Bam-A-Lam: The R&B Recordings 1950-1962 Mickey Champion

£12.56

Genre:
Rhythm & Blues
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1192

This product is also available in these versions:
Bam-A-Lam: The R&B Recordings 1950-1962 (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

There’s a select band of R&B artists who started out in the music business young, made recordings and appeared live for many years, retired for a few decades to raise a family but then later returned to personal appearances and recordings. One of these is Mickey Champion, whose career started in Los Angeles in the late 40s and who is still singing today. In “Bam-A-Lam” we take a look at the recordings from the first part of her career – a selection of tough R&B and blues recorded mainly in the 50s for West Coast-based labels including Aladdin, Dootone, Modern & RPM.

Hooking up with Roy Milton’s Band was an opportunity in more than one way – as well as recordings coming her way, Roy also became Mickey’s husband. Recorded live at Gene Norman’s Blues & Rhythm Show at the Shrine Auditorium in mid-1950, she belted out ‘He’s A Mean Man’ and ‘Lovin’ Jim’ to an estimated audience of 9000 jazz and R&B fans. On the same bill were Dinah Washington (Mickey’s idol) and Jimmy Witherspoon, with whom she recorded ‘There Ain’t Nothing Better’ later that year billed as His Gal Friday. Also in 1950 Mickey fronted the Nic Nacs (a renamed Robins group) and waxed ‘Found Me A Sugar Daddy’ and the seasonal ‘Gonna Have A Merry Xmas’, very much in the Little Esther & The Robins mould, for the Biharis’ RPM label. In the same period, the ballad ‘Everybody Knew It But Me’ and the Dinah Washington-inspired ‘I’ve Got It Bad’ appeared on the Modern label. As well as releasing four singles under her own name, the Biharis auditioned her for quite a few others. Four previously unreleased tracks are included from that period.

A contract with Aladdin Records came in late 1951, her sessions arranged & conducted by the West Coast maestro Maxwell Davis. EMI managed to come up with the original tapes so we have this 4-tune session in fine quality. At this stage, Mickey had a fear of flying so promotion was difficult despite the sides receiving good reviews, as she was effectively confined to the West Coast. The next stop for recording for both Mickey and the Roy Milton Band was Dootsie Williams’ Dootone Records. They were signed shortly after a big party to celebrate Roy’s 20th anniversary in the business had been held at the 5-4 Ballroom in L.A.

Sleeve note writer and long-time fan Opal Nations regards the coupling that Mickey released on Dootone as her finest moments on wax - the raunchy ‘I’m A Woman’ with the all-out rocker ‘Bam-A-Lam’ as its flip. After Dootone Mickey and Roy Milton signed to the Cincinnati-based King Records. Here she recorded duets with Roy on ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu’ and Roy’s signature tune ‘RM Blues’.

Here are the gems from the Mickey’s early and mid recording career with some previously unissued tracks as a bonus. As well as in Opal’s detailed notes, there’s also more biographical and discographical information on her career to be found in an article by Dan Kochakian in the June 2008 issue of Blues & Rhythm magazine.

By Peter Gibbon

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

Show

★★★★

Record Collector

Customer reviews

Show

Related products

Customers who bought this item also bought