The following UK single discography references the 2005 Bear Family 8CD Box set “The Road Is Rocky – The Complete Studio Masters 1956-1971”. Although the 134-page hardback book that accompanies this sumptuous box set is extensive, it misses out on a few basic things. There are no LP nor 7" single discographies for the UK or USA - nor is there any list as to where to find these tracks on the 8CDs (should you wish to import them into your computer as such). This list is by way of providing both the track references for the box - and a decent UK discography (the UK LP discography is posted separately).
NOTES on the ENTRIES:
The bracketed numbers after the A and B song titles denote where to find the master track on the box set – for example 1/15 is Disc 1/Track 15.
Numbers 1 to 9 were issued on both 78” and 7” single in the UK as was 16. Numbers 10 to 15 and 17 onwards were issued on 7” single only. On that point - catalogue numbers for the 10” 78”s were CL and for the 7” 45’s were 45-CL. A lot of discographies simply exclude the ‘45’ prefix, but it was there on the originals to differentiate between the 78 and 45, so I’ve reinstated them for accuracy (they’re on the actual records themselves). Pictured below is the 78" of "Be-Bop-A-Lula" with "Woman Love" on the B.
All singles are MONO unless otherwise stated and the release dates/catalogue numbers are checked against EMI/Capitol/Columbia/CBS-Dandelion paperwork for accuracy.
1. A: Be-Bop-A-Lula [1/2] B: Woman Love [1/3]
(January 1956, Capitol 45-CL 14599)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
2. A: Race With The Devil [1/1] B: Gonna Back Up Baby [1/12]
(August 1956, Capitol 45-CL 14628)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
3. A: Bluejean Bop [1/15] B: Who Slapped John [1/13]
(October 1956, Capitol 45-CL 14637)
(Both tracks were on his debut UK LP “Bluejean Bop!”)
4. A: Jumps, Giggles And Shouts [1/14] B: Wedding Bells [1/8]
(January 1957, Capitol 45-CL 14681)
(Both tracks were on his debut UK LP “Bluejean Bop!”)
5. A: Crazy Legs [1/6] B: Important Words [2/5]
(March 1957, Capitol 45-CL 14693)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
6. A: B-I-Bickey-Bi Bo Bo Go [2/1] B: Five Days, Five Days [2/8]
(May 1957, Capitol 45-CL 14722)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
7. A: Lotta Lovin’ [2/12] B: Wear My Ring [2/11]
(September 1957, Capitol 45-CL 14763)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
8. A: Dance To The Bop [2/17] B: I Got It [2/10]
(November 1957, Capitol 45-CL 14808)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
9. A: I Got A Baby [2/21] B: Walkin’ Home From School [2/24]
(February 1958, Capitol 45-CL 14830)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
10. A: Baby Blue [2/23] B: True To You [2/15]
(April 1958, Capitol 45-CL 14868)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
11. A: Rocky Road Blues [3/11] B: Yes, I Love You Baby [3/3]
(August 1958, Capitol CL 14908)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
12. A: Git It [3/5] B: Little Lover [3/10]
(October 1958, Capitol 45-CL 14935)
(A-side is off his 4th UK LP “A Gene Vincent Record Date” and features EDDIE COCHRAN on Bass Vocals; B-side was a non-album track at the time of release)
13. A: Say Mama [4/2] B: Be Bop Boogie Boy [4/3]
(January 1959, Capitol 45-CL 14974)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
14. A: Who’s Pushin’ Your Swing [4/12] B: Over The Rainbow [4/18]
(March 1959, Capitol 45-CL 15000)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
15. A: Summertime [3//16] B: Frankie And Johnny [2/29]
(June 1959, Capitol 45-CL 15035)
(A-side is off his 4th UK LP “A Gene Vincent Record Date”; B-side is off his 3rd UK LP “Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll”)
16. A: Right Now [2/19] B: The Night Is So Lonely [4/7]
(August 1959, Capitol 45-CL 15053)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
17. A: Wild Cat [] B: Right Here On Earth []
(December 1959, Capitol 45-CL 15099)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
18. A: My Heart [4/6] B: I’ve Got To Get To You Yet [4/5]
(February 1960, Capitol 45-CL 15115)
(Both tracks were from his 5th UK LP “Sounds Like Gene Vincent”)
19. A: Pistol Packin’ Mama [5/15] B: Weeping Willow [5/16]
(May 1960, Capitol 45-CL 15136) Gene Vincent with The Beat Boys
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release’ “Weeping Willow” turned up on his 7th UK LP “The Crazy Beat Of Gene Vincent”)
20. A: Anna Annabelle [4/13] B: Accentuate The Positive [4/22]
(November 1960, Capitol 45-CL 15169)
(A-side was non-album at the time of issue; B-side is off the MONO version of his 6th UK LP “Crazy Times!)
21. A: Maybe [3/28] B: Jezebel [1/5]
(January 1961, Capitol 45-CL 15179)
(Re-issue of two old tracks; A-side is on his 5th UK LP “Sounds Like Gene Vincent”; B-side is on his debut album “Bluejean Bop!”)
22. A: If You Want My Lovin’ [5/24] B: Mister Loneliness [5/22]
(February 1961, Capitol 45-CL 15181)
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
23. A: She She Little Sheila [4/23] B: Hot Dollar [4/30]
(May 1961, Capitol 45-CL 15202)
Both tracks are on his 6th UK LP “Crazy Times!”)
24. A: I’m Going Home (To See My Baby) [5/25] B: Love Of A Man [5/26]
(August 1961, Capitol 45-CL 15215) Gene Vincent with Sounds Incorporated
(Both tracks were non-album in the UK at the time of release)
25. A: Brand New Beat [2/28] B: Unchained Melody [1/27]
(November 1961, Capitol 45-CL 15231]
(Both tracks are re-issued oldies; the A-side is off his 3rd UK LP “Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll”; the B-side is off his 2nd UK LP “Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps”)
26. A: Lucky Star [5/28] B: Baby Don’t Believe Him [5/27]
(March 1962, Capitol CL 15243)
(Both tracks are with the Dave Burgess Band; both were non-album at the time of release)
27. A: King Of Fools [6/3] B: Be-Bop-A-Lula ’62 [6/6]
(August 1962, Capitol CL 15264) with The Charles Blackwell Orchestra
(Both tracks were non-album at the time of release and are in STEREO)
28. A: Held For Questioning [6/5] B: You’re Still In My Heart [6/4]
(February 1963, Capitol CL 15290) with The Charles Blackwell Orchestra
(Both tracks were non-album at the time of release and are in STEREO; both turned up on an LP in June 1974 called “The King Of Fools” on EMI’s budget label Regal Starline SRS 5177)
29. A: Crazy Beat [5/17] B: High Blood Pressure [4/11]
(July 1963, Capitol CL 15307)
(A is STEREO, B is MONO, both tracks are on “Crazy Beat!” LP)
30. A: Temptation Baby [6/7] B: Where Have You Been All My Life [6/8]
(November 1963, Columbia DB 7174)
(Both tracks were non-album at the time of release and are in STEREO)
31. A: Humpity Dumpity [6/11] B: A Love ‘Em And Leave ‘Em Kinda Guy [6/12]
(April 1964, Columbia DB 7218)
(Both tracks were non-album at the time of release and are in MONO)
32. A: La-Den-Da-Den-Da-Da [6/10] B: The Beginning Of The End [6/9]
(July 1964, Columbia DB 7293)
(Both tracks were non-album at the time of release and are in MONO)
33. A: Private Detective [6/17] B: You Are My Sunshine [6/15]
(September 1964, Columbia DB 7343)
(Both tracks were off his “Shakin’ Up A Storm” LP from October 1964; the A-side of the 7” single and the album track were both in MONO, but the box set offers only the STEREO take (6/17); the B-side (6/15) is in MONO)
34. A: Bird Doggin’ [7/1] B: Ain’t That Too Much [7/2]
(September 1966, London HLH 10079)
(Both tracks were issued in advance of the “Gene Vincent” LP from September 1967 on London HA-H 8333 – both tracks are on that LP in MONO. There is a STEREO version only of “Ain’t That Too Much” on the 2007 Bear Family 6CD Box Set “The Outtakes”)
35. A: Lonely Street [7/3] B: I’ve Got My Eyes On You [7/4]
(December 1966, London HLH 10099)
(Both tracks were issued in advance of the “Gene Vincent” LP from September 1967 on London HA-H 8333 – both tracks are on that LP in MONO)
36. A: Be-Bop -A-Lula [1/2] B: Say Mama [4/2]
(1968, Capitol CL 15546)
(Reissue of his 1st UK 7” single from January 1956 on the A with his 13th 7” single from January 1959 on the B – both are in MONO)
37. Be Bop A Lula ’69 [7/26] B: Ruby Baby [7/24]
(October 1969, Dandelion S 4596)
[Mistakenly credited in the discography as S 4996]
(Both tracks are off his “I’m Back And I’m Proud” album for John Peel’s Dandelion label (Dandelion S 63754); both tracks are in STEREO)
38. A: White Lightning [7/16] B: Scarlet Ribbons [7/22]
(May 1970, Dandelion S 4974)
(Both tracks are off his “I’m Back And I’m Proud” album for John Peel’s Dandelion label (Dandelion S 63754) – both tracks are in STEREO)
39. A: The Day The World Turned Blue [8/19] B: High On Life [8/12]
(April 1971, Kama Sutra 2013 018)
[Note: Both the album and this 7" single were issued in the USA in NOVEMBER 1970 on Kama Sutra - the 7" on KA 518 and the LP on KSBS 2027]
(Both tracks are off his “The Day The World Turned Blue” LP on Kama Sutra 2316 005 – both tracks are in STEREO)
40. Story Of The Rockers [7/14] B: Pickin’ Poppies [7/13]
(1973, Spark SRL 1091)
(The above UK release is represented in the Bear Family box set by both of its American equivalents - Playground P 100 (1968) and Forever FR 6001 (1969). The Bear Family box has included all 4 sides because they’re all different mixes.
The same tracks are on both sides of the American 45’s with the box references being 7/14 and 7/13 for Playground P 100 and 7/28 and 7/27 for Forever FR 6001.
However, it should be noted that the Bear Family discography mistakenly credits “Pickin’ Poppies” on Forever FR 6001 as 7/14 (should read 7/27) and “Story Of The Rockers” on Playground P 100 as 7/28 (should read 7/14)).
Final Notes on UK singles:
The Bear Family box set is subtitled “Studio” masters 1956-1971 - however, for info purposes and with regard to singles, there are live recordings Gene Vincent did with the rock group Kansas Hook for “The Johnny Walker Show” on Radio 1 (UK). They were taped 1 October 1971 (a short 11 days before he died) and three from the five were issued on a 45 in the UK on the BBC label as BEEB 001 in late 1974 - Roll Over Beethoven, Say Mama and Be-Bop-A-Lula. And in 1987, John Peel’s Strange Fruit/Nighttracks label issued a 12” single called “The Last Session” (SFNT 001) which included a fourth track from the live session “Distant Drums”. They are not, however, included in this box - nor are they referenced in the discography.
PS: SEE ALSO - UK LP DISCOGRAPHY (separate blog)
