December 4, 1962 : JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON has a session in
Los Angeles with the Johnny Otis Orchestra. Recorded are "Cold, Cold
Heart"/"That's the Chance You've Got to Take" (King 5716, February
1963), "I Say I Love You"/"You Better Love Me" (King 5833, January
1964) and, as the fifth track, "In the Evenin'" (King 5774, August 1963).
 
Wednesday, December 5, 1962 : DUANE EDDY records his next single, 
"Boss Guitar" (RCA 8131, January 1963) in Phoenix, Arizona (Audio 
Recorders). The reverse, "The Desert Rat", is recorded the next day. 
Personnel : Duane Eddy, guitar, producer ; James Gray, rhythm guitar ; 
Donnie Owens, guitar ; Jimmy Wilcox, bass ; Bob Taylor, drums ; Howard
Crook, piano / harmonica / organ ; Al Simmons, string bass ; Jim Horn,
saxophone. "Boss Guitar" will be overdubbed by the vocal group The
Blossoms (Darlene Love, Fanita James, Gracia Nitzsche) in Hollywood.
They are billed as the Rebelettes on the label. 
 
December 6, 1962 : PIANO RED (Willie Perryman) has another session
for OKeh Records, in Nashville (Columbia Studio). Only "My Gal Jo"
(not the same song that Red recorded for RCA in 1950) has survived 
from this session and is released on OKeh 7167 in January 1963. The
other three tracks, "The Double Twist" and "Rock Me" and Jumping the 
Boogie" are unissued and considered as lost. Personnel includes Boots
Randolph on sax and Grady Martin on organ (!). Produced by Don Law.
 
December 6, 1962 : JACK CLEMENT records a single for the Hall-Way
label from Houston, Texas : "My Voice Is Changing"/"Time After Time 
After Time" (Hall-Way 1796). 
 
December 8, 1962 : In New Orleans, TOMMY RIDGLEY records material
for two singles : "Heavenly"/"I Love You, Yes I Do" (Ric 993) and "I've 
Heard That Story Before"/"Honest I Do" (Ric 994), both released in 1963. 
Personnel : Lee Allen, tenor sax ; Red Tyler, baritone sax ; Melvin Lastie,
trumpet ; Mac Rebennack, piano ; Justin Adams, guitar ; Chuck Badie,
bass ; Cornelius Coleman, drums ; Leo O'Neil, vibraphone. Unknown :
strings, female vocal chorus. Produced by Joe Ruffino.
 
Monday, December 10, 1962 : Recording date of "Foot Tapper" by 
THE SHADOWS (Columbia DB 4984, February 1963). Produced by
Norrie Paramor at EMI's Abbey Road Studio in London. The Shadows
are Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Brian Locking and Brian Bennett.
 
December 12, 1962 : DION is now signed to Columbia Records and
has his first recording session for the label on this day. "Will Love
Ever Come My Way" will be released on the "Ruby Baby" LP in
March 1963 (Columbia 8810). On December 15, Dion records his
first single for his new company, "Ruby Baby" (Columbia 42662,
January 1963). Produced by Robert Mersey.
 
December 12-14, 1962 : In Los Angeles THE PLATTERS record the
LP "The Platters Sing All Time Movie Hits" (Mercury MG 20782).
Only one of the twelve tracks is also released as a single, "Here 
Comes Heaven Again" (Mercury 72129, May 1963, B-side of 
"Strangers"). Arranged and conducted by David Carroll. 
The Platters are : Sonny Turner, David Lynch, Zola Taylor, Herb
Reed and Paul Robi.
 
December 14-16, 1962 : SAM COOKE records seven tracks for the 
LP "Mr. Soul" (RCA LPM 2673, February 1963) : "All the Way", "Cry
Me A River", "Smoke Rings", "I Wish You Love", "Driftin' Blues", 
"Little Girl" and "These  Foolish Things". Produced by Hugo (Peretti)
and Luigi (Creatore) at RCA Studio 1 in Hollywood. The orchestra is
conducted by Horace Ott.
 
Saturday, December 15, 1962 : JACK SCOTT records four tracks 
which will be released on his next two singles : "Strangers"/"Laugh 
And the World Laughs With You" (Capitol 4903, January 1963) and 
"All I See Is Blue"/"Meo Myo" (Capitol 4955, April 1963). 
Produced by Nik Venet in Nashville.
 
December 17, 1962 : Recording date of JAMES BROWN's "Prisoner
Of Love" (King 5739, April 1963). Location : King Studio, Cincinnati.
 
December 28, 1962 : CLIFF RICHARD pays another visit to EMI's 
Abbey Road studio and lays down three tracks. "It's All In the Game"
will be released on Columbia DB 7089 in August 1963, "From This 
Day On" remains unissued, and "I Only Have Eyes For You" is 
included on the EP "Love Songs" (Columbia SEG 8272). Produced 
by Norrie Paramor.
 
With thanks to Steve Walker, Henk Gorter and Jarle Jensen.

Additions and corrections welcome.
 
Dik

In the can index