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1. Bertha Lou Controversy

2. Who is Portuguese Joe? - Allegedly: Joe Alves

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1. The Bertha Lou Controversy

In 1957 John Marascalco arranged a record deal with one of the Burnette brothers to sing "Bertha Lou." He went to Kenny Babcock of the SURF record label in November 1957 and they arranged a session at "Goldstar Recording Studios" on Santa Monica Blvd and Vine Street in Hollywood, California. After recording "Bertha Lou" and "Til The Law Says Stop" with Dorsey Burnette singing both songs, Dorsey mentioned that he was still under contract with Coral Records. I was there, so this is first hand information.

The musicians were Odell Huff (guitar), Danny Flores (piano), H.B. Barnum (drums), and an unidentified (bass) player, To get the range on just one string, the range was achieved by Kenny Babcock detuning the base string to presets while the instrument was being played during the recording.

When Dorsey made known that he was still under contract with Coral Records, Kenny Babcock of Surf Records knew that "Bertha Lou" and "Til The Law Says Stop" could not and would not be released into the market place in that configuration, because Dorsey was in breach of contract with Coral Records by recording for another company.

Kenny Babcock, called Coral Records President and appraised him of the breach occurrence that was made without Surf knowledge of another contract being in force. He told them that the recordings would not be sold into distribution or published with Dorsey singing on the record. The Surf’s record ID was 5029-45. It is known that a very small number of pre-release records had been release into the channel before the Coral Records contract was known by Surf Records.

In 1957 Union rules would not allow for the music to be on one track and the vocals on another track. Kenny Babcock with John Marascalco decided to have a singer that had been singing demo songs for Surf for a while do the singing. He was good, so Kenny asked Johnny Fairecloth to overdub the two songs that Dorsey had recorded.

Johnny Fairecloth was contracted to do the overdubs. Kenny shortened Johnny’s last name to Faire. It took a lot of takes to get the recordings perfect. It had to be in absolute sync. Johnny Faire’s version of "Bertha Lou" Surf 5019-45 and "Til The Law Says Stop" Surf 5019-45-1 was the only release from Surf and it was with the same Surf ID numbers.

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THIS ENTIRE PAGE IS COPYRIGHTED 2008, SURF RECORDS - KEITH BABCOCK, ALL RIGHTS DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ARE RESERVED.

NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED, RECORDED, RIPPED, COPIED, PLAGURIZED IN ANY MANNER WITHOUT EXPRESSED PERMISSION IN WRITING WITH NOTARIZED SIGNATURE OF SURF RECORDS. CLIPS OF DORSEY BURNETTE SINGING "BERTHA LOU" AND/OR "TIL THE LAW SAYS STOP" MAY NOT BE USED IN ANY MANNER, BY ANY LISTENER AND/OR THIRD PARTY. (THEY ARE NOT FOR SALE, RENT, OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE NO PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED OTHER THAN TO LISTEN TO THIS WEBPAGE FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED). VIOLATORS WILL BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL ACTION AND LITIGATION.

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Here is a 30 second snippet of Dorsey Burnette Singing "Bertha Lou" and then "Til The Law Says Stop."

(These snippets are for the discusion herein and are within current copyright laws for such purposes.)

Dorsey Burnette's version of "Bertha Lou" and "Til The Law Says Stop". have be altered, by design, to let you know that these songs do exist and at the same time stop unauthorized copy and use of them.

Preview this song: "Bertha Lou" - Dorsey Burnette

Preview this song: "Til The Law Says Stop" - Dorsey Burnette

Here is a 30 second snippet of Johnny Faire Singing "Bertha Lou" and then "Til The Law Says Stop."

Preview this song: "Bertha Lou" - Johnny Faire

Preview this song: "Til The Law Says Stop" - Johnny Faire
This item is a downloadable MP3 in the Surf Records Store

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I do not believe that you can make any identifications of Dorsey voice on Johnny’s version of the two songs.

I am, Keith Babcock, son of Kenny Babcock. I was there and know the truth about what went on and what was said. Another note of interest any background hand claps and/or finger snaps in the background were performed by myself and another artist. In the Bridge of "Til The Law Says Stop." it was Kenny Babcock singing the "Whap-Bop." interlude. - Keith

Lyrics to "Bertha Lou" follows below.

Song Writer: John Marascalco

Bertha Lou, Bertha Lou
Let me slip around with you
If I could raise some sand
I'd be a mighty-mighty man
'Cause you're so ooooh, Bertha Lou

Bertha Lou, Bertha Lou
Gotta get a date with you
If I could hear you moan
On Mr. Bell's telephone
Ain't no tellin' what I'd do, Bertha Lou

You wear your hair in a poodle cut
You're walkin' down the street like a semi-truck
And everybody knows that you're so sweet
You tickle from head to my athlete's feet

Hey-hey, Bertha Lou
I wanna conjugate with you
You know my blood is running' wild
And I know you ain't no child
When you do what you do, Bertha Lou
(Rock! Rock! Rock!)

You wear your hair in a poodle cut
You're walkin' down the street like a semi-truck
And everybody knows that you're so sweet
You tickle from head to my athlete's feet

Hey-hey, Bertha Lou
I wanna congregate with you
You know my blood is running' wild
And I know you ain't no child
When you do what you do, Bertha Lou

Bertha Lou, Bertha Lou, Bertha Lou

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2. Who is Portuguese Joe?