Bill Doggett and his Hammond organ, in 1957, would breathe (via flute) fresh life into Tiny Bradshaw‘s “Soft” from 1952 – both versions released on King. Even though Doggett’s “Soft” would ‘only’ peak at #51, Billboard’s “Hot 100 Chart History” indicates this song to have spent 14 weeks on the chart – impressive staying power for an instrumental:
“Soft”
Bill Doggett (1957)
Billboard would report “Soft” as an ‘R&B territorial best seller’ (1) in Detroit in its October 14, 1957 edition and (2) Cincinnati in its December 21, 1957 edition. “Soft” would also be included in Billboard’s ‘Top 100 Sides – Store Recorded Sales’ for the week ending October 26, as well as December 7, 1957.
US 45 on King
UK 45 on future “Beatle” label, Parlophone
The song would endure into the 1970s. However, King Records would do a curious thing. On the one hand, King would reissue “Soft” as a single in 1971 – though as a B-side (!) – while just the year prior, the song had been deemed fit to serve as the title track of a Bill Doggett LP compilation. What gives? Perhaps the 1971 single was an attempt to give record buyers a “double A-side” release with two solid tracks and no filler, so perhaps I should lighten up a little.
1971 King LP — “Soft” as title track
1970 King 45 — “Soft” as B-side
It’s The Bill Doggett Centennial!
Bill Doggett, who recorded an instrumental in 1956 (“Honky Tonk”) that sold over 1 million copies — a ridiculous number, especially for King Records. 2016, therefore, means that “Honky Tonk” turns 60 (which is the new 40, anyway), and the artist who recorded it was (curiously enough) 40 years old at the time, as Bill Doggett was born exactly one hundred years ago. I have to confess: I didn’t figure this out on my own. This information would come directly from Bill Doggett II, nephew and namesake, who recently reached out to Zero to 180 in response to the precarious future of the original King Records historic site in Cincinnati:
King Records and its building are to Cincinnati Music History what Capitol Records and its building are to Los Angeles and West Coast r&b and jazz. Preserving the building and turning it in to a restored tourist destination will bring tax revenue dollars and TOURISM. Think BIG….not small. This year is the Bill Doggett Centennial 1916-2016 and The 60th anniversary of the landmark King Gold Record: Honky Tonk Parts 1 & 2.
“Honky Tonk”:
Promotional video from Bill Doggett Productions
LINK = https://vimeo.com/150982089
- Browse Doggett’s many releases from the 1950-1970s and beyond at Discogs.com
- History page devoted to the musical legacy of Bill Doggett
- Bill Doggett 100th Birthday Celebration with Chester Thompson on Sat. March 5th
Latest Report on Efforts to Save the King Records Historic Site
“What Will It Take to Save King Records?
Cincinnati Magazine – January 6, 2016
