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    Just one of inkFrog's Creations

Description

HANK BALLARD

and the Midnighters

"DANCE ALONG"

1961 US ORIGINAL DEEP GROOVE PRESS

SUPER THICK VINYL

BLACK & SILVER LABEL

CROWNLESS

KING

759

• RARE ORIGINAL SUPER THICK VINYL MONO 1961 US ORIGINAL PRESSING on the black "silver letter" deep groove crownless KING stock label (see photo). It includes 12 great songs that "will still sound fresh 10 years from today in 1971" as the liner notes proclaim. This upbeat LP is pure rockin' Hank Ballard that is for sure.
• The LP is pressed on very thick DEEP GROOVE non flexible KING vinyl (see photos).
• The MONO ORIGINAL ANALOG mixes are full bodied with incredible fidelity and are much more desirable than any later pressings.
• This early KING glossy cover is manufactured from thick American style cardboard stock with a pasted on back paper slick (see photos).
• Do not be fooled by inferior digital re-mastering, re-mixes or compilation CD's. This is an original mono ANALOG recording; the real thing.

In the world of early rhythm & blues and doo wop, Hank Ballard was the very definition of earthiness. Though influenced by high-energy gospel vocal groups, Ballard's music with the Midnighters couldn't have been more diametrically opposed in terms of subject matter: his lyrics were filled with raunchy double-entendres that left little to the imagination, pushing the envelope of what was considered acceptable in the '50s. His songs were sometimes banned on the radio, but that only made him an even bigger jukebox favorite among black audiences. Ballard's hard-driving, rhythmic style was also an underappreciated influence on the rawer side of R&B, particularly on a young James Brown; plus, his composition "The Twist" — recorded for a hit by Chubby Checker — became one of the biggest hits in rock & roll history. Hank Ballard was born November 18, 1927 (according to his birth records) in Detroit, but moved to Bessemer, AL, as a young child following his father's death. There he began singing in church and when he returned to Detroit at age 15, he set about forming a doo wop group while working on the Ford assembly line. Around the same time, singers Henry Booth and Charles Sutton were organizing a doo wop outfit called the Royals, which reputedly at one time also featured Jackie Wilson and future Four Top Levi Stubbs; it eventually grew to include vocalists Lawson Smith and Sonny Woods, plus gritty guitarist Alonzo Tucker. Initially copying the smooth style of Sonny Til & the Orioles, the Royals were discovered by Johnny Otis in 1952 and signed with Federal Records. However, when Hank Ballard replaced Smith in 1953, they adopted a rougher, more hepped-up sound in keeping with Ballard's numerous original compositions and Clyde McPhatter influence. Ballard's first recording with the group was 1953's "Get It," which hit the Top Ten on the R&B charts, but it was the following year's ribald "Work With Me Annie" that really broke the group (they changed their name to the Midnighters around this time, to avoid confusion with the Five Royales). "Work With Me Annie" topped the R&B charts and nearly reached the pop Top 20, despite a number of radio stations refusing to air the song. It inspired a number of answer records and the Midnighters themselves entered the fray with the sequels "Annie Had a Baby" (another R&B chart-topper) and "Annie's Aunt Fannie." They also scored another major smash with the Ballard-penned "Sexy Ways," which solidified their reputation as R&B's most risqué act.

However, after the momentum of "Work With Me Annie" slowed, the Midnighters seemed at a loss as to how to recapture it. They went nearly three and a half years without another big hit, and with the decline in their fortunes came numerous personnel shifts. Lawson Smith returned to the fold to replace Sutton, Norman Thrasher replaced Sonny Woods, and Tucker's guitar post was taken first by Arthur Porter, then Cal Green. Ballard attempted to take his 1958 composition "The Twist" to Vee-Jay, which declined to release the version they recorded; King, Federal's parent label, issued it as the B-side of the Midnighters' R&B comeback ballad hit "Teardrops on Your Letter" in 1959. Still, "The Twist" gained some notice and found a fan in American Bandstand host Dick Clark, who brought the song to Chubby Checker's attention; the rest was history, as "The Twist" became the first song to hit number one during two completely separate chart runs. Ballard and the Midnighters benefited from the exposure, scoring their first Top Ten pop singles in 1960 with "Finger Poppin' Time" and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go." A few more R&B hits followed, generally dance-oriented songs in the vein of "The Twist," before the well dried up for a second time. The Midnighters gradually disintegrated and Ballard became a solo act; by the end of the '60s, he was working with longtime fan James Brown, who produced several singles for Ballard during the late '60s and early '70s. After a lengthy absence from music, Ballard re-formed the Midnighters during the mid-'80s, first as a female group, then male, and began touring once again. In 1990, Ballard received his due as an R&B innovator with his election into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (AMG)

This LP has an incredible track line up and does not come up often with this beautiful cover and ABSOLUTE 1ST US PRESS black DEEP GROOVE KING labels. This copy is from my personal collection. I'll let the market decide what this one is worth. Please bid accordingly. Please see the other JAMES BROWN LP's I have up for Auction.

Cover/Jacket Condition: Very Good++/Very Good+ ...the BEAUTIFUL front cover is white and glossy with only the beginning of wear evident at the corners (see photo). The back cover is nice also with light ring wear (see photo). The top and bottom seams are intact with light wear but appear to have been repaired with glue in parts. The top seam is beginning to split for about one inch at the opening corner. The spine is intact and sharp. No cut out holes, drill holes, writing, age yellowing, cut corners, indents, saw marks, razor marks, stickers, stamps, warping, bar codes, stains, water damage, tears, or peel off marks. Please see the photos in the listing.

Record Condition: Side 1 & 2: Very Good+/Very Good ...the SUPER THICK non flexible DEEP GROOVE vinyl has light surface marks a couple of very small ones that can lightly be felt. The beautiful deep groove black KING labels are clean with only the beginning of wear around the spindle holes (See photos). The matrix numbers in the dead wax are K-12-759-A-1 on side one and K-12-759-B-1 on side two. This lp plays great better than the visual grade would suggest, quietly with clear vocals and crisp highs. There is an occasional click or pop but nothing that would impair enjoyment of the music. The listener can easily enjoy the original KING mono mixes of these great songs. CD's and later vinyl pressings can't even come close to the incredible fidelity of this ORIGINAL deep groove KING LP.

Thanks for looking!!!

WHY BID ON THIS ITEM?

HERE'S WHY!

ALL MY LISTINGS INCLUDE:

Vinyl Grading Policy:

• All records and jackets are visually graded unless noted otherwise. CAUTION: Please be aware that the play grade may differ from the visual grade. If you want me to play a particular song and give you an assessment of background noise, etc. Please email me. We all have records that look worn but play great and vice versa. It is not possible to play as well as visually grade each LP listed. I TRY TO GRADE CONSERVATIVELY under the guidelines on this page, which generally follow the GOLDMINE standards. Although I try to be conscientious as a grader, there is the possibility that something could slip by me. In the event an item is not as described, REST ASSURED I will always offer a money back guarantee for purchase price of the item if returned safe and secure and requested within five days of receipt.
• Mint = A mint item must be absolutely perfect. Certainly never been played if not still sealed. This would be an item where it was opened but not played maybe just to check the label variation.
• Near Mint = The record shows no obvious signs of wear. The vinyl should show no wear from playing only the slightest of paper scuffs are acceptable. The jacket should look as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink-wrap.
• Near Mint-/Very Good++ = The record or cover is clearly better than VG+ but not Near Mint. There should be some signs that the vinyl was played infrequently and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took excellent care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have light scuffs and or very minor light scratches that do not affect the listening experience at all. The label and spindle hole will be without flaws other than the lightest of spindle trails from being played only a few times if at all. The cover should be bright and sharp and will have only the very first evidence of discoloration or ring wear or creased corners. Although there may be some evidence of seam/spine wear, seam splits are not permitted for this grade. The jacket may be marked as a cut out by a drill hole, saw mark, cut corner or punch hole. I will try to list any cover flaws of significance.
• Very Good+ = This is equivalent of the VG+ grade in Goldmine. The record will show signs that the vinyl was played but taken care of. Record surfaces will show signs of wear including some light scratches/scuffs that do not significantly affect the listener experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Spindle holes will have some wear but not be enlarged or damaged in any way. The cover will have general wear/ring wear but not to the extent that it materially impairs enjoyment of the picture cover. Slight seam splits are OK for this grade. Again I will try to list any cover flaws of significance.
• Very Good = Unless it is a rare collectible, I usually will not sell records where both the cover and vinyl are below a VG+ grade PERIOD. This grade is included since some times there may be either a cover or record that the flaws in VG+ grade above are more pronounced but the other part of the package is of a higher grade. If it is the vinyl I will play grade it to be sure that the listener can still enjoy the music.
• BID WITH CONFIDENCE! All items are FULLY GUARANTEED. If requested within five days of receipt, I will refund your full purchase price (excluding refund of shipping costs) upon return of the item if you are not satisfied, period. If you want protection related to lost or damaged shipments you must insure your winnings. I pack all records removed from the jacket, sandwiched between corrugated cardboard before insertion into the mailer box. Many times I will also use bubble wrap or a box inside a box packing method to further protect your item.
• I do not grade inner sleeves but will let you know if there are any inserts, posters, stickers or other items included with the RECORD or TAPE.
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Payment and Shipping

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