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Dickie Bishop And The Sidekicks - Cumberland Gap

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Dickie Bishop And The Sidekicks Cumberland Gap / No Other Baby Decca F 10869 (1957) Born Richard William Bishop in 1935, Dickie replaced Lonnie Donegan in the Chris Barber Band in 1956 when Lonnie moved on to pursue a solo career. As a singer, guitarist, banjo player, song writer Dickie should have been a real contender for solo success however he more known for his time with Chris Barber and his recordings with Lonnie. "Cumberland Gap" is an Appalachian folk song that likely dates to the latter half of the 19th century and was first recorded in 1924. Recorded by many including Woody Guthrie. Although released in March 1957, this single was beaten in April 1957 by Lonnie Donegan who had a #1 hit in the UK with his version.  A further version (by The Vipers) was also released in the UK in 1957. The song's title refers to the Cumberland Gap, a mountain pass in the Appalachian Mountains at the juncture of the states of Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. The gap was used in ...
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Laurel Aitken - We Shall Overcome

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Laurel Aitken We Shall Overcome / You Left Me Standing Dice CC 31 (1966) As previously noted in an early blog featuring Laurel, he was born in Cuba, grew up in Jamaica and moved to Brixton London in 1960. In his career he released several 45s on numerous UK labels including this one, Dice Records. Dice Records was a subsidiary of Melodisc, a now obsolete independent label. The label ran from 1962 through to 1969 releasing a total of 32 singles. His output of music began in the early 50s and in total he released over 250 singles in the UK as well as numerous 45s in Jamaica.  His music styles ranged from mento/calypso to R&B, ska, rock steady, and reggae, and in the 1990s he even turned his talents to dancehall.  He is more renowned for his ska music and is often referred to as the "Godfather of Ska". FLAC
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The Cats - Swan Lake

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The Cats Swan Lake / Swing Low BAF BAF 1 (1968) The Cats, previously known as The Hustlin' Kind, were a reggae and ska band from Mile End, London. The band consisted of Tyrone Patterson, Michael Okoro, Richard Archer and John Kpiaye.    They were the first group to have a reggae single chart in the UK; this 45 reaching the heights of #48 in 1968. A simple ska version of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" on the A side with their version of the the traditional "Swing Low" on the flip.  The flip also includes midway a few bars from "Jingle Bells" !! Both tracks were produced by Tyrone Patterson. Madness did a cover version of "Swan Lake" on their debut album "One Step Beyond" in 1979. BAF was a London label that released a total of 10 singles, 5 by The Cats.  FLAC
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The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack

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The Velvelettes Needle In A Haystack / I'm The Exception To The Rule Tamla Motown TMG 806 (1972) A 1972 reissue of two classic tracks from The Velvelettes. Needle In A Haystack was released in the UK in 1964 on the Stateside label. It then appeared as the flip side to the 1967 Tamla Motown release, He Was Really Saying Something (TMG 595).  I'm The Exception To The Rul e was first released in the UK as the flip side to the Tamla Motown single Lonely Lonely Girl Am I (TMG 521) in 1965. The Velvelettes were formed in in 1961 by Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Mildred Gill Arbor, both students at Western Michigan University. Mildred recruited her younger sister Carolyn (also known as Cal), who was in 9th grade, and Cal's friend Betty Kelly, a junior in high school. Bertha recruited her cousin Norma Barbee, a freshman at Flint Junior College. Cal was chosen as the group's lead singer  The group was signed to Motown in 1962 and started recording in January 1963. A few singles we...
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Johnny Dupont - Spectrum

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Johnny Dupont Spectrum / Caravan Columbia 4-43762 (1966) Johnny is a one of those artists that very little information exists on the internet.  The few bits that I have been able to glean comes from the liner notes on his only album. From those notes it seems that Johnny was a native of Troy NY and attended and graduated from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.  It seems that his musical output is limited to one album and one 45, both released on the Columbia label in the US. And that's it, all I could find so over to you to help fill in the gaps.  If you have any information regarding this musician please post a comment and let us know. In the meanwhile enjoy the organ driven bit of "space age" jazz called "Spectrum" and then flip over to the (short) cover of Duke Ellington's "Caravan". FLAC
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Julius Wechter & The Baja Marimba Band - Theme From "Deep Throat"

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Julius Wechter & The Baja Marimba Band Theme From "Deep Throat" Bell 45,339 (1973) Whilst you may not have seen the movie (or not admit to it) this has to be one of the most famous porn movie titles of the genre. Released in 1972, it was written and directed by Gerard Damiano, listed in the credits as "Jerry Gerard", and starred Linda Lovelace (aka Linda Susan Boreman). It was one of the first pornographic films to feature a plot, character development, and relatively high production values & it soon earned mainstream attention.  Very quickly it became the subject of obscenity trials and was banned in various places.  A soundtrack album was released and the original pressing is now highly sought. On the album this track was listed as  "Introducing Linda Lovelace." Julius Wechter initially was known for playing vibraphone and percussion for the Martin Denny group in the 1950s. In the early 1960s, he moved on to movie soundtracks and television score...
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Max Romeo - Don't You Weep

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Max Romeo Don't You Weep / Weeping (Version) Pama Supreme PS 318 (1971) Born Maxwell Smith on 22 November 1944 in Jamaica, Max started his career with the Jamaican group The Emotions.  The band had their first success in 1965 with the single "(Buy You) A Rainbow" followed by several other 45s. By 1968 Max (now know as Max Romeo) embarked on a solo career with the single "Wet Dream." Whilst claiming it was about a leaking roof the song was banned by the BBC in the UK due to its overtly sexual references. On the back of the ban the single reached the UK Top 10. In the early 70s Max became heavily involved in Jamaican politics, touring the island and promoting the People's National Party along side many others such as Bob Marley. This 45 was released in 1971 on the Pama Supreme label which was part of the Pama group which was one of the major outlet for reggae music in the UK.  The label was run by the brothers Harry, Jeff and Carl Palmer. Initial set up in ...
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