Artist: Various
Album: Beating The Petrillo Ban. The Late December 1947 Modern Sessions
Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Released: 2002
While the majority of Americans were decking the halls with holly in December 1947, the recording industry was working flat-out to commit as much music as possible to acetate, before midnight on New Year’s Day 1948 ushered in the second American Federation of Musicians recording ban – like the previous one, instigated by AFM head honcho James Cesar Petrillo in response to the notion that musicians were being put out of work by the popularity of jukeboxes in venues where they had previously plied their trade.
The first recording ban in 1942 had caught everyone by surprise and lasted for 2½ years – during which time no recordings were made utilising union musicians. Nobody wanted to be short on releasable masters if the second ban were to continue as long. Record companyies cut their artists on as many sessions as they could cram in. Modern Records was no exception, as you will discover on this special collection of recordings made in the two weeks leading up to the start of the ban.
Modern’s Jules Bihari recorded every active artist on the label’s roster during the period this release covers – sometimes more than once. The artists ranged from the Inkspots-styled Ebonaires to torrid gospel vocalist Sister Ira Mae Littlejohn, via Modern favourites Hadda Brooks and Gene Phillips and newer ones such as Jimmy Witherspoon and Butch Stone.
One version of each song recorded at every session from 19 December to New Years Eve is included in this prestigious collection – all freshly remastered from new transfers of the original Modern acetates. Wherever possible, the songs are featured in unissued different versions from those previously available.
By Tony Rounce
Tracklist
01 Waterboy (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - The Ebonaires
02 I'll Never Do It Again (Take 4) ((Take 4)) - The Ebonaires
03 The Old Folks At Home (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - The Ebonaires
04 Poor Butterfly (Instrumental) (Take 1) ((Instrumental) (Take 1)) - Hadda Brooks
05 Old Fashioned Love (Instrumental) (Take 3 master) ((Instrumental) (Take 3 master)) - Hadda Brooks
06 Take Me (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Hadda Brooks
07 The Best Things In Life Are Free (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Hadda Brooks
08 This Will Make You Laugh (Take 3) ((Take 3)) - Hadda Brooks
09 Gravels In My Pillow (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Duke Henderson
10 His Majesty's Boogie (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Duke Henderson
11 Cake Jumps (Instrumental) ((Instrumental)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette
12 T.B. Blues (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
13 Snuff Dipping Mama (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Gene Phillips & His Rhythm Aces
14 Gene's Guitar Blues (Take 2) ((Take 2)) - Gene Phillips
15 Broke And Disgusted (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Gene Phillips & His Rhythm Aces
16 Royal Boogie (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Gene Phillips & His Rhythm Aces
17 A Sailboat In the Moonlight (Take 10) ( (Take 10)) - Hadda Brooks
18 Why Was I Born (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Hadda Brooks
19 Mary Lou (Instrumental) (Take 1) ((Instrumental) (Take 1)) - Hadda Brooks
20 Moonlight On The Ganges (Take 1) (Instrumental) ((Take 1) (Instrumental)) - Hadda Brooks
21 The Glory Of Love (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Art Shackelford Sextette
22 Play Fiddle Play (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Art Shackelford Sextette
23 The Jazz Me Blues (Take 4 master) ((Take 4 master)) - Art Shackelford Sextette
24 Beatin' The Ban (Take 1 master) ((Take 1 master)) - Art Shackelford Sextette
Side 2
01 Connie Lee Blues (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
02 Big Fine Girl (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
03 That's Your Red Wagon (Take 3) ((Take 3)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
04 Sweet Lovin' Baby (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
05 Grandma Grandpa (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
06 Geneva Blues (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette - vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon
07 Piece Of Cake (Take 2) (Instrumental) ((Take 2) (Instrumental)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette
08 Boogie Woogie Baby (Take 2 master) (Instrumental) ((Take 2 master) (Instrumental)) - Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette
09 Anna Lucasta (Take 3) ((Take 3)) - Hadda Brooks
10 I Can't Get Started (Take 5 master) ((Take 5 master)) - Hadda Brooks
11 I'll Get By (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Hadda Brooks
12 Little Willie's Boogie (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Little Willie Jackson
13 Shasta (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Little Willie Jackson
14 Baby (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Little Willie Jackson
15 Someday, Somehow, Somewhere (Take 2) ((Take 2)) - Little Willie Jackson
16 My Feet's Too Big (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
17 Put Your Brakes On Mama (Take 5 master) ((Take 5 master)) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
18 Little Girl (Take 1 master) ((Take 1 master)) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
19 Baby Face (Take 4 master) ((Take 4 master)) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
20 Lonesome Road Blues (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn
21 He'll Make The Way (Take 2 master) ((Take 2 master)) - Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn
22 What More Can Jesus Do (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn
23 Go, Devil, Go (Take 1 master) ((Take 1 master)) - Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn
24 See Jesus (Take 1) ((Take 1)) - Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn
25 My Record Will Be There (Take 1 master) ((Take 1 master)) - Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn
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