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frankmyoung.bsky.social
@frankmyoung.bsky.social
Moody, doomy, intense minor-key instrumentals from Bayonne, New Jersey's Invictas, via a 1964 20th Century Fox single. Surf noir that was likely to shake the merry mood of teen dancers!

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THE INVICTAS, "BREAKOUT" C/W "MISSING," 20th-CENTURY FOX 493 (REL. 5/1964)
1964 was one weird year in American music. Long-established groups and singers found themselves in limbo as European bands dominated the pop...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps warm up your Friday with some glorious rockabilly from 1956!

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Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, "Bluejean Bop" c/w "Who Slapped John," Capitol[ Germany] F 3558 (rel. summer 1956)
Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps were on fire in 1956. Their debut LP, seen above, is a curious affair. Home to several great rockers, it also...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It's a new podcast loaded wirh great records from all over the musical map. Give it a listen, won'cha?

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franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
How about some FRANTIC rockabilly? Hoo-ee! David Houston lets his hair down on a 1957 RCA-Victor scorcher, with ace guitarist Mickey Baker at his side.

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DAVID HOUSTON, "ONE AND ONLY" C/W "HACKIN' AROUND," RCA VICTOR 47-6927 (REL. 5/1957)
Today's record, released in the rock 'n' roll-friendly year of 1957, illustrates how the major labels approached this vibrant vernacular m...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The O'Jays fulfill a debt to their producer and cover both sides of a three-year-old r&b single by another less-known vocal group. Quite good, considering that scenario. An Imperial Records oddity from 1964.

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The O'Jays, "You're On Top" c/w "Lovely Dee," Imperial 66037 (rel. 6/1964)
Here's an odd one from The O'Jays. In the early to mid 1960s, they were Imperial Records' attempt at a Drifters/Impressions-type hitmaking r...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters at their best on a rockin' 1955 single for Federal Records. Two killer-dillers!

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The Midnighters, "Rock And Roll Wedding" c/w " That House On The Hill," Federal 45-12240 (rel. 11/1955)
The Midnighters were one of the most successful Black vocal groups of the 1950s and '60s. Their long residency on Federal Records began in...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Get your week off to a bluesy, rockin' start with a fab 1957 single by Annisteen Allen, with Mickey Baker on guitar. A record that worried the squares!

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Annisteen Allen, "Pardon Me" c/w "Rough Lover," Decca 9-30368 (rel. 6/1957)
Annisteen Allen is back with one of her most sought-after singles. All her 45s are on the radar of r&b DJs and us mere collectors. This wa...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Jimmy Ricks, r&b great deeeeeep bass voice, delivers a pair of soulful Chicago winners on a 1962 Fury Records 45, arranged by Horace Ott.

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Jimmy Ricks, "I Wonder" c/w "Let Me Down Easy," Fury 1070 (rel. 11/1962)
Easy winner in the "how low can you go?" vocal contest, Jimmy Ricks was a master of blues' nether regions throughout a long career that sa...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Chonky-cool lo-fi Hawaiian teen pop-rock with Robin Luke, from an island single released before Hawaii joined the US.

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Robin Luke w/The Lawrence Bros. Combo & The Uniques, "Won't You Please Be Mine" c/w "Five Minutes More," Bertram International 45-212 [Hawaii; rel. early 1959]
Among the least-viewed posts here since the relo to this site was this February item:  https://franksjookbox.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-flam...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Recorded in 1961 by singer-songwriter John D. Loudermilk--not release until 1964. A haunting, classic country song with great harmonica by Charlie McCoy.

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John D. Loudermilk, "Blue Train (Of The Heartbreak Line)" c/w "Rhythm And Bluesy," RCA Victor 47-8308 (rel. 2/1964)
Singer-songwriter John D. Loudermilk is a repeat visitor to the Jukebox. Here's one of his best singles. Recorded on April 17, 1961, its two...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The Shirelles in 1967--forgotten performers who'd been major hitmakers a few years before. Their talent hadn't decreased--just their faithful audience.

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SHIRELLES, "DON'T GO HOME (MY LITTLE DARLIN')" C/W "NOBODY BABY AFTER YOU," SCEPTER SCE-12185 (REL. 1/1967)
The Shirelles were at the end of their long tenure with Scepter Records as 1967 began. They had three more singles to go after today's rec...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The rockin' rollin' singin' swingin' Treniers with one of their great singles for Epic Records--first-stage rock 'n' roll from 1955!

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Treniers, "Day Old Bread And Canned Beans" c/w "Rock 'N' Roll Call," Epic 5-9144 (rel. 12/1955)
This was a prolific group's 18th release in the 45-rpm format; their first was in 1950, and they'd made records for the industry-standard ...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Proto-rock 'n' roll from Tennessee Ernie on a 1950 #1 country hit that his label almost didn't release.

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Tennessee Ernie, "The Shot Gun Boogie" c/w "I Ain't Gonna Let It Happen No More," Capitol F1295 (rel. 12/1950)
The roots of rock 'n' roll wound their way through popular music in the years after World War II. In wartime, a public mania for boogie-wo...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Robert Maxwell, multi-talented musician, intersected with cathode-ray visionary Ernie Kovacs for "Song of the Nairobi Trio," with a moody minor-key fantasia on the B-side for good measure. Uneasy listening for your Saturdaze!

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Robert Maxwell, His Harp & Orchestra, "Song Of The Nairobi Trio (Solfeggio)" c/w "Accidental Slip On An Oriental Rug," M-G-M K13410 (rel. 1/1957)
Like many of television's more playful figures, Ernie Kovacs used music to further his comedic ideas. The right piece of music might inspi...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:36 PM
And a daily post: early, rockin' madness from Johnny Winter, via a spring 1963 Todd Records single.

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Johnny Winter, "Road Runner" c/w "The Guy You Left Behind," Todd 45-1084 (rel. 4/1963)
Released the same month and year as myself, today's record went against the grain of tidy, controlled, precise pop music as a record of Ap...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:01 PM
A special new episode of the podcast, which begs a burning question...

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A BURNING QUESTION GUARANTEED TO SET YO' FEET ON FIRE...
...that is the question! What makes one record a Northern Soul anthem and another, which seems just as good, a big nothing? Influence. Per...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Athens, GA band Al Hartley and The Heartbeats anticipate The Ramones' sound on a goofy-weird 1964 single, released as Beatlemania blanketed America.

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Al Hartley And The Heartbeats, "Counterfeit Love" c/w "Ain't You Glad It's Summertime," Limelight Y-3027 (rel. 6/1964)
Our foray into little-known teen rock 'n' rollers concludes with an unheard 1964 effort by Athens, GA's Al Hartley and The Heartbeats. In th...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Not destined to win Frank's Jukebox many new readers, this is a fascinating, raggedy 1959 lo-fi teen harmony effort that launched the career of a successful pop songwriter, Steve Duboff.

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TOM & STEVE-THE ROUTEENS, "YOU ARE MY GIRL" C/W "YOU'RE UNFORGETTABLE," CHARM CH-102 (REL. ?/1959)
Zero information on today's single, another one-off effort that was the musical debut of Steve Duboff, beloved songwriter with a long ...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
A torrid teen vocal group rocker by the culturally ambiguous Carl Thomas and The Fitones; a real rarity, this one. From a teensy NYC indie label and released in 1959. Gritty grainy goodness!

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Carl Thomas And The Fitones, "I Love You Judy" c/w "Sweet Lovin' Maryan," O Gee 1003/1004 (rel. 12/1959)
A visit to a record store in a small Washington town accorded me the pleasure of browsing a group of records I'd never seen before. I elim...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The debut disc of Australian pop idol Normie Rowe and The Playboys--unheard outside that continent for years. A fascinating story goes with it. A Sunshine Records smash from early 1965!

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Normie Rowe And The Playboys. "It Ain't Necessarily So" c/w "Gonna Leave This Town," Sunshine (AU) QK-951 (rel. 4/1965)
Here's a record unheard by most Americans-or anyone outside of Australia. The continent had a thriving rock, pop and beat scene with most ...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Soulful Sunday brings The Other Brothers to your doorstep with a fab 1966 single for Modern Records. Two gritty, groovy, gutsy goodies in monolithic mono!

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The Other Brothers, "It's Been A Long Time Baby" c/w "Hole In The Wall," Modern 45xM 1027 (rel. 8/1966)
Modern Records was a wellspring of intense, hard-hitting Black music in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Despite its nefarious business practices...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Joe Meek and John Leyton continue the eerie vibe of Halloween on a UK chart-topper from 1961 that went unheard in America. A prime piece of eccentric, atmospheric Euro-pop.

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JOHN LEYTON, "JOHNNY REMEMBER ME" C/W "THERE MUST BE," TOP RANK INTERNATIONAL [UK] JAR-577 (rel. 8/1961)
The productions of Robert George Meek (everyone called him Joe) are a high point in 20th century pop music. Meek captured an eccentric, in...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Otto von Ottoman is guest DJ with three more spooky specials for your Halloween hit-parade. Bonus motion picture fun as well! Howl-o-ween, people!

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YOUR LUNACY TUNES AND MORBID MELODIES: SPOOKY JUKEBOX 2025 W/OTTO VON OTTOMAN!
You'll forgive me if I seem a bit...agitated. Heh. It is a very special day...a very special night. Oh, I've forgotten. It is I, Otto von ...
franksjookbox.blogspot.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM