“We Did”: Herb & Kay, in fact, Did

“We Did” by Herb And Kay sure sounds like an A-side to me:

“We Did“

Herb And Kay (1955)

And yet, this song – recorded on August 19, 1955 at Cincinnati’s King Studios – ended up as the B-side to “I’ve Got a Right to Be Jealous.”

(photo courtesy of Discogs)

Billboard‘s review from the November 26, 1955 edition would seem to validate Zero to 180’s assertion:

“A cute, swingy ditty [‘I’ve Got a Right to Be Jealous, Honey‘] by the couple on their first disk.  Features clever back-and-forth lyric bits as they tell each other why they have a right to be jealous.  [‘We Did‘] More rhythmic dueting with a good lift from electric guitar backing.  Flip, however, has more to sell.”

According to Dave Sax in his liner notes to Ace’s King Hillbilly Bop ‘n’ Boogie compilation —

Herb & Kay Adams were signed [to King Records] in December 1953 and sold well with their first release, ‘Coffee Blues.’  Herb was born on a farm near Covington, Ohio on 25 June 1926, and Kay was born at Greenville, Ohio on 30 November 1932, again growing up on a farm.  Herb played fiddle in a family band and obtained his first engagement at Piqua, Ohio before joining Ray Whitley‘s band.  Kay joined the WLS Barn Dance in Chicago in 1948 and they married there in January 1950.  The very talented couple was popular at daily radio and TV shows at WFBN in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The catchy and clever ‘We Did,’ co-written by Charlie Gore, was recorded at their last session for King in August, 1955 and reflects the banter for which they were well known on the Indiana Hoedown.  At the same session Kay also recorded a solo cover of Titus Turner’s R&B song “All Around The World,” as did King’s new R&B signing, Little Willie John. 

Thanks also to Hillbilly-Music for this biographical info —

Herb and Kay Adams were a husband-wife duet team that were new on the scene when they started at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio around 1955.  They were both Ohio natives.  Herb was a vocalist and played the violin.  Kay, who was a native of Greenville, Ohio, played the guitar, did vocals and could also do yodel numbers, too.  She was also said to have done some commercials, too as well as a bit of emcee duties.  Herb and Kay met when they were featured on a radio station in Dayton, Ohio.

Herb Kay, unsurprisingly, were part of the featured talent on WLW’s Midwestern Hayride, as reported in the May 21, 1955 edition of Billboard.

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Herb And Kay –

King Recording Sessions

December 28, 1953 at King Studios

• “Coffee Blues“
• “Juke Box Jig“
• “Next Door“
• “Who’s Taking My Place“

According to one 78RPM contributor –

“‘Coffee Blues’ was probably their greatest success, making Billboard‘s C&W Territorial Best Sellers charts in Cincinnati for several weeks in March 1954.  Composer of both sides was Les Adams, possibly a relative.“

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July 12, 1954 at King Studios

• “This Ole House“
• “Why I Pray“
• “Angels In The Sky“
• “If I Didn’t Have Him“

Written by Stuart Hamblen

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November 12, 1954 at King Studios

• “Somebody Cries“
• “You Got To Bite To Catch On“

Written by Billy Barton

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August 19, 1955 at King Studios

• “I’ve Got A Right To Be Jealous Honey“
• “We Did“
• “All Around The World” [Kay Adams]
• “It Just Ain’t Love” [Kay Adams]

Written by Gore & Abner