Trick Bag

Among aficionados of classic R&B, the legendary Drifters vocal group is divided into two factions -- the "old Drifters" and the "new Drifters." The "old" group is the one that was founded by Clyde McPhatter in 1953 and, with many personnel changes, ran until 1958 with tremendous success. In the spring of that year, the group's manager, George Treadwell, fired the entire group, and, because he held exclusive rights to the name, he hired a group called the Crowns and rechristened them with the Drifters name. This group, also with many personnel changes over the years, is the aggregation that fans refer to as the "new Drifters." They enjoyed a string of R&B and pop hits stretching into the mid '60s.  Of the "old" (pre summer of 1958) group, there is only one survivor -- Bobby Hendricks. I had the chance to interview Bobby in June of 2013. Being a huge Drifters fan (particularly the "old" group), it was a real thrill for me to chat with him. Other topics we discussed were his early influences, his pre-Drifters musical endeavors and his success as a solo artist. I'm happy to share my talk with Bobby Hendricks on this latest edition of Trick Bag!Your host,Neil the Night Howler-----Songs: Drifters - Drip DropDrifters - Moonlight BayDrifters - Suddenly There's a ValleyFlyers - My Only DesireSettlers (Drifters) - Sugar Plum (rare recently discovered recording)Settlers (Drifters) - Come Home (rare recently discovered recording)Bobby Hendricks - Dreamy EyesBobby Hendricks - Itchy Twitchy FeelingBobby Hendricks - I Want ThatBobby Hendricks - PsychoBobby Hendricks - Honey DripBobby Hendricks - Good Lovin'Bobby Hendricks - Let's Get It OverBill Pinkney & the Originals - The Masquerade Is OverBobby Hendricks - Go On Home GirlBobby Hendricks - A Thousand Dreams

It's an all a cappella showcase on this installment of Trick Bag. Vocal groups were a hot commodity in the '50s and '60s, but it wasn't common for record labels to release recordings without instrumental backing. Fortunately, many a cappella tracks were recorded and preserved. I've picked out some real gems to share with you on this episode.  Your Host,Neil the Night HowlerTrick Bag is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Neil Pellegrin. Produced by Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Matt Dwyer and Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Executive produced by Patrick Mitchell (EAC Productions). Artwork by Katherine Boils..------------Music in this episode:Casanovas - Night RiderDovers - Only Heaven KnowsVolumes - Miss SilhouetteNutones - Love AffairKing Crooners - School DazeRoyal Counts - Way Over ThereNutmegs - HelloEagle-Aires - Money HoneyTitans (Vitamins) - It's So Hard to Laugh, So Easy to CryJuveniles - Beat In My Heart (live on Wide Wide World TV show)Tymes - Lover's PleaAd Libs - The Boy From New York CityHollywood Flames - Roseanne of Charing CrossElegants - Little StarKripp Johnson's Versatiles (feat. Chuck Jackson) - Cold FeetDebonairs - In My MemoriesSharps - I'm Such a Lovin' ManAvalons - Love Me Now Or Let Me GoLillian Leach & the Mellows - You're GoneDappers - Good Lovin'Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles AwayMiracles - Ooo Baby Baby

It's time for Part 2 in a spotlight on Dan Penn, the great R&B songwriter who wrote hits for Aretha Franklin, James & Bobby Purify, Percy Sledge, Joe Simon, James Carr, Conway Twitty and many others. In this episode, we'll hear the biggest hits from the Dan Penn songbook and some great behind-the-scenes stories from the man himself. The depth of soul found in Dan's music combined with his down-home, charming demeanor makes this episode especially captivating and one you'll undoubtedly want to listen to more than once!Your Host,Neil the Night Howler----------Songs:James Carr - The Dark End of the StreetDan Penn - The PuppetJames & Bobby Purify - I'm Your PuppetAretha Franklin - Do Right Woman, Do Right ManBarbara Lynn - You Left the Water RunningOtis Redding - Your Left the Water Running (demo with overdubs)Janis Joplin - A Woman Left LonelyPercy Sledge - Out of Left FieldVan Broussard - Feed the FlameWarren Storm (as "Abel") - My Far Away CowThe Sweet Inspirations - Sweet InspirationClyde McPhatter - DenverDan Penn - See You In My Dreams

An Evening With Dan Penn (Part 1)This episode is Part 1 of a spotlight on one of the all-time great R&B songwriters - Dan Penn. Dan has written hundreds of songs that have been recorded by an array of artists, including Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Conway Twitty, Joe Simon, the Box Tops, Brenda Lee, James Carr, Otis Redding, Irma Thomas, Tony Joe White, Solomon Burke, Etta James and countless others. He's responsible for penning some of the greatest R&B and soul classics ever recorded.  I had the pleasure of chatting with Dan live in the studio for my radio program on WWOZ in New Orleans on April 23, 2019. I'm digging that conversation out of the archive to share with you here on Trick Bag!Your Host,Neil the Night Howler-------Songs: Dan Penn - You Don't Treat Me RightConway Twitty - Is a Blue Bird BlueJimmy Hughes - I Worship the Ground You Walk OnJimmy Hughes - It's a Good ThingIrma Thomas - Cheater ManIrma Thomas - Good Things Don't Come EasyTony Borders - Pass the WordBrenda Lee - My DreamsThe Ovations - I'm Living GoodThe Box Tops - The LetterBetty Wright - Cry Like a BabyJoe Simon - Nine Pound SteelPercy Sledge - It Tears Me Up

In the Can -- Unreleased Gems (New Orleans Edition)In this edition of Trick Bag, Neil takes you on a journey into unreleased gems recorded in New Orleans in the '50s and early '60s. The criteria for the tracks featured on this episode is that all the recordings have to have been left unissued -- or "in the can" -- for at least two decades before they were released. ------songs:Li'l Millet - Rock Around the ClockRoy Brown - I'm Convicted of LoveSmiley Lewis - Mama Don't LikeJames "Sugar Boy" Crawford - The FactsClarence "Frogman" Henry - Lady With the Hat BoxJerry Raines - Dixieland RockPee Wee Crayton - Wondering WhyShirley & Lee - The Real ThingLittle Richard - Heeby Jeebies LoveArt Neville - I'm a Fool to CareBobby Charles - Lonely StreetEarl King - Something FunnyThe Tropicals - Sweet SixteenPaul Gayten - Down BoyRichard Berry - Mad About YouCesta Ayres - That'll Get ItThe Spiders - Without LoveJerry Byrne - My Little GirlTommy Ridgley - Ding Dong SchoolSnooks Eaglin - Mama, Talk to Your DaughterTami Lynn - World of DreamsLarry Williams - Oh BabyJewel King - Go Now

I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday – A Rare Interview with Bobby Mitchell (Part 2) This episode is Part 2 of a showcase on New Orleans R&B man Bobby Mitchell, featuring a rare early '80s interview from the collection of New Orleans historian Rick Coleman. Also thanks to Coleman's archive, we'll hear interview clips from producer Dave Bartholomew, songwriter Roy Hayes and Bobby's wife, Marcie.  We'll pick things up from 1957 tonight, the year that Bobby recorded one of his all-time classics -- "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday." Featured in this installment are some real rarities, including the original demo of "Wheel" by the song's writer, Roy Hayes, as well as Bobby's last commercial recordings done for Earl Stanley's Thunder Productions -- two tracks that have never been heard by the public!------------Songs:You Always Hurt the One You LoveI Would Like to KnowRoy Hayes - I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday (demo)I'm Gonna Be a Wheel SomedayYou Better Go Home64 HoursI Love to Hold YouWell, I Done Got Over ItJust Say You Love MeSend Me Your PictureYou're Doing Me WrongMama Don't AllowI Never Knew What Hit MeI Got to Call That NumberMy Southern BelleWalking In CirclesYou Can't Resist Me, Baby (unreleased recording courtesy of Earl Stanley)A Lot of Lies (unreleased recording courtesy of Earl Stanley)

This installment of Trick Bag presents a special showcase of New Orleans soulstress Mary Jane Hooper. After releasing only a handful of singles between 1968 and 1970, this brilliantly talented vocalist (whose real name is Sena Fletcher) faded into obscurity. Her music has since garnered a dedicated following among R&B/soul collectors and much speculation has arisen about her recent whereabouts. A CD containing the material from her 45-RPMs and seven previously unreleased recordings -- all cut for New Orleans crawfish king Al Scramuzza's various record labels -- hit the market in 1997, helping to quench the lust for rare gems in the hearts of soul music devotees worldwide. This episode features a very rare 2016 interview I conducted with Mary Jane, which originally aired on my radio program on WWOZ in New Orleans. Also featured here are samples of never-before-heard recordings from Sena's personal collection! And, of course, we'll hear her classic sides as well.Trick Bag is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Neil Pellegrin. Produced by Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Matt Dwyer and Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Executive produced by Patrick Mitchell (EAC Productions). Artwork by Liz Bee. Johnny Adams - Release MeMary Jane Hooper - Harper Valley PTAMary Jane Hooper - Teach MeMary Jane Hooper - PsychedelphiaMary Jane Hooper - That's How Strong Love IsSena & Raymond Fletcher - Bill BaileySena & Raymond Fletcher - MoreSena & Raymond Fletcher - Blueberry Hill/Great Balls of Fireunreleased recording produced by Willie TeeMary Jane Hooper - Remember When

On this episode of Trick Bag, Neil digs into great male-female R&B duos of the '50s and early '60s. Some of these acts -- like Los Angeles' Gene and Eunice, New York's Mickey and Sylvia, and New Orleans' Shirley and Lee -- found success on the charts and with the concert-going public. In other cases, these duos paired up for only a handful of recordings before going their separate ways, but not without making their mark on R&B history and leaving behind great musical treasures for future generations of R&B and Rock 'n' Roll aficionados. Listen to this installment of Trick Bag for a double dose of excitement!Trick Bag is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Neil Pellegrin. Produced by Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Matt Dwyer and Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Executive produced by Patrick Mitchell (EAC Productions). Artwork by Liz Bee.Music in this episode:Ruth & Al - I'll Be the Bee   Johnnie & Joe - There Goes My Heart  Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford - Lead Me On  Gene & Eunice - Bom Bom Lulu  Sugar & Spice - Indeed I Love You Tarheel Slim & Little Ann - Lock Me In Your Heart  Bonnie & Ike Turner - My Heart Belongs to You  Charlie & Rosie - Don't Call the Wagon Paul Gayten & Annie Laurie - I'll Never Be Free  Clyde McPhatter & Ruth Brown - I Gotta Have You Ronald & Ruby - Lollipop Lavern Baker & Jimmy Ricks - You're the Boss Shirley & Lee - BabyJoe & Ann - Gee Baby  Mickey & Sylvia - BewilderedLittle Esther & Bobby Nunn - You Took My Love Too Fast   Etta & Harvey - My Heart Cries Clydie King & Mel Carter - Who Do You Love Willy & Ruth - Farewell