Steve Propes 45s Show

Hour #1 (Spotlite on rare Solomon Burke 45s on Atlantic)
1 Googie Rene Rebecca
2 Solomon Burke Everybody Needs Somebody
3 Carltons Can't You Hear the Beat
4 Solomon Burke Looking For My Baby
5 Joe Powell & Casinos The Rub
6 Googie Rene Rock A Bye Baby
7 Delacardos Everybody's Rockin'
8 Solomon Burke Got To Get You Off My Mind
9 Solomon Burke Dance Dance Dance
10 Carltons Ooh Baby
11 Delacardos On the Beach
12 Priscilla Page My Letter
13 Rochel & the Candles Let's Run Away And Get Married
14 Solomon Burke You Can Make It If You Try
15 Solomon Burke Mountain Of Pride
16 Solomon Burke If You Need Me
17 Solomon Burke I Feel A Sin Comin' On
18 King Bees Can't You Understand
19 Solomon Burke Rockin' Soul

Hour #2 (Spotlite on rare 45s by the Dells on the Argo label)
1 Googie Rene Big Time
2 Sonny Jackson My Babe
3 Andy Belvin Love Is A Game
4 Dells If It Ain't One Thing It's Another
5 Del Rios Just Across the Street
6 Googie Rene Break It Up
7 Frankie & the Del Stars Don't Shine Me On Pt. 1
8 Johnny Darrow That's Good
9 Frankie & the Del Stars Don't Shine Me On Pt. 2
10 Ray Foster Pledging My Love
11 Dells God Bless the Child
12 Dells Eternally
13 Dells I'm Going Home
14 Romaines In the Wee Of the Morning
15 King Bees Lovely Lady
16 Dells Bossa Nova Bird
17 Dells Good Bye Mary Ann
18 Len Johnson Sweet Thing
19 Dells After You
20 Googie Rene Side Track

Playlist "Steve Propes 45s Show" Oct. 23, 2004

Hour #1
1. Chuz Alfred Caravan
2. Spiders Suki Suki Suki
3. Camille Bob & Lollipops Got To Get Away
4. Larks Come Back Baby
5. Rolling Crew Home On Alcatraz
6. Marathons The Stranger
7. Morry Williams & Kids Are You My Girlfriend
8. Romancers I Still Remember
9. Rosco Gordon Just A Little Bit
10. Ben Roberts Love Has No Secrets
11. Rolling Crew Cryin' Emma
12. Romancers Housecat
13. Morry Williams & Kids Oh Louise
14. Stop N Go Mr. Howard Hughes
15. Larks Shorty the Pimp
16. Imperials Life Of Ease
note: answer to Sixty Minute Man
17. King Crooners Now That She's Gone
18. Lexingtons I Found My Baby
note: answer to There Goes My Baby
19. Bobby Charles Take It Easy Greasy
20. Adolph Jacobs Move Around Easy

Hour #2
1. Ronnie & Pomona Casuals Casual Blues
2. Phil Flowers No Kissin' At the Hop
3. Tommy Ridgeley Looped
4. Joe Rich Dreaming Dreaming
5. Earls Look My Way
6. Vickie Lee Crying My Heart Out
7. Henry Strogin & Crowns I Love L.A.
8. Randy & Rockets If You Really Care
9. Dee Dee Sharpe Funny Situation
10. Natural Four Why Should I Stop Now
11. Eskew Reeder We Had Love
12. Iren Richey Puddin Pie
13. Runaways Pardon Me
14. Cleve Cosey & Riders Come Closer
15. Ronnie & Joey Frozen Dinners
16. Edwin Starr Girls Are Getting Prettier
17. Henry Strogin & Crowns I'll Tag Along
18. Rhythm Heirs Why Did You Leave Me
19. Gloria Irving I Need A Man
20. Hi Fi White I Need Somebody
21. Troyce Key Baby Please Don't Go
22. Adolph Jacobs Walkin' & Whistlin'

Welcome to John Raino to this blog. John grew up in Los Angeles listening to rhythm and blues, following the scene, and in the 1960s, John was hired as counterman at the world famous Flash Record Shop in L.A. and has many stories abou the R&B scene at the time.

We start in 1963:

"Do you remember TV Station KIIX, Channel 22 in 1963? (Ed note: it signed on the air in March 25, 1963 - it's now known as KWHY - a Spanish language TV station). It was L.A.'s first black owned TV station. It was very short lived, lasting about 9 months. Nobody I've ever mentioned it to remembers it (like Bill Gardner). The main reason it didn't last too long was simple, the owners didn't think of the fact that hardly any black people had UHF/VHF TV's. I didn't get one til' 1965! My mother was furious that my sister Ella gave up her good steady (boring / 9 - 5) job at a big insurance Co. on Wilshire Blvd., and take such a risk at something like this. The station was on for limited hours (About 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. and maybe starting at noon on Saturday & Sunday). Larry McCormick had a dance program on Saturday afternoons. James Brown was there to lip sync his latest record. My sister told me the kids got a little rowdy & un-ruly. They also promised sis that if things went well, they'd promote her from receptionist & give her, her own talk show. No such luck."

Flash Records and Hunter Hancock, 1964:

"Moving right along: Ella got a new job working for Hunter Hancock. Margie had left the show. Hunter started recording his show at his office: 1640 N Gower st. Ella's job was to run the tapes for him. Meanwhile I landed my $50 a week job at Daisy Mae's Flash Records.Most of the famous people seem to come in at night. As you remember, I was on the day shift. A few I remember waiting on:

Gloria Garcia - She sang the spanish version of Tina Turner's - "You can't miss nothin' that you never had". I even remember she bought 'Five will get you ten' by Z.Z. Hill.
Billy Preston - I sat next to him in the school choir at Dorsey High. He bought 'Everybody needs somebody to love' by Solomon Burke
Mike Love - I was in the choir with Him also. Can't remember what he bought, all I remember was the '63 Sting Ray he drove away in.
Elliot Shavers - Leader of the house band at The 5-4 Ballroom.
Andy Belvin - Godfrey Kerr's best friend, and recorded "Travelin; mood" for Godfrey's Flashback label.
Round Robin - I'm told he went to Jr. High with me under his real name
Paul Gayten - Use to come in to see Daisy all the time. Always dressed to the nines (in his Rolls Royce). He gave Daisy a 100 box of 4 biggies on Anna.(Barrett Strong, Johnny & Jackie, Ty Hunter & Paul Gayten)."

More from John in an upcoming blog.

Do you have a comment about this history? Let John and me know, by checking the comment box and filling out your...well, comment.

The observant reader will note that on some lists, the order is artist, then song...that applies to my weekly play lists on WPMD. All other historical lists are song, then artist, just to create a contrast. Don't be confused, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, but my eyes possibly are.

On Nov. 29, 1964, Wallich's Music City initiated the top 30 Flashbacks list, a list they maintained until late Sept. 1966, when they switched to the best-selling 8 Track Tapes. This, along with the Times Square Record Shop list (as early as 1961) were among the first of the best selling oldies lists issued by shops.

Here's the first top ten:

1. Didn't It Rain - Evelyn Freeman
2. Telstar - Tornadoes
3. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Jerry Lee Lewis
4. The Mountain's High - Dick & Dee Dee
5. Only Love Can Break A Heart - Gene Pitney
6. Half Heaven Half Heartache - Gene Pitney
7. Theme From A Summer Place - Percy Faith
8. Papa Oom Mow Mow - Rivingtons
9. Alley Cat - Bent Fabric
10. Louie Louie - Kingsmen

Compare the Flash list (just below) to the #1s at Wallich's Music City, the #1 record chain in So. Cal., for 1964.

There I've Said It Again - Bobby Vinton
Louie Louie - Kingsmen
I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles
You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore
Suspicion - Terry Stafford
She Loves You - Beatles
Twist & Shout - Beatles
Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles
Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong
Nadine - Chuck Berry
Love Me Do - Beatles
My Guy - Mary Wells
People - Barbra Streisand
Tall Cool One - Wailers
I Get Around - Beach Boys
Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin
Where Did Our Love Go - Supremes
The House Of the Rising Sun - Animals
Bread & Butter - Newbeats
Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Baby Love - Supremes
I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits
She's Not There - Zombies
I Feel Fine - Beatles
Sugar Shack - Jimmy Gilmer
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Bros.

A listener to the Steve Propes 45s Show was a counterman at the legendary Flash Records Shop in L.A. during the mid-1960s and joins us for some personal commentary. When he chooses to be identified, I'll I.D. the guy.

The are the best sellers that come to his mind for the calendar year 1964:
20-75 Willie Mitchell
Mixed up, shook up girl - Patty & Emblems
Come out tonight - Tony Lamar
Something you got - Alvin Robinson (we had Chris Kenner & Ray Charles version too,
but I can't remember anybody asking for them)
Selfish one - Jackie Ross
I can't stand it - Soul Sisters
Get my hands oh some lovin' Artistics
Hi heel sneakers - Tommy Tucker
You don't love me - Tommy Raye
Don't answer the door - Jimmy Johnson
Lie - Don Julian/Meadowlarks
Rock me baby - B.B. King
The jerk/Forget me - Larks
The Phillie - M-M & The Peanuts
Open up your eyes M-M & The Peanuts
My girl Sloopy - Vibrations
How glad I am - Nancy Wilson
Funny - Joe Hinton
Steal away - Jimmy hughes
Out of sight - James brown
I had a talk with my man - Mitty Collier
I wanna be loved/Thread your needle - Dean & Jean
Just be true - Gene Chandler
I'm so proud - Impressions
Keep on pushing Impressions
...and in early 1965...Land of 1,000 dances - Thee Midniters/Cannibal & The Headhunters
I honestly don't know which one we sold the most of. Lots, & lots of both. Sometimes , "Land of 1,000 dances" would be spinning on all 4 of Daisy's turntables (one would be about 5 seconds behind the other. I don't know why we didn't turn off 3 of them, and pump up the volume on the one that was left. The same thing happened at the beginning of the year, "The way you do the things you do", spinning on all 4 turntables a few seconds behind each other.

Playlist "Steve Propes 45s Show" Oct. 16, 2004

Hour #1
1. Curley Page Curley Rock
2. Ray Clauson & Teen Tops Lucille
3. Johnny Anthony Remember Me
note: written by M. Rebbeneck (aka Dr. John)
4. Ray & Bob Palms Of Paradise
5. Andy Belvin With All My Heart
6. Ray & Bob Air Travel
7. Andy Belvin You Were Meant For Me
8. Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles Groovy Kind Of Love
shrill man; shrill
9. Don Covay Betty Jean
10. Tony Cosmo The Big Party
11. Skip & Fruit Heavenly Father
12. Clint Nall Your Eyes
13. Robert & Johnny Walking In the Rain
retitled: In the Rain
14. Robert & Bobby Once Upon A Time
15. Robert & Johnny We Belong Together
16. Robert & Bobby Girl Of My Dreams
17. Bishops Open Up Your Heart
18. Dorothy Berry You're So Fine
19. Barbara Black Ring Aling Aling
20. Zeke & Geneva Every Woman Has A Right (To Change Her Mind) Pt. 1
21. Rinky Dinks Hot Potato
with King Curtis

Hour #2
1. Curley Page East Imperial
2. Don Covay Believe It Or Not
3. Zeke & Geneva Every Woman Has A Right (To Change Her Mind) Pt. 2
4. Bobbettes Don't Say Goodnight
5. Bill Johnson You Better Dig It
6. Robert & Jimmy Uptight
7. Magicians Why Do I Do These Foolish Things
lead: Richard Dimples Fields
8. Terry & Marsha He
9. Ben Imon Down In the Country
10. Cats Get Gone
11. Honey & the Bees Please Go Away
12. Bobbettes You Are My Sweetheart
13. Robert & Johnny Train To Paradise
14. Andy Belvin Travelin' Mood
15. Leonard Johnson The Bug
16. Cosmo I'm A Little Mixed Up
17. Ray & Bob Our Last Night
18. Kripp Johnson One Last Time
19. Plaz Adams Rock & Roll Is Spreading
20. Jolly Joker The UT
21. Blockbusters Soul Caravan
aka Bob Starr

Very soon, there'll be some fascinating first person stories from one of the most respected collectors and observers of the scene...keep checking this page for these stories...all I need is permission, and as Jackie Gleason once said, away we go! It's worth the wait, believe me.

Playlist "Steve Propes 45s Show" Oct. 9, 2004

Hour #1 (with cohost, Bill Gardner of KPFK's Rhapsody In Black)
1. Lee Allen Boppin' at the Hop
2. Doris Browne & John Greer You Played My Piano
3. Mickey & Sylvia Bewildered
4. Faye Adams That's What Makes My Baby Fat
5. Enchanters Today Is Your Birthday
6. Professor Longhair Bye Bye Baby
7. Professor Longhair Mardi Gras In New Orleans
8. Guitar Gable Irene
9. Sheiks So Fine
10. Jimmy Liggins Drunk
11. Magic Tones Cool Cool Baby
12. Jimmy Ricks Oh Babe
3. Jimmy Beck Pipe Dreams

Hour #2
1. Larry Dale Keep Gettin Up
2. Joe Stubbs Hey Hey
3. Les Brown Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball
4. Willie Mays with the Treniers Say Hey
5. Wrens Come Back My Love
6. Solitaires Please Remember My Heart 7
. Lorraine Ellis & Crows Perfidia
8. Velours Honey Drop
9. Aaron Neville One Fine Day
10. Larry Williams Just Because
11. Wallace Bros. I'll Step Aside
12. Earl Gaines (partial) Hymn #5
13. Hannibal Hymn #5
14. Little Johnny Jones Doin' the Best I Can
15. Hannibal Please Take A Chance On Me
16. Hannibal Baby Please Change Your Mind
17. Little Johnny Jones Hoy Hoy
18. Lee Dorsey Great Googa Mooga
19. Bobby Lewis Boom Chuck A Boom
20. Chuck Norris Messin' Up

If you have a large collection of rhythm and blues 45s, live in Southern California, and would like to be a guest co-DJ for the day (or at least one hour on a Saturday AM), drop me a note at spropes@verizon.net and describe the collection and what records you can bring in. Maybe we can put it together.



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Debut Blogged Show

Welcome to the Steve Propes 45s Show Blog. Heard mostly live every Saturday on Internet Radio WPMD (wpmd.org) from 9 to 11 a.m., vintage and occasional new 45s are played. At some moment after each live show, I will be posting the playlist of each show.Here's what you can do to make this show interactive.

Listen to the show.

Listen to the records.

Enjoy, hate or yawn when you hear the songs.

If there's one you like, I can always play it again. On the comment page, react to the list. What songs do you like, what songs do you hate, what songs do you want to know more about? What records would you like me to break (good luck)? And maybe most importantly, what songs would you like me to play again on the next live show? The first posted request gets it played again during the next live show (promise), unless the anti-position heavily outweighs your request...after all, it's my show. But for me to know, you've got to comment. Sneaky, aren't I?

Playlist "Steve Propes 45s Show" Oct. 2, 2004

Hour #1
1 George Jenkins Drum Boogie
2 Richard Berry & Pharoahs Rock Rock Rock
3 Little Tommy Brown Won’t You Forgive Me
4 Four Blades I Want You To Be My Girl
5 Blenders Military Kick
6 Richard Barrett The Snake & the Bookworm
7 Bernard Byers No Time To Cry
8 Cornell Blakely Don’t Touch the Moon9 Blends Tell Me
10 Carians Only A Dream
11 Roy Brown Rocks Is My Pillow
12 Ruth Brown Shake A Hand
13 Little Willie John Come On Sugar
14 Ted Jarrett Goofin’ Off
15 Bishops The Wedding
16 Ray Clauson & Teen Tops God’s Little Acre
17 Blue Jays Earth Angel
18 Valentines Gettin’ With the Twist

Hour #2
1 Miles Grayson Sweet Bread
2 Al Savage I Need
3 Ray Johnson Calypso Joe
4 Blue Jays Hearts Of Stone (partial)
5 Blue Jays Pledging My Love
6 Willie Headen & 5 Birds The Skinny Woman Story
7 Carians Snooty Friends
8 Bullmoose Jackson Cherokee Boogie
9 Rene Hall Do It Up Right
10 Blanders Jitterbug
11 Blenders Kicks
12 Iona Wade & Billboards I Love You Baby
13 Emile Frank & Toppers My True Story
14 V8s Guess Who
15 Matthew Jacobs Loaded Down
16 Issacher Whole Lot Of Love
17 Freddy Watson & Restorators The Unlucky 7
18 Atlantics Flame Of Love
19 Madame Posey & Travelaires The World Is In A Bad Condition
20 Fabulous Playboys Nervous
21 Miles Grayson You Were Mine