Friday, February 20, 2009

Antler Records Buck Ram Personality

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 !

Benny JoyBenny JoyBenny 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)


Benny Joy "Crash The Party" alt. Version (unreleased)

Benny Joy "Little Red Book" Antler 45-4011 (1958)


Benny Joy "Ittie Bittie Everything" Buck Ram Presents BRP1000-1

Big John Taylor / Benny Joy "Money Money" Buck Ram Presents BRP1000-1


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.


Billboard Mag azine Dec,1956 Review Spotlight


Go for it!!
The New Blockbusters "Rock & Roll Guitar Part 1" Antler 45-4001

The New Blockbusters "Rock & Roll Guitar Part 2" Antler 45-4001

Bill Peck "Alligator With Blue Suede Shoes" unissued - recorded at Buck Ram's Studio?




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.
Something for you Mr.Empty Wallet?

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Ray Smith Sings And Rocks !


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.
This is for Fans only!

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

To move the Gal's

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


!xxx!

Track 13 "The Four Jacks" is missing. But here are the lost track!