*(1956) Sun 254-B ''Come On Little Mama'' Ray Harris

Описание: STUDIO SESSION FOR RAY HARRIS
AT THE MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE FOR SUN RECORDS 1956

SUN RECORDING STUDIO
706 UNION AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
SUN SESSION: WEDNESDAY JUNE 20, 1956
SESSION HOURS: UNKNOWN
PRODUCER AND RECORDING ENGINEER - SAM C. PHILLIPS
AND/OR BILL CANTRELL

In its original 45rpm form "Come On Little Mama" proved to be a serious challenge for the avid listener as the single was pressed on particularly low grade vinyl. Only in recent years, with the advent of the digital format, has it been possible to soak up the full impact of what Ray Harris first set out to archieve. As a point of interest, his right hand man was a fine guitarist by the name of Wayne Gogswell who saw success of his own when he penned "Teensville" for Chet Atkins. (SC)

"COME ON LITTLE MAMA"
Composer: - Ray Harris-Wayne Cogswell
Publisher: - B.M.I. - Hi-Lo Music Incorporated
Matrix number: - U 200 - Master (2:18)
Recorded: - June 20, 1956
Released: - September 24, 1956
First appearance: - Sun Records (S) 78/45rpm standard single Sun 254-B mono
COME ON LITTLE MAMA / WHERE'D YOU STAY LAST NITE
Reissued: - 1995 Bear Family Records (CD) 500/200rpm BCD 15802 DI-3-1 mono digital
THE SUN SINGLES COLLECTION - VOLUME 2

There is a priceless anecdote about Ray Harris, practicing his vocal craft in a non-air conditioned Memphis apartment in July, standing in his overalls, dripping with sweat, bellowing his heart out to his undeserving neighbors. Folks living blocks away got to preview an a cappella version of these sides, which Billboard later called "dangerous".

All the practicing apparently paid off for Harris, whose voice Billboard described as "extreme" and "emotion packed". In his more staid later life, Ray Harris spent years as the resident engineer at the Hi Records studio across town.

"Come On Little Mama" was one of the original Holy Grail Sun singles... and with good reason. Its one of the most berserk records of the era. Ray Harris took his song to Sun. Sam Phillips, surely knowing that he couldn't sell Harris to the mass market, nevertheless responded to his maniacal energu. "I'll never forget it, he was so intense", says Phillips. "Ray was a very intense person. He really put himself into it. He looked like he was going to have a heart attack every time he played. 'Rack 'em up, boy, let's go!. That was Ray's saying".

"Come On Little Mama" was a definitive statement of supercharged rockabilly: a word apart from country, but not identifiably rhythm and blues or pop. The lyrics were virtually unintelligible, the musicianship limited, and the production sparse, but the performance was irressistible. "Come On Little Mama" apparently sold well locally, and Ray Harris was invited back to cut a follow-up. (MH) (HD) (CE)

Name (Or. No. Of Instruments)
Ray Harris - Vocal and Guitar
Winston Wayne Cogswell - Guitar
Joey Reisenberg - Drums
Unknown - Bass

© - 706 UNION AVENUE SESSIONS - ©