Originally aired Dec. 28, 2025 on thehoundnyc.com. The Hound Howl is also available as a podcast on Amazon Music Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
Freddie “Bama Boy” Hall & his Gadsen Band – This Crooked World (Ebony)19
- Lafayette “The Thing” Thomas on guitar, I don’t think Jimmy Wilson does anything on this side but he sings on the a-side- Call Me A Hound Dog (Big Town 103) which I’ll play some day, if I’m still around. Released 1953 by Bob Geddin’s Big Town label out of Oakland. Robert Quine liked to point out that Lafayette Thomas, a unique and brilliant guitarist if there ever was, ended life assembling hoses in a factory. Thomas cut solo sides for Trilyte, Chess (Sam’s Drag, recorded at Sun by Sam C. Phillips), Jumping and Savoy. These days he’s mostly if at all remembered for his time with Jimmy McCracklin’s Blues Blasters who hit big with The Walk in ’58. ︎
- From Joe Von Battle’s J-V-B label, recorded “live at the Palmer House” in Detroit, 1956. See last show’s Lena Hall for more from that same recording date. With Washboard Willie & his Suds of Rhythm. Speaking of J-V-B anyone got a copy of the Del-Rythmettes (sic) to sell me? ︎
- On the Porter label out of Phoenix, Arizona, 1957. These are the same guys who recorded as the Rio Rockers on Capitol- Clyde Russell “Rusty” Isabell and Don Cole. Isabell also waxed as ‘Red Hot’ Russell on Porter and had a minor hit with the instro Firewater (Brent) in 1959. Don Cole went one to cut great sides for RPM (Snake Eyed Mama), Kent, Guyden, Coed and other labels. ︎
- If there’s any Velvet Underground fans out there who were wondering why Hy Weiss’ name was retrofitted into the songwriting credits of Foggy Notion pay attention to the lyrics of this one. Hy Weiss, who claimed to have invented the $50 handshake owned Old Town which released this in ’55. The group themselves were from Harlem- Eddie “California” Jones (lead singer), Nick Anderson (first tenor), Winston “Buzzy” Willis (second tenor), Rudy “Angel” Morgan (baritone), and Pat Gaston (bass) started singing on the corner of 142nd St and 7th ave. and would have a minor hit with Walking Along in ’57. ︎
- From Mel London’s Chief label in Chicago. This evocative cover of the Elmore James tune features an uncredited Magic Sam on guitar- dig that solo! Nice, (said in Viv Stanshall “Intro & Outro” voice). Sam cut some sides for Chief in the same session April 1960 session w/these gals singing backup on one number- You Don’t Have To Work (Chief 7033). Elmore James’ Broomdusters are represented with pianist Little Johnny Jones and drummer S.P. Leary present. These women, some of whom may have had the surname Ammons cut two more great singles for Chief as simply the Duchesses, no relation to Bo Diddley’s guitarist Norma Jean “The Duchess” Wolford or the Pearlettes of Duchess Of Earl (Vee Jay 435) fame. ︎
- Born Irving Ale 1929-1982, s/he did biz was best known as Patsy Vidalia, the over the top transgender emcee at the Dew Drop Inn, Club Desire and other fine joints in New Orleans. S/he dated R&B star Larry “Mr Heart & Soul” Darnell for awhile. A bit off topic but I thought I’d throw in that actor Zachery Scott (Mildred Pierce, The Southerner, Born To Be Bad) was arrested at the Dew Drop Inn, Oct. 1952 for “mixing” (i.e.- race mixing). Papa Lightfoot was appearing that night with Edgar Blanchard’s Gondeliers. Soon these footnotes are gonna need footnotes… ︎
- Not the one-eyed, tap dancing, singing his heart out, dating Kim Novak, Sammy Davis Jr. Different guy. From Henry Stone’s Rockin’ label recorded in Miami, 1953. The great and perpetually underrated Earl Hooker playing slide guitar. Recorded at Stone’s Crystal Clear Studio (actually a warehouse with a one track recorder) the same place Stone had recorded Ray Charles earliest sides. ︎
- Hooker famously recorded under dozens of aliases (Little Pork Chop, John Lee Cooker, The Boogie Man, Texas Slim, John Lee Williams, Johnny Lee, Birmingham Sam, etc.) for anyone who’d pay in cash. This monster appeared on both Deluxe and Henry Stone’s Rockin’ labels in 1953, recorded in either at King in Cincinnati or Crystal Clear in Miami depending on whose story you believe. Eddie Kirkland is on second guitar and yelping in the background. Kirkland sometimes billed as Little Eddie Kirkland or Eddie Kirk, (1923-2011) was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He waxed most blues wailing sides for R.P.M., King, Fortune, Hi-Q, Volt, LuPine, Tru Sound, Prestige, and other labels. Taking to the ultimate in sartorial bluesman style— i.e. wearing a turban, Eddie stayed on the road until 2011 when he was hit by a bus whilst loading up his gear after a gig in Florida and died as if in a Robert Johnson song. ︎
- A nom du disque for Baker Knight of Bring My Cadillac Back infamy and writer of Ricky Nelson’s Lonesome Town not to mention hits for Dean Martin (Somewhere There’s A Someone), Elvis (The Wonder Of You), Mickey Gilley (Don’t All The Girls Get Prettier At Closing Time), and others. His career as a performer was hampered by agoraphobia. From Gene Autry’s Challenge label 1964. ︎
- This one is from 1966 on Parrot (the London subsidiary, not the Al Benson owned Chicago label) and features the just out of prison Mac Rebennack (later Dr. John) on guitar. Done in L.A. it’s a great example of the many fine sides from the diaspora of New Orleans musicians who fled west when Republican prosecutor Jim Garrison closed the music clubs and started persecuting musicians. Any old timer in the Quarter will tell you that hypocrite Garrison was a total degenerate who liked to party in drag with underage boys (Oliver Stone take note). While I’m on the subject should you see a copy of Mac’s autobiography Under The Hoodoo Moon, turn to page 100 and read the second paragraph. For more on the fun loving Jim Garrison track down a copy of Frenchie Brouillette’s autobiography Mr. New Orleans. ︎
- B-side of 45 rpm Memphis (Checker 1058), this one missed the cut for the LP Bo’s Beach Party, recorded live to a crowd full of beach shaggers and frat boys on Myrtle Beach, SC, 1963 w/The Duchess (Norma Jean Wofford) on second guitar. Blues Discography 1943-1970 says this is a fake live recording but it isn’t. Bo told me so. The fake Bo record is Surfin’ W/Bo which turns out was actually Billy Lee Riley’s Megatons. Bo don’t surf. Speaking of Bo, what became of Bo’s home movies referenced by Etta James in her autobiography Rage To Live? Remind me to tell you my Bo stories should you ever see me where alcohol is served. ︎
- On the original Astra label outta Detroit, not the later reissue label from Pittsburgh, although the later used the same label design as the former. Nothing is known by myself of the Aqua-Nites but the release date is usually given as 1965 but I’d guess it was recorded much earlier, or they lived in a time warp. ︎
- A pseudonym for Father Bob Dolan, a warbling Catholic priest from East Chicago, Indiana. He worked the singing priest schtick for awhile then found more gainful employment as an Elvis impersonator. He issued an LP –The Robert Dolan Road Show: Beginnings – on his own Celery label in the early 70’s (covering Elvis’ set list circa 1972 (complete with Also Sprach Zarathustra intro). Dolan also did “authentic” impressions of Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Jim Croce and Olivia Newton-John according to the liner notes. As Lincoln Rand he only released this 45 in 1961 on the Adona label based in Hammond, Illinois. I dig they way he works in the descending chords from Bobby Freeman’s Do You Wanna Dance. ︎
- Another great side from Detroit’s Fortune label. I missed this one on the two part Fortune Records special (shows #63 & #64) because I hadn’t found a copy yet. From 1960, its rarity is due to the fact that it was withdrawn shortly after release. Evidently, Soggs was underage and his father objected to its release due to what he considered low fidelity (we call it the Fortune sound) and refused to sign the necessary waiver. The tune was written by label co-owner Devora Brown and first cut by Nolan Strong & the Diablos (Fortune 514) in 1955. For more on Detroit’s Fortune/HiQ/Strate8 labels see Mind Over Matter: The Myth and Mysteries Of Detroit’s Fortune Records by Billy Miller and Michael Hurtt published by Kicks books. ︎
- That’s Lonesome Sundown on guitar, on Reynaud out of Opelousas, Louisiana, 1962. ︎
- It starts off rather twee, but wait until the guitar solo – no doubt about it, that’s James Burton, teenage star of Dale Hawkins, Bob Luman and Ricky Nelson’s bands. This is on the Alanna label outta Pittsburgh. I think ’59. ︎
- Not the My Boyfriend’s Back Angels, these Angels were west coast and could sing in tune and in time. Not the Al Smith (Albert B. Smith) who produced and sometimes played bass w/Jimmy Reed. This guy was Alvin Smith, an Oakland based guitarist. Released on Irma, another of Bob Geddins’ labels in ’57. ︎
- Born Ennis Lowery (1923-2010), Dale was a Texan who migrated to Harlem in the 1950’s. This features some incendiary guitar from former pimp Mickey “Guitar” Baker. Issued on Al Silver’s Herald label in 1955. Two more songs were waxed at the same session and given a release # in the Ember subsidiary but Rock & Roll Baby b/w Hoppin’ & Skippin’ is so rare that I’ve never seen a copy nor have I ever met a person who has. In the 90’s Dale joined forces with Bob Gaddy and Wild Jimmy Spruill for many memorable shows in NYC, mostly at Tramps and thus rocked into the 21st century. Then he croaked. ︎
- This came out on both the Ebony and Chance labels in 1954. My copy is an Ebony 78, which sure sounds good. The label reads- “Freddie Hall- Gadsden’s Gift To The Girls”. Jerry “Choo Choo” McCain, Rex Griffin, Jimmy Buffett, and Beyonce’s dad are from Gadsden, Alabama, make of that information what you will. Hall made other rockin’ sides for C.J. and Abcko in ’56 and ’59. What happened after that is anyone’s guess. ︎
