Wednesday, April 3, 1957 : WILEY BARKDULL records material for three
singles at  Nashville's RCA Studio B. "Too Many"/"No One Will Ever Know"
is released in the last week of May (Hickory 1065), followed by "I'd Like
To"/"He Made You For Me", two duets with Helen Carter (Hickory 1069) in
August. Finally, "Hey Honey"/"I Ain't Gonna Waste My Time" will appear
on Hickory 1074 in February 1958.
Personnel : Hank Garland, Ray Edenton (guitars) ; Lightnin' Chance 
(bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums).
Produced by Wesley Rose.

April 3, 1957 : BILL HALEY is at New York's Pythian Temple with his
Comets to record "Moon Over Miami", "One Sweet Letter From You", "Apple
Blossom Time" and "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place" for their forth-
coming LP "Rockin' the Oldies" (Decca DL 8569), for release in August.
Personnel : Bill Haley (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Franny Beecher (lead
guitar) ; Billy Williamson (steel guitar) ; Frankie Scott (tenor sax) ;
Johnny Grande (piano) ; Al Rex (double bass) ; Ralph Jones (drums).
Produced by Milt Gabler.

April 3, 1957 is also the recording date of the HAYDEN THOMPSON track
"Rockabilly Gal", which stays in the vaults until the release of the
"Rockabilly Tunes" LP in 1985 (Sun LP 1026, UK).
Musicians : Roland Janes, Brad Suggs, Slim Rhodes (guitars) ; Speck
Rhodes (bass) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) ; Roy Orbison (harmony vocal).
Produced by Sam Phillips at the Sun Studio in Memphis.

April 4, 1957 : Also at the Sun Studio in Memphis, JOHNNY CASH lays
down his next single, "Don't Make Me Go"/"Next In Line" (Sun 266, May).
Personnel : Johnny Cash (vocals / guitar) ; Luther Perkins, Jack Clement
(guitars) ; Marshall Grant (bass).
Produced by Sam Phillips and Jack Clement.

April 5, 1957 : And yet another session at the Sun studio, by NARVEL
FELTS. All five tracks ("A Fool In Paradise", "Kiss-A-Me Baby", "Your
Touch", "My Babe" and "A Teen's Way") are shelved by Sam Phillips, but
are now available on Narvel's Bear Family 1997 CD "Did You Tell Me"
(BCD 16220).
Personnel : Narvel Felts (vocals / guitar) ; Leon Barnett (guitar) ;
J.W. Grubbs (bass) ; Bob Taylor (drums) ; Jerry Tuttle (steel guitar /
saxophone). Produced by Jack Clement.

April 5, 1957 : JIMMY BOWEN records five tracks at Bell Sound Studio
in New York City. Of these, three will be used for forthcoming singles : 
"Warm Up To Me Baby" (Roulette 4010, last week of April), "Ever Since
That Night"(Roulette 4017, August) and "It's Shameful" (Roulette 4023,
October). "Way Back Home" and "Stop Wasting My Time" end up on Jimmy's
first LP, "Jimmy Bowen" (Roulette LP 25004), later in the year.
Backing by : Donny Lanier (lead guitar) ; George Barnes (guitar) ;
Unknown (bass) ; Dave Alldred (drums).
Produced by Hugo (Peretti) and Luigi (Creatore).

April 5 & 9, 1957 : At Reco-Art Sound Recording studio in Philadelphia
CHARLIE GRACIE records "Just Lookin'" and "Fabulous" for his next single
(Cameo 107). A third track, "Plaything", will stay on the shelf until
2006, until the release of the CD "The Best Of Charlie Gracie 1956-1958"
(Cameo Parkway 7192382).
Personnel : Charlie Gracie (vocals / lead guitar) ; Joe Sgro (rhythm
guitar) ; Joe Macho (bass) ; Jerry Kilgore (drums) ; Bernie Lowe (piano) ;
Dave Appell and the Applejacks (backing vocals). Produced by Bernie Lowe.    

April 7, 1957 : RAY HARRIS waxes his second single for the Sun label :
"Greenback Dollar, Watch and Chain"/"Foolish Heart" (Sun 272, August).
Personnel : Ray Harris (vocals / guitar) ; Wayne Cogswell (lead guitar) ;
Red Hensley (guitar, backing vocals) ; Joey Reisenberg (drums) ; Unknown
(piano, bass) ; Roy Orbison (backing vocals). The piano player is not
Jerry Lee Lewis, as has been alleged.
Produced by Sam Phillips at the Sun studio in Memphis.

April 8, 1957 : BUDDY HOLLY is back at Norman Petty's studio in
Clovis to record two tracks which will be released under Buddy's
name alone, not the Crickets. It is a long session that continues
well into the early hours of April 9. "Words Of Love"/"Mailman Bring
Me No More Blues" is released on June 20 on Coral 61852.
Personnel : Buddy Holly (double-tracked vocals / double-tracked lead
guitar) ; Joe B. Mauldin (string bass) ; Jerry Allison (drums) ; Vi
Petty (piano on "Mailman"). Produced by Norman Petty.

April 9, 1957 : FAYE ADAMS is now signed to Imperial and has her
first session for the label, resulting in eight tracks. "Keeper Of
My Heart"/"So Much" is the first single to be released (Imperial 5443,
May), followed in August by "You're Crazy"/"Johnny Lee" (Imperial
5456). "I Have A Twinkle In My Eye"/"Someone Like You" is a single in
October (Imperial 5471). "When We Kiss" is saved until June 1958 for
release on Imperial 5525. "Goody Goody Gum Drop" remains unissued.
Personnel : Herb Hardesty (tenor sax) ; poss. Clarence Ford (baritone
sax) ; Edgar Blanchard (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Edward Frank
(piano) ; Charles Williams (drums). Unknown (vocal group).
Produced by Dave Bartholomew at Cosimo Studio in New Orleans.

Wednesday, April 10, 1957 : BOBBY LORD records material for his next
two singles : "High Voltage"/"Just Wonderful" (Columbia 40927, May)
and "Am I A Fool"/"I Know It Was You" (Columbia 41030, October).
Backing by : Hank Garland, Grady Martin (guitars) ; Lightnin' Chance
(bass) ; Marvin Hughes (piano) ; Farris Coursey (drums).
Produced by Don Law at Bradley Studio in Nashville.

April 10, 1957 : SAM COOKE does his last session with the Soul Stirrers.
"Were You There" is issued as a single (Specialty 907) in June. The
other three tracks, "That's Heaven To Me", "Lord Remember Me" and
"Mean Old World" stay on the shelf until 1970, when they are issued
on the LP "That's Heaven To Me" (Specialty SP 2146).
Backing by Evelyn Gay (piano) ; Willie Webb (organ) ; L.C. Cook
(drums). Probably produced by S.R. Crain, at Universal Recording
Studios in Chicago.

April 11, 1957 : CHUCK WILLIS is in Atlantic's NYC studio to lay down
four tracks. "That Train Has Gone"/"Love Me Cherry" is released in July
on Atlantic 1148. "My Baby" will get a posthumous release in July 1959
(Atlantic 2029). "One Kiss" (not the same song as "Just One Kiss") from
this session remains unissued.
Personnel : Jimmy Nottingham, James Harris (trumpets) ; Frank Saracco
(trombone) ; Romeo Penque (alto sax) ; Budd Johnson (tenor sax) ; Howard
Biggs (piano) ; Al Caiola, Allen Hanlon (guitars) ; Milt Hinton (bass) ;
Panama Francis (drums).
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

April 11, 1957 : JOHNNY HORTON manages to record "Honky Tonk Mind (The
Woman I Need)" four days earlier than Tommy Blake, the song's writer.
Coupled with "She Knows Why" from the same session, it is rush-released
on April 22 (Columbia 40919). Two other tracks will be released after
Horton's death, "Goodbye Lonesome, Hello Baby Doll" on the LP "Honky Tonk
Man" (Columbia CL 1721, 1962) and "Tell My Baby I Love Her" on Columbia
42993 (March 1964). 
Personnel : Johnny Horton (vocals / guitar) ; Grady Martin, Harold Bradley
(guitars) ; Tommy Tomlinson (steel guitar) ; Lightnin' Chance (bass).
Produced by Don Law at Bradley Studio in Nashville.

April 11, 1957 : On the same day, in the same studio and probably with the
same backup musicians, MEL TILLIS records "Jukebox Man" and "If You'll Be
My Love" for his next single (Columbia 40944, May).
Produced by Don Law.

April 12, 1957 : After a January session in New York, BRENDA LEE is
back in Nashville (Bradley Studio), to record her next two singles.
"Dynamite"/"Love You Till I Die" is a May release (Decca 30333), followed
by "Ain't That Love"/"One Teenager To Another" in August (Decca 30411).
Backing by : Hank Garland, Grady Martin (electric guitars) ; Herschel
Hewarth (guitar) ; Bob Moore (bass) ; Marvin Hughes (piano) ; Farris
Coursey (drums) ; Andy Goodrich (sax) ; The Anita Kerr Singers (vocal
chorus). Produced by Paul Cohen.

April 12, 1957 : ERNIE FREEMAN and his Combo do a four-track session in
Los Angeles. "River Boat" is selected for the next single (Imperial 5444,
June). "Night Sounds" is saved until December 1959 for release on the
B-side of "Big River" (Imperial 5633). "Reachin'" and "Tale Of Trinidad"
are not released at all.

April 15, 1957 : TOMMY BLAKE has his only session for RCA. He records
four tracks, all co-written with Carl Adams and Eddie Hall. "Mister
Hoody"/"Freedom" is selected for single release (RCA 6925, May). The
other two tracks, "Honky Tonk Mind" and "All Night Long" will not be
released until 1989, on the CD "Get Hot Or Go Home : Vintage RCA
Rockabilly '56-'59" (Country Music Foundation CMF-014-D).
Personnel : Tommy Blake (vocals / guitar / leader) ; Carl Adams, Eddie
Hall (guitars) ; Buddy Killen (bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Farris
Coursey (drums). Produced by Chet Atkins at RCA Victor Studio, Nashville. 

April 15, 1957 : RUTH BROWN is one of several Atlantic artists who have
a session this month. All four tracks are released, on two singles :
"Show Me"/"I Hope We Meet" (Atlantic 1153, September) and "A New Love"/
"Look Me Up" (Atlantic 1166, December).
Personnel : Jimmy Mitchell (alto sax) ; Lee Anderson (piano) ; Al Caiola,
Allen Hanlon (guitars) ; Percy Heath (bass) ; Connie Kay (drums) ; Jerry
Duane, Bob Harter, Artie Malvin, Robert Miller (vocal chorus).
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler in New York City.

April 15, 1957 : WYNONIE HARRIS waxes his next single in New York City :
"Big Old Country Fool"/"That's Me Right Now" (King 5050, May).
Personnel : Hilton Jefferson (alto sax) ; Count Hastings (tenor sax) ;
Maxwell Lucas (tenor sax, baritone sax) ; Kelly Owens (piano) ; Kenny
Burrell (guitar) ; Carl Pruitt (bass) ; Shadow Wilson (drums).

April 15-17, 1957 : Three days of sessions for SONNY JAMES, at Bradley
Studio in Nashville. On the 15th, he records the single "Dear Love"/
"Lovesick Blues" (Capitol 3734, June). The next two days are devoted to
twelve songs that will be released as James's second album, "Sonny"
(Capitol T 867, September) : "Near You", "A Fool Such As I", "Heartaches",
"Ages And Ages Ago", "I'll Never Get Over You", "Secret Love", "Beg Your
Pardon", "Just Out Of Reach", "How's the World Treating You", "I Forgot
More Than You'll Ever Know", "Almost", "Because Of You". The tracks will
also become available on three seperate EP's "Sonny - parts 1/2/3",
(Capitol EAP 1/2/3-867), and in Holland "Near You" b/w "Beg Your Pardon"
is released on single (Capitol HF 140).
Personnel on all three days : Chet Atkins (guitar) ; Lightnin' Chance
(bass) ; Buddy Harman (drums) ; The Jordanaires (vocal chorus).
Produced by Ken Nelson.

April 16, 1957 : THE DRIFTERS (Johnny Moore, Gerhart Thrasher, Charlie
Hughes, Tommy Evans) record at the Perch Studios in New York City on this
day. A cover of Terry Noland's "Hypnotized" becomes the A-side of their
next single (Atlantic 1141, May). "Yodee Yakee"/"I Know" (Atlantic 1161)
follows in late October. The Chuck Willis-penned "Souvenirs" eventually
ends up on the LP "The Drifters'Greatest Hits" (Atlantic LP 8041) in 1960.

April 16 or 18, 1957 : Another Atlantic group, THE CLOVERS, does a four-
track session in New York City. "I-I-I Love You"/"So Young" is chosen as
the next single (Atlantic 1139, May), while "Baby Darling" and "Pretty
Eyes" stay in the vaults. Lead vocal by Billy Mitchell.

April 18, 1957 : JERRY REED is at Bradley Studio in Nashville to record
two self-penned songs for his new single, "Rockin' In Bagdad"/"Oh! Lonely
Heart" (Capitol 3731, June). Produced by Ken Nelson. Personnel unknown.

April 18, 1957 : Guitarist IRVING ASHBY waxes four tracks in Los Angeles.
"Guitar Rock"/"Gonna Have A Good Time" is chosen for single release on
Imperial 5445 in June. "Rock A Cha" will be released on Imperial's Knight
subsidiary (Knight 2004) in October 1958. The fourth track, "Woodshed",
remains unissued. 

April 18, 1957 : KID THOMAS (aka Tommy Louis) auditions for Federal
Records at an unknown Chicago studio. Producer Ralph Bass is so pleased
with the results that he feels no need for rerecording at a formal session.
The resulting single is "The Wolf Pack"/"The Spell" (Federal 12298, July).
Thomas (vocals / harmonica) is backed by Little Willie Smith on drums, a
guitar player only remembered as "James" and an unknown pianist. 

April 19, 1957 : GENE MALTAIS makes his debut as a recording artist,
at Bradley Studio in Nashville. The resulting single, "Crazy Baby"/Deep
River Blues" is released on Decca 30387 in July.
Personnel : Hank Garland (lead guitar) ; Owen Bradley (piano) ; The Anita
Kerr Singers (vocal group). More details unknown. Produced by Paul Cohen.

April 19, 1957 : THE FLAMINGOS have their first session for Decca, in
New York City. "The Ladder Of Love"/"Let's Make Up" is released in June
on Decca 30335. A third track, "That Love Is You", remains unreleased,
but the group will rerecord the song for the End label in September 1958.
The Flamingos had been disbanded in 1956 when Zeke Carey and Johnny Carter
were drafted. The new group consists of Jake Carey, Nate Nelson, Tommy
Hunt, Paul Wilson and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson (who also acts as arranger).

Saturday, April 20, 1957 : EARL PALMER records the two-part instrumental
single "Johnny's House Party" (Aladdin 3379, May) at Radio Recorders in
Hollywood. The label credit goes to Earl Palmer's Party Rockers with the
Jayhawks. This latter group also records "The Thing (Creature From Outer
Space)" c/w "Everyone Should Know" (Aladdin 3393, November).
Personnel includes Plas Johnson on tenor sax and Earl Palmer on drums ;
more details unknown.

April 22, 1957 : CHRIS KENNER records his first single for Imperial,
"Sick And Tired"/"Nothing Will Keep You Away From Me" (Imperial 5448,
June) at Cosimo Studio in New Orleans.
Personnel : Lee Allen, Clarence Hall, Herb Hardesty (saxes) ; Justin 
Adams (guitar) ; Frank Fields (bass) ; Edward Frank (piano) ; Charles
'Hungry' Williams (drums). Produced by Dave Bartholomew.

April 22, 1957 : THE SPIDERS also record at Cosimo's on this day,
probably a split session with Chris Kenner. The resulting single,
"The Bells Are Ringing"/"Poor Boy" is released on Imperial 5452 in July.
Lead vocal by Chuck Carbo. Personnel is likely to be the same as above.

April 24-25, 1957 : PATSY CLINE spends two days at the Pythian Temple
in New York City. The harvest is : "Today, Tomorrow and Forever"/"Try
Again" (Decca 30339, release date May 27), "Three Cigarettes (In An
Ashtray)"/"A Stranger In My Arms" (Decca 30406, August), "Then You'll
Know"(Decca 30504, released on November 18), and three EP tracks, 
"Fingerprints" (4-Star EP-21), "Too Many Secrets" (4-Star EP-25) and
"Don't Ever Leave Me Again" (4-Star EP-31, 1958).
Backing by Jack Pleis and his orchestra. Produced by Paul Cohen.

April 25, 1957 : BIG T. TYLER lays down the two tracks for his sole
record release : "King Kong"/"Sadie Green" (Aladdin 3384, release date
June 11). This event takes place at Master Recorders in Hollywood.
Personnel : Rene Hall (guitar) ; Plas Johnson (tenor sax) ; Jewell
Grant (baritone sax) ; Ray Johnson (piano) ; Red Callender or Ted
Brinson (bass) ; Earl Palmer (drums, producer). 

April 26, 1957 : At his second Specialty session, LARRY WILLIAMS
records what will become his first and biggest hit, "Short Fat Fannie",
as well as its reverse, "High School Dance" (Specialty 608, last week
of May). The two other tracks stay in the can until 1974. "Iko Iko"
(aka "Jockomo" and "Hey Now, Hey Now") is first released on Specialty
SPS-2158 (LP "The Unreleased Larry Williams"), while "Love Charms"
(also recorded by Sanford Clark during this month) sees its first
release on Specialty SPS-2162 (LP "Hocus Pocus").
Personnel : Rene Hall (guitar) ; Ted Brinson (bass) ; Jesse James
Jones (tenor sax) ; Leon M. Silby (piano) ; Earl Palmer (drums).
Produced by Bumps Blackwell at Master Recorders in Hollywood. 

April 27, 1957 : At Gold Star Studio in Hollywood, LEE DENSON waxes
the single "New Shoes"/"Climb Love Mountain" (Vik X-0281, June). 
Denson is supported by (at least on "New Shoes", not sure about the
other side) : Eddie Cochran (guitar) ; Guybo Smith (stand-up bass) ;
Jerry Capehart (box slapping) ; Unidentified (male vocal quartet).

April 30, 1957 : ELVIS PRESLEY meets songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike
Stoller, who are responsible for most of the songs in the soundtrack for
his forthcoming movie "Jailhouse Rock" and who also take a major part in
the production of the recording sessions on this and the following days.
Leiber and Stoller write in their autobiography ("Hound Dog") : "We were
amazed that no one was rushing us to get through. The musicians' union
allowed four songs in three hours or you got into the dreaded overtime.
On Elvis's sessions, though, those restrictions were lifted."
Recorded on this Tuesday are "Jailhouse Rock"/"Treat Me Nice" (RCA 7035,
September), a separate movie version of "Jailhouse Rock" and "Young And
Beautiful" (RCA EPA 4114, EP "Jailhouse Rock", October).
Personnel : Elvis Presley (vocals / guitar) ; Scotty Moore (guitar) ; Bill
Black (bass) ; Dudley Brooks (piano) ; Mike Stoller (piano, arranger) ;
D.J. Fontana (drums) ; The Jordanaires (vocal group).
Location : Radio Recorders, Hollywood.

April 30, 1957 : EDDIE FONTAINE records three tracks in New York City.
"One And Only"/"Hey Marie, Rock With Me" is released within three weeks,
on Decca 30338. A cover of Johnny Horton's "Honky Tonk Man" is coupled
with "Fun Lovin'" from an earlier session, for release on Decca 30446
in September. Orchestra and chorus directed by Sid Bass.

April 30, 1957 is the recording date of WELDON ROGERS's "So Long, Good
Luck And Goodbye", according to Bear Family. (Michel Ruppli dates this
session in 1956.) Intended for Rogers' own Je-Wel label, the master is
purchased by Imperial and released on Imperial 5451 in July. The flip,
"Trying To Get To You", is also credited to Weldon Rogers (who may have
recorded the song at this session), though this is in fact the Roy
Orbison Je-Wel version from early 1956.
Roy's former band, the Teen Kings, provides the backing : Roy Underwood
(lead guitar) ; Johnny 'Peanuts' Wilson (rhythm guitar) ; James Morrow
(mandolin) ; poss. Jack Kennelly (bass) ; Billy Pat Ellis (drums). 
Produced by Norman Petty at his studio in Clovis, New Mexico.

April 1957, unknown date : CECIL CAMPBELL records the single "Rock and 
Roll Fever"/"The Rocking Guitar" (MGM 12482, May) at an unknown studio
in Charlotte, North Carolina. The B-side is an instrumental. Label credit
goes to "Cecil Campbell and his Tennessee Ramblers".

April 1957, unknown date : SANFORD CLARK's second Hollywood session for
Dot yields the single "Love Charms"/"Lou Be Doo" (Dot 15585, May 8), plus
"Till My Baby Comes Home", which is first released in 1986 on Bear Family
BFX 15198 (LP "Rockin' Rollin' Sanford Clark").
Personnel includes Duane Eddy on rhythm guitar and Al Casey on lead guitar.
Further details unknown. Produced by Lee Hazlewood. 

April 1957, unknown date : HOWARD CROCKETT's first recording session
yields four tracks. "You've Got Me Lyin'"/"If You'll Let Me" is selected
for single release (Dot 15593, May 27). The other two tracks, "I'm Gonna
Try Again" and "Where Did My Baby Go" stay in the vaults for 50 years,
until they are included on Crockett's Bear Family CD "Out Of Bounds"
(BCD 16794, 2007). Location is probably Bradley Studio in Nashville.
Backing by : Cecil McCullough (lead guitar) ; Grady Martin (guitar) ;
Bob Moore (bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums) ; The
Jordanaires (vocal chorus). 

(Probably) April 1957, unknown date : CARL MANN has his first recording
session, at the ripe old age of 14, in Jackson, Tennessee. Within days,
350 copies are pressed of "Gonna Rock 'n' Roll Tonight"/"Rockin' Love"
(Jaxon 502), for Carl to sell at gigs. 
Backing by : Eddie Bush, Junior Vestal (guitars) ; Jimmy Martin (bass,
drums, producer).

(Probably) April 1957, unknown date : JIM LOWE records "Four Walls"/
"Talking To The Blues" for his next single (Dot 15569, April 12).
Possibly recorded at Universal Recording Corp., Chicago.

With thanks to Steve Walker and Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index