PAUL VIDAL AND THE BIG V JAMBOREE PRESENT THE CREST RECORDS STORY

We all agree with the fact that independent labels have always been the creative force behind Rock & Roll : well, with this CD release from 1999, RockStar Records spotlighted one such record company called Crest Records, whose offices were located at 9109 Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, California and whose first releases appeared in 1955. Above is a picture of 9109 Sunset as it was in 2009, courtesy of J. C. Guillosson (in 1987, when my wife & I went to the States for the first time, it was a printing center ; in 2014, when we returned there, it was still a beauty salon). No more music but the myth is still in the air.

RockStar had issued three compilation LPs of Crest material in the past, all deleted : 'The Best Of Crest-Vol.1' (RSR LP 1002), 'The Best Of Crest-Vol.2' (#1003) and 'Spotlight On Crest Records' (#1011). They tried to cull the best sides from those albums for their CD (RSRCD 017), which served as the basis for the following story which, in turn, provided some previously unknown info and photos for Bear Family's own overview of the label in their 'That'll Flat Git It' series (BCD 17564), issued in 2018.

An offshoot of the famous American Music publishing firm, Crest Records recorded a long list of artists in a wide variety of styles and were more of a pop label, similar to Liberty Records for instance. In fact, another major similarity between those two labels lies in Eddie Cochran's involvement. Eddie had been signed to American Music as a songwriter by Sylvester Cross and cut his first solo record there, in July 1956 : 'Skinny Jim' (Crest 1026) is one of the highlights on this compilation. It was legally reissued for the first time in its original undubbed form, with 'Half Loved' on the flip, by RockStar on a 1979 single (RSR SP 3002). It has become the most desirable '45 on the label, fetching well upwards of $500 now. However, it has never surfaced on red wax ; if it ever does, it will noticeably increase its value among collectors. As you can see from the pictures of my own collection on the left, the early Crest singles (roughly from #1000 to 1040) sported a purple label, and many of them were pressed on black wax for the commercial releases and on red wax for promo/DJ copies. Sometime around #1040, the labels became blue for regular releases while promotional copies were usually on a white label, except for a few which were on the blue label with the mention 'not for sale' on the right side of the disc (see #1041). The Crest logo and the lettering also experienced a few changes along the way. As far as I know, the matrix numbers were always etched - not stamped - in the dead wax.

Vintage rock and roll and rockabilly numbers abound and are featured on the first half of that 79-minute disc. At the same session as Eddie's, a certain 'Bo' Davis cut two wild sides with Cochran on lead guitar, Connie 'Guybo' Smith on upright bass and black drummer, Jesse Sailes, a veteran player who had backed up Joe Turner, Jay Mc Shann and Ike Carpenter among others : 'Let's Coast Awhile' (#1027) has been selected here. The other, 'Drowning All My Sorrows', should have been included too because rockabilly cannot get any better. Of course, both Davis tracks previously appeared on a number of Rockstar EPs, LPs and CDs. The big discovery is that Bo Davis was NOT Hank Cochran in disguise but local singer, Gene Davis, who later went on to cut more good rockers like 'Curfew' (R-Dell 107, backed with 'No Rockin' & Rollin' incidentally !) and 'I've Had It, I'm Through' (Rosco 404). He also had 'Facts Of Life' b/w 'My Only Prayer' on Challenge 59091.
The completely zany but superlative Tom Reeves single (#1029) may have been cut at that same Cochran-Davis split session. 'Primitive Love', with its sound & vocal effects, plucked guitar backing and maraccas beat, is one of the few novelty records you can't tire of. Its flip, 'Baby, I'm A Lonesome Cowboy', with slap bass, piano and maraccas but minus the vocal effects, was just as good. It appeared on both RSR LP 1002 and RSR LP 1011. It greatly intrigued us to learn that this very record was later found in Eddie's personal collection although his possible participation has never been confirmed.

Tom Tall cut a number of '45s on the Fabor, Abbott (all reissued by Bear Family years ago) and Sage labels before the two he had on Crest. He was deeply influenced by his good friend, Eddie Cochran. When I met him in Las Vegas in 1993, he told me that he used to play a Gretsch guitar, the same as Eddie's. His 'Stack-A-Records' (#1038), with Tom himself on lead guitar, is an undisputed classic as well as a fitting opener for the CD. Again, Tom's original first Crest '45, with 'Mary Jo' on the flip, had been legally reissued for the first time by RockStar in 1979 (RSR SP 3003). You probably guessed it : 'Mary Jo' was Tom's girlfriend at the time of the record, in 1957. As you can see from the photo at right, taken in Las Vegas in '93 by my wife, the years had been good to Tom : he looked fabulous. Another gem is Hank Sanders' wonderful slapper, 'Been Gone A Long Time' (#1039), an old Tommy Scott song later revived with gusto by Mac Curtis (Rollin' Rock LP 007). Its flip, a steady bopper titled 'How Much-How Much (I Love You)' and written by Hank himself, had been included on RSR LP 1002.

Norm Skylar's 'Rock'n'Roll Blues' (#1044) is another sought-after item on this label - and has no connection with any other such titled song. Following a 'Shortnin' Bread'-type intro, it rocks strongly until the end over a guitar/tinkling piano/slap bass backing. The original B-side, 'Night Shift', another rocker and yet another Norm Skylar composition, displayed clever changes in tempo ; it was featured on RSR LP 1003 while 'Rock'n'Roll Blues' graced both RSR LP 1002 and RSR LP 1011. Norm Rousey, who turned 83 in August 2011 and was living in Palmer, Alaska, gave me the following info : 'I was born in Pomeroy, Ohio. The name 'Skylar' came from my middle name,'Schuyler'. Crest Records happened when I was working on my Masters Degree in Administration at University of Southern California. I did no more recording after Crest. Yes, I remember Dale Fitzsimmons. In fact, he played the piano on the recordings. I spent the next 30 years in the field of Education and am now retired. I have a son, Norman D., and he has been playing and writing some songs just for his own enjoyment and has talked me into playing with him sometimes and singing, but I am VERY rusty ! Oh, yes, the record passed the promo stage.' In june 2014, his wife of 55 years, Katie, informed me that Norm passed away on January 17th of that year from complications following surgery : 'He was a very loved man and his celebration of life was filled with almost 300 people who loved and respected him. Former students and friends had great things to say of him. Our local paper had a huge article on him and his life and also an editorial of all his accomplishments which included his record. Also an obituary we added in the local and Anchorage paper. Even with that coverage, there were so many awards and he had received over the years that they could not possibly all be listed. He was such a humble man that many of his certificates of achievements had been filed away in his file cabinet never to be seen hanging on the wall or taken out to brag about'.
More recently, in 2019, Katie kindly sent me a copy of the local newspaper, Frontiersman, which carried a moving tribute to Norm at the time of his death who is remembered by all as 'a humble man who was kind and smiling, a well-educated gentleman who was an excellent athlete, teacher and administrator'. Norm also played guitar and piano. I am honored to include, exclusive to my site, the beautiful photo of Norm during his days at Crest that Katie shared with me.
Curiously, Marty Cooper's hard to find 'Can't Walk'Em Off' (#1043), with Rene Hall on guitar and Plas Johnson on sax, was omitted ; it truly deserves inclusion on any Crest retrospective. You can hear it on RSR LP 1003.

Glen Garrison had a long career ; one may remember his two Country albums on Imperial in the latter part of the '60s. However, his debut single was on Crest. The hard rocking 'Lovin' Lorene' (#1047) is the real deal : double-tracked vocal, a hammerin' piano solo followed by a harsh guitar break, it's all here ! The flip, the bluesy 'You're My Darlin', features a stinging guitar intro and more nice piano in the background. It appeared on RSR LP 1003 ; in the liner notes, Stu Colman was right to point out that it sounded more like a competent demo rather than a finished recording. Bobby & Terry Caraway's 'Ballin' Keen' (#1065) is great rockabilly, with both Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash influences. The original flip, 'Sweet Lies', was pure Everly Brothers, down to the tremoloed guitar solo. It was on RSR LP 1002. Serious collectors know that 'Ballin' Keen' was nicely covered by Sandy Lee on the Santa Fe label (#104).
Tony Casanova had a good cut in 'Yea! Yea! Come Another Day' (#1053), a noisy '58 rocker with wild vocal and growlin' guitar. He then recorded more good stuff for Dore (#535, 'Showdown b/w 'Boogie Woogie Feeling'). His real name was Jutilio Perez ; he was a Chicano, just like Ritchie Valens. Always in the rocking category, let's not forget Frank & Ernie's frantic 'Spotlight' (#1056). But why on earth didn't they include Buddy Lowe's sax/piano backed 'Ummm, Kiss Me Goodnight' (#1049) ? It was on RSR LP 1002 while its original teen ballad flip, 'Loie', was on RSR LP 1003 (under the title 'Lori'). Lowe went on to record a superb double sider for Imperial (#5680), coupling a very nice ballad, 'A Teenager Feels It Too', with a splendid rocker, 'It Happened To Me'. Long thought to feature Eddie Cochran on lead guitar, it didn't : the songs had been cut on June 22, 1960, more than two months after Eddie's tragic death. Says Buddy Lowe's son : 'It actually sounds like my Dad's style. He was a very good guitar player. That man had a huge amount of talent'. Buddy Lowe had another exciting release, 'Sherry Lee', on the Ensign imprint (#4037).
'It Happened To Me' was nevertheless included in the 1988 Eddie Cochran Box Set (CD ECB1), and in stunning stereo sound. It simply goes to show the enormous influence Cochran exerted on most rock'n'roll guitarists from the West Coast in the late '50s and early '60s, surfers and hot rodders included.

While trying to cash in on rock and roll, label owner Sylvester Cross released a bunch of urban blues and vocal group records by the likes of Freddi & Al ('Love On The Loose', #1015, retitled 'Love Bug On The Loose' here), The Chromatics ('Wild Man Wild!', #1011, backed up by Hal Jackson's Tornadoes - the title says it all but the flip, 'Devil Blues', was every bit as good), The Ebb-Tones (a cover of Merle Travis' 'That's All', #1016 - coupled with 'I Want You Only', it was their best Crest '45 although 'Baby', Crest #1024, with its bluesy harmonica intro, should be included if a second volume appears one day) and the legendary Oklahoma-born Kent Harris who appears here under the name Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew. His two Crest '45s are included. The first, 'Talk About A Party' c/w 'Big Fat Lie' (#1014), was in a jumping Louis Jordan vein ; the second (#1030) coupled two hilarious talking blues tracks : 'Clothes Line' (later reworked by Leiber & Stoller for the Coasters as 'Shoppin' For Clothes') and 'Cops And Robbers' which Bo Diddley immediately covered in 1956 (Checker 850). Dimples Harris, who had a fabulous R'n'B outing with vocal group backing on Crest ('This I Do Believe', #1013, never reissued so far), was one of Kent Harris's sisters (another, Betty, married Red Foxx and yet a third one, Beverly, joined The Platters. My thanks to Steve Propes for setting the record straight). Kent Harris went on to produce some tasty soul recordings in the 60's, notably those of Ty Karim on Romark. Another important figure in that field was Prince Patridge whose 'Get Back' (#1009) has been resurrected here ; he also did 'Don't Talk Back To Me' (#1022) and had the original of 'How Come My Dog Don't Bark' (#1006), magnificently covered by Roscoe Scully (#1077) over a sharp guitar-based arrangement (the guitar being mixed much more 'upfront' on this CD than on the original '45). Prince Patridge had one of the last known releases on the label (#1114, a reissue of two early cuts including 'How Come...'). He also recorded for other labels, notably Challenge, but this will be discussed elsewhere on this very site.

Most of the poppier artists have been avoided - and quite rightly so, because there was a fair amount of lesser stuff in the label's catalogue - but mention should be made of Jack Lewis, Lynn Marshall and Ray Stanley who all contributed decently to the label during its first few years, and usually thanks to Eddie Cochran's involvement. Their best sides had already been reproduced by RockStar on a variety of singles, EPs, LPs and CDs, therefore I'll run special pieces on each of these artists in my 'Eddie Cochran's Back Up Sessions' pages - with related accompanying label shots. That said, Jack Lewis's 'I. O. U.' (Crest 1033) should be a staple of any Crest retrospective. As for Ray Stanley, whom I met and exclusively interviewed in 1987, he played piano on numerous early Crest sessions (including 'Skinny Jim') but went on to become a much more important writer and producer than one might think. Tommy Dee's tribute to Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens does appear : 'Three Stars' (#1057), sung with Carol Kay and The Teen-Aires. Young Carol Kay was already an in-demand session musician when she cut this record and a couple of others under her name (she played mandolin, banjo and all guitars, including the 6-string Danelectro bass). She later switched to bass guitar for good and became ubiquitous in L.A. recording studios. Eddie Cochran's version of 'Three Stars' was shelved for several years, appearing for the first time on a (now pretty scarce) 1966 UK single (Liberty LIB 10249). The biggest hit on Crest came in 1961 with a pop-country crossover song : 'You're The Reason' (#1075) by Bobby Edwards, with vocal accompaniment by The Four Young Men. This pleasant, slightly Buddy Holly-flavored item, part written by Terry Fell who himself had one minor Crest release, reached #11 in late '61. It was originally coupled with 'I'm A Fool For Loving You', available on RSR LP 1002. As for The Four Young Men, they had three Crest singles in their own right - teen ballads on the first, #1076, and sounding like The 4 Seasons on the second, #1083. Their best effort, the uptempo 'Don't Be Bashful Little Girl' (#1109, from 1962), is presented here. Some collectors may recall a bootleg LP on Rave On Records (#5001) that made the rounds in 1977 ; several Four Young Men tracks were included with the mention 'Eddie Cochran, lead guitar' : of course, it was only hype !

A few country sides had been cut in 1955-56, notably 'Can You Bop' by Tom 'Red' Wilson & His Country Music (#1007), which more than likely features the legendary Speedy West on steel guitar performing wailing riffs resembling those on his Capitol side, 'Pushin' The Blues' (although Speedy didn't remember either the song or the artist when I interviewed him in 1987). Loosely based on 'Hey Ba Ba Re Bop', 'Can You Bop' also offers a boogying piano solo, a real rockin' guitar break and attractive female vocal interjections ! The under deck, 'Hillbilly Parade', was a sort of uptempo waltz which mentioned many contemporary artists such as Bill Carlisle, Johnnie & Jack, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Webb Pierce and Merle Travis who could be responsible for the excellent finger-picked solo in the middle. It was included on both RSR LP 1003 and RSR LP 1011. Wilson's second Crest '45 (#1020) pales in comparison : it was a straight, undistinguished Country coupling. The obscure instrumental, 'Ridin' The Frets', by The Desert Stars (#1012) is a very creditable reworking of Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant's 'Speedin' West'. Very rare, too : it's probably one of the toughest Crest singles to be found. The reverse side was by Don Thompson - it can now be heard on the Bear Family CD. The steel guitar player on those tracks was Norman Hamlet, who went on to spend 37 years as Merle Haggard's steeler and band leader ; he kindly provided me with the following info when I contacted him in 2003 : 'I wrote that instrumental when I was 18 years old in 1953. We recorded it around 1955. The band members were : me on pedal steel guitar, Gene Breeden on lead guitar, Richard Stokes on drums, Bud Mills on bass and Don Thompson on rhythm guitar. We were asked to put a vocal on the other side of the record instead of having a double sided instrumental. Don Thompson had a song that he had written ; we recorded it for the other side : it was titled 'What I Like Most of All'. 'Ridin The Frets' was revived on the Barbara Mandrell Television Show when she invited me to play the instrumental with her on her show. It was also played in the movie 'The Barbara Mandrell Story'. I had taught Barbara to play the pedal steel guitar when she was 9. On occasion I still get to play 'Ridin The Frets'. Whatever happened to his fellow Desert Stars ? 'Only one has passed away-Bud Mills. He was a great musician who also played trumpet and violin. He died from complications from diabetis. Gene Breeden owns a recording studio in Nashville and works with a lot of steel players. Richard Stokes, who is living around Visalia, California, had a limousine service for years. And Don Thompson lives in Arkansas ; he has worked as a Butcher in a large supermarket'. Thanks to Greg Parsons, from California, and exclusively for my site, you can now enjoy a terrific early shot of the band, with Norm Hamlet and his double-neck Bigsby steel at far left.
More country songs were waxed in the early sixties, a very good example being Jay Chevalier's 'Check Out Time' (#1097).

Before ceasing operations around 1963, Crest was responsible for putting young Glen Campbell on the map. Written by Campbell but credited to and produced by Jerry Capehart, his 'Turn Around, Look At Me' (#1087) was a minor hit. The guitar virtuoso had already cut a few solo records and his playing had graced many sessions (i.e. Weldon Rogers, The Champs) : hundreds more were soon to come his way (The Beach Boys, Bruce & Terry, Jan & Dean...) before he hit the big time in the late sixties with his pop-oriented brand of country Music. Now, if you want to hear some of Glen's most biting guitar sounds, don't miss 'Rockin' And A Rollin' by his uncle, Dick Bills (#1089) ; this 1961 rocker is one of the very best cuts on the label. The original flip, 'From Here To Nowhere', is a country song more in keeping with Bill's roots (he had released records early in the previous decade on small labels like Morgan and Vicki). Glen is also heard to good advantage on the tough, brassy instrumental, 'Buzzsaw' (#1088), released as by The Gee Cees (obviously, Glen Campbell's initials). Interestingly, the original flip had nothing to do with Campbell since it was 'Annie Had A Party' (note the past tense), the same track as 'Annie Has A Party' on Silver 1006 by The Kelly Four and featuring Eddie Cochran on guitar instead ; it was part of RSR LP 1003. A speeded-up version of the song was released under the name of 'Big Daddy Deerfield & The Kelly Four' on Candix (#325). Last, an intriguing cover of 'Annie Had A Party' appeared on a single by Dave Kinzie & The Woodymen on Sting-Ray (#1, c/w 'Beach Party') : any info on that one ?
Jerry Capehart also produced a nice, soulful single by Jewel Akens (#1098) and, never one to miss an opportunity, released a disc under his name, containing two instrumentals - notably Eddie Cochran's 'Fourth Man Theme' which became 'Song Of New Orleans' in this instance. Many of the later Crest records, which, incidentally, are not that easy to find, were produced by either Capehart or Dale Fitzsimmons. The former was responsible for Jean Chanel's suspiciously-titled 'Turn around & Walk Away' (#1100) while the latter produced 'I Can't Help Lovin' You' (#1099) by Bob Chilton who had co-composed with Joe Huling 'That's The Trouble With Love', a song recorded by both Frank Gorshin (Brand BR 1001, with Jerry Capehart producing !) and, in an immensely superior version, by the great Gene Vincent. It was on Gene's 'Crazy Beat' album.

A second volume could have also brought to front another bunch of goodies like the Bob Denton disc (already reissued on RSRCD 009), ace guitarist Phil Baugh's 'Bumble Bee Twist' (it was on RSRLP 011), Ronnie Blair's 'Twenty One', a Ricky Nelson-type rocker with excellent guitar or the Kelly Four-sounding instro, 'Tokyo Stomp', by the obscure Chuck Fayne. Chuck, who now lives in Australia, is a talented musician and songwriter who co-penned 'Stand Tall' for The O'Jays (on Imperial) and 'In My Dreams' for Rick Nelson (on Decca). He plays piano on 'Tokyo Stomp' and told me on the phone in 2007 that he wrote the tune with Floyd Cramer in mind. Obviously, the icing on the cake would have been the inclusion of the previously unknown only EP (#101) released on the label, housed in a special picture sleeve and containing four Gospel songs by The Ferguson Family. It is pictured at the bottom of the Crest Records listing below. Interestingly, one of their songs, 'Did You Stop To Pray This Morning', co-written by Fred Dexter, had also been recorded on Crest (#1005) by a very young Sherry Davis, one of the few releases in the Religious Series on the label.

The new Bear Family set, again with notes by Rob Finnis, has made several much needed tracks available but clearly, the very best of Crest Records had more or less been anthologized on this most enjoyable RockStar CD which I had had the pleasure to review in the February 25, 2000, issue of US mag, Goldmine.

1000 The RAGTIME RASCALS (Ragtime Pianos with Chorus)
          A Oh You Kid (Ray Stanley)
          B If You Knew (How Much I Love You) (Dale Fitzsimmons) Ray Stanley, piano
1001 The RAGTIME RASCALS (Monologue by Alice Tyrrell)
          At The Flickers (Part 1) (Ray Stanley)
          At The Flickers (Part 2) (Ray Stanley) Ray Stanley, piano
1002 BILL DANE
          Plasa Bird
          Lil' Ole Banjo (Ray Stanley) Amazingly, 'Lil' Ole Banjo' and 'Oh You Kid' wre issued back-to-back on RCA Victor 47-6213
1003 BILL DANE
          Creation (Ray Stanley)
          God Speaks (Pittman-Bond)
1004 BILL (Great) DANE / THE HOT DOGS
          I. O. U. (Ray Stanley) Bill 'Great' Dane & The Hot Dogs - Zippy Simms Orchestra
          Boom A Dee Boom (Dale Fitzsimmons) The Hot Dogs with Zippy Simms Orchestra
1005 BILL DANE / SHERRY & JERRY
          Z CM 1017 God Speaks (Pittman-Bond) Bill Dane
          Y CM 1018 Did You Stop To Pray This Morning ? (Westmoreland-Hurley-Dexter) Sherry (Davis) & Jerry
1006 PRINCE PATRIDGE with Monroe Tucker Orchestra
          Z Choosing A Career (Patridge)
          Y How Come My Dog Don't Bark (When You Come 'Round) (Patridge)
1007 TOM 'RED' WILSON & His Country Music
          Z CR 1007 Can You Bop (Cal Veale)
          Y CR 1007 Hillbilly Parade (Overmyer-Fitzsimmons) Speedy West, steel guitar on 'Can You Bop'
1008 BILL (Great) DANE with The Ragtime Rascals
          Do I (Dale Fitzsimmons)
          Boogie Woogie Cha Cha (Ray Stanley)
1009 PRINCE PATRIDGE with Monroe Tucker Orchestra
          Get Back (Prince Patridge)
          Hen Party (Mitchell)
1010 SMOKI WHITFIELD with Freddie Simon Orchestra
          Y Function At The Junction (Whitfield)
          Z Take The Hint (Whitfield)
1011 The CHROMATICS with Hal Jackson's Tornadoes
          Z CR 1011 Wild, Man, Wild (Jackson)
          Y CR 1011 Devil Blues (Hughes)
1012 THE DESERT STARS
          Ridin' The Frets (Norm Hamlet)
          What I Like Most Of All (Mosteller) Norman Hamlet, steel guitar
1013 DIMPLES HARRIS with Orchestra
          Y CR 1013 Y This I Do Believe (Harris)
          Z CR 1013 Z If You'll Be True (Harris)
1014 BOOGALOO & The Gallant Crew
          Talk About A Party (Kent Harris)
          Big Fat Lie (Kent Harris)
1015 FREDDI & AL
          Z CM 113 Snaggle Tooth (Smith-Simon-Brinson)
          Y CM 112 Love On The Loose (Smith-Simon-Brinson)
1016 The EBB-TONES
          Z CR 1016 I Want You Only (Simons)
          Y CR 1016 That's All (Merle Travis)
1017 The BIBLE BOYS
          Seeds Of Happiness
          Look For The light
1018 JACK LEWIS with Zippy Simms Orchestra
          Glendora (Ray Stanley)
          What About Me (Palmer-Stanley)
1019 JACK LEWIS & THE AMERICANS
          Z CR 1019 Old Friends (Dale Fitzsimmons) The Americans
          Y CR 1019 My Honest Name (Jerry Capehart-Ray Stanley-Dale Fitzsimmons) Jack Lewis & The Americans
1020 TOM 'RED' WILSON & His Country Music
          Y It's Me Again
          Z Lonely Seagull
1021 BILL DANE & The Hot Dogs
          Y CR 1021 Tears Of Joy (Ray Stanley) Bill Dane & The Hot Dogs
          Z CR 1021 Shave, Shine & Shampoo (Wylie-Simonin-Karg) The Hot Dogs
1022 PRINCE PATRIDGE with Monroe Tucker's Orch.
          Y CM 114 Mabel Was (Prince Patridge)
          Z CM 115 Don't Talk Back To Me (Prince Patridge)
1023 SMOKI WHITFIELD
          Y Behind Those Swingin' Doors
          Z Don't Shoot
1024 The EBB-TONES
          Z CR 1024 Baby (Harper-Hyde-Jones)
          Y CR 1024 What Makes A Man Fool Around (Cody)
1025 JACK LEWIS & The Americans
          Y Butterscotch Candy & Strawberry Pie (Roberts) Eddie Cochran, backing vocal ; Ray Stanley, piano
          The AMERICANS
          Z Teenage Goodnight (Ray Stanley-Dale Fitzsimmons)
1026 EDDIE COCHRAN
          Y Skinny Jim (Eddie Cochran-Jerry Capehart)
          Z Half Loved (Ray Stanley-Dale Fitzsimmons) Ray Stanley, piano ; Connie 'Guybo' Smith, bass ; Jesse Sailes, drums
1027 BO DAVIS
          Y CM 102 Let's Coast Awhile (Bo Davis)
          Z CM 103 Drownin' All My Sorrows (Bo Davis) Eddie Cochran, guitar ; Connie 'Guybo' Smith, bass ; Jesse Sailes, drums
1028 JACK LEWIS with Zippy Simms Orchestra
          Z CM 105 Dilly Dally Sally Baby (J. Fitzsimmons)
          Y CM 104 You Know How I Am (Ray Stanley-Carol Palmer)
1029 TOM REEVES
          Primitive Love (Tom Reeves)
          Baby, I'm A Lonesome Cowboy (Tom Reeves)
1030 BOOGALOO & The Gallant Crew
          Z CM 109 Clothes Line (Wrap It Up) (Kent Harris)
          Y CM 108 Cops And Robbers (Kent Harris)
1031 BONNIE PAUL & The Americans
          Y CM 110 My Football Hero (Ray Stanley-J. Fitzsimmons)
          Z CM 111 After School (Ray Stanley)
1032 The EBB-TONES
        Hum
          Dust Off The Bible
           The Ebb-Tones were probably not the same group that cut the wonderful 'I've Got A Feeling' for Ebb (#100) in 1957.
1033 JACK LEWIS
          Z CM 119 I. O. U. (Ray Stanley)
          Y CM 118 Someone To Love Me (Dale Fitzsimmons) Eddie Cochran, guitar ; Connie 'Guybo' Smith, bass
1034 LYNN MARSHALL
          Y CM 120 Borrowed Love (Dale Fitzsimmons)
          Z CM 121 You'll Find Out (Ray Stanley) Eddie Cochran, guitar ; Connie 'Guybo' Smith, bass
1035 LYNN MARSHALL
          Y CM 122 The Hat (Dale Fitzsimmons) Probably Eddie Cochran on acoustic guitar
          The AMERICANS
          Z CM 123 Chickadee Waltz (Dale Fitzsimmons)
1036 LYNN MARSHALL
          Y CM 124 Ain't Got A Man
          Z CM 125 My Only One
1037 BILL SKIDMORE III
          Y CM 126 I Can't Understand (Bill Skidmore III)
          Z CM 127 Try (Bill Skidmore III)
1038 TOM TALL & His Tom Kats
          Y CM 1001 Stack-A-Records (Tom Tall)
          Z CM 1002 Mary Jo (Tom Tall) Tom Tall, lead guitar
1039 HANK SANDERS
          Y CM 1003 Been Gone A Long Time (Tommy Scott)
          Z CM 1004 How Much-How Much (I Love You) (Hank Sanders)
1040 BILL SKIDMORE III
          Z CM 1006 Date Bait (J. Green-D. Fitzsimmons-D. Hahn)
          Y CM 1005 I'm Out Of My Mind (Yea-Yea) (Bill Skidmore III)
1041 HANS LORENZ
          Z CM 1010 Olita (Mitchell Tableporter)
          Y CM 1009 Buttercup, A Golden Hair (Mitchell Tableporter)
1042 TIZZY LISH
          Y CM 1011 Crazy Recipe (Tizzy Lish)
          Z CM 1012 Reducing (Tizzy Lish)
1043 MARTY COOPER
          Can't Walk'Em Off (Marty Cooper)
          You Bet Your Little Life (Marty Cooper)
1044 NORM SKYLAR
          Z CM 1014 Rock'n'Roll Blues (Norm Skylar)
          Y CM 1013 Night Shift (Norm Skylar)
1045 DALE'S BOYS
          Z CM 1016 The Big Jump (Dale Fitzsimmons)
          Y CM 1015 Marching Blues (Dale Fitzsimmons) Connie 'Guybo' Smith, bass
1046 LYNN MARSHALL with Dale Fitzsimmons' Orchestra
          Y CM 1019 I Like To Rock'n'Roll Slowly (Mitchell Tableporter)
          Z CM 1020 As Tears Go By (D. Fitzsimmons-D. Hahn)
1047 GLEN GARRISON & The Note Kings
          Y CM 1021 Lovin' Lorene (Garrison-Horton-Maness)
          Z CM 1022 You're My Darling (Glen Garrison-Fred Horton)
048 ISIDRO (CHICO) MISQUEZ & His House Of Lords Orchestra
          Y CM 1023 House Of Lords (Joe, Beat The Drum)
          Z CM 1024 Ritmo Que (Lucky Louie)
1049 BUDDY LOWE
          Y CM 1025 Ummm-Kiss Me Goodnight (Buddy Lowe)
          Z CM 1026 Loie (Dale Fitzsimmons)
1050 The HAPPY TIMERS
          Y CM 1028 I'll Never Change (D. Fitzsimmons-D. Hahn)
          Z CM 1029 Honey, I Could Fall In Love With You (Jerry Wilson)
1051 DON CARSON & The Whirlaways
          CM 1030 Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) (Merle Travis-Tex Williams)
          CM 1031 Three Carburetors (Don Carson-Dale Fitzsimmons)
1052 TOM TALL
        Z CM 1035 High School Love (Tom Tall)
          Y CM 1034 To Be Alone (Tom Tall)
1053 TONY CASANOVA
          Z CM 1037 Yea! Yea! Come Another Day (Tony Casanova)
          Y CM 1036 The Grave (Tony Casanova)
1054 BILL & DOREE POST
          Y CM 1040 Rawhide (Bill & Doree Post)
          Z CM 1041 Lonely (Bill & Doree Post)
1055 TOMMY LAW
          Cool Juice (Tommy Law)
          I Feel So Fine
1056 FRANK & ERNIE
          Z CM 1033 Spotlight (P. Renaud-E. Renaud-A. McCoy)
          Y CM 1032 Take A Little Time
1057 TOMMY DEE with CAROL KAY & The Teen-Aires
          Y CM 1042 Three Stars (Tommy Dee)
          CAROL KAY & The Teen-Aires
          Z CM 1043 I'll Never Change (Dale Fitzsimmons-Dorothea Hahn) Also issued as by Tommy Dee & The Teen Tones
1058 JOHNNY DONN & The Jazzrockers
          Y CM 1046 Smog (Johnny Donn)
          Z CM 1047 What Happened Last Night (Johnny Donn)
1059 BOBBY GRABEAU with Orchestra
          Y CM 1044 Olita (Mitchell Tableporter)
          Z CM 1045 There's Something About Your Kiss (Dale Fitzsimmons-Dorothea Hahn) Arr. by Jack Fascinato
1060 BILL & DOREE POST
          Y CM 1048 Valley High (Bill & Doree Post)
          Z CM 1049 Close To Me (Bill & Doree Post)
1061 TOMMY DEE with Carol Kay & The Teen-Aires
          Y CM 1050 The Chair (Bebe Sharp-Dale Fitzsimmons-Dorothea Hahn)
          Z CM 1051 Hello Lonesome (Tommy Dee-Dale Fitzsimmons)
1062 CAROL KAY with The Teen-Aires
          Y CM 1052 O'Where, O'Where (Dale Fitzsimmons)
          Z CM 1053 Time (Mitchell Tableporter)
1063 The CLASSICS
          Y CM 1054 Let Me Dream (Mitchell Tableporter)
          Z CM 1055 You're The Prettiest One (Dale Fitzsimmons)
1064 BOBBY GRABEAU & The Teenettes
          Y CM 1056 Back To School, Back To You (Mitchell Tableporter)
          Z CM 1057 Don't Ever Let Me Go (Dale Fitzsimmons)
1065 BOBBY & TERRY CARAWAY & Rockats
          Y CM 1058 Ballin' Keen (Bobby & Terry Caraway)
          Z CM 1059 Sweet Lies (Bobby & Terry Caraway)
1066 BILL & DOREE POST
          Y CM 1060 If He Were In His Teens (Bill & Doree Post)
          Z CM 1061 Walk Away (Bill & Doree Post)
1067 TOMMY DEE & CAROL KAY
        Y CM 1062 Merry Christmas, Mary (Tommy Dee-Dale Fitzsimmons)
          Z CM 1063 Angel Of Love (Tommy Dee-Dale Fitzsimmons)
1068 DENNIS WELLS
          Y CM 1066 Brown-Eyed Celia (Pat Ieraci)
          Z CM 1067 Lillabelle (Mitchell Tableporter)
1069 The DALES
          Y CM 1064 Rockin' Nellie Adaptation & arranged by Dale Fitzsimmons
          Z CM 1065 Sweet Annie Adaptation & arranged by Dale Fitzsimmons
1070 BILL & DOREE POST
          Z CM 1069 Born For The Open Road (Bill & Doree Post)
          Y CM 1068 I'll Never Graduate From You (Bill & Doree Post)
1071 TERRY FELL
          Y CM 1070 Y'All Be Good Now
          Z CM 1071 Who, Whose
1072 The BUD COLEMAN GUITARS
          Y CM 1072 Hawaiian Nickelodeon (Mitchell Tableporter)
          Z CM 1073 Island Love (Mitchell Tableporter)
1073 VANCIE FLOWERS
          Y CM 1074 Prisoner In Siberia (Vancie Flowers)
          Z CM 1075 You Taught Me To Love You (Dale Fitzsimmons)
1074 BILL & DOREE POST
          Z CM 1077 Because I Lost You (Bill & Doree Post)
          Y CM 1076 Pledge Of Allegiance (March) (music by Bill & Doree Post)
1075 BOBBY EDWARDS & The Four Young Men
          Z CM 1079/E 1245 You're The Reason (Edwards-Henley-Ines-Fell)
          Y CM 1078/E 1244 I'm A Fool For Loving You (Bobby Edwards-Fred Henley)
1076 The FOUR YOUNG MEN
          Y CM 1080/E 7063 You Been Torturing Me (Guilbeau-Cotton-Williams-Moore)
          Z CM 1081/E 7064 See Them Laugh (Guilbeau-Cotton-Williams-Moore)
          The Four Young Men were : Wayne Moore, Ernie Williams, Floyd Guilbeau & Darrell Cotton.
1077 ROSCOE SCULLY
          Z CM 1083/E 7255 Come Back Baby (Kent Harris)
          Y CM 1082/E 7254 How Come My Dog Don't Bark (Prince Patridge)
1078 BETTY FOSTER
          Somebody's Crying
          What Will I Do
1079 BILL & DOREE POST
        The Lonely Wind
          Haw, Jack (Bill & Doree Post)
1080 VERN STOVALL
        Y CM 1088 Long Black Limousine (Vern Stovall-Bobby George)
          Z CM 1089 Loving On Borrowed Time (Vern Stovall-Bobby George-Wynn Stewart)
1081 BOBBY GEORGE
          Y CM 1090 One Fallen Star (Bobby George-Vern Stovall)
          Z CM 1091 Nickel Or A Dime (Bobby George-Vern Stovall)
1082 TYLER KARR
          Y CM 1092 All Your Life Long (Tyler Karr)
          Z CM 1093 Please Don't Hurt Him (As You've Hurt Me) (Kathy Linden-Tyler Karr)
1083 The FOUR YOUNG MEN
          Z CM 1095 Just For Tonight
          Y CM 1094 Sweetheart Of Senior High
1084 RONNIE BLAIR
          Y CM 1096/E 8118 Twenty-One (Ronnie Blair)
          Z CM 1097/E 8119 A Tear In My Eye (Ronnie Blair)
1085 JIMMY BOWEN
          CM 1099/E 8157 Don't Drop It (Terry Fell)
          CM 1098/E 8156 Somebody To Love (Jimmy Bowen-Wes Bryan)
1086 BOB DENTON
          CM 1100 Pretty Little Devil (Fred Carter)
          CM 1101 Thinkin' About You (Carter-Luman) Eddie Cochran, guitar ; Connie 'Guybo' Smith, bass
1087 GLEN CAMPBELL
          CM 2001 Z Brenda (Billy Page)
          CM 2000 Y Turn Around, Look At Me (Jerry Capehart) Produced by Jerry Capehart
1088 THE GEE CEES
          Y CM 1102 Buzz Saw Twist (Glen Campbell) Glen Campbell, lead guitar (also released as 'Buzz Saw')
          Z CM 1103 Annie Had A Party (Eddie Cochran-Jerry Capehart) Eddie Cochran, lead guitar ; with The Kelly Four
1089 DICK BILLS
          CRM 1104/E 8405 Rockin' And A Rollin' (Dick Bills)
          CRM 1105/E 8406 From Here To Nowhere (Dick Bills) Glen Campbell, lead guitar both sides
1090 VERN STOVALL
        My Best Wasn't Good Enough
          That's All It Takes
1091 BOBBY GEORGE
          CM 1108 Live And Forget (Bobby George-Vern Stovall)
          CM 1109 Here's To Loneliness (Bobby George-Vern Stovall)
1092 BETTY FOSTER
        CM 1110 Easier Said Than Done (Doree Post-Bill Post)
          CM 1111 Shine Moon (Dale Fitzsimmons) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1093 BILL & DOREE POST
        CM 1076 Pledge Of Allegiance (March) (music by Bill & Doree Post) Arr. by Doree Post
          CM 1114 I Am The United States Of America (music by Bill & Doree Post) Narration by Bill Post
1094 CHUCK FAYNE & The Hollywood Favorites
          CM 1115 Tokyo Stomp (Chuck Fayne)
          CM 1116 For The Birds Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1095 DONNA LOREN
          CM 1117 I'm So Lonely (Jerry Jackson-Glen Campbell)
          CM 1119 Hands Off (Billy Page) Arranged by Gene Page * A Jimmy Bowen production
1096 GLEN CAMPBELL
          CM 1121 The Miracle Of Love (Jerry Capehart-Glen Campbell)
          CM 1122 Once More (Jerry Capehart) Produced by Jerry Capehart
1097 JAY CHEVALIER with The Features
          CM 1124 Check Out Time (Jay Chevalier)
          CM 1125 It Doesn't Matter (Jay Chevalier-Jack Miller) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1098 JEWEL AKENS
          CA 5013/E 7487 Wee Bit More Of Your Lovin' (Eddie Daniels-Jewel Akens-Jerry Capehart)
          CA 5014/E 7488 Dancing The Mashed Potatoes (Jewel Akens-Jerry Capehart) Produced by Jerry Capehart
1099 BOB CHILTON
          CM 1133 I Can't Help Lovin' You (B. Chilton-J. Huling)
          CM 1132 Stolen Kisses And Sneaky Love (B. Chilton-J. Huling) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons.
1100 JEAN CHANEL
          CM 1134 It Hurts Me (Jean Chanel)
          CM 1135 Turn Around And Walk Away (Jean Chanel) Produced by Jerry Capehart
1101 JERRY CAPEHART
        CM 1128 Song Of New-Orleans (Jerry Capehart) Eddie Cochran, guitars on this side only
          CM 1129 The Young And Blue (Theme) (Jerry Capehart) Produced by Jerry Capehart
1102 VANCIE FLOWERS
        CM 1036 Wetback (Vancie Flowers)
          CM 1037 Slave Chain (Vancie Flowers-Bud Coleman) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1103 BILL & DOREE POST
        CM 1138 Teardrop Train (Bill & Doree Post)
          CM 1139 The Scene Of Love (Bill & Doree Post)
1104 The SCHOOL BELLES
        CM 1140 Don't Believe Him (Butch Turner-Paul Rasch)
          CM 1141 Valley High (Bill & Doree Post) Produced by Butch Turner and Paul Rasch
1105 PHIL BAUGH
        CM 1143 Bumble Twist (Phil Baugh-Vern Stovall-Bobby George)
          CM 1142 Moon Magic (Phil Baugh-Vern Stovall-Bobby George)
1106 DONNA LOREN
        Sailor, Sailor
          Tony She also had releases on Challenge, Reprise and Capitol
1107 EILEEN BARTON
        CM 1145 You Say You Love Me (Mitchell Tableporter-Dale Fitzsimmons)
          CM 1144 Oh, Love (Dale Fitzsimmons) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1108 CHUCK FAYNE
        CM 1146 Love Whenever You Can (C. Fayne-I. Rubinsky)
          CM 1147 If My Heart Had Wings (Chuck Fayne-Dale Fitzsimmons) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1109 YOUNG MEN FOUR
        CM 1149 Goodbye, Bye, Bye, Bye (Guilbeau-Cotton-Williams-Moore)
          CM 1148 Don't Be Bashful, Little Girl (Guilbeau-Cotton-Williams-Moore) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1110 PAUL DARNELL
        Be My Lovin' Baby
          Do I Have To Move On
1111 VERN STOVALL
        CM 1154 The World Had Too Much To See (Vern Stovall-Bobby George)
          CM 1153 Just Another Way To Get The Blues (Vern Stovall-Bobby George) Produced by Dale Fitzsimmons
1112 BOBBY GEORGE
        CM 1155 Bring Back The Good Ol' Days (Bobby George-Vern Stovall)
          CM 1156 I've Been Wrong So Doggone Long (Bobby George-Vern Stovall)
1113 TROY TALTON
        Marilyn
          Dreamer In The Night Very obscure artist, who also had a release on Kin K-1001 ('Twisting With The Rhythm')
1114 PRINCE PATRIDGE
        CM 1160 How Come My Dog Don't Bark (Prince Patridge)
          CM 1161 Choosing A Career (Prince Patridge) Reissue of Crest # 1006
1157 JACK PITTS
        Y-8864-RE Wolf At Heart
          Z-8865-RE Old Sand Band
EP-101 THE FERGUSON FAMILY Religious Series
        Side 1 Did You Stop To Pray This Morning (Westmoreland-Hurley-Dexter)- The Candles Of Heaven (D. Fitzsimmons-D. Hahn)
          Side 2 I Love The Lord (An' The Lord Loves Me) (Mitchell Tableporter)- Till The Last Leaf Shall Fall (S. James-J. Rhodes)

RockStar RSR-LP 1002 Various 'CAN YOU BOP-The Best Of Crest-Vol.1' (UK reissue ; 1981)
RockStar RSR-LP 1003 Various 'ROCKIN' AND A-ROLLIN'-The Best Of Crest-Vol.2' (UK reisuue ; 1981)
RockStar RSR-LP 1011 Various 'SPOTLIGHT ON CREST RECORDS' (UK reissue ; 1986)

RockStar RSRCD 017 Various 'THE CREST RECORDS STORY' (UK reissue ; 1999)
Tom Tall Stack-A-Records * Bobby & Terry Caraway Ballin' Keen * Tom Reeves Primitive Love * Tom Wilson Can You Bop * Desert Stars Ridin' The Frets* Eddie Cochran Skinny Jim * Norm Skylar Rock'n'Roll Blues* Glen Garrison Lovin' Lorene * Tony Casanova Yea! Yea! Come Another Day * Bo Davis Let's Coast Awhile * Hank Sanders Been Gone A Long Time * Bill Skidmore III Date Bait * Frank & Ernie Spotlight * Johnny Donn What Happened Last Night * Don Carson Three Carburetors * The Gee Cees Buzzsaw * Dick Bills Rockin' & A Rollin' * Four Young Men Don't Be Bashful Little Girl * Glen Campbell Turn Around & Look At Me * Bobby Edwards You're The Reason * Jay Chevalier Check Out Time * Vern Stovall Long Black Limousine * Tommy Dee Three Stars * Hal Jackson-The Chromatics Wild Man Wild * Smoki Whitfield Function At The Junction * Tommy Law Cool Juice * Freddi & Al Love Bug On The Loose * Roscoe Scully How Come My Dog Don't Bark* Prince Patridge Get Back* Boogaloo & The Gallant Crew Clothes Line (Wrap It Up) * Talk About A Party * Big Fat Lie * Cops & Robbers * The Ebb Tones That's All

Bear Family BCD 17564 Various 'THAT'LL FLAT GIT IT - Vol. 29' (German reissue ; 2018)
Eddie Cochran Skinny Jim * Jack Lewis I. O. U. * Bo Davis Let's Coast Awhile * Lynn Marshall You'll Find Out * Tom Tall Stack-A-Records * Hank Sanders Been Gone A Long Time * Tom Wilson Can You Bop * Don Thompson & The Desert Stars What I Like Most Of All * Bill Dane Do I * Bo Davis Drownin' All My Sorrows * Bill Skidmore III Date Bait * Desert Stars Ridin' The Frets * Bobby & Terry Caraway Ballin' Keen * Tommy Law Cool Juice * Norm Skylar Rock'n'Roll Blues * Jack Lewis Someone To Love Me * Glen Garrison Lovin' Lorene * The Chromatics with Hal Jackson's Tornadoes Wild Man Wild * Marty Cooper Can't Walk'Em Off * Phil Baugh Bumble Twist * Johnny Donn What Happened Last Night * Frank & Ernie Spotlight * Tony Casanova The Grave * Buddy Lowe Ummm-Kiss Me Goodnight * Bill Skidmore III I'm Out Of My Mind (Yea-Yea) * Norm Skylar Night Shift * Dick Bills Rockin' & A Rollin' * Tony Casanova Yea! Yea! Come Another Day * Marty Cooper You Bet Your Little Life * Tom Tall Mary Jo * Glen Garrison You're My Darlin' * Chuck Fayne Tokyo Stomp

NOTE : From 1960 on, most Crest singles display a small badge reading 'A CIRCA release' or 'An ARDCO release'.
ARDCO stood for 'Allied Record Distribution Company' ; it was located at 1041 No. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.
CIRCA surely stood for something alike. In his liner notes to the RockStar CD, Rob Finnis explains that Crest had in fact 'assigned the manufacture and production of its product to the Allied pressing plant'. These same badges (a circle with a sort of ribbon underneath) can be found on a variety of labels such as Pike, Heb and Jan-Ell.

With valuable assistance from Jean-Guy Meunier, Tony Freer, Ken Clee and Greg Parsons.
All record scans courtesy of the Big V Jamboree collection.