If you came to hear rock'n'roll classics of the Fiftes in fake versions, then you reached the right place. As always, I refer to cheap, sound-alike versions (which, often, don't sound alike) of big hits--imitations that were released contemporaneously with the originals. The guilty labels included Gateway Top Tune, Tops, Promenade, Value Hit Parade Tunes, and so on. Some of the more hilarious fake credits include Little Bobby, Eli Whitney, Allan Freed/Feed, The Grasshoppers (answer to the Crickets), The Wright Bros., and "Vocals and Orch. by Popular Artists." The latter is my favorite of the bunch. I'd have to call "Vocals and Orch. by Popular Artists" my favorite of the surrogate-hit singers and performers, but that's just me.
Last week, I decided to re-rip the more famous titles in my fake-hits stash: Whole Lot of Shakin'..., School Day, Maybellene, Get a Job, and so on. This is the first installment.
If these sound less than fabulous, keep in mind 1) they were bad pressings to begin with, and 2) people tended not to take care of them. Believe me, these files sound better than untreated versions could ever sound. You can thank me and Magix Audio Cleaning Lab MX.
Actually, I was pleasantly surprised by how relatively little I had to tweak these. Their hard, frisbee-thick vinyl is a double blessing--on one hand, noisy pressings; on the other hand, durable grooves. Ironically, these crapola pressings have survived better than many a regular-priced disc of the period. That period being what I like to call "The Time/Life Era." To the sound-alikes:
The essential fake hits, Part 1
FAKELIST
Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On--Allan Freed (Pormenade RR-21)
Maybellene--Jack Daniels, w. Herbie Layne's Orch. (Gateway 1135,
At the Hop--The Wright Bros. (Promenade Hit 26)
Jailhouse Rock--Eli Whitney (Promenade RR 23)
Keep a Knockin'--Little Bobby (Promenade RR 23)
The Stroll--Promineers (Promenade RR 23)
Breathless--Gootch Jackson w. Herbie Layne's Orch. (Big 4 Hits 230)
School Day--Stevens Mark (Gilmar 208)
A White Sport Coat--Stevens Mark w. Vic Corwin Orch. (Gilmar 208)
Blue Moon--Promenade Orch. and Chorus (Promenade A54-17)
Tutti Frutti--Vocals and Orch. by Popular Artists (Value Hit Parade Tunes 120)
Great Balls of Fire--Billie Case (Promenade RR 21)
That'll Be the Day--Jerry Case and the Toppers (Tops 45-R410-49)
Pink Shoe Laces--Terry Schubert (Tops S22)
Kansas City--Tommy Paris (Tops S22)
Lee
4 comments:
Lee, as always when you are posting soundalikes, a BIG thanks!
Eh, you have to register when you want to download them?
I believe that's the case--so people tell me. But it's free!
Unfortunately, Mediafire ceased to be a storage option, or I'd still be using it.
Thanks for some great stuff Lee. Hope you do more. Surprisingly, some good musicians worked on these fakes i.e.
Mickey Baker and so a few are not too bad.
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