Like I Do: Great British Record Labels-Oriole

Two CD collection spotlighting one of the UK's greatest labels. Oriole Records' somewhat convoluted history began in the mid 1920s, which actually makes them one of the UK's earliest record labels, although they had periods of inactivity during the 30s and 40s. The arrival of R&R and Skiffle in the UK during 1956 changed everything, of course, and alongside their staple diet of danceband and musical hall fare, Oriole began to sneak out a few releases aimed squarely at the new, young teenage market. Certainly, Thunderclap Jones' pounding 'Sound Barrier Boogie' possessed all the energy and drive of rock 'n' roll, and although Lonnie Donegan's gentle 'The Passing Stranger' was hardly representative of his Skiffle repertoire, it's very release served as an indicator that they had their finger on the pulse. Indeed, when Oriole hit the jackpot with an UK recording it was with a bona-fide Skiffle classic, 'Freight Train', by The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group featuring Nancy Whiskey. It promptly made the UK Top 5 and in a wholly unlikely scenario also made the US Top 40, leading to their touring the US (where they appeared on the prestigious Ed Sullivan Show) and ultimately taking worldwide sales of the disc to well over a million. But ironically, Nancy didn't much like Skiffle and quit the group after their second hit, 'Greenback Dollar'; sadly, neither she nor Chas were destined to taste chart glory again. Meanwhile, Oriole had scored an even bigger success with scouser Russ Hamilton, the Butlins' redcoat who reached No.2 in the UK with his self-penned 'We Will Make Love'. This, in itself would have been impressive; but the disc was issued in the US, where an enterprising DJ flipped it and began playing the B-side, 'Rainbow', which subsequently climbed to No.4. Although his follow-up, 'Wedding Ring', also made the UK Top 20, he was never quite able to sustain a career.