"Pledging My Love"

Item — Box: 2494-001, Folder: 1

Identifier: Subseries 1:

Scope and Contents

(Duke 136) "Pledging My Love" (ACA 2801): Accompaniment wrongly credited on the label to the Johnny Board Orchestra—the vibe work in the arrangement clearly belongs to Johnny Otis. An AABA ballad (I-ii7-V7-ii7-V7-I), credited to "Washington-Robey" on the label and representing a complicated copyright history. The song was copyrighted twice (unpublished) by Lion Pub. Co. with Don Deadric Robey as sole author (1954 March 15, EU351083 and 1955 January 26, EU384205). On 1955 January 27 it was copyrighted (published) by "Wemar Music Corp. & Lion Musical Pub. Co." with words and music by Don D. Robey and F. Washington (Ferdinand "Fats" Washington, the author of "Anymore")—this for the purpose of securing pop cover versions (EP86776). On 1955 February 9 Lion Pub. Co. copyrighted the song (published) as a Robey/Washington composition for purposes of sheet music sales, crediting the arrangement to Stanley Applebaum (EP88950). Released 1954 December, the side debuted on Billboard's R and B charts 1955 January 22, becoming an number one record for ten weeks and winning Billboard's R and B Triple Crown award (first in sales, radio airplay, and juke box play). It entered the white pop charts 1955 February 19 (highest position: number seventeen) and made the prestigious "Honor Roll of Hits" list a week later. A BMI Millionaire Song, losing over a million performances, Billboard's Most Played R and B Record of 1955, and the first Duke or Peacock record to sell initially more 45 r.p.m. units than 78s. Note: the original release of this side was backed with the Ace blues composition "No Money." (ACA 2936): Backed by the Johnny Board Band. Big band blues (Nick Tosches thinks this is Ace’s best), featuring excellent tenor sax work. Composition credited to "John Alexander" and copyrighted (unpublished) by Lion Pub. Co. 1954 August 9 (EU367003). Wrongly credited at BMI to "James Alexander."