The Hollywood Flames
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The Hollywood Flames | |
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Also known as | The Turks, The Jets, The Sounds, Bobby Day & the Satellites, London, Chess Records, Ebb Records |
Past members | Bobby Byrd (lead), David Ford, Curlee Dinkins, Willie Ray Rockwell, Clyde Tillis, Gaynel Hodge, Curtis Williams |
The Hollywood Flames were an
Early years
They formed as The Flames in 1949, in the
Bands and recordings
Over the years the group, under various names, is believed to have recorded for about nineteen different record labels, including Aladdin and Specialty. Although they had no big hits for several years, they were a successful local act in the Los Angeles area. The group also had a series of personnel changes, with Rockwell being replaced by Gaynel Hodge, and for a short while Dinkins being replaced by Curtis Williams. Hodge and Williams, with Jesse Belvin, were co-writers of The Penguins' "Earth Angel".[1] In 1953, they released the sketch for this song "I Know" on the label Swing Time. Believed to be the first song to present the 6/8 piano-attacca known from later '50s hits such as "Only You" and "Ain't That a Shame".
By 1954, the group were usually billed as The Hollywood Flames, but also recorded as The Turks, The Jets, and The Sounds. David Ford and Gaynel Hodge recorded with Jesse Belvin and Hodge's brother Alex (founding member of the
In 1957, the group - Byrd, Ford, Dinkins and Nelson - signed with Class Records, where Byrd was renamed "Bobby Day". The group recorded as The Hollywood Flames, as Bobby Day & the Satellites, and as Earl Nelson & the Pelicans. In July 1957, Bobby Day & the Satellites recorded "Little Bitty Pretty One", which was covered more successfully by Thurston Harris. Later that year, The Hollywood Flames – with Nelson singing lead – released "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz", co-written by Byrd, which reached No. 5 on the R&B chart and No. 11 on the pop chart.[1]
Byrd (alias Day) then left The Hollywood Flames, but continued to release
In December 1959, they had their first Atco release: "Every Day, Every Way" (led by Earl Nelson) b/w "If I Thought You Needed Me" (fronted by Eddie Williams). Atco arranged for them to appear at the Apollo Theater to push the record (the week of December 25). Others on the show were: Lloyd Price, Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, and The Five Keys. They were back at the Apollo on February 19, 1960 for another
In April 1960, Atco released "Ball And Chain" led by Earl Nelson. "I Found A Boy" was sung by Eddie Williams and an unknown female vocalist who recorded this one record with the Hollywood Flames. At the same session with Atco, Ray and the Flames also recorded "Devil Or Angel" and "Do You Ever Think of Me". The Hollywood Flames made one record for Chess out of their Chicago studio "Gee" and "Yes They Do", released in March 1961. In 1962, Ray left the Flames and became lead vocalist of the New York-based Cadillacs.
The Hollywood Flames continued to record for several more years, with a fluctuating line-up, the only constant being David Ford. The last version of the group split up around 1967. Earl Nelson, also known as Jackie Lee, died on July 12, 2008.[2]
Discography
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
Record Label | B-side | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | R&B | ||||
1951 | "Young Girl" | — | — | Recorded In Hollywood | "The Glory of Love" |
1952 | "Baby Please" | — | — | "Young Girl" | |
1954 | "Peggy" | — | — | Decca Records | "Ooh La La" |
1957 | "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" | 11 | 5 | Ebb Records | "Crazy" |
1958 | "Strollin' on the Beach" | — | — | "Frankenstein's Den" | |
"A Little Bird" | — | — | "Give Me Back My Heart" | ||
"Chains of Love" | — | — | "Let's Talk It Over" | ||
1959 | "I'll Be Seeing You" | — | — | "Just for You" | |
"Much Too Much" | — | — | "In the Dark" | ||
"So Good" | — | — | "There Is Something on Your Mind" | ||
"Every Day, Every Way (I'll Always Be in Love with You)" |
— | — | Atco Records | "If I Thought You Needed Me" | |
1960 | "Ball and Chain" | — | — | "I Found a Boy" | |
"Devil or Angel" | — | — | "Do You Ever Think of Me" | ||
"My Heart's on Fire" | — | — | " Money Honey "
| ||
1961 | "Gee" | — | 26 | Chess Records | "Yes They Do" |
1962 | "Elizabeth" | — | — | Goldie Records | "Believe in Me" |
1963 | "Drop Me a Line" | — | — | Vee-Jay Records | "Letter to My Love (Goodnight)" |
1965 | "Dance Senorita" | — | — | Symbol Records | "Annie Don't Love Me No More" |
1966 | "I'm Coming Home" | — | — | "I'm Gonna Stand by You" |
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- ^ "Earl Nelson: Half of Bob & Earl". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2016-10-05.