BOBBY DARIN is now living and recording in Los Angeles. On February
1 and 2, he records no less than 16 songs, most of which were shelved
until June 1964 (LP "Winners"). "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come
Home" is released as a single in May 1960 (Atco 6167). After Bobby
had left Atlantic, the following tracks from this session were issued as
45s: "I Found A New Baby" (Atco 6244, November 1962), "Swing Low
Sweet Chariot" (Atco 6316, November 1964) and "Minnie the Moocher"/
"Hard Hearted Hannah" (Atco 6334, April 1965). All very jazzy.
More interesting from an SAO point of view is the session of February 5, 
which produced the instrumental single "Beachcomber"/"Autumn Blues" 
(Atco 6173, August 1960), "Tall Story" (soon to be issued as the B-side 
of "Clementine", Atco 6161, and never reissued) and "She's Tanfastic". 
The latter was made available as a "special premium disc" (a premium
for Tanfastic suntan lotion) and was first commercially released on the 
CD "Splish Splash : The Best of Bobby Darin", Vol. 1" in 1991.
Arrangements by Bobby Scott, except for "Beachcomber" and "Autumn
Blues", arranged by Shorty Rogers. Production by Ahmet Ertegun.
 
Wednesday, February 3, 1960 : BARBARA PITTMAN has her final Sun 
session, at 639 Madison Avenue. "Handsome Man"/"The Eleventh 
Commandment" is chosen for single release on Phillips International 3553
in April. "Just One Day" was first issued in 1983, on Rockhouse LPM 8307. 
"Lost My Only Love" from this session is still unissued, probably lost.
Personnel : Brad Suggs and Billy Riley (guitars) ; R.W. Stevenson (bass) ; 
Charlie Rich (piano) ; Jimmy Van Eaton (drums). Overdubbed chorus : the
Gene Lowery Singers. "Handsome Man" produced by Charlie Rich, "The
Eleventh Commandment" by Charles Underwood.
 
February 3, 1960 : LINK WRAY is at the CBS studios in New York City, 
with Vernon Wray (rhythm guitar), Doug Wray (drums), Shorty Horton (bass) 
and an unknown pianist. The session is produced by Chuck Sagle, and 
three tracks are recorded: "Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" and "Golden 
Strings" (based on the Chopin etude) for his next single, Epic 9361, plus 
a first attempt at "Mary Ann", which will be kept in the can until 2002 
(Sundazed CD11098). Later in 1960 Link will record his definite version 
of this Ray Charles composition.
 
February 3, 1960 : In Cincinnati, THE FIVE ROYALES record material for
their next two singles : "I'm With You"/"Don't Give Me No More Than You
Can Take" (King 5329) and "Why"/"Within My Heart" (King 5357).
 
February 4 / 5, 1960 : MARTY ROBBINS pays another visit to Bradley
Studio in Nashville, to record "Saddle Tramp" (the B-side of "Big Iron",
Columbia 41589, release date February 22, 1960) and a second version
of "She Was Young and She Was Pretty" (previously attempted on
May 25, 1959, and unissued until the release of Bear Family BCD
15569). This 1960 version would find a place on the LP "More Gunfighter
Ballads and Trail Songs" (Columbia CS 8272).
Personnel : Marty Robbins (vocal / guitar) ; Grady Martin, Jack Pruett
and James Glaser (guitars) ; Joe Zinkan and Bob Moore (bass) ; Louis Dunn
(drums). Produced by Don Law. 
 
February 5, 1960 : NEIL SEDAKA arrives at RCA Victor Studio A at
155 E 24th Street in New York City, for a session produced by Al Nevins.
First recorded is "What Am I Gonna Do", which will find a place on the
LP "Neil Sedaka Sings Little Devil and His Other Hits" (RCA LSP 2421)
in 1961. "Run Samsom Run" will be released as a 45 on RCA 47-7781
in July, but it is "Stairway To Heaven" which is chosen for the new single
(RCA 47-7709, March). On February 8, Neil records the B-side of that
45, "Forty Winks Away", and three other B-sides : "You Mean Everything
To Me" (a double A-side with "Run Samson Run", really), "Walk With
Me", the 1962 flip of "King of Clowns" (RCA 47-8007) and "I Must Be
Dreaming", which became the B-side of "Little Devil" (RCA 47-7874) in
April 1961.
Present on both days are the session musicians : King Curtis (tenor sax) ;
Everett Barksdale (guitar) ; Milt Hinton (bass) ; Panama Francis (drums).
Arrangements by Stan Applebaum.
 
February 10, 1960 : Time for a new FATS DOMINO single. "Tell Me That
You Love Me"/ "Before I Grow Too Old" is released on Imperial 5660 in
April. Personnel : Fats Domino (vocal / piano) ; Roy Montrell (guitar) ;
Dave Bartholomew (trumpet (& producer)) ; Buddy Hagans (tenor sax) ;
Clarence Ford (baritone sax) ; Unknown (bass) ; Cornelius Coleman (drums).
Location : Cosimo Recording Studio, 523 Governor Nicholls Street, New
Orleans, Louisiana.
 
February 11-12, 1960 : Imperial's other big star, RICKY NELSON, records
"Here I Go Again" (LP track for "More Songs By Ricky", Imperial LP 9122)
and "Do You Know What It Means (To Miss New Orleans)" (LP track for
"Rick Is 21", Imperial LP 9152). On February 18 he records "Right By My
Side", soon to be the B-side of "Young Emotions" (Imperial 5663). Jimmie
Haskell is the producer, at Master Recorders in Hollywood. 
 
February 12, 1960 : CHUCK BERRY is in the Chess Studio in Chicago
for a long session, accompanied by : Johnny Johnson (piano) ; Willie Dixon
(bass) ; Matt Murphy (guitar) ; L.C. Davis (sax) ; Ebby Hardy (drums).
"Bye Bye Johnny"/"Worried Life Blues" is released on Chess 1754 in June,
and "I Got To Find My Baby" (Chess 1763) and "Jaguar and Thunderbird"/
"Our Little Rendezvous" (Chess 1767) will also be issued as singles. The
other three tracks from this session (Drifting Blues, Don't You Lie To Me,
Run Around) end up as LP tracks. One source gives March 29, 1960, as
the date for this session.
 
February 15, 1960 : JOHNNY CASH records six songs for the LP "Ride
This Train" (Columbia CL 1464) : When Papa Played the Dobro, Boss Jack,
Lumberjack, Slow Rider, Loading Coal, Dorraine of Ponchartrain.
Personnel : Johnny Cash (vocal /acoustic guitar) ; Marshall Grant (bass) ;
Luther Perkins (electric guitar) ; Harold Jackson (steel guitar / dobro) ;
Johnny Western (guitar) ; Gordon Terry (fiddle) ; Buddy Harman (drums).
On the next day, February 16, Johnny records an entire LP, "Now, There Was
A Song!" (Columbia CL 1463). Add Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Don Helms (steel
guitar (instead of Harold Jackson). From these twelve songs, two were also
released as singles: "Seasons Of My Heart" (Columbia 41618) and "Honky
Tonk Girl" (Columbia 41707). The B-side of 41618, "Smiling Bill McCall" was
also recorded on this day, along with two other tracks not on the LP.
Produced by Don Law at Bradley Studio in Nashville.
 
Thursday February 18, 1960 : The last Cadence session for the EVERLY 
BROTHERS, at RCA Victor Studio in Nashville. "When Will I Be Loved" is 
released in May 1960 on Cadence 1380, "Like Strangers" in October 1960 
on Cadence 1388. Production by Archie Bleyer.
 
February 19, 1960: BOBBY BARE is at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, to 
record his voice over the previously recorded backing track of "Lynchin' Party".
This version will be used for a forthcoming single later that year (Fraternity 871,
b/w "No Letter From My Baby"). Bobby will record two more versions of "Lynchin' 
Party" during the next months of 1960, and these will finally be issued by Bear 
Family in 1994 (Boxset CD 15663).
 
February, 19, 1960 : At Bradley Studio in Nashville, BILLY 'CRASH' CRADDOCK
records his next single, "All I Want Is You"/"Letter of Love" (Columbia 41619),
with Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Joe Zinkan, Floyd Cramer and Buddy Harman.
Produced by Don Law.
 
February 19, 1960 : At the same studio, CONWAY TWITTY lays down "The Hurt
In My Heart" (MGM 12886, March 1960), "Tell Me One More Time" (MGM 12918,
August 1960) and "Maybe Tomorrow We'll Know" (first issued on Bear Family 
BFX 15174). The next day these are followed by "What Am I Living For" (B-side
of "The Hurt In My Heart") and the LP tracks "A Fallen Star" and "I'd Still Play
the Fool".
Session men include Al Bruno and Grady Martin (guitars) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ;
Jack Nance (drums). Produced by Jim Vienneau.
 
February 20, 1960 : JAMES BROWN records his next single, "Think"/ "You've
Got the Power" (Federal 12370) in Cincinnati, Ohio. "You've Got the Power" has
a female vocal by Bea Ford. 
 
February 22, 1960 : RONNIE HAWKINS records "The Ballad of Caryl Chessman"
(Roulette 4231) in New York City, with Fred Carter Jr. (guitar), Levon Helm (drums),
an unknown banjo player and an unknown chorus. 

February 23, 1960: RAY SMITH has his second session for Judd Records at the RCA
studio in Nashville. "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey"/"Maria Elena" becomes his
next single (Judd 1017), and "One Wonderful Love"/"Makes Me Feel So Good" will be
used for a subsequent release (Judd 1019). Again, both singles are released in
Holland (Artone 24081 and Artone 24039).
Personnel : Ray Smith (vocal) ; Chet Atkins and Grady Martin (guitars) ;
Bob Moore (bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano) ; The Jordanaires (vocal chorus).
The session is produced by Jud Phillips.
 
February 23-25, 1960 : In Los Angeles, THE PLATTERS record twelve tracks
for the LP "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries" (Mercury MG 20589). Two tracks
are also issued as singles : "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time" (the
B-side of "Ebb Tide", released on April 25, 1960, Mercury 71624) and "Trees"
(Mercury 71791, February 1961). 
 
February 26, 1960 : In New York City, LaVERN BAKER records three tracks
that will appear on the LP "Saved" in 1961 (Atlantic LP 8050) : "No Love So
True", "Senor Big and Fine" and "Wheel of Fortune" (chosen for the next single, 
Atlantic 2059, April 1960). The fourth track, "Don't Let the Stars Get In Your
Eyes" is shelved until the release of the LP "See See Rider" (Atlantic LP 8071)
in 1962.
Personnel includes : Al Caiola and Bucky Pizzarelli (guitars) ; Moe Wechsler
(piano). Production by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.
 
February 26, 1960 : THE COASTERS are back in the Atlantic studio in NYC,
as always under the supervision of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Five tracks are
laid down : "Besame Mucho, Parts 1 & 2" (the next single, Atco 6163, March),
"Wake Me, Shake Me" (the single after that, Atco 6168, June), "The Snake and
the Bookworm" (issued as the B-side of "Shoppin' For Clothes", Atco 6178,
September 1960), "Keep On Rolling" (will become the B-side of "Little Egypt",
Atco 6192, April 1961) and "Lady Like" (Atco 6341, mid-1965). 
Personnel: Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Will 'Dub' Jones, Cornel Gunter (vocals) ;
Mike Stoller (piano / arranger) ; King Curtis (tenor sax) ; George Barnes (guitar / 
banjo) ; Sonny Forriest (guitar) ; Milt Hinton (bass) ; Willie Rodriguez (bongos) ;
Panama Francis (drums).
 
February 1960, unknown date : In Chicago, ETTA JAMES records "All I Could 
Do Was Cry"/ "Girl Of My Dreams" (Argo 5359, April 1960), which would give
Etta her first entry in the Billboard Top 100. Also recorded : "Tough Mary",
which will become the B-side of "My Dearest Darling" (Argo 5368) in August.
 
With thanks to Steve Walker and Henk Gorter. 
 
Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index