THE COLLINS KIDS (LARRY AND LORRIE), "PARTY" C/W "HEARTBEAT," COLUMBIA 4-41012 (REL. 9/1957)

 

Energetic sums up the vibe of The Collins Kids, two eager-beaver teen rockers from California. They were part of the act of country guitar genius Joe Maphis, to whom Larry Collins was a young disciple. Sister Lorrie had a powerful voice that lent itself to rockers and ballads with strong effect. They were, respectively, 13 and 15 years old when they recorded today's platter.

Columbia Records supported the Kids for several years, starting on the ground zero date for rock ‘n’ roll—1955. Among the Kids’ singles (and some solo efforts by Larry and Lorrie) there are some cutesy pop items that grate rather than groove. The largest part of their discography are items like today’s single—issued in the rockabilly-dominated year of 1957. Like many of their Columbia singles, it pairs an outside song with a Collins Kids original to fine effect.

The cream of Bakersfield county music, c. 1957, crowded into Radio Recorders in LA on August 21, 1957, with producer Don Law transplanted from Nashville to assure the correct form was maintained. Joe Maphis, his Columbia label-mate Johnny Bond and Capitol country star Skeets McDonald were on hand, among others, for a dazzling pair of get-goin’ goodies that are short but sweet.

“Party” became better-known via versions by Wanda Jackson and Elvis Presley as “Let’s Have a Party” and was penned by Jessie Mae Robinson, a Black female composer who got several songs covered by white rock and country acts. “Party” was one of her most oft-recorded items, and it gets a torrid rendition with these hep kittens.

Lorrie sings lead with Larry’s harmonies. Both goof it up a bit but deliver solid vox throughout. Drummers Muddy Berry and Marion Adams pound the skins and Maphis gets in an interstellar guitar break. 95 seconds of turbo-charged teen bop: it took me longer to write about the song that it does to play out! Listen to it twice!

Cash Box worked up enthusiasm for these two sides: sensational fare for the boxes.

“Heartbeat” is the standout side. Lorrie Collins was a nascent torch singer, and that side informs this torrid mover. Larry’s silent and does guitar duties. The twin percussionists and pianist Dudley Brooks drive along this mid-tempo mover, which could go on for another 30-45 seconds and I’m sure no one would have complained.

This song was covered by Johnny Cash’s nephew Roy (as Roy Rivers) for his one and only Columbia single, which came and went without notice in 1960. I’ll feature Roy’s single some Saturday soon; it’s that kinda record.

Bear Family Records has a CD compilation on the Kids called The Rockin’est that’s a fine sampler of their Columbia work. They had a two-CD box set on the Collins, but it’s been deleted.

Tomorrow: the odometer turns over to 2000. To celebrate, a wonderful girl-group goodie penned and produced by our pals Phil Sloan and Steve Barri—a rare Dunhill Records platter from 1965! Confetti is encouraged.