Brian's Music Musings

Them featuring Him. Whaaaat? It seems a 45 and 78 was released in 1956 with that odd sounding group name. It came out on the HEG label, #501, and featured the same song pairings as The Youngsters/Tempters songs on the Empire label. Both were at least partially written by George Motola. HIM is listed on the label as Al Cava. The songs use the same identical musical tracks as the Empire label records previously mentioned, and feature a pop sound group giving a much easier listening treatment to the songs. I plan to add it to my Youngsters web page this week, but have just scant information on the group and Al Cava. Definitely a Los Angeles area record, I just don't see any other releases for HEG, an apparent one shot deal.


Here is a mostly undocumented issue of the Tr-lads recording of Cherry Pie. Most widely known on the Bullseye label based in New York, it was not a huge nationwide hit. It did however, get substantial play in some regional markets. The original Cherry Pie was sung by Marvin and Johnny on the Los Angeles based Modern label. It was actually the flip of Tick Tock, which is somewhat forgotten now, as Cherry Pie later was revived and became the side played, at least on Los Angeles radio. It was also included on a ton of Oldies but goodies LP's which further enhanced it's status. The Tr-Lads record appears to have been released in late 1957/early 1958 on Bullseye, but here is what I believe to be the first pressing on the Oklahoma based Perspective sound label. This label had a few other issues like the Vibes and the accents

And the Halloween records keep coming! Here is one from the New York area. It must be since the record label has WNYS "9" on the label Baron Daemon and the Vampires "sing" The Transylvania Twist and Ghost Guitars is on the flip. I have seen this artist listed as a Syracuse Horror Host. Since I was in Los Angeles, I have to figure he hosted a regional scary horror show with the monster movies! Interesting note, that it shows to be a Seneca label production which just happens to be the name of a record label that Fay Simmons recorded on. Just another shameless plug in my never ending search for information on Simmons and her recordings.

The latest Buffalo record in my collection is on the Phitom label - yes the Tom Shannon/Phil Todaro label, by Two Jacks And A King. "Tell Me Today" is a pop sounding record while "Say Baby" is a nice uptempo bluesy sounding record. Probably one of the easier titles to get on the label.
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I couldn't help myself when I bought the 1961 Easter Parade of Stars "concert" tour program. The hosts included Murray The K and Clay Cole. It has some great group and single artist pictures, including lesser known artists like the Landon Sisters and Bobby Bongard. An advertisement on the inside back cover touts Maurice William's LP called Stay, and his latest 45 "Come Along".
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I have had several different types of shows on KVMR as of late. We had a membership drive, I did the Halloween show, and then there was last night. I had the chance (Again) to interview Frank Fox of Vito and the Salutations. It had been at least 15 years since we sat down to talk in the KVMR FM studio. He lives in Davis, California, about 1:45 minutes from Nevada City. This time, I let him "Run" the show. He had a program pretty much thought out and connected the dots as we listened to lots of music associated with Vito and the Salutations. And, yes, we did play a few of at least 14 sides Frank recorded with the group! Frank is still singing, and currently his group is Frankie and the Fabletones. I will be getting the whole interview posted this week, along with a picture of us in the studio. The interview will be on the celebs page that I have for the group, and on my home page.
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Even though it is after Halloween, I am still buying a few additional records that fit the theme. A few have been what I consider somewhat standard, if you are a hardcore collector. The Upperclassmen/Cha Cha With The Zomies, and the Johnson Brothers with Zombie Lou. Not so standard is Paul Peek with the Riddle of The Papahoos. A bit of a stretch, but seems to fit in. Also not as common is Baron Daemon on the WYNS New York TV label with the Transylvania Twist. Gathering Halloween records is a year-round job.

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In my continuing effort to collect Johnny Flamingo, I came up with United/I Just Cry on Malynn. There is at least one or two other labels those songs came out on. I'm still looking for the Dub Tone and Donna records, and probably a couple of others I don't know about. Actually, if you use Rockin Records as a guide, they are short several listings, so I will need to update them.

One of my many record collecting "problems" is that I have too many interests. I just can't keep up with all the directions I want to go. One of those interests includes upstate New York records. That includes Rochester and Buffalo. The latest add to the Rochester collection is the Key Notes, with a great instrumental called Tuff E Nuff Baby, on the Rochester Lin label. That Lin has nothing to do with the Gainesville Texas Lin outfit. Texas Lin spanned 1956 to 1964 and issued around 50 records. Rochester Lin had 4 or 5 releases that I know of, in 1958. I suspect they could have shut down when they discovered the other Lin label. I don't know that for sure, and let's face it - there were no easy Internet searches in 1958 to confirm your label name was unique!