Rosie and the originals claim to fame was "Angel Baby", released in late 1960, and peaked on the Billboard charts at #5 in 1961. Rosie Hamlin, lead vocalist,has told the story of recording their big hit in an airplane hangar in the San Diego area. Included on this page are all the Highland, Brunswick,and only Globe 45's. Also,the mono and stereo versions of her Brunswick LP,a Canadian issue of"Angel Baby", and a couple of radio station promos. I also have an interview that was split into three parts as I ran it on consecutive radio shows. Listen to them here. 1 2 3 . They were recorded in the summer of 2003.
This is the first record,"Angel
Baby" on Highland 1011. It would prove to be Highland's biggest hit by far, selling millions
of copies. The flip side of
"Angel Baby", "Give
Me Love, sounded much different then the hit.They
needed something for the flip, and put this blues number on.
Here is
a variation of the Highland label that shows
no lines in the middle of the label. The dead wax numbers
in this copy are the same as the numbers in the previous two, so it was
manufactured in late 1960.
Same record label,
same matrix and record label numbers, but it's the bright yellow version.
Not uncommonly rare, but certainly less were pressed in this color. Did
they run out of Orange paper?
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If they did run out of paper, they apparently used red as well. Everything on the label, and the dead wax numbers appear to be the same as the other color labels with lines. |
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This
is the authentic Canadian release on Zircon 1025, of
Angel Baby. The
flip side is the same as the US issue.Note the reference to Highland
records on the label.
The UK London
issue of "Angel Baby" The center has been punched out for use
with a 45 RPM spindle adapter. This may have been released in
early 1961. On the UK issue, much of the instrumental introduction has
been chopped out.
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Angel Baby was such a big hit, that London pressed records for Australia. When they did that, the record numbers were normally different, as above. Highland records was credited, and the center piece on this example is still in tact. You can see it is a four point versus the UK style which was three points. |
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The
second release was Highland # 1025 "Angel From
Above".This is another fine ballad from Rosie.The
flip side shown here,is "Why
Did You
Leave Me?".Notice the Highland letters are thinner.
The final release, "Lonely Blue Nights" on Highland 1025, is one
of two versions recorded by Rosie. The other is shown below
on Brunswick records. "We'll
Have A Chance" was the flip side of this Highland records
release, and the Brunswick release shown below.
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With the advice and assistance of Jackie Wilson, Rosie switched to Brunswick records and recorded"Lonely Blue Nights", and had chart action on the Billboard top 100 list.This is a different version then the Highland issue.The flip is the same as the Highland 1025 release in title,but like "Lonely Blue Nights" on Brunswick, "We'll Have A Chance" was recorded using the Brunswick studios,and have some differences in quality and sound. The yellow label "promo" is shown. |
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Here is the bright orange stock copy of "Lonely Blue Nights". Interestingly enough, the notation of Figure Music has been deleted from the left side of the label. Though not as big of a hit as Angel Baby, it was a great song and performance from Rosie. |
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Rosie's
follow-up on Brunswick 55213,"My
Darling Forever". No real national chart activity, but
did hit some local and regional lists. The"B" side of her last release for Brunswick is "The
Time Is Near".This
is the Promo copy,even though it doesn't seem to mention it on the label.
Here is the orange stock copy release. You can see that the text on
the label has been slightly repositioned.
This is
a seldom seen recording from 1962. "My
One And Only Love was issued on the Globe record
label. This song shows more of Rosie's vocal
abilities."It
Kinda Makes You Wonder" is the flip. Another
good side from Rosie. Not too many of these were originally pressed
due to lack of distribution. Contrary to some opinions, Angie Kay, who also recorded a record on Globe - blue wax- is not Rosie.
In 1973, Rosie
Hamlin made a comeback to the recording industry, and with the assistance
of Gilbert Quesada and Doug Salma,issued"I Don't Understand"
on the Wax World label. Pictured to the left is the promotional version,
which has the same song on both sides.It made it easy for the DJ to decide
what to play! This recording was also issued on a black and white stock
release, paired with "You're No Good".
Using black
and white as the label colors often indicated
a promo release, but in this case, it is the stock copy. "You're
No Good" is the plug side,indicated by the "Side
1" marking and contrary to the purple promo issue shown
above this picture. Side two of this 1973 release is "I
Don't Understand" by Rosie And The Originals. Both sides were produced by The Walrus, and included Gil Quesada, Bob
Benay, Doug Salma and others in the creation and
overall production of the record.
Above
is the lone Brunswick LP that was produced in 1962.This is
the stereo version. On the right is a good shot of the black Stereo Brunswick label, 754102.
This
is the mono version of the Brunswick LP, and the mono Brunswick label.
Here
is a promo version of Rosie's Monaural Brunswick
LP. Notice the yellow/cream color of the label, which
is associated with Brunswick promo LP's The label color is apparently the one and only indication of the promo copy as there is
no lettering on the label or cover alerting you to it's status.
Canada got
into the act, and issued at least the mono version
of the LP, on a maroon Brunswick label. As shown, it
has a completely different design. The phrase "Pressed
In Canada" appear near the bottom, above Microgroove. The
cover is almost identical except it's
lower quality printing and images. It also has
a small made in Canada symbol on the back.
Here's a radio
station promo 45 from KDEO AM radio 910.L It looks like it was issued in the early 70's, when the station format was oldies. Art Laboe, a Los Angeles
DJ, put this out as a promotional item, pushing "Art
Laboe's Oldies Club"on Sunset Blvd. Free copies of the disc
were handed out at the door. The flip side
is Little Caesar and the Romans with the classic" Those Oldies But
Goodies Remind Me Of You". Art Laboe was promoting both artists, especially Little Caesar, whom he he likely had publishing
rights with.
Another promotional
disc, this time issued in conjunction with KERN radio in Bakersfield, CA.
Angel Baby was the "B" Side! This was a
freebie that was given away. The "A" side "You're No Good" was
the record that Rosie was promoting at the time. In small print,the label
mentions that both sides are from an LP "Rosie Remembers", which never saw the light of day.
This is a radio
Station promotional release by radio station KRTH in Los Angeles.
This was issued in the same way as the above disc for KDEO
radio, and complete with the pairing of Little Caesar on the flip. I
suspect Art Laboe may have been involved with this release,issued
as a freebie not too long after KRTH signed on the air in LA.
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Here is an odd release on the Sparta label. The label mentions stereo, which indicates it could be as early as the late 60's, but probably the early 70's. Even though stereo did show up on 45's in the late 50's, it is my best guess. The label is not the same style as the Sparta label out of Los Angeles from the early 60's. Sunny And The Sunliners occupy the flip with Think It Over. |
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Interesting item
that was produced in the late 90's by Erica records. Erica was a company that specializes (Still) in colored and shaped picture discs. This was produced at the same time Rosie's independently produced CD was
released. This was a very limited offering, and less than 200 were manufactured.
The same version of Angel Baby is on both sides of the
record, and it is the version released on Rosie's CD. Click the pictures to see an enlarged view of record labels.
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An interesting record that came out in in early 1961, not long after Angel Baby was issued. This is a tribute song of sorts, and is by Robbie and the Downbeats. "Rosie Baby" is all about Rosie Hamlin and the singer's affection for her. Could it be that Robbie is Robbie Daniels as is listed of 1/2 the writer credits on both sides of the record? The promotional copy is shown by the inscription on the middle right. "Kickin Rocks" is the flip. |
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One
of two CD's issued by Ace from the UK."The Best Of Rosie And The
Originals" has many released and unreleased cuts. It's a really good combination of fine recordings. Combined with the
previous CD, "Angel Baby Revisited" will complete your vintage Rosie And The Originals
collection.
Summary: Rosie
and the originals had a great selection of records that were
issued in the early 60's. Angel Baby was the hit, but
many fine follow-ups were quality recordings that really deserved
more attention. One added note on the Highland and Brunswick 45's.
The chronological order of releases is not as straightforward as it may
appear. After "Angel Baby", Rosie moved to Brunswick, were they
began to issue recordings. Highland tried to capitalize on Rosie's success,
and issued the two follow-ups.For a review on the latest Rosie and The
Originals CD, please visit"Rosie
Review". For additional information on Rosie and the Originals,
go to Rosie's web site.
Gone Missing: If a stereo Brunswick promo LP
exists on a USA or Canada press, it is needed If you have a copy to sell
of these releases, or any other unusual issues, please contact me via email.
