Howdy, Vern!
This here's your old buddy,
Ernest P. Worrell.
Hey, I got one for ya, Vern.
Ever hear the one about
the farmer's daughter
and the octopus?
the farmer's daughter
and the octopus?
Know somethin' Vern, life's full of
tough decisions, like which drink'll
do the trick when you wanna wet
your whistle. If you said PBR, then
you're my kinda guy and I'll save
you a stool down at Kenny's.
If you said sparklin' water...
If you said sparklin' water...
you ain't from around here.
But when it comes to pickin' a sodie pop to sip on a summer day when I'm hangin' on a ladder in the blazin' hot sun watchin' you shingle your roof... it's old Yeller for me.
That's right, Vern. Meller Yeller sure does hit the spot.
It quenches your thirst and brings out the
flavor of your chewin' tobacca.
flavor of your chewin' tobacca.
Guess what, Vern? While I'm busy sippin and supervisin',
I thought you and me could listen to a stack of grade A
rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll records. Sound like a plan?
Okay, Vern, the first platter's on the turntable so get ready
to tap your toes and whistle while you work, good buddy!
to tap your toes and whistle while you work, good buddy!
JETT POWERS
At the top of my play list is a cool cat you know as P.J. Proby, but here's somethin'
you might not know. Way back when he was just startin' out, P.J. made records
usin' the name Jett Powers. By the way, Vern, this Houston boy is also an
actor. He played Elvis the Pelvis and Roy Orbison in musical theater.
Now let's have a listen to the second Jett Powers single released
in the fall of 1959, a song written by Maybelle Jackson.
It's a doozie of a disc called "Loud Perfume."
you might not know. Way back when he was just startin' out, P.J. made records
usin' the name Jett Powers. By the way, Vern, this Houston boy is also an
actor. He played Elvis the Pelvis and Roy Orbison in musical theater.
Now let's have a listen to the second Jett Powers single released
in the fall of 1959, a song written by Maybelle Jackson.
It's a doozie of a disc called "Loud Perfume."
"Loud Perfume" - Jett Powers
(Sept. 1959, uncharted)
(Sept. 1959, uncharted)
DENNIS HERROLD
Born in ole Virginnie, Rockabilly musician Dennis Herrold was livin' in Dallas
in the late 50s when he landed a recording contract and waxed four songs
written by his friend Dub Dickerson. Dub's the dude who, along with
Herrold's wife, wrote Ricky Nelson's big hit "Stood Up." Of the
four songs Dennis Herrold laid down in a single recording
session in the fall of '57, only two hit the street - issued
back-to-back on the same 45. Here's the rockin' A side
of that Dennis Herrold platter-- "Hip Hip Baby!"
in the late 50s when he landed a recording contract and waxed four songs
written by his friend Dub Dickerson. Dub's the dude who, along with
Herrold's wife, wrote Ricky Nelson's big hit "Stood Up." Of the
four songs Dennis Herrold laid down in a single recording
session in the fall of '57, only two hit the street - issued
back-to-back on the same 45. Here's the rockin' A side
of that Dennis Herrold platter-- "Hip Hip Baby!"
"Hip Hip Baby" - Dennis Herrold
(Dec. 1957/Jan. 1958, uncharted)
JOHNNY RIVERS
Hey Vern, ever been to the Whisky A Go-Go? I ain't talkin' 'bout the rotgut
you drink at Kenny's that makes you run to the little boys' room. I mean
the nightclub in Hollywood where my buddy Johnny Rivers performs.
Here's a nifty number Johnny recorded live at the Whisky, a go-go
style cover of "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," a song written
and waxed by Chuck Berry in 1956. Heeeeer's Johnny!
you drink at Kenny's that makes you run to the little boys' room. I mean
the nightclub in Hollywood where my buddy Johnny Rivers performs.
Here's a nifty number Johnny recorded live at the Whisky, a go-go
style cover of "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," a song written
and waxed by Chuck Berry in 1956. Heeeeer's Johnny!
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" - Johnny Rivers
(from 1964 album Johnny Rivers At The Whisky À Go-Go)
THE EVERLY BROTHERS
Next we have those those singin', guitar pickin' brothers, Phil and Don,
the Everlys. These boys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as
the Country Music Hall of Fame. They influenced everybody from the
Beatles on down with their country style rock 'n' roll. Here are the
Everly Brothers performing their first big hit, "Bye Bye Love,"
a 1957 single that wound up on Rolling Stone's list
of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
the Everlys. These boys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as
the Country Music Hall of Fame. They influenced everybody from the
Beatles on down with their country style rock 'n' roll. Here are the
Everly Brothers performing their first big hit, "Bye Bye Love,"
a 1957 single that wound up on Rolling Stone's list
of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
"Bye Bye Love" - The Everly Brothers
(July 1957, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100,
#1 Cash Box/#1 Country)
RICKY NELSON
Now here's my boy Ricky Nelson with a song from his third
studio album Ricky Sings Again. In this scene from his family's
television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,
Ricky rocks the house with "You Tear Me Up."
studio album Ricky Sings Again. In this scene from his family's
television show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,
Ricky rocks the house with "You Tear Me Up."
"You Tear Me Up" - Ricky Nelson
(from Jan. 1959 album Ricky Sings Again)
EDDIE COCHRAN
Eddie Cochran was an innovative and influential rock 'n' roll singer and guitar
player who wrote his own songs. In September '59 the future Rock and Roll
Hall of Famer brushed the top 20 in Britain with "Somethin' Else." Eddie
and his brother Bob penned the song along with Eddie's girlfriend,
songwriter Sharon Sheeley. When she was only eighteen, Sharon
wrote Ricky Nelson's first #1 charting smash "Poor Little Fool,"
making her the youngest woman to write a chart-topping
U.S. hit. Here now is Eddie C. delighting the teens on
Dick Clark's Beech-Nut Show with "Somethin' Else!"
player who wrote his own songs. In September '59 the future Rock and Roll
Hall of Famer brushed the top 20 in Britain with "Somethin' Else." Eddie
and his brother Bob penned the song along with Eddie's girlfriend,
songwriter Sharon Sheeley. When she was only eighteen, Sharon
wrote Ricky Nelson's first #1 charting smash "Poor Little Fool,"
making her the youngest woman to write a chart-topping
U.S. hit. Here now is Eddie C. delighting the teens on
Dick Clark's Beech-Nut Show with "Somethin' Else!"
"Somethin' Else" - Eddie Cochran
(Sept. 1959, highest chart pos. #58 Hot 100/#22 UK,
perf. on Dick Clark's Beech-Nut Show)
perf. on Dick Clark's Beech-Nut Show)
NARVEL FELTS
Now let's wrap up the show with an Arkansas fella, a good old boy
by the name of Narvel Felts, known to fans as "Narvel the Marvel."
In the late 50s, Narvel rocked-a-billygoat with the best of 'em,
but couldn't get a hit. Narvel's luck changed in the 70s when
he found fame as a country artist. Let's trace Narvel's
rockabilly roots all the way back to 1957 and listen
to a single he released that year, "Cry, Baby, Cry."
by the name of Narvel Felts, known to fans as "Narvel the Marvel."
In the late 50s, Narvel rocked-a-billygoat with the best of 'em,
but couldn't get a hit. Narvel's luck changed in the 70s when
he found fame as a country artist. Let's trace Narvel's
rockabilly roots all the way back to 1957 and listen
to a single he released that year, "Cry, Baby, Cry."
"Cry, Baby, Cry" - Narvel Felts
(Sept. 1957, uncharted)
Hey, guess what, Vern...
I need to skedaddle for now... but stay put.
I'll be back real soon with another batch of tunes
for your high school hop and your heartland hoedown.
Till then don't take any wooden nickels
and don't do anything I wouldn't do.
Know what I mean, Vern?
