JOHNNY FULLER, "RESTLESS" C/W "DON'T SLAM THAT DOOR," IMPERIAL X5395 (REL. 6/1956)

 

This is a far piece from the usual Saturday fare--there's nothing "off" or deviant about this 1956 New Orleans-made r&b platter. But since yesterday's post had a cover version of one side of this obscure, non-hit release, it makes sense to play it as a follow up. It's a fine record in its own right.
        "Restless" takes a slower, more stately pace from the swamp-pop grind of the Mike and The Del Rays cover version. Chiming celesta and piano accent Fuller's pleading, understated vocal performance. While it's not a lost masterpiece, it's well-made and an interesting contrast to yesterday's rendition.

Caoption

"Don't Slam That Door" has a sound that presages Bob Dylan's mid-1960s recordings, kinda-sorta. It could have been recorded by Smiley Lewis at this time. Ford Eaglin, blind New Orleans blues guitarist-vocalist, did a version in 1962 that demonstrates how Crescent City music had changed in six short years.
        The review above deems this a "happy deck," a comment that's lost on me. Had Fats Domino, Bartholomew's most successful charge, recorded the song, it would've sounded upbeat despite its domestic drama. Fuller's between those two singers' approaches, and it's a fine mid-tempo r&b potboiler. Bubble, bubble!

Fuller hooked up with Bob Geddins, a folk music enthusiast who lived in Oakland, California, later in the 1950s. Geddins recorded Fuller and leased the results to various labels. They got a hit with "Haunted House" for Specialty Records in late 1958. Memphian Gene Simmons revived it in 1964 and got a pop hit for Hi Records. And that's all I've got on this here record.

Tomorrow: Wade Flemons delivers slightly kooky Chicago soul via a late 1964 Vee-Jay single. One song is co-written by Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons. I'm sure there is Bob Crewe and Charles Callelo's involvement on these recordings.