JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS
US DISCOGRAPHY & SESSIONOGRAPHYPart 3 : THE BACK-UP SESSIONS
This will be a listing of Joe's recording sessions for other artists - organized by artist. Needless to say, it will never be complete, but I'll do my best to update it all the time. With many thanks to : Alex Frazer-Harrison, Al Johnson, Michel Ruppli and the late Harry Shields.
Joe Maphis was one of the most in demand guitar players on the West Coast during the '50s and his versatilty led to his playing on countless Country, Rockabilly, Rock'n'Roll & Pop sessions. He can be heard on numerous releases on labels as diverse as Intro, Columbia, Liberty, Imperial, Ebb or Capitol.
Whatever the musical style, he was always reliable and the sound of his guitars, dobro or fiddle enlightened many otherwise average tracks.
Joe Maphis was one of the most in demand guitar players on the West Coast during the '50s and his versatilty led to his playing on countless Country, Rockabilly, Rock'n'Roll & Pop sessions. He can be heard on numerous releases on labels as diverse as Intro, Columbia, Liberty, Imperial, Ebb or Capitol.
Whatever the musical style, he was always reliable and the sound of his guitars, dobro or fiddle enlightened many otherwise average tracks.
©
PAUL VIDAL * Privas, France * 2004 -2024
JOHNNY BOND COLUMBIA 4-21186 RHCO-10617 Sweet Mama Tree Top Tall RHCO-10618 Put A Little Sweetnin' In Your Love COLUMBIA 4-21187 RHCO-10616 Thanks CO-50314 I Dreamed I Searched Heaven For You (Joe's not featured here) COLUMBIA 4-21243 RHCO-10763 Firewater CO-48674 Old Man Blues (Joe's not featured on this side) COLUMBIA 4-21294 RHCO-10764 Stealin' RHCO-10765 My Darlin' Lola Lee COLUMBIA 4-21335 RHCO-10766 I Lose Again CO-49767 Everybody Knew The Truth (Joe's not featured on this side) COLUMBIA 4-21383 RZSP-33350 Louisiana Swing RZSP-33353 Jim, Johnny & Jonas COLUMBIA 4-21424 RZSP-33477 Carolina Waltz RZSP-33479 Somebody's Pushin' COLUMBIA 4-21448 JRZSP-33476 Livin' It Up JRZSP-33478 Remember The Alamo COLUMBIA 4-21494 RZSP-33351 Six Of One, Half A Dozen Of The Other JZSP-37609 Loaded For Bear (Joe's not featured on this side) COLUMBIA 4-21521 JRZSP-33723 The Little Rock Roll JRZSP-33725 I'll Be There COLUMBIA 4-21565 JRZSP-33957 Lonesome Train (duet vocal with Skeets McDonald) JRZSP-33960 Laughing Back The Heartaches COLUMBIA 4-40934 JRZSP-40152 Sick, Sober And Sorry (duet vocal with Lefty Frizzell) JRZSP-40154 Lover By Appointment (duet vocal with Lefty Frizzell) COLUMBIA LP CL-1072 'TOWN HALL PARTY' XLP-42097 Oklahoma Waltz (duet vocal with Bobby Charles) XLP-42098 Wait For The Light To Shine -> Unissued Columbia recordings featuring Joe Maphis on guitar : RZSP-33352 Lover By Appointment (from a February 22, 1955, session) JRZSP-33724 The Man From Texas (from a February 1956, session) JRZSP-33726 Blues In Nothing Flat (from a February 1956, session) JRZSP-33958 Don't Take It Away (from an August 28, 1956, session) JRZSP-33959 Look Behind You (from an August 28, 1956, session) 20th FOX 156 K80W-7512 The Long Tall Shadow K80W-7513 Gold Rush -> A first, unissued, version of 'Gold Rush' was cut with Joe on June 15, 1959. 20th FOX 231 L80W-2234-1 A Kid Named Bill L80W-2235-1 Jealous Lead REPUBLIC 2005 1008 Hot Rod Lincoln 1009 Five Minute Love Affair -> A third title was cut with Joe at that May 25, 1960, date and released only on Republic EP 100 : 1010 Funnybone REPUBLIC 2008 1029 The Way A Star Is Born 1030 X-15 -> 'X-15' was first tried at a September 1, 1960, session but left unissued. The above version was recorded on September 29, 1960. REPUBLIC 2010 1028 Side Car Cycle 1031 Like Nothin' Man REPUBLIC 2022 1082 Sadie Was A Lady 1083 Buck's Private Lament STARDAY 678 6974 Hot Rod Surfin' Hootlebeatnanny 6975 Don't Mama Count Anymore STARDAY 690 6973 My Wicked, Wicked Ways 6976 Bachelor Bill STARDAY 7021 6052 Barrel House Bessie 6968 Hot Rod Lincoln STARDAY SLP 345 7686 Side Car Cycle 7687 X-15 7688 The Great Figure 8 Race 7689 Johnny's Camptown Races 7690 Fastback 7691 Junior Johnson 7692 Fireball 7693 Around And Around The Figure 8 7694 Ben Dewberry's Final Run 7695 Wreck Of The Old 97 7714 Johnny Overload 7715 Highway Man 7716 Ridge Route 7717 Old Mack JIMMY BOYD COLUMBIA 4-21571 JRZSP 33951 Rockin' Down The Mississippi JRZSP 33953 Crazy Mixed-Up Blues -> A fabulous, underrated single, with some of Joe's stinginest rockabilly breaks-both sides. JOHNNY BURNETTE FREEDOM F-44011 FR-118 Me And The Bear FR-119 Gumbo -> Also featuring Eddie Cochran on guitar. Excatly who plays what is still unclear. See 'Eddie Cochran Backup Sessions - Part 1' for more info THE BURNETTE BROTHERS IMPERIAL X-5509 IM-1485 Warm Love IM-1488 My Honey -> This February 5, 1958, session, produced two more marvelous rockers propelled by Joe's unstoppable guitar and the Burnettes' wonderfully staccato harmony vocals, and officially unearthed by RockStar Records in England on the LP, 'We're Having A Party' (RSR LP 1017, 1988) and later included on their CD, 'The Burnette Brothers' (RSRCD 005, 1994). IM-1486 Boppin' Rosalie IM-1487 Do Baby Do -> Was 'Boppin' Rosalie' intended to be 'Boppin' Rose Lee' ?!? TONY BUTALA TOPIC 8002 TC-103 Look At Him, Look At Her TC-104 My First Real Romance -> 'Look At Him...' is a 'teen rocker' as they say which contains a very great - sudden and surging - solo by Joe. THE COLLINS KIDS COLUMBIA 4-21470 RHCO-33565 Hush Money RHCO-33568 Beetle Bug Bop COLUMBIA 4-21514 RHCO-33714 The Rockaway Rock RHCO-33716 Make Him Behave COLUMBIA 4-21543 RHCO-33713 I'm In My Teens RHCO-33715 They're Still In Love COLUMBIA 4-21560 RHCO-33962 Rock And Roll Polka RHCO-33964 My First Love COLUMBIA 4-40824 RHCO-33961 Go Away, Don't Bother Me RHCO-33963 Move A Little Closer COLUMBIA 4-40921 RHCO-40157 Hop, Skip And Jump RHCO-40155 Young Heart COLUMBIA 4-41012 RHCO-40333 Heartbeat RHCO-40335 Party COLUMBIA 4-41087 RHCO-40331 Hoy Hoy RHCO-40334 Mama Worries COLUMBIA LP CL-894 RHCO-33711 You Are My Sunshine * RHCO-33712 Missouri Waltz RHCO-33721 Walking The Floor Over You * Also features Gene Autry, Carl Smith and others on vocals. COLUMBIA LP CL-1072 'TOWN HALL PARTY' RHCO-40306 Just Because -> Unissued Columbia recordings featuring Joe Maphis on guitar and first released on Bear Family BFX 15074, then reissued on Bear Family BCD 15537 : RHCO-33566 I Wish (from an October 4, 1955, session) RHCO-33567 The Cuckoo Rock (from an October 4, 1955, session) RHCO-40156 Soda Poppin' Around (from a March 13, 1957, session) RHCO-40158 Shortnin' Bread Rock (from a March 13, 1957, session) RHCO-40332 Hot Rod (from an August 21, 1957, session). DON DEAL CASH 1028 1028-A Broken-Hearted Fellow 1028-AA Cryin' In One Eye -> See 'Eddie Cochran Backup Sessions - Part 1' for more info. BOB DENTON DOT 45-15743 MW-10732 Playboy MW-10733 Skinny Minnie DOT 45-15833 MW-10732 Playboy MW-11064 24 Hour Night -> Another gem of a single, with Joe at his bluesiest on '24 Hour Night'. -> See 'Eddie Cochran - Back Up Sessions - Part 2' for more info and pics. TERRY FELL X-0069 E4LB 4458 Let's Stay Together Till After Christmas E4LB 4459 (We Wanna See) Santa Do The Mambo X-0078 E4LB 4460 Get Aboard My Wagon E4LB 3038 You Don't Give A Hang About Me (Joe's not featured on this side) X-0114 E4LB 4461 He's In Love With You E4LB 3039 Mississippi River Shuffle (Joe's not featured on this side) -> On these sides, Joe plays mostly rhythm guitar since the soli are taken by the fiddler, the steeler and the pianist. His strong strumming is easily spotted although he didn't yet use his famous, soon-to-be-built Mosrite. ->Terry Fell had a good write-up in the first issue of Country'n'Western Jamboree in March 1955. We learn that he was born in Dora, Alabama, on May 13, 1921.When he was only a year old, his family moved to Cullman, Alabama, where he was raised. After he finished high school, he decided to try his luck in California. He got a steady job as pressman at the Tru-Flex Rubber Company in Los Angeles while writing songs and singing on the side. He recorded for a host of small labels before being signed to X, a sub of RCA Victor in 1954. His first release, 'Truck Driving Man' c/w 'Don't Drop It' (X-0010, with Speedy West on steel) was the first C'n'W outing on this newly formed label - and a big hit, with cover versions by Red Sovine (Decca), Betty Amos (Mercury), Tommy Sands (RCA) and even Wilbert Harrison (Savoy). Terry is a talented musician and plays guitar, harmonica, bass and mandolin. It's him who played that furious harp in 'Truck Driving Man' that some consider one of the earliest truck drivers songs which would be so much in vogue in the sixties. At the time of the article, X-0069 and X-0078 had been released and Terry lived in Norwalk, some 15 miles from L.A., with his wife, Florence, and daughter, Sandra. Still, he kept his work at the plant, 'just to be safe' he said. Terry was proud that Freddie Hart had recorded 'Please Don't Tell Her' which he co-wrote, and that Red Foley had recorded his own composition, 'Never'. One thing he couldn't know then and that we can add now, is that another prodigious talent named Eddie Cochran, who had just started his career as part of The Cochran Brothers, would also cut 'Never' plus another of his songs, 'Cradle Baby', two years later. The complete X and RCA recordings of Terry Fell were compiled by Bear Family on CD in 1993 (BCD 15762. THE FOUR PREPS CAPITOL EDDIE COCHRAN & JOE MAPHIS with ERNIE FREEMAN & HIS BAND HOLLYWOOD EP 1068 Fast Jivin' -> Not exactly a back up session, rather a meeting and battle between two giants, with Eddie Cochran not yet 18 years old at the time, most probably early 1956. It was also issued on a Starday EP (#258) under the title, 'Country Rockin' & Flyin', and under the pseudonym of Buddy Dee. It's not too surprising because Don Pierce, who was now running the Starday label in tandem with Pappy Daily, was also the head of Hollywood Records in L.A. The track, edited to 1'45 on the above releases, was much longer in fact and the full version first appeared on a RockStar CD ('Don't Forget Me', RSRCD 014 in 1998). The tune became the backing track for a Jerry Capehart-sung 'Rockin' & Flyin' not long afterwards. Frankly, the full length version is an INCREDIBLE instrumental and a real piece of history because we can witness the burgeonning Eddie Cochran Rock'n'Roll guitar style, already very inventive and full of youthful energy, and at the same time taste the early experiments of Joe Maphis with the new idiom, superbly constructed and very polished but just as exciting. Magical. -> See 'Eddie Cochran - Back Up Sessions - Part 2' for more info and pics. THE GEORGETTES EBB 125 125 X Love Me Like A Fool 125 Oh Tonight CHARLES LEE GUY, III CAPITOL T/ST 1920 'THE PRISONER'S DREAM' '' The Prisoner's Dream-Shackles & Chains-They're All Goin' Home But One-The Wall-21 Years-Folsom Prison-The Prisoner's Song-Cigarettes, Whiskey & Wild, Wild Women- Send A Picture Of Mother- Cold Gray Bars-Wishin' She Was Here Instead Of Me-Doin' My Time SALTY HOLMES 4-STAR 1752 884-105 Mama Blues 884-106 Harmonica Boogie Shuffle (co-written by Joe) WANDA JACKSON CAPITOL F-3485 15586 I Gotta Know 15585 Half As Good A Girl CAPITOL F-3575 15904 Silver Threads And Golden Needles 15919 Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad CAPITOL F-3637 15890 Baby Loves Him 15587 Cryin' Thru' The Night CAPITOL F-3941 15903 Honey Bop 17581 Just Queen For A Day (Joe's not featured on this side) -> Originally unissued from her first Capitol session on June 8, 1956 and later released on the superb French compilation, 'Rock'n'Roll At The Capitol Tower' (2C 184-81970/71) : 15584 Step By Step -> See 'Wanda Jackson At The Capitol Tower' for more info and pictures. THE JODIMARS (Marshall Lytle, Joey D'Ambrosia, Dick Richards) IM-1453 Be My Love Tonight IM-1454 Bring Along Your Love IM-1455 Honey Baby IM-1456 Hip Shakin' Baby -> This unissued Imperial session from January 1958 was first released on RockStar RSRCD 007 in 1994. With Joe are Gene Garf (piano), James Kirkland (bass) and Ritchie Frost (dms). For some reason, 'Hip Shakin' Baby' and 'Be My Love Tonight' (both written by The Burnette Bros) would be recorded by Roy Brown on March 6, 1958, and released as Imperial 5510. The guitar player on Roy's record, as well as on the originally unissued 'We're Goin' Rockin' Tonight', was Justin Adams.. GRANDPA JONES MONUMENT 25-7-8528 J7W 3426 The Valley Of The Never Do No Good J7W 3428 A Dollar Short -> Also recorded at that July 22, 1971, session and released on LP : J7W 3427 Four Stone Walls -> Rose Lee Maphis is featured on background vocals. Joe & Rose Lee would later appear on several CMH albums cut by Grandpa in the '70s. ROSE MADDOX CAPITOL SKEETS MC DONALD CAPITOL F-2523 11584 It's Your Life (Joe plays fiddle here) 11593 Baby I'm Countin' (Joe plays fiddle here) CAPITOL F-2696 11583 Walking On Teardrops (Joe plays fiddle here) 11594 Look Who's Cryin' Now (Joe plays fiddle here) CAPITOL F-2774 12338 I Love You, Mama Mia (Joe plays fiddle here) 12170 Remember You're Mine (Joe's not featured on this side) CAPITOL F-2885 12358 But I Do (Joe plays fiddle here) 12195 Your Love Is Like A Faucet (Joe's not featured on this side) CAPITOL F-2976 12339 Smoke Comes Out My Chimney Just The Same (Joe, fiddle) 12357 Each Time A New Love Dies CAPITOL F-3378 15017 It'll Take Me A Long, Long Time 15019 Fallen Angel (Are You Sorry ?) CAPITOL F-3461 15463 You Oughta See Grandma Rock 15464 Heart Breakin' Mama -> These top rockabilly sides feature Eddie Cochran on lead guitar but Joe Maphis can be heard on second guitar. This session was probably cut around - or not long after - the time of that famous guitar battle between Eddie and Joe with the Ernie Freeman band. CAPITOL F-3525 15020 Somebody 15764 You Gotta Be My Baby CAPITOL F-3600 15018 Don't Push Me Too Far 15765 You Better Not Go CAPITOL F-3679 16585 I Am Music 16588 Keep Her Off Your Mind CAPITOL F-3741 16586 Welcome Home (Joe plays guitar on this side only) 13774 Your Sweet Love Is Gone (Joe's not featured on this side) CAPITOL F-4095 30295 What Am I Doing Here ? 30296 What I Know About Her CAPITOL F-4147 30294 Baby Wait 30293 What A Lonesome Life It's Been -> All Skeets are superb records but this one is among my absolute personal favorites. The songs and the guitar sounds (Maphis & Roy Nichols) are first class. CAPITOL LP T 1040 'GOIN' STEADY WITH THE BLUES' 18605 Forth Worth Jail * 18606 Hawaïan Sea Breeze 18607 Blues In My Mind 18608 Yard And A Half Of Blues 18613 Gone And Left Me Blues 18614 Lost Highway 18615 My Room Is Crowded 18616 You're There 18618 Goin' Steady With The Blues * 18619 I'll Sail My Ship Alone * 18628 Tomorrow Never Comes * 18629 I'm Sorry Now * These tracks were selected for Capitol EAP 1-1040. -> One of the great, all-time Country music albums, with wonderful guitar work from both Joe & Buck Owens. The untouchable Capitol Tower sound from 1958 ! -> Unissued Capitol recording featuring Joe Maphis on guitar, later released by Bear Family (BFX 15195, then BCD 15937) : 16587 I Can't Hold A Memory In My Arms (from a February 12, 1957, session) RICKY NELSON IMPERIAL X-5483 IM-1451 Stood Up IM-1452 Waitin' In School IMPERIAL X-5935 IM-1392 If You Can't Rock Me IM-1835 Old Enough To Love (Joe doesn't play on this song, it's James Burton on lead) IMPERIAL LP 9048 'RICKY' IM-1423 Am I Blue IM-1412 Baby I'm Sorry IM-1409 Boppin' The Blues IM-1410 Your True Love IM-1422 True Love IM-1391 Be-Bop-Baby (alternate take - Joe doesn't play on it) IM-1390 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (alternate take - Joe doesn't play) IM-1411 Honeycomb IM-1413 I'm Confessin' IM-1425 Teenage Doll IM-1424 Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On IM-1392 If You Can't Rock Me -> An earlier version of 'If You Can't Rock Me' was first issued in 1991 on CDP-7-95219, 'The Best Of Rick Nelson-Vol. 2', in the EMI Legends Of Rock'n'Roll series. Joe doesn't play on it. Likewise, he doesn't play on any version of 'Be Bop Baby' and 'Have I Told You Lately...'. EMMY NOBLE LIBERTY F-55122 45-LB-814 Little Willie 45-LB-815 I Done Done LAURA LEE PERKINS IMPERIAL 5493 IM-1466 I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Lovin' IM-1468 Kiss Me Baby DETOUR DT-4502 (IM-1465) DE 102 Come On Baby (IM-1467) DE 101 Gonna Rock My Baby Tonight -> Four terrific sides from that stunning female singer & pianist, cut on January 10, 1958, with the usual Imperial house band led by Joe Maphis. Why the latter two titles were shelved is anyone's guess but fortunately, ace sound engineer and fine judge in music, Boppin' Bob Jones, released them on his short-lived but exceptional Detour label in England in 1981. All four titles plus those from Laura Lee's next (and last) Imperial session were later compiled onto a Bear Family CD. 'Gonna Rock My baby Tonight' is a real powerhouse rocker ! TEX RITTER CAPITOL HANK THOMPSON CAPITOL T 975 'DANCE RANCH' I Wouldn't Miss It For The World Klishama Klingo CAPITOL F 3850 17597 If I'm Not Too Late 17598 Just An Old Flame CAPITOL F 3950 17596 Li'l Liza Jane 17599 How Do You Hold A Memory -> All the above tracks come from a September 25, 1957, session. CAPITOL T/ST 2154 'IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME' Here Comes Santa Claus 52166 Gonna Wrap My Heart In Ribbons It's Christmas Every Day In Alaska Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Blue Christmas Silver Bells It's Christmas Time 52172 I'd Like To Have An Elephant For Christmas White Christmas 52178 Little Christmas Angel 52179 Mr & Mrs Snowman Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer We Wish You A Merry Christmas -> Hank's Xmas album was recorded over three sessions - June 8, 9 & 10, 1964. CAPITOL T/ST 2274 'BREAKIN' IN ANOTHER HEART' Paper Doll There's No You You Always Hurt The One You Love September In The Rain Till Then That's All There Is To That Breakin' In Another Heart How Do You Hold A Memory Don't Take It Out On Me I'd Never Have Found Somebody New It's Better To Have Loved A Little Just An Old Flame -> The above LP was cut in three sessions - December 16, 17 & 18, 1963. CAPITOL 5344 52882 Life's Sweetest Moment 52883 I'm Gonna Practice Freedom CAPITOL 5422 52884 Then I'll Start Believing You 52885 In The Back Of Your Mind -> The above two singles were cut on September 29, 1964. LEROY VAN DYKE DOT NICK VENET IMPERIAL X-5522 IM-1566 Love In Be-Bop Time IM-1567 Honey Baby -> Before becoming a top record producer and talent scout for Capitol, Nick Venet (pronounced 've-nay', the French way in fact) cut some nice records under his own name, the best being by far and large the above. Joe's scintillating solo on the top side is the ultimate lesson in rockabilly guitar. -> Also recorded at that hot April 2, 1958, session but still unreleased : IM-1564 Darlin' Sue IM-1565 Baby Doll JIMMY WALKER INTRO 6024 RR 1708-2 If I Can't Have You RR 1709-2 Out Of Money, Out Of Place, Out Of Style INTRO 6025 RR 1707-2 High Geared Daddy RR 1710-3 Runnin' Fast Backstage at Town Hall Party : Joe Maphis, Eddie Dean, Rose Lee, Tex Ritter, Tex Williams. From Joe's own scrapbook. |