Saturday 11 August 2018

Annie Laurie born 11 August 1924


Annie Laurie (tentatively identified as Annie L. Page, August 11, 1924 – November 13, 2006) was an African American jump blues and rhythm and blues singer. She is most associated with the bandleader and songwriter, Paul Gayten, although she also registered hit singles in her own name. Laurie first recorded in the mid-1940s and her professional career lasted until the early 1960s. 

Appraisal of her qualities appears to vary between Dinah Washington stating that Laurie was her favourite singer, to Irma Thomas, who opined - "Annie Laurie? She was okay."

Laurie was born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Her personal details are obscure, but she has been tentatively identified by blues researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc as Annie L. Page, born there in 1924.

Her singing career started by vocalising for two territory bands led by Dallas Bartley and Snookum Russell, on the chitlin' circuit. In 1945, she recorded a version of "Saint Louis Blues" with the Bartley led band for Cosmo Records. She relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, and was engaged by Paul Gayten. 

In 1947, she was performing in concert in New Orleans with Gayten, when the latter asked the young Fats Domino to come and play "Swanee River Boogie" on stage.

Recording for both the Regal and De Luxe labels between 1947 and 1950, Laurie sang on several sides backed by Gayten's orchestra. Her first success was with her version of "Since I Fell for You" (1947), of which recording studio owner Cosimo Matassa said: "Annie Laurie did 
the first really good record that I liked... [She] was just fantastic; I mean nobody will ever make another version like that. She followed its success up with "Cuttin' Out" (1949), "You Ought To Know" (1950), "I Need Your Love" (1950), "Now That You're Gone" (1950) and "I'll Never Be Free" (1950). Laurie also toured with Gayten's orchestra in 1951.

Laurie's association with Regal Records ended in 1951, and she started recording for Okeh. By 1956 her releases were issued on Savoy Records, for whom she recorded in New York City with Hal Singer's orchestra, featuring guitarist Mickey Baker.


                              

Her biggest hit came in 1957 when De Luxe Records released "It Hurts to Be in Love," which was co-written by Julius Dixson and Rudy Toombs. Other releases with De Luxe included the Andy Gibson co-written track, "Hand in Hand" and "Love Is A Funny 
Thing (both 1957). In July 1960, Laurie appeared in concert, sharing the bill with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, the Five Satins, Joe Turner, Faye Adams, Ben E. King, and Nappy Brown, at Chicago's Regal Theatre. The same month she had her final chart hit with "If You're Lonely."

By 1962, her affiliation had switched to Ritz Records, and she recorded several sides for them. However she left the music industry at this time, devoting herself to the Jehovah's Witnesses

According to Eagle and LeBlanc, she died in Titusville, Florida, in 2006, aged 82.

(Info edited from Wikipedia)

3 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “ Rhythm & Blues Greats - Annie Laurie” go here;

https://www56.zippyshare.com/v/lv2mlqJv/file.html


01 Hand In Hand
02 Lost Love
03 Trouble In Mind
04 Love Is A Funny Thing
05 Since I Fell For You
06 Stop Talkin' & Start Walkin'
07 Rockin' & Rollin' Again
08 Hold On To What You Got
09 Out Of My Mind
10 Nobody's Gonna Hurt You
11 I Feel So Right Tonight
12 In The Mood For You
13 If You're Lonely
14 Give Me Half A Chance
15 Feeling The Need
16 Cryin' Sighin' Dyin'
17 Get Me Some Money
18 It's Gonna Come Out In The Wash Someday
19 Lonesome & Blue
20 It Must Be You
21 You Belong To Me
22 Please Honey Don't Go
23 It Hurts To Be In Love
24 Someday Someway
25 You Promised Love
26 Time Out For Tears

This album contains 26 tracks offering her solo output at DeLuxe and Okeh from 1951 to 1959 and Ritz (circa 1962)

Please Note - Track 4 was found faulty from original source at audiotut, Could only replace with a substandard mp3 from You Tube. So if anyone has a better version please drop me a line!

Jake said...

Track 04 (@320) :
https://www98.zippyshare.com/v/2Lhevxka/file.html

boppinbob said...


Cheers Jake, I did notice your post via your blog but link had expired. As I needed the track in question a bit smartish I never asked for a re-up. Thanks again for your input. Regards, Bob