From:  "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Oct 31, 2004  3:11 am 
Subject:  This Is My Story : Jimmy Isle
 
JIMMY ISLE

Jimmy Isle and his brother Ronnie grew up in Nashville. They wrote many
songs together : Jimmy has 39 entries in the BMI database (almost all of
them co-written with his brother) and Ronnie 69.

As a singer, Jimmy first appeared on the scene in 1957, with "Stay By My
Side"/ "Baby-O" on the Chicago-based Bally label. The next year he recorded
what is probably his best rocker, "Goin' Wild" for Morris Levy's Roulette label
(4065). Written by Ronnie Isle, "Goin' Wild" featured a group called The
Southlanders on vocal backup, as well as some excellent work from the
lead guitarist. A few months later, Ronnie Isle came up with an interesting
rocking instrumental, "Wicked"/"Bad Sunburn" on MGM 12682, credited to
Ron Isle and the Blisters.

At some point in 1958, Jimmy recorded "Diamond Ring" and "I've Been Waitin'"
at a demo studio, Fidelity Recording, in Nashville. Fidelity was owned by Gary
Walker, a songwriter from Springfield, Missouri. Walker leased these masters
to Sun Records in October 1958, and Sun picked up Isle's contract. The most
obvious selling feature of "Diamond Ring" (Sun 306) and Isle's other releases
was a rhythmic hook. After being signed to Sun, Jimmy was brought to Memphis
to record one session (produced by Jack Clement) from which two singles were
drawn. The backing was supplied by Billy Riley (guitar), Pat O'Neill (bass),
Tommy Ross (drums), Charlie Rich (piano) and Martin Willis (sax). "Without
A Love"/"Time Will Tell" (Sun 318) was released in March 1959 and, like
"Diamond Ring" was geared to the white teenage market. Billboard assigned
both sides a three star rating, crediting Isle with singing "with spirit and
style".

In honesty, Jimmy's three Sun singles were not among the greatest music
the legendary label released, and the third one, "What A Life"/"Together"
(Sun 332) was easily the least effective of the lot, softened as it was by sweet
girl voices. It stiffed big time, thereby ending Isle's one year association
with the label.

Jimmy moved to the Everest label, on which he had three singles released
(1959-60). After a slight lull, he turned up on Mala in 1963 and on Diamond
in 1964, after which he disappeared. His brother Ronnie had releases on
Metro (1959), Image (1960) and Warwick (1961) and later died in a car wreck.
According to Hank Davis, Jimmy is still living in Nashville. "A person less
interested in his past life as a Sun artist would be hard to find."

Acknowledgements : Hank Davis, In the Vaults : The Original Sun Singles,
Vol. 3 and 4 ( books accompanying Bear Family box-sets).
Also consulted were the sleeve notes (by Bill Millar) for the LP "Roulette Rock
'n' Roll Collection" on Pye International NSPL 28245 (1978), with acknowledge-
ments to a certain Anthony (!) Wilkinson.

P.S.: Among the songs in the BMI database written by the Isle Brothers is
"Box of Candy". Can anyone confirm that this is the song that Vince Everett
recorded? The Everett CD on Hydra has no info on the writer's credit for "Box
of Candy". An excellent record, by the way.