The Orioles - Jubilee 5040 (1950)

By chance, I had someone contact me about a stash of 78s found as they were cleaning out an elderly relative's house. I said I could take a look and see if anything may be collectible. This morning, he drove the records over to my house but unfortunately the original carrying case had been sitting in an inch of water for years. (They were basically Crosbys and newer Hawaiian)

After explaining that the damage made these all but worthless and unplayable, I saw a 45 stuffed in a folder which resided well above any water threat.

Sorely out of place, it was a decent copy of early Orioles on Jubilee. Not bad.

Mickey & Sylvia - Vik X-0252 (1956)

Here's my second offering from the Canadian stash...

From wikipedia...

Love is Strange was a crossover hit by American rhythm and blues duet Mickey & Sylvia, which was released in late November 1956 by the Groove record label.

The song was based on a guitar riff by Jody Williams. The co-writers of the song are of some dispute. The song has also been recorded by Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley, among others. The guitar riff was also used by Dave "Baby" Cortez in his 1962 instrumental song Rinky Dink.

At a concert at Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. Mickey & Sylvia heard Jody Williams play a guitar riff that Williams had played on Billy Stewart's debut single Billy's Blues. Billy's Blues was released as a single in June 1956 and the instrumentation combined a regular blues styling with Afro-Cuban styling.

Sylvia Robinson claims that she and Mickey Baker wrote the lyrics, while Bo Diddley claims that he wrote them.

(Sylvia later founded Sugar Hill Records and introduced the world to the Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's The Message.)

Recorded on October 17, 1956 on RCA’s Groove label.

Click here for a Ray Charles recording featuring Mickey Baker on guitar. 

Little Richard - Regency 501 (1956)

Have been in a Little Richard frame of mind for a couple of weeks now after having recently seen him in concert. Just the other day, I acted on a tip from the local record store guy and came across a nice stack of rock & roll 78s that were all pressed in Canada. It looks like they all came from one owner and that person took great care in handling them.

From wikipedia...

The recording session took place on February 10, 1956 at J&M Studio in New Orleans, the legendary studio owned by Cosimo Matassa on the corner of Rampart and Dumaine where Fats Domino and many other New Orleans luminaries recorded. "Tutti Frutti", as well as many other Little Richard sides, was also recorded there.

The backing was provided by the house top session men: Edgar Blanchard (guitar), Frank Fields (bass), Lee Allen (tenor sax), Alvin "Red" Tyler (baritone sax) and Earl Palmer (drums), plus Little Richard on vocals and piano. Blackwell was the producer.