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Matt The Cat

Matt The Cat presents the soul that came before rock and roll: 1950s rhythm and blues. Each week, this underrated and rollicking music plays on that old Rockola Jukebox in the back.

  • 59 minutes
    Episode #758 – Bo Diddley, Pt. 1 – 1955

    Air Week: November 11-17, 2024

    Bo Diddley, Pt. 1 – 1955

    This week’s “Juke In The Back” takes a look at the breakthrough year of one of rock n’ roll’s true architects and innovators, Bo Diddley. His first recording session was held at Chess Records in Chicago on March 2nd and 3rd, 1955, where he laid down 4 original tunes. One of those songs, “I’m A Man,” would inspire blues great Muddy Waters’ “Manish Boy,” while the other, “Bo Diddley,” would be the igniting spark for rock n’ roll. Diddley was a complicated and compelling artist, who’s talents go way beyond his signature “hambone” rhythm, his vibrato guitar and his crazy lyrics. Bo’s spirit is the spirit of rebellion, the true ingredient for rock music. It all began in 1955 and this week’s “Juke In The Back” will explore those roots. This is part 1 of a 2 part special on the great Bo Diddley. 

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    10 November 2024, 5:19 pm
  • 58 minutes 59 seconds
    Episode #757 – The Checkers

    Air Week: November 4-10, 2024

    The Checkers

    The “Juke In The Back” features another highly underrated R&B vocal group from the 1950s: The Checkers.  They never scored a national hit, but they’re one of the finest examples of polished 1950s R&B and their story deserves to be shared.  The Checkers were formed after tenor Charlie White and bass Bill Brown split from Bill Ward & His Dominoes.  They had some regional success with “House With No Windows,” an uptempo version of “White Cliffs Of Dover” and “Don’t Stop Dan,” the sequel to “Sixty Minute Man.”  Matt The Cat digs through a mess of King Records 78s to bring you the best and most influential sides that this great R&B vocal group has to offer on this week’s “Juke In The Back.”

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    3 November 2024, 6:59 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #756 – Halloween Rhythm & Blues

    Air Week: October 28-November 3, 2024

    Halloween Rhythm & Blues

    This week, the ol’ Rockola Jukebox is haunted by a strange spirit of rhythm & ghouls. Where is Matt The Cat? We don’t know, but the spirit tells us he will return next week. In his absence, the “Juke In The Back” still fulfills the weekly promise of delivering a solid hour of 1940s and ’50s Rhythm & Blues, but with a Halloween theme this week. Dig on some of your old favorites by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, LaVern Baker and The Hollywood Flames, while also getting a good fright off of seldom heard records by Mad Man Jones, The Sly Fox and Chuck Berry. Plus, a rare 1937 test pressing from Victoria Spivey makes its “Juke” debut with “Witchcraft Blues.” Also, Bobby The Bobcat returns with another spooky Halloween tale from his incredible imagination. So hang on to your souls as the haunted jukebox presents Spooky Halloween Rhythm & Blues.

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    27 October 2024, 3:38 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #755 – King Records, Pt. 10 – Federal Records, Pt. 2

    Air Week: October 21-27, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 10 – Federal Records, Pt. 2

    This week, it’s part 10 of a 10 part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. At the end of 1950, King launched a new R&B subsidiary called Federal Records. Nathan chose Ralph Bass to head up this new venture. Bass had already proven himself a great talent scout, first with Black & White Records in the mid-’40s and then with Savoy Records. Bass kicked off 1954 with a smash, “WorK With Me Annie” by The Midnighters, who were formally known as the Royals. “Annie” spent 7 weeks at #1 and sparked a myriad of sequels and answer records. One of those sequels, “Annie Had A Baby,” also by The Midnighters spent 2 weeks at #1, later in the year. This week, in part 10 of our behemoth series on King Records, we’ll feature the biggest and best releases from King’s subsidiary label from 1954-56. The Federal catalog is plentiful with vocal group releases during this time and we’ll hear some of the finest and rarest from The Platters, The Lamplighters, The Tune Blenders, The Californians and The Sheiks. Plus, James Brown and the Famous Flames get their start at the beginning of 1956 AND we’ll hear early R&B records from a future comedian and a future Broadway performer. Matt The Cat is full of surprises and the “Juke In The Back” is loaded with Federal 78s as we present the final part of our 10 part series on King Records. 

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    20 October 2024, 6:27 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #754 – King Records, Pt. 9 – Federal Records, Pt. 1

    Air Week: October 14-20, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 9 – Federal Records, Pt. 1

    This week, it’s part 9 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. At the end of 1950, King launched a new R&B subsidiary called Federal Records. Nathan chose Ralph Bass to head up this new venture. Bass had already proven himself a great talent scout, first with Black & White Records in the mid-’40s and then with Savoy Records. Earlier in 1950, under Bass’ watch, Savoy scored 3 #1 records with the Johnny Otis Orchestra. Federal’s first R&B release, “Do Something For Me” by a new group from New York called the Dominoes, immediately made the national top 10. Federal was off and running with more hits from the Dominoes, including the biggest R&B record of 1951 (“Sixty Minute Man”) and 1952 (“Have Mercy Baby”). Another vocal group on Federal at the time was The Royals. Though their early output were mostly chart sleepers, in 1953 with Hank Ballard on vocals, their “Get It” made the national top 10 and set the stage for what was coming. Soon, the Royals would become the Midnighters and “Work With Me Annie” would be the top R&B single in America. Matt The Cat digs up the essential Federal Records releases from 1951-54 in part 1 of 2 on this week’s “Juke In The Back.” 

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    13 October 2024, 3:39 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #753 – King Records, Pt. 8 – 1954-56

    Air Week: October 7-13, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 8 – 1954-56

    This week, it’s part 8 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 8, we take a look at King’s spectacular releases during 1954-56. The first 2 years were a dry time for hit records at King, but in 1956, the label came roaring back with major hits from Little Willie John and Bill Doggett, who scored his first hit since 1945. “Honk Tonk” was the biggest R&B record of the year and it reestablished Doggett, who would have several more hits on King extending to 1959. Vocal Groups were big during this time as Rock n’ Roll was being born and King was there with The Checkers, The Ink Spots, The Admirals, The Dominoes and The “5” Royales. This will be the final part of the series on King. Next week, in part 9, we’ll take a look at King’s highly successful R&B subsidiary label, Federal Records. Matt The Cat makes sure you don’t miss a beat on this week’s “Juke In The Back.”

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    6 October 2024, 11:21 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #752 – King Records, Pt. 7 – 1953

    Air Week: September 30-October 6, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 7 – 1953

    This week, it’s part 7 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 7, we take a look at King’s spectacular releases during 1953. Though Wynonie Harris stopped having national hits back in ’52, he still has some strong releases in ’53. Annisteen Allen, who had been with King since 1945 finally has a hit under her own name with an answer record to the “5” Royales’ “Baby Don’t Do It” called “Baby, I’m Doing It” and there are plenty of beautiful vocal group records released on King this year. Matt The Cat’s got ’em all and he’s loading those jumpin’ and swooning sides into this week’s “Juke In The Back.”

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    29 September 2024, 4:36 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #751 – King Records, Pt. 6 – 1952

    Air Week: September 23-29, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 6 – 1952

    This week, it’s part 6 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 6, we take a look at King’s spectacular releases during 1952. The great Sonny Thompson has his final 2 career charting singles in ’52 and Bill Doggett begins his long stint with King, though he wouldn’t have a hit until ’56. Even though Todd Rhodes didn’t have a hit this year, he is all over this week’s “Juke” with a risque number, “Rocket 69” with Connie Allen on lead and “Trying” with LaVern Baker on lead. Rhodes also backs up Wynonie Harris on “Keep on Churnin'” and Moose Jackson on “Big Ten Inch Record.” We’ll also dig on 2 tunes that would become much bigger hits for other artists later; The Swallows’ version of “I Only Have Eyes For You” and Dave Bartholomew’s original “My Ding-A-Ling.” Matt The Cat’s got ’em all and he’s loading those blue label King Records into this week’s “Juke In The Back.” 

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    22 September 2024, 7:33 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #750 – King Records, Pt. 5 – 1951

    Air Week: September 16-22, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 5 – 1951

    This week, it’s part 5 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 5, we take a look at King’s spectacular releases during 1951. Wynonie Harris scores his last 2 career charting records, while fellow blues shouter Tiny Bradshaw continued his hit streak. Earl Bostic scores a #1 record with “Flamingo,” a tune made popular ten years earlier by Duke Ellington. Bull Moose Jackson becomes Moose Jackson and Sonny Thompson starts scoring hits for King. In 1951, King Records continued selling millions of records and this week, Matt The Cat stocks the “Juke In The Back” with the best of them. 

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    15 September 2024, 4:40 pm
  • 59 minutes
    Episode #749 – King Records, Pt. 4 – 1949-50

    Air Week: September 9-15, 2024

    King Records, Pt. 4 – 1949-50

    This week, it’s part 4 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After a rough start, he relaunched King in 1944 with investment from his various family members. Nathan, seeing sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 4, we take a look at King’s spectacular releases at the end of 1949 through ’50. Bull Moose Jackson racks up another hit record with a big #2 charter, “Why Don’t You Haul Off And Love Me,” which originally hit #1 for hillbilly singer Wayne Raney. In early 1950, Ivory Joe Hunter had already moved on to MGM Records, but King continued to release singles by him and “I Quit My Pretty Mama” hit big for the label in the wake of his #1 for MGM, “I Almost Lost My Mind.” Wynonie Harris continued to rack up hits for King in 1950 and Sonny Thompson and Tiny Bradshaw both made their King Records debuts that year. Matt The Cat’s got the ol’ Rockola Juke full of those records, plus a few surprises, so get ready to groove on part 4 of King Records on this week’s “Juke In The Back.” 

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    8 September 2024, 8:24 pm
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