Johnny Bragg & The Marigolds, "Juke Box Rock And Roll" c/w "It's You Darling It's You," Excello 45-2091 (rel. 19/1956)
The story of The Marigolds, which begins with that of The Prisonaires, is a noir Cinderella saga. Its members were incarcerated at the Tennesee State Penitentiary. Lead singer Johnny Bragg had been in lockup for over a decade when he met Robert S. Riley. Bragg was in prison for multiple counts of rape and assault; Riley was in the jug for housebreaking.
Despite his history of violence and harm, Bragg possessed a beautiful voice. One afternoon, he talked with Riley about a thought he'd had about walking in the rain, free from prison and to think about women. Riley felt this was a good notion for a song; as Bragg developed lines, Riley smoothed out their grammar and syntax and a future pop smash was born.
"Just Walkin' in the Rain" became part of the repertoire of the quintet, composed of criminals who sought rehabilitation through the power of music. They attracted the attention of Life magazine, who sent a photographer to document their life behind bars and in performance; with matching suits and bow ties, they were accompanied by armed guards to public venues where they sang. The photographer captured songwriter Riley in his prison cell, guitar in hand, in an elegant image seen below.
In Memphis, Sun Records' Sam Phillips got wind of the group and asked the warden of the State Pen to bring them down to audition for him. Their Ink Spots-style close harmonies, to the accompaniment of a lone strummed guitar, were a decade out of style, but their voices (and the obvious hit song) appealed to Phillips, who signed them to his label. Riley didn't sing with the group, but he and Bragg wrote other material, and Sun released four singles in 1953 and '54. The earliest Sun 45 I own is #191, which couples "I Know" and "A Prisoner's Prayer."
The group won their freedom when the Tennessee justic system deemed them worthy of a return to society. A contrite Johnny Bragg got off scot free; he and the other Prisonaires had to toe the line; their behavior was monitored as they pursued a newfound career.
Pop singer Johnnie Ray recorded "Just Walkin' in the Rain" for Columbia Records, and the major hit gave co-composers Bragg and Riley a solid foundation in the music world. They signed with Nashville label Excello, who released one single as The Solotones, then three as The Marigolds.
They had a hit with Robert Riley's calypso-flavored "Rollin' Stone" in 1955. Their second 45 paired solo songs by Bragg and Riley. The group adapted well to the sound of rhythm and blues, and Riley's "Two Strangers" was a pop ballad that could have been performed by Johnnie Ray.
Their final 45, credited to Johnny Bragg and The Marigolds, was perhaps their best, with a bright rocker reminiscent of Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters coupled with an impressive vocal harmony ballad. It's the hardest to find of the three singles.
"Juke Box Rock and Roll" is an earthy, busy mover, with Bragg's vibrant voice encased in the other four members' dense, sharp harmonies. An adroit tenor sax, tinkly piano and a busy bass line contibute to this joyous celebration of freedom, good times and the power of music. There's still a touch of The Prisonaires' sound in this rollicking side, which differs from the New York r&b of its day via a down-to-earth feeling rife with appeal.
Despite his history of violence and harm, Bragg possessed a beautiful voice. One afternoon, he talked with Riley about a thought he'd had about walking in the rain, free from prison and to think about women. Riley felt this was a good notion for a song; as Bragg developed lines, Riley smoothed out their grammar and syntax and a future pop smash was born.
"Just Walkin' in the Rain" became part of the repertoire of the quintet, composed of criminals who sought rehabilitation through the power of music. They attracted the attention of Life magazine, who sent a photographer to document their life behind bars and in performance; with matching suits and bow ties, they were accompanied by armed guards to public venues where they sang. The photographer captured songwriter Riley in his prison cell, guitar in hand, in an elegant image seen below.
The group won their freedom when the Tennessee justic system deemed them worthy of a return to society. A contrite Johnny Bragg got off scot free; he and the other Prisonaires had to toe the line; their behavior was monitored as they pursued a newfound career.
Pop singer Johnnie Ray recorded "Just Walkin' in the Rain" for Columbia Records, and the major hit gave co-composers Bragg and Riley a solid foundation in the music world. They signed with Nashville label Excello, who released one single as The Solotones, then three as The Marigolds.
They had a hit with Robert Riley's calypso-flavored "Rollin' Stone" in 1955. Their second 45 paired solo songs by Bragg and Riley. The group adapted well to the sound of rhythm and blues, and Riley's "Two Strangers" was a pop ballad that could have been performed by Johnnie Ray.
Their final 45, credited to Johnny Bragg and The Marigolds, was perhaps their best, with a bright rocker reminiscent of Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters coupled with an impressive vocal harmony ballad. It's the hardest to find of the three singles.
"Juke Box Rock and Roll" is an earthy, busy mover, with Bragg's vibrant voice encased in the other four members' dense, sharp harmonies. An adroit tenor sax, tinkly piano and a busy bass line contibute to this joyous celebration of freedom, good times and the power of music. There's still a touch of The Prisonaires' sound in this rollicking side, which differs from the New York r&b of its day via a down-to-earth feeling rife with appeal.
Cash Box got a bit incoherent in their praise for this 1956 single. That's normal for them.
"It's You Darling It's You" is a waltz-tempo ballad. It opens with a capella harmonies that demonstate how well these men sang together. In more professional hands, this might have been a sappy ballad. We're fortunate this was recorded far away from the pristine chambers of New York or LA.
Nothing about the song impresses more than that cold harmony opening; it's pleasant, well-performed and less engaging than the upbeat free-for-all of "Jukebox Rock and Roll."
Bear Family Records has two CD's worth of Prisonaires and Marigolds material; recommended is Only Believe, which compiles all the Marigolds sides and a bevy of unissued Prisonaires material.
Tomorrow: more Nashville r&b with Larry Birdsong via a 1959 Champion Records 45; a zany uptempo item coupled with a soulful ballad.
The delightful "Juke Box..." is, of course, not quite rock and roll but has more of a jump sound. "It's You Darling..." owes much to the Platters' 1955 "The Great Pretender" but stands on its own. The Marigolds' history is one of those unbelievable "Oh, come on, these guys were convicted felons?" stories that are sad but true. What a great talent these guys had.
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