Tipitina Records TLP33003 Lillian Briggs, Follow The Leader
“The peroxide blond rock ‘n’ roller Lillian Briggs was a slim and pretty girl, with powerful vocal cords, who held a trombone in one hand while performing. This is the story of a school girl with a love of jazz who naturally moved into Rock ‘n’ Roll music, had eight-teen 45RPMs released from 1955 to 1961, and gained some chart success.”
Tipitina (LP33003) 10-inch vinyl album Follow The Leader is the perfect presentation for the talented Lillian Briggs. The album showcases ten rockin’ movers and shakers from the Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania-bred female rocker. Briggs had compelling vocal cords which suited perfectly to rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm & blues material, and she was a female musical trailblazer.
Lillian Briggs furthermore was blessed with; a slim and alluring figure, and she heightened her visual persona with a change from brunette hair to peroxide blond. Briggs also performed with her instrument of choice, namely a trombone firmly held in her hand, and from this aspect Briggs was different to the other rockers of the time. During her Australian tour in 1956, The Sydney Morning Herald creatively christened her the “Queen of Rock and Roll” which became her moniker. Lillian Briggs came to be viewed as one of the first females to achieve star status at the dawn of Rock 'n’ Roll.
For your listening pleasure, the album has chosen the cream of her recordings and showcases four Epic Record titles; I Want You To Be My Baby, and Can’t Stop (1955), Follow The Leader (1956), and I (1957). From her association with Coral Records there are three recordings; Blues In The Night, and Is There A Man In The House? (1959) which were coupled as a 45 RPM, and I Care For You (1960). Briggs recorded two 45 RPMs for Sunbeam Records, and one song from each release is included; Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop (1958), and Come Here (1958). Briggs had one release on ABC-Paramount Records, the topside was a rerecording of her first every 45 RPM I Want You To Be My Baby (not included), coupled with a new song I’m Burning For You (1961), and at this point, her recording career ended.
Most certainly the recordings are dance-floor winners, and Dee Jays will have no problem attracting the dancers onto the dance floor, and for home recreational listening the album is pleasing to the ears. Tipitina (LP33003), Lillian Briggs, Follow The Leader 10-inch album is a perfect tribute to the Pennsylvanian lady whose name will most certainly be raised in public awareness from this classy and rockin’ release, which jumps from beginning to end!
Tipitina Records endeavours to use some lesser-known and for some, perhaps more obscure titles and adds something unexpected to every album. The album is ideal for Dee Jays to fill the dance floor with, and for home listening. You are listening to music from the past and preserving the future! Tipitina Records “Often imitated, never duplicated.” All that remains is to say, “Crank up the volume and dig these musical gems.”
Dee Jay Mark Armstrong Bühl, Germany
Side One Lillian Briggs, Follow The Leader
01 Can’t Stop (Silver, Alfred) Epic 1955
02 Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop (Hampton, Hammer) Sunbeam 1958
03 Blues In The Night (Arlen, Mercer) Coral 1959
04 Follow The Leader (Evelyn, Kirkland) Epic 1956
05 I Care For You (Davidson) Coral 1960
Side Two Lillian Briggs, Follow The Leader
01 Come Here (Halmay, Friedenberg) Sunbeam 1958
02 I (McCoy, Briggs) Epic 1957
03 I Want You To Be My Baby (Hendricks) Epic 1955
04 Is There A Man In The House? (Seneca) Coral 1959
05 I’m Burning For You (Mallin, Seefen, Lindsey) ABC-Paramount 1961
