Ella Mae Morse – Down In Mexico
He’s got a red bandana, black moustache, plays a mean piano and wears a purple sash. You can’t miss him. His name’s Joe. That’s right - in Mexico. If you see him, ask if Ella Mae Morse has been in recently. The Coasters sent her to his honky tonk back in 1956 and she ain’t been seen since…
Otis Redding – Direct Me
Spent a lovely evening last night listening to music with a few peeps, playing songs to each other on a theme of “lost and found”. Made me think of this Otis Redding ditty, Direct Me. Not a dancefloor shaker - but still a killer track. This posthumous Atco release dates from 1968 - the year after Otis tragically died in a plan crash aged just 26. On the flipside is Otis’ cover of James Brown’s Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag. Nice!
Candi Staton – In The Ghetto
Due to truly awful toothache (getting a filling on Friday morning) - I’ve been out of commission for a couple of weeks. Shit, I even had to miss Diddy Wah’s Elvis night the other week. Absolutely gutted… I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to getting that darned filling and regaining my preferred chewing area.
OK, so here’s a record I had lined up to play at the Elvis night. I hope someone played it in my abscess / absence…
Ruth Brown – Sure ‘Nuff
I had a great time spinning tunes at Diddy Wah at The Haggerston on Friday night - thanks all who came down to shake a tail feather and have a drink or three with us.
Adam - Mister Diddy Wah himself - really liked one particular ditty I played, so I thought I’d share it here on the blog this week. It’s a Ruth Brown ditty, released in 1961 on Atlantic, called Sure ‘Nuff. It was actually one of Ruth’s last records for Atlantic and she seems to be trying to cut a different kind of record to her earlier Atlantic sides. I hope you like it as much as I do!
Carole Bennett – Haunted Lover
I’m rather delighted to announce I’ll be spinning some vinyl discs of the 7″ dusty variety this Friday night at Diddy Wah’s regular shindig over at The Haggerston pub on Kingsland Road. I happen to know that Mr Diddy Wah himself is partial to a spot of Belgian Popcorn so I know he’ll like that I’m posting up this - a classic of the genre: Carole Bennett’s 1957 ditty, Haunted Lover on Capitol. If you don’t already look at Adam’s brilliant Diddy Wah blog - check it out immediately: http://diddywah.blogspot.com/
And come along this Friday to The Haggerston, 438 Kingsland Road, Dalston. DO IT!