Claire Lane & The Ramrods – Frankie, Johnny & More Love Stories (1963) Album Edit

For those not in the know, fan albums are the attempts of me and many others to take songs and put them on an album, typically they’re made to improve upon something, such as an existing album or to take non-album tracks and put them on an album.

The music I’ll be covering here was a lot better than I was anticipating. Claire Lane has a strong voice, though the instrumentals have a great rock sound that reminds me of the Honeycombs. Note those instrumentals were not credited or treated as solo Claire Lane, but she was part of that band, called the Ramrods, and to my knowledge they never made a record without her. In my created album here, you basically jump back and forth from solo and vocal pop song to the instrumental and guitar-driven Ramrods. Despite the contrast, I think they work quite well together.

Claire’s career started as a series of singles, then an album, all happening within five years from 1959 to 1964, then she did a single in 1979. Sadly, a lot of her material is not accessible online, though I’d imagine you could get that stuff off Discogs if so inclined. The pre-album era is mostly available and is thus what I’ll be covering. The “bonus tracks” are the few tracks I actually could find from the album. Ideally, this project could’ve had one album of every early single, then the album, then the 70s single, but alas. Hopefully this article helps for those wanting good music and a list of what seems to be every recording she ever did. The album title doesn’t mean anything, I just thought of and liked it.

Claire Lane & The Ramrods – Frankie, Johnny & More Love Stories (1963) – YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. The Ramrods – “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky” (Released 1960)
2. Claire Lane – “I Love You So” (Released 1959)
3. Claire Lane – “An Orphan’s Christmas” (Released 1959)
4. Claire Lane – “The Boy Next Door” (Released 1959)
5. The Ramrods – “Zig Zag” (Released 1960)
6. The Ramrods – “Loch Lomond Rock” (Released 1961)
7. Claire Lane – “Isn’t It a Shame” (Released 1963)

SIDE B

1. Claire Lane – “Frankie And Johnny” (Released 1962 or 63)
2. The Ramrods – “Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle” (Released 1961)
3. Claire Lane – “Curiosity” (Released 1962 or 63)
4. Claire Lane – “I Dig That Guy” (Released 1963)
5. The Ramrods – “Boing” (Released 1961)
6. The Ramrods – “War Cry” (Released 1961)
7. Claire Lane – “El Diablo” (Released 1963)

BONUS TRACKS

1. ”Indian Love Call” (Excerpt)
2. “I Was Only A Stand-In” (Excerpt)
3. “Hey Lover” (From Drummer Girl Sings)
4. “Lonely Day” (From Drummer Girl Sings)

PERSONNEL

I could only find personnel credits for “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky”. I think this lineup played on every Ramrods recording, but that could be wrong. Even that credit for Sky is not verified.

• Eugene Moore – bass
• Claire Lane – drums
• Vinny Lee – lead guitar
• Richard Litke – tenor saxophone

Tracks I can’t find:

1. Claire Lane – “All By Myself” (Released 1959)
2. Claire Lane – “Run Run Run Away” (Released 1963)
3. Claire Lane – “Indian Love Call” (Released 1963)

Drummer Girl Sings (1964)

1. “Shangri-La”
2. “Moon River”
3. “Fly Me To The Moon”
4. “My Little Corner Of The World”
5. “More”
6. “West Of The Wall”
7. “Stolen Moments”
8. “You Can’t Stop Me From Dreaming”
9. “Never On Sunday”
10. “I Was Only A Stand-In” (Released 1963 or 64)

Later work:

1. Claire Lane – “A Talking Christmas Tree” (Released 1979)
2. Claire Lane – “Reflections” (Released 1979)

This is a passion of mine and if one person likes what I do, I’ll feel honored. I like suggestions on what artist to cover next, so if you know of one you’d like me to look at, feel free to suggest ‘em!

The Flamingos (1953-1964) – Five Fan Albums

For those not in the know, fan albums are the attempts of me and many others to take songs and put them on an album, typically they’re made to improve upon something, such as an existing album or to take non-album tracks and put them on an album.

The Flamingos are a fun little group to analyze, mainly known for their wonderful track “I Only Have Eyes For You”. They have had many other great cuts and this project hopes to make them more accessible. Another favorite is “Lovers Never Say Goodbye”. The group has had many lineups and some varying quality, but they provide a satisfying experience. From seemingly the genesis of the act in 1953 to the present, “The Flamingos” have been active with a 50s member. It’s one of those Ship of Theseus issues that is especially common with doowop acts. Thus, I’m defining “The Flamingos” by its three most prominent members: Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, and Paul Wilson. The three were constants, with one slight exception, from the beginning to 1964, at which point Wilson left and everyone else was more or less doing an oldies’ act with few recordings. For a more detailed history on the Flamingos, see https://www.uncamarvy.com/Flamingos/flamingos.html and http://theflamingos.com/history-of-the-flamingos/.

The first stable lineup had the following order: Jake Carey (bass), Zeke Carey (second tenor), Johnny Carter (first tenor), Paul Wilson (baritone), and Sollie McElroy (lead). They recorded thirteen tracks on the Chance label. Thus, our first album will be called…

The Flamingos Take A Chance (1954) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “If I Can’t Have You” (Recorded January 28, 1953)
2. “Hurry Home Baby” (Recorded January 28, 1953)
3. “That’s My Desire” (Recorded January 28, 1953)
4. “Someday, Someway” (Recorded January 28, 1953)
5. “Carried Away” (Recorded After January 28, Before December 24, 1953)
6. “Plan for Love” (Recorded After January 28, Before December 24, 1953)

SIDE B

1. “You Ain’t Ready” (Recorded After January 28, Before December 24, 1953)
2. “Golden Teardrops” (Recorded After January 28, Before December 24, 1953)
3. “Blues in a Letter” (Recorded December 24, 1953)
4. “September Song” (Recorded December 24, 1953)
5. “Jump Children” (Recorded December 24, 1953)
6. “Cross Over the Bridge” (Recorded February 17, 1954)
7. “Listen to My Plea” (Recorded February 17, 1954)

The quintet then went to Parrot, but for only eight recordings. Halfway through their stay, Sollie was replaced with a Nate Nelson. He is sometimes considered the best of the lead singers. The outfit next went to Checker. The first four of which will be used to make the second LP.

The Flamingos Parrot Checker (1955) – Spotify, YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Dream of a Lifetime” (Recorded July 1954)
2. “On My Merry Way” (Recorded July 1954)
3. “If I Could Love You” (Recorded July 1954)
4. “I Really Don’t Want to Know” (Recorded July 1954)
5. “I Found a New Baby” (Recorded November 1954)
6. “Get With It” (Recorded November 1954)

SIDE B

1. “I’m Yours” (Recorded November 1954)
2. “Ko Ko Mo” (Recorded November 1954)
3. “(Chick-A-Boom) That’s My Baby” (Recorded March 21, 1955)
4. “Please Come Back Home” (Recorded June 15, 1955)
5. “Whispering Stars” (Recorded June 15, 1955)
6. “Chickie Um Bah” (Recorded October 1955)
7. “I’ll Be Home” (Recorded October 1955)

This lineup had twelve more Checker recordings.

The Flamingos Need Your Love (1956) – YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Need Your Love” (Recorded March 21, 1955)
2. “Just For A Kick” (Recorded June 15, 1955)
3. “I Want To Love You” (Recorded June 15, 1955)
4. “When” (Recorded March 21, 1955)
5. “Cry” (Recorded March 1956)
6. “The Vow” (Recorded July 1956)

SIDE B

1. “Stolen Love” (Recorded July 1956)
2. “Dream Of A Lifetime” (Recorded July 1956)
3. “Nobody’s Love” (Recorded July 1956)
4. “Would I Be Crying” (Recorded August 1956)
5. “Shilly Dilly” (Recorded August 1956)
6. “A Kiss From Your Lips” (Recorded March 1956)

Around the same time, the Flamingos went to Decca and both Zeke Carey and Johnny Carter were drafted. The next recording lineup featured Tommy Hunt and Terry Johnson. Interestingly, Terry, who joined the act in 1956, is even today touring as the Flamingos, almost seventy years later! Tommy was touring as them as well in the 2010s, but I couldn’t find out if he’s still going, though he is alive. Due to the lack of Zeke, I’ve decided to declare this era not really the Flamingos. Seeing as Nate Nelson seemed to be the most emphasized member, I’ll call it…

Nate Nelson’s Flamingos Sing The Ladder Of Love And Ten More Cuts (1958) – YouTube

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “The Ladder Of Love” (Recorded April 19, 1957)
2. “That Love Is You” (Recorded April 19, 1957)
3. “Let’s Make Up” (Recorded April 19, 1957)
4. “Helpless” (Recorded August 15, 1957)
5. “My Faith In You” (Recorded August 15, 1957)

SIDE B

1. “Jerri-Lee” (Recorded August 15, 1957)
2. “Hey Now!” (Recorded August 15, 1957)
3. “Kiss-A-Me” (Recorded May 6, 1958)
4. “Where Mary Go” (Recorded May 6, 1958)
5. “Ever Since I Met Lucy” (Recorded May 6, 1958)
6. “The Rock And Roll March” (Recorded May 6, 1958)

The Decca era is one of the strongest “albums” here. The last change in labels that will be looked at is to End. These are some of the most acclaimed recordings the group did. This is also the era we started getting LPs. The first is called The Flamingos (1959). It was released by Checker and takes various recordings from various times and labels. While sources consider it their first proper album, I am demoting it to merely a compilation. However, afterwards we got four LPs that got the job done pretty nicely. Each album covers a recent and short timespan of recordings, though we have few recording dates. The albums are called Flamingo Serenade (1959), Flamingo Favorites (1960), Requestfully Yours (1960), and The Sound Of The Flamingos (1963). There appear to be only five non-album tracks before 1961, then eleven more strays from 1961-1964. I had the idea of taking some of those early strays and making them bonus tracks for the main albums, but I decided to pick the simpler option of just adding them to the beginning of my final album, though maybe it would be better to put them with other tracks recorded around the time they were? With or without those, it is still probably the strongest record despite the lineup changes, with the last tracks having a contemporary and catchy sound. It makes me suspect the later works by the group and its then former members are good, as the proper Flamingos were good all the way to the end.

Flamingo Serenade (1959) – Spotify, YouTube

Flamingo Favorites (1960) – Spotify, YouTube

Requestfully Yours (1960) – Spotify, YouTube

The Sound Of The Flamingos (1963) – Archive.org

End (1964) – Archive.org

TRACKLISTING

SIDE A

1. “Lovers Never Say Goodbye” (Released 1958)
2. “I Shed A Tear At Your Wedding” (Released 1959)
3. “At The Prom” (Released 1959)
4. “Your Other Love” (Released 1960)
5. “Lovers Gotta Cry” (Released 1960)
6. “My Memories Of You” (Released 1961)
7. “I Want To Love You” (Released 1961)
8. “It Must Be Love” (Released 1962)

SIDE B

1. “I’m No Fool Anymore” (Released 1962)
2. “For All We Know” (Released 1962)
3. “Near You” (Released 1962)
4. “(Talk About) True Love” (Released 1963)
5. “Come On To My Party” (Released 1963)
6. “Lover Come Back To Me” (Recorded Spring 1964)
7. “Your Little Guy” (Recorded Spring 1964)
8. “Does It Really Matter” (Recorded Spring 1964)

This is a passion of mine and if one person likes what I do, I’ll feel honored. I like suggestions on what artist to cover next, so if you know of one you’d like me to look at, feel free to suggest ‘em!