August 1, 1961 : At Reco-Art Sound Recording Co., Philadelphia, 
DANNY & THE JUNIORS have a recording session. "Back To The 
Hop" and "The Charleston Fish" will be chosen for their next single 
(Swan 4082), while "Just Because", "Your Hair's Too Long" and
"Some Kind Of Nut" will appear on a future three-track (!) single 
(Swan 4084). The instrumental accompaniment is supplied by the 
Frank Slay Orchestra and the session is produced by Frank Slay 
and Bob Crewe.
 
August 7, 1961 : In Cincinnati, CHARLES BROWN records six 
tracks for the LP "Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs" (King
LP 775, late November). Three further songs are recorded on 
August 10. All tracks will also be released as singles, in various 
years.
 
August 9, 1961 : At RCA's New York Studio A, SAM COOKE
records his next single, "Feel It"/"It's All Right" (RCA 7927,
September). Produced by Hugo and Luigi, arranged and conducted
by Stan Applebaum. "Feel It" was rereleased in 1966 on RCA 8751.
 
August 10, 1961 : RICKY NELSON records two tracks at United
Recording Corporation in Hollywood, produced by Jimmie Haskell.
"Poor Little Heart" is unissued and lost, "Thank You Darling" is
released on "Album Seven By Rick" (Imperial LP 9167) in March
1962, and also as the B-side of "Today's Teardrops" in November
1963 (Imperial 66004). Personnel : Ricky Nelson, vocal / guitar ;
James Burton, lead guitar ; Joe Osborn, bass ; Richie Frost, drums ;
Allen Harris, piano ; Glen Campbell, Jerry Fuller and Dave Burgess,
vocal chorus.
Three tracks were also recorded on August 14 (Swingin' On the 
Golden Gate, Nelson Family Theme, What'd I Say), but these are
all unissued / lost. These are most probably tracks for the TV show
("The Adventues Of Ozzie And Harriet").
 
August 17, 1961 : First of four August sessions for PATSY CLINE, 
all in Nashville (Bradley Studio), produced by Owen Bradley. On this
day she lays down "True Love" (Decca 25724, December 1967), 
"San Antonio Rose" (Decca 25673, July 1965), "The Wayward Wind" 
(Decca 25747, March 1969) and a new version of "A Poor Man's Roses".
Personnel includes Harold Bradley, Grady Martin, Bob Moore, Hargus
"Pig" Robbins and Buddy Harman.
 
August 18, 1961 : At the same studio, JIMMY DEAN records his
smash hit "Big Bad John"/"I Won't Go Huntin' With You Jake" 
(Columbia 42175, September) and the LP track "Abilene". 
Personnel : Grady Martin, Harold Bradley and Ray Edenton, guitars ;
Walter Haynes, steel guitar ; Joe Zinkan, bass ; Floyd Cramer,
piano ; Buddy Harman, drums. Produced by Don Law.
Floyd Cramer felt that the arrangement of "Big Bad John" didn't
need a piano. He created the pickaxe sound effects by hanging an 
iron doorstopper on a coat hanger and hitting it with a hammer.
 
August 21, 1961 : PATSY CLINE records one of her most famous 
numbers, Willie Nelson's composition "Crazy", released on Decca 
31317 on October 16. Session personnel : Harold Bradley (6-string 
electric bass), Owen Bradley (organ), Floyd Cramer (piano), Buddy 
Harman (drums), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic
guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass) and
the Jordanaires (vocal chorus).
 
August 22, 1961: At Audio Recorders, Phoenix, AL CASEY produces
and records "Doin' The Shotish" for his second single "(Stacy 936, b/w
"Jivin' Around" from an unknown session). Also recorded is "Theme
From 'Huckleberry Hound'", which will be kept on the shelves until 
the release of the fine "Jivin' Around" CD (Ace 612) in 1995. Al plays
both guitar & organ, and is supported by his wife, Corky Casey (bass), 
Brad Bauder (sax) and Bob Taylor (drums). The session is engineered 
by Jack Miller.
 
August 22, 1961 : FRANKIE LYMON records his last single for the
Roulette label : "I Put the Bomb"/"Young" (4391). The A-side is of 
course an answer to Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomb".
 
August 23, 1961 : YOUNG JESSIE records four tracks in Los Angeles.
"My Country Cousin"/"Teacher Gimmie Back" is released on Mercury
71895 in October. "Party Invitation" and "Sweet Talk" have never been
issued, as far as I know. Produced by Bumps Blackwell and Quincy
Jones, arranged by Jerry Long. Orchestra conducted by Dick Hazard.
Billy Riley is probably the harmonica player, more details unknown.
 
August 24-25, 1961 : More PATSY CLINE studio dates. On the 24th 
she records "Who Can I Count On" (the B-side of "Crazy"), "Seven 
Lonely Days", "I Love You So Much It Hurts" (together on Decca 25686, 
November 1965), "Foolin' Around" (Decca 25707, December 1966) and
"Have You Ever Been Lonely"(Decca 25718, July 1967), followed by
"South Of the Border" ((Decca 25673, July 1965), a remake of "Walkin' 
After Midnight", "Strange" (Decca 31354, January 1962) and "You're 
Stronger Than Me" (Decca 31406, July 1962) on the 25th. Musicians 
are the same as on the "Crazy" session, but Floyd Cramer plays organ
this time and Pig Robbins piano. 
 
August 29, 1961 : JOE MELSON records material for two singles in
Nashville : "Wake Up Little Susie"/"Take It Like A Man" (Hickory 1155,
October) and "Dance"/"Love Is A Dangerous Thing" (Hickory 1175, June
1962). Backing by Grady Martin and Harold Bradley, guitars ; Charlie
McCoy, harmonica ; Boots Randolph, sax ; Floyd Cramer, piano ; Bob
Moore, bass ; Buddy Harman, drums. Produced by Wesley Rose.
 
August 29-31, 1961 : Three days of Nashville sessions (four days
actually, to be continued next month with Septermber 1) for THE
EVERLY BROTHERS, who record material for the LP "Instant
Party", due for release in January 1962 (Warner Bros 1430).
"Bye Bye Blackbird" and "True Love" are recorded on the 29th,
"Jezebel", "Autumn Leaves" and "Ground Hawg" on the 30th, 
and "The Party's Over" and "Long Lost John" on August 31.
Engineered by Bill Porter. Session men include Harold Bradley 
on guitar and Marvin Hughes on piano, other details and producer
unknown. Location : RCA Victor Studio, 1610 Hawkins Street,
Nashville.
 
August 29-30, 1961 : BRENDA LEE is also in Nashville, at Bradley
Studio. On the 29th she records "Here Comes That Feeling" (Decca
31379, release date April 16, 1962) as well as "Time Is Not Enough"
and "Just Forget" (both unissued). The harvest of the next day is 
good for two singles : "Fool #  1"/"Anybody But Me" (Decca 31309, 
September 25) and "So Deep"/"Break It To Me Gently" (Decca 31348,
release date January 8, 1962). Personnel : Grady Martin (guitar) ; Bob
Moore (bass) ; Harold Bradley (electric bass) ; Boots Randolph (sax) ;
Floyd Cramer (piano) ; Buddy Harman (drums) ; The Anita Kerr Singers
(vocal chorus). Plus 3 trumpet players (August 30 only) and 10 strings.
Produced by Owen Bradley, as always.
 
August 1961, unknown date : Another session for THE PLATTERS, in
Chicago this time. A new version of "You'll Never Know" will be issued
on Mercury 71904 in November. "It's Magic" becomes the single after
that, in February 1962 (Mercury 71921). "The Masquerade Is Over" and
"The Nearness Of You" remain unreleased until the appearance of Bear
Family's 9-CD box-set "Four Platters And One Lovely Dish" (BCD 15741)
in 1994. The Platters are : Sonny Turner (lead vocal), David Lynch (tenor),
Zola Taylor, Paul Robi (baritone) and Herb Reed (bass).  Arranged and
conducted by David Carroll.
 
Late August 1961 : LITTLE RICHARD is now signed to Mercury Records
and this is his first session for the label, produced by Quincy Jones,
who also conducts the orchestra. Seven tracks are recorded, all of them
released on the LP "It's Real : King Of the Gospel Singers" (Mercury MG
20656) : "The Captain Calls For You", "Do You Care" (also released as
Mercury 71911, promotional copies only), "He's Not Just A Soldier" (also
released as a single, Mercury 71884, October), "In Times Like These",
"He's My Star", "My Desire" and "It Takes Everything To Serve the Lord".
Vocal chorus support is supplied by the Howard Roberts Singers. Location :
New York City, unknown studio.
 
During August 1961, CONNIE FRANCIS records two entire albums at
Bradley Studio in Nashville : "Sing Along With Connie Francis" (Matimor
M-8002, September), produced by Jerry Deutsch and Lee G. Matson,
and "Connie Francis Sings Folk Song Favorites" (MGM SE-3969,
October), produced by Jim Vienneau.
 
With thanks to Henk Gorter, Steve Walker and Tony Wilkinson.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index