).
Billy Riley (vocals / guitar) is supported by Roland Janes (guitar) ; Jerry Lee Lewis
(piano) ; Marvin Pepper (bass) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) ; Ace Cannon (sax on "Pearly
Lee").

January 31, 1957 : CHUCK WILLIS records his first pop hit at Fine Studios in NYC :
"C.C. Rider" (Atlantic 1130, March). "Just One Kiss" will be issued posthumously in
June 1959 on Atlantic 2029. A first attempt at "My Baby" stays in the vaults.
Personnel : Gene Barge, Sam Taylor (tenor saxes) ; James Harris (trumpet) ; Phil
Kraus (marimbas) ; Al Caiola, Roy Gaines (guitars) ; Unknown (piano) ; Lloyd
Trotman (bass) ; Panama Francis (drums) ; Elise Bretton, Robert Miller, Marcia Neil,
Myriam Workman (vocal chorus). Arranged and conducted by Jesse Stone.
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

January 31, 1957 : LOUIS PRIMA waxes two further tunes for the LP "Call Of the
Wildest" : "Pennies From Heaven"  and "I've Got the World On A String".
Personnel, location and producer are the same as on January 17-18.

January 1957 : JERRY LEE LEWIS does at least three sessions this month, exact dates
unknown. Overdubbed versions of "Goodnight Irene" and "When the Saints Go Marchin' In"
get a place on Jerry's first LP (simply titled "Jerry Lee Lewis", Sun LP 1230) in
April 1958. All other tracks stay in the vaults until Sun is sold to Shelby Singleton
in 1969. The 1970 LP's "Sunday Down South" (Sun 119) and "Ole Time Country Music" (Sun
121) include "Old Time Religion", "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" (Sun 119), "Crawdad
Song", "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane", "If the World Keeps On Turning" and "Deep Elem
Blues" (Sun 121). Sun LP 128 ("Original Golden Hits vol. 3", 1972) includes "I Love You
Because". The piano instrumentals "Dixie" and "The Marines' Hymn" first turn up on the
LP "And His Pumping Piano" (UK Charly CR 300 002, 1974) and the vinyl box-set "The Sun
Years" (SUN BOX 2, 1982), respectively. "Shame On You" is first released on the LP
"Rockin' And Free" UK (Sun 6467029, 1974), "That Lucky Old Sun" on the LP "Rare Jerry
Lee Lewis vol. 1 (UK Charly CR 300 007, 1975) and "I Can't Help It" on the LP "Nuggets
vol. 2" (UK Charly CR 30129).
There are also first attempts at "Cold Cold Heart" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"
and new versions of "You're the Only Star In My Blue Heaven" (previously recorded at
Jerry's first session in November 1956).
Produced by Jack Clement and Sam Phillips at the Sun studio in Memphis.

January 1957, unknown date : EDDIE COCHRAN records his first hit, "Sittin' In the
Balcony", which is coupled with the previously recorded "Dark Lonely Street" for
release on Liberty 55056 in late February.
Musicians : Eddie Cochran (vocals / guitar) ; Guybo Smith (stand-up bass) ; Unknown
(drums) ; The Johnny Mann Chorus (vocal group).
Location : Liberty Custom Recorders, Hollywood.

(Circa) January 1957, unknown date : WERLY FAIRBURN waxes the single "Speak To Me
Baby"/"My Heart's On Fire" (Savoy 1509, March) at Cosimo's Studio in New Orleans.
Musicians : Werly Fairburn (vocals / guitar) ;  Joe Martin (bass) ; Unknown (lead
guitar, piano) ; Eddie Landers (drums).

With thanks to Steve Walker and Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index