REVIEW - The Dominoes - "Pedal Pushin' Papa" - FEDERAL 12114;DECEMBER 1952

https://www.spontaneouslunacy.net/the-dominoes-pedal-pushin-papa-federal-12114/#more-101987

YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ESAbwdGiig

SPONTYANEOUS LUNACY VERDICT - 6/10

Roger wrote:

> REVIEW - The Dominoes - "Pedal Pushin' Papa" - FEDERAL 12114;DECEMBER 1952

> https://www.spontaneouslunacy.net/the-dominoes-pedal-pushin-papa-federal-12114/#more-101987

> YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ESAbwdGiig

Here's how the boys pushed them pedals in the 1952 Singles Battle

PRELIM
> 7 Tommy Duncan - Who Drank My Beer - Intro 6059
> 11 The Dominoes - Pedal Pushin' Papa - Federal 12114

R1
> 15 The Dominoes - Pedal Pushin' Papa - Federal 12114
> 6 Les Paul & Mary Ford - Lady Of Spain - Capitol 13832

R2
> 14 Fats Domino - Reeling And Rocking - Imperial 5180
> 8 The Dominoes - Pedal Pushin' Papa - Federal 12114

And in the later Vocal Groups Battle

R1
> 4 Billy Ward & The Dominoes - Pedal Pushin' Papa - Federal 12114 - 1952
> 16 The Ronettes - Be My Baby - Philles 116 - 1963

> SPONTYANEOUS LUNACY VERDICT - 6/10

It's an 8 for me

The alternate version is better IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgb5SQcu-m0

On 2/23/2024 1:34 AM, Bruce wrote:
> The alternate version is better IMO.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgb5SQcu-m0
----------
It was recorded earlier with a different lead singer, I think, so I
don't know if you really should call it an alternate version. In any
event I agree it's better, a 9 for me. Maybe even a 10. A real
feel-good record.

On Fri, 23 Feb 2024 06:46:53 -0500, DianeE <DianeE@NoSpam.net> wrote:

>On 2/23/2024 1:34 AM, Bruce wrote:
>> The alternate version is better IMO.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgb5SQcu-m0
>----------
>It was recorded earlier with a different lead singer, I think, so I
>don't know if you really should call it an alternate version. In any
>event I agree it's better, a 9 for me. Maybe even a 10. A real
>feel-good record.

The December 1952 release on Federal was recorded Sep 17 with
Dave McNeil as lead singer.

The earlier unreleased Federal recording was made on Jan 28 with
expert opinion leaning towards Joe Lamont, rather than Billy Ward,
being the lead singer.

So what are the significant aural differences? - a YT link will do.

Bruce wrote:

> The alternate version is better IMO.

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgb5SQcu-m0

Yep,I agree

Tho I guess you'd agree that we use the version as released (and as reviewed) for our purposes here

RWC wrote:

> The earlier unreleased Federal recording was made on Jan 28 with
> expert opinion leaning towards Joe Lamont, rather than Billy Ward,
> being the lead singer.

I assume that the expert opinion you are referring to is Marv Goldberg.

For everyone's benefit, here is what Marv had to say:

------------------------------------------------------
The song that gives us some trouble is "Pedal Pushin' Papa"; the bass voice on it isn't Bill Brown's (although Bill is, without question, on "Have Mercy Baby"). David McNeil listened to it and felt that it sounded like Billy Ward himself (singing in the same manner as he taught Dave to sing it several months later). However, some of the words have sloppy pronunciation, and Dave contended that Ward would never do that. This voice remains a mystery. Worse than that, Dave said that (1) the song was written for him, and (2) when the second (released) version was recorded (on September 17) the group, including Clyde and Joe Lamont, were all learning the song. This means that if it really was recorded earlier, the group had completely forgotten the arrangement in only eight months (which is certainly possible if they'd never performed it). The good news is that the tune brought back our old friend Dan ("Just ask for Dan, the lovin' man / A pedal pushin' papa am I").

HOWEVER, it was suggested to me that possibly baritone Joe Lamont was doing lead, since he was capable of taking over for Bill Brown at shows. I sent the song to Joe's son, Yusuf, and he and his sister both feel that it's Joe singing lead on that one. He even remembered his father singing it around the house.
------------------------------------------------------

--
BR

Still no Samp I see. Maybe he's taking a break before he starts with 1953. I just checked, he still hasn't added "Looped." I emailed him that he missed that back when you pointed it out.

Bruce wrote:

> Still no Samp I see. Maybe he's taking a break before he starts with 1953. I just checked, he still hasn't added "Looped." I emailed him that he missed that back when you pointed it out.

Yes,it's starting to look a bit serious. I hope the guy is OK

Thanks for reminding him about "Looped"