"That's All Right" - the lost version

[Mister Moon]

It happened three years ago, while browsing one of John Tefteller's mouth-watering auction lists.

There was an ultra rare 78 rpm single for sale, containing a forgotten version of Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right". I have been unable to find the auction list again, but luckily I kept the image of the label :

Ray Moore That's All Right Rocket.jpg

Now, don't bother looking for information about Ray Moore, Lucky Tanner, or Rocket Records from Covington, Kentucky (reference number of this single : # 2). There's nothing to be found online. Chubby Howard seems to have been a relatively popular steel guitar player - that's the only information I have been able to find.

Also, the recording seems not to have been reissued anywhere, which made it even more desirable.

But.. it has been recently uploaded to YouTube, and we can finally hear what the contents are :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPQ8KBL1nkk


It's a heavily western swing influenced cover of the Crudup song, but the lyrics and structure are directly lifted from Sun 209. It's also interesting that it features the exclusive Marty Robbins verse at the end. So it's a safe bet that this record came out in 1955.

Another small bit of information about the genesis of rock and roll. Any additional details will be most welcome.

Only in "Phoenix". Enjoy it, folks !

[Mister Moon]

Glad you enjoyed the post !

I wonder what was featured in the other side of the record. I don't have a YT account, but maybe some of you would be able to contact the uploader and ask him...

[HillbillyCat]

I tried my luck and actually found out something about Ray Moore:

(Source: https://www.buckeyebeat.com/raymoore.html)

Ray Moore

Cincinnati, early 1950s-1960

Ray Moore recorded the first 45 for Lee records in 1955/6. It's one of the earliest local record productions that has the new rockabilly sound.

There isn't much we know about Ray. He performed on WCPO TV, with other local country musicians of the time. He lived in greater Cincinnati. possibly across the river in Kentucky

On the reecord, Ray is backed by the Texas Pioneers. a Cincinnati band who dates back to the mid 1940s. The Pioneers had their own club, the Texas Club, for awhile, and a show on WZIP radio and WCPO TV, when TV was pretty much 15 minute local shows. Ray doesn't seem to have The Texas Pioneers included Chet Atkins for a short time, but he was long gone to Nashville by the time of the recording.

That's all we know

Discography:
Honey Hush / That's Why I Smile - Lee 501, 1956

There's also a newspaper advertisement for a concert in Covington, Kentucky (where the "Rocket Records" label was apparently based) that lists Ray Moore and... "Lucky Tanner"!

(Source: https://www.buckeyebeat.com/raymoore.html)

Newspaper Ad - Ray Moore and Lucky Tanner in Covington Kentucky.jpg

Here's Ray Moore singing "Honey Hush":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11alJG2PwZQ

[Mister Moon]

I tried my luck and actually found out something about Ray Moore:

(Source: https://www.buckeyebeat.com/raymoore.html)

Ray Moore

Cincinnati, early 1950s-1960

Ray Moore recorded the first 45 for Lee records in 1955/6. It's one of the earliest local record productions that has the new rockabilly sound.

There isn't much we know about Ray. He performed on WCPO TV, with other local country musicians of the time. He lived in greater Cincinnati. possibly across the river in Kentucky

On the reecord, Ray is backed by the Texas Pioneers. a Cincinnati band who dates back to the mid 1940s. The Pioneers had their own club, the Texas Club, for awhile, and a show on WZIP radio and WCPO TV, when TV was pretty much 15 minute local shows. Ray doesn't seem to have The Texas Pioneers included Chet Atkins for a short time, but he was long gone to Nashville by the time of the recording.

That's all we know

Discography:
Honey Hush / That's Why I Smile - Lee 501, 1956

There's also a newspaper advertisement for a concert in Covington, Kentucky (where the "Rocket Records" label was apparently based) that lists Ray Moore and... "Lucky Tanner"!

(Source: https://www.buckeyebeat.com/raymoore.html)
Newspaper Ad - Ray Moore and Lucky Tanner in Covington Kentucky.jpg
Here's Ray Moore singing "Honey Hush":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11alJG2PwZQ

Well, that's just great !

I also found that "Honey Hush" cover but, for some reason, I assumed it was by a different Ray Moore. But looking at the rest of the information you posted it's almost certain we are looking at the same artist who did "That's All Right" for Rocket.

Looking at a US map, we can see that Covington is located at the north of the state of Kentucky, and it's only separated from Cincinnati, Ohio by the river Ohio, which works effectively as the state line. The fact that both records we know by Moore were recorded for Covington (Rocket) and Cincinnati (Lee) labels is very interesting. Talk about a local talent !

http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/search.php?type=acode&key=moor5000

http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/search.php?type=labpk&key=708

Thanks a lot, HillbillyCat. You made my day.

[Mister Moon]

Looking for information about the above single, I was amazed to find out how many different record labels were named "Rocket" in the fifties, aside from the Covington, Kentucky label that issued the Ray Moore single.

There was a Rocket label in Crowley, Louisiana, in Boston, Massachusetts, in Branson, Missouri, in Rochester, New York, in Portland, Oregon, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Nashville, Tennessee, and in Marshall, Texas. Most of them were short-lived ventures, if not one-off ones, and some of them released now-revered underground rock and roll singles.

http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/lab_ndx.php?key=r

One of those Rocket labels, the one located in Rochester, issued yet another obscure, and pedestrian, version of "That's All Right", as recorded by somebody named Ronny Hines. Incidentally, the other side of that record was a version of Ray Charles' "I've Got A Woman". No wonder Hines disappeared from sight shortly afterwards :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqeS_ZW6V6w


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlUbskfWLQw

[Mister Moon]

Did anybody contact the uploader of the Ray Moore single regarding the flip side ?

It would be cool to know what's on there, and maybe we could even listen to it.

[Mister Moon]

It looks like the identity of the other side of Ray Moore's Rocket single will remain a mystery for the time being :

**Somebody asked the YT uploader about it a few days ago, and he has not replied.

**I contacted Mr. Tefteller yesterday, and he has kindly replied to me today, but he doesn't own the single anymore, and he doesn't recall any details about it. I can understand that, as he handles tons of records, and he is mainly a blues collector. Anyway, a big note of thanks is due to him for unearthing the record three years ago, and for answering my message.

So, here we are.