Back in the Day, 1956 and 1957

Ray Harris

"Come on Little Mama" b/w "Where'd You Stay Last Night"   single

"Greenback Dollar" b/w "Foolish Heart"   single

(Sun)

Common knowledge among those whose familiarity with golden-age Rockabilly exceeds marqee icons, Ray, too, windmilled in that class. He issued these two singles (other recordings by him went unreleased in their eras.) "Come on Little Mama" remains one of the genre's more sweat-flinging and histrionically whooping specimens. Wayne Cogswell tore off six-string franticness that courted psychiatric investigation. Somewhat measured, "Where'd You Stay Last Night?" also attested to Ray's unique bent.

"Greenback Dollar," a Folk standard, and courtly Country outing "Foolish Heart" were fine vehicles for Ray. But predecessor "Come on Little Mama's" live-wire spectacle made it vastly more meritorious. That the song pops up in current-day combos' set lists ain't nuthin' but right.

Once opining that he had been "on the wrong side of the mic," Ray turned to producing. We'll never know what might have transpired, had he maintained mic-stance.

Videos: "Come on Little Mama"  "Greenback Dollar, Watch and Chain"

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