Classic Tracks: Mama (Lefty Frizzell)

Album: Mom and Dad’s Waltz, Harmony HS-11219; Recorded: 1967, Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville; Producer: Don Law & Frank Jones; Session Personnel: Unknown Lefty Frizzell (born 3/31/1928) was a honky-tonk singer, who set the style for generations of vocalists that followed him. Frizzell smoothed out the rough edges of honky-tonk, giving it a contemporary sound. Lefty began singing professionally as a teenager, landing a spot on KELD in El Dorado, Arkansas. He spent his teenage years singing on radio programs, in nightclubs, for dances, and in talent contests. By 1950, he had landed a gig at the Texas club Ace of Clubs. Lefty came to the attention of Jim Beck, the owner of a recording studio, making landmark recordings in Dallas. Beck had many connections within the publishing industry. Jim built all of his equipment from scratch and was leading the way for the recording industry at the time. Impressed with Frizzell’s performance, he arranged a demo session for Lefty (4/1950). Frizzell cut several original songs, including, “If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time,” which Beck took to Nashville and tried to pitch the song to Little Jimmy Dickens, but Dickens declined it. Columbia record producer Don Law heard Lefty perform on stage and signed him to a Columbia contract (1950). Lefty’s debut single, “If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time” shot to the top of the chart and Lefty followed-up with “I Love You a Thousand Ways. Frizzell was working with a core group …

Shirley Ellis (born Shirley Marie Elliston, circa 1941, The Bronx, New York) is a soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin.[1] She is best known for her novelty hits “The Nitty Gritty” (1963) (US #8), “The Name Game” (1965) (US #3) and “The Clapping Song” (1965) (US #8). By 1954 she had written two songs which were recorded by The Chords.[1] Ellis was originally in the group, The Metronomes, and she went on to marry the lead singer, Alphonso Elliston. All her solo hits were written by her and her manager, record producer, and songwriting partner, Lincoln Chase. Ellis had recording contracts with the Kapp Records subsidiary, Congress, and later Columbia and Bell Records, but retired from the music industry in 1968. Albums 1964: Shirley Ellis in Action 1965: The Name Game 1967: Sugar, Let’s Shing a Ling 1995: The Very Best of Shirley Ellis 2001: The Complete Congress Recordings Singles 1963: “The Nitty Gritty” – US Pop #8, US R&B #4 1964: “(That’s) What the Nitty Gritty Is” – US Pop #72, US R&B #14 1964: “The Name Game” – US Pop #3, US R&B #4 1965: “The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)” – US Pop #8, US R&B #16, UK #6 1965: “The Puzzle Song (A Puzzle In Song)” – US Pop #78 1967: “Soul Time” – US Pop #67, US R&B #31 1978: “The Clapping Song” – UK #59 Artist – Sirley Ellis Song – Nitty Gritty (Lyrics) Yeah, mmm, yeah Do you know that some folks know about it, some don’t Some will learn to shout it, some won’t But sooner or later baby, here’s a ditty Say you’re …