ARTIST AND SONG TITLES REVEALED IN POST, UK CORAL Q.72475 (REL 9/1964)

 

England’s love of B^ddy H@lly* continues ¼ of the way through this century. After his tragic death in early 1959, public demand for unheard material commenced a search of every nook and cranny for early material, unissued sides and, in the case of today’s UK-only 1964 release, two demos never intended for commercial release. As seen in the marquee image, UK band The Kinks gave this release a cheerful thumbs-up during a guest review spot in the British weekly Melody Maker. Ray and Dave Davies are most effusive, while bassist Pete Quaife felt stand-offish about it all.

The elder Davies’ comment reveals a keen ear. These weren’t convential studio recordings. Holly and his friend Bob Montgomery penned “Love’s Made a Fool of You” and “Wishing” (heard in the Facebook days) as potential hits for their friends The Everly Brothers. The siblings were honored, but worried that, were H@lly to record his own version, it might eclipse their own. (That smacks of an ‘official story;’ in truth, their publisher, Acuff-Rose Publications, frowned on their recording outside material. The brothers’ insistence on doing so led to a major fray in relations in 1961.)

The song was recorded by The Crickets for their first release after H@lly’s passing, with David Box as lead vocalist. Ignored in the US, it reached #26 on the UK charts. A 1966 version by The Bobby Fuller Four achieved the same chart position in the US. Neither recording is a patch on B^ddy and Bob’s delightful demo, which features Tommy Allsup, the nimble guitarist heard on H@lly’s “Heartbeat” and “Lonesome Tears,” on superb lead pickin’. With minimal, muffled percussion, handclaps and strummed acoustic guitars, its Bo Diddley-ish beat and chuggin’ beat is a real winner. One appreciates H@lly’s voice here, as his expressive tone proves the ideal agent for this appealing song. It would have been a hit, had the Everly Brothers recorded it, and it would have touched the hearts of the rock ‘n’ roll audience as a tribute to a fallen star. Among H@lly’s last recordings, this is a hidden gem in his catalog.

>>>Hear it HERE!!!<<<

“You’re the One” was recorded for fun at a Lubbock, Texas radio station. Co-penned with then-obscure Waylon Jennings and radio DJ Ray Corbin, it’s one voice and guitar with two syncopated handclaps. “I feel like an actor in a play/that doesn’t fit the part” is a great line and this barren version doesn’t make it to the 90-second mark.

Some historians cite this as the last song penned by its composer, who would embark on the deadly winter tour of the icy hinterlands a few days after this little lark.

>>>Hear it HERE!!!<<<

* I must resort to this keyboard subterfuge due to the unstable, defensive and combative person in charge of the estate of this performer’s producer. Since these were not produced by said person with the intention of commercial release, and are of historical value, I don't want to attract this person's angry attention. Rest assured I do not in any way profit from these posts. I do them for love of the music and at my own personal expense, so chill out, please, gatekeeper.

Tomorrow: the second single by Billy La Mont—a great bluesy mover coupled with a fish-beat ballad on an utter commercial flop from Okeh Records. Part of a recent slew of good records acquired for peanuts!