THE RECORDINGS OF BOB SCHERMAN: SINGLES FROM SKYLARK, TAMPA AND OTHER LABELS

V.S.O.P. RECORDS is pleased to announce the release of V.S.O.P. #133 CD THE RECORDINGS OF ROBERT SCHERMAN: SINGLES FROM SKYLARK, TAMPA AND OTHER LABELS.   Robert Scherman, who created the Tampa Records and Skylark Records labels, among others, is best remembered for his jazz recordings. However, he was very experienced as an R&B producer, having formed his own Blues and Rhythm labels Premier and Atlas and having worked for Syd Nathan on sessions for the King and Federal labels. This CD is devoted to some rare and lesser known recordings that were released as singles, mostly on the Tampa, Skylark and Jet labels. Many of these recordings are intended to cross-over between pop and R&B.   Most feature a strong backbeat, a backing vocal group, and a tenor sax break or guitar break (or both). Quite a few are white R&B, which might give the impression that these are cover versions, but for the most part, they are not. They are often mixed sessions with interracial instumental or vocal groups backing the singer.Another interesting aspect of these recordings is the variety of artists’ backgrounds and alternate or future careers: Johnny Mann formed the Johnny Mann Singers, regularly seen on TV variety shows of the mid 60’s; Jimmy Madden owned the Sundown/Summit club in Hollywood and   was an A&R man; Dickey Lee had a big hit with “Patches’ and authored many C&W hits; Bart Mattson was already enjoying a career as a movie actor; Dave Burgess became the lead singer for the Champs of “Tequila” fame; The Seniors’ member Bill Seighman wrote the B Side to Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly”; producer and artist Joe Saraceno went on to produce the famous Alka-Seltzer commercial, “Whatever Shape Your Stomach’s In”, etc. See full liner notes at: “http://magnebit.xeran.com/store/v-s-o-p-133.html.

These are not the only sides of non-jazz material produced by Bob Scherman and released as singles. Previously, VSOP RECORDS had released V.S.O.P. #88 CD WEST COAST ROCK & ROLL, which includes many of the better known Tampa singles, ie Plas Johnson instrumentals, The Saxons, Tony Allen, The Flannels, The Twisters, Billy Devroe rockabilly, The Jac-O-Lacs, etc.. However, this collection gives greater insight into the changes in tastes (and as a result production values) that took place during the 1950’s to the early 1960’s as R&B focused or influenced sessions gradually gave way to rock & roll. It also sheds some light on efforts to create R&B sounding recordings for the white teen market, perhaps in an effort to insulate them from the real thing.   While those efforts are resoundingly rejected today as inauthentic, a new listen to Bob Scherman’s take on this may yield some surprise and appreciation for his slightly more robust and integrated production style and ideas. This is a fun program, especially as these sides and similar efforts have been largely ignored over the years, and are for all intents and purposes unknown today.

PROGRAM

                                             1.  SHUFFLIN' BOOGIE:  GEORGE JENKINS

                                             2.  HOLLYWOOD PAPA:  JOHNNY MANN

                                             3.  HOLLYWOOD MAMA: JOHNNY MANN

                                             4.  KO KO MO:  THE DOOLEY SISTERS

                                             5.  HEART THROB:  THE DOOLEY SISTERS

                                             6.  SHTIGGY BOOM:  THE DOOLEY SISTERS

                                             7.  JOHNNY MY LOVE:  THE DOOLEY SISTERS

                                             8.  I LOVE PARIS:  DAVE BURGESS TRIO

                                             9.  LET EM' ROLL:  JIMMY MADDEN

                                            10.  BOOGIE BOO:  JIMMY MADDEN

                                            11.  BABY, I MISS YOU:  THE BELLETONES

                                            12.  ALL MY LOVE:  THE BELLETONES

                                            13.  DREAM BOY:  DICKEY LEE

                                            14.  STAY TRUE BABY: DICKEY LEE

                                            15.  TEEN ANGEL:  BART MATTSON

                                            16.  LOVE SLAVE:  BART MATTSON

                                            17.  HOW WRONG YOU ARE:  THE YOUNG LIONS

                                            18.  OH, DADDY:  THE YOUNG LIONS

                                            19.  TEENAGE QUARREL:  MARI JONES

                                            20.  RIBA DABA DOO: MARI JONES

                                            21.  WHO'S GONNA KNOW:  THE SENIORS

                                            22.  IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME:  THE SENIORS

                                            23.  MARRIAGE TALK:  LUCIA AND JOHNNY

                                            24.  NO MORE, NO MORE: LUCIA AND JOHNNY

                                            25.  TWO TACOS PLEASE:  THE BEAT-NIKS

                                            26.  FOOLISH FOOL:  THE BEAT-NIKS

                                            27.  LOVE ME CHARLEY BROWN:  LITTLE MARGO

                                            28.  JOEY'S FRIEND:  LITTLE MARGO