May 1-2, 1961 : DON GIBSON records 11 tracks for the LP "Girls,
Guitars and Gibson" (RCA LPM 2361, July) : "No One Will Ever
Know", "Born To Lose", "Beautiful Dreamer", "Camptown Races",
"Fireball Mail" (also released as a single, RCA 8367, in May 1964),
"The Last Letter", "White Silver Sands", "Driftwood On the River",
"Lonesome Road", "Above and Beyond" and "Cute Little Girls".
Personnel : Don Gibson, vocals / guitar : Johnny Smith, Hank
Garland, Harold Bradley, guitars ; Bob Moore, bass ; Floyd Cramer,
piano ; Buddy Harman, drums ; The Anita Kerr Singers, vocal chorus.
Produced by Chet Atkins at RCA Victor Studio in Nashville.

May 3, 1961 : In London, JOHN BARRY and his orchestra lay
down eight tracks. Six of these will end up on the LP "Stringbeat"
(Columbia SX 1358, November) : "It Doesn't Matter Anymore",
"Sweet Talk", "There's Life In the Old Boy Yet", "Spanish Harlem",
"Zapata" and "Rodeo". The latter is also released as a single
(Columbia DB 4659, June), coupled with "The Menace", recorded
at the same session. "Iron Horse" is first released on the EMI CD
"John Barry : The EMI Years, Vol. 2 : 1961" in 1993. Produced by
Norman Newell.

May 11, 1961 : DEL SHANNON is back at Bell Sound Studio in
New York City to record the follow-up to "Runaway". "Hats Off To
Larry"/"Don't Gild the Lily, Lily" (Bigtop 3075) is released in the
last week of May. Also laid down are two tracks for Del's first LP,
"Ruaway With Del Shannon" (Bigtop 12-1303) : "I Wake Up Crying"
and "Wide Wide World". Personnel is the same as on "Runaway":
Al Caiola (guitar), Max Crook (piano, musitron), Milt Hinton (bass),
Joe Marshall (drums) and Bill Ramal (sax, arranger). Produced by
Harry Balk.

May 12, 1961 : LEROY VAN DYKE records at Bradley Studio in
Nashville. "Walk On By"/"My World Is Caving In" is selected for single
release on Mercury 71834 in August. The other two tracks, "A Broken
Promise" and "Save Me the Moonlight" are first released on the Bear
Family CD "Walk On By" (BCD 15779) in 1994. Backing by Hank
Garland, Kelso Herston and Jerry Kennedy, guitars ; Harold Bradley,
6-string bass guitar ; Buddy Killen, bass ; Willie Ackerman, drums ;
Hargus "Pig" Robbins, piano; Margie Singleton, harmony vocals.

May 12, 1961: In New York, at Bell Sound Studio, RAL DONNER
records one track, "To Love", for the A-side of his next single (Gone
5108, b/w "And Then"). No further details on this string laden session,
produced by George Goldner. Not long afterwards, the single is
withdrawn and will be replaced using the same sequence number
(see May 24-25 session).

May 16, 1961 : Aaron Neville is at Cosmo's Recording Studio in
New Orleans, to record "How Could I Help But Love You" and "Wrong
Number" for his next single (Minit 637). Also recorded are "For
Every Boy There's A Girl", to be released on sister-label Instant
(3282), while "Hey Little Alice" will be included on the LP
"Best of Art and Aaron Neville" (Bandy 70013). Personnel include
Roy Montrell (guitar), Chuck Badie (bass), John Boudreaux (drums),
Nat Perilliat (tenor sax), Alvin "Red" Tyler (baritone sax), Melvin
Lastie (cornet), and Allen Toussaint (piano). Session produced by
Allen Toussaint.

May 18, 1961 : Final Imperial session for HUEY "PIANO" SMITH and
the Clowns. "More Girls"/"Sassy Sara" is released on Imperial 5772
in August. The other two tracks, "Psycho" and "Somebody Told It"
will first be released on the LP "The Imperial Sides 1960-61" in 1983
(Pathe-Marconi 1546731, France). Musicians include Huey Smith
(piano, arranger), Robert Parker and Walter Kimble (tenor saxophones),
Justin Adams and George Davis (guitars) and Robert French (drums).
Produced by Dave Bartholomew at Cosimo's Studio, New Orleans.

May 19-21, 1961 : BRENDA LEE records 14 tracks (four of them
unissued until the release of the Bear Family box-set in 1995), nine
of which will come out on the LP "All the Way" (Decca DL 4176) in
August. Of these, three will also be issued as singles : "Dum Dum"/
"Eventually" (Decca 31272, release date June 26) and "Speak To Me
Pretty" (Brunswick 0.5867, UK, March 1962). Personnel: Hank Garland,
Grady Martin, guitars ; Harold Bradley, electric bass ; Joe Zinkan, bass ;
Doug Kirkham, drums (on May 19), Buddy Harman, drums (May 20-21);
Floyd Cramer, piano, organ (on "Dum Dum") ; Boots Randolph, sax ;
The Anita Kerr Singers, vocal chorus. Plus 4 violons and a cello.
Produced by Owen Bradley at Bradley Studio in Nashville.

May 22, 1961: In Nashville, at the RCA Victor studio, ANDY STARR
records four tracks for two singles on the Holiday Inn label: "Knee
Shakin' " / "Evil Eye" (104) and "Itty Bitty Feeling" / "Lost In A Dream"
(108). The latter coupling will even see a UK release on the famous
London label (HLU 9545, credited to Frank Starr) !  Backup musicians
include Harold Bradley and Ray Edenton (guitars), Bob Moore (bass),
Buddy Harman (drums), Boots Randolph (sax) and Floyd Cramer (piano).
Vocal support by the Anita Kerr Singers. The session is produced by
Joe Leonard.

May 24, 1961 : CLYDE McPHATTER is at Bell Sound Studio in NYC
to record four tracks. "I Never Knew"/"Happiness" is released in August
on Mercury 71841 ; "Friends" and "How Do I Make My Dreams Come
True" are first released on volume 4 of the 9-LP set "Rhythm And Soul,
'59-'65" (Bear Family BFX 15271), circa 1985. Produced by Clyde Otis,
orchestra conducted by Chuck Sagle.

May 24, 1961: At the Owen Bradley studio in Nashville, CARL PERKINS
records "The Unhappy Girls" and "Anyway The Wind Blows", which will
be used for a Columbia single (42061), while an updated version of "Turn
Around" and "Someday, Somwhere, Someone Waits For Me" have to
stay on the shelves, waiting to be selected by Richard Weize for the
CD Box "The Classic Carl Perkins" (BCD 15494) in 1990. Personnel:
Carl Perkins (vocal, guitar), Grady Martin and Harold Bradley (guitars),
Joe Zinkan (bass), Willie Ackerman (drums) and Hargus Robbins
(piano). The session is produced by Don Law.

May 24, 1961 : In Cincinnati's King Studio, RUSTY YORK records
material for two singles, "Love Struck"/"Goodnight Cincinnati, Good
Morning Tennessee" (King 5511, July) and "Tore Up Over You" c/w
"Tremblin'" (King 5587, January 1962). Backing by Mickey Baker and
Joe Richardson (guitars), Bob Bushnell (bass), Horace Ott (piano),
Buddy Lucas and Henry Moore (saxes), unidentified (drums).
Produced by Syd Nathan.

May 24, 1961 : In New York City, THE MONOTONES record their final
released single, "Daddy's Home But Mama's Gone"/"Tattletale" (Hull
743, June). The A-side is an answer to "Daddy's Home" by Shep and
the Limelites (who recorded four tracks for Hull on May 26, further
details on request).

May 24-25, 1961: In Miami, at the Criteria studios, RAL DONNER
records no less than 13 tracks. "You Don't Know What You've Got" b/w
"So Close To Heaven" will be used for his next single (Gone 5108), while
"School Of Heartbreak" will be selected for the B-side of a future single
(Gone 5119). "Nine Times Out Of Ten", "Lonely Star" and "She's My
Baby" appear on the LP "Taking Care Of Business" (Gone LP 5012,
Sept. 1961). From the remaining tracks, "Please Don't Tease", "Cream
Puff" and "Nite Owl" will have to wait until 1978 / 1988 for belated LP
releases, while "You Haven't Lived Until You Loved", "Tears Of Misery"
and "Little Miss Heartbreak" finally see the light of day on CD ("The
Complete Ral Donner", Sequel 2CD NED 190) during 1991. An early
version of "Turn Back The Clock" remains unissued.
Session musicians unknown, producer George Goldner.

May 26, 1961 : RAY STEVENS lays down two singles at Bradley
Studio in Nashville, "Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick
Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green And Purple Pills"/
"Teen Years" (Mercury 71843, August) and "Scratch My Back
(I Love It)"/"When You Wish Upon A Star" (Mercury 71888, November).
Produced by Shelby Singleton. Orchestra conducted by Jerry Kennedy,
with vocal support by the Merry Melody Singers.

May 26, 1961 : In Cincinnati, HANK BALLARD and the Midnighters
record their next single, "The Float"/"The Switch-A-Roo" (King 5510,
June) as well the instrumental "The Big Frog" (King 5513) and the LP
tracks "I Belong To You" and "I Got A Mind To Leave You". Session
personnel: Mark Patterson (trumpet), J.C. Davis and Henry Moore (tenor
saxes), Jimmy Johnson (piano), Freddie Jordan (guitar), Navarre Hastings
(electric bass), Joe Hardwick (drums), Gene Redd (slide whistle).

May 26, 1961 : The penultimate session of THE KALIN TWINS results
in the single "One More Time"/"Bubbles" (Decca 31286, July). Location:
Decca Studio A, Decca Building, New York City. Orchestra and chorus
directed by Clint Ballard, Jr.

May 26, 1961 : JOE DOWELL has his first session for Smash Records,
at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville.
Four tracks are recorded, including a future # 1. "Wooden Heart"/"Little
Bo Peep" is released in June on Smash 1708. "Our School Days" will
be used for the B-side of  "Bringa-Branga-Brought" (Smash 1799) in
early 1963. "The One I Left For You" remains unissued until the release
of Joe's Bear Family CD ("Wooden Heart", BCD 16647) in 2004.
Produced by Shelby Singleton, Jr.

May 27, 1961 : Still in Nashville, ROY ORBISON records three tracks
for his second LP, "Crying" (Monument M 4007) : "Summer Song",
(also released in 1966 as the B-side of "Lana", Monument 939), ""Dance"
and "Loneliness". Personnel: Grady Martin, Ray Edenton, Harold Bradley
(guitars), Bob Moore (bass), Floyd Cramer (piano), Buddy Harman (drums),
Boots Randolph (sax), Harry Johnson (sax), Carl Garvin and Cameron
Mullins (trumpets), plus five violins and one cello. Produced by Fred Foster
at RCA Victor Studio.

May 30-31, 1961 : And yet another Nashville session, again at RCA Victor.
THE EVERLY BROTHERS record ten songs for the 14-track LP "Both
Sides Of An Evening" (Warner Bros 1418, August). "My Mammy", Don't
Blame Me", "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", "Grandfather's Clock" and
"Mention My Name In Sheboygan" are recorded on the 30th and "My Gal
Sal", "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo", "Now Is the Hour", "The Wayward Wind" and "Love
Is Where You Find It" on the 31st. "Don't Blame Me" is selected for
single release (Warner Bros 5501, September 2). Personnel includes
Hank Garland (guitar), Marvin Hughes (piano) and Buddy Harman (drums).

May 31, 1961 : DR. FEELGOOD and the Interns have their first session
for OKeh Records, produced by Don Law in ... Nashville (Bradley Studio).
Eight tracks are recorded, all of which will appear on the LP "Doctor
Feelgood" in 1962 (OKeh OKM 12101). Selected for single release are
"Doctor Feelgood"/"Mister Moonlight" (OKeh 7144, February 1962) and
"Right String But the Wrong Yo-Yo" (Okeh 7156, July 1962). The other
tracks are "The Swabble", "I'll Be Home One Day", "Sea Breeze", "I Ain't
Gonna Be A Lowdown Dog No More" and "Don't Let Me Catch You Wrong".
Personnel : Willie Perryman (aka Piano Red aka Dr. Feelgood), vocals,
piano; Roy Lee Johnson, Jr., guitar ; Curtis Smith, guitar ; Beverly 
Watkins,
guitar ; Long John Hobbs, bass ; Bobby Lee Tuggle, drums.

May 1961, unknown date : JOHNNY BURNETTE records his next
single in Hollywood, "I've Got A Lot Of Things To Do"/"Girls" (Liberty
55345, June). In the UK, "Girls" becomes the A-side (London HLG 9388).
Produced by Snuff Garrett, further details unknown.

May 1961, unknown date : In Chicago, HOWLIN' WOLF records his new
single, "Down In the Bottom"/"Little Baby" (Chess 1793, June). Personnel:
Chester Burnett (Howlin' Wolf), vocal, guitar ; Johnny Jones, piano ; Hubert
Sumlin and Jimmy Rogers, guitars ; Willie Dixon, bass ; Sam Lay, drums.

With thanks to Henk Gorter, Steve Walker and Jarle Jensen.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index