QUESTION FROM READER WHO BOUGHT A SIGNED COPY OF MELODIE D'AMOUR

We recieved a question from a reader who bought a signed copy of Wes Bryan - "Melodie D'Amour", wanting to know what it's worth.  We don't know the answer!

Here are some considerations.  From time to time we check the e-Bay auctions and we see that overall the price of Wes Bryan records has steadily climbed up by a dollar or two over the years, with a recent mint  quality copy of "Lonesome Love" starting at around $65.  Two years ago it was at about $45. There was a lot of United Artists promotions of that record, I and it went GOLD quickly.  It's rare but not so rare.

So first consideration would be the condition and playability of the record itself, next would be the rarity of the record.  Disc Jockey and Promo copies come up more than pressed copies on e-Bay, especially of my song "Freeze" which did well because the Freeze Dance was invented for it, and the record not only got bought up for parties but went into a lot of juke boxes which pay the hell out of a record so "Freeze" is rarer. 

As for the signature, figuring that it's an authentic Wes Bryan signature that should ad value.  But it's not George Washington's so -

We figure the collectors know more than we do.  OUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO JOIN e-Bay so that you can communicate with some of the collectors and oldies record shops and see what they would be willing to pay you for it!

(368) RAY CHARLES SINGERS : BACKGROUND SINGERS OF IMPORTANCE 1964 HIT

From our archives post (91) THE RAY CHARLES SINGERS

from Saturday, December 15, 2007

I had a connection with Perry Como. He worked with the Ray Charles Singers as his background singers. They worked on most everything he recorded and on television.

When I recorded "Lonesome Love," at a giant studio in New York, RCA Victor, right on Broadway, the Ray Charles Singers were my background singers. I was scared to death. They came over. They didn't put on any aires. One of the guys put his arm around me and said, "Now just relax a little bit." They were Regular Joes, and helpful to me.

Now, a few years later, when I had the song "I Feel Like Crying," that Red West and I wrote in Elvis' den on Bellagio in Bel Air, and Pat Boone bought it for Cooga Mooga, Jack Spena, Pat's manager, pitched the song to Perry. Perry was doing an album and Jack and Pat thought it would be a great cut. But Perry listened to Pat Boone's version and he chuckled. "I can't do it as good as Pat can," Perry said.

UPDATE! Linking to the RAY CHARLES SINGERS SITE (Yes they are still working!)

PS. "He is sometimes known humorously as "The Other Ray Charles" to distinguish him from the great soul musician of the same name."

NEW VIDEO The Ray Charles Singers had a top ten hit in 1964 with this recording of a song that was so popular it was recorded by at least a half a dozen other artists, Love Me With All Of Your Heart.

LONESOME LOVE ON LONDON

To provide my record for distribution in England, a master was taken to England where it was pressed on LONDON label as a 45 RPM... That's George Stravo Orchestra and Chorus behind me. On radio and television programs I played the guitar and sang, unplugged as they would say now.

(30) LONDON RECORDS puts out "Lonesome Love"

From time to time something related to me or my career - a magazine, a record, a signed photograph, something shows up on the e-Bay auctions or at a record collector's on the Internet. Once in a while I'm suprised to see what's out there on the market and I admit I watch the prices...

A few years ago I had no idea I had any web presence at all, and as I mentioned in a previous post, now there are a lot of Wes Bryan's to sort through to find me, the one born in Murphy, North Carolina in the late 1930's. So Christine Trzyna, my writing partner, and me decided to blog and take a bit of responsibility for what you might read about me.

When I was twenty and launched my career with United Artists Records I trusted my management to do right by me. I was living a planes, trains, and automobiles kind of existence, traveling constantly, touring all over the country, particularly in the markets that seemed to enjoy me - a country boy at heart - the best. I always wanted to go to England, like the Everly Brothers had.

Well LONDON RECORDS put out "Lonesome Love" and "Tiny Spaceman," in the British Isles in 1958, testifying, I think to how long a hit took to get across the Big Pond. I think the one sided "demo" version for radio play that came up on e-Bay recently of another of my songs may be a collectors item because even I don't have a copy!

LINKING HERE TO GLOBAL DOG PRODUCTIONS LONDON RECORDS DISCOGRAPHY which shows my record came out in April 1958.