Episode #101 - Lavern Baker & R&B Baseball Songs
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Length: 59:04
Early Lavern Baker & R&B Baseball Songs
This week, "The Juke In The Back" looks at how one of R&B's greatest voices, Lavern Baker, got her start. Matt The Cat collects ALL of Baker's early records together in one place. From her first recordings with the Eddie "Sugarman" Penigar Orch to her breakthrough sides with The Todd Rhodes Orch and all the records in-between. You can really hear how Baker's sound evolved between 1949 and 1953. Her true breakthrough wouldn't come until "Tweedlee Dee" became a huge R&B and pop hit in 1955.
Plus, in our "Harlem Hit Parade," celebrate America's National Pastime with a collection of R&B baseball songs. Soon after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and Larry Doby went to the Indians, blues and rhythm artists started singing about a game that could now be enjoyed by everybody.
"The Juke In The Back" features the underground R&B music that directly influenced the birth of rock n' roll, but is seldom heard or respected on the radio.
Grab a nickel and dig on "The Juke In The Back."
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Early Lavern Baker & R&B Baseball Songs
This week, "The Juke In The Back" looks at how one of R&B's greatest voices, Lavern Baker, got her start. Matt The Cat collects ALL of Baker's early records together in one place. From her first recordings with the Eddie "Sugarman" Penigar Orch to her breakthrough sides with The Todd Rhodes Orch and all the records in-between. You can really hear how Baker's sound evolved between 1949 and 1953. Her true breakthrough wouldn't come until "Tweedlee Dee" became a huge R&B and pop hit in 1955.
Plus, in our "Harlem Hit Parade," celebrate America's National Pastime with a collection of R&B baseball songs. Soon after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and Larry Doby went to the Indians, blues and rhythm artists started singing about a game that could now be enjoyed by everybody.
"The Juke In The Back" features the underground R&B music that directly influenced the birth of rock n' roll, but is seldom heard or respected on the radio.
Grab a nickel and dig on "The 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 #101 - Playlist
1. Swanee River Boogie – Albert Ammons – Mercury 1947
2. I Wonder Baby – Eddie “Sugarman” Penigar Orch – RCA 1949
3. Easy Baby – Eddie “Sugarman” Penigar Orch – RCA 1949
4. I’ve Tried – Little Miss Sharecropper – National 1951
5. How Long – Little Miss Sharecropper - National 1951
6. I Want To Rock – Little Miss Sharecropper – National 1951
7. Take Out Some Time – Little Miss Sharecropper – National 1951
8. Good Daddy – Maurice King & His Wolverines – Columbia 1951
9. I Want A Lavender Cadillac – Maurice King & His Wolverines – Okeh 1951
10. Make It Good – Maurice King & His Wolverines – Okeh 1951
11. Trying – Todd Rhodes Orch. – King 1952
12. Pig Latin Blues – Todd Rhodes Orch – King 1952
13. Must I Cry Again – Todd Rhodes Orch – King 1952
14 GREAT 78 – My Pinch Hitter – Buddy Lucas – Groove 1954
15. Lost Child – Todd Rhodes Orch – King 1953
16. Ro...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:The Juke is jumpin' with all of Lavern Baker's earliest tunes from 1949-1953 as well as some rhythm & blues baseball tunes.
OUTRO:For more information on the music you heard on today's program, visit www.jukeintheback.org.
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