Musical Episode #076: Shake A Leg, An Hour of Rough and Rowdy R&B Infused 45s

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Welcome back for another Musical Episode! Today’s mix, as always, is an hour long mix of 45s with this grouping all being of the upbeat, R&B infused variety. So if you’re looking for some pep for your step, a soundtrack to a private dance party or just want to keep the energy up, this one is for you.

Two artists get a good bit of play in the mix, the first being Jerry-O someone I’ve wanted to do a long form episode on for a while but these few tracks will have to do for now. Jerry O was born in Detroit and moved to Chicago after attending college, he was a radio DJ and show promoter which makes his music make more sense for me- not dissimilar in spirit to the records fellow DJ E Rodney Jones made. His first hit featured here, Boo-Ga-Loo under the name Tom and Jerrio was recorded with member of Chicago group The Ideals, Robert Thorpe aka Tommy Dark. The track is supposedly a discarded backing track recorded by Motown’s funk brothers that Jerry-O acquired through Andre Williams. Regardless of provenance the track became the blueprint for many of Jerry’s later records which you can hear the transformation on Popcorn Boo-ga-loo, which sounds a lot like his other hit Karate Boogaloo and so on. Jerry O had records on a few other labels beyond his own Boo-Ga-Loo records but passed at an early age in the early 70s.

The other artist featured prominently here is Don Gardner as a solo artist and in his wonderful duets with Dee Dee Ford. Gardner was a singer and drummer from the Philly area who teamed up with Ford in his group The Sonotones where she replaced Richard “Groove” Holmes on keyboards. The eventually recorded a number of records as a duo outside the group having chart success with these more R&B styled numbers. They parted ways in the mid 60s with Ford having a few solo singles but effectively leaving the music industry after their partnership. Gardner continued on making some raucous singles including the absolute classic “My Baby Likes To Boogaloo” featured here. Gardner teamed up with Baby Washington (who is also featured near the end of this mix with an early single of hers) in the 70s and then moved into the business side of the industry as the 80s rolled around.

Outside of those artists there’s a bunch of other great tracks that I hope you enjoy and we’ll see you next time!

Peace,

-George / Snack Attack

Tracklist:
Mary Coleman – I’ll Make Him Mine (Yvette’s, 1965)
Don Gardner – My Baby Likes To Boogaloo (Tru-Glo-Town, 1966)
JJ Jackson – Oo-Ma-Liddi (Storm, 1961)
The Virginia Wolves – Stay (Amy, 1966)
Tom and Jerrio – Boo-Ga-Loo (ABC, 1965)
Jerry-O – Popcorn Boo-ga-loo (Boo-Ga-Loo, 1969)
Jerry O – (Funky) Four Corners (White Whale, 1968)
O.V. Wright – Working Your Game (Back Beat, 1968)
“Sweets” Reed – Knock Knees (Fantastic, 196?)
Barbara Lynn – You Can’t Buy My Love (Jamie, 1965)
Jackie Paine – Go Go Train (Jet Stream, 1966)
Fred Parris and The Restless Hearts – Heck No! (Mama Sadie, 1967)
Erma Franklin – Big Boss Man (Shout, 1967)
Don Gardner– Let’s Party (TNT, 1967)
Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – Shake A Leg, Baby (Red Top, 1963)
Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – I Need Your Lovin’ (Fire, 1962)
Donoman & The Skylarks – Do You Know (Everything ‘Bout Love) (Thunderbird, 1963)
Jeanette (Baby) Washington – Move On (Neptune, 1960)
Piano Red with Bertha Colbert – I’m Nobody’s Fool (Groove, 1956)
Tommy Tucker – All About Melanie (Checker, 1964)
King Coleman – Do The Hully Gully(Atlantic, 1961)
Ike & Tina Turner – A Fool In Love (Sue, 1960)
Daddy G and The Church Street Five – Hey Now (Legrand, 1962)
The Rays – Elevator Operator (XYZ, 1958)
The Rocky Fellers – Killer Joe (Scepter, 1963)

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