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The Jacks "My Darling" RPM 428 B
This is the 2nd pressing of this record.
This the flip side to "Why Don't You Write Me." Enjoy!!!!
The Jacks/Cadets were Modern's top group in the mid-fifties, the West Coast answer to King's Otis Williams and the Charms. If a local hit started to break out in the Los Angeles market or if there was a chance to grab some action on a national hit (particularly one on a smaller label), the group would be rushed into the studio and their cover record immediately issued. Although both the Jacks and Cadets featured the same personnel, their lead singers differed: Willie Davis usually led the Jacks; Aaron Collins and Dub Jones fronted the Cadets. One thing about the Jacks/Cadets: they could sing! Most of their covers were far better than the originals.
The origins of the Jacks go back to Los Angeles in the late 1940s and the formation of the Santa Monica Soul Seekers, a spiritual group. Baritone Lloyd McCraw came to L.A., from Chicago, in 1947. His resume included time with the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Royal Four. By 1954, the other Soul Seekers were: Willie Davis (first tenor), Austin "Ted" Taylor (first tenor), Aaron Collins (second tenor), Glendon Kingsby (baritone), and Will "Dub" Jones (bass).
In the spring of 1955, the Soul Seekers approached Modern Records for a recording deal and were sent to arranger extraordinaire Maxwell Davis. After listening to them, Davis suggested that they abandon gospel singing to concentrate on Rhythm & Blues. They all agreed, except for Glendon Kingsby, who left the group to continue singing spirituals. The Soul Seekers signed with Modern on April 10, 1955.
That same month, the guys did some other covers. A recording by the Feathers, called "Why Don't You Write Me?", on the local Showtime label was showing a lot of promise. Since Joe Bihari thought the Cadets would be great on it, he rushed them into the studio. Not wanting it to compete with "Don't Be Angry," he decided to release it as by the "Jacks" (on Modern's RPM subsidiary). This would be the pattern: releases by the "Cadets" on Modern and the "Jacks" on RPM. Willie Davis was the lead on "Why Don't You Write Me?" The flip, a cover of Charles Calhoun's "Smack Dab In The Middle," was led by Dub Jones (the tune was also covered by the Du Droppers).
"Why Don't You Write Me?" rose to #3 on the R&B charts (remaining for 14 weeks) and even made the Pop charts (although only as far as #82). It earned the Jacks a station wagon, fifteen sets of uniforms, and a spot in a one-nighter tour for Associated Artists, featuring Ruth Brown, T-Bone Walker, Etta James, and the Orioles. Joe Bihari had been right; the Jacks did such a good job on the tune that they obliterated the Feathers' version from the charts.
On July 30, the trades singled out "Why Don't You Write Me?" to be a Pick Of The Week. It was doing well in New York City, Buffalo, Baltimore, St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
In July 1955, for unknown reasons (but probably to give one more chance to songs to which they owned the copyright), Modern reissued the "B" sides of the first two Cadets records as a single disc: "I Cry" and "Fine Lookin' Baby." This was followed, in August, with a reissue of "Why Don't You Write Me?", this time backed by the Ted Taylor-led "My Darling." This one was a no-brainer: since "Why Don't You Write Me?" was doing so well, Modern decided to pair it with a song to which Modern owned the publishing rights (something that couldn't be said for "Smack Dab In The Middle").
Also in August, they backed up Richard Berry again, although it's a bit complicated. The record (on Flair) was "Jelly Roll"/"Together." However, the label credits "Richard Berry and the Dreamers." While "Together" really does have the Dreamers, on "Jelly Roll" it's the Jacks/Cadets in the background. "Jelly Roll" got a good review on August 27, along with the Clovers' "Nip Sip," the Dominoes' "Take Me Back To Heaven," Shirley Gunter's "Ipsy Opsie Ooh," the Pyramids' "Deep In My Heart For You," and the Sheppards' "Love."
Turntable used: Audio Technica AT-LP120 USB Direct Drive inputted straight into the sound card using the built-in pre-amp from the turntable.
Cartridge used: SHURE M78S using 78 3 mil needle