Booker T. And The M.G.s - "Behave Yourself"

Everyone knows the classic 1962 instrumental hit, "Green Onions," but have you heard the flip side of the original 45?

Jim Stewart, then president of Stax Records, wanted to release the single with the first song, titled “Behave Yourself”, as the A-side and Onions as the B-side. Steve Cropper and radio disc jockeys thought otherwise; soon, Stax released Booker T. & the M.G.'s' “Green Onions” backed with “Behave Yourself”. In conversation with BBC Radio 2's Johnnie Walker, on his show broadcast on September 7, 2008, Cropper revealed that the record became an instant success when DJ Reuben Washington, at Memphis radio station WLOK, played it four times in succession, this even before the tune or the band had an agreed-upon name.

Bill Doggett - "Chloe"

Here's another great organ and sax number from the legendary Bill Doggett. This one was released in 1957 and is great for doing the cha-cha or mambo on your living room floor. The flip side is "Number Three." I posted the 78 rpm version of that one some time ago.

Bill Black's Combo "Smokie Parts 1 & 2"

Smokie is a 1959 instrumental by Bill Black's Combo. The single was the first of four entries on the R&B chart and was successful, where it made to number one for four weeks, in early 1960. "Smokie, Part 2" also hit the top twenty on the pop singles chart.
Most people know the Part 2 version, but Part 1, with it's tinkly toy piano sound and faster tempo is my favorite of the two.
Here are both parts 1 & 2 for your listening pleasure

Mose Allison "The Seventh Son"

My introduction to the silky vocal tones and piano grooves of Mose Allison was via this 45 from dad's brown record box.
"The Seventh Son" was written by Willie Dixon and Mose cut this swingin' version for Prestige Records in 1963.
Johnny Rivers had a hit with a live version of the song a couple years later.

Dad's 76th Birthday Show on Mixlr.com

Dad's 45 fans can tune in this Sunday, Feb. 24th for a special show celebrating what would have been dad's 76th birthday. I'll be playing a bunch of recent A/D transfers of more of the classic 45s from dad's old record boxes. Missed it live? Catch the showreel HERE!

PLAYLIST:
The Ventures - Walk - Don't Run
Boots Brown & His Blockbusters - Juicy
Booker T & The MGs - Behave Yourself
Bill Doggett - Soft
Lionel Hampton and Orchestra - Sometimes I'm Happy
Bill Black's Combo - Smokie Parts 1 & 2
Clifton Chenier - Ay-Tete Fee
Sidney Maiden - Hand Me Down Baby
Mongo Santamaria Band - Don't Bother Me No More
Lee Allen - Promenade
Eddie Cano - Panchita
Cannonball Adderley Orchestra - African Waltz
Chuck Berry - No Money Down
Richard Berry and The Pharoahs - Louie Louie
The Cadillacs - Speedoo
The Sounds - So Unnecessary
Percy Mayfield - I Need Love So Bad
Dizzy Gillespie - Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Tiny Bradshaw - The Gypsy
Mose Allison - The Seventh Son
Ramsey Lewis Trio - Iracy Blues
J.D. Nicholson - Typin' And Wonderin'
Gus Jenkins - Hit The Road
Sax Man Brown & The Broomdusters - Flaming Blues
Red Prysock - Fruit Boots
Joe Jones - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Ernie K-Doe - I Cried My Last Tear
The Drifters - Rat Race
Richard Hayes w/Eddie Sauter Orch. - Summertime
The Tritones - Sweet And Lovely
Eddie Harris - Alicia

Chuck Berry And his Combo "No Money Down"

This is probably my favorite Chuck Berry song. Every time I hear it, I can see dad, rapping along with the lyrics. Growing up, I don't think I ever heard this song played anywhere outside our home like some of Berry's other, more famous tunes.
"No Money Down" was released on Chess Records in December 1955 as the A Side of "Down Bound Train." It was also Berry's first UK single, being released there in May 1956.

Joe Jones - "California Sun"

The Rivieras had a top 10 hit with "California Sun," but three years before that, New Orleans-born, Joe Jones released the first recorded version in the winter of 1961. You might remember Jones' hit "You Talk Too Much," from the year before.

The song has been covered many times over the years, but this is the version I grew up hearing and is still my favorite.

The song is credited to Henry Glover and Morris Levy. The latter was also the owner and founder of Roulette Records.