Juke In The Back #084
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
From: Matt The Cat
Length: 00:59:01
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- Juke In The Back #084
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Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers
The "Juke In The Back" digs deep into New Orleans Rhythm & Blues this week to focus on Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers, one of the few vocal groups to come out of a city best known for its blues, jazz and cajun roots. The Spiders were the best known vocal group to come out of 1950s New Orleans, but Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers were probably more versatile in the sense that they could not only shout the blues, like Roy Brown or Wynonie Harris, but they could also harmonize like a top notch doo wop group. Bobby Mitchell is best remembered today as the cat who originally sang "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday," two years before Fats Domino would cut it, but it was his "Try Rock n' Roll" from 1956 that would be his only charting hit (reaching #14 nationally). That song capitalized on the emerging rock n' roll craze and remains a record of its time. Bobby Mitchell and The Toppers were definitely a vocal group of their time, but they are well worth checking out as Matt The Cat gives them the spotlight treatment on this week's "Juke In The Back."
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers
The "Juke In The Back" digs deep into New Orleans Rhythm & Blues this week to focus on Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers, one of the few vocal groups to come out of a city best known for its blues, jazz and cajun roots. The Spiders were the best known vocal group to come out of 1950s New Orleans, but Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers were probably more versatile in the sense that they could not only shout the blues, like Roy Brown or Wynonie Harris, but they could also harmonize like a top notch doo wop group. Bobby Mitchell is best remembered today as the cat who originally sang "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday," two years before Fats Domino would cut it, but it was his "Try Rock n' Roll" from 1956 that would be his only charting hit (reaching #14 nationally). That song capitalized on the emerging rock n' roll craze and remains a record of its time. Bobby Mitchell and The Toppers were definitely a vocal group of their time, but they are well worth checking out as Matt The Cat gives them the spotlight treatment on this week's "Juke In The Back."
Broadcast History
"Juke In The Back" airs on over 20 radio stations each week in the US and is now carried worldwide over Voice Of America's Music Mix Network.
Transcript
Juke In The Back #084 - Playlist
1. Swanee River Boogie – Albert Ammons – Mercury 1947
2. Cadillac Baby - Roy Brown – DeLuxe 1950
3. Don’t You Lie To Me - Fats Domino – Imperial 1951
4. I’m Crying – Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1953
5. Roll ‘Em Back - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1953
6. 4 – 11 – 44 - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1953
7. Baby’s Gone - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1954
8. Sister Lucy - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1954
9. School Boy Blues - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1954
10. She Couldn’t Be Found - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1954
11. Try Rock n’ Roll – Bobby Mitchell – Imperial 1956
12. No, No, No – Bobby Mitchell – Imperial 1956
13. GREAT 78 – One Friday Morning - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers – Imperial 1953
14. I’m Goin’ Around In Circles – Bobby Mitchell – Imperial 1956
15. I’m G...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:"Juke In The Back" with Matt The Cat takes a look at one of the few vocal groups to come out of the musical mecca of New Orleans; Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers.
OUTRO:For more information on the music you heard on this week's show, visit www.jukeintheback.org.
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