#890 (5/20/17 - 6/2/17)

SPOTLIGHT ON SAVANNAH CHURCHILL — PART THREE

"Once There Lived A Fool"/ "When You Came Back To Me" Savannah Churchill And The Striders on Regal 3309 released in 1951

"And So I Cry"/ "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine" Savannah Churchill And The Striders on Regal 3313 released in 1951

[The above image provided by Hans-Joachim Krohberger.]

Above: Savannah Churchill And The Striders in the Regal Records recording studio on December 24, 1950. (L-R) James Strider, Charles Strider, Savannah, Gene Strider, and unknown (perhaps Al Martin).

THE CASH BOX, December 30, 1950: Savannah Churchill Signs With Regal
NEW YORK—In an effort to build up a fast growing list of recording stars, Regal Records announced this week that they have acquired sultry singer Savannah Churchill. Formerly on Manor label, Savannah waxed her first sides for Regal Sunday (Christmas Eve) under the supervision of recording director Freddie Mendelsohn.

Because her booking commitments prevent her from taking time off, Regal officials hurredly arranged Sunday's session and for the date Savannah flew in from Columbus. Ohio.

THE BILLBOARD, January 13, 1951: ....Savannah Churchill, who has resumed her waxing career with a new pact with the Regal diskery, will have her initial coupling on the label available next week.

THE BILLBOARD, April 28, 1951: ....Savannah Churchill will arrive back in this country in the latter portion of next week after playing both the Palladium Theater and the Colony Club in London.

THE CASH BOX, January 20, 1951: A Queen Goes Regal....
NEW YORK—Sutry singer Savannah Churchill seems to get a kick at her recording session at Regal studios. Her initial release for the firm, "Once There Was A Fool," was put on the nation's counters this week. Smiling their approval are, left to right, Regal prexy Dave Braun, artist and repertory chief Freddie Mendelsohn, musical director Howard Biggs, and vice-prexy Jules Braun.

[The above image provided by Jeff Beckman.]

Above: Savannah Churchill And The Striders (in white jackets) (L-R) Ernest Griffin, Savannah, Gene Strider, Charles Strider, and James Strider.

[The above image provided by Jeff Beckman.]

Above: Savannah Churchill And The Striders (L-R) Ernest Griffin, Gene Strider, Savannah, James Strider, and Charles Strider.

Above: Savannah Churchill with Howard Biggs going over a new arrangement. As shown further above, Biggs was musical director at Regal Records. Savannah, Howard, and The Striders all moved over to RCA Victor after their short stay at Regal.

Above: Savannah Churchill And The Striders rehearsing in the living room of her Brooklyn home.

Above: Savannah Churchill And The Striders taking a break. Eula Mae Cassius, Savannah's companion, is seated on the couch.

Above: Eula Mae waves goodbye to Savannah Churchill And The Striders as they leave for an out-of-town engagement. Savannah is driving the Chevrolet convertible.

From New York Age newspaper dated 12/29/51.

From Pittsburgh Post Gazette dated 7/19/50.

From The Cash Box dated 1/6/51. Note that while the "Regal" in the ad is a similar format, it's not identical to that on the 78-rpm record labels (It is, however, the same as the 45-rpm labels).

EXTRA AUDIO (Windows Media Player):
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

Above Left is label image for RCA Victor 20-4448-A recorded and released in December 1951. The uncredited vocal group on this record is The Striders. Marty Gold is playing the organ on both sides. Above Center is Savannah Churchill in the RCA Victor recording studio. (This picture provided by Hans-Joachim Krohberger.) Above Right are The Striders (Top L-R) Charles Strider, James Strider, Ernest Griffin, (Bottom) Eugene Strider. Click HERE for an article about The Striders by Marv Goldberg. (Will open in a separate window) The Cash Box Review (1/26/52): SAVANNAH CHURCHILL — RCA VICTOR 20-4448.... Don't Grieve, Don't Sorrow, Don't Cry/In Spite Of Everything You Do The first level finds Savannah Churchill wending her way through a slow, soft ballad in her typical manner. Backed nicely by a chorus the lid comes out ok. The under half is another slow ballad that Savannah delivers in a grand style and this deck should show up strong in the boxes. Listen to "In Spite Of Everything You Do" - Savannah Churchill (And The Striders) - RCA Victor 20-4448-A - 1951. Listen to "Don't Grieve, Don't Sorrow, Don't Cry" - Savannah Churchill (And The Striders) - RCA Victor 20-4448-B - 1951. BOTH played in sequence.

Above: Label images of Regal 3309 and Regal 3313 released in January and February 1951, respectively. All four sides were recorded on December 24, 1950 and have The Striders backing Savannah Churchill. These are the only two releases on Regal for either Savannah or The Striders.

"Once There Lived A Fool," the flip of Regal 3309, was also released (in late 1950 to early 1951) by Jimmy Grissom on Recorded In Hollywood (the original), Jimmy Witherspoon on Modern, Allen Greene on Mercury, Big John Greer on RCA Victor, Anita O'Day on London, Charles Brown on Aladdin, Dusty Brooks And His Four Tones on Columbia, Tony Bennett on Columbia, The Billy Valentine Trio on Decca, and Tommy Edwards on M-G-M.

The Cash Box Review (1/20/51):

SAVANNAH CHURCHILL — REGAL 3309.... Once There Lived A Fool/When You Came Back To Me
Savannah Churchill's first record on the Regal label is one to shout about. Taking a currently sensational number, Savannah joins with the Striders to turn out a first rate version of it. On the lower end she has a faster paced number with the Striders again coming in for some grand harmony. No Op should miss this disk.

The Billboard Review (2/10/51):

SAVANNAH CHURCHILL (STRIDERS) — REGAL 3309....
Once There Lived A Fool (83) Thrush and male group apply a warm and different-enough treatment to the upcoming ballad to score.
When You Came Back To Me (70) Gal and group do well with a lightweight ballad, giving it a medium bounce go.

(NOTE: A ratings range of 70-79 was considered "good" and 80-89 "excellent.")

The Cash Box Review (3/24/51):

SAVANNAH CHURCHILL — REGAL 3313.... Wedding Bells..../And So I Cry
Savannah Churchill takes a wonderful oldie and gives it dynamic rendition on the top deck. With a good chorus to back her up, Savannah really sends it out of this here world. The second half has a slow beat and again the chorus does nobly by her. The upper half is the one ops shouldn't miss.

The Billboard Review (3/24/51):

SAVANNAH CHURCHILL — REGAL 3313....
And So I Cry (70) Thrush and male vocal group do a rather arty slow torch ballad. The blend and the feel are good, but there's no real sock.
Wedding Bells.... (78) Miss Churchill and the vocal group do a punchy, rhythm treatment of the oldie with plenty of beat and bottom.

(NOTE: A ratings range of 70-79 was considered "good.")

Visit "SAVANNAH CHURCHILL DISCOGRAPHY" for a full listing of her recordings.

Listen to this week's selections featuring Savannah Churchill And The Striders on Regal from 1951:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...             1. Once There Lived A Fool           2. When You Came Back To Me           3. And So I Cry           4. Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine             ALL FOUR played in sequence      B. Download RealAudio...             1. Once There Lived A Fool           2. When You Came Back To Me           3. And So I Cry           4. Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine      C. Stream/Download Media Player...             1. Once There Lived A Fool           2. When You Came Back To Me           3. And So I Cry           4. Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine             ALL FOUR played in sequence

      [To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]

Also enjoy SPOTLIGHT ON SAVANNAH CHURCHILL - PART ONE     PART TWO     PART FOUR
(Above links will open in separate windows)

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