From a mixed race parentage of Cuba and West Indian, a child named Lincoln Chase was born on 29 June 1926 in New York City. As he grow up his musical skill became apparent; he became a pianist and composer, trained in music at the American Academy of Music in New York City, and then began his own recording and songwriting career. The vibrant and largely neglected music from his pen is sourced from the years 1953 to 1963 with twenty titles coming from the 1950s. The album purposefully omits, the novelty and love ballads, plus the titles Chase wrote for Shirley Ellis to focus on the rockin’ side of his penmanship.
The album contains a wide variety of music and sound that will appeal to collectors, and be of interest to those who wish to hear something which is not overly reissued. The album’s intention is to offer a tribute to an artist who wrote and sang and crafted numerous hit records. Chase remains relatively unknown to many even though he wrote songs that were very different from that of other songsmiths, and numerous versions of his songs are in circulation. With this album, Koko Mojo Records’ aim is to inform people about his music and his importance to the music world.
Due to Chase’s mixed Cuban and West Indian parentage, some of his sounds have an exotic sound and tempo, and his mainstream compositions are well-known, unlike the man himself. Chase is featured within the album performing solo, and with The Sandmen, who had in their membership Benjamin Peay, aka Brook Benton, and The Spencer-Hagen Orchestra providing a full arrangement. The Vulture Song which opens the album could have people thinking he was Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and this is one of the two “very odd-ball” titles on the album, that is wacky and compelling to hear.
Of the less-known artists who did not have a large legacy or moved into other music genres you will hear; the powerful vocal cords of Beulah Swan, Don’t Steal My Heart, The Playboys stroll tempo, Rock, Moan And Cry, and Mel Jackson’s madcap flip-side, She Took The Whole Shebang which sounds like a real-life situation turned into a song. There are two R&B jump tunes from the Du-Droppers, and sophisticated melodies from; Ruth Brown, The Orioles, Roy Hamilton, and future soul music star the eleven-year-old George Benson sings with conviction She Makes Me Mad.
Along the album’s journey, you will learn about his legacy, which includes, the song Such A Night which has numerous cover versions including; The Drifters, Johnny Ray, Elvis Presley, Dinah Washington, and Mac Allen Smith whose interpretation is on the album. The same applies to That’s All I Need, which LaVern Baker, The Mills Brothers, and Rusty Draper recorded and Chase is included singing his own song. Chase also wrote Jim Dandy and Jim Dandy Got Married for Lavern Baker, both songs are on the album although Ann-Margret sings Jim Dandy.
There are more white rockers tuning their vocal cords to his penmanship and along the musical journey you will hear; Nick Greene singing The Blues Down Home, and this song makes its CD debut, Be My Kitten Little Chicken, by Teddy Randazzo is jiving rock ‘n’ roll, and there are two moody mid-tempo rockers, Come A Little Closer Baby by Joey Castle, and country artist Red Foley Blues sounding very different to his other recording on Blues In My Red Wagon Blues. There are several white ladies with contrasting styles namely; Bunny Paul with the jive tempo, Leave My Heart Alone, Carol Hughes with the fast rocker Fancy Dance, Maureen Cannon’s plea of MamTma Come Save Your Child, and the “odd-ball” the ultra-strange One Billion Seven Million, Thirty-Three from The Tranquils.
The sleeve notes from the reissue producer and Dee Jay Mark Armstrong will give a brief history about the naughty boy of music, and where available session information is included. The album is topped off with the best possible sound quality possible from our mastering team at our El Paso, Texas, Studio. The album sleeves are made from top-quality eco-friendly cardboard and lavishly decorated by design artist and working musician Urban Zotel. Koko Mojo Records endeavor to use some lesser-known and for some, perhaps more obscure titles and adds something unexpected to every album. The album is ideal for Dee Jays to fill the dance floor with, and for home listening or while cruising around. Mojo Records “Often imitated, never duplicated.”
All that remains is to say, “Crank up the volume and dig these musical gems.
Dee Jay Mark Armstrong Bühl, Germany
01 Lincoln Chase with Howard Biggs' Orchestra The Vulture Song (Chase) RCA Victor 1953
02 Beulah Swan Don’t Steal My Heart (Chase) Bethlehem 1954
03 George Benson She Makes Me Mad (Chase) Groove1954
04 Ruth Brown and Her Rhythmakers with Orchestra Please Don't Freeze (Chase) Atlantic 1954
05 The Playboys Rock, Moan And Cry (Chase) Cat 1954
06 The Du Droppers I Only Had A Little (Chase) Groove 1955
07 Bunny Paul Leave My Heart Alone (Chase) Capitol 1955
08 The Du Droppers You're Mine Already (Chase) Groove 1955
09 Lincoln Chase and The Sandmen That's All I Need (Chase) 1955
10 The Orioles Fair Exchange (Chase) Jubilee 1955
11 Carol Hughes Fancy Dance (Chase) Mercury 1956
12 LaVern Baker Jim Dandy Got Married (Chase) Atlantic 1957
13 Maureen Cannon Mamma Come Save Your Child (Chase) Jubilee 1957
14 Mel Jackson She Took The Whole Shebang (Chase) Josie 1957
15 Nick Greene The Blues Down Home (Chase) Capitol 1958
16 The Tranquils One Billion Seven Million, Thirty-Three (Chase) Hamilton 1958
17 Teddy Randazzo with Henri René?s Orchestra and Chorus Be My Kitten Little Chicken (Chase) Vik 1958
18 Joey Castle Come A Little Closer Baby (Chase) RCA Victor 1958
19 Lincoln Chase with The Spencer-Hagen Orchestra I Love Your Many Ways (Chase) Liberty 1958
20 Lincoln Chase with The Spencer-Hagen Orchestra Hollywood, Sunset And Vine (Chase) Liberty 1958
21 Red Foley Blues In My Red Wagon Blues (Chase) Decca 1960
22 Lincoln Chase Miss Orangatang (Chase) Columbia 1960
23 Limmie B. Good I'm Gonna Kiss My Girl Tonight (Chase) Columba 1961
24 Roy Hamilton To The One I Love (Chase, Hamilton) Epic 1961
25 Eddie Cooley and The Dimples Hot Biscuits And Sweet Marie (Chase) MGM 1961
26 Lincoln Chase Sweet Torture (Chase) Swan 1962
27 Ann-Margret Jim Dandy (Chase) RAC Victor 1962
28 Mac Allen Smith Such A Night (Chase) Statue 1963
