don't call me madam

the life and work of ray bourbon

Discography - 78s

Brunswick Test Recording (78, 1935)
piano accp. Bart Howard (composer of 'In Other Words', a.k.a 'Fly Me to the Moon').  Recorded in Hollywood, 1935.
This recording has not been verified as actually being by Ray Bourbon.  Spotted in Brunswick's ledgers, an actual copy of a pressing or master plate has never been discovered.  The recording could have been a test to determine if Ray could record sides for the label -- Ray was appearing at so-called "pansy" nightclubs in Hollywood and San Francisco in the early 1930s and the label may have considered releasing material by him, since Columbia and other companies had issued material by Jean Malin and other "pansy" nightclub performers throughout the late 20's and early 30's. In his autobiorgraphy, Ray mentions that he recorded "When You're a Long, Long Way From Home" with Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra; Henderson recorded for Brunswick and other labels during this time.

Western Record Co. Bourbana (78s, circa 1930's)
These titles were reissued on various labels, noted below.  Some reissues may be pirated dubbed versions, noted where known.  Label photo courtesy of David Diehl, www.hensteeth.com.

 

WR 712-A  My First Piece
WR 712-B  I'm in the Mood
("My First Piece" also issued on Hollywood Hot Shots 391A)
("My First Piece" also issued on Good Humor 7-B (WR-712-A))

WR-713-A  Her First Piece
WR-713-B  Low Brow Bourbon
("Her First Piece" also issued on Hollywood Hot Shots 381)
("Low Brow Bourbon" also issued on Hollywood Hot Shots 393)

WR-714-A  Gigolo
WR-714-B  Chiropractor's Wife
("Gigolo" also issued on Hollywood Hot Shots 382)
("Chropractor's Wife" also issued on Hollywood Hot Shots 363)
("Chiropractor's Wife" also issued on Party Record unnumbered (2538)  as "The Masseur".)
("Chiropractor's Wife" also issued on High Society 501  as "The Masseur".)
("Chiropractor's Wife" also issued on Partee (unknown number)  "The Masseur".)
("Chiropractor's Wife" also issued on Novelty 103  as "The Masseur".)

WR-715-A Navy Day for Tessie
WR-715-B  Spanish Passion
("Spanish Passion" also issued on Hollywood Hot Shots 380)

WR-716-A  Cocktail Time
WR-716-A  Forbidden Broadcast
("Cocktail Time" and "Forbidden Broadcast" also issued on unnumbered Hollywood Hot Shots 78's.)

WR-717-A  First Swimming Lesson
WR-717-B Love Child
("First Swimming Lesson" also issued on Good Humor 10-B  (717))
("First Swimming Lesson" also issued on Party Record 500A as "Her First Lesson".)
 

L-209  (7522)  Trombone Trixie
L-209  (75221A)  Her First Lesson
 
 

L-319 (3442)  Bedtime Story Part 1
L-319 (3443)  Bedtime Story Part 2

L-320 (3444)  Spanish Opera
L-320  (3445-1)  Oriental Opera
 

Imperial Records (78's, mid 1940s)
Of no relation to the later rhythm and blues label, the Ray Bourbon Imperial sides were recorded in Hollywood around 1941. Some included accompaniment by Joey Melborn.

Imperial 106 "Sunday Ride", Parts 1 & 2 label JD Doyle collection

101 A (X3)  Sarah From Sahara
101 B (X4)  Man's Man

103 A  My Ace in the Hole
103 B  Three Guesses

104 A  Fountain of Youth
104 B  Tessie

105 A   Take a Lay (also seen on 105 as "Take a Lei")
105 B  Chief Peanut Stand

106 A  Sunday Ride Part 1
106 B  Sunday Ride Part 2

107 A  Gland Opera
107 B  To Hell with the Range

108 A  Hollywood Appendicitis
108 B  Hollywood Drive-In Storehouse

109 A  Mrs. Willouby Objects
109 B  Since Ivan Started Div'in'

110 A My First Piece
110 B My Last Piece 

110 A  (12î)  Country Ham
110 B  (12î)  Forty-Five

112 A  Orchids to Alice
112 B  Queen of the May

118 A  Nero
118 B  Constance

300 A Forbidden Broadcast
300 B Strip Queen

500 A  Morning (Part 1)
500 B  Morning (Part 2)

500 C  Afternoon (Part 1)
500 D  Afternoon (Part 2)

5X A  Dinnertime Part 1
5X B  Dinnertime Part 2

New Bourbon (78's)
Sides feature Jack Burke at the piano and were recorded in Hollywood.  Label photo courtesy of David Diehl, www.hensteeth.com.

Note that issue number 100-A/100-B ("Mrs. Tom Maynard's Chickens", "Mrs. Tom Maynard's Dogs"), credited to Bill Barclay with Jack Burke at the piano, is the only release known on the label by an artist other than Bourbon. Barclay was another nightclub performer that was a friend of Ray.

 

101-A Bourbon to the Cleaners
101-B  Strong, Solid, Sensational
(Some copies of 101 contain "The Bourbon Motif" on the 'A' side.)

102-A  Vacation in Nevada
102-B  Give, Sister, Give
("Give, Sister, Give" reissued on LP UTC-1 as "Sisters of Charity".)

102-A Irma's Week End (Part 1)
102-B Irma's Week End (Part 2)
(This is not a misprint -- two different issues have been seen released as New Bourbon 102. It is unknown which was released first or why there is a discrepency in the series numbering.)

103-A  Mr. Wong
103-B  Mrs. Bevington Swope
("Mr. Wong" and "Mrs. Bevington Swope" reissued on LP UTC-1.)

201-A I Had a Piece (better copy needed)
201-B We've Got to Have a Union (better copy needed)

101 A  Gentleman's Gentleman 
101 B  The Rehearsal

unnumbered (107)  The Model 
unnumbered (108)  Sahara 

unnumbered (110)  Professor Yussell 
unnumbered (113)  Family Tree
 

(X 025) Shanghai Flo
(X 026) Singapore Lilly
(24) Strip Tease Queen

Information indicates that 516 may be dubs of earlier material; titles are "best guessesî for unlabled BD-1 and BD-2. Approximate dates are unknown for the following recordings.

516 (A)--Armchair General
516 (B)--Ivan

BD-1--[You've Got to Feel That Thing Yourself]
BD-2--[Haggerty's]

Party Record 515 When Knighthood Was in Flower
(same performance as "Days of Yoreî)
Party Record 515 Air Raid Warden

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