WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B blended
together, often in the same song. The focus is on the music of the Jump Blues
and Early Rock’n’Roll Eras (1940s to mid-1950s) and on how those styles
have evolved over the years.
Listen Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 AM Eastern on Atlanta’s
WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is streaming
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Contact: john.askins@wrfg.org
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022
Song
Artist
Original Album or Single & Date
Hastings Street Bounce Paul Williams Sextette Savoy Records 1947
Why Don’t You Eat Where You Slept Last Night ZuZu Bollin
Texas Bluesman 1991
Kidney Stew Blues Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson Mercury Records 1947
Cold, Cold Feeling T-Bone Walker Imperial Records 1951
Let Me Go Home Whiskey Amos Milburn Aladdin Records 1952
If I Could Be With You Catherine Russell Send For Me 2022
I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues Lou Rawls Portrait Of The Blues 1993
Take Me Back To Little Rock Lil Green RCA Victor 1947
San Diego Bounce Harold Land All Stars Regent Records 1950
Early Bird Special Kurt Crandall Starts On The Stops 2022
You Ain’t Goin’ To Heaven No How Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers
Exclusive Records 1946
If I Never Get to Heaven Dinah Washington Back To The Blues 1963
Sunday Mornin’ Coleman Hawkins Soul 1958
I’ll Do Anything But Work Ray Charles Swing Time Records 1950
I’ll Drown In My Tears Lula Reed w/ Sonny Thompson King Records 1951
Smooth Sailing Ella Fitzgerald Decca Records 1951
SAVOY RECORDS – 80TH ANNIVERARY SALUTE – PART TWO OF THREE
Savoy Records was founded in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky, the owner of the
Radio Record Shop in Newark, New Jersey. The label specialized in jazz, R&B,
and gospel music and became one of the most important independent record
labels of the 1940s and 1950s.
What’s The Matter With Me Albinia Jones (Albennie Jones) Savoy Records 1945
Recorded in NYC on April 14, 1945 during a session credited to Albinia Jones with Don Byas’ Swing Seven – Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Gene Sedric, clarinet; Sammy Price, alto sax; Don Byas, tenor sax; Leonard Ware, guitar; Oscar Smith, bass; Doc West, drums; Albinia Jones, vocal.
Sweet Man Miss Rhapsody (Viola Wells) with Ruben Cole’s Orchestra
Savoy Records 1945
The Chair Song Billy Moore & His Jumpin String Octette Savoy Records 1945
“The Chair Song” was one of several “risqué” records released by Savoy in the mid-1940s. It should be noted that before he founded Savoy in 1942, Herman Lubinsky was charged with selling “obscene” records at his store in Newark, New Jersey.
Billie’s Bounce Charlie Parker’s Re-Boppers Savoy Records 1945
Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2022,”Billie’s Bounce” was recorded at WOR Studios, Broadway, NYC on November 26, 1945. The players are Miles Davis, trumpet; Charlie Parker, alto sax; Dizzy Gillespie, piano; Curly Russell, bass; Max Roach, drums. Many people assume that the “Billie” in the title was Billie Holiday, but Parker actually dedicated the tune to either Dizzy Gillespie’s manager, Billy Shaw, or Shaw’s secretary, who was called “Billie.” The truth may never be known.
On the Sunny Side of the Street (Nat) King Cole Savoy Records 1946
Released to cash in on Cole’s popularity, the song was recorded in Los Angeles, California on April 18, 1940. It features the King Cole Quartet: Nat King Cole, piano, vocal; Oscar Moore, guitar; Johnny Miller, bass; Lee Young, drums.
Upstairs Piccadilly Pipers Savoy Records 1946
Recorded in 1942, but not released until 1946, “Upstairs” is another example of the so-called risqué records released on Savoy. The Pipers were Clem Moorman, piano; Ernie Ransom, guitar; Henry Padgett, bass; Bonnie Davis, vocal.
Jumpin’ Jacquet Illinois Jacquet Band Savoy Records 1946
Recorded in NYC on January 7, 1946 with Emmett Berry, trumpet; Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax; Bill Doggett, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; John Simmons, bass;
Shadow Wilson, drums.
Open The Door, Richard (Parts 1 & 2) Dusty Fletcher Savoy Records 1947
“Open the Door” originated as a black vaudeville routine made famous by Dusty Fletcher at the Apollo Theater in NYC and in a short film. Recorded in NYC on January 4, 1947, the session included George Treadwell, trumpet; Dickie Harris, trombone; Big Nick Nicholas, tenor sax; Jimmy Jones, piano; Al McKibbon, bass; J.C. Heard, drums; Dusty Fletcher, vocal.
My New Chick Doc Pomus Savoy Records 1947
Doc Pomus started his career as a nightclub singer. He was a large man who had
polio as a child and used crutches to walk, and prejudice against the disabled kept
him from getting bookings. He went on to become one of the greatest songwriters
of the late 20th century.
Milestones Miles Davis’ All Stars Savoy Records 1947
Recorded at Harry Smith Studios, NYC, August 14, 1947.
The Allstars: Miles Davis, trumpet; Charlie Parker, tenor sax; John Lewis, piano;
Nelson Boyd, bass; Max Roach, drums.
Auto Mechanic Blues Brownie McGhee w/ Jack Dupree Savoy Records 1947
35-30 (Thirty-Five Thirty) Paul Williams Sextette Savoy Records 1947
William’s first Top 10 hit, “35-30” was on the Billboard R&B Chart for seven weeks
and peaked in 8th place.
We’re Gonna Rock, We’re Gonna Roll Wild Bill Moore Savoy Records 1947
Moore’s only entry on the Billboard chart, “We’re Gonna Rock…” was the 14th
most popular R&B song for the week of July 14, 1948.
It was Savoy Records #666.
Much of the research material for this series can be found at
vocalgroupharmony.com
MORE SAVOY RECORDS RESOURCES
Savoy Records (main article) @ wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.com
Savoy Records Discography Project
Harman Lubinsky biography @ wikipedia.org
Frosty Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown Alright Again 1981
Blinded By Love Johnny Adams …Sings Doc Pomus: The Real Me 1990
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
WRFG Route 66 