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ANTHOLOGY CD

1.       Hey Little Girl  (1961)  45 Zebra 101

This remake of the Gladiolas’ record on Excello was recorded in Memphis, TN & became the theme song for the group early on.  The song was penned by Maurice Williams & the only Catalinas record on the Zebra label.

2.       Ring Of Stars  (1961)    45 Rita 1006

More testiment to the fact that early Catalinas were heavily influenced by Doo-Wop. The track was written by Bob Meyer & the performance top-notch.

3.       Wooly Wooly Willie (1961)  45 Rita 1006

Flip-side of Ring of Stars & recorded at the same Memphis session. The tune was written by Bob Meyer & OC Gravitte.  The subject of the record was a black friend of the Catalinas who had wooly gray hair & rippled soled shoes.  He worked at Lisk’s, a Charlotte hangout for Myers Park High School students & would buy beer for the under aged members of the Catalinas. 

4.       You Haven’t The Right  (1966)  45 Sceptor 12188

Easily their most successful effort from the 60s, “You Haven’the Right” has become a Northern soul classic in the UK in addition to being a beach music standard.  Then band member Tommy Plyler wrote this terrific tune which was recorded at the Bradley Studios in Nashville TN.  The record was an effort by the Catalinas to emulate the success & sound of the Four Seasons.

5.       Who Knows Better  (1966) (Previously unreleased)

This recording was rescued from the master tape vaults of the Nashville recording session that produced “You Haven’t The Right”.

6.       Too Strong  (1966) (Previously unreleased)

This song, written by Sidney Smith,  was yet another tune recorded in Nashville for Sceptor Records, but was unreleased until now.

7.       Blue Horizon  (1972)  45  Chips  2958

A great solo effort by Catalinas’ lead singer Bob Meyer, this tune was recorded in Memphis at Chips Moman’s famed American Studio, home of many great Elvis recordings.  “Horizon” was penned by the legendary Spooner Oldham

8.       Let Me Be The Man I Want To Be  (1969)  (Previously unreleased)

A “Chicago Brass Style” tribute that was recorded at Reflection Studios in Charlotte & featured Tommy Plyler on lead vocals.  Production for this session was handled by none other than the legendary Allen Toussaint of New Orleans, LA.

9.          Summertime’s Calling Me  (1975)  45 Sugarbush 114

Written by then Keyboardist, Johnny Barker, the song has become one of the most popular beach music records of all time.  The song’s popularity was the main catalyst that kicked of the modern day beach music renaissance.

10.     Miss Grace  (1980)  LP-The Catalinas  LP 01-SO-16558

The Catalinas do justice to the mid 70s beach music classic originally performed by the Tymes from Philadelphia, PA.

11.     Party Time Man  (1980)  LP-The Catalinas  LP 01-SO-16558

Another popular cover from their initial album, “Summertime’s Calling Me”.  The Futures had the big hit with this disco-beach classic from the late 70s

12.     Ain’t No Big Thing  (1980)  LP-The Catalinas  LP 01-SO-16691

I’ll wager that this song was performed by every Carolina beach group of the 60s.  The original was recorded by the Radiants in the mid-60s & this version remains faithful in styling. 

13.     Rainy Day Bells  (1980)  LP.  The Catalinas  01-SO-16558

The Globetrotters had the original success with this record in conjunction with former TV show.  The song was co-written by Neil Sadaka & Howard Greenfield.

14.           Dancin’-Romancin’(1980)  LP. & 45 The Catalinas  01-SO-16560

An original tune penned by the current keyboard player, Lynn Barker, “Dancin’-Romancin’” appeared on 45 with the flip “Hey Little Girl”.

15.     Facts Of Love  (1980)  LP. & 45 The Catalinas  01-SO-16690

This original tune, written by Johnny Barker, (currently of the Embers), appeared on the flip side of the “Ain’t No Big Thing”  45, as well as the first album.

16.           Gunning For Love  (1986)  45  Ripete  R45-150

The Catalinas fine cover version of The Controllers 1979 smash disco-beach hit.

17.     I’ve Never Found A Girl  (1986)  45  Ripete  R45-150

This 80s 45 release was the flip side of “Gunning For Love”.  The song was a nice cover for Eddie Floyd hit on Stax Records from 1968.

18.     Line Up (1990)  45 Metro Records  SE-900608 & 1990 LP “Line Up”

The title track from the group’s 1990 second album was co-written by Ronnie Gittens & former sax player & singer, Danny Pierce.  Based loosely on Ray Sharpes great classic, “Boatdock”.

19.     They Call Me Mr. Bassman  (1989) 45 Metro Records  SE-890309 & 1990 LP “Line Up”

Another Ronnie Gittens original tune, this track featured the alternating lead tenor, Danny Pierce, & Bass, Gary Barker.  Obviously,… “Mr. Bassman” was penned as a tribute to the great original Ravens bass lead singer from Jacksonville, FL, Jimmy Ricks.

20.     Say My Name (1933) 45 Metro Records  SE-930323 & LP “Line Up”

The 1990 album version of this Tom Grose (Atlanta, GA. musician) tune featured then sax player, Danny Pierce, on lead vocals.

21.           Whatjado That Fo (1989) 45 Metro Records  SE-900608 & 1990 LP “Line Up

This definitive arguably the best shag record ever done by The Catalinas, this song was written by then trumpet player, Ronnie Gittens, who left the group after a serious auto accident in the early 1990s, but returned in 1995 and is still with the group today.

22.     Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes (1994) (Unreleased)

The “original” Catalinas regroup to give the old Chuck Willis classic a new twist. Never say die.  Long live the Catalinas.

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