Search - Ella Mae Morse :: Morse Code

Strong claims to be called the mother of rock'n'roll

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 06/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some years ago, while reviewing a series of compilations of music by the hugely talented Boswell sisters, I pointed out that while they recorded a song titled Rock and roll, that there was no way they could be called the mothers of rock'n'roll as some had suggested. Still, that claim set me wondering if there were any female singers that might be deserving of such a title. Listening to Ella Mae Morse sing songs in a variety of styles, it occurs to me that she has much stronger claims than the vast majority of female singers that were around before 1955; of those that I'm familiar with, only Rose Maddox comes close, although her rocking country music is very different from Ella's music, which is rooted in jazz and blues.



Ella had four hits with Freddie Slack and his orchestra, plus ten solo hits on the American pop charts between 1942 and 1953. All fourteen hits feature in this compilation. Cow cow boogie, Mister Five By Five, House of blue lights, Shoo shoo baby, No love no nothin', Milkman keep those bottles quiet, Patty cake man and Blacksmith blues all made the top ten.



Ella could sing wonderful ballads, but she really seemed in her element performing boogie woogie songs. One of the more striking examples is her cover of Tennessee Saturday night. Originally a number one country hit for Red Foley, Ella's boogie woogie rendition really sparkles. Ella also recorded a couple of fun duets with Tennessee Ernie Ford, one of which (False hearted girl) is featured here, but that's as far as country music intrudes into this wonderful compilation of jazz, blues, boogie woogie and pop music.



It seems that, because of her style of music, a lot of people wrongly assumed that Ella was black, which worked against her in an era where most people only bought music by singers from their own ethnic group. Yes, that was wrong but thankfully a lot has changed since then. Remember also that in the days before televisions became widespread, most people only heard music on the radio. In the forties, television was still very much a luxury item. The supreme irony is that despite Ella's obvious ability to perform rock'n'roll, it was the advent of that music that seems to have killed her career. By that time, Ella had six children to raise and it is entirely possible that she was unable to commit herself fully to the demands of the music business. In any event, she effectively retired for the music business in 1957 although she continued performing live intermittently for a further thirty years.



Aside from the Bear family 5-CD boxed set Barrelhouse, Boogie & Blues, this is the strongest compilation of Ella's music that you are ever likely to find. As the owner of several Bear family boxed sets, bought in the days when I had plenty of money, I would certainly recommend that set if you can afford it and are willing to pay the asking price. But for the vast majority of people, this 50-track compilation is great value. It shows the enormous talent of a woman who could truly claim to be the mother of rock and roll."

GIRL NEXT DOOR BOOGIES HER WOOGIE!

David Squires | Oracle, AZ USA | 10/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gosh I love this gal's singin'! Got turned on to her through Nick Tosches' ultra-hip and informative book 'UNSUNG HEROES OF ROCK'N'ROLL". Ella Mae Morse was a pure product of America. She grew up in Texas & was comfortable singing many styles, including blues, by the age of ten! Was a singer in Jimmy Dorsey's big band by the age of 14. She signed with Capitol Records a few years later & had her first hit, "COW-COW BOOGIE", with the Freddie Slack Orchestra in 1942. She was a beautiful woman, smiled a lot, & LOVED to sing many different styles (Jazz, Boogie Woogie, Swing, Pop, Blues, R'n'B, Country). The songs on this CD are proof in the pudding. Once yer hooked, check out the Bear Family Box-Set. Ella Mae Morse and her songs are a very colorful piece of the fabric of Americana. Let us give thanks."

She Rocks!

Terry Clark | Columbus, Indiana | 11/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had never heard of Ella Mae Morse when I found a website that was created by her son. She was a great singer and never got the recognition she deserved. Elvis credited her with having a great influence on his sound and she truly is an uncredited hero of rock and roll. Listen to the scat at the beginning of "House of Blue Lights" and you would never believe she stopped recording in in 1957. I am only sorry that I never heard of her before her death in 1999. This is a great compilation of Ella Mae's music."