Keeping the legend alive
Track listing: Sue items only:
Mockingbird – Inez Foxx | The Last Minute – Jimmy McGriff | Little Piece of Leather – Donnie Elbert | Stormy Monday Blues – Little Joe Cook | Harlem Shuffle – Bob and Earl | I can’t stand it – The Soul Sisters
Polygram 524 394-2
101 | 10 April 2024
Mighty Hannibal (l) with Elton John | Getty Images
Singer, songwriter, actor, anti-drugs campaigner and record producer James Timothy Shaw “The Mighty Hannibal” was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on 9 August 1939. By 1954 he was a singer in a doo wop group. Two of his friends joined Gladys Knight and The Pips. He moved to Los Angeles in 1958 and began singing with Johnny Otis. He subsequently based himself in New York. His sight deteriorated in 2002 and he died after problems breathing at his home in New York on 20 January 2014.
The Four Jokers | The Doo Wop Blog | Copyright Control
The Four Jokers were formed for a short time in 1958 and were Benjamin Washington (lead vocals) , James Myers (first tenor vocals),Herbert Myers (second tenor vocals) and Charles Holloway (bass vocals). They also recorded (with different configurations) as The Chimes and The Four Pennies.
101 | 7 April 2024
Mamie Bradley was spotted in a restaurant called Wells in Harlem, New York and was signed to Sue Records of New York in 1958. Chess subsequently purchased the masters of the Sue recordings.
“I feel like a million” was first released on Sue 702. The version issued on Chess 1686 is understood to be a different take.
No photos or biographical details for Ms Bradley are currently available: can anyone help, please?
102 | 31 March 2024
Amazon
Track listing: Ike and Tina Turner – A fool in love | Bobby Hendricks – Itchy Twitchy Feeling | The Duals – Stick Shift | Sonny Jackson – My Babe | Baby Washington – Hush Heart | Barbara George – Send for me If you need some lovin’ | Don Covay – Betty Jean | Jimmy Barnes – If by any chance | Mighty Hannibal – The biggest cry | Mamie Bradley – I feel like a million | The Honey Dos – Honey dew | Eloise Carter – My man Rock Head | Johnny Darrow – Don’t start me talking | Jimmy McGriff – I’ve got a woman Pt 1 | Sammi Lynn – You should know I’m still your baby | Ike and Tina Turner – It’s gonna work out fine | Johnnie Mae Mathews – My little angel | The Matadors – Pennies from Heaven | Bobby Hendricks – Psycho | The Night Riders – Pretty Plaid Skirt And Long Black Sox | The Chandeliers – She’s a heart breaker | Jimmy Oliver Orchestra – The sneak | Jackie Shane – Any other way | Pearl Woods – Keep your business to yourself | The Senors – May I have this dance | Jackie Shane – Sticks and stones | Ike and Tina Turner – You’re my baby | Bobby Hendricks – Cast your vote | Don Covay – Believe it or not | Mighty Hannibal – I need a woman | Jimmy Barnes – Maybe never | Eloise Carter – I need you | Johnny Darrow – Hand in hand | Baby Washington – A handful of memories | The Matadors – Be good to me | The Duals – Cruising | Ike and Tina Turner – I idolise you | The Honey Dos – Someone | Johnnie Mae Mathews – The headshrinker | Billy And Rickey – Baby doll | Bobby Hendricks – Busy flirtin’ | The Night Riders – St. Loo | Mary Lou Williams – Chunk a lunk jug Pt 1 | The Chandeliers – Give me your love | The Four Jokers – Written in the stars | Ike Turner and The Kings of Rhythm – My love | Barbara George – The recipe for perfect fools | The Senors – Searching for Olive Oil | Tommy Williams – Must be love | Jimmy McGriff – All about my girl
DAY2CD197. Issue date of CD: 2013.
101 29 March 2024
101 | 27 March 2024
“Gospel Time Encore” by Jimmy McGriff appears on Ensign Sue LP ENSUE 2.
101 | 26/03/24
“Gospel Time” by Jimmy McGriff appears on UK Ensign Sue LP ENSUE 2.
101 | 22 March 2024
Did not chart.
101 | 21 March 2024
“Set Me Free” by Bobby Bland was released in the UK on Sue LP ILP 974 – Bobby Bland: A Touch Of The Blues.
Did not chart.
101 | 20 March 2024
“Your lovin’ goes a long long way” by Bob and Earl was released in the UK on Sue LP ILP 951 – Bob and Earl – Harlem Shuffle.
Did not chart.
101 | 10 March 2024
Johnny Otis (center), shown playing with his band The Johnny Otis Revue | NPR
Singer, musician, composer, bandleader, record producer, and talent scout Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes (Johnny Otis) was born in Vallejo, California on 28 December 1921 and grew up in Berkeley, California. He began playing drums while a teenager. By 1940 he was playing in swing bands and formed his first band in 1945. He discovered Big Jay McNeely in 1948 and Esther Phillips in 1949. In 1950 Billboard identified Otis as the Rhythm and Blues artist of the year.
The song “Every Beat of My Heart” was composed for The Royals (later called The Midnighters) in 1951, and became one of his most successful songs; the version by Gladys Knight and The Pips was issued on UK Sue ILP 920 “50 Minutes 24 Seconds of Recorded Dynamite”.
Johnny Otis died from natural causes in Los Angeles, California, on 17 January 2012.
Hamworthy Hedgehog Rescue
Wishing all readers of the Sue UK web site a very Happy Christmas and an excellent New Year.
Paul
101 | 14 December 2023
Jackie Shane | Bandcamp
Singer and drag artiste Jackie Shane was born in Nashville, Tennessee on 15 May 1940 and became well known in Toronto, Canada’s rhythm and blues scene in the 1960s. A pioneering transgender person, Jackie Shane recorded a number of sides for US Sue, and last performed in 1971.
Jackie Shane died in Nashville, Tennessee on 22 February 2019.
101 | 13 December 2023
Sylvia Robinson | Michael Ochs Archives
Sylvia Robins is a pseudonym for singer, song writer, guitarist, record producer and record company executive Sylvia Robinson, nee Sylvia Vanderpool, who was born in Harlem, New York, on 29 May 1935. Her song Love Is Strange (Mickey Baker and Sylvia) and Pillow Talk were international hits. She first recorded for Columbia as “Little Sylvia”. She plays guitar on Ike and Tina Turner’s “Its gonna work out fine” (with Mickey doing the talking). Mickey and Sylvia moved to New Jersey in 1966 where they formed All Platinum Records.
Sylvia Robinson died from congestive heart failure in Secaucus, New Jersey, on 29 September 2011.
101 | 9 December 2023
Eddie and Ernie | Kent/Amazon
Eddie and Ernie were William Edgar “Eddie” Campbell and Ernie “Sweetwater” L. Johnson Jnr. They were based in Pheonix, Arizona, and sang in gospel groups and doing background vocals before setting out as a duo.
Eddie Campbell was born in Lodi, Texas on December 23, 1940 and raised in Pheonix. His brother Lloyd introduced him to Ernie L. Johnson Jr. He died in Los Angeles, California on July 10, 1994, age 53.
Earnest L. Johnson Jr. was born in Lubbock, Texas on October 22, 1943 and died in a hit-and-run accident on August 20, 2005.
101 | 4 December 2023
O. C. Smith | Copyright Control
Singer Ocie Lee Smith (O. C. Smith) was born in Mansfield, Louisiana, on 21 June 1932. After completing university he enrolled with the US Air Force, serving in the US, Europe and Asia. After discharge in July 1955 he concentrated on a career in jazz music. In 1961 he became a featured singer with Count Basie (until 1965). He achieved some success with songs like “Little Green Apples” and “Hickory Hollers Tramp”. He founded a Church in Los Angeles and became pastor there for some sixteen years.
O. C, Smith died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, on 23 November 2001.
“Everybody but me”, Broadway 101, is featured on the Japanese EMI CD 4 988006 701007.
Chart Position: Did not chart.
101 | 3 December 2023
Singer and saxophonist Jackie Brenston was born in Clarkesdale, Mississippi on 24 August in either 1928 or 1930 and became a member of Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm band. The famous recording from 1951 of “Rocket 88” is actually of Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm featuring Brenston on vocals (commentary?) and saxophone. He had a troubled youth and often ran away from home. He served in the US Army for two years. On return he learned the saxophone and was recruited by Ike Turner for the band.
Unfortunately he was unable to retain the success, gave up music and became a truck driver, and also suffered from alcoholism. Brenston died of a heart attack in Memphis on December 15, 1979.
Available photos of Mr Brenston are unfortunately of poor quality.
“Trouble Up The Road” (US Sue 736, 1961) is included in Japanese EMI CD 4 988006 701007.
101 | 3 December 2023
.
Pearl Woods | Public Domain
Singer, song writer and record company owner Lily Pearl Johnson (Pearl Woods) was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina on 24 September 1933 and moved to New York in 1951. Her songs include “Poverty”, “Somethings Got A Hold On Me” and “Stop The Wedding”. She married song writer Freddy Johnson and became a nurse and preacher in 1973.
Pearl Woods died in Arlington, Texas on 19 March 2010.
“Keep your business to yourself” (US Sue 750, September 1961) was included in the Japanese EMI CD 4 988006 701007.
102 | 3 December 2023
Don Covay | Philadelphia International Records
Singer and song writer Donald James Randolph (Don Covay) was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina on 24 March 1936. In the early 1950s he settled in Washington DC and initially sang in a family gospel quartet. His first break in music occurred in 1957 when he joined the Little Richard Revue. He started recording soon after but his recording career really started in 1964 when he recorded “Mercy” for the Atlantic distributed Rosemart label. That featured a young guitarist called James Hendrix. Atlantic bought Covay’s contract and in 1965 he recorded “See Saw” at the Stax studios in Memphis. His many published songs include “Chain of Fools” for Aretha Franklin and “Letter full of tears” for Gladys Knight and The Pips.
Don Covay died in New York on 31 January 2015.
“Believe it or not” (US Sue 709, November 1958) appears on Japanese EMI CD 4 988006 701007.
Chart Position: Did not chart.
101 | 27 November 2023
Amazon | EMI-Liberty (Toshiba, Japan) Barcode 4 988006 701007
Track listing: CD1: The groove – Ike Turner | A fool in love – Ike and Tina Turner | Itchy twitchy feeling – Bobby Hendricks | Psycho – Bobby Hendricks | Believe it or not – Don Covay | Night ridin’ -The Night Riders | I idolise you – Ike and Tina Turner | It’s gonna work out fine – Ike and Tina Turner | My man Rockhead – Eloise Carter | Keep your business to yourself – Pearl Woods | Don’t start me talking – Johnny Darrow | Trouble up the road – Jackie Brenston | That’s all I Need – Ike Turners’ Kings of Rhythm | Stick shift – The Duals | I’ve got a woman – Jimmy McGriff | Hitch hike – Russell Byrd | Annie Don’t Love me no more – The Hollywood Flames | Prancing – Ike Turners’ Kings of Rhythm | Poor fool – Ike and Tina Turner | Foolish – Ike and Tina Turner | You should’s treated me right – Ike and Tina Turner |Worried and hurtin’ inside – – Ike and Tina Turner | That’s how heartaches are made – Baby Washington | All about my girl – Jimmy McGriff | CD2: Mockingbird – Inez and Charlie Foxx | I can’t stand it – The Soul Sisters | Daddy rolling stone – Derek Martin | Don’t put me down like this – Derek Martin | Everybody but me – Ocie Smith | In my tenement – Jackie Shane | So far away – Hank Jacobs | I can’t wait to see my baby – Justine Washington | I can’t tell you – Sylvia Robbins | Good time tonight – The Soul Sisters | Loop de loop – The Soul Sisters | Ask me – Inez Foxx | M G Blues – Jimmy McGriff | Monkey hips and rice – Hank Jacobs | Ain’t that bad – Pancho Villa and The Bandits | Think about the good times – The Soul Sisters | Hurt by love – Inez and Charlie Foxx | La de da I love you – Inez and Charlie Foxx | The real thing – Tina Britt | One more hurt – Marjorie Black | Stagger Lee and Billy – Ike and Tina Turner | The new breed – Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm | Time waits for no one – Eddie and Ernie | The outcast – Eddie and Ernie | Soul at Sunrise – Juggy Murray | If you’ve ever loved someone – Jean Wells | The Last Minute – Jimmy McGriff
CD issued 2014.
102 | 27 November 2023
COL-CD 5123 | Ebay
Track Listing: It’s gonna work out fine – Ike and Tina Turner | Mocking Bird – Inez and Charlie Foxx | A handful of memories – Baby Washington | Itchy twitchy feeling – Bobby Hendricks | I can’t stand it – The Soul Sisters | Poor Fool – Ike and Tina Turner | She blew a good thing – The Poets | I know – Barbara George | I’ve got a woman – Jimmy McGriff | A fool in love – Ike and Tina Turner | The real thing – Tina Britt | Vengeance will be mine – The Matadors | Let’s work together – Wilbert Harrison | That’s how heartaches are made – Baby Washington | Stick shift – The Duals | A Thousand dreams – Bobby Hendricks | She put the hurt on me – Prince La La | May I have this dance – The Senors
Track listing kindly submitted by Paul; First published 1997.
100 | 15 October 2023 | Published | External Link Checked
Eli Toscano (left) | Tiktok Music
Eli Toscano co-founded Cobra Records with his partner Howard Bedno in Chicago in 1956. Toscano ran a television and radio business in Chicago and was interested in recording blues music. He quickly assembled quite a roster of blues musicians, including Otis Rush, Harold Burrage, Big Walter “Shakey” Horton, Ike Turner, Sunnyland Slim, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy. In 1958 the Cobra Record Company moved to plusher offices at 3346 Roosevelt, Chicago. Unfortunately Mr Toscano liked to gamble, and things went wrong; Mr Toscano was killed in a gangland murder and his body was found in Lake Michegan in 1959.
101 | 1 October 2023
Ralph Bass | Kevin Mazur / Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Talent scout and rhythm and blues record producer, artists and repertoire manager and song writer Ralph Basso Jr. was born on May 1, 1911 in The Bronx, New York. As a boy he showed an interest in music and was given music lessons. He grew up listening to blues, jazz and other forms of music but developed a desire to assemble sounds. In the early 1940s he began work as A&R manager at Black And White Records, including T Bone Walker’s landmark recording of “Stormy Monday”. By 1948 he was working for Savoy Records from 1948 to 1951, then King Records of Cincinatti. Extensively touring the southern states, he realised that R&B music appealed to increasing numbers of listeners across social and racial divides. He set up Federal Records and recorded the classics “Sixty Minute Man” (The Dominoes), “Work with me Annie” (Hank Ballard) and others. He signed James Brown but record company owner Syd Nathan hated the first recording, “Please Please Please” so it was issued on Federal. Chess Records poached him in 1959, where he worked until 1976 when he moved to MCA Records.
Ralph Bass died in New York City on 5 March 1997.
100 | 9 September 2023
Kim Fowley | Alamy
Novelty song writer, record producer, publicist, autobiography writer and musician Kim Vincent Fowley was born in Los Angeles, California, on 21 July 1939. He attended the University High School, whose other contemporary pupils included Jan Berry and Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean), (Beach Boy) Bruce Johnston, and Nancy Sinatra. In 1957 he developed polio and was hospitalised. When he was released from hospital he became publicist for band The Sleepwalkers, whose line up included Phil Spector and (drummer) Sandy Nelson.
He spent some time in the armed forces, but in 1959 he began working in the music industry for Berry Gordy of Motown and the disc jockey/presenter Alan Freed. The first record he produced was “Charge” by The Renegades. His work at this time introduced him to his collaborator Gary S. Paxton and they produced a million selling hit for The Hollywood Argyles, a studio creation.
In the mid 60s he was working for the controversial singer P. J. Proby and was based for a time in London.
Kim Fowley died regarded as a Los Angeles music legend, after a career in music spanning six decades, from cancer of the bladder in Los Angeles on 15 January 2015. After his death there were allegations of a sexual nature against him.
I am going through the site checking and updating artists’ biographies, replacing missing pictures and videos, and converting the posts to the new layout format. You can see which artists’ biographies have been updated on the A-Z-People page.
Spotted anything missing or wrong? It’s always a good time to let me know, and all contributions and help are always welcome.
Paul
I’d like to thank Martin Whitell for the excellent images he is making available to us, of his collection of UK Sue singles, and which are gracing the posts of the blog.
Collection of Martin Whitell
A video of “Loving You Every Day” by Wade Donald has been added. It is very poor quality and incomplete, but it is the only video so far available. We still have no photo or further information about Wade Donald Jr. Can anyone help, please.
100 | 14 August 2023
We now have the real identities of Birdlegs, Pauline and The Versatility Birds and none of them were feathered.
We now have a new mystery to solve, though.
Who is the other lady in their photo?
Can anyone help please.
101 | 7 August 2023
Discogs
Issued by The Decca Company in 1965 on their London-American label, index no. HAC 8239, in mono only. It was the UK issue of an American Sue LP issued first under the name of “The Sue Story Volume 1” and later re-issued as “Sue Old Goodies” on index no. US Sue LP 1021.
This compilation album was not issued by Island/Sue but is included for completeness.
The track listing is:
I can’t stand it – The Soul Sisters | Mockingbird – Inez and Charlie Foxx | That’s how heartaches are made – Baby Washington | I’ve got a woman – Jimmy McGriff | I know – Barbara George | It’s gonna work out fine – Ike and Tina Turner | Stick Shift – The Duals | She put the hurt on me – Prince La La | A fool in love – Ike and Tina Turner | Itchy Twitchy Feeling – Bobby Hendricks | Don’t start me talkin’ – Johnny Darrow | Vengeance will be mine – The Matadors.
Expect to pay between £15 and £75 for a copy of this album.
Our post on Barrett Strong has been updated reflecting his death on 28 January, 2023.
Our post on Bobby Hendricks has been updated following his death which occurred in 2022.
Tina Turner | Hermann J. Knippertz / Associated Press
The news reached us today that Tina Turner died on Tuesday. Her friend Mick Jagger writes on Twitter: “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
Barack Obama writes: “Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy.”
Our post on Ike and Tina Turner has been updated.
Our post on Gerri Hall has been expanded and updated.
Huey Pierce Smith died on 13 February, 2023. Our post has been updated.
Our post on Tarheel Slim and Little Ann has been completely revised with corrected and fuller information.
Our post on Tim Whitsett has been updated following his death in January 2022.
Our posts on Gene Redd Snr and Rosie and The Originals have been updated.
Our post on Lloyd Price has been updated to recognise his death from diabetes complications in May 2021.
Our post on Ronnie Hawkins has been updated reflecting his death.
Sue Records UK 