Michael V

Just heard that Ed Bruce,who cut the fine and popular 'I'm Gonna Have A Party' for Wand in 64', sadly died today, Jan.8th, aged 81. I first heard 'I'm Gonna Have A Party' when it was compiled on the Kent LP 'Sophisticated Sounds-Soul For The Connoisseur' as did a few others, I'd guess. Ed also recorded some nice Rockabilly for Sam Phillips at Sun in Memphis as a teenager in the late 50's and went on to be a major Country star in the late 70's and 80's as well as branching out into film and TV acting around the same time

Betty James' group on her classic 'I'm A Little Mixed Up ' was her family group, who played the club circuit coincidentally in Baltimore inc. her husband on guitar and her son on bass, so Betty was almost certainly older than the very young- sounding Betty Renne, whose unique voice I love equally!

36/ Constellation

64/ Sound Stage 7

95/ Peanut Country ( Frank Guida label-Lenis Guess etc)

Sorry, Yank ,yes- same answers,the very same second or two! But found a new one; 59/ Verve

75/ Fee 89/ Shrine

15/ Sussex 24/ Stax 77/ Minit

51/Since I Talk To My Baby-Harold Andrews ? 100/ I'll Be Your Winner-Jimmy Soul Clark

28/There's That Mountain-The Tripps ? 32/For The Love Of Money-The Larks 43/Little Girl Blue-The Webs

13/ Heaven Must Have Sent You-The Elgins 16/Rainbow Of Love-The Superbs ? 41,Music- The Festivals (or maybe Music-Jeanette White) 54/Keep On Talking-James Barnett 62/Pills- Bo Diddley ?

I've got a UK Columbia demo of Rolf Harris' Jake The Peg signed by Jimmy Savile-any idea of value?

Dear Steve-thanks! Will pay now. Kind Regards,Michael

Hello-I'll have Jackie Ross if it's still available.Thanks,Michael

Yes,such a fine singer.Sadly,the last I heard (2017) Joe was'nt in good health and was in a nursing home in Redlands,California

Yes,Ken is on the far left - his brother Ted,though, is crouching down on the right,next to lead singer Joe Jones,who is standing far right

Good to hear from you again, Robb. I liked John Lee Hookers' reply when once asked why he recorded under so many aliases in his early years- " Well, moneys pretty exciting,you know.." Although they are best known here for their 60's Northern classic 'Love Game (From A-Z)' on Wingate (their last record) The Royal Jokers,as you say, went way back to the post-war beginnings of R&B group harmony;their mid-50's adopted name was deceptive as they were'nt Coasters clones and only did comedy routines on stage-on record their material was pretty much straight Doo Wop, i.e. ballads and jumps;their Atco sides are good examples of the latter and 'Sweet Little Angel' on Fortune is a wonderful ballad,a great favourite of mine. Re.Graham who posted above about Richard Berry;although he sang uncredited with a number of groups in the bewildering,wonderful discographical tangle that was the 50's/early 60's LA Doo-Wop scene,I don't think he recorded under many aliases; his group The Pharaohs recorded as The Cyclones for Flip in 57' and he cut a 45' under the name Jasper Woods ('I'm Coming Home' on VPM in 1961) I don't know of any others.

Oh yes,thanks Ken-forgot all about dear Kendra/Sandi -;also gems with Van McCoy as the Fantastic Vantastics and Jack & Jill-what a beautiful Doo-Wop that is ('Just As You Are')

The king of pseudonyms has to be John Lee Hooker,who in the late 40's and 50's recorded as Birmingham Sam,Johnny Williams, Texas Slim, The Boogie Man, Johnny Lee and John Lee Booker to name just 6! (I think there was just one or two more before he stayed billed under his real full name in the mid-late 50's Then there's the remarkable case of R&B vocal group the Larks (the Gene Mumford/Alden Bunn aka Tarheel Slim group,not the early 60's Philly guys) who recorded under 4 different names for 4 different record companies in New York and New Jersey in one day! (Oct 5th 1950) They recorded Gospel as the Jubilators, Selah Jubilee Singers and Southern Harmonaires for Jubilee, Regal and Apollo and R&B as the 4 Barons for Savoy!

Hello- I'll have the Delcos if it's still available. Kind Regards,Michael

This sounds like one of those 'Press Pack' promotional items of the 70's(and late 60's) sent out to music papers and radio stations as part of a promotional drive for a newly launched label series or a subsidiary label. 20 Manchester Square was EMI House,the famous HQ for EMI Records

Just to clairfy,Don Covay was the only future Soul star who actually recorded with the Rainbows ( he joined after 'Mary Lee ' and sang on the follow-ups 'Shirley' and They Say' ) Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart were friends and auxiliary members of the group-occasionally singing live with them when a member could'nt make a show or was ill. Marvin did record with the Marquees,though, on Okeh,backed by Bo Diddley & his band on the fine,uptempo 'Hey Little Schoolgirl' in 57' and as the uncredited vocal group on Billy Stewart's lovely Doo-Wop ballad 'Baby,You're My Only Love' also on Okeh that same year.

Sad news-a fine artist with a remarkable voice.His version of Archie Bell's 'Showdown' was a favourite of this Mike,too

Thanks for payment Gary,will post this morning. Best Wishes,Michael