If you were on the East Coast and you needed a stellar guitarist for your recording session, you could have called on McHouston (Mickey) Guitar Baker. Had you needed a vocalist, you might have rung the phone of Sylvia Vanderpool.That would be if she wasn't busy singing as "Little Sylvia " for the Hot Lips Page outfit for two Columbia label recordings in 1950, or several other early 1950's record labels. Evidently,they called to each other, and became a prolific singing duo through the 50's and early 60's. Sylvia even had a #3 solo record in 1973. Mickey And Sylvia started out on the Rainbow label for three releases, before signing to the RCA label subsidiary Groove. Their second single for groove produced their biggest hit, Love Is Strange. On to another RCA label called Vik, and then to the parent, RCA. A stop at King records and the King based Willow label, and you have over 25 singles, LP's and EP's, with a small gap in-between. I have attempted to feature most of the records they recorded through the early 1960's. I also am including a few of the initial releases by Sylvia while on her own, and will continue until all the early material is collected. I am not attempting to showcase Mickey's work both solo and as part of other teams, as the task seems to large. Mickey and Sylvia were a fine recording team, married in fact, for a time, and had a huge following before they broke up. Mickey moved to Paris and the duo was done. You can view many records below, and hear them in glorious mono with Real Audio!
The first of 2 records released on the Savoy label that listed the artist as Little Sylvia. "How Long Must I Be Blue" was backed with "Little Boy" and was released in 1951. Promo copy shown.
This is the stock copy of the Little Sylvia record on the red and gold Savoy label. It is identical to the promo copy shown previously with the exception of the words "Free Sample Copy" shown on the left side, in the middle, on the labels previously shown.
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Here is the 45 RPM of the Little Sylvia record. Savoy didn't change their label or logo all that much, so this looks like a typical release for that period. They were not much into pressing records with colored wax until some legitimate reissues appeared about 1961. They used the blue label, and issued some fairly rare sides. I have not seen this one in that reissue group. |
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Here is one of the Jubilee label recordings for Little Sylvia Vanderpool. "Drive Daddy Drive" is a fine up tempo effort, and it is paired with the original flip, "I Went To Your Wedding". This was issued in 1952 and also released on 45RPM.
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Shown is another issue of the record, this time changing the flip to ""I Found Somebody To Love". It's almost impossible to tell which flipside was the first to be paired with Drive Daddy Drive, and this flip seems to show up much less. They tried this "B" side twice, as you will read about below on the next Little Sylvia Jubilee recording. The recording has a similar theme to the plug side, and is uptempo. If it had been issued first, I could see why Jubilee may have wanted a ballad/jump combination, and maybe this flip was too strong and would have competed for spins. Notice the record time has been added to each label. |
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There were several releases on Jubilee for Little Sylvia. The 1st had two different flip sides, then this release, which also had two different flipsides - the one shown and also "I Found Somebody To Love" - the same as Jubilee 5093, and lastly a release on Jubilee 5113 that showed Little Sylvia (Vanderpool) as the artist. Shown above is Jubilee record 5100 "A Million Tears" and "Don't Blame My Heart" on 78. Both sides are ballads, and issued in 1953.
My copy on 45 RPM has Red Vinyl. You would think if Jubilee could issue a red vinyl 45 at 5100, they could do it four releases later with the Five Sharps! Click the records for enlarged pictures.
Here is the last of the Jubilee issues as Little Sylvia. The 45 RPM is shown above, and on red Vinyl. "The Ring" is backed with "Blue Heaven", which is not the classic song that Fats Domino and many others before him recorded. This was co-written by Sylvia and others. Both sides are ballads, and both have very nice guitar and organ accompaniment. Click on the records for enlargements. Released in 1953.
A Stop-over at the Atlantic subsidiary Cat records, with "Fine Love" and Speedy Life". This would be her only release for the label before changing again. As you can see on the label, she picked up Mickey Baker, and from here on out they were a duo. As the story goes, about this time, Mickey Baker taught Sylvia how to play the guitar. That would come in handy in a couple releases from now.
Here is the maroon 45 RPM version. As with all Cat releases, they were pressed on 45 and 78. For an in-depth look at the Cat label, go HERE.
Label hopping again! This time it is Eddie Heller's Rainbow records of New York. This is the first of three records released in 1955. The 78 version of "I'm So Glad" and the flip "See De Boom Run Dun". A decent two sider for the duo released in 1955. Anybody heard the Rainbow issue right before them by the artist Cousin Snorkel?
Here is the Rainbow release on 45RPM. The 45 is clearly marked as such, yet the other rainbow 78's do not show the 78 RPM markings. The 45 also does not have the Rainbow Recording Company on the top, as the 78 does.
Mickey And Sylvia's second release for Rainbow apparently was the very next record number issued, as their was no record number 317. "Forever And A Day" backed with "Rise Sally Rise". Shown is the yellow Rainbow label 78. Seems difficult to have a hit when records are released back to back.
This is the 45 issue on Rainbow. The same yellow color as the 78. Rainbow records was responsible for some great group sides including Lee Andrews and the Hearts.
This is the last Mickey And Sylvia Rainbow issue, " Where Is My Honey" and "Seems Like Just Yesterday". Another good outing, but the sales didn't add up. It was time to move on again.
Mickey And Sylvia jumped to the Groove label for two more recordings. Groove was a subsidiary of RCA records. RCA was trying to cash in on the R+B and vocal group market. "No Good Lover" is a great up tempo with some great guitar work. "Walkin In The Rain" is the flip. Pictured is the 78.
The 45 version of the distinctive green and black Groove label. Notice that both songs were written by Mickey and Sylvia.
Here is the biggest hit of their careers. "Love Is Strange" backed with "I'm Going Home". The record went to #1 on the national R+B charts for two weeks. The call and response worked well and grabbed everyone's attention in 1956.
And the 45 RPM release. Neither side was written by the duo this time, but they seemed to have the hit formula now. The song was revived in the 1990 movie Dirty Dancing.
RCA's Groove label released an EP shortly after the success of "Love Is Strange", that included the 4 sides released on Groove. Groove actually released several EP's by other Groove artists of the time.
The next label change was not as drastic. They were moved to Vik, another subsidiary of RCA.Vik's lineup included many pop artists and a few doo wop groups. They must have felt that Mickey And Sylvia would get better exposure then keeping them with the blues and R+B sounds of Groove. Here is the first Vik label release #252. This is a Canadian 78 of their hit "Love Is Strange" with the same flip "I'm Going Home"
This is the Canadian 45 of the same record. Seems the same take of both sides was used on the Vik release. Maybe they hoped to revive the song with a new label and a slightly later release date.
Next up is "There Oughta To Be A Law" backed with "Dearest". This was their next biggest hit in their joint careers. Hitting both the pop and r+b charts, this record strengthened their position as one of the best duos of the decade. Release date for this 78 was 1957.
Here is the more common 45 issue of their hit. Notice the colorful US Vik label that was used for most releases. They were on a roll and even the flip side made an appearance on the pop charts.
Their first and only EP on Vik was released about this time in 1957 and included the above two sides along with a couple they previously recorded for rainbow records.
"Love Will Make You Fail In School" was the immediate follow-up, and was backed with "Two Shadows On Your Window". Release number 0280, it did not chart but had good reaction and still sold.
Although my intent is not to show all the Canadian releases, this was too good to pass up. Not only Is it the Canadian Vik label, but it's a promo to boot. They used the same record number as the USA Vik, and the rest of the information is the same.
The next release was "Love Is A Treasure" with "Let's Have A Picnic" on the backside. A nice two sider. Shown is the 78 release from 1957.
This is the 45 RPM release of the same record. Again, no national chart action, but sales were good and RCA wisely stayed with Mickey And Sylvia because of their popularity and sales.
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"They'll Be No Backing Out" was next in line. On the flip, "Where Is My Honey" . Notice the reference to the Vik album "New Sounds". |
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Here is the 45 RPM.
This is their first LP release called New Sounds on Vik 1102. The tracks included two rainbow cuts, two from Vik and the other eight making an appearance for the first time on vinyl.
Back to the singles and another pop chart entry with "Bewildered". The flip is "Rock And Stroll Room". This is another really good 2 sider from Mickey And Sylvia. This was released in 1958.
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The 45 RPM version of "Bewildered" and "The Rock And Stroll Room". Notice that Leiber and Stoller are producers on both sides of this record. It is the only Vik release they are mentioned on. |
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Wrapping up their releases on Vik was "True True Love" and "It's You I Love". Although it finished their Vik label output, they would now change labels again! |
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Since they recorded on some of RCA's subsidiaries, why not record for RCA? Done! Their first release was "To The Valley" and "Oh Yeah Uh Huh". No real chart action nationally, but a nice record. Released in 1958. |
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Up next was "Sweeter As The Day Goes By" and "Mommy Out De Light". Sammy Lowe is conducting the orchestra on most of the RCA releases. |
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"What Would I Do" and "This Is My Story" was next for Mickey And Sylvia. Both sides charted on the National Pop Charts. Another good two sider that showed their ability to make strong records and still hit the charts. |
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"Love Lesson" and "Love Is The Only Thing" definitely had a theme. It was also the only compact 33 that RCA issued with Mickey And Sylvia. |
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Here is the record pairing again, this time on a standard release for RCA. Mickey Baker conducts the orchestra on one side of this one. |
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Time for another label change, but this time with a twist. Mickey and Sylvia decided to form their own record company, Willow records. Their first outing resulted in "Baby You're So Fine" and "Lovedrops". Both sides made the pop top 100 billboard charts. |
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"Darling I Miss You" was the follow-up record on Willow, given the usual Mickey and Sylvia treatment. The song was recorded by several artists including Lillian Offit on Excello as Miss You So. The flip was "I'm Guilty". |
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They started to fall back to the standards and recorded Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell For You". The flip was the Ike Turner penned "He Gave Me Everything". A musical connection will be shown with Ike and Tina Turner later. |
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Speaking of standards, their last release was their own standard, "Love Is Strange". It appears to be the same as the groove label take, but with overdubs on vocals. The Flip was done on Groove as well and called "Walking In The Rain". |
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Back to RCA with "Let's Shake Some More" written by Leonard Lee of Shirley And Lee fame, flipped with "The Gypsy". Joe Rene is now producing. Curiously, this was released 4 years after the last RCA issue, in 1965 |
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The last release for the RCA label, "From The Beginning Of Time" and "Fallin In Love". This was also released in 1965. |
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There was one last release from Mickey And Sylvia utilizing their Willow label distributor, King records. Another try at the same Willow label take "Love Is Strange" flipped with the same recording from Willow 23002 "Darling I Miss You". Released in 1965 |
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This is the stock copy of the 1965 release. King records had long since adopted the High Fidelity statement, starting about 10 years earlier. In the promo, it was dropped to indicate promotional copy, |
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Here's one that qualifies for an odd record. This disc was originally released on Savoy in 1951 (pictured back at the start of the page), and was then re-released in 1960 on Sharp #103. It is the exact same take of the great up tempo tune.Sharp just happened to be a subsidiary of Savoy records. Sharp started as a gospel label, and then introduced the 100 series for pop and some R+B. The promo shows Free Sample on the middle right, and is black and white. The flip of this record is by the Ray O Vacs. Listen to "Little Boy" again, or if you missed it the first time. |
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This is the stock copy of the odd pairing. Notice the label is listed as "Popular". This normally indicates a series. Jazz, Gospel, Country Western, are just a few types of series that other labels had. |
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Mickey and Sylvia played on Ike and Tina Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine". Above are two different label variations on this 1961 Sue records release. |
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RCA Camden released an LP of the Mickey and Sylvia material in 1965, after the hits had come. Ten cuts on a long overdue LP. Interestingly, the liner notes say the LP is released at "The Height Of Their Success". |
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The RCA Camden LP was also issued in stereo. A combination of Groove, Vik and RCA sides were included. |
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Although released a bit past the scope of this profile, in 1973 RCA released an LP entitled Mickey And Sylvia Do It Again". This included 12 cuts from the RCA family including a few originally unreleased sides. On the strength of the 1973 album release, RCA reissued Love Is Strange, and the duo, now recording on Stang records, issued Baby You're So Fine (Not Pictured). |
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Gone Missing: All Mickey and Sylvia issues are accounted for in one form or the other,through 1965. Needed are the US Vik 45 of Love Is Strange, Assorted 78's that are not pictured for Rainbow, Vik and RCA, and a fewl Sylvia solo records including the two done with the Hot Lips Page orchestra on Columbia in 1950. |
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