Stories Of London

I remember that the event occurred one particular Saturday afternoon while I was walking along The Waste (Whitechapel Street Market), which is a shopping strip opposite The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. 

The Erstwhile Main Facade of The Royal London Hospital
The old Hospital building was purchased by Tower Hamlets Council, and is now
the Tower Hamlets Town Hall

The Waste Today

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I can not say if I was going anywhere special or meeting any particular group of friends. However, about halfway along the market just in front of the Whitechapel Underground Station close to where Joseph Merrick (1862-1890) once lived. Here I was greeted by a sound that was new to me and was to have a profound effect on me. I remember that this sound caused me to stop in my tracks and was to help broaden my musical taste. To me, hearing this music was a  SEISMIC event since it held opened a door to a whole new world!

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The event took place on a Saturday afternoon while I was walking past Paul’s Record Stall. I remember coming to a sudden stop, as if frozen to the spot, when I heard a different kind of music!

A Modern Example of a Market Record Stall

Where Paul’s Stall once stood – directly opposite the Hospital

Paul always had music playing on an old record player in the hope of attracting customers. What I later learned was that the music that had such a pronounced effect on me was a classic example of Rhythm ‘n’ Blues (R ‘n’ B; R&B) or Jump Blues and that the artist was Louis Jordan (1908-1975).

Louis Jordan

When the tune was finished, I asked Paul about the song.  Paul was a kind fellow and did not mind at all explaining what he knew to customers including small boys like me. I asked him to keep the record for me and that I would return with the money to buy it. Once home I broke open my Moneybox and counted out my precious saved pennies and hotfooted it back to Paul’s stall to collect my purchase.

It did not take me long to learn the words of the song and on the following Monday morning, back at school, I remember that I was happily walking down the corridor and singing it to my friends when, in mid song, I was stopped by a teacher who was horrified! Apparently, she was not disturbed by my singing, but from the words used! I was taken to see the Headmaster where the scolding continued. My parents were informed and asked to attend a meeting at the school. And following the complaint and discussions, I was punished for employing bad English grammar!

And the name of the offensive song that proved so painful and distressing to the teacher’s ear? It was the simple little ditty ……. Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?!

Louis Jordan – Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?

This song led me to other songs by Louis Jordan and readied me for the sudden eruption of Rock ‘n’ Roll that was about to be unleased with a mammoth explosion onto the world!

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THE BBC
EARLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

I remember hanging around record shops and Paul’s Stall in the hope of hearing more of the genre. But this was not satisfactory. The major source of Rock ‘n’ Roll at this time were the snippets on the English Station of Radio Luxembourg – 208 on the dial! Radio Luxembourg was a commercial radio station, and at this time, record companies bought air time and packed as many PARTS of tunes into their allotted times. Although this was not especially satisfactory to listeners such as me, it was better than nothing and I would be glued to the radio each evening between 8 P.M. and 11.30 P.M. while I did my School Homework.

I preferred the programmes sponsored by The Decca Record Company, as these introduced me to tunes released on the London American label. This label was used by the multitude of small Independent Record Companies in the US to bring their tunes to the public. Thanks to them, I was able to hear the music of Fats Domino (1928-2017), which, I am convinced Casanova/Puppy enjoyed!

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Sadly, at this time, the buying of new records was not within my grasp. New records cost too much money for me. However, luckily for me, I discovered some stalls on Brick Lane at the Sunday Market where ex-Juke Box records were sold cheaply. I used to go Down The Lane almost every Sunday after that, and on most visits, I found a few gems!

Bill Haley & The Comets – Rock Around The Clock
The first record that I bought ‘Down The Lane’

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I will always be grateful to these businesses ‘Down The Lane’, as it was here that my record collecting days really began.

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My hours of listening to Radio Luxemburg each night began to dwindle as my homework load increased and my musical tastes expanded with its eventual ceasing by mid-1961. I remember the last song that I heard on the station. Aptly it was the latest release by my favourite performer, Fats Domino, and was entitled It Keeps Raining.

Fats Domino – It Keeps Raining – Recorded in December 1960
Written by Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew (1918-2019) & Bobby Charles (1938-2010)

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A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE

A few years ago, I retired from working. At first I traveled a lot, which proved enjoyable. Once I decided to open a website, I began listening to a lot of music that I had not heard in a number of years. This led to a number of surprises, as I re-discovered some gems. I soon learned that I still enjoyed EARLY Rock ‘n’ Roll.

 And what do I mean by EARLY? This is music of the genre up to 1958 with the occasional gem there after. Much of this music is simple, but the music was meant to be enjoyed on a simple level, but it brought great pleasure to millions, and still does today. The following examples will illustrate the point:

Little Richard (1932-2020) – Lucille

Fats Domino (1928-2017) – I’m in Love Again

Gene Vincent (1935-1971) – Bebop-a-Lula

Elvis Presley (1935-1977) – Heartbreak Hotel

Bill Haley (1925-1981) & The Comets – R-O-C-K

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The Early Giants of Rock ‘n’ Roll

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EARLY BRITISH ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

The reader might wonder why I have not mentioned any British Rock ‘n’ Roll Artists or the Skiffle craze, which reached it height during the 1950s and early 1960s.

I have not mentioned British Rock ‘n’ Roll Artists since I did not enjoy their music – sorry fans! It wasn’t until the advent of Cliff Richard (1940), Johnny Kidd (1935-1966) & The Pirates and The Beatles that my ears pricked up a little. I do have to admit that although I enjoyed The Beatles when they performed their original music, I was never a fan of their covers of early Rock ‘n’ Roll classics.

However, it is my humble opinion that Move it (released in 1958 by Cliff Richard & The Drifters – later The Shadows) and Shakin’ All Over (released in 1960 by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates) are the best Rock ‘n’ Roll tunes to have come out of the U.K. during this epoch.

Cliff Richard & The Drifters/Shadows – Move It – Written by Ian Samwell (1937-2003)

Johnny Kidd & The Pirates – Shakin’ All Over – Written by Johnny Kidd

Left: Cliff Richard & The Drifters/Shadows; Right: Johnny Kidd & The Pirates

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SKIFFLE

Again I must apologise! This time it is to fans of Skiffle Music since I have admit that I never really enjoyed it! Actually, and to be fair to the genre, it was the most successful exponent of the music, Lonnie Donegan (1931-2002), that I did not like, except perhaps for for the odd tune or two by him.

But first, for those that do not know what Skiffle is, according to Wikipedia, ….. It is a genre that blends elements of American folk, blues, jazz and country, that is characterised by its use of simple, often homemade or improvised instruments. Originating in the American South, it gained popularity in Britain in the mid-1950s, becoming a significant influence on the development of British rock and pop music.

Artists that played in this style were Lonnie Donegan (1931-2002), the Vipers Skiffle Group (1955-1960), Ken Colyer (1928-1988) and Chas McDevitt (1934).

Top Left: The Vipers Skiffle Group; Bottom Left: Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group;
Right: Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group with Nancy Whiskey (1935-2003)

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I saw Lonnie Donegan on stage on two occasions. He was immensely popular with the audiences, but I could not enjoy his music too much as I found him unpleasantly sarcastic at times. Still, each to his own! However, I did like one particular song of his, Rock My Soul, since my girl friend at the time liked us to dance to it!

Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group – Rock My Soul – Recorded in 1958
Traditional with new words and music by Winfred O. Hoyle & Lonnie Donegan 

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I actually liked The Vipers Skiffle Group although they only recorded a few songs. I preferred their harsher rasping sounds to that of other Skiffle Groups. Lonnie Donegan used their arrangements when both he and The Vipers independently recorded the same songs and gained more success (i.e., Don’t you Rock me Daddy-O & Cumberland Gap). Sadly the Group disbanded by 1960.

The Vipers Skiffle Group – Don’t You Rock Me Daddy-O – Recorded in 1957
Written by Bill Varley & Wally Whyton,(1929-1997) both members of The Vipers Skiffle Group

This recording was produced by George Martin (1926-2016)

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I remember hearing the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group with Nancy Whiskey one evening on Radio Luxembourg. They had entered a Talent Show and won with this tune which was written by Elizabeth Cotton (1893-1987).

Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group with Nancy Whiskey – Freight Train

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