Ethel Mae
| "Ethel Mae" | |
|---|---|
| Single by L.C. Williams with Conney's Combo | |
| A-side | "Shout Baby Shout" |
| B-side | "Ethel Mae" |
| Released | 1949 |
| Length | 2:50 |
| Label | Freedom Recording Co. 1517 |
| Composer | L. C. Williams |
"Ethel Mae" is a song by L.C. Williams. It was released on the Freedom Recording Co. label in 1949 and became a hit on the United States R&B charts.
Background
The song was composed by L.C. Williams. He recorded it with the backing by Conney's Combo. Credited to L. C. Williams with Conney's Combo, it was released in 78 RPM format on Freedom Recording Co. 1517 in 1949. "Shout Baby Shout" was originally the A side with "Ethel Mae" on the flip side. But by the time it was reviewed in September that year, "Ethel Mae" was referred to as the A side.[1][2][3]
"Shout Baby Shout" is mentioned in Julie Miliner's book, The Sharecropper's Daughter.[4]
The "Well sung blues" single would turn out to be the greatest success for the Freedom Recording Co. label.[5]
Reception
The record had a glowing review in the 24 September 1949 issue of The Cash Box with the reviewer saying that song would catch on like wildfire, and it was the kind of stuff that blues fans went for, and it couldn't miss.[6]
Airplay
For the week of 8 October, "Ethel Mae" was at No. 6 at WHOM in New York.[7] For the week of 12 November, the record was at No. 4 at WHOM in New York.[8] The record was still on the WHOM chart for the week of 3 December.[9]
Charts
The Cash Box
Hot in Other Cities
For the week of 24 September, "Ethel Mae" was at No. 8 on the Pittsburgh section of the Hot in Other Cities chart.[10] For the week of 22 October, the single was at No. 9 on the Louisville chart and No. 5 on the Pittsburgh chart.[11] For the week of 29 October, the single was at No. 7 on the Memphis chart.[12] For the week of 5 November, the single was at No. 8 on the San Antonio chart.[13] For the week of 10 December, the single was at No. 2 in Dallas.[14] For the week of 17 December, the single was at No. 9 in Birmingham.[15]
Hot in Harlem
For the week of 8 October, the single was at No. 8 on the Hot in Harlem chart.[16] For the week of 15 October, "Ethel Mae" reached its peak position of No. 6 on the Hot in Harlem chart.[17] It held that position for another week.[18][19]
The Billboard
Most-Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records
For the week of 8 October 1949, "Ethel Mae" debuted at No. 8 on The Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records chart[20] which was its peak position during its three-week run.[21]
Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records
As shown in the 22 October issue of The Billboard, "Ethel Mae" made its debut at No. 12 in the Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records chart for the week ending 14 October[22] which was its peak position during its one-week run.[23]
MusicVF
The single's national peak position is given as No. 8 for the Billboard R&B chart at MusicVF.com.[24]
References
- ^ The Cash Box, September 24, 1949 - Page 16 Jazz 'n Blues Reviews, "Ethel Mae" (2:50), "Shout Baby Shout" (2:53), L. C. WILLIAMS (Freedom 1517)
- ^ 45Cat - 78 RPM Record, Artist: L. C. Williams, Track A L. C. Williams Shout Baby Shout, Track B L. C. Williams Ethel Mae
- ^ The Cash Box, October 1, 1949 - Page 16 RECORD DYNAMITE!, ‘‘ETHEL MAE” backed by ‘‘SHOUT, BABY, SHOUT”
- ^ The Sharecropper's Daughter, By Julie Miliner · 2010 - ISBN: 9780578077819 - Page 156
- ^ Nothing But the Blues
An Illustrated Documentary, 1971 - ISBN: 9780900994043 - Page 175 - ^ The Cash Box, September 24, 1949 - Page 16 Jazz 'n Blues Reviews, "Ethel Mae" (2:50), "Shout Baby Shout" (2:53), L. C. WILLIAMS (Freedom 1517)
- ^ Cash Box, October 8, 1949 - Page 10 THE CASH BOX Disk Jockey's REGIONAL RECORD REPORTS, Willie & Ray WHOM—New York, N. Y., 6. ETHEL MAE (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, November 12, 1949 - Page 10 Disk Jockey's REGIONAL RECORD REPORTS, Willie Bryant-Ray Carroll WHOM—New York, N. Y., 4. ETHEL MAE (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, December 3, 1949 - Page 13 THE CASH BOX Disk Jockey's REGIONAL RECORD REPORTS, Willie & Ray WHOM—New York, N. Y., 10. ETHEL MAE (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, September 24, 1949 - Page 14 HOT IN OTHER CITIES, PITTSBURGH,PA., 8. Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, October 22, 1949 - Page 14 HOT IN OTHER CITIES, 9. Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams); PITTSBURGH, PA., Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, October 29, 1949 - Page 14 HOT IN OTHER CITIES, MEMPHIS, TENN., 7. Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, November 5, 1949 - Page 14 HOT IN OTHER CITIES, SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 8. Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box, December 10, 1949 - Page 14 HOT IN OTHER CITIES, DALLAS, TEX., 2. Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams)
- ^ The Cash Box,. December 17, 1949 - Page 14 HOT IN OTHER CITIES, BIRMINGHAM, ALA, 9. Ethel Mae (L. C. Williams)
- ^ Cash Box, October 8, 1949 - Page 14 HOT in Harlem, 8 ETHEL MAE, L. C. Williams (Freedom 1517)
- ^ The Cash Box, October 15, 1949 - Page 14 HOT in Harlem, 6 ETHEL MAE, L. C. Williams (Freedom 1517)
- ^ The Cash Box, October 22, 1949 - Page 14 HOT in Harlem, 6 ETHEL MAE, L. C. Williams (Freedom 1517)
- ^ The Cash Box, October 29, 1949 - Page 14 HOT in Harlem
- ^ The Billboard, October 8, 1949 - Page 29 BEST-SELLING RETAIL RHYTHM & BLUES RECORDS, Weeks to date 1, Last Week -, This Week 8. ETHEL MAE L. C. Williams Freedom 1517
- ^ Records and Charts - L.C. Williams, “Ethel Mae”, R&B (Jukeboxes) 1949-10-08 1949-10-08 #8 3 weeks
- ^ The Billboard, October 22, 1949 - Page 67 The Billboard MUSIC POPULARITY CHARTS, Rhythm & Blues Records
Based on reports received last three days of Week Ending October 14
BEST-SELLING RETAIL RHYTHM & BLUES RECORDS, Weeks to date 1, Last Week -, This Week 12., ETHEL MAE Shout Baby Shout L C. Williams Freedom 1517 - ^ Records and Charts - L.C. Williams, “Ethel Mae”, R&B Best Sellers 1949-10-22 1949-10-22 #12 1 week
- ^ MusicVF.com - L.C. Williams "Ethel Mae"
External links
- Discogs - L.C. Williams With Conney's Combo – Shout Baby Shout / Ethel Mae
- L.C. Williams Topic channel, Ethel Mae, Aug 18, 2016 - Ethel Mae