January 27, February 2, and February 5, 1959 : RUTH BROWN
records the LP "Late Date With Ruth Brown " (Atlantic LP 1308), 
arranged and conducted by Richard Wess. Location: Atlantic Studio,
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 Studios 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) and in the USA in 1972,
on the United Artists double LP "Legendary Masters Series, no. 4".

February 9, 10, 1959 : Even though suffering from laryngitis, CLIFF
RICHARD records his first LP, "Cliff" (Columbia SX 1147, 16 tracks),
live before a selected audience at the Abbey Road Studios in London.
Release in April 1959.

February 11, 1959: GLEN GLENN has his first session for Dore
Records, at Western Recorders on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
On "Suzie Green from Abilene"/"Goofin' Around" (Dore 523) he is
backed by the Ernie Freeman Band, which included Plas Johnson
on sax, Earl Palmer on drums and Ernie Freeman himself on piano. 

February 12, 1959: LaVERN BAKER records three songs in New 
York City: "For Love Of You", the later flipside of "Tiny Tim" (Atlantic
2041, released November 1959) and two tracks which would come out
on the LP "See See Rider" (Atlantic LP 8071) in 1962 : "Trying" and
"Endless Love". Session personnel includes King Curtis on sax, 
Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and Belton Evans on drums.

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). Floyd Cramer is the pianist, other session details unknown.
Production: Jim Vienneau.

February 12, 1959: THE PLATTERS record "The Sound and the Fury"
(Mercury 71427, the B-side of their next single, "Enchanted"), and "To 
Each His Own" (Mercury 71697, released September 1960) at Mercury
Sound Studio in New York City.

February 17, 1959: In Chicago, CHUCK BERRY records "Almost 
Grown" (with vocal support from the Moonglows), the B-side of "Little 
Queenie" (Chess 1722), and "Back In The USA" (Chess 1729, released 
in June 1959, coupled with the previously recorded "Memphis Tennessee").
"Do You Love Me" and the instrumental "Blue On Blue" end up as LP
tracks. Backing by Johnny Johnson (piano), Willie Dixon (bass) and 
Fred Below (drums).

February 18, 1959: RAY CHARLES records his classic "What'd I Say",
(Atlantic 2031, released in two parts) at Atlantic Studios in NYC. 
Personnel: Ray Charles, vocals, electric piano; Dave Newman, tenor 
sax; Bennie Crawford, baritone sax; unknown trumpets; Edgar Willis, 
bass; Milton Turner, drums, and the Raelettes, vocal group. 

February 18, 1959 : On the same day in Nashville (Bradley Studio),
CONWAY TWITTY records his next single, "Hey Little Lucy" (MGM
12785), and the single after that, "Mona Lisa" (MGM 12804, released
in June), as well as the LP tracks "Hallelujah I Love Her So", "You'll
Never Walk Alone" and "Sentimental Journey". Personnel includes
Al Bruno on guitar, Jack Nance on drums and Floyd Cramer on piano.

February 19, 1959: DINAH WASHINGTON is at Mercury Sound Studio
in NYC and records the single "What A Diff'rence A Dade Made"/"Come
On Home" (Mercury 71435), plus "Time After Time" and "I Won't Cry
Anymore". Backing by the Belford Hendricks Orchestra, with Panama
Francis on drums.

February 25, 1959: CHARLIE RICH  (vocals, piano) records his next 
single, "Rebound"/"Big Man" (Phillips International 3542), backed by
Roland Janes (guitar), Billy Riley (bass), Martin Willis (sax) and J.M.
Van Eaton (drums). Also recorded at this session is the slow piano
instrumental "Sad News", which would come out in December 1960,
coupled with "Red Man" (another instrumental, Sun 354) and released 
under the pseudonym of Bobby Sheridan.

February 25, 1959 : A busy day at the Sun Studio in Memphis, as
there was also a session by ERNIE BARTON, who recorded "Open
The Door Richard"/"Shut Your Mouth" (Phillips International 3541)
and seven (!) unissued tracks. "Open The Door Richard" has often
been credited - incorrectly - to Billy Riley. See also my BTBWY 
piece on Jack McVea (who wrote "Open the Door, Richard"):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shakin_All_Over/message/18997

February 27, 1959: More activity at NYC's Atlantic Studios, as
CLYDE McPHATTER records the Sedaka-Greenfield composition
"Since You've Been Gone" (Atlantic 2028) and "You Went Back
On Your Word" (Atlantic 2038, released in October 1959).

February 1959, unknown date: JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES
record their first single, "Crossfire"/"Lazy", in Detroit, produced by
Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik. The single would originally come out
on Twirl 1001, but was soon leased to Warwick (502).

Early 1959, possibly February : In Chicago, DALE HAWKINS records
"Lonely Nights"/"Yea-Yea (Class Cutter)" (Checker 916), "Ain't That
Lovin' You Baby" (Checker 923) and "Boy Meets Girl" (first issued on
Ace CDCHD 693 in 1998). Backing by Kenny Paulsen and Scotty
Moore (guitars), Lafayette Leake (piano), Willie Dixon (bass) and
D.J. Fontana (drums). 

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index