Killer $2 score from the Beat Swap show on Sunday: "Johnny's Jive" by Johnny Little John and Guitar on Margaret Records (which is why I had to buy it!). Took a chance on it, and it's a killer snazzy instro. Best part: they cite Menard Rogers and the Players' tune "Ain't Nothin' but a Titty" at the start and end!
Awesome upsidedownness... here's the record, killer shape!
Johnny Little John (or Johnny Littlejohn) was primarily a blues player. He moved from Mississippi to Chicago, where he cut his teeth on the Blues circuit. He was also a session musician, and played with the Jackson 5, for example. Most of his recorded output was after 1968 (although the wikipedias say the info is incorrect). Well, certainly: this single is from 1966.
And the Menard Rogers tune:
And of course Menard Rogers is credited with production on the "Johnny's Jive" 7".
Got a couple other decent records at the show. One oddball: "Skateboard" b/w "Closer" by Chemistry, bought for obvious reasons.
Sample lyrics: "I'm gonna rock/Until it really hits the spot/Don't you wanna/Whoooooooooo!" and "Feel the Freddom/Let the wind blow/While we're riding." Check the disco beat! Definitely not particularly good songwriting, and at over 6 minutes long doomed to obscurity with no chance of airwave play. And if you are a glutton for punishment, check out the b-side "closer" where, if I remember correctly, the only lyric is "closer" -- and I am not going to listen to it again to make sure. Like I said, genius songwriting. "Skateboard", however, would be a great song to make a funny 6-minute video to.
I looked up the record and apparently a NM copy sold for $258 on Ebay on Christmas Day, 2012, and they regularly go for over $100. Apparently there are some hardcore, underground disco collectors who pay the big bucks. Shit, I am dumping this turd for some cash!
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