April 1, 1959 : At RCA Victor Studio A in NYC, NEIL SEDAKA records three 
tracks for his first LP, simply titled "Neil Sedaka" (RCA LPM 2035) : Stupid 
Cupid, Fallin' and I Waited Too Long. Personnel includes King Curtis on sax,
Everett Barksdale on guitar and Sticks Evans on drums. Two further tracks -
with different session men - are laid down on April 16 : Going Home To Mary
Lou (EP track) and Without Your Love (originally unissued ; an overdubbed
version was issued on RCA LPM 2720 in 1964). Producer: Al Nevins.

April 5, 1959 : ALTON AND JIMMY (Alton Lott and our list member Jimmy
Harrell) record "No More Crying the Blues" and "Have Faith In My Love" in
the Sun studio in Memphis, for release on Sun 323 on June 2, 1959. The
musicians are: Alton Lott, guitar ; Roland Janes, guitar ; Billy Riley, bass ;
J.M. Van Eaton, drums.

April 7, 1959 : MARTY ROBBINS records an entire LP, "Gunfighter Ballads
and Trail Songs" (Columbia CL 1349), released in September. "El Paso"/
"Running Gun" is chosen for single release (Columbia 41511) on October 26,
followed by "Big Iron"/ "Saddle Tramp" (the latter song not from the LP, though
it appears as a bonus track on the CD reissue) on Columbia 41589 in February 
1960. Personnel includes Grady Martin on guitar, Bob Moore on bass and
Louis Dunn on drums. Produced by Don Law.

April 8, 1959 : In London, BILLY FURY records his second single : Margo 
(Don't Go) / Don't Knock Upon My Door, for release on Decca F 11128  on 
May 15. Producer : Jack Good ; musical director : Harry Robinson.

April 13, 1959 : First of two sessions this month by RONNIE HAWKINS. On 
this particular day he records Forty Days / One of These Days (Roulette 4154,
both sides also on his first LP, Roulette 25078) and two LP tracks, Ruby Baby 
and Horace. The remaining eight tracks for the LP are recorded on April 29:
Whatcha Gonna Do, Wild Little Willy, Oh Sugar, Odessa, My Gal Is Red Hot,
Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Mary Lou, Need Your Lovin'. The last two songs will also be
released as a single (Roulette 4177) in August. Location: Bell Sound Studio,
New York City.

April 15, 1959 : CONNIE FRANCIS records three tracks at Metropolitan Studio
in New York City : Lipstick On Your Collar / Frankie (MGM 12793, released in
early May) and "You're Gonna Miss Me", which will be coupled with "Plenty 
Good Lovin'" (MGM 12824) in August. Orchestra and chorus (18 musicians) 
conducted by Ray Ellis, who also acted as producer ; the fine guitar solo on
"Lipstick On Your Collar" is by George Barnes. 

April 18, 1959 : At Abbey Road Studios in London, JOHNNY KIDD and the 
Pirates record their first single, "Please Don't Touch"/ "Growl" (HMV POP 615), 
for release on May 8. Personnel: Johnny Kidd (vocals, guitar), Alan Caddy 
(lead guitar), Tony Doherty (rhythm guitar), Johnny Gordon (bass), Ken McKay 
(drums) and Tom Brown (backing vocals).

April 23, 1959 ; EDDIE COCHRAN records two songs at United Recorders in
Hollywood : "Weekend" and "Think Of Me". Both songs will not be released 
during his lifetime. "Weekend" was first released on London HLG 9362 (UK) in
June 1961 and later in 1961 on Liberty 55389 in the US. "Think Of Me" came
out on the B-side of "Never" (Liberty 10049, UK) in 1962. 

April 27, 1959 : BILL HALEY and the Comets record their next single, 
Shaky / Caldonia (Decca 30926, released in July). Location : Pythian Temple,
New York City. Producer : Milt Gabler.

April 29, 1959 : CLIFF RICHARD records songs for his first movie, "Serious
Charge" : No Turning Back, Mad About You and Living Doll. The fourth song
on the "Serious Charge" EP (Columbia SEG 7895, released in May) is the
first instrumental by the Shadows, "Chinchilla". I'm not sure if the version of
"Living Doll" recorded on this day is the film version (which is faster than the
hit version) or the well-known hit. Maybe the song was rerecorded later for
single release. The single (Columbia DB 4306) came out in July.

April 30, 1959 : First RCA session for the ISLEY BROTHERS, in New York
City, produced by Hugo and Luigi. "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door"/ "Turn
To Me" is chosen for single release (RCA 47-7537). "Not One Minute More"
stayed in the can until the release on Bear Family BCD 15425 in 1988.
Personnel includes Al Chernet and Billy Mure on guitar and Lou Stein on
piano.

April 30, 1959 : BILL JUSTIS and his orchestra have their last session for
Sun / Phillips International, at the Pepper-Tanner Studio in Memphis. Four
tracks are laid down: Flea Circus / Cloud Nine (Phillips International 3544),
Country Rock and Little Sioux (both unissued). Personnel:  Bill Justis and
Vernon Drane, saxes ; Roland Janes and Sid Manker, guitars ; Charlie Rich,
piano ; Cliff Acred, bass ; J.M. Van Eaton, drums ; Billy Riley, unknown
instrument.

April 1959, unknown date : GEORGE JONES records four tracks at a
Nashville session : Who Shot Sam / Into My Arms Again (Mercury  71464,
released in July) ; "Candy Hearts" (the later flipside of "The Window Up
Above", Mercury 71700, released in October 1960) and "Mr. Fool", which
was not issued (on Mercury 72200) until the end of 1963, by which time
George had been contracted to United Artists for some 21 months.

April 1959, unknown date : RUSTY YORK records his only hit, "Sugaree",
and its flip, the instrumental "Red Rooster", at King Studio in Cincinnati,
produced by Syd Nathan. The single is first released on PJ 100, then on
Note 10021 and finally (the hit version) on Chess 1730. Personnel:  Rusty
York, vocal, lead guitar ; Bill Lanham, bass ; Jim Lundy, drums ; John 
Bower, piano ; Jimmy Risch, saxophone.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index