Jimmy Fields, George McCoy and Joe Bill who run a weekly new talent 45 minutes TV Show named Joe Bill's Country Picnic - broadcasted each sunday at 12:30 p.m. on KRLD-T.V. Dallas.By and by the show gets so popular that Jimmy Fields and Co. decided to launch a record Label.Among two subsidiary labels (Jamaka, Kick) the FelcoRecord Company was born.
Mentioned in the Billboard Magazine (issue March '59) as a newcomer of the "Record Parade", the Felco Record Company - located in 5513 E. Grand Ave., Dallas 23 - and owned by Jimmy Fields put out some fine, no, excellent rockabilly and rocker discs right at the beginning.Not only that they're rockin' - those Felco records are more and more hard to get and you will pay $$$$ for it.
Fields also own Kick Records (Billboard June, '58)
In the horror vein Billy Taylor and the Tear Drops brought us at Felco F-101 the "Wombie Zombie".
Reviewed by the Billboard Staff in Feb '59 they rated Taylor's record with only "ONE Star"! It seems they oriented at the verse "...who's this crazy wise guy said rock'n'roll was dead..." or what!?
The solid Beat coupled with cool Doo-Wop grouping and crazy lyrics makes this one worth a listen!
Billy Taylor - "Wombie Zombie" Felco 102 (Feb. '59)
Felco F-102 better known as an example of killer rockabilly type record is Bobby Crown with his legendary Felco record "One Way Ticket". Bobby Crown and the Kapers (his Dad on the right)
At the age of 12 he started singin' and playin' along with his father Leslie Krajca.With his Dad, Bobby sang Country Music at the Cowtown Hoedown, a weekly live c&w show held at the Majestic Theater in Forth Worthand broadcasted on KCUL.
His father Leslie seemed to be very impressed by the talent of his son cause he brought Bobby to the attention of the Forth Worth music scene.
As The Krajcas they played in bars and clubs.His Dad Leslie played the upright bass and Bobby recalls "...The reason I could do this was because my dad was playing bass fiddle. My dad drank a lot when we were playing the clubs and sometimes I wondered if he was holding the bass up or if it was holding him up"(Shane Hughes)
Around 1955 Jay Cashion and Bob Lumpkins joined and later Bob was replaced by Eddie Conley. In short, the Kapers were founded.Like many others, the cats where infected by Mr. Presley and his wild beat so they booked in the Clifford Herring's Studio in Forth Worth to cut their first rock'n'roll.
The result is this acetate two-sider!
Shake Rattle And Roll (acetate '56)
Fraulein (acetate '56)
At this time, Bobby and his buddys started to act at The Country Picnic.But not in the line-up they giged before.Again a band member left.Now guitarist Jay Cashion left the band due to private reasons and Dale Morgan replaced him.However, the new line up delighted Jimmy Fields (he produced the show) so much, that he was on fire to hold a record session for "Your Conscience" at his Felco label.
A year passed by and no session for "Your Consciense" was done.Instead Jimmy Fields hired the Kapers as session musicians at his studio for more or less talented vocals..During this period as a backing band Bobby co-writed songs with Fields.Such as "Lucky Lucky Me" (Fields skills for writing songs wasn't so much heady).Fields took Bobby to record a demo of this tune. Bobby's and Kapers' talent finally produced a decent recording of "Lucky Lucky Me".
Listen to the first demo recordings of "Lucky Lucky Me" and finally to the master! Do you hear "Butch" Evans wild piano pounding?
Lucky Lucky Me (never released) Demo Version
Lucky Lucky Me (unreleased) Studio Version
To continue the story here is another Demo done by Bobby Brown and the Kapers.
A Chicken Is A Bird co-written by Bobby and Field
By the way Jimmy Fields tempted as a singer on some tunes.Backed by the Kapers.Dig this one!
Birth Of Rock and Roll
Month passed by and at last Fields concern to cut "Your Conscience" as a regular record.Fields liked the demo recording, tough he need another song for the flip side.Bobby suggest his self written, at the age of fourteen - not so long ago, song "One Way Ticket".
Fields agreed, they changed little details in lyrics and settings, to recording both songs.
The result is a masterpiece of prime Texas rockabilly.Go for "One Way Ticket"!!
One Way Ticket Demo Version
One Way Ticket - Felco Records F-102 May-1959
Your Conscience - Felco Records F-102 May-1959
After two mistitled pressings ( first one with Bob Lumpkins as the writer of "One Way Ticket", second press with Bobby Lumpkins as the singer) - the third one was the right one. (didn't found a label shot of the correct one - leave a comment if you have one, thank you!)
Craaaazy Alligator! "Crazy Alligator" - Irvin Russ does a not bad relaease at Felco F-201 with his tune. Twistin' lyrics, the answer upon Horton's "Battle Of New Orleans" - Now the alligator talks! Co-written by Irvin Russ and Jimmy Fields. Recorded in mid '59 and first mentioned in the Billboard Magazine August 17th '59 at least "two star" rated.Flip "My Imagination" is a ballad.
The F-201 came with a nice picture sleeve.
Even though Dick Glasser recorded at a different label, his cover version of Irvin "Crazy Alligator" sense me even more.(well known for his '56 "Ball Room Baby" as Dick Lory - Dot 15496) He recorded for Dot and Columbia Records.And his Columbia release 4-41472 is more a rocker to me! It's more powerfully then Irvin Russ's Felco.That's besides.
The staff from the BB ranked Irvin Russ record a moderate sales potential - two stars.
Billboard Magazine Aug. 17, 1959
But Dick Glasser's Alligator receiving a good sales potential with three stars. Billboard Magazine Sept. 7, 1959
Listen to both
Irven Russ - Crazy Alligator - Felco F-201
Irven Russ - My Imagination - Felco F-201 (flip)
Dick Glasser - Crazy Alligator - Columbia Records 4-41472
The Twisters
Another band that recorded for the Felco label are "The Twisters".There is practically nothing i could find about this band.Except the Band members.They are Bobby Boatman, Robert Harwell Jr., Red Brenson, William Mitchell and Jimmie Evans (not the JimmY Evans).
I found another instro combo named The Twisters from the early sixties.This same-named Band recorded for Dual Records "Pepermint Twist".But are they the same one?
And a third one, issued a record on Decca "Peppermint Twist Time"
This is not much, isn't?
But their, i mean the Felco Twisters, sound tells a lot.Real gone wild instro pounders!!Ha!
Here are the Felco rankings done by the Billboarder and there records too:
Billboard May 25, 1959The Twisters - Count Down 1-2-3 Felco F-103 The Twisters - Speed Limit Felco F-103
Billboard, Aug 17, 1959 "....a real wild, down to earth blues instrumental...fine dance side that the kids could take to."...goooooone
The Twisters - Bandstand Rocket Felco F-301
The Twisters - Kat Walk Felco F-301
The Twisters recorded two more instros "Hurricane" and "Just Before Dawn" but never released.And - i dont have it.What a shame!
To close down this spotlight of records from the Felco Record Company - i can't tell you what happend with Jimmy Fields and his label.Perhaps this company didn't survive much longer then any of the hundred other small idependent record labels to.If you have any corrections, informations about Felco Records or tunes, please let me know.
You can grab all tunes of this post now as one zipped file.
Have Fun!
Antler Records, Inc. New York Small label founded in 1957 & owned by Buck Ram. Big in Music Business all his life he arranged Big-Bands, worked as a songwriter, producer and later managed The Platters, brought them to Mercury and composed and arranged their big hits like "Only You"(where Buck played the Piano), "The Great Pretender", "The Magic Touch", and other.He also managed, produced or arranged The Drifters, The Flares, The Cadillacs, Ike and Tina Turner and much more.He always played at the top field. As i said above Ram started up his own label ANTLER RECORDS where some of us well known fella recorded for. To highlight is the king of "spontaneous" promo shots himself : Benny Joy !
Known for his tip-top first class rockers such as the Antler release 45-4011 (1958) "Crash the Party / Little Red Book" or the later? Buck Ram Presents BRP1000-1 issue "Ittie Bittie Everything / Money Money" with "Big" John Taylor played his moody stratocaster.Ram used an ealier Tri-Dec Master and issued the BRP 1000-1 disc.So Ittie Bittie and Money Money is probably recorded before Antler is founded? I don't know much about Ram's other Label BUCK RAM PRESENTS which possibly run at the same time.He also run one more label called "Personality Records".(please tell me more if you know) Benny Joy "Crash The Party" Antler 45-4011 (1958)
Furthermore to spot is The New Blockbusters rocker "Rock & Roll Guitar, Part 1" and "Rock & Roll Guitar, Part 2" on the flipside at the Antler release 45-4001.Side one is a straight rhythm romper.Not the ultra k ool rumblin' like Johnny Knight Morocco release how you might think (cause of same "Rock & Roll Guitar" titel but totaly different tracks) but still moanin' wild vocals & solid guitar to hear.On the Flipside they packed a not bad piano-guitar instro and call it simple the Rock & Roll Guitar,Part2. Vocal and Drums on the Part1 and Part2 side is Bill Peck. As a session drummer he played for Benny Joy! on Tri-Dec, Andy Starr on, Gene Watson recordings, Mac Curtis, Lew Williams gems for the Imperial Label,Sid King's records, and Werly Fairburn.He's presented on all this fantastic rockabilly recordings.Wow! Guitar- Paul Buskirk, Piano - Mike Savas.
Now you may say, what the hell he hit-strike-smash or beated on the Antler Part1&2 sides?!? Is it his last empty beer can or a stolen hubecap or what? Peck recalled that the session took place in the Commercial Recording Corp. Studio Dallas.The Studio was an forsaken church with an auditorium below.The record was scheduled without any drum kit.And when Buck Ram went outside to get the right sound he came back with a garbage can lid and thrust into my hand.."You play this...". So Bill Peck played the "drum"-lid and sang at once.If Bill had played a proper drum that time then "Rock & Roll Guita r"Part1+Part2 would be much more a killer tune i think. Anyway it is worth a listen of course! You also watch to "their" performance at the Rock'n'Roll flick "Rock All Night" where "they" perform Part1 and Part2 (Part 2 undercut with acting). Important fact is that the Blockbusters you see perfoming the "Rock & Roll Guitar"Part1+2 is NOT the same you will hear. Bill Peck and his buddies did the record session for Antler and Buck Ram used the recordings for the performance of the "Blockbusters" in Rock All Night.Bill never saw any of those Blockbusters which appearing in th e movie. I don't know who the combo is you see acting on stage.Maybe these are the original Blockbusters.Buck Ram used the name Bluckbusters serveral times to different groups he produced. What's more to say?Bill Peck recorded one more song called "Alligator With Blues Suede Shoes".When you hear it you will agree that this unissued track is recorded probably in the same studio as "Rock & Roll Guitar". Peck or someone else beats the garbage can lid again.
For a deeper insight about founding Ram's Antler Records you may read this article from the Billboard Magazine 1958,Dezember. Ram-Merc Team On New Label
HOLLYWOOD—A new label will be launched here in January to be owned jointly by Buck Ram and Mercury Records. It will be independent of the Mercury operation. Mercury, however, will be exclusive distributor for the still unnamed line. Deals were concluded in Las Vegas between Ram and Mercury president Irving Green. New firm will follow a releasing schedule of four singles per month, will be active in the package field and plans to cover all categories with the exception of classics music. Label's talent signed to date includes Ann Weldon and Johnny Olson and the Blockbusters. Contracts are written in the name of Antler Records. Ram's earlier disk firm prior to the Mercury deal. New firm's name was to have been Ambassador Records, but this tag had been used earlier by Freddy Martin and can't be cleared. Name and additional artists will be disclosed before the year's end. Other Ram enterprises include Personality Productions, the management firm; several music publishing firms here and abroad, AMC (ASCAP), Argo (BMI), California, Music of Italy; Buck Ram, Ltd.,London plus firms in South America.
Ram's Antler Label stuck up in the early sixties but he always stayed in music business until his death in Januar, 1st in 1991.
I highly recommend for any of you Ray Smith Lovers out there this briliant Long Player. You will hear rare 12 Recordings did for a local Radio Station 1957(maybe his own radio show "The Ray Smith Show"?) , 4 live cuts by Ray Smith and the Rock'n'Roll Boys done in 1962 at his hometown Paducah,KY, and 3 tracks recorded 1978. This recordings show again how varying and wide Ray Smith singin' style was. From howlin' hillbilly cat to rockin'-, right up to tear-jerking tracks you will find on this LP. And remember, don't blame me for some over-peaked tracks.As the backcover tells "Please mind that these are historic recordings...".I'm clean-handed but i try my best to digitize it. Sneak in with: Ray Smith "Jailhouse Rock" Radio Station Recording 1957
Ray Smith "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again" Radio Station Recording 1957
or dig Ray Smith "Just Tell Her Jim Say Hello" live 1962
A A01 - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again A02 - Young Love A03 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You A04 - How's The World Treating You A05 - Love Me A06 - Too Much A07 - Honky Tonk Man A08 - Mother You're Just An Angel To Me A09 - Jailhouse Rock A10 - Santa Claus Is Back In Town B B01 - Baby I Don't Care B02 - Just Tell Her Jim Say Hello B03 + 04 - Sheila + Potrait Of My Love B05 - How Do You Think I Feel B06 - I'll Drink It Over B07 - I'm Human Same As You B08 - How's His Memory Doing Today B09 - Great Balls Of Fire
26 Lucky Strollers to fill the Floor!!! tip top fantastica compilero
01 Larry Williams-Jelly Belly Nellie 02 Robert Gordon-The Way I Walk 03 The Memphis Boys-Forever's Much Too Long 04 The Rumblers-I Don't Need You No More 05 The Coasters-Girls, Girls, Girls 06 Chuck Willis-Hang Up My Rock'n Roll Shoes 07 The Rockin' Saints-Cheat On Me Baby 08 Lou Graham-Wee Willie Brown 09 The Larks-Forget It 10 The Regents-Runaround 11 Mickey Gilley-Drive In Movie 12 Emile Ford-On A Slow Boat To China 14 Larry Williams-Baby's Crazy 15 Gary Shelton-The Trance 16 Bill Allen-Please Give Me Something 17 Benny Joy-Money Money 18 The Cats-I Don't Care No More 19 Richard Berry & The Pharaohs-Have Love Will Travel 20 The Showmen-It Will Stand 21 Danny Zella-Wicked Ruby 22 Herbie Smith-So Wild Over You 23 Dale Hawkins-Little Pig 24 Wiley Barkdull-I Ain't Gonna Waste My Time 25 Billy Riley-Red Hot 26 Joey Rand-The Long, Blonde Curls
In the horror vein Billy Taylor and the Tear Drops brought us at Felco F-101 the "Wombie Zombie".
Craaaazy Alligator! "Crazy Alligator" - Irvin Russ does a not bad relaease at Felco F-201 with his tune. Twistin' lyrics, the answer upon Horton's "Battle Of New Orleans" - Now the alligator talks! Co-written by Irvin Russ and Jimmy Fields. Recorded in mid '59 and first mentioned in the Billboard Magazine August 17th '59 at least "two star" rated.Flip "My Imagination" is a ballad.
Another band that recorded for the Felco label are "The Twisters".There is practically nothing i could find about this band.Except the Band members.They are Bobby Boatman, Robert Harwell Jr., Red Brenson, William Mitchell and Jimmie Evans (not the JimmY Evans).
The Twisters - Count Down 1-2-3 Felco F-103
"....a real wild, down to earth blues instrumental...fine dance side that the kids could take to."...goooooone
Antler Records, Inc. New York
Side one is a straight rhythm romper.Not the ultra k ool rumblin' like Johnny Knight Morocco release how you might think (cause of same "Rock & Roll Guitar" titel but totaly different tracks) but still moanin' wild vocals & solid guitar to hear.On the Flipside they packed a not bad piano-guitar instro and call it simple the Rock & Roll Guitar,Part2.
Something for you Mr.Empty Wallet?
I highly recommend for any of you Ray Smith Lovers out there this briliant Long Player.
01 Larry Williams-Jelly Belly Nellie
