You are out record hunting and stumble across a record by a group you have never heard of, on a record label you have never seen before. You come home, slap it on the turntable, and listen. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it is just so-so. Worse yet, sometimes it's Country Western! You go to your most trusted reference book. Then another, and and another.Then you search the Internet. No luck.Then you place it on your mystery artists page, and hope someone else knows about it. Please email me if you have any information on the artist and or label.
Another non-doo wop record, although it tries pretty hard. It is poppish, and has a catchy almost doo wop type of sound. "Linda Sue" is a fun record on the Jones label. I believe it was based in Houston Texas, but I know very little about other releases (the Doodlers had 2 on Jones), or anything about the group. Was William Jones the label owner? The record appears to have been issued in 1958. Listen to "Linda Sue"
From Dave Westheimer, he says the following about Jones: I know nothing about the artist and wasn't aware of the label's existence, but that's the identical logo used by a longtime Houston business, The Jones Apothecary. It was a small chain of freestanding pharmacies. The framing of "one" inside the "Jones" was part of their slogan on local TV ads in the 50s and 60s: "The Jones Apothecary, your One apothecary." IIRC the owner's name was Bill Jones, at least back then. The company was still in business until recently but I have no idea if it was still under family ownership, as I haven't lived in Houston for years. It wouldn't surprise me at all if "The Doodlers" were family members or friends. If you're running a successful pharmacy, you can afford to doodle around in the record biz. FWIW, Bobby Tinterow was a Houston-based bandleader.
Also it has been noted by others that the Doodlers were spotted performing in the Chicago area. I have also seen a record sleeve with the Jones logo. It would be interesting if anyone has an actual Jones Apothecary logo.
It's not doo wop, and it's not rockabilly. It's somewhere in between. Fitzgerald tries to lean towards rock and roll, and includes a vocal chorus in the background. I do know that the label is out of Hollywood and was owned by Harry Bluestone. I don't know who W.C. Fitzgerald is, or if it was ever pressed on black wax. The only two I have seen were as shown on blue wax. This appears to be from 1956. Listen to W.C. Fitzgerald "Take A Hold Of My Hand"! Click on the picture for a full view.
From Cameron Fahey of Sydney, Australia, who has the Australian release and promo material from the Leedon label: Born in Dallas, Texas in 1938, William Fitzgerald was signed to May records in the US, then to Blue Mill where he recorded this single only a few months ago. Fitzgerald enjoyed the success of his first single, "Where's The Umbrella, Sarah?" in 1955 which was released in Australia on Coral and reached the Sydney2UE Top 40 at number 12. This record is yet to take off but is recieving pretty steady airplay at the time of typing. Be on the look out for future William Fitzgerald recordings - He's a cool cat! Record released in Australia March 1957, originally released on Blue Mill, USA in 1956.
Further from Cameron: I remember "Take A Hold Of My Hand" was played alot in the local Sydney area, and made the 2SM Top 80, and was also covered by local Sydney Rock'n'roll outfit Vic Sabrino, released on Pacific records.
WOW! Seems like he had more spins down under than in the USA. Now we know a bit more about William Fitzgerald!
Further, a check on the BMI site shows the writer of the song as Carl Fitzgerald. That couldn't possibly be the same one that has the show "Remember When"? I don't think he was from Dallas, if the promo notes were correct. And, I think he was born in 1931-ish and was a DJ on WMOX.
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