Colonial Rockers from Chapel Hill - Various Artists
- johnaalex
- 20 hours ago
- 6 min read
SO REAL
Colonial Rockers from Chapel Hill, NC (LP, 10inch, 45rpm, Ltd.)
Bear Family Records (https://www.bear-family.com/)
catalogue number:BAF14037
Reviewed 10th April 2025
Review
Chapel Hill is based in the counties of Duram and Orange in North Carolina, its is famous for many reasons like the small Anglican "chapel of ease", built in 1752, the Chapel Hill Museum. In the music world it is known for its annual street fairs. Held every October. This gave musicians amongst others to display their talents to the thousands that attend yearly. Many of the artist that you will hear on this great vinyl will have played on this type of fair many years before. Leading the way to a musical journey still being celebrated today. In 1951 Colonial records opened its doors to some amazing artist like Andy Griffith, George Hamilton, John D. Loudermilk, and Billy Craddock. All that became household names worldwide. This twelve-track album covers more artist that helped shape the sounds of the day. Performers like Ebe Sneezer, Johnny Dee and the Goldtones. The owner Orville Campbell didn’t want to be a one style studio, so he invited artist to perform and record Gospel music, and many more different genres and styles. So sit back whilst I take you through each title and artist on this award-winning label release.
Are You Ready - Henry Wilson with The Bluenotes
Written By Campbell/Tanner and released in 1958. This was the only recording for Henry on the Colonial Label but released a further three recording for different labels. Backed by the stunning vocals of the Bluenotes. Four boys that performed Doo-Wop. Tom Underwood, Joe Tanner, Pat Patterson, and Ralph Harrington were the members, that also went under an Allias that will be revealed later in the review. The track is a great little rocker and henrys vocals really what make this track. in 1959 the song was released on Columbia records by Henry Gaddy Wilson.
Wake Up (Little Boy Blue) · The Franklin Brothers
Released around 1960 and disrupted by London Records for this Colonial release. Very little information about brothers is out there but they did release other recordings listed here. “Daydream” 45-7008-V.
Its Gotta Be You. Johnny Dee
The great vocal of Johnny Dee delights any album or release to come to that. This self-penned track is from 1957. I have always believed that this track was out played by the songs being released at the time of its release. A case of right time wrong place. But at least its still being remembered and added to these release from the great Bear Label. Once again demonstrating their continued search for the great songs. Johnny was a pseudonym used by John D. Loudermilk; the track only released on shellac 78-CR-433
If You Don’t Know (I Aint Gonna Tell You) George Hamilton IV
1956 release on ABC-Paramount for this North Carolina born early rockabilly star. George went into country music soon after this release, the track was written by John D. Loudermilk. It was also released on the RCA Victor Label in 1962 47-8062 . George unfortunately passed in 2014 from a heart attack
The Oriental Shake, The Goldtones
Written By Noble Devine and Angelo Capparella and released by the Goldtones in 1965. The flip side was also written by Angelo Capparella, “High Dive into Love” information on the 7-piece group is limited, but their style of rock ‘n’ roll is very clear. A good mixture of rockin instruments and lively vocals blends this oriental rock n roll sound. The flip side is a dancefloor filler.
Ugh Ugh Ugh Ed Beatty
What a great storyteller Ed Beatty was, famed for his wild bluegrass and rock n roll story’s. he recorded several tracks on the colonial label from 1959 with his biggest hit “Ski King” and this rarer track from 1960. Ed performed with a mixture of groups like Ski-King And His Life-Buoys, but really preferred his solo work. Distributed By the great London Records, Inc.
So Real. The Franklin Brothers
ZTSP 60367 was released in June of 1959. It was pressed by Columbia records and distributed by London Records. The first time I ever heard this was on the That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 31 cd, also from Bear Family records (LBCD17567) from 2018.
Mighty Low. The Bluenotes With Doug Franklin
Paul Douglas Franklin taking the lead vocal on this superb rockin track from 1957. Doug was a well-known singer back in the day and was seen regularly with The Harry Belafonte Singers Orchestra and The Ed Sullivan Singers and Orchestra. He only recorded four singles with colonial records, but each one was excellent. The Bluenotes were a north Carolina based doo-wop group.
That’s All I’ve Got Ebe Sneezer and the Epidemics
Do you recognise the voices? Yes of course you do. Ebe Sneezer and the Epidemics is the Aliases for the Bluenotes with John D. Loudermilk taking the vocal. Great song that was the only release they had under this name as far as I can tell?. It featured as the B-side to “Asiatic Flu. Written by Johnny Dee? The second alias of Mr Loudermilk. So he had his fingers in many pies, and they all tasted good.
Tarzan Ed Beatty
Some great Tarzan yells on this another story from the great Ed Beatty. Once again very little knowledge about the artist. Bob Moore reportedly applies the Tarzan yells? This would have been on my records list. Just got to love Tarzan. Written by whit Cobb and released in December of 1960
Birddogging Bill Craddock and the Bluenotes.
The whole thing sounds like a demo for an Elvis track with the Jordanaires on the backing. Brilliant track. Released in November of 57 comes this track written by Ben Raleigh and Don Wolf who collaborated a lot on songs and melodies. Billy Wayne Craddock a well-known rockabilly / rock n roll star who recorded this track for Colonial in 1957. He went on to sing country and gained world wide fame.
My Little Girl the Franklin Brothers
So we come to the final track. and what a shame I could go on for another twelve tracks. Only fitting to let the brothers sing us out with this the A-side to the title track. written by Baber, Bryant and Graves
Summary
What a album. everything about it is just stunning, I enjoyed every track on the album along with the research into each track. the surprises that pop up about the artist. Bear family have hit the ground running with this release. It’s a must for any rockabilly/rock n roll fan
check out other Bear Family releases at www.slapthatbass.online
Bears Bio
For this particular release from our successful 10” vinyl series we have dug deep into the vaults of the Colonial record label not to present the top hits or the biggest sellers but only the rockingest sides released on that label.
Colonial Records was founded in 1951 by Orville Campbell in the small college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. During its 14-year run as a productive record label they released records in a hodge-podge of styles including comedy, bluegrass, pop and even gospel. Among those many releases were some real gems in the new emerging rock n roll style. These included the first and early recordings of future music stars such as George Hamilton IV, John D. Loudermilk (Johnny Dee) and Billy ‚Crash' Craddock; all young North Carolina natives who went on the forge lasting careers in the music field. These artists are all featured here as well as other artists who recorded for Colonial such as Doug Franklin who later established an impressive behind the scenes musical career in New York City, Henry Wilson who attempted an unsuccessful move to a major record label and North Carolina favorites E.C. Beatty and the rock combo the Goldtones. Not to be forgotten are the Bluenotes who acted as backing vocal group on many of the Colonial releases featuring the talented guitarist, songwriter and arranger Joe Tanner. The mystery men The Franklin Brothers round out this release with no less than three sides that are pure rockabilly at its finest.Colonial records has long been neglected in the rock n roll re-issue market so now is the chance to own the best of the rock sides from this important independent record label remastered to Bear Family’s meticulous standards all in one neat little 10” vinyl package. So Real! - Colonial Rockers from Chapel Hill, NC‘ is limited to 500 copies so you will want to reserve your copy today before they are gone!
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