busterbrownmadison
“The Madison Shuffle” by Buster Brown was released on Sue UK LP ILP 920 “50 Minutes 24 Seconds of Recorded Dynamite”.
Chart position data not available.
Updated 27 September 2016
SP
Category: Fire
Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford – I’m coming home to stay
101 | 31 August 2023
R&B and Jazz Drummer and singer/songwriter Donald Gardner was born in Philadelphia on May 9, 1931 and died in Philadelphia on September 4, 2018. He became a professional musician while still attending school, in 1957.
Wrecia Holloway (Dee Dee Ford), who was born in Minden, Louisiana in 1936 and died in New Orleans in 1972, had subsequent success as a song writer, especially the song “Let Me Down Easy” for Betty Lavette.
The partnership of Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford ended when Wrecia Holloway decided to concentrate on song writing, and then left the music business.
“I’m coming home to stay” was released in the UK on Sue ILP 934 “Soul 66”.
Did not chart.
Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford | Way Back Attack | 15034
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Mojo Hand
lightninghopkinsmojohand
There is information about Sam John “Lightnin'” Hopkins here. “Mojo Hand” was released in the UK on Sue IP 921 “We sing the blues”.
Chart position data not available.
Lightning Hopkins | Ace Records | 15018
Converted to blocks and updated 8 January 2023
Buster Brown – Sugar Babe
101 | 16 August 2023
Blues and R&B singer Buster Brown was born in Cordele, Georgia on August 15, 1911.
His first recordings were non-commercial field recordings made in the 1940s. In 1956 he moved to New York City and began recording with Bobby Robinson. He is mainly famous for his recording “Fannie Mae”, which reached no. 38 in the US Top 100 and No. 1 on the US R&B Chart in 1960. “Sugar Babe”, which appears on ILP 921, “We Sing The Blues”, was a hit in the US, in 1962, reaching # 19 on the R&B chart and # 99 on the pop chart.
It is not currently known whether “Buster Brown” was his real name or just his stage name.
Buster Brown died in New York City on January 31, 1976.
Hard Grind – Wild Jimmy Spruill
106 | 23 October 2023
James Spruill playing his unusual “cigar box” shaped guitar | Youtube | 14672
New York session guitarist James “Jimmy” Spruill was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on June 9, 1934 and appeared on many 1950s and 1960s recordings, including records by King Curtis, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Shirelles, Tarheel Slim, and Elmore James. He plays guitar solo on both “The Happy Organ” by Dave “Baby” Cortez and Wilbert Harrison’s “Kansas City”. There are reports that he also plays on “Respect” by Aretha Franklin.
James “Jimmy” Spruill died in Washington DC on February 15, 1996 of a heart attack.
“Hard grind”, US Fire 1006, no date available, was released on UK Sue ILP 920 “50 Minutes 24 Seconds of Recorded Dynamite”.
Chart position: not available.
Dr Horse – Jack that cat was clean
103 | 10 September 2023
Best available photo of Al Pittman | Uncredited photo | alpittmandrhorse.jpg
Dr. Horse was the stage name of singer, comedian and comic dancer Alvergous Pittman, who was born in Vinnia, Georgia, on 17 September 1917. He first performed in the 1930s with a musical comedy group called “The Five Pork Chops”. Recorded in 1962, with backing musicians including tenor saxophonist Red Prysock (1926-1993) and guitarist Billy Butler (1924-1991), “Jack that cat was clean” was issued in the UK on Sue ILP 920 “50 Minutes 24 Seconds of Recorded Dynamite”.
Al Pittman died (of unavailable cause) in New York City on 28 April 2004.
The record was co-produced by legendary producers Bobby Robinson, who was born on April 16, 1917 and died on January 7, 2011, and Marshall E Sehorn (Marshall Estus Sehorn) who was born on June 25, 1934 and died on December 5, 2006.
“Jack that Cat Was Clean” (Fire 514, 1962, reissued on Flashback 46, 1970s) Chart position data not available.
Buster Brown – Dr. Brown
busterbrowndrbrown
“Dr. Brown” by Buster Brown was issued on Sue UK ILP 920, “50 Minutes 24 Seconds of Recorded Dynamite”.
Did not chart.
Updated 3 March 2019
Lee Dorsey: Messed around/When I meet my baby
111 | 24 December 2023
Lee Dorsey | Sounds of Spotify | 14563
Singer and boxer Irving Lee Dorsey was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 24, 1924 and was a childhood friend of Fats Domino. When he was 10 he moved to Portland, Oregon. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. He boxed under the name “Kid Chocolate” but without much success in the sport and returned to New Orleans in 1955, opening an auto repair business and singing in local clubs.
He first recorded in 1958 but his initial recordings were not successful. In 1960 he met Marshall Sehorn who introduced him to Allen Toussaint and signed him initially to the Fury label. One of their early attempts, “Ya Ya”, went to no. 7 on the Billboard pop chart, sold a million, and was covered (in Franglais) by Petula Clark under the title “Ya Ya Twist”. After Fury his records were issued on Constellation and other labels. The recordings he made backed by The Meters from 1965 on the Amy label were his most successful, including “Ride Your Pony”, “Work Work Work” , “Holy Cow” and “Working In The Coal Mine”. He also recorded duets with singer Betty Harris for the Sansu label.
Around that time he toured extensively in the UK and Europe, and I remember seeing his show at Nottingham’s Dungeon Club (now demolished and replaced by The Broadmarsh Centre).
Lee Dorsey died from emphysema in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 2, 1986, aged only 61.
“Messed around”, Constellation 135, 1963, UK Sue WI 399, February 1966. The B side was credited as “When I meet my baby”, but “You’re breaking me up” may have been used instead.
Chart Position: Did not chart.
wi399 | 14564
Buster Brown: Fanny Mae/Lost in a dream
111 | 23 December 2023
Buster Brown | Last FM | 14574
Buster Brown was born on August 15, 1911 in Georgia and died on January 31, 1976. Fannie Mae is his best known recording. Buster Brown is thought to be his real name. Brown moved to New York in 1956 and this recording was made in 1959.
“Fannie Mae”, Fire 1008, released in the UK first on Melodisc 1559 in 1960 then in April 1965 on Sue WI 368.
Chart position: US No. 1 R&B Top 40 Pop, April 1960.
Wilbert Harrison, Let’s stick together/Kansas City Twist
113 | 3 May 2024
Wilbert Harrison | Moody | 14504
Wilbert Harrison’s Lets Stick Together, recorded in 1962, is a favourite blues song and has been performed by many groups, including Canned Heat.
Wilbert Huntington Harrison was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 5, 1929. He first became famous for his recording of the Leiber/Stoller song Kansas City which was a major hit.
Wilbert Harrison died in Spencer, North Carolina from a stroke on October 26, 1994, age 65.
Fury 1059, 1962.
Did not chart.
Collection of Martin Whitell
There is a photo of a test pressing of this single on the Test Disks page.
Sue Records UK 