[Neil Sharpe]

In 1972, Little Richard and Robert "Bumps" Blackwell reunited in an effort to recapture the magic of the 1957 album "Here's Little Richard" (named to the "All Time Top 100 Albums of 20th Century" by Time Magazine). Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out ("The Second Coming" was title of the album) BUT on "Mockingbird Sally", Lee Allen again demonstrated his exceptional tone and phrasing (1:03 and 2:20 and following) that back in the 1950's helped to ignite what came to be known as "rock music".

[Note did a search but haven't been able to determine if this has been posted before. If so, sorry I missed it, but if not, well worth hearing!]

 

[Pete Thomas]

Fantastic thanks Neil I hadn't heard that one.

Yes Lee's tone and phrasing - he was truly the master of making one note count, no need for complexity, just hits you round the head with pure unadulterated rocking blues.

(BUT Come on Bumps you didn't get the raw power of the 50s - I presume that was not recorded at Cosimo's? We needed the saxophone just a tad higher in the mix, especially those low growls)

EDIT" just noticed the vinyl crackle, recorded off a record so maybe I was unfair to judge Bumps's production...

 

[John Laughter]

Lee Allen:cheers:

We needed the saxophone just a tad higher in the mix, especially those low growls

Yes!

Bumps you didn't get the raw power of the 50s

Would be a hard act to follow. Those 50's hits really kicked! Just hard to do any better.

 

[mrpeebee]

Thanks for sharing Neil.

Lee Allen sounds great, but the rest is overly busy BS (in my ears). For me nothing compared to the more 'open' and much better sounding 50's 'jewels'.

 

[1saxman]

And don't forget, by that time Lee had changed his whole set-up and didn't have the Conn and same mouthpiece anymore. I think I saw him with a Selmer when he had 'The Blasters' going later. But make no mistake, anyone who has listened to a lot of Lee Allen would know that voice anywhere! He did things that nobody knows how. I picked up a few of them but one thing confounds me - he had some way of making his own echo. Now I know that most all records have echo, but this is something different.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to listen to 'Walking With Mr' Lee' until you hear what I'm talking about.

 

[Pete Thomas]

And don't forget, by that time Lee had changed his whole set-up and didn't have the Conn and same mouthpiece anymore. I think I saw him with a Selmer when he had 'The Blasters' going later.

It was originally a Buescher 400, not a Conn.

He was never really into gear at all, which is why when he got the MKVI tp replace the stolen Buescher, he just played the Selmer D that was in the case.

But I do remember the other guys in the band saying that Lee had an amplifier in his chest.

Nobody could project like that. With or without a PA system.

 

[1saxman]

I know. I was playing at the Top Hat in Va. Beach in the summer of '64, and one of the major acts they brought in was the Fats Domino show. Lee was there. At the time, I thought he played a Super 20 because of the underslung octave - I didn't know that much about horns in those years. I actually had a Selmer Buescher 400 at the time but never made the connection between his horn and mine. Anyway, he used a white plastic mouthpiece that was not a Brilhart, and he did not have a mic. That was not a problem, because I could hear him above all else from across the street at the Gulf Stream hotel. I sat right in front of them, by myself, and must have drank three pitchers of beer and smoked a pack of Kools. What a great thing to see. Herbert Hardesty was there too, because he had his name engraved in the bell of his horn.

 

[John Laughter]

Top Hat club. Fun memories! Now that was a party place with two stages and two bands with non-stop music. Our Blue Chords band out of Bluefield played there the summers of 59, 60 and 61. And spent a week at the Gulf Stream before finding a house to rent in 61.

I often wondered who stole Lee Allen's Top Hat & Cane tenor and if it was still around. It should have been placed in a museum. Seems to me that someone indicated that his wife sold the Selmer after Lee Allen passed away. She needed the money. I only had one phone conversation with Mr. Allen. He was not feeling well but very nice and helpful. He was real pleased that his tone and style was appreciated by so many sax players after all the years that had passed.

Pete was very fortunate to have played in the band with Lee Allen! :cheers:

 

[1saxman]

Listening to the Blasters again, I have to say he really still had the essence of his sound even with the Selmer, but he also seemed to not have the air he once had. People were eating it up at their shows, though. He really should have had a bell mic - he didn't hug the stand mic like he should have for an outdoor show. Once he actually left his position to 'walk' like he loved to do, and nobody heard a note.
I listen to the '50s channel a lot and hear Lee Allen on records by many stars. He had a very good career going in the '50s and 'early '60s with Fats and Little Richard, plus various recording dates. One of the sax icons of RR/RB for sure, and one of my first sax heroes when I was playing the 45s on a record player and trying to get the sound and the licks.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Pete was very fortunate to have played in the band with Lee Allen! :cheers:

Probably the best part of my musical career, before that Lee was my main inspiration. To get to meet and play with him was just like a dream come true. Plus to discover that he was the most really nice, intelligent and funny bloke you could ever wish to meet. I have many anecdotes.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Probably the best part of my musical career, before that Lee was my main inspiration. To get to meet and play with him was just like a dream come true. Plus to discover that he was the most really nice, intelligent and funny bloke you could ever wish to meet. I have many anecdotes.

There is now a single released, a duet with Lee. Guess who wins?

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...en-Pete-Thomas-duelling-tenors-Guess-who-wins

 

[John Laughter]

I listen to the '50s channel a lot and hear Lee Allen on records by many stars. He had a very good career going in the '50s and 'early '60s with Fats and Little Richard, plus various recording dates.

Just a sampling. When you find them on Youtube make sure the Little Richard hits are on Specialty (45rpm) or London (78rpm) label;

READY TEDDY-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

RIP IT UP-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

SLIPPIN' AND SLIDIN'-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

TUTTI-FRUTTI-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

BABY FACE-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

JENNY, JENNY-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

LONG TALL SALLY-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

LUCILLE-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

MISS ANN-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

SEND ME SOME LOVIN'-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON-LITTLE RICHARD - LEE ALLEN

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL-SHIRLEY & LEE - LEE ALLEN

I CAN'T GO ON-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

POOR ME-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

I'M IN LOVE AGAIN-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

IT'S YOU I LOVE-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

I WANT YOU TO KNOW-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

VALLEY OF TEARS-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

WAIT AND SEE-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

LITTLE MARY-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

THE BIG BEAT-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

NATURAL BORN LOVER-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

SHU RAH-FATS DOMINO - LEE ALLEN

Interesting note about some of Fats Domino's early recordings;

"I've Been Around - enlarging upon and superseding Bear Family's original, eight-CD 1993 Domino set Out of New Orleans, which did not contain the ABC-Paramount sides - offers completely remastered renderings of all the recordings. Of particular interest to collectors will be speed-corrected versions of 11 tracks that were artificially sped up for release as singles during the '50s, to make the vocalist sound more "youthful," by Imperial mastering engineer Abraham "Bunny" Robyn; these are heard in both their original and newly corrected form.)

 

[Neil Sharpe]

Back when I was doing the interview with Jon R Smith, he really emphasized the importance of Lee Allen not only as a critical influence, but also as a truly great, one of a kind, player, whose "phrasing, articulation, and ability to go to the heart of a song were perfect."

 

[Pete Thomas]

Back when I was doing the interview with Jon R Smith, he really emphasized the importance of Lee Allen not only as a critical influence, but also as a truly great, one of a kind, player, whose "phrasing, articulation, and ability to go to the heart of a song were perfect."

Not sure what to add to that!

@John Laughter and @Neil Sharpe are you aware of this album:

https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Allens-...Dont-I-Know-Your-Sister-Will/release/11024912

 

[pumseig]

Not sure what to add to that!

@John Laughter and @Neil Sharpe are you aware of this album:

https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Allens-...Dont-I-Know-Your-Sister-Will/release/11024912

Pete, is this album available anywhere? Was it ever issued on cd?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Pete, is this album available anywhere? Was it ever issued on cd?

AFAIK only ever on vinyl.

 

[John Laughter]

Not sure what to add to that!

@John Laughter and @Neil Sharpe are you aware of this album:

https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Allens-...Dont-I-Know-Your-Sister-Will/release/11024912

Thanks Pete. Yes sir, I have seen a few of the LP's for sale but in the $38.00 area and above. One going for $52.62. I will check Ebay once in a while for it.

If you can open this site you can play a few samples;

https://www.bear-family.com/allen-lee-if-you-don-t-i-know-your-sister-will-lp.html

I have his "Down On Bourbon Street" LP with the dancer on the cover;

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2008/04/lee-allen-down-on-bourbon-street_1456.html

 

[Pete Thomas]

Thanks Pete. Yes sir, I have seen a few of the LP's for sale but in the $38.00 area and above. One going for $52.62. I will check Ebay once in a while for it.

If you can open this site you can play a few samples;

https://www.bear-family.com/allen-lee-if-you-don-t-i-know-your-sister-will-lp.html

I have his "Down On Bourbon Street" LP with the dancer on the cover;

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.com/2008/04/lee-allen-down-on-bourbon-street_1456.html

Down on Bourbon St was a bootleg. Lee wasn't happy about that.

 

[John Laughter]

Down on Bourbon St was a bootleg. Lee wasn't happy about that

I did not know that.

 

[Neil Sharpe]

I was not aware of it. Was familiar with the Bourbon Street LP and have the CDs with Paul Gayten, but hadn't heard of "If You Don't..." until now. Many thanks for posting Pete!

And John thanks for the link to Bear Family- great cuts!