PLAYLIST for DECEMBER 8, 2010

LULA REED: A singer with a distinctive style, who came from the church, found fame
with R&B bandleader Sonny Thompson, but gave it all up to return to the church.
Lula Marietta McClelland was born on March 21, 1926 in Minjo Junction, Ohio. She began her singing career in a church choir, but when she came of age she was encouraged by family and friends to make singing her career. Her first recording session was as vocalist Lula Reed with Sonny Thompson and his Orchestra in December 1951. One tune “I’ll Drown In My Tears” was an immediate success, and by October 1952 she was recording as a solo singer, accompanied by Sonny Thompson. On all her recordings for King, she was accompanied by Sonny Thompson, and this partnership led to them getting married. The final date for King was in August, 1956, after which they moved to the Argo label, for whom they made four sessions in 1958/59, before returning to King in 1961, who put out their recordings on their subsidiary label Federal. After four sessions for Federal, Lula moved in 1962 to the Tangerine label of Ray Charles, who had made a successful cover recording in 1959 of her initial hit “I’ll Drown In My Tears”. After five recording sessions for Tangerine, and with her marriage falling apart, Lula Reed retired from show-business and returned to the church. She died of cancer in Detroit on June 21, 2008. Tonight we’ll hear her recordings from December 1951 to February 1962 for the King and Federal labels.

We’ll also play you a cut by Drumheller, who are appearing at the Avant-Garde on December 11, and a cut by the Bernard Stepien Orchestra, whose “A Very Ayler Christmas” CD release concert takes place at the Mercury Lounge on December 14.


Artist: Sonny Thompson & His Orchestra
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Label: Ace

Artist: Sonny Thompson & His Orchestra
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Last Night
Label: Ace

Artist: Sonny Thompson & His Orchestra
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Waiting To Be Loved By You
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Don’t Make Me Love You
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Blue and Moody
Tune: My Poor Heart
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Blue and Moody
Tune: Going Back To Mexico
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Your Key Don’t Fit No More
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Bump On A Log
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: A Quiet Time With Jesus
Label: Ace

Artist: Drumheller
Album: Glint
Tune: Quilted Hands
Label: Rat-Drifting

Artist: Bernard Stepien Orchestra
Album: A Very Ayler Christmas
Tune: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing/Infinite Spirit
Label: Stepien

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: I’ll Upset You Baby
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Sick and Tired
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Jealous Love
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Without Love (Ain’t It A Shame)
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: I’m Gone, Yes I’m Gone
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Living In Misery
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: Why Don’t You Come On Home
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: I’ll Drown In My Tears
Tune: I’m Giving All My Love
Label: Ace

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Blue and Moody
Tune: Three Men
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Blue and Moody
Tune: Every Second
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Blue and Moody
Tune: Sample Man
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: Waste No More Tears
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: Know What You’re Doing
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: I Got A Notion
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: Puddentane
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: I’m A Woman (Buy I Don’t Talk Too Much)
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: I Know
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed & Freddy King
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me
Label: King

Artist: Lula Reed & Freddy King
Album: Boy-Girl-Boy
Tune: You Can’t Hide
Label: King

Artist: Bernard Stepien Orchestra
Album: A Very Ayler Christmas
Tune: Vibrations/Good King Wenceslas
Label: Stepien

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“In A Mellow Tone” is on CKCU every Wednesday from 9:00 to 11:00pm

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http://www.ckcufm.com/audio.html

Earlier playlists can be found at: www.inamellowtone.com

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