February 1, 1961 : THE DRIFTERS record four tracks at Bell Sound 
Studios in New York City, which will be used as the A-sides of their
next four singles : "Some Kind Of Wonderful" (Atlantic 2096, March),
"Please Stay" (Atlantic 2105, May), "Sweets For My Sweet" (Atlantic
2117, August) and "Room Full Of Tears" (Atlantic 2127, December).
The Drifters are: Rudy Lewis (lead), Charles Thomas (tenor), Tommy
Evans (bass) and Dock Green (baritone). Produced by Jerry Leiber
and Mike Stoller, arranged by Ray Ellis.
 
February 1, 1961 : SHEP AND THE LIMELITES record their biggest
hit, "Daddy's Home" c/w "This I Know" (Hull 740) in New York City.
Produced by Hull's A&R man William Miller, who co-wrote "Daddy's 
Home" with James Sheppard (Shep).
 
February 6/7/8/10, 1961 : DUANE EDDY records the final tracks
for the "Girls, Girls, Girls" LP (Jamie LP 3019) : "Patricia", "Tammy"
and "Carol". Also recorded are the basic tracks for "Drivin' Home" 
(overdubbed in Nashville on February 22 and released on Jamie 1195 
in July) and "Runaway Pony" (overdubbed in Hollywood on April 30, 
1962, and issued on Jamie 1224 in May 1962). 
Personnel : Duane Eddy, guitar, producer ; Al Casey, guitar ; Donnie
Owens, guitar ; David Campbell, bass ; Larry Knechtel, piano ; Jim 
Horn, sax ; Jimmy Troxel, drums. Location: Audio Recorders, Phoenix,
Arizona.
 
February 7, 1961 : LEFTY FRIZZELL has his only 1961 session, at
Bradley Studio in Nashville. "Heaven's Plan"/"Looking For You" is
released on April 3rd (Columbia 41964), and "I Feel Sorry For Me"
on December 15 (Columbia 42253). Session men : Grady Martin &
Harold Bradley, guitars ; Don Helms, steel guitar ; Joe Zinkan, bass ;
Floyd Cramer, piano ; Buddy Harman, drums. Vocal chorus : unknown,
possibly the Anita Kerr Singers. Produced by Don Law.
 
February 7, 1961 : Recording date of a Top 3 hit by THE JIVE FIVE :
"My True Story"/"When I Was Single" (Beltone 1006).
 

February 9, 1961 : JERRY LEE LEWIS is the first artist to record at
Sam Phillips's new Nashville studio on 7th Avenue, with excellent
results. He lays down "What'd I Say"/"Livin' Lovin' Wreck", released
on Sun 356 on February 27, "Cold Cold Heart" (Sun 364, June) and
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget", first issued on the Charly LP
"Rare Jerry Lee Lewis, Vol. 2" (CR 300 007) in 1975. Backing by
Hank Garland and Kelso Herston, guitars ; Bob Moore, bass ; Buddy
Harman, drums.
 
February 9, 1961 : Also in Nashville (Bradley Studio), on the same
day, MELVIN ENDSLEY has his second and final Hickory session,
produced by Wesley Rose. Two singles are the result: "I Wish I 
Knew"/"Every Time I See the Sun Go Down" (Hickory 1141, March) 
and "Started Out A-Walkin'"/"How Lonely Can You Get" (Hickory
1152, September). Personnel: Hank Garland and Harold Bradley, 
guitars ; Don Helms, steel guitar ; Lightnin' Chance, bass ; Floyd 
Cramer, piano ; Buddy Harman, drums.
 
February 9, 1961 : Meanwhile, at Atlantic Studios in New York City,
THE COASTERS record "Little Egypt" (Atco 6192, April) and "Girls,
Girls, Girls, Parts 1 & 2" (Atco 6204, July). A fourth track, "Wedding
Days", remains unissued. Personnel : King Curtis, sax ; Mike Stoller, 
piano ; Sonny Forriest and Alan Hanlon, guitars ; George Barnes, 
banjo ; Abie Baker, bass ; Bob Rosengarten and Gary Chester, 
drums. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
 
February 11, 1961 : CHARLIE RICH is the next Sun artist to record
at the new Nashville studio. "Who Will the Next Fool Be"/"Caught In 
the Middle" are the tracks chosen for the new single (Phillips Inter-
national 3566), released in March. "Just A Little Bit Sweet" becomes
the single after that, in September (Phillips Int. 3572). "The Next Time" 
remains unissued from this session. Personnel : Charlie Rich, vocals, 
piano ; Kelso Herston, guitar ; Hank Garland, guitar ; Bob Moore, bass ; 
Buddy Harman, drums ; Jerry Tuttle, organ. Unknown sax, chorus and 
strings.
 
February 12, 1961 : Also in Nashville, BOB LUMAN records his next
single, "The Great Snowman"/"The Pig Latin Song" (Warner Bros
5204, March). Backing by the Nashville A-team (G. Martin, F. Cramer,
B. Harman etc.). Produced by Wesley Rose.
 
February 14, 1961 : First RCA session for SONNY JAMES, at RCA
Victor Studio in Nashville, produced by Chet Atkins. A vocal version
of "Apache" is coupled with "Magnetism" for release on RCA 7858
at the end of February. Personnel : Sonny James, vocal / guitar ;
Hank Garland and Velma Williams, guitars ; Floyd Cramer, piano ;
Bob Moore, bass ; Buddy Harman, drums ; The Anita Kerr Singers,
vocal chorus.
 
February 15, 1961 : THE MARCELS record 7 songs at RCA Studios in
New York City, produced by Stu Phillips. "Blue Moon"and "Goodbye
To Love" are rush-released as a single (Colpix 186) and together with 
four other tracks they will appear on the LP "Blue Moon" in July 1961
(Colpix LP 416). Released on a future single from this session is
"Loved Her the Whole Week Through" (Colpix 651, August 1962).
 
February 23, 1961 : Bradley Studio, Nashville : JOHNNY PRESTON
records the B-side of his next single, "I Feel Good" (Mercury 71803,
April ; the A-side is "Willy Walk" from a September 1960 session). 
"Four Letter Word" and "Lucky In Love" are first released on the CD 
"Johnny Preston : The Stereo Recordings" (Bear Family BCD 16234)
in 1998. Personnel includes Bob Moore on bass and Buddy Harman
on drums, other details unknown. Producer : Bill Hall.
 
February 23, 1961 : THE TOP NOTES record two singles in New
York City : "Hearts Of Stone"/"The Basic Thing" (Atlantic 2097,
March) and "Twist And Shout" (the original version) c/w "Always
Late (Why Lead Me On)" (Atlantic 2115, July). Produced by Phil
Spector, arranged by Teddy Randazzo.
 
February 24, 1961 : JOHNNY CASH records in Hollywood this
time, at Columbia Studios. "Forty Shades Of Green" is released
in April (Columbia 41995) and "The Big Battle" in February 1962 
(Columbia 42301). On February 27, these are followed by "Tall
Man" (Columbia 42147, September), "When I've Learned" (flip
of "The Big Battle") and the LP tracks "He'll Understand And 
Say Well Done" and "God Must Have My Fortune Laid Away" 
("Hymns From the Heart", Columbia CL 1722). 
Personnel : Johnny Cash, vocals, guitar ; Marshall Grant, bass ; 
Luther Perkins, electric guitar ; W.S. Holland, drums ; Johnny 
Western, guitar ; James Carter Wilson, piano ; Ralph Hansell, 
vibes ; B.J. Baker Group, vocal chorus. Produced by Don Law
and Frank Jones. 
 
February 27, 1961 : ROY ORBISON is back in Nashville (RCA
Victor Studio) to record four tracks, all of which will appear on
Roy's second Monument LP, "Crying" (M 4007, March 1962) :
"Running Scared", "Love Hurts", "Let's Make A Memory" and
"Night Life". Prior to that, the first two titles are released as a 
single in March 1961 (Monument 438). "With Bob Moore's 
orchestra and chorus" says the label. Produced by Fred Foster.
 
February 27, 1961 : BOBBY FREEMAN records at the King Studio
in Cincinnati. "Fever" stays in the can until mid-1964 when it is 
issued on King 5953, "Come To Me" even until early 1965 (King 
5975, B-side of "There's Gonna Be A Change"). "Bony Moronie" 
and "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" were not released at all.
 
February 28, 1961 : JOHNNY BURNETTE is at United Recording
Corporation in Hollywood for a session produced by Snuff Garrett.
"Big Big World"/"Ballad of the One-Eyed Jacks" is rush-released
as the new single (Liberty 55318). Two other tracks, "Gimme 
Gimme Lovin'" and "You'll Learn To Cry" are held in the can until 
1989, when they appear on the CD "The Best Of Johnny Burnette"
(EMI CDP 792924, UK). Arranged by Ernie Freeman.
 
February 28, 1961 : JOE TURNER records in New Orleans, for the
first time since 1953. "I Get the Blues", "You Busted My Bubble",
"Good Loving" and "Lucille, Parts 1 & 2" have never been issued
by Atlantic, for some unknown reason. 
 
February 1961, unknown date : CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY
records four tracks for his first LP, the title of which will be "You 
Always Hurt the One You Love" (Argo LP 4009) : "I Want To Be A 
Movie Star", "Steady Date", "Oh Why" and "Little Suzy". The latter
is also released as a single (B-side of "You Always Hurt...", Argo 
5388, May). Personnel includes Allen Toussaint on piano and Roy
Montrell on guitar. Produced by Paul Gayten in New Orleans.
 
With thanks to Steve Walker, Jarle Jensen and Tapio Väisänen.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index