JOE TURNER The Chicken And The Hawk MORNING NOON NIGHT 1955 Atlantic 1080 R&B 78
£
30
$
40
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Description
Recorded in New York City on 3 November 1955 and released in December 1955, this exceptional 10-inch shellac single features Big Joe Turner at the peak of his hit-making power for Atlantic Records. Both sides represent an absolute tour de force of high-velocity rhythm & blues.The A-side, "The Chicken and The Hawk (Up, Up and Away)," is an infectious, driving jump blues masterpiece penned by the legendary team of Doc Pomus and Jesse Stone (credited as Charles Calhoun). The track features a roaring, frantic rhythm section anchored by a blistering horn arrangement that perfectly matches Turner’s booming vocal shout. The B-side, "Morning, Noon and Night," is another rhythmically aggressive Pomus/Stone composition that became a major R&B hit, later famously performed by Big Joe in the landmark 1956 rock-and-roll film Rock, Rock, Rock. This incredible double-sided record captures the precise historical moment where classic jump blues fully hardened into early Rock & Roll.Socio-Historic BackdropBy the winter of 1955, the American musical landscape had fundamentally shifted. Rhythm & blues was no longer confined to regional markets; it was actively driving a multi-racial, nationwide youth culture. "The Chicken and The Hawk" used playful, streetwise animal metaphors that spoke a coded, energetic language to adolescent audiences who were packing out commercial jukebox joints and dancehalls. This record serves as a pristine sociological artifact documenting the exact mid-1950s cultural crossover where Black urban roots music permanently broke down traditional social boundaries on the dance floor.Economic & Industry LandscapeThis scarce 78rpm pressing features the iconic, traditional solid red and black Atlantic Records label variant. Completely unmarred by later white-paint block backgrounds, the classic layout uses high-contrast, polished silver typography with the signature corporate lettering tracking elegantly over the upper half of the center wax.By late 1955, independent giants like Atlantic were aggressively shifting their primary production lines toward microgroove 45 RPM vinyl. Because Atlantic 1080 was pressed in vastly lower numbers on 78rpm—primarily for commercial jukebox routes in urban centers—shellac copies are significantly scarcer today. Jukebox tone-arms of the era tracked with immense force, meaning the vast majority of surviving 78s were played to absolute destruction.
Grade (VJM System): Very Good Plus (VG+).
Play Surface: Beautiful, highly impressive state of preservation that easily outshines typical regional survivors. The 1955 Atlantic shellac compound retains a strong, deep-black factory gloss. Under bright inspection lighting, the play surfaces present with wonderful luster, displaying a few light, superficial surface marks and minor paper-sleeve scuffs typical of a record that spent time in light archival rotation over the decades. Completely free of deep needle gouges, gray acoustic groove-wear, structural stress fractures, hairline cracks, or perimeter edge chips.Audio Performance: Phenomenal acoustic presence. While visually grading at a strong, honest VG+, both sides play loud, robust, and crisp, tracking at a definitive Excellent tier. Joe Turner's commanding vocal shouts and the roaring saxophone accompaniment cut through with stunning clarity and zero tracking distortion. The underlying surface noise is extraordinarily low and uniform, completely lacking the heavy tics, repeating pops, or heavy hiss typical of heavily played independent mid-1950s shellac.
Center Labels: Highly collectible traditional black and red Atlantic 78rpm layout . Both sides are beautifully clean, crisp, and bright with sharp, high-contrast print. The center spindle hole remains perfectly tight with no trailing wear or elongation.
The surfaces are entirely free of modern ink writing, layout tearing, or vintage dealer sticker residue.
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