Monday, June 1, 1959 : THE BROWNS (Jim Edward Brown and his sisters Maxine
and Bonnie) come to Nashville to record what they thought would be their
last session (as they intended to break up the act). "The Three Bells" would
become the first Nashville Sound recording to hit # 1 on the pop charts.
The original recording was six minutes long ; with the help of producer Chet
Atkins and Anita Kerr, it was edited down to an acceptable three minutes.
Also recorded on this day was the flip, the John D. Loudermilk composition
"Heaven Fell Last Night" (RCA 47-7555).

June 2, 1959 : In New York City, THE CRICKETS record two more songs that will
end up on their LP "In Style With the Crickets": "Just This Once" and "Ting A
Ling". Lead singer is Earl Sinks.
Production: Jack Hansen.
Release date of the LP will be December 5, 1960.

June 3, 1959 : At RCA Victor Studio in Nashville, ROY ORBISON records his
first single for Monument Records : "Paper Boy "/"With the Bug" (Monument
409, released in August). Both tracks were previously (on April 23) recorded
for RCA Victor, but they remained unissued until 1982 (album "Almost Eighteen",
Bear Family LP BFX 15019). A third track from this June session, "Double Date"
is first released on the LP "Rare Roy Orbison, Vol. 2" (CBS AK 45054) in 1990.
Personnel includes Chet Atkins (guitar) ; Floyd Cramer (piano)  ; more details
unknown.
Produced by Fred Foster.

June 4, 1959 : In Memphis (706 Union Avenue), BILLY RILEY records his next
single, "Got the Water Boiling"/"One More Time" (Sun 322), plus "Betty and
Dupree", "When a Man Gets the Blues" and "Let's Talk About Us", which were
issued on the 2-LP set "Red Hot Riley" (Charly CDX 9) in 1985.
Personnel: Billy Riley (vocals / guitar ; Roland Janes (guitar)b ; Brad 
Suggs (bass) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums) ; Martin Willis (tenor sax).

June 4, 1959 : THE MONOTONES record their next single, "Tell It To The Judge"
/"Fools Will Be Fools" (Apt 5339), for almost immediate release. Another song
from this session, "What Would You Do If There Wasn't Any Rock and Roll" was
inexplicably never issued until a 1980s Monotones anthology LP on the Murray
Hill label hit the streets.

June 4 and 5, 1959 : LaVERN BAKER records twelve tracks for the LP "Precious
Memories : LaVern Baker Sings Gospel" (Atlantic LP 8036), in New York City.
Released in November 1959.

June 5 and 6, 1959 : First of four Hollywood sessions this month by RICKY
NELSON. With one exception ("It Had To Be You"), all these recordings will
appear on his fourth LP, "Songs By Ricky" (Imperial LP 9082, released in
September). At this session he records "One Minute To One", "So Long" and
"I've Been Thinking" (second version). On June 9 and 10 he records "That's
All" and "It Had To Be You" and on June 11/12 "Blood From A Stone", "You're
So Fine" and "You'll Never Know What You're Missing". Finally on June 15/16 :
"Don't Leave Me", "Half Breed" and "A Long Vacation". The last song was
issued as a single (Imperial 5958) in May 1963, with overdubs.
Producer : Jimmie Haskell.

June 6, 1959 : BOB LUMAN is now signed to Warner Bros Records. On this day
he records "Class of '59" (WB 5081) and "Loretta" (originally unisssued,
but now available on several CD's), with Roy Buchanan on guitar.
On June 15, Bob is back in the studio for "My Baby Walks All Over Me" (WB
5081), "Boom Boom Boom Yippi Yi Ya" and "You're Like A Stranger In My Arms"
(both originally unissued).

June 8, 1959 : THE CLOVERS have their first session for United Artists
Records, supervised by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who contribute three
of the four songs recorded. "Love Potion # 9"/"Stay Awhile" is selected for
single release at the end of July (United Artists 180). "Lovey" is an
adaptation of the unreleased Coasters track "Hey Sexy" and will become the
follow-up single at the beginning of 1960 (United Artists 209). The fourth
track, "Noni Cosi", is sung in Italian and is included on the first
UA LP by the Clovers ("Love Potion No. 9", UAL-3099).

Thursday June 18, 1959: JOE TURNER is back in Atlantic's NYC studio.
"Got You On My Mind"/ "Careless Love" becomes the new single (Atlantic
2034) ; "My Reason For Living" is released on Atlantic 2072 in August 1960. 
"Watcha Gonna Do" remains unissued.
Personnel includes : King Curtis and Leon Cohen (saxes) ; Abie Baker
(bass) ; Sticks Evans (drums).
Production by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

June 18, 1959 : In New Orleans, FATS DOMINO records three tracks. "I Want
To Walk You Home" becomes the new single in July (Imperial 5606), coupled
with the previously (June 1958) recorded "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday".
"When I Was Young" and "Easter Parade" get their first release in January
1961, on the LP "I Miss You So" (Imperial LP 9138).
Personnel includes : Herb Hardesty (tenor sax) ; Walter Nelson (guitar) ;
Cornelius Coleman (drums).
Producer: Dave Bartholomew.

June 19, 1959 : BILL HALEY and his Comets pay another visit to the Pythian
Temple in New York City. The instrumental "Ooh! Look-a There Ain't She 
Pretty" is released on Decca 30956 in September, as the B-side of another 
instrumental, "Joey's Song". "(Thanks For The) Summer Souvenir" is first 
released on the Bear Family 5-LP set "Rockin' Rollin' Haley" (BFX 15068)
in 1981.
Producer: Milt Gabler.

June 22, 1959 : THE CADILLACS record  their next two singles in New York
City, "Romeo"/"Always My Darling" (Josie 866, July 1959) and "Bad Dan
McGoon"/"Dumbell" (Josie 870, September 1959).

June 23, 1959 : At Goldstar Studios in Hollywood, EDDIE COCHRAN records his
next single, the classic "Somethin' Else", coupled with "Boll Weevil Song",
for release on Liberty 55203 in late July.
Musicians : Eddie Cochran (vocals / guitar & electric bass overdub on
"Somethin' Else") ; Dick D'Agostin (piano on "Boll Weevil Song") ; probably
Jim Stivers (piano on "Somethin' Else") ; Dave Shriver (electric bass on
"Boll Weevil Song") ; Earl Palmer (drums).

June 23 1959 : RAY CHARLES records six tracks with Quincy Jones and his
Orchestra, all of which will find a place on the LP "The Genius Of Ray
Charles" (Atlantic LP 1312). "Let the Good Times Roll" will also be
released as a single in December 1959 (Atlantic 2047). On June 26, 1959,
Ray has his final session for Atlantic, with his own orchestra and the
Raelettes.
This result is the single "I'm Movin' On"/"I Believe To My Soul" (Atlantic
2043), released in October.

June 25, 1959 : In New York City, CONNIE FRANCIS records five tracks for
her LP "Connie Francis Sings Rock 'n' Roll Million Sellers" (MGM SE 3794) :
I Hear You Knockin', Heartbreak Hotel, Just A Dream, I'm Walkin' and
I Almost Lost My Mind.
Production by Ray Ellis, who conducts an orchestra of nine musicians.    

June 1959, unknown date : MEL ROBBINS (aka Hargus "Pig" Robbins) records
four tracks in Nashville. "Save It"/"To Know You" is selected for release
on Argo 5340 in July. The fantastic "Are You With Me" was first released
on a compilation album ("Chess Rockabillies" UK Chess LP 9124213) in 1978.
Still unissued is the fourth track, "Until". 

With thanks to Henk Gorter.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index