All the cool kids are doing it...

Seriously.

Oh, You Sexy Thing

First, y'all need to go to  Howdy's  fine blog and  check out this post - and this one, too.

And now you're sufficiently primed for Ms. Sassy herself:

Sarah Vaughan - Frasier The Sensuous Lion

Further info here  - including lyrics!

So, so, sorry! (King Solomon - Missing Track)

 Thank you for your vigilance, Anonymous!  Here is track three from the King Solomon comp 'You Ain't Nothing But a Teenager' - the original version of 'Separation' issued on Magnum.  Anyone who's already dl'd the cd, please add to your folder.

 King Solomon - Separation (Magnum version) - track 3

King Solomon - You Ain't Nothing But a Teenager (Night Train, 2005)

This post is for ana-b, whose blog The Singing Bones is one of the best on the web. Ana recently gave birth to her first child, a baby girl, & to welcome little Anza to our world I figured I'd post something that I promised her mother quite some time ago.  Ana, here's my lazy girl synopsis of Nick Loss-Eaton's very thorough liner notes:

Born King Sylvester Lee Melicious Solomon in Tallulah, LA on October 12, 1934  Solomon says simply, "I guess all the kids had long names".   As a teenager, Solomon sang with an a capella gospel group that opened for a pre-Sam Cooke Soul Stirrers. In 1949 the aspiring singer got on a bus to Chicago where, in addition to running a restaurant,  he met early mentor Sunnyland Slim & befriended Rufus 'Bearcat' Thomas.  After 5 years in Chicago he made his way to Los Angeles and assimilated West Coast blues stylings into his Chicago blues & northern soul foundation - billing himself as either King Solomon & the Soul Brothers Band or King Solomon & the Handicappers. His bands included, among others, Maxwell Davis, Joe Kincaid, & Charles Wright of "Express Yourself" fame" (whose band accompanies King Solomon on the 1965 title song of this collection).  

So.  Here we have 24 songs released on 8 different labels between 1960-78 - and no wonder Ana has been confused! Also per Mr. Loss-Eaton, a different King Solomon (Hill) was a country-blues singer in the pre-war era. Yet another King Solomon was a pianist who accompanied Lowell Fulsom. Then there's Solomon Burke's nickname.  And also apparently a 'hip hop artist' (can't you hear Mr. Loss-Eaton's sniff of disdain?;-))  Point is, this King Solomon, over several incarnations, is most enjoyable and y'all can listen to him here.

And for a preview, here is one of my favorite cuts from the cd.  Recorded in the early 60s, it's obviously deeply indebted to a much more famous bluesman & one of his most famous songs - but hey.  Dig it.


King Solomon - Yodelling This Morning (originally released on Magnum 720)

Ferlin?!?! Swing West Vol 2 - Guitar Slingers (Razor & Tie, 1999)

So... a couple of months ago I was listening to the radio & was absolutely floored by a version of  Duke Ellington's 'Caravan' that totally sounded like something Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant would've cooked up. Said song was credited to none other than Ferlin Husky, who, while the singer of one of my fave country novelty songs of all time, has not ever been known for his guitar prowess. Hmm.

I had to purchase this awesome, sadly out of print cd to ascertain that a sadly UNKNOWN Nashville session guitarist (along with steel player Curly Chalker) put down this smoking & previously unreleased tune during a 1965 Ferlin Husky recording session.

Enjoy the entire cd - and here's the highlight:

'Ferlin Husky' - Caravan



And as a bonus here's Ferlin singing his ode to Eli - Eli, NOT Joe - the camel:

Ferlin Husky - Eli the Camel
 

And, double bonus, another wonderful cover from an oft-maligned player.  Totally different style but who cares!

Chet Atkins - Walk Don't Run (originally from Hi-Fi In Focus, 1957)








UPDATE 03/17/2011 - R.I.P., Ferlin

If you're reading this there's a good chance you love Dan Melchior 's recordings...

..and if so, I urge you to visit here .
Dan & I worked next door to each other until very recently. Small world.

Satan Go Away! Scat! Seriously, right this minute! Dude, I am talking to YOU!

By request, here's a nice OOP compilation of Frank Guida productions.
Highlights include the Gary U.S. Bonds number referenced in the post title, yet another song about an ugly girl by Jimmy Soul, the maudlin 'Last Phone Call' by Lynn Earlington & a very nice straight soul song by The Soul Cop, who may or may not be Lenis Guess.

UPDATE 2/20/11 - Thanks to commenter doggett, we now know that the Soul Cop is in fact Oliver Christian.  Thank you, doggett!!!

@320, no scans

Nick, I hope you enjoy! [And everyone who somehow found their way to this sorry excuse of a blog should immediately go visit Nick's totally awesome site!]

VA - Frank Guida Presents The Norfolk VA. Rock 'n' Roll Sound (Ace, 1994)

get it here