JOHNNIE COOK / CLARENCE HENRY – TRY YOUR LOVE / COME ON AND DANCE – JUMPIN’

You know this Jumpin’ are tracks that were popular in Jamacia , sometimes a few years after initial release.  This means you get tracks from the totally obscure, like Johnny and the super hit makers, like Clarence.  But the link is two delicious dance numbers on each 45.

Clarence of course had the world wide hits with “Ain’t Got No Home” and “I Don’t Know Why…”.  These Rock n Roll classics that still echo around the world did not happen by chance.  Clarence had and extraordinary voice, and, once he had that first hit the pick of the players, producers, writers etc  in New Orleans, one of the most important music hubs in the world.

Johnny Eh nothing.  One 45 issued on tiny Ro Nan records of New York picked up by Fargo but it seems to have fallen from the press straight into a black hole.

So finally the connection? Two tracks that get you moving.

Come on and Dance sounds like a party.  It captures the fantastic New Orleans spirit that has had people soul shakin’ all over the world since the 1960’s.  (Yep issued on a Chicago label but that is the business side not the art.)

Try Your Love,  is a straight ahead Rock n Roll stomper from New York.  Often a tiny label would take a singer or band into a rented studio with rented band that would run through number with no real enthusiasm.  There is no hint of that here.  Johnnie has a remarkably textured voice and the band create a wonderful groove jumping out with perfect breaks as if they had all played together for years.  Maybe they did but it seems unlikely.

Release Date:

Format: Vinyl Single

All music: Rhythm & Blues Rockabilly / Rock N Roll

Format: Vinyl