Keeping the legend alive
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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
“Some soul food” by The Soul Sisters was released in the UK on Sue LP ILP 913 “The Soul Sisters”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Blip time” by Jimmy McGriff was issued in the UK on UK Sue LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
103 | 12 November 2023
“One of mine” by Jimmy McGriff was issued in the UK on UK Sue LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Teach me tonight” by Jimmy McGriff was isssued in the UK on UK Sue ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Spindletop” by Jimmy McGriff was issued in the UK on UK Sue LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Drown in my own tears” by Jimmy McGriff appears on the Sue UK LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Gospel Time Encore” by Jimmy McGriff appears on the UK Sue LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Gospel Time” by Jimmy McGriff appears on the Sue UK LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Moonlight in Vermont” by Jimmy McGriff appears on UK Sue LP ILP 908 “It’s Gospel Time”.
101 | 12 November 2023
“Broadway” by Jimmy McGriff appears on Sue UK LP ILP 908, It’s Gospel Time.
111 | 27 March 2024
“The Last Minute” | Sue Records | ensue2.jpg
Jimmy McGriff’s LP “The last minute” was issued in the UK by Ensign on Sue ENSUE 2. It is essentially identical to ILP 908, It’s Gospel Time, only the original US Title and art work has been restored.
Track listing confirmed: Gospel Time | Gospel Time Encore | Spindletop | Teach Me Tonight | The Last Minute | Moonlight in Vermont | Blip Time | One of Mine | Drown in my own tears | Broadway
Track listing supplied by Paul
103 | 27 September 2023
The Matadors | Doo Wop
“Vengeance” by The Matadors was Sue Record USA’s first hit, and was made in 1957, in the then popular doo wop style of rock and roll. The photo above is the only known surviving photo of the group.
We now know the name of two members of the group: Johnny Garfield, who wrote the song, and Juan Terry. The Matadors recorded two singles for US Sue, then broke up.
There have been a number of later groups also called The Matadors, this track is not by them.
This track features on the Ensign Sue music cassette “Maximum R&B” ENSUC 3. It also features on the London American LP “The Sue Story”.
“Vengeance”, Sue 700, 1957. Chart position data not available. Thought to be a local (New York) rather than a national hit.
Can anyone help with further information, please.
101 | 23 August 2023 | External link checked
Johnny Moore LP cover | 45 Cat | johnnydarrow.jpg
Singer John Alfred “Johnny” Moore (aka Johnny Darrow) was born in Selma, Alabama on December 14, 1934. He is most famous for being a lead singer with long running vocal group The Drifters, joining them in the 1950s, and sings on many of their 1960s and 1970s hits. That’s him singing on “Under the boardwalk” with The Drifters, probably his most famous recording.
His career with The Drifters was interrupted by National Service in the late 50s. After he completed national service he recorded solo under the name of Johnny Darrow until he was invited to rejoin The Drifters in 1964. From 1970 he was based in London, where he died on December 30, 1998 en route to hospital, suffering from pneumonia, age 64.
“Don’t start me talking” (US Sue 728, 1963) was included on Sue music cassette “Maximum R&B” Ensign ENSUC 3, and also appears on the London label LP “The Sue Story” London HAC 8239. No chart data is available for this track.
101 | 17 September 2020
A 7″ three-track single was issued in 1980 bearing the index number of WIP 6615. It was subsequently re-released with additional tracks as a 10″ single.
The track listing on the three-track, seven inch version of WIP 6615 was:
Barefootin’ – Robert Parker | A little bit hurt – Julien Covey | Incense – The Anglos
45 Cat | wip66157inchb
Image: Collection of Dave Hewitt
ens6160308
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens6front
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens6back
Sue EP ENS 6 Various Artists – Sue Instrumentals was issued by Ensign records in 1983.
Track listing: Jimmy McGriff – I’ve got a woman parts 1 and 2 | The Megatons – Shimmy Shimmy Walk Part 1 | The Duals – Stick Shift | Jimmy McGriff – All about my girl
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens6a
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens6b
Record created 12 December 2015
102 | 27 August 2023
“Stick shift” by The Duals (US No. Sue 745) was an instrumental “hot rod” track recorded in 1961 and was first released on the Star Revue label before being picked up by American Sue. It was the first instrumental hot rod track to become a hit. Songwriter and singer Sonny Bono, who was also a record promoter, was influential in getting local airplay for the recording. There followed a number of hot rod songs and hits for other groups.
The Duals were Henry Bellinger, lead guitar and Johnny Lageman, rhythm guitar, two friends and neighbours in Los Angeles, California. The label Star Revue had been set up by Ron Barrett, a veteran of 1950s doo-wop and rock and roll groups, who was their first manager.
The track features on a London American label LP HAC 8239 “The Sue Story Vol. 1” which is different to the Sue Story LPs issued by UK Sue (1965), and found its way on to Sue UK EP ENS 6 “Sue Instrumentals” issued by Ensign in 1983.
Not to be confused with another duo also called The Duals, Richard Oxman and L. Russell Brown, who had a hit in 1958.
Chart position: Billboard No. 25, October 1961.
Johnny Lageman, born c. 1942, New Orleans, Louisiana. No further information available.
Henry Bellinger, born in Colorado on 23 July 1942, died 1963, aged 21.
ens5160308
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens5front
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens5back
Sue EP ENS 5 Hank Jacobs – So far away was issued in the UK by Ensign in 1983.
Track listing: So far away | Out of sight | Hank’s Groove | Summertime
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens5a
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens5b
Record created 11 December 2015
hankjacobssummertime
“Summertime” by Hank Jacobs was released on Sue EP ENS 5 “Hank Jacobs – So far away” by Ensign in 1983.
Did not chart.
Updated 16 September 2016
hankjacobshanksgroove
“Hank’s Groove” by Hank Jacobs was issued on Sue EP ENS 5 “Hank Jacobs – So far away” by Ensign in 1983.
Did not chart.
Updated 16 September 2016
SP
hankjacobsoutofsight
“Out of sight” by Hank Jacobs was released on Sue EP ENS 5 “Hank Jacobs So far away” by Ensign in 1983.
Did not chart.
Updated 16 September 2016
SP
ens4160308
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens4front
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens4back
EP ENS 4 Various Artists – Sue Soul Brothers was released by Ensign Records in 1983.
Track listing: Wilbert Harrison – Let’s work together Parts 1 and 2 | Prince La La – She put the hurt on me | Derek Martin – Daddy Rolling Stone.
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens4a
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens4b
Record created 10 December 2015
102 | 22 September 2023
Prince La La | Public Domain | 15482
Lawrence Nelson (Prince La La) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana 1936. His father was noted jazz and R&B guitarist Walter Nelson, who played with Smiley Lewis. His elder brother was Walter Nelson who played with Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, as well as working as a session musician for producer Dave Bartholomew. Lawrence Nelson started as a song writer and in 1961 penned “She put the hurt on me” for singer Barbara George. Producer Harold Battiste decided to record the song on Nelson instead.
Prince La La died in New Orleans allegedly of a drug overdose on 27 October 1963, but there were questions and his death was the subject of the song “Who Shot The La La” by Oliver Morgan (1964).
“She put the hurt on me” (AFO 45-301, September 1961) by Prince La La was released on Ensign Sue EP ENS 4 “The Sue Soul Brothers” in 1983. This track also features on a London American label LP HAC 8239 “The Sue Story Vol. 1” which is different to the Sue Story LPs issued by UK Sue, and which was issued in 1965.
Chart position: US R&B No. 14, 1961.
wilbertharwork
“Lets’ work together” by Wilbert Harrison was released on Ensign ENS 4 EP “The Sue Soul Brothers” in 1983.
This version did not chart. A re-recorded version of the song reached Billboard No. 32 in 1970. The video may be of the re-recording.
Updated 15 September 2016
SP
barbarageorgeiknow
“I know” by Barbara George dates from 1961 and was released on EP ENS 3 “Sue Soul Sisters” by Ensign in 1983.
US R&B No. 1, Pop No. 3, 1961
Updated 14 September 2016
SP
111 | 2 November 2023
Baby Washington | People Records/Ace Records | 14904
Justine Washington was born in Bamberg, California on November 13, 1940 and raised in Harlem, New York City. In 1956 she joined the vocal group The Hearts, then in 1957 made her first solo recording. After signing with Sue in 1962 she had a string of sixteen hit records in the US, of which the best known is probably “That’s how heartaches are made”. On some record labels she is credited as Jeanette (Baby) Washington. “That’s how” became a pop as well as an R&B success and was her biggest success. She continued to perform until the 1980s.
This record was released on ENS 3 EP “Sue Soul Sisters” by Ensign in 1983.
US R&B No. 10, US Pop No. 40, 1963
ens3160308
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens3front
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens3back
The EP “Sue Soul Sisters” was issued by Ensign in 1983. The Tina Britt track had not been issued on the UK Sue label before.
Track listing: That’s how heartaches are made – Baby Washington | The Real thing – Tina Britt | I can’t stand it – The Soul Sisters | I know – Barbara George
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens3a
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens3b
Record created 9 December 2015
ikeandtinacrazy
“This man’s crazy” by Ike and Tina Turner was released on the Ensign Sue EP ENS 1 Ike and Tina – The Sue Sessions.
Did not chart.
Updated 13 September 2016
SP
ikeandtinaidolize
“I idolize you” by Ike and Tina Turner was released on the Ensign Sue EP ENS 1 Ike and Tina – The Sue Sessions.
US R&B No.5, Pop No. 82, 1961
Updated 13 September 2016
SP
ikeandtinagonnawork
“Its gonna work out fine” by Ike and Tina Turner was issued on Ensign Sue EP ENS 1, “Ike and Tina – The Sue sessions”.
US R&B No. 2, Pop No. 14, 1961
SP
ens1160308
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens1front
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens1back
Sue label EP ENS 1 Ike and Tina’s Sue Sessions was issued in 1983 by Ensign Records under licence.
The track listing is:
Ike and Tina Turner – It’s gonna work out fine | I idolize you | A fool in love | This man’s crazy
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens1a
Collection of Dave Hewitt | ens1b
Updated 13 September 2016
SP
soulsisterslonggone
“Long gone” by The Soul Sisters was released (as was Loop De Loop) on Sue LP ILP 913 – The Soul Sisters.
Chart position data not available.
Updated 21 September 2016
SP
iketinaif
“If” by Ike and Tina Turner was released in the UK on Sue IEP 706 – The Soul of Ike and Tina Turner.
Did not chart.
Updated 8 September 2016
SP
iketinagonnafind
“Gonna find me a substitute” by Ike and Tina Turner was released in the UK on Sue IEP 706 – The Soul of Ike and Tina Turner.
Did not chart.
Updated 8 September 2016
SP
iketinafoolin
One of their first successes, “A fool in love” was released in the UK on Sue IEP 706 – The Soul of Ike and Tina Turner.
US R&B No. 2, US Pop No. 27
In Performance:
Updated 10 April 2020
iketinajealous
“I’m jealous” by Ike and Tina Turner was released in the UK on Sue EP IEP 706 – The Soul of Ike and Tina Turner.
US Pop No. 117
Updated 8 September 2016
SP
Sue Records UK 