1
THE LONE TEEN RANGER SEARCHING HITS
- 1955 to 1963 -
NOTE: True Taylor, Jerry Landis and Paul Kane were pseudonyms used by Paul Simon these years
1955 – 1957 – 1958 – 1959 – 1960 - 1961 – 1962- 1963
1955
1955
Paul Simon and his school friend Art Garfunkel create the doo-woop groups “The Sparks” and “The Pep-Tones” with some mates of the school. They used to sing a capella.
Spring 1955
Paul Simon´s and Art Garfunkel´s first public perfomance in a school assembly at Parsons Junior High singing a capella the song “Sh-Boom”
Oct 1955
Paul Simon´s father buys him a 25 $ Stadium guitar. Paul begins to learn playing guitar dedicating to it over six hours a day. The teacher was his father, the musician Louis Simon.
Late 1955
When Paul got some skills on the guitar he started songwriting with his friend Garfunkel. His first song was:
· The Girl For Me (Simon/Garfunkel)
· Song copyrighted at the Library Of Congress
1957
Nov 1957
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
BIG 613 (later released on KING 5167)
1. Hey Schoolgirl (Simon/Garfunkel)
2. Dancin' Wild (Simon/Garfunkel)
Paul: Jerry Landis; Art: Tom Graph; Billboard 54, sales 100,000 copies
Nov 22 1957
US TV - Tom&Jerry
AMERICAN BANDSTAND
· Hey Schoolgirl
Nov 1957
US CONCERT- Tom&Jerry
Hartford, CT State Theater
·Hey Schoolgirl
Late 1957
US TV- Tom&Jerry
WING FREED SHOW
1958
January 1958
US 45 True
Taylor
BIG 614
1. True Or False
2. Teenage Fool
Feb-Apr 1958
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
BIG 616
1. Our Song
2. Two TeUSenagers
B-side also known as Two Teen-Agers
May-June 1958
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
BIG 618 and HUNT 319
1. That's My Story
2. (Pretty Baby) Don't Say Goodbye
1958?
US LP - TOM & JERRY - Tom & Jerry
1. HEY SCHOOLGIRL
2. OUR SONG
3. THAT'S MY STORY
4. TEENAGE FOOL
5. TIA-JUANA BLUES (Simon / Prosen)
6. DANCIN' WILD
7. DON'T SAY GOODBYE
8. TWO TEENAGERS
9. TRUE OR FALSE
10. SIMON SAYS (Simon / Prosen)
Probaly this album was not released and it is confused with the illegal SIMON&GARFUNKEL album released in 1967 by Pickwick label.
See 1967 year section.
1958 - 1963
US STUDIOS - DEMOS and RECORDINGS – The Cosines / Paul Simon
During these years Paul Simon produced records for other artists and wrote many songs which he recorded, mainly for Amy Records, as $25 demos for Dion, Fabian & Bobby Vee and many others. From 1958 to 1959 he worked with Carole King forming the group The Cosines which did demos for The Fleetwoods & The Passions and others. .Just To Be With You recorded by The Passions was their most successful work. Paul published his songs in his own company: Landis Music.
The Cosines: Paul: guitar, bass, vocals; Carole: piano, drums, vocals.
From Amy Records times come these two tracks by The Cosines which were released by Chance label in 1992 ( see 1992 year section):
· Ask Me Why
· Just To Be With You
1959
May 1959
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
EMBER 1094
1. I'm Lonesome
2. Looking At You
Jul 1959
US 45 Jerry
Landis
MGM 12822
1. Anna Belle
2. Loneliness
Sep 1959
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
BIG 621
1. Baby Talk
2. Two Teenagers
The song Baby Talk was a Jan & Dean´s hit in 1959. Big Records´ bankrupt after this release is the cause that the song Baby Talk was leased to Bell Records
Sep 1959
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
BELL 120
1. Baby Talk - Tom & Jerry
2. I'm Gonna Get Married - Ronnie Lawrence
The Bell label was specialized on releasing covers from other singers hit which they sold for 39 cents. Baby Talk was a hit for Jan & Dean
Dec 1959
· ? Dreams Can Come True
· Dub 4, take 1.
1959?
US 33 – GOLDEN GREATS VOL. 17
Roulette
· Tom & Jerry: Hey Schoolgirl
1960
Feb 1960
· ? Up And Down The Stairs
· Dub 3, take 1.
1960
US 45 Jerry
Landis
Warwick 552
1. Just A Boy
2. Shy
1960
US 45 Jerry
Landis
Warwick 588
1. Just A Boy
2. I'd Like To Be
1960
US 45 The
Mystics
Laurie 3047
1. #All Through The Night (Simon)
· [Paul: lead vocal, wrote & arranged]
2. [I Begin To Think Again Of You]
· [Paul: Lead vocal]
3. [Let Me Steal Your Heart Away]
· [Paul: Lead vocal]
1960?
US 45 The Mystics
1. #Don't Tell The Stars
· [Paul: lead vocal]
1960
US 45 Tom & Jerry
King 5167
1. Hey Schoolgirl
2. Dancin´ Wild
1960?
US 45 Johnny Restivo
RCA 47-7559
1. The Shape I´m In
2. Ya Ya
·Played guitar on A-side ans probably B-side as well
1960?
US 45 Gary Cane & His Friends
Shell 717
1. The Fight
Paul Simon Second vocal
1960?
US 45 Harrison Gregory
Cordella 047
1. Twistin´ Raindrops
Paul Simon: Second vocal and played guitar
1961
Apr 1961
US 45 Jerry
Landis
Warwick 616
1. Play Me A Sad Song (Simon / Mandis)
2. It Means A Lot To Them (Richard / Jordan)
These songs have appeared on LP and CDs compilations under the titles of Paul Simon Plus, Paul Simon And Friends, Peacelands, and many others all them licensed from The Henry Hadaway Organisation Ltd.
May 1961
Unreleased demos- Jerry Landis
· ? Back Seat Driver
· Dub 1, take 6.
· ? Wow Cha Cha Cha
· Dub 1, take 2.
Jun 1961
Unreleased demos- Jerry Landis
· ? That Forever Kind Of Love
· Take 5.
· ? A Charmed Life
· Dub 3, take 2, final track.
· ? Sleepy Sleepy Baby
· Two versions. Dub two, take 1 and dub 3, take 2 with "yawns"
Jul/Aug 1961
Unreleased demos
· ? Lighthouse Point- Jerry Landis
· Two versions. Original version, original speed, dub 2, take 2 and recopied and sped up version.
Oct 1961
US 45 Jerry
Landis
Canadian American 130
1. I'm Lonely
2. I Wish I Weren't In Love
· Paul Simon, Mickey Borack, Marty Cooper and Gail Lynn.
A-side is sometimes named I'm Lonesome
1961
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
MERCURY 71930
1. I'll Drown In My Tears
2. The French Twist
1961?
US 45 Tom & Jerry
MERCURY 71753
1. South
2. Golden Wildwood Flower
Oct-Dec 1961
US 45 Tico
& The Triumphs
Madison 169 / Amy 835
1. Motorcycle
2. I Don't Believe Them
Produced, arranged and written by Paul Simon.
Group: Paul Simon, Mickey Borack, Marty Cooper, Gail Lynn and Howie Beck.
Billboard #99. Madison Records went bankrupt after the release, but Amy Records picked up the masters and had success on Murray The K's show on WINS in New York City. Motorcycle narrowly lost the weekly song contest to Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was a huge success in Puerto Rico and Baltimore, selling about 100,000 copies.
1962
Late 1962
US 45 Tom
& Jerry
ABC-PARAMOUNT 10363
1. Surrender, Please Surrender
2. Fighting Mad
April 1962
US 45 Tico
& The Triumphs
Amy 845
1. Express Train
2. Wildflower
Aug 1962
US 45 Tico
& The Triumphs
Amy 860
1. Get Up And Do The Wobble
2. Cry, Little Boy, Cry
3.
Cry, Little Boy, Cry got the weekly song contest on Murray The K's WINS radio show in New York City
1962
US Radio- Tico & The Triumphs
Buddy Dean Show
1962
US Radio- Tico & The Triumphs
RI
1962
US Radio- Tico & The Triumphs
Detroit
1962
US 45 Tico & The Triumphs
Amy 861
1. Cards Of Love
2. Noise
Dec 1962
US 45 Jerry
Landis
Amy 875/ Jason Scott 22
1. Lone Teen-Ranger
2. Lisa
Billboard #97. Lisa used the same instrumental track as I Don't Believe Them.
Dec 1962 (also reported Jan 1963)
US 45 Tico
& The Triumphs
Amy 876
1. Cards Of Love
2. Noise
Dec 1962
US Radio- Camdem , NJ
Tico & The Triumphs Christmas Show
1962
US 45 David
Winters
Rori 703
1. Bye Bye
2. Dory Anne
·Produced A-side. ·Co-wrote B-side with Winters and John Kay
May 1962
US 45 Ritchie
Cordell
Rori 707
1. Tick Tock
2. Please Don´t Tell Her
· Wrote A-side and co-wrote B-side with Charles Merenstein. Also produced
· Background vocals: Paul Simon & Les Levine
1962
US STUDIO
Paul Simon produced songs for: Central High Caf Band; Jay Walker & The Pedestrians; Dougie & The Dudes; Ritchie Cordell; The Fashions; Dotty Daniels
1962
US 45 Jerry Landis
Warwick 522
1. Swanee
2. Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye
1963
May 1963
US 45 Tom & Jerry
Pye-International
1. Looking At You
2. I´m Lonesome
June 1963
US 45 The
Vels
Amy 881
1. Do The Wik
2. In Lawns
Produced by Paul Simon
Jul 1963
US 45 Ritchie
Cordell
Amy 882
1. Georgiana
2. Better Lovin
Produced by Paul Simon
1963
US 45 The
Montgomerys
Amy 883
Produced by Paul Simon
Aug 1963
US 45 The Fashions
1. I Set A Trap For You
2.
Why Don´t You Stay A Little Longer
Amy 884
Produced by Paul Simon
Sep 1963
US 45 Dottie
Daniels
Amy 885
1. I Wrote You a Letter
Produced by Paul Simon. Wrote B-side
1963?
US 45 Jerry Landis
1. Flame (Hamlish / Hirschorn)
· This song has appeared on some compilation LP and CDs named Paul Simon Plus, Paul Simon and Friends, Peaceland and others, always licensed from The Henry Hadaway Organisation Ltd.
1963?
US 45 Jerry Landis
1. I'd Like To Be The Lipstick On Your Lips
· A-side sometimes named as I Want To Be The Lipstick On Your Collar
1963
US 45 Paul
Kane
Tribute 128
1. Carlos Dominguez
2. He Was My Brother
Sep 1963?
US CONCERT- PAUL SIMON & ART GARFUNKEL
New York Gerde´s Folk City
The folky debut of Simon&Garfunkel
· Sparrow
· He Was My Brother
Oct-Dec 1963
US CONCERTS- PAUL SIMON & ART GARFUNKEL
They also did concerts all over NY folk scene like in Washington Square Park on sundays, in the Gaslight Club and in The Bitter End (other sources fit that in 1964. See that year section)
© Jose Maria Escudero 2003