Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Etta James & the Peaches - The Wallflower (1955)

Etta James' 'The Wallflower', subtitled 'Dance With Me Henry', can surely be seen as a true rock and roll original.
An early favorite in Alan Freed's "Rock & Roll Show" miss Peaches wants to get up her feet and roll with Henry, while the rolling is on! Henry's voice is Richard Berry (of 'Louie Louie' and 'Have Love Will Travel' fame).
The song is one in a long exchange of 'Annie and Henry' songs: 'Work With Me Annie', 'Dance With Me Henry', 'Annie Had A Baby', 'Henry's Got Flat Feet', 'Hey Henry', 'Annie's Aunt Fannie' etc. The 'Annie' songs were introduced by Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, but in 'Annie's Aunt Fannie' Ballard refers back to Roy Brown's 'Fannie Brown' I guess ... and so the family tree branches out.
Modern Records 947

Saturday, November 23, 2013