Clint Broussard is a local boy who was born with the music of the Gulf Coast in his chromosomes. Broussard works as a bartender at Ginger Man, a clerk at Cactus Records and volunteer disc jockey with a great old-time R&B radio show on Rice University station KTRU. Rocks Off asked Broussard, an avid vinyl collector, to list his favorite 45 rpm records for us.
1. Willie Cobb, "You Don't Love Me/You're So Hard To Please" (Vee-Jay Records, No. 411):
"Covered by so many people, including Junior Wells and The Allman Brothers. Recorded in 1960 for MOJO Records out of Memphis, a label owned by Rockabilly/SUN records artist Billy Lee Riley. 'You Don't Love Me' soon got leased on to Vee-Jay Records. The guitar tone here is unbelievable. Willie recorded a couple of albums years later, but this 45 alone is enough to drive a career."
2. Toussaint McCall, "Nothing Takes The Place of You/Shimmy" (Ronn Records, No. 3): "I am a big fan of songs that would sound amazing at 3 a.m. (the Bill Anderson track "3:00 A.M." is a great mention here) 'Nothing Takes The Place of You' might be the most honest vocal I've heard. The conviction here is stunning. The needle seems to hush through the vinyl and projects loneliness. Asleep at the Wheel did a great version of this one on their
Texas Gold album. Toussaint, however, gives this one the sound of a fire burning out!"
3. The Jive Bombers, "Bad Boy/When Your Hair Has Turned To Silver" (Savoy Records, No. 1508): "One might remember this song from the film
Cry Baby. Lead vocalist Clarence Palmer does some really interesting things here. This track is what might happen when Louis Prima really turned out the lights and slowed things down. Really great one!"
4. The Clovers, "Blue Velvet/If You Love Me (Why Don't You Tell Me So)" (Atlantic Records, No. 1052): "Your ears will thank you for this one as well! Recorded in the New York Atlantic business offices in 1955. If you could hear a smoky room, this might be it. The sound of black and white, and the smell of cigarettes. The harmonies are infectious. A true crooner - but Sinatra sounded like this, kids! I have heard this record since I was a kid. It was in my Dad's collection. It will forever stay in mine!"
5. Big Sambo & The House Wreckers, "The Rains Came/At The Party" (Eric Records, No. 7003): "This was my 'Spotlight 45' on a recent edition of
Blues In Hi-Fi. It very well might be my favorite record. Produced by Huey P. Meaux in 1960. Meaux revived it six years later and scored a moderate regional hit when it was recorded by the Sir Douglas Quintet. This is another '3 a.m.' record. The guitar tone heard here can make you realize what the hell might be missing from all music in 2009. The band is laying it down, but is in NO hurry at all. If you've ever been lonely or lost love, this one might give you chills."
Blues In Hi-Fi
can be heard 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays on KTRU, 91.7 FM.
