“Johnny Rocks” by JOHNNY BURNETTE. A Review Of The 2008 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…C'mon Little Baby…Let’s Tear That Dancefloor Up…"

As you can see from the list at the bottom of this review, in 2011 Bear Family’s “Rocks” series is by now fairly extensive and still growing (Big Joe Turner was added in March 2011). This is one of those titles – and it’s a jewel in the crown of this definitive series.

Issued September 2008, "Johnny Rocks” is on Bear Family BCD 16992 AR and features 36-recordings from 1958 to 1960 (76:05 minutes). Like all titles in this series it’s housed in a 3-way foldout card digipak which holds a detachable 44-page oversized booklet in the centre. The CD itself and see-through tray beneath it picture his “Tear It Up” Coral 45 from 1956 (a nice touch – lyrics above) while the detailed and affectionate liner notes are by noted musicologist COLIN ESCOTT. There are lots of black and white photos, tape boxes pictured, and a full discography for the set by RUSS WAPENSKY and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE on Pages 33 to 40. There’s even a lovely colour reproduction of the Alan Freed "Rock Rock Rock!" film poster from 1956 on Page 14 – it name-checked Johnny’s band because the movie featured . It’s a typically great job done.

1. The Train Kept A-Rollin'
2. Tear It Up
3. Oh Baby Babe
4. All by Myself
5. Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
6. Honey Hush
7. Lonesome Tears in My Eyes
8. Please Don't Leave Me
9. Rock Therapy
10. Rock Billy Boogie
11. Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)
12. Sweet Love on My Mind
13. Your Baby Blue Eyes
14. If You Want It Enough
15. Butterfingers
16. Eager Beaver Baby
17. Warm Love
18. Come on Baby
19. Boppin' Rosalie
20. My Little Baby Came Rockin'
21. Do Baby Do
22. Lizzy Dee
23. My Honey
24. Rock Away Baby
25. Sweet Baby Doll
26. Boppin' Rock
27. Kiss Me
28. We're Gonna Rock It
29. Me and the Bear
30. Little Girl (Aka Kiss Me Sweet)
31. Crazy Legs
32. Mule Boy
33. Bertha Lou
34. You Gotta Get Ready
35. Wampus Cat
36. Cincinnati Fireball

Some artists in the Rock 'n' Roll period engender extraordinarily loyalty and affection – Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent and Little Richard of course – why – because they were the real deal. Memphis-born Johnny Burnette and his storming band are the same. You ‘re only 3 or 4 tunes into this superb CD and it’s easy to hear why – this guy rocked. It was a smart move on the part of Bear to include almost all of his most famous platter – the incendiary debut album “Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N Roll Trio”. It was issued as an 11-track 10” LP in the UK (a hugely sought-after vinyl rarity) while the booklet quite properly references the 12-track US original on Coral. It encapsulates why Rock 'n' Roll so grabbed the kids by the scruff of the neck – exciting, dangerous and terrifying to their parents. “The Train Kept A-Rollin’” is typical of his Rock 'n' Roll output – slap bass, frantic guitar, ragged vocals at one-hundred miles an hour with intermittent shouts - while “Tear It Up” is pure Rockabilly genius (lyrics above). So good…

Musically it breaks down like this - 9 of the 12 tracks on his December 1956 US debut LP – the explosive “Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N Roll Trio” are on here - with a further 6 from the 12-track “Tear It Up” compilation from 1969 issued in the UK on Coral CP 10 which mopped up the rare American Coral single sides. Tracks 18 to 24 are roughly Imperial and Freedom label US 45’s - while 26 to 36 are “Demo Recordings” from varying dates all of which appeared for the first time on the 9CD Bear Family Box Set “The Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Memphis To Hollywood” in 2003. The lone track from his 2nd album proper – 1961’s “Dreamin’” is “Cincinnati Fireball” - while there are some other tracks from posthumous compilations like “Tear It Up” on Solid Smoke SS 8001 in 1978 (USA) and “Johnny Burnette Rock ‘N” Roll” in 1983 on Skyline 1254 (USA).

The remasters are done by one of Bear’s top engineers – JURGEN CRASSER. I’ve raved about this guy’s work before – the 16 Volumes of the "Blowing The Fuse" series (1945 to 1960) and the 10 Volume of the "Sweet Soul Music" series (1961 to 1970). It’s the same here – warm, full of life, rockin' – just great sound quality.

To sum up – as a one-stop for this man’s great music, “Johnny Rocks” is all you need. I’m gonna save up now for their “Train Kept A-Rollin’” Box set.

Wonderful stuff and warmly recommended.

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
25. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Big Joe Turner [see REVIEW]
36. Conway Twitty
37. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
38. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

BUDDY And ELLA JOHNSON - LP DISCOGRAPHY - Referencing The 1992 4CD Bear Family Box Set.

BUDDY and ELLA JOHNSON - LP DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing "Buddy And Ella Johnson 1953-1964"
The 4CD 104-Track LP-Sized Box Set
Released 1992 on Bear Family BCD 15479
Featuring: Floyd Ryland, Ricky Harper, Gil Askey,
Nolan Lewis and Lee Thomas on Vocals
Purvis Henson on Tenor Saxophone
Sam "The Man" Taylor on Tenor Saxophone (4 tracks only)

[1/3] = Track 1 on Disc 3, [12/2] = Track 12 on Disc 2 etc

1. "Rock 'N Roll"
BUDDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
USA 1956 Debut 12” LP on Mercury MG 20209 (Mono Only)
Reissued in the USA in 1962 1st on Wing MGW 12005 using the same picture on the cover. Then reissued in the USA in 1963 as "Rock 'N Roll Stage Show" on Wing MGW 12111 using a different sleeve. Consists of tracks between 1953 and 1956.
Side 1:
1. I Don't Want Nobody (To Have My Love But You) (Vocal Ella Johnson) [12/2]
2. Doot Doot Dow (Instrumental) [11/2]
3. Bring It Home To Me (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/2]
4. You Got It Made (vocal Floyd Ryland) [13/2]
5. A Pretty Girl (A Cadillac And Some Money) (vocal Ricky Harper) [17/1]
6. Any Day Now (vocal Ella Johnson) [16/1]
Side 2:
1. It's Obdacious (vocal Buddy Johnson and Gil Askey) [7/2]
2. Crazy 'Bout A Saxophone (vocal Buddy Johnson) [25/1]
3. (Gotta Go) Upside Your Head (vocal Ella Johnson) [1/2]
4. Ain't But One (vocal Ella Johnson) [18/1]
5. A-12 (Instrumental) [6/1]
6. I'm Just Your Fool (vocal Ella Johnson) [5/1]

2. "Walkin'"
BUDDY JOHNSON
USA 1957 12” LP on Mercury MG 20322 [Mono Only]
Side 1:
1. Rockin' Time (Instrumental) [1/3]
2. They Don't Want Me To Rock No More (vocal Ella Johnson) [2/3]
3. There's No One Like You (vocal Nolan Lewis) [19/1]
4. Rock On! (vocal Buddy Johnson) [27/2]
5. Ain't Cha Got Me (Where You Want Me) (vocal Ella Johnson) [8/1]
6. Buddy's Boogie (Instrumental) [15/2]
Side 2:
1. Oh! Baby Don't You Know (vocal by Group) [23/2]
2. You'd Better Believe Me (vocal Ella Johnson) [24/2]
3. You're Everything My Heart Desires (vocal Floyd Ryland) [25/2]
4. So Good (vocal Ella Johnson) [9/2]
5. Bitter Sweet (Instrumental) [24/1]
6. Gone Walkin' (Instrumental) [10/2]

3. “Buddy Johnson Wails”
BUUDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
1958 USA 12” LP on Mercury MG-20330 (Mono)/SR-60072 (Stereo)
Reissued in the USA in the 1960s on Wing MGW-12234 (Mono)/SRW 16234 (Stereo)
Reissued in Denmark in 1988 on Official 6010 with a different sleeve
Side 1:
1. Goodbye Baby Here I Go (vocal by Ella Johnson) [12/3]
2. They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool (vocal by Floyd Ryland) [9/3]
3. I Don't Care Who Knows (vocal Ella Johnson) [13/3]
4. Lil' Dog (Instrumental) [19/3]
5. You'll Get Them Blues (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/3]
6. Since I Fell For You (vocal Ella Johnson) [17/3]
Side 2:
1. Baby Don't You Cry (vocal Floyd Ryland) [11/3]
2. Minglin' (Instrumental) [20/3]
3. Please Mr. Johnson (vocal Ella Johnson) [16/3]
4. I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone (vocal Floyd Ryland) [18/3]
5. I Cry (vocal Floyd Ryland) [10/3]
6. Stop Pretending (vocal Buddy Johnson) [15/3]

4. “Swing Me”
ELLA JOHNSON with Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra
USA 1960 12” LP on Mercury MG 20347 (Mono)
Ella Johnson Lead Vocals on All Tracks
Side 1:
1. What A Day [19/2]
2. That’s What You Gotta Do [21/2]
3. I Still Love You [22/2]
4. Well Do It [23/1]
5. Someday [3/2]
6. If You’d Said Yes [21/1]
Side 2:
1. Alright Okay You Win [4/2]
2. It’s ‘Bout To Break My Heart In Two [6/2]
3. Thinking It Over [20/1]
4. It Used To Hurt Me [22/1]
5. If You Would Only Say You’re Sorry [5/2]
6. Goodbye Baby Here I Go [20/2]

5. “Go Ahead & Rock Rock Rock”
BUDDY JOHNSON ORCHESTRA featuring ELLA JOHNSON
USA 1959 12” LP on Roulette R 25085 (Stereo)/SR 25085 (Stereo)
Reissued in the 1960s in the USA on Forum 9022
Side 1:
1. Go Ahead And Rock (Instrumental) [13/4]
2. Real Fine Frame (Nellie Lutcher cover – vocal Buddy Johnson) [8/4]
3. Down Yonder (Instrumental) [12/4]
4. Get On Down The Road (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/4]
5. Sliding Horns (Instrumental) [15/4]
6. Don’t Fail Me Baby (vocal Ella Johnson) [1/4]
Side 2:
1. Walk ‘Em (vocal Buddy Johnson) [9/4]
2. You Better Change Your Ways (vocal Lee Thomas) [11/4]
3. Small Taste (Instrumental) [2/4]
4. I’m Tired Crying Over You (vocal Ella Johnson) [10/4]
5. Going To New York (Instrumental) [5/4]
6. Baby Hear My Humble Plea (vocal by Lee Thomas) [3/4]

6. “Rock 'N Roll Stage Show”
BUDDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
USA 1963 12” LP on Wing MGW 12111 (Mono)
THIS IS A REISSUE of 1 using a different name – see 1 for details


"…I Gotta A Girl…Well She Can’t Be Beat…She’d Be Real Pretty…If She Had Some Teeth…"

“Buddy And Ella Johnson 1953-1964” by BUDDY and ELLA JOHNSON. A Review Of The 1992 4CD Bear Family Box Set.

"…I Gotta A Girl…Well She Can’t Be Beat…She’d Be Real Pretty…If She Had Some Teeth…"

“Buddy And Ella Johnson 1953-1964” is a 4CD LP-Sized Box Set first released in Germany in 1992 by the legendary Bear Family reissue label and offers up 104 songs covering their Mercury, Roulette and Old Town Records output.

60 of the songs make up the entirety of their 5 big albums from the period – “Rock ‘N Roll” (1956), “Walkin’” (1957), “Buddy Johnson Wails” (1958), “Go Ahead & Rock Rock Rock” (1959) and “Swing Me” (1960) – while 26 more are non-album single sides (78’s and 45’s) - leaving the remaining 18 as previously unreleased. I’ve compiled a detailed LP Discography in the ‘comment’ section attached to this review referencing the tracks on the box set (and who sang lead on what etc).

Outside of that - Bear Family BCD 15479 breaks down as follows:
Disc 1, 26 Tracks, 75:22 minutes:
Four tracks are previously unreleased – “Bring It Up, Van Dyke” (9), “My Old Man” (10), “Shut Your Big Mouth (Girl)” (13) and “Mush Mouth” (14)

Disc 2, 27 Tracks, 71:54 minutes:
Two tracks are previously unreleased – “Someday” (2) and “Rock On (Alternate Take)” (26)

Disc 3, 24 Tracks, 65:08 minutes:
Four tracks are previously unreleased – “Far Cry” (21), “Lover Bird” (22), “No More” (23) and “Buddy’s Tune” (24)

Disc 4, 27 Tracks, 67:33 minutes:
Eight tracks are previously unreleased – “Have Mercy On A Fool” (6), “Buddy’s Song” (7), “Come Here, Lovely Dovey” (16), “Buddy’s Rock” (18), “I’ll Be Glad” (20), “Ever So Grateful” (22), “Don’t Be Messin’” (24) and “I Gotta Talk To Somebody” (26)

The 20-page booklet has an overview written by PETER GRENDYSA whose superb work featured in the booklets of the two US Chess Box Sets "Blues" and "Rhythm & Roll". There's black and white studio photos, trade adverts, live shots of the band with Buddy, family portraits, each of the CD inlays features an album sleeve in colour and the very detailed discography is by Bear Family's owner RICHARD WEISZ. The full page photo of Buddy and Ella with Alan Freed, Joe Turner and Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records is very tasty.

In 1953 South-Carolina born Buddy Johnson was 38 and a seasoned pro since the mid Thirties - Piano Player, Band Leader & Vocalist, his working Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Orchestra reigned supreme over the Southern circuit of the time. Along with other various crooners in the group (Floyd Ryland, Ricky Harper, Gil Askey, Nolan Lewis and Lee Thomas - see Discography) the other ace in the pack was his 30-year old sister ELLA JOHNSON who handled Lead Vocals on all of their big releases. Like a cross between Ruth Brown and Bessie Smith, she could imbibe a song with longing, sex, domestic abuse and heartache. In fact many of their albums followed a certain pattern – an Ella vocal first, then an Instrumental (usually featuring ace Saxophonist Purvis Henson), followed by a Nolan Lewis Vocal, then Buddy on Vocals, back to Ella - and so on. Their music rarely dipped into the Blues, but was instead rhythmic R’n’B with the horns to the fore – at times making it feel like a throwback to the Big Band period. The mix of smooth vocal tracks and danceable instrumentals made their albums a really varied listen – and as you rehear them now in 2010 – every fibre of your being is telling you that these are ‘forgotten gems’ that shouldn’t be. It really is shockingly good stuff – and lyrically as witty and clever as anything the beloved Louis Jordan pumped out in the decade earlier.

Favourites include “Hittin’ On Me”, “That’s How I Feel About You”, “(Gotta Go) Upside Your Head”, “I’m Just Your Fool” and the witty talking song “Rock On” (lyrics above). The previously unreleased material is far better than I had expected it to be - the Old Town outtakes “I Gotta Talk To Somebody” and “Don’t Be Messin’” with Ella on Lead Vocals are particularly catchy – hits in any decade.

The box is long-deleted and has acquired a crushing price tag – and in truth with subsequent releases (Ace Records of the UK have a 1996 CD with tracks not on here) – you can probably get the bulk of the tracks on 4 or 5 other CDs if you want. But this set is a very real reason as to why BEAR FAMILY is held in such affection and awe among collectors. It’s wonderful music, features great sound quality and all of it is presented with genuine respect shown…

A beautifully chronicled box set about a Rhythm ‘n’ Blues couple who deserved riches but ended up with a pittance. If you can go the cost, buy it – it’s an absolute gem.

PS: Thanks to Keith Mowser of Aquascutum, London for a lend of the set


BUDDY and ELLA JOHNSON - LP DISCOGRAPHY
Referencing "Buddy And Ella Johnson 1953-1964"
The 4CD 104-Track LP-Sized Box Set
Released 1992 on Bear Family BCD 15479
Featuring: Floyd Ryland, Ricky Harper, Gil Askey,
Nolan Lewis and Lee Thomas on Vocals
Purvis Henson on Tenor Saxophone
Sam "The Man" Taylor on Tenor Saxophone (4 tracks only)

[1/3] = Track 1 on Disc 3, [12/2] = Track 12 on Disc 2 etc

1. "Rock 'N Roll"
BUDDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
USA 1956 Debut 12” LP on Mercury MG 20209 (Mono Only)
Reissued in the USA in 1962 1st on Wing MGW 12005 using the same picture on the cover. Then reissued in the USA in 1963 as "Rock 'N Roll Stage Show" on Wing MGW 12111 using a different sleeve. Consists of tracks between 1953 and 1956.
Side 1:
1. I Don't Want Nobody (To Have My Love But You) (Vocal Ella Johnson) [12/2]
2. Doot Doot Dow (Instrumental) [11/2]
3. Bring It Home To Me (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/2]
4. You Got It Made (vocal Floyd Ryland) [13/2]
5. A Pretty Girl (A Cadillac And Some Money) (vocal Ricky Harper) [17/1]
6. Any Day Now (vocal Ella Johnson) [16/1]
Side 2:
1. It's Obdacious (vocal Buddy Johnson and Gil Askey) [7/2]
2. Crazy 'Bout A Saxophone (vocal Buddy Johnson) [25/1]
3. (Gotta Go) Upside Your Head (vocal Ella Johnson) [1/2]
4. Ain't But One (vocal Ella Johnson) [18/1]
5. A-12 (Instrumental) [6/1]
6. I'm Just Your Fool (vocal Ella Johnson) [5/1]

2. "Walkin'"
BUDDY JOHNSON
USA 1957 12” LP on Mercury MG 20322 [Mono Only]
Side 1:
1. Rockin' Time (Instrumental) [1/3]
2. They Don't Want Me To Rock No More (vocal Ella Johnson) [2/3]
3. There's No One Like You (vocal Nolan Lewis) [19/1]
4. Rock On! (vocal Buddy Johnson) [27/2]
5. Ain't Cha Got Me (Where You Want Me) (vocal Ella Johnson) [8/1]
6. Buddy's Boogie (Instrumental) [15/2]
Side 2:
1. Oh! Baby Don't You Know (vocal by Group) [23/2]
2. You'd Better Believe Me (vocal Ella Johnson) [24/2]
3. You're Everything My Heart Desires (vocal Floyd Ryland) [25/2]
4. So Good (vocal Ella Johnson) [9/2]
5. Bitter Sweet (Instrumental) [24/1]
6. Gone Walkin' (Instrumental) [10/2]

3. “Buddy Johnson Wails”
BUUDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
1958 USA 12” LP on Mercury MG-20330 (Mono)/SR-60072 (Stereo)
Reissued in the USA in the 1960s on Wing MGW-12234 (Mono)/SRW 16234 (Stereo)
Reissued in Denmark in 1988 on Official 6010 with a different sleeve
Side 1:
1. Goodbye Baby Here I Go (vocal by Ella Johnson) [12/3]
2. They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool (vocal by Floyd Ryland) [9/3]
3. I Don't Care Who Knows (vocal Ella Johnson) [13/3]
4. Lil' Dog (Instrumental) [19/3]
5. You'll Get Them Blues (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/3]
6. Since I Fell For You (vocal Ella Johnson) [17/3]
Side 2:
1. Baby Don't You Cry (vocal Floyd Ryland) [11/3]
2. Minglin' (Instrumental) [20/3]
3. Please Mr. Johnson (vocal Ella Johnson) [16/3]
4. I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone (vocal Floyd Ryland) [18/3]
5. I Cry (vocal Floyd Ryland) [10/3]
6. Stop Pretending (vocal Buddy Johnson) [15/3]

4. “Swing Me”
ELLA JOHNSON with Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra
USA 1960 12” LP on Mercury MG 20347 (Mono)
Ella Johnson Lead Vocals on All Tracks
Side 1:
1. What A Day [19/2]
2. That’s What You Gotta Do [21/2]
3. I Still Love You [22/2]
4. Well Do It [23/1]
5. Someday [3/2]
6. If You’d Said Yes [21/1]
Side 2:
1. Alright Okay You Win [4/2]
2. It’s ‘Bout To Break My Heart In Two [6/2]
3. Thinking It Over [20/1]
4. It Used To Hurt Me [22/1]
5. If You Would Only Say You’re Sorry [5/2]
6. Goodbye Baby Here I Go [20/2]

5. “Go Ahead & Rock Rock Rock”
BUDDY JOHNSON ORCHESTRA featuring ELLA JOHNSON
USA 1959 12” LP on Roulette R 25085 (Stereo)/SR 25085 (Stereo)
Reissued in the 1960s in the USA on Forum 9022
Side 1:
1. Go Ahead And Rock (Instrumental) [13/4]
2. Real Fine Frame (Nellie Lutcher cover – vocal Buddy Johnson) [8/4]
3. Down Yonder (Instrumental) [12/4]
4. Get On Down The Road (vocal Ella Johnson) [14/4]
5. Sliding Horns (Instrumental) [15/4]
6. Don’t Fail Me Baby (vocal Ella Johnson) [1/4]
Side 2:
1. Walk ‘Em (vocal Buddy Johnson) [9/4]
2. You Better Change Your Ways (vocal Lee Thomas) [11/4]
3. Small Taste (Instrumental) [2/4]
4. I’m Tired Crying Over You (vocal Ella Johnson) [10/4]
5. Going To New York (Instrumental) [5/4]
6. Baby Hear My Humble Plea (vocal by Lee Thomas) [3/4]

6. “Rock 'N Roll Stage Show”
BUDDY JOHNSON And His Orchestra
USA 1963 12” LP on Wing MGW 12111 (Mono)
THIS IS A REISSUE of 1 using a different name – see 1 for details

“Charlie Rocks” by CHARLIE RICH. A Review Of The 2009 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Fast Talkin'…Slow Walkin'…Good Lookin'…"

Released June 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16513 AR, "Charlie Rocks" offers up 31 slices of the Silver Fox’s varying styles – Rock ‘n’ Roll, Blues, R’n’B, Crooner and even Sixties Pop. It covers 1958 to 1966 on Sun Records, Phillips International, Groove, Smash, Phillips and Mercury - and at a 74:34 minutes doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Charlie Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (40-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the USA 45” for “Big Boss Man" – his fantastic cover of Jimmy Reed’s blues standard - complete with its 1965 Groove Records label bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 28 by HANK DAVIS with a Discography for all 31 tracks from Page 29 to 36 by COLIN ESCOTT, HANK DAVIS, MARTIN HAWKINS and Bear Family’s owner RICHARD WEIZE. It’s peppered with several full colour plates of Rich from a previously unreleased photo session and many of his American 45’s are pictured throughout the Discography - a typically top job done by Bear.

The remastered sound is by MARCUS HEUMANN and given the difference sources and years – it’s uniformly superb - even on the unreleased rough ‘n’ ready Sun sides. By the time you get to the Sixties stuff (recorded in good studios with top musicians), the sound quality is rocking.

CONTENT:
1. Whirlwind (Undubbed Version)
2. Everything I Do Is Wrong
3. Philadelphia Baby
4. Big Man
5. Rebound
6. That's Rich
7. Lonely Weekends (Master Take)
8. Break Up
9. Midnite Blues
10. Little Woman Friend Of Mine
11. Goodbye Mary Ann (Take 3)
12. You Made A Hit
13. Red Man
14. Donna Lee
15. Popcorn Polly
16. Gentle As A Lamb
17. Charlie's Boogie
18. Stop Thief
19. Right Behind You Baby
20. Lonely Weekends (Undubbed Alternate Take)
21. Yes Ma'am
22. Big Man (Undubbed Alternate Take)
23. Big Boss Man
24. The Ways Of A Woman In Love
25. Mohair Sam
26. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
27. Just A Little Bit Of Time
28. It Ain't Gonna Be That Way
29. That's My Way
30. Just A Little Bit Of You
31. So Long

Tracks 1, 6, 10, 12 and 14 through to 21 are all from the 1998 4CD Bear Family box set “Lonely Weekend – The Sun Years 1958-1962” and were previously unreleased at the time.

Tracks 8, 11, 13 and 22 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED and exclusive to this set.

All the other tracks are singles or album sides on the labels mentioned above.

His huge hit “Lonely Weekend” is on here twice – the master is track 7, while track 20 is a previously unreleased Undubbed Alternate Take. “Midnite Blues”, “The Ways Of A Woman In Love” and “Mohair Sam” (lyrics above) epitomise his Sixties cool – like Roy Orbison at his sly best – great vocals, clever lyrics and an instantly catchy tune every time. There’s a few tracks off his two superb albums for Smash Records in 1965 and 1966 – “The Many News Sides Of…” and “The Best Years” which will make you want more and talk of forgotten genius {“It Ain’t Gonna Be That Way”). The “If you keep your hands clean, you won’t those bloodhounds on your trail…” lyrics of “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Waters” has a great piano rocking feel as it chugs along – the kind of bluesy tune Presley might have tackled on his superb “Elvis Is Back” album from 1960. Speaking of which…

Looking at the booklet and listening to the CD, you’re struck by three things (1) Charlie Rich was a handsome son of a bitch, (2) like Presley and Orbison, he had a voice to die for and could sing anything and (3) a whopping 24 of these 31 cuts are his own compositions, So he looked good, sounded awesome and wrote his own tunes. So why wasn’t he huge?

He would of course enjoy global success in the early Seventies with “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” which galvanized his ‘Silver Fox’ crooner image. But this disc gives us his preceding rocking years and it’s an absolute eye-opener as to his talent and great way with a song…

I’m so glad I bought this CD - another cracker from those nice archiving people in Germany.

Recommended big time...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
25. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

“Rocks” by ELLA MAE MORSE. A Review Of The 2010 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Just Love Me…All Night Long…"

Released November 2010 on Bear Family BCD 16672 AR, "Rocks" offers up 34 slices of Ella Mae Morse’ varying styles – Easy Listening, Jazz Vocals, pumping Rhythm 'n' Blues and even Rock ‘n’ Roll – and it’s a peach. “Rocks” covers 1942 to 1957 on the Capitol label and at a stonking 84:33 minutes - doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (52-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the 78” for “House Of Blue Lights” – a big hit for her and Freddie Slack in 1946 - complete with its Capitol Records label bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 30 by KEVIN COFFEY with a Discography for all 34 tracks from Page 31 to 45 by Kevin Coffey, LAWRENCE J. ZWISOHN and Bear Family’s owner RICHARD WEIZE. Especially worth noting is that the 40-page album-sized booklet which came with Bear’s extensive 5CD box set (from way back in 1997) was a dull black & white pictures affair… “Rocks” has considerably improved on that – there are lovely full-page colour shots of her two important album covers, “Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues” (1954) and “The Morse Code” (1957). Added to that are in-studio-recording snaps which are new, trade adverts, sheet music and many of her American Capitol singles are pictured throughout - a typically top job done by Bear.

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER – he handling the stunning “Blowing The Fuse” series (1945 to 1960 - I’ve reviewed all 16 volumes) and the “Sweet Soul Music” series (1961 to 1970 – all reviewed too). Alive, clean and full of well-recorded Capitol Records class - the sound is wonderful.

Musically - although Morse looked like some squeaky-clean 20-year old usherette serving popsicles in the movie theatre during World War II, musically this belied her vocal delivery. Ella was like a female Louis Jordan or a Bessie Smith, a white gal from Texas often mistaken for a black singer because of her slightly raunchy delivery when she got her hands on good R’n’B material (covers of Atlantic artist like Ruth Brown and LaVern Baker). A good case in point for this is the 10” LP of “Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues” which to my mind is a criminally forgotten R’n’B masterpiece - and I’m glad to report that someone has been smart enough to put 7 of its 8 tracks on here. It opens with “Rock Me All Night Long” (lyrics above). Don’t get me wrong – not every track on here is rocking by any means – there are easy moments too - but they’re really good also. It just depended on the material she was given.

Speaking of history – when Capitol launched its first nine 78"s on 1 July 1942, Ella Mae Morse was there on Day 1. She sang lead with Freddie Slack and his Orchestra on the A-side of Capitol 102 - "Cow-Cow Boogie". It was a huge hit and quickly climbed to Number 1 - putting the fledgling label on the map. By 1946 Capitol had shifted 46 million records, by the mid Fifties they boasted two of the best selling singers in the Universe (Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra) and by the mid Sixties they'd acquired some band from Liverpool in England (who also shifted some records - apparently). So you could say with confidence that Nick Tosche's assertion that she was one of 'the great unsung heroes of rock 'n' roll' is right. A musical chameleon, a sassy vixen, or just a good old gal with a nice voice – take your pick - but the world owes Ella Mae Morse for what her breakthrough led to.

Another cracker from those nice reissue people in Germany - and such good fun too.

In the vernacular - recommended the most...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red [see REVIEW]
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

PPS: I’ve reviewed the box set separately with attached 78”, 45” and LP discographies

"Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues" by ELLA MAE MORSE (August 1997 GERMANY Bear Family 5CD LP-Sized Box Set on Remasters with 32 Previously Unreleased Songs/Outtakes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barrelhouse-Ella-Mae-Morse/dp/B000026ULS?crid=3M1SVLX0FXWHX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FiPyIHwwyA7tf04pF4Z4lQ.h-CpGCzVRd7fhkHHrjidlWQVBEunwLMBMO-T1Ym7Hs4&dib_tag=se&keywords=4000127161178&qid=1709979154&sprefix=4000127161178%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=1ad60de4438630fecaaa19d28dfa0c80&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With Over 215 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…Fall In There And We'll See Some Sights…

Down At The House Of Blue Lights…"

Released August 1997 by Bear Family Records of Germany, "Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues" by ELLA MAE MORSE offers up 134 Mono tracks across 5 CDs housed in a 12" x 12" LP-Sized Box Set with a 40-page full-sized booklet. It covers her entire musical output for Capitol Records from May 1942 to June 1957 (32 are previously unreleased). 

The booklet has an essay on the popular singer by noted expert and fan KEVIN COFFEY (which includes Morse's involvement) and also boasts an updated and detailed session-by-session Discography with various photos, press reviews and trade adverts etc.

Bear Family BCD 16117 EI (Barcode 4000127161178) breaks down as follows…

Disc 1, 25 Tracks, 73:00 minutes
5 Tracks Are Previously Unreleased: "Solid Potato Salad" (9), "Boogie Blues" (12), "The Patty Cake Man" [Alternate Take] (15), "Take Care Of You For Me" (18) and "Jumpin' Jack" (21)

Disc 2, 27 Tracks, 73:29 minutes
8 Tracks Are Previously Unreleased: "That's My Home" (3), "Mister Fine" (4), "The Merry Ha-Ha" (5), "Old Spider Fingers" (19), "Am I In Love" (22), "Okie Boogie" (23), "Organ Grinder's Swing" (24) and "It's So Exciting" (25)

Disc 3, 28 Tracks, 66:08 minutes
11 Tracks Are Previously Unreleased: "Here Comes The Blues" (3), "The Song Is You" (5), "You've Taken An Unfair Advantage Of Me" (6), "Bouncin' Ball" (9), "Find A Man For Me Mama" (10), "You For Me" (12), "I'm A Rich Woman" (14), "Big Mamou (Intro)" (15), "Big Mamou (Outro)" (17), "Carioca" (19) and "T'Aint Whatcha Do" (24)

Disc 4, 29 Tracks, 69:38 minutes
5 Tracks Are Previously Unreleased: "It's You I Love" (5), "Dedicated To You" (7), "All I Need Is You" (13), "Afraid" (17) and "Once You've Been Lovers" (29)

Disc 5, 25 Tracks, 64:45 minutes
3 Tracks Are Previously Unreleased: "You Ought To Be Mine" (7), "Rockin' And Rollin'" (14) and "I'm Hog Tied Over You" (16)

First thing you notice is the saucy painting on the box cover - a full-sized repro of the artwork for her famous 1st album "Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues" (a $400 rarity). It was initially issued as an 8-track 10" LP in 1954 on Capitol H-513 and then subsequently extended to a 12-Track 12" LP in 1955 on Capitol T-513 (I have used the 12-track version as one of the entries in my 'I Saw The Light: Overlooked Albums 1955 to 1979' e-Book of 500 entries - see March 2024 update).

They're actually two different beasts – the 10" has eight cover versions of Atlantic and King artists like Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, The Ravens, Bullmoose Jackson and Billy Ward & His Dominoes – so it's a Fifties R 'n' B peach. The extended 12-track 12" however suited 1955 by adding on four crooner tunes to the eight rockers – actually giving it a far more rounded feel. And because both album sleeves suggested the singer was a sassy, voluptuous, sexpot (the kind of woman your white-haired mother warned you about), it wasn't surprising to find that both punters and singers in the industry (Sammy Davis, Jr. included) were stunned to find that in the flesh Ella Mae Morse wasn't black at all – but a young squeaky-clean white woman from Mansfield in Texas with an ah-shucks smile and a pretty frock. But therein lies another story…

When Capitol launched its first nine 78"s on 1 July 1942 - Ella Mae Morse was there on Day 1. She sang lead with Freddie Slack and his Orchestra on the A-side of Capitol 102 - "Cow-Cow Boogie". It was a huge hit and quickly climbed to Number 1 - putting the fledgling label on the map. By 1946 Capitol had shifted 46 million records, by the mid Fifties they boasted two of the best selling singers in the Universe (Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra) and by the mid Sixties they'd acquired some band from Liverpool in England (who also shifted some records - apparently). So you could say with confidence that Nick Tosche's assertion that she was one of ‘the great unsung heroes of Rock 'n' Roll is right (the lyrics to the pre-Rock 'n' Roll 1946 song "The House Of Blue Lights" are above). Dress hanging off her shoulder or not – the world owes Ella Mae Morse for what her breakthrough led to.

Niggles – the booklet doesn't picture a single 78", EP nor LP which is just ridiculous when you're paying this amount of money. The text is peppered with cheesy shots of her in the Capitol studios – the kind of sanctioned non-offensive crud Rock 'n' Roll just had to wipe away. And the music itself is not all great either – the crooner stuff starts to sound repetitive – too many brassy Peggy Lee clones. Having said that, the Capitol production values are fabulous throughout – even on the early 78"s - brought out by the tape transfers and mastering skills of RICHARD WEISZ and NICK ROBBINS (of Ace Records fame and an Engineer with decades of Audio transfer experience).

Born in 1924 - Ella Mae Morse passed away in 1999 at the age of 75 - a deeply religious woman whose career is unfortunately only remembered by a select few. At least she lived to see this 5CD box set finally do her and her musical legacy proud. Despite my misgivings about the bland booklet and the lesser tracks, this is a typically brilliant Bear Family project – keeping alive for posterity what must and should be remembered.

For fans of the Forties and Fifties, "Barrelhouse…" is recommended big time and something of a hidden reissue gem in the Twenty-Twenties. The casual buyer, however, should opt for a single best of like the excellent 1992 'Capitol Collectors Series' CD or Bear Family's own single-CD compilation "Rocks" which I've also reviewed...either has all that you need. 

Thanks you lovely lady for your pioneer spirit...

The SOUNDS GOOD MUSIC BOOK Series...

I SAW THE LIGHT

Overlooked Albums From 1955 to 1979

(Features Ella Mae Morse's Debut Album from 1955 on Capitol Records)

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Reviews for over 500 Forgotten LPs
A Huge 3,200 E-Pages of In-Depth Info From The Discs...
(March 2024 Update)

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"Nellie Lutcher And Her Rhythm" by NELLIE LUTCHER and HER RHYTHM (October 1996 GERMANY Bear Family 4CD LP-Sized Box Set of Remasters with 20 Previously Unreleased Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry..1996 Bear Family 4CD Box Set.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Rhythm-Nelli-Lutcher/dp/B0000282R4?crid=E0A7UQVDDYEI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SAcTTXMzBBoqTEyuPLYMisdtdgWAQUDnWQDPtpMtJCxnTwLMWofq3YRXN3Xu1ILJFJozF1o7WLFtTYdz5JAQFtKUfuGx5zG66bU1dn0UhSOx-f3N7o9AxoTZDnZ_dqHJ.VDnNJ2clQuqa5F9g4EX-hVsdgd6UWB5iv7QFNh6vzeg&dib_tag=se&keywords=nellie+lutcher+bear&qid=1709982050&sprefix=nellie+lutcher+bear%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1-fkmr0&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=1badb4b9255b4d9ccfb2defb77dabf2b&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With Over 215 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&sh

"…The Lights Are Low And The Coast Is Clear

…So What Are We Doing With Dominoes Here…"

One of 15 children, Nellie Lutcher was born in 1912 in Lake Charles, Louisiana and died at the age of 95 in 2007 in Los Angeles, California - having lived long enough to see this wonderful October 1996 box set by Bear Family properly celebrate her musical heritage. 

"Nellie Lutcher And Her Rhythm" by NELLIE LUTCHER on Bear Family BCD 15910 D1 (Barcode 4000127159106) contains 4 CDs housed in a 12" x 12" LP-Sized colour box set with 105 tracks culled from the vaults of Capitol, Epic/Okeh, Liberty, Decca, Imperial and Melic (20 of which are previously unreleased).

I've posted a full discography attached to this review which references all 85 of the released tracks (78s/45s/LPs); the info below details the 20 previously unreleased stuff outside of that discography...

Disc 1, 24 Tracks, 1947 to 1951 (68:13 minutes)

There are no previously unreleased tracks

Disc 2, 26 Tracks, 1948 to 1950 (71:05 minutes)

The following seven are previously unreleased - "With A Song" (1), "Life Is Like That" (3), "My Man (Mon Homme)" (6), "I Used To Be Dull" (7), "The Dog Fight Song" (8), "Darktown Strutter's Ball" (20) and ""April In Paris" (23)

Disc 3, 25 Tracks, 1950 to 1954 (66:47 minutes)

The following five are previously unreleased - "Baby, What's You Alibi" (2), "(I Need) Body And Fender Work" (8), "He Couldn't Care Less" (9), "If You Wanna Get T'Goin' (And Come Out Singin')" (10) and ""When They Ask About You"

Disc 4, 30 Tracks, 1954 to 1963 (77:14 minutes)

The following eight are previously unreleased - "Out Of This World" (1), "It's Been Said" (2), "Let Me Tell You 'Bout The Guy" (22), "If Your Face Was As Beautiful As Your Soul" (23), "He's A Real Gone Guy" [Re-recording of her 1947 Capitol hit] (24), "There's A Reason" (25), "Let Me Tell You 'Bout The Guy (Overdub)" (29) and "If Your Face Was As Beautiful As Your Soul (Overdub)" (30)

The 36-page album-sized booklet has a history of the lady's life and music by noted writer BILL MILLAR of England (she was a smash in the UK - packing out theatres in late 1950), newspaper clippings, Juke Box chart listings, black & white studio photos, trade adverts, a section on her fantastically tight backing band BILLY HADNOTT, ULYSSES LIVINGSTONE and LEE YOUNG - all topped off with a very detailed RICHARD WEISZ Sessions Discography stretching from 1947 to 1963. The individual CDs have the same picture on the back and front (a bit boring actually), but other than that this is the usual high-class product that has made Bear Family beloved by collectors and music fans the world over.

Stylistically, Nellie would scat along with the notes as she played her piano (a noted style of hers), so at times she often sounded like a female Nat King Cole in his early Jazz years (she dueted with him on two great sides in early 1950). And while her combo was clearly Jazz orientated, there was also a delicious touch of Louis Jordan swing to her music and lyrics. Her tunes (many self-written) were great fun and saucy with wittily mischievous words (the title of this review is from "Pa's Not Home - Ma's Upstairs"). The quietly contained quartet also kept her vocals and personality to the fore - which allowed you to 'hear' her. Admittedly, some of the bigger band stuff on Disc 3 is too heavy-handed for my taste, but there's still so much more on there to keep you listening...and the unreleased stuff is of a very high standard indeed...

Her fantastic "Real Gone!" USA and UK 10" LP on Capitol H- 232 is great 50ts R&B with a touch of Jazz Vocals - an overlooked period gem (Capitol extended it to 11-track and 12-track 12" LP versions in 1955 on Capitol T-232 using the same title but slightly different artwork). I sequence the 12" LP version as a wicked period listen. If you wanted to get a lay of the land, try the single Capitol CD from 2000 "Real Gone Gal"- if that grabs you, you'll want to go deeper and this box is where to go. It's not cheap, but then real class and quality always costs.

Nellie Lutcher is up there right now in the Celestial Spheres with LaVern Baker, Nat King Cole and Ma Rainey rehearsing for a date in the "Heavenly Inn" Bar And Grill - word is spreading among the angels who are excitedly queuing up for tickets at "The Garden Of Eden" box office - and the Supreme Being 'herself' is rumoured to put in a show at the gig (disguised of course as Ella Fitzgerald)...

God bless you wherever you are Nellie Lutcher - you beautiful woman - and big time kudos to those at Bear Family for keeping her flame alive in this superb box set. A fine brown frame indeed…

PS: see also my reviews for other Bear Family box sets (with Discographies) - Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, Freddie King, Julia Lee, Louis Jordan and Ella Mae Morse

USA Discography with reference to the track placing on the Bear Family Box set – this discography locates all 85 tracks issued during her career (the 20 previously unreleased tracks on the box set are documented in the review itself)

NELLIE LUTCHER and HER RHYTHM Discography

For the Bear Family Box Set

78's and 45's

Hurry On Down [2/1] b/w The Lady's In Love With You [3/1]
June 1947 USA 78" on Capitol Americana 40002

He's A Real Gone Guy [7/1] b/w Let Me Love You Tonight [8/1]
July 1947 USA 78" on Capitol Americana 40017

You Better Watch Yourself, Bub [4/1] b/w My Mother's Eyes [6/1]
September 1947 USA 78" on Capitol Americana 40042

Do You Or Don't You Love [10/1] b/w The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On) [18/1] 
January 1948 USA 78" On Capitol Americana 40063 

Fine Brown Frame [21/1] b/w The Pig-Latin Song [9/1]
March 1948 USA 78" on Capitol 15032

Come And Get It, Honey [17/2] b/w He Sends Me [14/2]
May 1948 USA 78" on Capitol 15064

Imagine You Having Eyes For Me [23/1] b/w (I Took A Trip On The Train And) I Thought About You [15/1]
June 1948 USA 78" on Capitol 15112

Cool Water [11/2] b/w Lake Charles Boogie [20/1] 
July 1948 USA 78" on Capitol 15148 

Alexander’s Ragtime Band [24/1] b/w My Little Boy [15/2]
September 1948 USA 78" on Capitol 15180 

Wish I Was In Walla Walla [2/2] b/w A Maid's Prayer [4/2]
December 1948 USA 78" on Capitol 15279

My New Papa's Got To Have Everything [16/2] b/w Say A Little Prayer For Me [10/1]
January 1949 USA 78" on Capitol 15352

A Chicken Ain't Nothin But A Bird [12/2] b/w Ditto From Me To You [5/2]
March 1949 USA 78" on Capitol 57-70001 

Baby, Please Stop And Think About Me [26/2] b/w Kiss Me Sweet [25/2]
August 1949 USA 78" on Capitol 57-70009

Princess Poo-Poo-Ly Has Plenty Papaya [13/2] b/w Fine And Mellow Blues [13/1]
August 1949 USA 78" on Capitol 57-70026

Glad Rag Doll [22/2] b/w Lutcher's Leap [9/2]
November 1949 USA 78" on Capitol 57-70044

Only You [24/2] b/w Little Sally Walker [18/2]
January 1950 USA 7" single on Capitol F 798

For You My Love [4/3] b/w Can I Come In For A Second [5/3]
February 1950 7" single on Capitol F 847 
[A&B with NAT KING COLE - A-side written by PAUL GAYTEN]

That's A Plenty [1/3] b/w I'll Never Get Tired [3/3]
1950 USA 7” single on Capitol F 878

Loveable [12/1] b/w Kinda Blue & Low [16/1]
1950 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1026

To Be Forgotten [19/2] b/w That Will Just About Knock Me Out [21/2]
1950 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1217

I Really Couldn't Love You [7/3] b/w Pa's Not Home – Ma's Upstairs [6/3]
May 1951 USA 78" single on Capitol F 1420 

Hurry On Down b/w Fine Brown Frame 
1951 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1604 [REISSUE of her 1947 Classics]

The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On) [18/1] b/w Humoresque (Opus No.7) [22/1] 
1951 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1728

The Birth Of The Blues [13/3] b/w I Want To Be Near You [12/3]
1951 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1789 

What A Difference A Day Made [15/3] b/w The Heart Of A Clown [17/3]
February 1952 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1978

Mean To Me [11/3] b/w Let The Worry Bird Worry For You [14/3] 
1952 USA 7" single on Capitol F 1829 
[Note: A-side with Orchestra Conducted by BILLY MAY]

That's How It Goes [16/3] b/w Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now [18/3]
1952 USA 7" single on Capitol F 2038 

The Heart Of A Clown [17/3] b/w My Mother’s Eyes [6/1]
1952 USA 7” single on Capitol 4319 
(Note: B-side is the 1947 original)

Muchly Verily [23/3] b/w How Many More [20/3]
January 1953 USA 78” single on Okeh 6935  
[A-side by NELLIE LUTCHER; B-side by BOUDLEAUX BRYANT]

St. Louis Blues [24/3] b/w Takin' A Chance On Love [23/3]
1953 USA 7" single on Okeh 7030 

Whee Baby [22/3] b/w Blues For Bill Bailey (aka Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home) [25/3] 
1953 USA 7" single on Epic 9005

Blues In The Night [3/4] b/w Breezin' Along With The Breeze [4/4]
1954 USA 7" single on Decca 9-29284

Please Come Back [7/4] b/w It's Been Said [5/4]
1955 USA 7" single on Decca 9-29494

If I Didn't Love Like I Do [8/4] b/w Whose Honey Are You? [6/4]
1955 USA 7" single on Decca 9-29642

Blue Skies [9/4] b/w You Made Me Love You [11/4]
February 1956 USA 7" single on Liberty 55018 

(All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings [17/4] b/w Have You Ever Been Lonely [20/4]
1956 USA 7" single on Liberty 55027
 
Hurry On Down [21/4] b/w I Never Get Tired [26/4] 
1957 USA 7" single on Imperial 5436 
(Note: the A-side is a Re-recording of her 1947 hit on Capitol)

Heart Of A Clown [27/4] b/w Reaching For The Moon [28/4]
1963 USA 7" single on Melic 4131 

- LPS -

"Nellie Lutcher" – Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm

3 x 78" LP Package issued March 1948 as an 'Album' on Capitol CC-70 (Mono)

(The individual catalogue numbers for each 78" follow the A and B sides listed below)

1. The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) [1/1] b/w Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago [11/1]
(Capitol 10108)

2. Reaching For The Moon [17/1] b/w There's Another Mule In Your Stall [14/1]
(Capitol 10109)

3. Sleepy Lagoon [5/1] b/w Lake Charles Boogie [20/1] 
(Capitol 10110)

"Real Gone!"

1950 USA 8-Track Version 10" LP on Capitol H-232 (Mono)

Side 1: 

He's A Real Gone Guy [7/1]; Fine Brown Frame [21/1]; Hurry On Down [2/1]; Come And Get It, Honey [17/2]

Side 2: Do You Or Don't You Love Me 10/1]; Let Me Love You Tonight [8/1]; The Lady's In Love With You [3/1]; My Mother's Eyes [6/1]

(Note: the 10" LP listed above was then extended to two variants of a 12" LP in 1955 and was issued as Capitol T-232. One has eleven tracks – the other twelve. Although they've the same catalogue number – their track runs vary. Tracks marked ** are the extras over the 10" version)

"Real Gone!" 

1955 USA 11-Track Version 12" LP on Capitol T-232 (Mono) [Differing Artwork to the 10” LP]

Side 1:

He's A Real Gone Guy [7/1]; Fine Brown Frame [21/1]; Come And Get It, Honey [17/2]; Alexander’s Ragtime Band ** [24/1]

Side 2:

Do You Or Don't You Love Me [10/1]; Let Me Love You Tonight [8/1]; The Lady's In Love With You [3/1]; My Mother’s Eyes [6/1]; That’s A Plenty ** [1/3]; So Nice To See You Baby ** [19/1]

"Real Gone!" 

1955 USA 12-Track Version 12" LP on Capitol T-232 (Mono) [Differing Artwork to the 10” LP]

Side 1:

He's A Real Gone Guy [7/1]; Fine Brown Frame [21/1]; Hurry On Down [2/1]; Do You Or Don’t You Love Me [10/1]; Let Me Love You Tonight [8/1] The Lady’s In Love With You [3/1]

Side 2:

So Nice To See You Baby ** [19/1]; That’s A Plenty ** [1/3]; My Little Boy ** [15/2]; Alexander’s Ragtime Band ** [24/1]; Come And Get It, Honey [17/2]; My Mother’s Eyes [6/1]

"Whee! Nellie!"

1955 USA 6-Track 10" LP on Epic LN 1108 (Mono)

Side 1:

Whee, Baby! [22/3]; Taking A Chance On Love [23/3/]; Muchly Verily [23/3]

Side 2:

St. Louis Blues [24/3]; How Many More [20/3]; Blues For Bill Bailey [aka Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home] [25/3]

"Our New Nellie" [with Russ Garcia and His Orchestra]

1956 USA 12-Track 12" LP on Liberty LRP 3104 (Mono)

Side 1: 

Have You Ever Been Lonely [20/4]; You Made Me Love You [11/4]; (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings [17/4]; Someone To Watch Over Me [16/4]; This Can't Be Love [12/4]; Blue Skies [9/4]

Side 2: 

Rose Colored Glasses [18/4]; It Had To Be You [14/4]; The Nearness Of You [13/4]; On The Sunny Side Of The Street [15/4]; Ole Buttermilk Sky [19/4]; Three Little Words [10/4]

"Delightfully Yours"

1966 USA 10-track 12" LP on Sunset SUM-1124 [Mono]/SUS-5124 [Stereo]

Side 1: (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings [17/4]; The Nearness Of You [13/4]; Have You Ever Been Lonely [20/4]; On The Sunny Side Of The Street [15/4]; You Made Me Love You [11/4]

Side 2: 

Rose Colored Glasses [18/4]; This Can’t Be Love [12/4]; Someone To Watch Over Me [16/4]; Blue Skies [9/4]; Three Little Words [10/4]

[The 10-tracks used on “Delightfully Yours” are culled from the “Our New Nellie” album sessions which were only ever recorded in MONO – however, as you can see above, this Sunset LP was issued in both MONO and STEREO – the Bear Family box doesn’t reference EITHER - probably because this was false re-channelled stereo and the MONO tracks are already referenced on the Liberty LRP 3104 LP]

"The Best Of"

1995 USA Capitol Compilation on CD – Capitol CDP 7243 8 35039

(Track 15 and 22 are referenced on the Box set because they were previously unreleased at the time)

1. Hurry On Down

2. One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)

3. You Better Watch Yourself, Bub

5. My Mother's Eyes

6. He's A Real Gone Guy

7. Let Me Love You Tonight

8. Chi Chi Chi Chicago

9. Fine And Mellow

10. I Thought About You

11. Kinda Blue And Low

12. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)

13. Lake Charles Boogie

14. Fine Brown Frame

15. My Man (Mon Homme) [6/2]

16. Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird

17. He Sends Me

18. My New Papa's Got To Have Everything

19. Come And Get It

20. Honey Honey

21. That Will Just About Knock Me Out Baby

22. Baby What's Your Alibi [2/3]

23. Pa's Not Home