An Additional Jackie Paris Single

Not long ago on the main blog I posted a 21-song compilation of Jackie Paris sides from single releases. Now I've acquired an additional Coral 45 from 1954 to add to the collection.

This new record couples "Crazy Heart" with "Preach Brother Preach." Both are backed by Neal Hefti and come from the same session that produced "Java Jive" and "True," both in the collection mentioned above.

"Crazy Heart" was apparently the A-side of the 45, and did fairly well for Paris. The song was written by Gil Houston and Lewis Allan. Houston, usually called Cisco Houston, was a folk singer and close associate of Woody Guthrie. Lewis Allan was the pen name of Abel Meeropol, who wrote "Strange Fruit" and (with Earl Robinson) "The House I Live In."

This Music Views item from 1954
promotes a nonexistent Paris record

"Crazy Heart" is a catchy tune in the folk-influenced vein that was a trend in American pop music following the Weavers' 1950 success with "Goodnight, Irene." Paris' forthright singing is not particularly well complimented by Hefti's arrangement, which clothes his voice with a pop chorus and a trombone choir.

The authors of "Preach Brother Preach" were Paris and the team of lyricist Al Stillman and composer Robert Allen. Stillman and Allen's big hit in 1954 was "Home for the Holidays" in Perry Como's recording. They would go on to write major successes for the Four Lads and Johnny Mathis.

"Preach Brother Preach" is a not entreily convincing sermon in song complete with call-and-response choir. Paris, for once, does not sound completely in his element.

The recordings are good.