▪▪CAPITOL
EAP'S 1950-'56
EAP's or,
Extended Play albums came into existence in the early 1950s, preceding
long-playing LP's by about five years. Although a 45 in size and
speed, technology of the day made it possible for each disc to have two
tracks per side, rather than one; a marketing bonanza for record companies,
who could now re-sell two previously released singles in one package.
Capitol released a total of nine EAP's on Ernie between
1950 and 1956, not including various promotional EAP's distributed over the
years. The last of those 9, entitled simply. 'Tennessee Ernie Ford' was unique
in that it was released just as long-playing albums were coming onto the
scene, and ran at 33 1/3 rather than at 45.
1. Backwoods Boogies and Blues
Capitol
EAP #I 413 // Released December, 1949 // Side 1: Shot Gun Boogie /
Anticipation Blues Side 2: Smoky Mountain Boogie / Blackberry
Boogie
2. Kay Starr and Tennessee
Ernie Ford Capitol EAP # 621 //
Released August, 1951 // Side 1:
I'll Never Be Free / You're My
Sugar Side 2: Ocean of Tears / Ain't Nobody's
Business But My Own / / Note:
Ernie regarded his duets with Kay Starr as one of the high
points of his recording career, which, at the time "I'll
Never Be Free" was released, was only two years old. "She
was one of pop music's biggest stars", Ernie recalled. "I
couldn't believe I was given the opportunity to record with her."
3. Tennessee Ernie Ford
(With Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Billy May)
Capitol EAP # 1-639 //
Released 1954 // Side 1: His Hands / Somebody Bigger Than You And
I Side 2: I Am A Pilgrim / There Is Beauty In
Everything // Note: Hoping to broaden Ernie's already
explosive appeal, Capitol's Lee Gillette took a gamble in
the Spring of 1951, and paired Ernie with noted big band and
orchestra leader, Billy May. Although the swing numbers that
came out of those sessions (most notably, Ernie's knock-down
duet with Betty Hutton on "This Must Be The Place) produced
no real hits, Gillette's gamble paid off with Ernie's
memorable theme from the Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe blockbuster, 'River Of No Return'.
Capitol now had a bona fide pop sensation on their hands!
4. Tennessee Ernie Ford ~
16 Tons
Capitol EAP # 1-693 //
January, 1956 // Side 1: Sixteen Tons /
River Of No Return Side 2: You Don't Have To Be A Baby To
Cry / Give Me Your Word // Note: Somebody at Capitol
thought it would be cute if they took one of Ernie's stock
press shots, re-did it as a pencil sketch, and put him in a
miner's hard-hat. Bad idea, bad cover. Bad Capitol
5. Tales Of Davy Crockett
Capitol DAP # 1-3235
// Released March, 1956 // Side 1: The Death Hug /
The Ballad Of Davy Crockett (from the Walt Disney film,
"Davy Crockett") / A Sensible Varmint Side
2: Crockett's Opinion Of A Thunderstorm / Farewell //
Note: One could argue that besides
rock and roll, the two biggest cultural... explosions... of
the 1950's were the A-bomb, and coonskin caps. Disney's 'Davy Crockett'
single-handedly
created a generation of wilderness scouts, whose hero was the embodiment of
everything America stood for, and Ernie was a natural to lend his voice to
singing about this legendary icon. But uniquely, this rare EP featured more
than just Ernie singing about Davy; three of the five tracks are
narratives--adapted directly from a journal kept by Crockett while living in
Kentucky--narrated, of course, as only a Tennessean could. This
is a rare find for the serious collector of 50's memorabilia.
6. Tennessee Ernie Ford
Capitol # MA 1-1380 //
Released July, 1956 // Side 1: Sixteen Tons /
Mule Train Side 2: Shot-Gun Boogie / The Cry Of The
Wild Goose // Note: The last EP
released on Ernie by Capitol, this self-titled album of
previously recorded hits was among a rare group of EP's
issued by Capitol that ran at 33 1/3 rather than at 45 rpm,
and were called 'Compact Double 33's'. A unique find for the
serious record collector.
▪▪Other Capitol TEF EAP's
àLP's
1956-59
