November 1, 1961 : Last day of a three-day Nashville session for
WANDA JACKSON. "Let Me Talk To You" is first released on
Capitol 5015 in July 1963 and "(Let's Stop) Kickin' Our Hearts
Around" stays on the shelf until 1965, when it comes out on the
LP "Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs" (Capitol T 2438).
Produced by Ken Nelson.
 
November 1, 1961 : THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN record their
next 45, "Watch Your Step"/ "Twist It", for release on Columbia
DB 4746 on November 24. An earlier version of "Watch Your
Step" had been recorded on September 28, 1961, and was held
in the can until the release of the CD "John Barry : The EMI Years,
Vol.2" in 1993. Produced by Norman Newell at EMI's Abbey Road
Studio in London.
 
November 2, 1961 : In New York City, CONNIE FRANCIS records
her next single, "When the Boy In Your Arms (Is the Boy In Your
Heart)"/ "Baby's First Christmas" (MGM 13051, rush released), as
well as "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" (MGM 13059, end
of January 1962). Orchestra conducted by Don Costa. Produced by
Arnold Maxin.
 
November 6, 1961 : FATS DOMINO records "Jambalaya" in New
Orleans, for his next single (Imperial 5796), released at the end of
the month. Also recorded are the LP tracks "Do You Know What It
Means To Miss New Orleans" and "South Of the Border" (both for
"Twistin' the Stomp", Imperial LP 9170, February 1962) and "Wishing
Ring" (for "Just Domino", LP 9208, September 1962). "Birds And
Bees", also for "Just Domino", was recorded on November 2.
Personnel: Lee Allen, Buddy Hagans (tenor saxes), Roy Montrell 
(guitar), Dave Bartholomew (trumpet, producer), Clarence Ford
(baritone sax), Cornelius Coleman (drums) and an unknown bass
player. 
 
November 7, 1961 : FLOYD CRAMER records his next single,
"Chattanooga Choo Choo"/"Let's Go" (RCA 7978, December)
in Nashville. Produced by Chet Atkins.
 
November 7, 1961 : Also in Nashville (Bradley Studio), JIMMY
DEAN lays down "The Cajun Queen", for release on Columbia
42282 in January 1962. Personnel : Grady Martin, Ray Edenton,
Harold Bradley, guitars ; Joe Zinkan, bass ; Buddy Harman, drums ;
Floyd Cramer, piano ; Charlie McCoy, harmonica. Produced by
Don Law.
 
November 7, 8, 10, 14, 1961 : BOBBY DARIN records the LP "Bobby
Darin Sings Ray Charles" (Atco 33-140, March 1962). An edited version
of "What'd I Say" (Parts 1 & 2) is released as Atco 6221, also in
March. Not on the album is "Multiplication", recorded on November 8,
and selected for the new single (Atco 6214, late November)..
Personnel : Plas Johnson and Nino Tempo (saxes), Rene Hall and
Glen Campbell (guitars), Earl Palmer and Richie Frost (drums), Ray
Johnson (piano), Red Callender (bass), The Blossoms (Darlene Love,
Fanita James, Gloria Jones), vocal group. Produced by Ahmet
Ertegun, arranged by Jimmie Haskell. Location : Los Angeles.
These were Bobby's final sessions for Atco.
 
November 8, 1961 : At Reco-Art Sound Recording Co., Philadelphia, 
DANNY & THE JUNIORS with "guest- vocal" FREDDY CANNON record
"Twistin' All Night Long". Later this month (November, 14), at an overdub
session at Mirasound studio in New York, THE FOUR SEASONS add
vocal support to the basic track. Instrumental accompaniment is supplied
by the Frank Slay Orchestra. The final result is used for the A-side of
Swan 4092, b/w a second release of "Some Kind Of Nut", from an earlier
session (see August 1961). The session is produced by Frank Slay and
Bob Crewe.
 
November 8, 1961 : In Nashville (Bradley Studio) MARTY ROBBINS 
lays down his new single, "Sometimes I'm Tempted"/"I Told the Brook"
(Columbia 42246), for release on November 24. There are four guitar
players: Grady Martin, Jack Pruett, Billy Grammer and Jerry Byrd
(steel guitar). Joe Zinkan plays bass, Bill Purcell piano and Louis
Dunn drums. Produced by Don Law.
 
November 8, 1961 : ROY ORBISON is also in Nashville (RCA Victor 
Studio), where he records "House Without Windows" (a track for the 
LP "In Dreams", Monument LP 8003) and two attempts at "Gigolette".
Bob Moore plays bass, more details unknown. Produced by Fred 
Foster. See also November 15.
 
November 11, 1961 : In Washington, D.C., MARVIN RAINWATER 
records his second Warwick single, "Tough Top Cat"/"(There's A) 
Honky Tonk In Your Heart" (674), possibly with Link Wray and the
Raymen. The A-side is a take-off on "Big Bad John". Released in
January 1962. Produced by Ray Vernon.
 
November 13-14, 1961 : THE EVERLY BROTHERS record the
final three tracks for the "Instant Party" LP on November 13 :
"Theme From Carnival (Love Makes the World Go Round)",
"Step It Up And Go" and "Trouble In Mind". Also recorded is
"I'm Gonna Move To the Outskirts Of Town", which sees its
first release on the LP "Rock 'n Soul" (Warner Bros 1578) in 
March 1965.
On November 14 they lay down "Crying In the Rain"/ "I'm Not 
Angry" (their next single, Warner Bros 5250, released December
12), "That's Old Fashioned" (Warner Bros 5273, April 1962) and
"He's Got My Sympathy" (first released on the UK LP "New Album" 
in 1977, Warner Bros K 56415). Location : RCA Victor Studio in
Nashville. Producer and personnel unknown.
 
November 14 & 16 : In New York, at Bell Sound, RAL DONNER
records "(What A Sad Way) To Love Someone" and "Will You
Love Me In Heaven" for his next single (Gone 5125). Also recorded 
are "Loveless Life" (used for a future single, Gone 5129),  "She's 
Everything" (available for just a few weeks on the withdrawn single 
Gone 5121), and two tracks to be shelved for 30 years, "Silver And 
Gold" and "Half Heaven Half Heartache" (included on the UK CD
"The Complete Ral Donner" (Sequel 2CD NED 190)). No further
session details available.  
 
November 15, 1961 : More recording activity by ROY ORBISON in
Nashville. A third try at "(They Call You) Gigolette" is mastered for
release on the "In Dreams" LP. "How Are Things In Paradise" stays
in the can until 1983, when the track is released on the 2-LP set
"The Roy Orbison Collection" (Monument/CBS XPS 178). "Let the 
Good Times Roll" is a track for the LP "Crying" (Monument M 4007).
The classic "Blue Bayou" is inexplicably held in the can until mid-1963,
when it is released on Monument 824. "Wedding Day" (another track
for the LP "Crying") and "Yes" (also first issued on XPS 178) may 
also have been recorded at this session, which was arranged by Jim
Hall and produced by Fred Foster.
Personnel : Harold Bradley, Fred Carter Jr and Joe Tanner, guitars ;
Bob Moore, bass ; John Greubel, drums ; Buddy Harman, drums ;
Bill Purcell, piano ; Boots Randolph, sax ; Charliie McCoy, harmonica.
Plus a 7 string section. Bear Family has no information about the
harpsichord player on "Blue Bayou", who may be Floyd Cramer.
 
November 20, 1961 : Second session for CONNIE FRANCIS this
month, again in NYC. Among the songs recorded is "Mister Twister",
which becomes the opening track for the LP "Do the Twist" (MGM SE
4022) in February 1962. In that month "Mister Twister" is released as
a single (MGM 1151) in the UK. Orchestra conducted by Sammy Love.
Produced by Arnold Maxin.
 
November 21, 1961 : One of the rare HANK BALLARD sessions
outside of Cincinnati. In New York City he records "Miss Twister"
and "Up And Away", both for the LP "The Twistin' Fools" (King LP
781), released in February 1962. "Hello Lover, Goodbye Tears" from
this session remains unissued. Personnel includes Buddy Lucas
(tenor sax), Mickey Baker (guitar), Ernie Hayes (piano) and Navarro
Hastings (bass). Arranged by Horace Ott.
 
November 24, 1961 : DEL SHANNON records at Mira Sound Studio
in New York City. "Hey Little Girl"/"I Don't Care Anymore" is issued
on Bigtop 3091 in December. Personnel : Al Caiola, guitar ; Milt Hinton,
bass ; Max Crook, piano, musitron ; Bill Ramal, sax ; Joe Marshall,
drums ; Unidentified : tambourine, strings, female vocal group. Harry
Balk is the producer, Bill Ramal the arranger. This was a split session
with Max Crook.
 
November 30, 1961 : The third UK session for GENE VINCENT results
in "Spaceship To Mars" (for the film "It's Trad Dad") and "There I Go 
Again". "Spaceship To Mars" is first issued on the Various artists LP
"It's Trad Dad" (Columbia SX 1412, UK) in March 1962. "There I Go 
Again" is originally only issued in France and Spain ("Be Bop A Lula
'62" EP, 1962) and sees its first UK release in 1974 ("King Of Fools"
LP on Regal Starline). Produced by Norrie Paramor at EMI's Abbey 
Road Studio in London. Backing by Sounds Incorporated.
 
Early November 1961 (exact date unknown) : BROOK BENTON records
material for two singles: "Revenge"/"Really Really" (Mercury 71903,
rush released) and "Walk On the Walk Side"/"Somewhere In the Used
To Be" (Mercury 71925, February 1962).. Produced by Clyde Otis in
New York City. Arranged / orchestra conducted by Stan Applebaum.
 
With thanks to Henk Gorter, Steve Walker, Jarle Jensen and Phil Davies.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index