December 1, 1961 : At EMI's Abbey Road Studio, JOHNNY KIDD and 
the Pirates record their new single, "Hurry On Back To Love"/ "I Want 
That", backed by the Mike Sammes Singers and Orchestra. Release 
on HMV POP 978 in January 1962. 
 
December 3, 1961 : Saxophonist RED PRYSOCK records five tracks
in Cincinnati, all released as singles : "Hand Clapping One More
Time"/"Smokestack" (King 5595, January 1962), "Quick As A Flash"/
"Old Folks" (King 5644, June 1962), "Can't Sit Down, Part 1" (King 
5704, February 1963).
 
December 5, 1961 : SMILEY LEWIS is now signed to OKeh Records.
His only released single for the label is "Tore Up"/"I'm Coming Down
With the Blues" (OKeh 7146). The other two tracks from this session,
"Tomorrow Night" and "To the River" were first issued on the Bear
Family box-set "Shame, Shame, Shame" (BCD 15745) in 1993.
Musicians : Melvin Lastie, cornet / leader ; Oscar Moore, drums ; 
Lawrence Nelson (Prince La La), guitar ; Chuck Badie, bass ; Nat
Perrilliat, tenor sax ; Harold Battiste, tenor sax ; Red Tyler, sax ;
William Myles, trombone ; Unknown, vocal chorus. Produced by
Sol Rabinowitz in New Orleans.
 
December 6, 1962 : SOLOMON BURKE records his new single, "Cry
To Me"/"I Almost Lost My Mind" (Atlantic 2131, January 1962) in New
York City, and also "A Tear Fell", originally an LP track, released as a
single (Atlantic 2369) in 1966. Produced by Jerry Wexler. Personnel
includes Al Caiola and Bucky Pizzarelli (guitars), Jesse Powell (tenor
sax), Hank Jones (piano) and Gary Chester (drums).
 
December 7, 1961 : RICKY NELSON has an evening session at Master
Recorders in Hollywood. The Jerry Fuller compositions "Congratulations" 
and "Poor Loser" both end up on the LP "Album Seven By Rick" (Imperial
LP 9167, March 1962) ; the former is also released as a single (Imperial
66017) in February 1964. Personnel : Ricky Nelson, vocal / guitar ; James 
Burton, lead guitar ; Glen Campbell, guitar ; Jerry Puckett, guitar ; Joe 
Osborn, bass ; Richie Frost, drums ; Ray Johnson, piano ; Dave Burgess, 
Glen Campbell and Jerry Fuller, vocal chorus ; Jimmie Haskell, arranger / 
producer. 
 
December 11, 1961 : Another Capitol session for JACK SCOTT at Bell
Sound Studio, 237 West 54th Street in New York City. The six tracks 
recorded are used for Jack's next three singles: "Grizzily [sic] Bear"/
"Cry Cry, Cry" (Capitol 4689, January), "You Only See What You 
Wanna See"/"The Part Where I Cry" (Capitol 4738, April 1962), "Sad 
Story"/"I Can't Hold Your Letters (In My Arms)" (Capitol 4796, July 1962).
Produced by Manny Kellem. Orchestra conducted by Bill Sanford.  
 
December 12, 1961 : In Nashville, BOB LUMAN records his next two 
singles : "Louisiana Man"/"Rocks Of Reno" (Warner Bros 5255, Jan.
1962) and "Big River Rose"/"Belonging To You" (Warner Bros 5272,
April 1962). Supervised by Wesley Rose. 
 
December 13, 1961 : Way down yonder in New Orleans, EARL KING 
records "Trick Bag" and "Always A First Time" for his next single 
(Imperial 5811, January 1962). Also recorded is  "We Are Just Friends" 
for a future single (Imperial 5858, June 1962), while "Something Funny"
will stay on the shelves for 42 years, until the 2003 release of Earl's
"The Complete Imperial Recordings" (Okra-tone CD 4970).
Personnel includes (possibly) : 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, as usual, 
Dave Bartholomew
 
December 14, 18, 21, 1961 : BEN E. KING records twelve songs for the
LP "Ben E. King Sings For Soulful Lovers" (Atco 33-137, February 1962).
Only one of these twelve is also released as a single : "My Heart Cries
For You" (Atco 6231, July 1962). Personnel varies, but Wendell Marshall
(bass), Gary Chester (drums) and Bob Rosengarten (percussion) are
present on all three days. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,
arranged by Klaus Ogerman.
 
December 16, 1961 : JOHNNY BURNETTE is at United Recording
Corporation in Hollywood to record three tracks. "Clown Shoes" becomes
the A-side of the new single (Liberty 55416) in February 1962. "Angry
At the Big Oak Tree" is a track for the LP "Roses Are Red" (Liberty
LRP 3255). "Second Chance" is first released on the CD "The Best Of
Johnny Burnette" (EMI CDP 792924, UK) in 1989.
Personnel : Tommy Allsup, Barney Kessel, Bill Pitman, guitars ; Earl
Palmer. drums ; Red Callender, bass ; Robert Florence, piano. Plus 10
strings. Produced by Snuff Garrett, arranged by Ernie Freeman.
On December 21 and 26, Johnny also lays down seven tracks for his
next LP, "Johnny Burnette's Hits And Other Favorites" (Liberty LRP 3206).
 
December 17, 1961 : At Bradley Studio in Nashville, PATSY CLINE 
records the Hank Cochran composition "She's Got You", for release
on Decca 31354 on January 10, 1962. Backing by Harold Bradley (6-string
electric bass) ; Floyd Cramer (piano), Buddy Harman (drums) ; Walter
Haynes (steel guitar) ; Grady Martin (electric guitar) ; Bob Moore (bass) ;
Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar) ; Bill Pursell (organ) ; The Jordanaires
(vocal group). Produced by Owen Bradley.
 
December 18-19, 1961 : SAM COOKE records four tracks at RCA Studio 1 
in Hollywood. "Twistin' the Night Away"/"One More Time" is chosen for the
new single (RCA 7983, January).  "Somebody's Gonna Miss Me" gets a
place on the LP "Twistin' the Night Away" (RCA LPM 2555, June 1962) 
and "Don't Cry On My Shoulder" on the LP "Try A Little Love" (RCA LPM 
3435, 1965). Produced by Hugo & Luigi, arranged by Rene Hall. 
Musicians : Tommy Tedesco, Clifton White, Rene Hall (guitars), Ernie 
Hayes, Edward T. Beal (piano), Jewell Grant, Jackie Kelso, John Ewing 
(saxes), Earl Palmer (drums). Engineer : Al Schmitt.
 
December 19, 1961 : In RCA Studio B, Nashville, RUSTY AND DOUG
lay down material for two singles : "Cheated Too"/"So Lovely Baby" 
(new version) for release on Hickory 1163 in February 1962, and "Cajun 
Joe (The Bully Of the Bayou)"/"Sweet Sweet Girl To Me" (Hickory 1177, 
June 1962). Backing by Harold Bradley (lead guitar), Ray Edenton and 
Chet Atkins (guitars), Floyd Cramer (piano), Lightnin' Chance (bass) 
and Buddy Harman (drums). Produced by Wesley Rose.
 
December 19, 1961 : In London, CLIFF RICHARD records two future
B-sides, "Do You Wanna Dance" (Columbia DB 4828, May 1962. 
This was the B-side of "I'm Looking Out the Window" in the UK ; in 
many other countries it was the top deck) and "Since I Lost You" 
(Columbia DB 4886, September 1962, flip of "It'll Be Me"). Produced 
by Norrie Paramor at EMI's Abbey Road Studio. 
 
December 21, 1961 : THE MARCELS lay down their next single, "My
Melancholy Baby"/"Really Need Your Love" (Colpix 624, Jan. 1962).  
Produced by Stu Phillips in New York City.
 
December 27, 1961 : HANK BALLARD records "Do You Know How To
Twist" (King 5593, January 1962) in Cincinnati.  It will become Ballard's 
last entry in the Billboard pop charts.
 
December 1961, unknown date : HOWLIN' WOLF is back at the Chess
studio in Chicago. Two singles are the result of this session : "You'll Be
Mine"/"Goin' Down Slow" (Chess 1813, February 1962) and "Just Like I
Treat You"/"I Ain't Superstitious" (Chess 1823, May 1962). 
Personnel : Howlin' Wolf (Chester Burnett), vocal / guitar ; Hubert Sumlin
and Jimmy Rogers, guitars ; Henry Gray, piano ; Willie Dixon, bass ;
Sam Lay, drums.
 
With thanks to Henk Gorter and Steve Walker.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index