July 2, 1961 : ELVIS PRESLEY records a soundtrack session for
United Artists at RCA Studio B in Nashville. Four of the songs are 
released on April 10, 1962, on the EP "Follow That Dream" :
"Follow That Dream", "Angel", "I'm Not the Marrying Kind" and
"What A Wonderful Life" (RCA EPA 4368). Also recorded are 
"A Whistling Tune" (early version, stays in the can until 1991) 
and "Sound Advice" (first released on the LP "Elvis For Everyone", 
RCA LPM 3450, in 1965). 
Personnel: Hank Garland, Neal Matthews, guitars ; Bob Moore, 
bass ; Boots Randolph, sax ; Floyd Cramer, piano ; Buddy Harman,
drums ; D.J. Fontana, drums ; Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires, 
backup vocals. Produced by Hans Salter, engineered by Bill Porter.
 
July 5, 1961 : AMOS MILBURN's next single is "Movin' Time"/"The
Hammer" (King 5529, August), recorded on this day in Cincinnati.
 
July 5-6, 1961 : A two-day session for ERNIE K-DOE in New
Orleans, produced by Allen Toussaint. The harvest of the first day
is "Hey Hey Hey"/"I Love You the Best" (Minit 645, April 1962),
"Get Out Of My House" (Minit 656, October 1962) and "Easier
Said Than Done" (Minit 661, February 1963). On July 6, Ernie
records his next single, "I Cried My Last Tear"/"A Certain Girl"
(Minit 634, October), as well as "Reaping What You Show"
(Instant 3264) and three tracks that have never been issued :
"What's Her Name", "Report Yourself" and "Forget Her".
 
July 6, 1961 : At RCA Studio in Nashville, JOHN D. LOUDERMILK 
records four tracks for his first RCA LP, "Language Of Love" (RCA 
LPM 2434, October 1961) : "The Rocks Of Reno", "Mister Jones" 
(also released as the B-side of "Thou Shalt Not Steal", RCA 7993,
in February 1962), "Jimmie's Song" and "What Would You Take Me
For". Personnel : John D. Loudermilk, vocal / guitar / leader ; Henry
Strzelecki, bass ; James Isbell, drums ; Norro Wilson, harpischord.
Chorus : Norro Wilson, Donald Wayne Gant. Produced by Chet Atkins.
 
July 6-7, 1961 : BROOK BENTON records eleven songs for the LP
"The Bollweevil Song And 11 Other Great Hits" (Mercury MG 20641,
September). The title song had already been recorded in March.
Of these eleven tracks, "Frankie And Johnny" is selected for the 
new single (Mercury 71859, August). Arranged and conducted by
Stan Applebaum in New York City. Produced by Clyde Otis.
 
July 10, 1961 : Second 1961 session for NEIL SEDAKA, as usual at
RCA Victor Studio A in New York City. "Sweet Little You" is chosen
for the new single (RCA 7922, mid-August). "The Endless Night" is a
track for the LP "Three Great Guys : Paul Anka, Sam Cooke And Neil
Sedaka" (RCA LPM 2720), and "Your Heart Has Changed Its Mind" is
first released in 1978 on the LP "The Many Sides Of Neil Sedaka". 
Personnel includes Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Panama Francis on
drums, Milt Hinton on bass and Ernie Hayes on piano. Produced by
George Avakian, arranged by Stan Applebaum.
 
July 13, 1961 : At Bell Sound Studios in New York, THE DRIFTERS
record three future B-sides: "Loneliness Or Happiness" (Atlantic 2117,
August), "Somebody New Dancing With You" (Atlantic 2127, December)
and "Mexican Divorce" (Atlantic 2134, February 1962). The Drifters are
Rudy Lewis (lead), Charles Thomas (tenor / lead), Dock Green (baritone)
and Tommy Evans (bass). Female chorus : Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee
Warwick and Doris Troy. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,
arranged by Burt Bacharach.
 
July 14, 1961 : JOHN BARRY and his orchestra record more songs
for the 15-track LP "Stringbeat" (Columbia SX 1358, November) :
"Moody River", "A Handful Of Songs", "Like Waltz", "Donna's Theme",
"Rum-Dee-Dum-Dee-Dah", "Man From Madrid" and "The Challenge". 
"Starfire" (also for the LP) is laid down on July 31 and also released
as a single (Columbia DB 4699) on September 1. Produced by Norman
Newell and John Burgess at EMI's Abbey Road Studio in London.
 
July 17, 1961 : In Nashville (Bradley Studio) CONWAY TWITTY records
"Unchained Melody", which will be released as the B-side of "There Is 
Something On Your Mind" (MGM 13089) in July 1962. "Prisoner Of 
Love" stays in the can until the release of the Bear Family box-sets 
(first on vinyl, BFX 15174, then on CD, BCD 16112) and "Rose Marie" 
from this session is unissued / lost.
On July 24. Conway records his new single, "It's Driving Me Wild"/
"Sweet Sorrow" (MGM 13034, August). "A Little Bird Told Me" remains 
unissued until Bear Family picks it up. Personnel includes Al Bruno 
and Grady Martin (guitars), Floyd Cramer (piano) and Buddy Harman 
(drums). Produced by Jim Vienneau.
 
July 18-19, 1961 : Another Cincinnati session for HANK BALLARD 
and his Midnighters. On the 18th they record the single "Big Red 
Sunset"/"Can't You See I Need A Friend" (King 5550, October) and 
on the 19th also two tracks, "Nothing But Good" (King 5535, the next 
single, August) and "Do You Remember" (King 5578, January 1962). 
Backing by Mark Patterson and Gene Redd (trumpets), Henry Moore
(tenor sax), Unknown (bass), Jimmy Johnson (piano), Freddie Johnson
and David Hamilton (guitars), Navarre Hastings (electric bass) and 
Phillip Paul (drums).
 
July 19, 1961 : JOHNNY CASH records at Columbia Studios in
Hollywood. "Tennessee Flat Top Box" is selected for the next 45
(Columbia 42147, September). "I'm Free From the Chain Gang Now"
ends up on the LP "The Sound Of Johnny Cash" (Columbia CS-8602)
in August 1962. Also on that LP are "Delia's Gone" and "Sing It Pretty
Sue", but those versions date from February 1962 ; the earlier versions
from this July 1961 session can be found on Bear Family BCD 15562
("The Man In Black, 1959-'62", 5 CD-set). "So Do I" was first issued on
Bear Family BFX 15016 in 1978. Also recorded was an unissued new
version of "I Walk the Line".
Personnel : Johnny Cash, vocals / guitar ; Marshall Grant, bass ; 
W.S. Holland, drums ; Luther Perkins, electric guitar ; Johnny Western,
guitar ; Roy Nichols, guitar. Produced by Don Law and Frank Jones.
 
July 20, 1961 : Time for a new RICKY NELSON single. "Everlovin' "
and "A Wonder Like You" fit the bill and come out on Imperial 5770
in August. The third track from this session is "Today's Teardrops",
first released on "Album Seven By Rick" (Imperial LP 9167) in March
1962 and then chosen for single release in November 1963 (Imperial 
66004). Personnel: Ricky Nelson, vocal / guitar ; James Burton, lead
guitar ; Joe Osborn, bass ; Ray Johnson, piano ; Richie Frost, drums.
A vocal chorus (Glen Campbell, Jerry Fuller and Dave Burgess) is
overdubbed on July 28. Produced and arranged by Jimmie Haskell
at United Recording Corporation in Hollywood.
 
July 21-22, 1961 : CLYDE McPHATTER records 14 tracks : one single
"Same Time, Same Place"/"Your Second Choice" (Mercury 71868,
September) and the LP "Golden Blues Hits" (Mercury MG 20655).
Tracks : Honey Hush, The Bells, What Am I Living For, The Clock,
Fever, What'd I Say, C.C. Rider, Rockin' In My Heart, Kansas City,
I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday, Honest I Do, Blues Stay Away From
Me. Location : Bradley Studio, Nashville. Session personnel : Boots
Randolph, sax ; Pig Robbins, piano ; Charlie McCoy, harmonica ; 
Jerry Kennedy, guitar, arranger ; Kelso Herston, guitar ; Bob Moore,
bass ; Buddy Harman, drums ; The Merry Melody Singers, vocal chorus.
 
July 25, 1961 : BILL HALEY and his Comets have their only session
for the Gone label, out of which result two singles : "Spanish Twist"/
"My Kind Of Woman" (Gone 5111, August) and the instrumental 45
"Riviera"/"War Paint" (Gone 5116, November). Location : New York
City, possibly Bell Sound Studio.
Personnel : Bill Haley (vocals, rhythm guitar) ; Franny Beecher (lead
guitar) ; Johnny Kay (guitar) ; Billy Williamson (steel guitar) ; Al Rappa
(bass guitar) ; Dave Bates (drums) ; Johnny Grande (piano) ; Rudy
Pompilli (tenor sax).
 
July 25, 1961 : EARL KING is in New Orleans to record "You Better 
Know" and "Mama and Papa" for his next single on Imperial (5774). 
Also recorded are "It's Wrong" and "Case Of Love", which will remain 
on the shelves for 42 years, until the legal release of "The Complete
Imperial Recordings" (Okra-tone CD 4970) in 2003.
Personnel : Earl King (vocal, guitar), Dave Bartholomew and Wardell 
Quezergue (trumpet), Waldron Joseph (trombone), Merris Bechamin 
(tenor sax), Carl Bluin (baritone sax), James Booker (piano), George 
French (bass) and Robert French (drums). Producer : Dave Bartholomew.  
 
July 27, 1961 : Second UK session for GENE VINCENT, again at EMI's
Abbey Road studio in London, produced by Norrie Paramor. The result
is the single "I'm Going Home"/"Love Of A Man", released on Capitol CL
15215 (UK), on September 1. Backing by Sounds Incorporated : John
St. John (lead guitar), Wes Hunter (bass), Barrie Cameron (keyboards,
baritone sax), Alan Holmes (tenor sax), Tony Newman (drums) and
Griff West (tenor sax).
 
July 29, 1961 : Last CHUCK BERRY session before his prison sentence
(February 19, 1962 to October 18, 1963). "Come On"/"Go Go Go" is
chosen for the next single (Chess 1779, October). "The Man And the
Donkey", "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", "Trick Or Treat" and "All Aboard" 
will all be released in 1963 on the LP "Chuck Berry On Stage" (Chess 1480,
with overdubbed audience noise). "Everything I Do Is Wrong" remains in
the can from this session. Personnel : Chuck Berry, vocal / guitar ; Johnny
Johnson, piano ; L.C. Davis, tenor sax ; Ebby Hardy, drums ; Martha
Berry, harmony vocal on "Come On". Location : Chess Studio, Chicago.
 
July 1961, unknown date : CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY has his 
first and only session outside of New Orleans, in Memphis. Nine tracks
are laid down, from which two singles are drawn : "Standing In The Need
Of Love"/"On Bended Knees" (Argo 5401, October) and "A Little Too
Much"/"I Wish I Could Say the Same" (Argo 5408, January 1962). Also
released as a 45 is "If I Didn't Care" (Argo 5448), but not until July 1963.
"Since I Met You Baby" is first released on the CD "The Best Of Clarence
'Frogman' Henry" (MCA MCLD 19226) in 1993. The other three songs are
still unissued : "Son Of A Gun", "Why Did You Leave" and "Whistle Away
My Blues". Personnel : Bill Justis (guitar, producer), Boots Randolph (sax),
Floyd Cramer (piano), further details unknown.
 
Probably July 1961, unknown date : DEL SHANNON takes another trip from Michigan
to New York City (Mira Sound Studio, this time), to record his next single, 
"Solong Baby"/ "The Answer To Everything" (Bigtop 3083,  rush released). 
Personnel : Del Shannon, vocals / kazoo ; Al Caiola, guitar ; Max Crook,
piano, musitron ; Milt Hinton, bass ; Bill Ramal, sax, arranger ; Joe Marshall,
drums, tympani ; Unidentified : tambourine, vibes and female vocal group.
Producer : Harry Balk. This was a split session with Max Crook.
 
July 1961, unknown date : First Warwick session for MARVIN RAINWATER
(in Washington, D.C.), resulting in the single "Boo Hoo"/"I Can't Forget"
(Warwick 666, August). Backing by Link Wray and the Raymen.
 
With thanks to Henk Gorter, Steve Walker and Jarle Jensen.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index