November 4, 1958 : A truly great session by FATS DOMINO. The Bear
Family discographers locate this session in Hollywood (with Plas Johnson
and Earl Palmer), all other sources in New Orleans, which seems more
likely to me. "When the Saints Go Marching In" is chosen for the next
single (Imperial 5569, January 1959). "Country Boy" will be issued as a 
single in January 1960 (Imperial 5645). "I Hear You Knocking" and "My
Heart Is Bleeding" get their first release on the LP "I Miss You So" (LP
9138, January 1961), but will also be issued as singles later (5796 and
5833 resp.). A new version of "Every Night About This Time" ends up on
the LP "Twistin' the Stomp" in February 1962 (Imperial LP 9170) and
"Li'l Liza Jane" on the LP "Let's Play Fats Domino" (LP 9065, September
1959). Personnel includes Herb Hardesty (tenor sax) and Walter "Papoose"
Nelson (guitar).

November 4, 1958 : BILL PARSONS and his friend BOBBY BARE record 
several tunes at King's Studio in Cincinnati. Which tunes is not exactly
known, not even to the Bear Family discographers, but among them were
"All American Boy" (vocal by Bare) and "Rubber Dolly" (vocal by Parsons),
which became two sides of one single, Fraternity 835, with credit going to
Parsons on both sides. Full story in my Bill Parsons BTBWY piece of 
September 8, 2003.

November 5, 1958 : JERRY LEE LEWIS is back in the Sun studio at 706
Union Avenue in Memphis. "I'll Sail My Ship Alone"/"It Hurts Me So" will be
his next single (Sun 312, released on November 20). For his own pleasure,
Jerry turns to two songs he had already recorded before : "Drinkin' Wine 
Spo-Dee-O-Dee" and "You're The Only Star In My Blue Heaven". These 
versions remain unissued until the CD era. Personnel : Roland Janes and
Billy Riley, guitars ; Cliff Acred, bass ; Martin Willis, sax  ; Jimmy Van
Eaton, drums ; Charlie Rich, piano on some takes of "It Hurt Me So".

November 6, 1958 : CONNIE FRANCIS records at Radio Recorders in
Hollywood, backed by 38 musicians : 2 guitars, 1 bass, 1 drummer, 
1 piano, 1 sax (Plas Johnson), 2 trombones, 3 trumpets, 4 cellos, 1 harp,
4 violas and 18 violins. The results are "My Happiness" (MGM 12738),
"You're My Everything" and "Don't Speak of Love" (EP tracks) and "Love
Eyes" (unissued). The B-side of "My Happiness" (at least in the US) is
recorded on November 13 in New York City : "Never Before". Producers: 
Morty Craft and Jesse Kaye.

November 10, 1958 : More recording activity at the Sun studio : BILL 
JUSTIS and his orchestra lay down four tunes: "Bop Train"/"String of
Pearls" is chosen for the new single (Phillips International 3535), while
"Begin the Beguine" and "My Dance" stay unreleased until this day.
Personnel: Bill Justis, tenor sax ; Sidney Manker, guitar ; Cliff Acred,
bass ; Charlie Rich, piano ; Vernon Drane, sax ; Keith Vann, drums ;
Jackie Thomas, trombone ; Richard Mateller, trumpet.

November 10, 1958 : JOHNNY HORTON records his next single, "When
It's Springtime in Alaska"/"Whispering Pines" (Columbia 41308) at Bradley
Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, backed by Grady Martin (guitar),
Harold Bradley (guitar/banjo), Tommy Tomlinson (guitar), Joseph Zinkan
(bass) and Buddy Harman (drums). Producer : Don Law.

November 11, 1958 : A productive session for HANK BALLARD and his
Midnighters at the King studio in Cincinnati. Of the eight songs recorded 
on this day, undoubtedly the most famous is the original version of "The
Twist", but at the time it was only thought of as a B-side, with "Teardrops
On Your Letter" as the top side (King 5171). Other tracks that became
singles are "Kansas City" (King 5195) and "Cute Little Ways"/"House With
No Windows" (King 5245). The remaining songs, "I'll Pray For You", "Every-
body Does Wrong Some Times" and "So Good To Be Home" ended up as 
album tracks.

November 13, 1958 : First of three November sessions for RICKY NELSON
(all at Master Recorders in Hollywood, produced by Jimmie Haskell). Three
tracks find a place on Ricky's 3rd LP (Ricky Sings Again, Imperial LP 9061) :
Trying To Get To You, Be True To Me, and Old Enough To Love (also issued
on a 45 in 1963, Imp. 5935). The fourth track, the controversial suicide song
"Gloomy Sunday" did not see a release until 2000.
On November 24 Ricky recorded the Johnny Cash composition "Restless 
Kid" (EP/LP track), "You Tear Me Up" (also for LP 9061) and "Never Be 
Anyone Else But You", which became the new single in January (Imp. 5565),
coupled with the previously recorded "It's Late". Another LP track, "I Can't
Help It" was recorded the next day, as well as "Brand New Girl" (unissued
until 2000).

November 17, 1958 : SONNY JAMES records "Let's Make Up" and "Yo-Yo"
at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood, followed by "You Don't Hurt Me
Anymore" and "Love Me Like I Am" on the next day. Only "Yo-Yo" was issued
as a single (Capitol F 4127). Personnel includes Danny Gould on piano and 
Irving Kluger on drums. Producer: Buck Stapleton.

November 21, 1958 : CONWAY TWITTY's second MGM session, at Bradley
Studio in Nasville, backed by the Nashville A-team. "When I'm Not With You"
would become the B-side of "Hey Little Lucy" (MGM 12785) in March 1959.
A first attempt at "The Story of My Love" and "Judge of Hearts" are unissued/
lost and "Don't You Know" was an LP track. On November 25 Conway records
three more songs, all Twitty/Nance compositions : "The Story Of My Love" 
(this version was chosen for the new single, MGM 12748), "My One and Only 
You" and "Goin' Home", the latter two LP tracks.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index