February 1, 1959 : CLIFF THOMAS does his last session for Sun. Five tracks
are recorded, resulting in two singles. "I'm the Only One"/"Tidewind" is
released on Phillips International 3538 (March 15). The single "To Tell
the Truth"/"Silly Blues" is credited to Bobbie and the Boys, with Cliff's
sister Barbara handling the lead vocals (Phillips International 3543,
June 20). The fifth track, "The Last Goodnight", remains in a tapebox
until 1999, when it is included on the CD "Sun Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 3"
(Charly CPCD 8353). Location : Sun Studio, Memphis.
Personnel : Cliff Thomas (vocals / piano) ; Ed Thomas (piano, background
vocals) ; Barbara Thomas (vocals) ; more details unknown.

February 2, 1959 : In New York City, NAPPY BROWN cuts the following four
songs : "All Right Now" (Savoy 1562, March), "This Is My Confession"/"For
Those Who Love" (Savoy 1569, May) and "So Deep" (Savoy 1575, October).
Arranged and conducted by Teacho Wiltshire.

February 2 and 5, 1959 : After cutting four tracks on January 27, RUTH
BROWN records eight more tracks for the album "Late Date With Ruth Brown"
(Atlantic LP 1308, August). On the 2nd she lays down "You'd Be So Nice To
Come Home To", "Why Don't You Do Right", "I'm Beginning To See the Light"
and "I Can Dream, Can't I?" and on February 5 "It Could Happen To You",
"I Loves You Porgy", "Bewitched" and "We'll Be Together Again".
Arranged and conducted by Richard Wess. Location : New York City.

Thursday, February 5, 1959 : Only two days after the airplane accident,
EDDIE COCHRAN records his tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The
Big Bopper, at Gold Star Studio in Hollywood, accompanied only by his own
guitar and an unknown stand-up bass player. The title is of course "Three
Stars". The first release in the UK was in 1966 (Liberty 10249, single)
and in the USA in 1972, on the United Artists double LP "Legendary Masters
Series, no. 4".

February 5, 1959 : JIM REEVES waxes his next single, "Home"/"If Heartache
Is the Fashion" (RCA 7479, end of February). "Home" is a Roger Miller
composition, soon to be recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, whose version stays
in the can until 1962.
Personnel : Jim Reeves (vocals / guitar) ; Hank Garland, John D. Loudermilk
(guitars) ; Billy Harlan (bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Buddy Harman
(drums) ; The Jordanaires (vocal chorus).
Produced by Chet Atkins at Nashville's RCA Victor studio.

February 6, 1959 : BOB GALLION's final MGM session yields four tracks.
Only "You Take the Table And I'll Take the Chairs" is released at the time
(MGM 12777, April, c/w "Out Of A Honky Tonk" from a session on November 7,
1956). The other three tracks, "Don't Feel Lonesome", "This Should Go On
Forever" and "You Don't Love Me" have to wait until 2000 for a release on
the CD "Out Of A Honky Tonk" (Bear Family BCD 16439).
Produced by Jim Vienneau at Bradley Studio in Nashville.

February 9, 1959 : CONNIE FRANCIS records her new single, "If I Didn't
Care"/"Toward the End Of the Day" (MGM 12769, February 16). "If You Love 
Me Tonight" is an EP track (MGM X 1662) later in the year. "No One To 
Cry To" stays in the vaults until 1987, when Polydor issues the CD 
"Rock Sides 1957-64" (831698-2). "I Really Don't Want To Know" is not 
released at all.
Arranged, conducted and produced by Ray Ellis at Metropolitan Studio in
New York City.

February 9, 10, 1959 : Even though suffering from laryngitis, CLIFF
RICHARD records his first LP, "Cliff" (Columbia SX 1147, April), live in
front of an invited audience of 200 to 300 fans, at Abbey Road Studios
in London, England. There are sixteen tracks on the album
(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_(album)), two of which are by 
Cliff's backing group, the Shadows (then known as the Drifters).
Personnel : Cliff Richard (vocals) ; Hank Marvin (lead guitar) ; Bruce
Welch (rhythm guitar) ; Jet Harris (bass) ; Tony Meehan (drums) ; The
Mike Sammes Singers (background vocals on "Danny" and "Donna").
Produced by Norrie Paramor.

February 10, 1959 : JEFF BARRY (real name Joel Adelberg), an unknown 
songwriter at this time, records the single, "Hip Couple"/"It's Called 
Rock 'n' Roll" (RCA 7477, late February) in New York City.
Personnel : Jeff Barry (vocals / piano) ; Ernest Calabria (guitar) ;
Jack Lasberg (bass) ; King Curtis (tenor sax) ; Joe Marshall (drums).
Produced by Lee Shapiro and Charles Grean.

February 10, 1959 : FARON YOUNG is back at Bradley Studio in Nashville
for another Capitol session. "That's the Way It's Gotta Be"/"We're Talking
It Over" is chosen as the next single (Capitol 4164, March 16). "I Made A
Fool Of Myself" is first issued in February 1961, on the LP "Fan Club
Favorites / Hello Walls" (Capitol T 1528).
Personnel (probably) : Hank Garland, Grady Martin, Jack Shook (guitars) ;
Harold Bradley (tic tac guitar) ; Ben Keith (steel guitar) ; Lightnin'
Chance (bass) ; Marvin Hughes (piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums).
Produced by Ken Nelson.

February 11, 1959 : GLEN GLENN is at Western Recorders in Hollywood
where he waxes four tracks. "Susie Green From Abilene"/"Goofin' Around"
comes out on Dore 523 in June. "Wait Wait" and "Kitty Cat" stay in the
can (at least in these versions).
Backing by Ernie Freeman and his combo, including Ernie Freeman on
piano and Plas Johnson on saxophone.

February 11, 1959 : Session guitarist ROLAND JANES cuts five tracks in
his own right, all originally unissued. "Little Bitty Pretty Girl",
"Hey, Good Lookin'" and "Rolando" are first released on the 12-LP set
"Sun Records : The Rocking Years" (Sun/Charly BOX 106) in 1986. In 1990
Bear Family issues Roland's LP "Guitarville" (BFX 15340), which includes
"Roland's Groove" and a second version of "Ronaldo". "Uncle Sam Rock" is
a track on the Various artists CD "706 Union Instrumentals" (Charly CPCD
8302), from 1997. Location : the Sun studio in Memphis.
Personnel : Roland Janes, Billy Riley (guitars) ; Eddie Cash (vocals on
"Little Bitty Pretty Girl" and "Hey Good Lookin'") ; Pat O'Neill (bass) ;
Martin Willis (sax) ; Jimmy Wilson (piano) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums).
Produced by Jack Clement and Bill Justis.

February 11, 1959 : TONY CONN records the single "Run Rabbit Run"/"You
Pretty Thing" (Decca 30865, April 6) in New York City. Issue 38 of the 
UK magazine Now Dig This (May 1986) contains an interview with Conn,
where he claims that the single was recorded in January 1959, with King
Curtis on tenor sax, Jerry Lee Lewis on piano, The Kalin Twins on back-
ground vocals and J.P. Richardson (who died on February 3, 1959) as
co-producer. Very unlikely, but included here for curiosity's sake.

February 12, 1959 : LaVERN BAKER records three songs in New York City :
"For Love Of You", the later flipside of "Tiny Tim" (Atlantic 2041,
October) and two tracks which will appear on the LP "See See Rider"
(Atlantic LP 8071, December 1962) : "Trying" and "Endless Love".
Personnel : Everett Barksdale, Bucky Pizzarelli (guitars) ; Doles
Dickens (bass) ; King Curtis (tenor sax) ; Budd Johnson (baritone sax) ;
Bert Keyes (piano) ; Belton Evans (drums). Plus a string section and a
7-piece vocal backing group.
Arranged by Chuck Sagle, produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

February 12, 1959 : THE PLATTERS have another session at Mercury Sound
Studio in New York City. Two tracks from a recent session (December 28,
1958) are overdubbed : "Enchanted" and "Wish It Were Me". Newly recorded
are "The Sound And the Fury" (rush-released on Mercury 71427, coupled
with "Enchanted") and "To Each His Own" (Mercury 71697, September 1960).
Produced by Buck Ram.

February 12, 1959 : At Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville,
MARVIN RAINWATER records his next single, "Love Me Baby (Like There's 
No Tomorrow)"/"That's When I'll Stop Loving You" (MGM 12773, March).
The pianist is Floyd Cramer, other session details unknown.
Produced by Jim Vienneau.

February 13, 1959 : Four-track session for THE VELOURS at Metropolitan
Studios in New York City. "Tired Of Your Rock & Rollin'"/"Blue Velvet"
is released on Cub 9029 in March. "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" and "Please
Don't Kiss Me Goodbye" remain in the vaults.
Backing by Sammy Lowe and his orchestra, with King Curtis on tenor sax.
The Velours are : Keith Williams (lead vocal) ; Eugene Mountain ; Don
Haywoode ; John Cheatdom ; Jerome Ramos ; Richard Pitts.

Tuesday, February 17, 1959 : CHUCK BERRY is back at the Chess studio 
in Chicago to record four tracks. "Almost Grown" becomes the B-side of 
his new 45, "Little Queenie" (recorded on October 21, 1958), released 
in March on Chess 1722. "Back In the USA" follows in June (Chess 1729, 
c/w the previously recorded "Memphis Tennessee"). The instrumental 
"Blue On Blue" is first issued in 1974 on the double LP "Chess Golden
Decade, Vol. 3" (Chess 2CH-60028) and "Do You Love Me" on the LP
"America's Hottest Wax" (Reelin' LP 001) in 1979.
Personnel : Chuck Berry (vocals / guitar) ; Willie Dixon (bass) ;
Johnny Johnson (piano) ; Fred Below (drums) ; The Marquees and Etta 
James (background vocals).

February 17, 1959 : JOHNNY OTIS records two duets with MARCI LEE :
"Telephone Baby"/"Castin' My Spell"(Capitol 4168, March). On his own
Otis cuts "I'll Do the Same Thing For You", which will become the 
B-side of "Three Girls Named Molly" (from a later session) in May
(Capitol 4226).
Arranged by Johnny Otis, produced by Tom Morgan at the Capitol Tower
in Hollywood.

February 18, 1959 : A real classic is committed to tape on this day :
"What'd I Say" by RAY CHARLES. The long track (6:24) is released in two 
parts in June (Atlantic 2031) and will top the R&B charts (also # 6 pop).
Personnel : Ray Charles (vocals / electric piano) ; Dave Newman (alto
sax, tenor sax) ; Bennie Crawford (baritone sax) ; Unknown (trumpets) ;
Edgar Willis (bass) ; Milt Turner (drums) ; The Raelettes (vocal group).
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler in New York City.

February 18, 1959 : 14-year-old RONNIE DIAMOND is flown in from Honolulu,
Hawaii, for his second (and last) Imperial session. The harvest is two
singles, "Life Begins At 4 O'Clock"/"Tell Me" (Imperial 5588, May) and
"Pretty Please"/"When We Kiss" (Imperial 5605, September), plus two
unissued tracks, "Like A Fool" and "I Love To Hold You".
The location is Los Angeles, California, probably Master Recorders.

February 18, 1959 : GUY MITCHELL records two songs at Radio Recorders
in Hollywood, with The Easy Riders. "Alias Jesse James" (from the film
of the same name) is the B-side of his next single (Columbia 41359, 
March 16, c/w "Pride O'Dixie" from a session on November 25, 1958). 
"I'm Gonna Leave You Now" follows on May 11 (Columbia 41397, c/w "Loosen 
Up Lucy", recorded on September 26, 1958).
Arranged by Frank De Vol.

February 18, 1959 : CONWAY TWITTY spends the afternoon at Bradley
Studio in Nashville. His next single is "Hey Little Lucy" (MGM 12785,
April, c/w "When I'm Not With You" from a session on November 21, 1958).
The single after that is "Mona Lisa" (MGM 12804, June 18, c/w "Heavenly"
from a later session). Also recorded are three tracks for Twitty's first
LP ("Conway Twitty Sings", MGM E 3744, March) : "Hallelujah I Love Her 
So", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Sentimental Journey".
Personnel : Al Bruno, Ray Edenton (guitars) : Harold Bradley (electric
bass) ; Lightnin' Chance (bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Jack Nance
(drums) ; Unknown (vocal chorus).
Produced by Jim Vienneau. 

February 19, 1959 : Last Atlantic session for THE BOBBETTES, in New
York City. "Don't Say Goodnight"/"You're My Sweetheart" is selected for
single release (Atlantic 2027, April). The other two tracks from this
session are "I Shot Mr. Lee" and "Untrue Love", which are eventually
released on Atlantic 2069 in July 1960, after the girls scored a hit
with a re-recording of "I Shot Mr. Lee" for the Triple-X label.
Personnel : George Barnes, Allen Hanlon (guitars) ; Wendell Marshall
(bass) ; Leon Cohen (alto sax) ; King Curtis (tenor sax) ; Reggie
Obrecht (piano / arranger) ; Sticks Evans (drums).
The Bobbettes are : Emma Pought (lead vocal), Laura Webb, Reather Dixon, 
Helen Gathers and Jannie Pought.

February 19, 1959 : ERNIE FREEMAN and his combo do a five-track session
in Los Angeles, but only one track is released : "The Honey Dripper"
(the old Joe Liggins hit). It is coupled with "Marshmallows, Popcorn And
Soda Pop" (recorded on January 6) for release on Imperial 5574 in April.
Unissued are : "Someone's Rockin' My Dreamboat", "Enchanted Meadow",
"There's A Day Coming" and an unknown title.

February 19, 1959 : LITTLE ESTHER cuts the single "It's So Good"/"Do 
You Ever Think Of Me" (Savoy 1563, March), in New York City, with unknown 
musicians. A third track, "Papa Do", is eventually released in 1979, on 
the Various artists LP "Ladies Sing the Blues" (Savoy SJL 2233).

February 19, 1959 : DINAH WASHINGTON is at Mercury Sound Studio in New
York City to record her next single, "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes"/
"Come On Home" (Mercury 71435, April, a # 8 pop hit), as well as the LP 
tracks "Time After Time" and "I Won't Cry Anymore". 
Arranged and conducted by Belford Hendricks, whose orchestra supplies
the accompaniment, with Panama Francis on drums.

February 20, 1959 : BILLY GRAMMER records the follow-up to his big hit
"Gotta Travel On" : "Bonaparte's Retreat"/"The Kissing Tree" (Monument
403, April). Bob Moore is listed as bassist, arranger and producer, Fred
Foster as "executive producer". Location is the RCA Victor Studio in
Nashville.

February 21, 1959 : JIMMY BOWEN does another session at Norman Petty's
studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Both "You Made Me Love You" and "Eenie
Meenie Minie Mo" stay in the can until the appearance of the 2-CD
"The Complete Roulette Recordings [Of] Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen"
(Sequel NED CD 278) in 1996.
Personnel : Jimmy Bowen (vocals / guitar) ; with possibly Sonny Curtis
(lead guitar) ; George Atwood (bass) ; Jerry Allison (drums).
Produced by Norman Petty.

February 21, 1959 : Last session of RAY SMITH's first tenure at Sun. 
"Rockin' Bandit"/"Sail Away" is selected for single release (Sun 319,
March 23), after overdubs (on "Rockin' Bandit") at an unknown date in
March. "I'll Try" is first issued on Ray's CD "Rockin' Little Angel :
The Sun Years, Plus" (Bear Family BCD 16936) in 2009.
Personnel : Ray Smith (vocals) ; Stanley Walker (harmony vocals on
"Sail Away") ; Brad Suggs, Billy Riley (guitars) ; Cliff Acred (bass) ;
Charlie Rich (piano) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums).
Location : Sun Studio, 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee.

February 22, 1959 : HOMER AND JETHRO spend the afternoon (14:00-17:30)
at RCA Victor Studio in Nashville. Their next single is "Middle-Aged
Teenager"/"Don't Sing Along (On Top Of Old Smoky)" (RCA 7493, March).
Unissued from this session are "Country Music Blues" and "Rock-A-Bye
Baby".
Personnel : Homer Haynes (vocals / guitar) ; Jethro Burns (vocals /
mandolin) ; Grady Martin (guitar) ; Bob Moore (bass) ; Floyd Cramer
(piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums).
Produced by Chet Atkins.

February 23, 1959 : PERCY MAYFIELD is now contracted to Imperial Records
in Hollywood. His first single for the label is "One Love"/"My Reward"
(Imperial 5577), recorded on this day and released in April.

February 24, 1959 : In New York City, VARETTA DILLARD records her next
single, "Scorched"/"Good Gravy Baby", for release on Triumph 608 in
May. Produced by Herb Abramson. Personnel unknown.

February 25, 1959 : ERNIE BARTON is in the Sun Studio to record "Open
the Door Richard" and "Shut Your Mouth". These titles were scheduled for
release on Phillips International 3541, but nobody has ever seen a copy,
though Barton has insisted that it was actually released. The version of 
"Open the Door Richard" that appears on many Billy Riley compilations may 
actually be the Barton version. Seven other tracks are recorded at this
session, of which only "Wedding Bells" has been released, on the Various 
artists CD "Sun Hillbilly" (Charly CPCD 8181) in 1996.
Personnel : Ernie Barton (vocals / producer) ; Roland Janes (guitar) ;
Billy Riley (bass / second vocal on "Open the Door Richard") ; Martin
Willis (sax) ; Charlie Rich (piano) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) ; Unknown
(female vocal on "Shut Your Mouth").

February 25, 1959 : WILBERT HARRISON records the future number one
"Kansas City"/"Listen My Darling" (Fury 1023, March) in New York City.
"Kansas City", written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, was originally 
recorded by Little Willie Littlefield in 1952 as "K.C. Loving".
Personnel : Wilbert Harrison (vocals / piano) ; Jimmy Spruill (guitar) ;
Jimmy Lewis (bass) ; "Fat Duck" (drums) ; Unknown (vocal chorus on 
"Listen My Darling").
Produced by Bobby Robinson.

February 25, 1959 : LITTLE WALTER is at the Chess studio in Chicago and
cuts four songs. "Crazy Mixed Up World"/"My Baby Is Sweeter" is his next
single, released on Checker 919 in March. "Baby" and "Worried Life" are
first released on the Canadian LP "Blue And Lonesome" (Le Roi Du Blues
33-2007) in 1970.
Personnel : Little Walter (vocals / harmonica ) ; Luther Tucker, Jimmy 
Lee Robinson (guitars) ; Willie Dixon (bass) ; George Hunter (drums).

February 25, 1959 : CHARLIE RICH records the single, "Rebound"/"Big Man" 
(Phillips International 3542, June 20) and a slow piano instrumental,
"Sad News", which will be released on December 10, 1960, coupled with
another instrumental, "Red Man" (from a later session), on Sun 354, under
the pseudonym Bobby Sheridan.
Personnel : Charlie Rich (vocals / piano) ; Roland Janes (guitar) ; Billy
Riley (bass) ; Martin Willis (sax) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) ; The Gene
Lowery Singers (vocal chorus on "Sad News").
Produced by Jack Clement at the Sun studio in Memphis.

February 26, 1959 : TRINI LOPEZ does a four-track session at the King
Studio in Cincinnati. "Rock On"/"Since I Don't Have You" is released on
King 5187 in March, "Love Me Tonight" on King 5198 in May and "It Hurts 
To Be In Love" on King 5344 in May 1960. 

February 27, 1959 : CLYDE McPHATTER is about to leave Atlantic Records.
His last session yields "Since You've Been Gone" (Atlantic 2028, May)
and "You Went Back On Your Word" (Atlantic 2038, September). Both singles
are coupled with left-over tracks from a session by Clyde and the Drifters
on March 14, 1954 : "Try Try Baby" and "There You Go" respectively.
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler in New York City.

Saturday, February 28, 1959 : BO DIDDLEY does another session at the 
Chess studio in Chicago. None of the five tracks is released as a single. 
"Come On Baby" appears on the LP "Have Guitar, Will Travel" (Checker LP 
2974, January 1960). "Lazy Woman" and "Mama Mia" will both be included on 
the LP "Bo Diddley And Company" (February 1963) and "What Do You Know About 
Love" is first released in mid-1966 on "The Originator" (Checker LP 3001). 
The fifth song from this session, "Bucket", stays in the vaults until 1993, 
when Bo's 12-CD box-set "The Chess Years, 1955-1973" (Charly CD RED BOX 8) 
is issued.
Personnel : Bo Diddley (vocals / guitar) ; Lady Bo (guitar) ; Willie Dixon
(bass) ; Lafayette Leake (piano) ; Jerome Green (maracas) ; Frank Kirkland
(drums).

(Circa) February 1959, unknown date : SANFORD CLARK's second Jamie session
results in the single "Bad Luck"/"My Jealousy" (Jamie 1120, March). The
drummer is Bob Taylor, more details unknown.
Produced by Lee Hazlewood at Audio Recorders in Phoenix, Arizona.

(late) February : LARRY DONN has his first recording session, which is held
at KLCN Radio in Blytheville, AK. "Honey Bun" c/w "That's What I Call A Ball"
will be released by producer Arlen Vaden on his own label (Vaden 113, April).
Personnel: Larry Donn (vocals / rhythm guitar) ; Benny Kuykendall (lead 
guitar) ; Bobby Brown (rhythm guitar) ; Tommy Holder (electric guitar) ;
Scotty Kuykendall (bass) ; Roy Mullins (slap bass) ; Teddy Redell (piano) ;
Johnny Welker (drums).
Later, Larry Donn became a longtime contributor for the UK magazine "Now Dig
This" with his column "Rockabilly Days".

February 1959, unknown date : NARVEL FELTS records "Three Thousand Miles"
at CKSL Radio Station studio, London, Ontario, Canada. Release on Pink 701
in May, coupled with "Cutie Baby" from a later session (produced by Ray 
Harris).
Personnel : Narvel Felts (vocals / guitar) ; Leon Barnett (guitar) ; J.W.
Grubbs (bass) ; Jerry Tuttle (piano) ; Bob Taylor (drums). 
Produced by Narvel Felts and the band.

February 1959, unknown date : TEDDY REDELL waxes his first single, "Knocking
On the Back Side"/"Before It Began" (Vaden 110, March), at radio station
KLCN in Blytheville, AK.
Personnel : Teddy Redell (vocals / piano) ; Fred Dale Douglas (guitar) ;
Roy Molenick (upright bass) ; Unknown (drums).
Produced by Arlen Vaden.

February 1959, unknown date : The instrumental group THE WAILERS cuts its
first record, "Tall Cool One"/"Road Runner", in Lakewood, Washington, under
the supervision of Clark Galehouse. Released in April on Golden Crest 518. 
The single will chart twice : in 1959 (peak position # 36) and in 1964 (peak
position # 38).
Personnel : Rich Dangel (lead guitar) ; John Greek (rhythm guitar) ; Kent
Morrill (piano) ; Mark Marush (tenor sax) ; Mike Burk (drums).

With thanks to Jean Marc Pezet and Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

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